法苑珠林 50.15

50.15

Furthermore, the Sūtra on the Buddha Ascending to the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven to Preach the Dharma for His Mother says: 'The Buddha was in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven under the Pārijāta tree in the Nandana Grove. During the three months of the rains retreat, surrounded by the fourfold assembly, a thousand rays of light radiated from the pores of his body, illuminating the three-thousand-great-thousandfold world. When Lady Māyā heard of this, milk spontaneously flowed from her breasts: "If this is truly Siddhārtha whom I bore, let this milk go straight into his mouth!" Having spoken these words, both breasts squirted [milk] straight forth like white lotus blossoms, and it entered the Tathāgata's mouth. Seeing this, Māyā leapt for joy, delighting like blossoms bursting into bloom. Single-mindedly she threw the five limbs to the ground with focused, right mindfulness, and her defilements subsided. The Buddha preached the Dharma for her, and she attained the fruit of a srotāpanna. The various benefits the Buddha wrought in heaven cannot be fully described. At that time, when the three summer months ended, the World-Honoured One was about to descend back to Jambudvīpa; he emitted five-coloured rays of light, resplendent and magnificent. Śakra, lord of the devas, knowing that the Buddha was about to descend, immediately had spirits construct a three-flight jewelled stairway: the centre made of Jāmbūnada gold, the left of lapis lazuli, and the right of agate, with balustrades carved and adorned with extreme beauty. The Buddha said to Māyā: "In the dharma of birth and death, there must inevitably be separation. I must now descend back to Jambudvīpa, and before long I shall also enter nirvāṇa." Māyā shed tears and spoke a gāthā. At that time, the World-Honoured One took leave of his mother, stepped down the jewelled stairway, with Brahmā holding a parasol and the Four Heavenly Kings attending at his left and right. The great fourfold assembly sang praises in pāṭha, and celestial beings played divine music filling the void. Scattering flowers and burning incense, an escort guided his descent to Jambudvīpa. King Prasenajit and the entire great assembly gathered at the jewelled stairway, bowing their heads to welcome him. The Buddha returned to the Jetavana, sat upon the lion throne, and was surrounded by the fourfold assembly, their joy and leaping beyond full description.'