諸經要集 1.44

1.44

Furthermore, the Zhidu lun says: "When Maitreya Bodhisattva was a white-robed layman, his teacher was named Bāvarī. He had three marks: first, the mark of the white curl between the eyebrows; second, the mark of the tongue covering the face; third, the mark of the retracted genitalia. Such marks as these he already possessed even when he was not yet a bodhisattva." Furthermore, the Xin Posha lun says: "I have heard that the venerable Mahākāśyapa entered Rājagṛha for his final almsround. Not long after eating, he climbed Mount Kukkuṭapāda. The mountain has three peaks resembling an upturned fowl's foot. The venerable one entered therein, sat cross-legged, and made a sincere vow, saying: 'May this body of mine, together with my patchwork robe, bowl, and staff, remain for a long time without decay, even until fifty-seven koṭis and six hundred thousand years have elapsed, when Maitreya Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha appears in the world to perform the Buddha's deeds.' Having made this vow, he promptly entered parinirvāṇa. At that time, the three peaks merged into one, concealing the venerable one, who remained dignified and upright. When Maitreya Buddha appears in the world, he will lead immeasurable humans and devas to this mountain, and say to the assembly: 'Do you see this disciple of Śākyamuni Buddha who practiced dhūta virtues, the foremost great disciple Kāśyapa in the assembly, or not?' The entire assembly will all say: 'We wish to see him.' Maitreya Tathāgata will then pat the summit of Mount Kukkuṭapāda with his right hand; immediately the peaks will cleave and become threefold again. At that time, Kāśyapa, carrying his patchwork robe, bowl, and staff, will emerge from within and ascend into empty space. Immeasurable devas and humans, witnessing this miraculous transformation, will marvel that it is unprecedented, and their minds will become soft and compliant. Maitreya Bhagavat will preach the Dharma according to their capacity, and all will attain the vision of truth. If there were no retained transformation, how could such a matter exist? Some say: 'There is the matter of a retained transformation.' Question: 'If so, why did the Bhagavat not retain a transformation body to remain after his nirvāṇa to sustain the preaching of the Dharma?' Answer: 'Because what was to be done had already been completed; that is, those whom the Buddha was to deliver were all already delivered, while those not yet delivered are delivered by the noble disciples.' Some say: 'There is no matter of a retained transformation.' Question: 'If so, how could Kāśyapa's matter exist?' Answer: 'Because it is sustained by faithful devas and spirits.' Some say: 'Kāśyapa at that time had not yet entered parinirvāṇa; only at the time of Maitreya Buddha will he attain parinirvāṇa.' This is unreasonable; it is better to say there is none than to say he remained silently and in vain for so long. According to this explanation, there is the matter of a retained transformation; therefore Mahākāśyapa has already entered nirvāṇa."