諸經要集 8.98

8.98

As the Sūtra of Avadānas states: On the eighth day of the twelfth month, the Buddha subdued the six teachers with supernormal powers. The six teachers, unable to match him, threw themselves into the water and died. He then extensively preached the Dharma to deliver the heterodox practitioners. The heterodox practitioners submitted and were transformed, saying to the Buddha: 'The Buddha has washed the defilements of my mind with the water of the Dharma. I now invite the Saṃgha to bathe, in order to remove the impurities of their bodies.' This thereupon became a regular occasion (The practice of bathing the Saṃgha on the eighth day of the twelfth month comes only from this sūtra text). Furthermore, the Mahācattā Sūtra, also called the Sūtra on Bathing the Buddha Image, says: The Buddha told the people of the world: 'The Buddhas of the ten directions are all born at midnight on the eighth day of the fourth month; they all leave home to study the Way at midnight on the eighth day of the fourth month; they all attain the Buddha Way at midnight on the eighth day of the fourth month; and they all enter parinirvāṇa at midnight on the eighth day of the fourth month.' The Buddha said: 'The reason why the eighth day of the fourth month is used is that it is the transition between spring and summer, when misfortunes and sins are ended, myriad things universally come to life, venomous vapors have not yet spread, it is neither cold nor hot, and the seasonal climate is mild and pleasant. Because today is the Buddha's birthday, the people under all heavens should jointly contemplate the Buddha's merit and virtue and bathe the Buddha image just as when the Buddha was alive, in order to show this to the people of the world.' The Buddha said: 'When I was a bodhisattva, thirty-six times I was the king of the gods, Śakra; thirty-six times I was a golden-wheel-turning king; and thirty-six times I was a flying emperor. Today, among all the virtuous ones, who has a good mind and remembers the benevolence and virtue of Śākyamuni Buddha? Those who bathe the Buddha image with fragrant flowers to seek the foremost blessings will be attested and known by the devas, ghosts, and spirits. The method for bathing the Buddha on the eighth day of the fourth month: at that time, one should take three kinds of incense: first, duliang incense; second, patchouli incense; third, aina incense. Combine these three herbal incenses, rub them, and soak them; this makes the blue water. If the incense is scarce, one may temporarily substitute indigo and qinpi bark. Furthermore, take saffron incense, rub and soak it in water with the hands to make red water. Cleanse with the pure water, and after finishing the ablution of the image, wipe it with white silk and white cotton. Afterward, draw lots among yourselves to bathe it again; this is called purity, and its blessings are foremost.'