翻譯名義集 4.39

4.39

[Mahāsāṃghika] This means "the great assembly". The Daji jing says: "Because they extensively and comprehensively read the sūtras and treatises of the five schools, they are named Mahāsāṃghika." This school has a vinaya text. Master Shou's commentary says: "Of the six schools, general and specific, the Mahāsāṃghika is the general, and the previous five are the specific. The assembly of this Mahāsāṃghika school has unhindered practice and understanding, does not give rise to one-sided attachments, and accords fully with the five views; because its practice is universal, it is known to be the general." The lower fascicle of the Yijiao sanmei jing says: "When the Buddha was in the world, the assembly of monks wore only miscellaneous clothes taken from corpses. Because Luo Xunyu returned empty-handed from alms-begging, the Buddha, knowing his past deeds, had the assembly of monks divide the Vinaya into five schools, with five colors of robes as well. He instructed each day to follow the practice of one school, and then instituted protocols, each bringing out its strengths, and named their robe colors: The Dharmagupta school, having penetrated the flavor of principle, guiding and benefiting, manifesting what is sublime, should wear red robes, though not the red of the south. The Sarvâstivāda school, having broad understanding and keen discernment, guiding through Dharma transformation, should wear black robes, though not the black of the north. The Kāśyapīya school, diligent and courageous, swiftly gathering sentient beings, should wear magnolia-bark colored robes. The Mahīśāsaka school, whose contemplation enters the profound and subtle, thoroughly penetrating the hidden and esoteric, should wear green-blue robes, though not the green of the east. The Mahāsāṃghika school, diligently studying the scriptures, expounding the true meaning, occupying the root and dwelling in the center, should wear yellow robes, though not the yellow of the center. From that time on, they obtained abundant food. In this way, five-colored robes were used to manifest the characteristics of the five schools."