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諸天傷法滅
六欲天乃至偏淨天等，見諸阿羅漢皆取滅度，各心念言﹕佛日既沒，種種禪定解脫智慧弟子，先亦滅度。是諸眾生有種種淫怒癡病，是法藥師輩今疾滅度，誰當治者？無量智慧大海中生弟子蓮華，今已乾枯；法樹摧折， 法雲散滅，大智象王既逝，象子亦隨去，法商人過去，從誰求法寶？
如偈說﹕
佛已永寂入涅槃，
諸滅結眾亦過去；
世界如是空無智，
癡冥遂增智燈滅！
爾時，諸天禮摩訶迦葉足說偈言：
耆年欲恚慢已除，
其形譬如紫金柱，
上下端嚴妙無比，
目明清淨如蓮華！
如是讚已，白大迦葉言﹕大德 迦葉！仁者知不？佛法船欲破，法城欲頹，法海欲竭，法幢欲倒，法燈欲滅；說法人欲去，行道人漸少，惡人力轉盛，當以大慈建立佛法！
爾時大迦葉心如大海，澄靜不動，良久而答：汝等善說！實如所言，世間不久無智盲冥。於是大迦葉默然受請。
爾時，諸天禮大迦葉足，忽然不現，各自還去。 |
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Gods Distressed at Dharma's Decline
The gods, from the Six Desire Heavens on up to the Heaven of Universal Purity, observed all of the Arhats opting for extinction, and each of them thought to himself, "Since the Buddha sun has set, the light of those disciples possessing all manner dhyana absorptions, liberations, and wisdom has gone out as well. All of these beings have all kinds of diseases of desire, enmity and ignorance. Now that this generation of Dharma physicians has swiftly crossed into extinction, who shall treat them? Now those lotus blossom disciples, grown up within the great sea of immeasurable wisdom, have withered and dried up. The tree of Dharma has been smashed and split apart. The cloud of Dharma has scattered and vanished. Since the great and wise king of the elephants has passed on, the offspring of the elephant have gone away as well. The merchant of Dharma has moved on, from whom shall we seek jewels of Dharma?"
As a verse says:
The Buddha's become eternally extinct; he's entered [now] Nirvana.
That company which has destroyed all bonds has also passed away.
With this the world's grown empty and devoid [now] of wisdom.
The dark of ignorance has increased; the wisdom lamp's gone out.
At that point the gods made obeisance at the feet of Mahakasyapa and uttered a verse:
This elder's already gotten rid of passion, anger and arrogance.
His figure [stands and shines] like it was a purple golden pillar.
Above, below, erect and decorous, wondrous without peer.
The brightness of his eyes is pure and like unto the lotus.
After having praised him in this manner they addressed Mahakasyapa, saying, "Venerable Mahakasyapa, is the Humane One aware or is he not, that the ship of Dharma is about to break up, the city wall of Dharma is about to collapse, the sea of Dharma is about to dry up, the banner of Dharma is about to fall, the lamp of Dharma is about to die down, the proclaimers of Dharma are about to depart, the practitioners of Dharma are becoming fewer, and the power of the depraved is now waxing full? One ought to bring forth the great kindheartedness and establish the Dharma of the Buddha."
At that time, the mind of Mahakasyapa was like a great sea, limpid, silent, and tranquil. After a goodly while he responded, "You have spoken well. Truly, it is as you describe. Before long, the world shall be devoid of wisdom, blind, and plunged in darkness." With this, Mahakasyapa silently acceded to the plea (of the gods). At that point the gods made obeisance at the feet of Mahakasyapa and suddenly disappeared, each returning whence he had come.
English translation © 1996 Dharmamitra. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of Kalavinka (http://www.teleport.com/~dh-mitra/) |
