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大迦葉只選一千阿羅漢
問曰﹕是時，有如是等無數阿羅漢，何以止選取千人，不多取耶？
答曰﹕頻婆娑羅王得道，八萬四千官屬亦各得道。是時，王教敕宮中，常設飯食，例養千人；阿闍世王不斷是法。爾時，大迦葉思惟言﹕若我等常乞食者，當有外道強來難問，廢闕法事；今王舍城常設飯食，供給千人，是中可住結集經藏。以是故，選取千人，不得多取。
結集經藏 阿難受逐
是時，大迦葉與千人俱，到王舍城耆闍崛山中。告語阿世王﹕給我等食，日日送來，今我等結集經藏，不得他行。是中下安居三月，初十五日說戒時，集和合僧。
大迦葉入禪定，以天眼觀，今是眾中，誰有煩惱未盡應逐出者！唯有阿難一人 不盡，餘九百九十九人諸漏已盡，清淨無垢。大迦葉從禪定起，眾中手牽阿難出，言﹕今清淨眾中結集經藏，汝結未盡，不應住此！
是時，阿難慚恥悲泣，而自念言﹕我二十五年隨侍世尊，供給左右，未曾得如是苦惱；佛實大德，慈悲含忍。念已，白大迦葉言﹕我能有力，久可得道；但諸佛法，阿羅漢者不得供給左右使令；以是故，我留殘結不盡斷耳。
大迦葉言﹕汝更有罪！佛意不欲聽女人出家，以汝殷勤勸請，佛聽為道；以是故，佛之正法，五百歲而衰微，是汝突吉羅罪！阿難言﹕我憐愍瞿曇彌，又三世諸佛法皆有四部眾，我釋迦文佛云何獨無！
待續 |
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Why Mahakasyapa Chose 1000 Arhats
Question: At this time there were innumerable Arhats such as these. Why did he select only a thousand men and no more?
Answer: When King Bimbisāra gained the Way, 84,000 other officials and subordinates also gained the Way. At that time the King instructed those in the palace to always prepare enough food to make offerings to a thousand people. King Bimbisāra did not suspend this practice. At that time  thought, "If we are always having to [go forth and] beg for food, there will be non-Buddhists who insist on aggressively imposing themselves [on us] with objections and queries, [causing] inefficiency and lapses in [our] Dharmic endeavors. Now, in the city of  , [they] always prepare food to donate to a thousand people. We shall be able to dwell here to collect and compile the repository of scriptures. Because of this he selected 1000 people and was unable to choose more.
Ananda's Banishment from the Dharma-Compilation Council
At that time Mahakasyapa arrived with a thousand men at the city of Rajagrha on Mount Grdhrakuta. He informed King Ajatasatru, "In providing food for us, have it brought to us each day. We are now in the process of compiling and collecting the repositories of scriptures and cannot be distracted by other activities." They dwelt therein for the three months of the summer retreat. During the initial fifteen days, at the time of the recitation of the prohibitions, they assembled the harmonious Sangha together.
Mahakasyapa entered dhyana absorption and, using the heavenly eye, surveyed the Assembly to see who still had afflictions which had not been brought to an end and thus who should be expelled therefrom. There was but one person, Ananda, who had not put them to an end. The other nine hundred and ninety-nine had ended all outflows, were pure, and were devoid of defilements. Mahakasyapa arose from dhyana absorption and, from the midst of the Assembly, pulled Ananda out by the hand, saying, "We are now engaged in collecting and compiling the repository of scriptures in the midst of the pure Assembly. Because your fetters have not yet been brought to an end, you should not remain here."
At this time Ananda was ashamed, wept sorrowfully, and thought to himself, "For twenty-five years I have followed along with and served the World Honored One, providing him with assistance. Never before have I been so bitterly distressed! The Buddha was truly greatly virtuous, kind, compassionate and patient. After he had this thought, he addressed Mahakasyapa, saying, "The strength of my abilities is such that I could have gained the Way long ago. It's just that the Arhats in the Buddha's Dharma wouldn't provide assistance or carry out directives. It is only because of this that I retain residual fetters which haven't yet been entirely cut off."
Ananda said, "I felt pity for Gautami. Moreover, the Dharma of all Buddhas of the three ages has had a fourfold community. Why then should only our Shakyamuni Buddha be without it?"
English translation © 1996 Dharmamitra. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of Kalavinka (http://www.teleport.com/~dh-mitra/)
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