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佛涅槃後之憍梵缽提尊者
是下座比丘頭面禮僧，右遶三匝；如金翅鳥，飛騰虛空，往到憍梵缽提所，頭面作禮，語憍梵缽提言﹕軟善大德！少欲知足，常在禪定！大迦葉問訊有語﹕今僧有大法事，付疾下來，觀眾寶聚。
是時憍缽梵提心疑，語是比丘言﹕僧將無鬥。諍事喚我耶？無有破僧者不？佛日滅度耶？是比丘言﹕實如所言。大師佛已滅度。
憍梵缽提言﹕佛滅度太疾，世間眼滅！能逐佛轉法輪將，我和尚舍利弗今何在？所答曰﹕先入涅槃。憍梵缽提言﹕大師法將，各自別離，當可奈何！摩訶目犍連今在何所？是比丘言﹕是亦滅度。
憍梵缽提言﹕佛法欲散，大人過去，眾生可愍。﹕問長老阿難今何所作？是比丘言﹕長老阿難，佛滅度後憂愁啼哭，迷悶不能自喻。憍梵缽提言﹕阿難懊惱，由有愛結，別離生苦。羅侯羅復云何？答言：羅侯羅得阿羅漢故，無憂無愁，但觀諸法無常相。
待續 |
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Gavāmpati after the Buddha's
The subordinate  made full reverential prostrations before the Sangha, circumambulated them three times and then, like the great golden-winged bird, flew straight up into space, went to the dwelling place of Gavāmpati, made full reverential prostrations, and said to Gavāmpati, "Oh, supple, good and greatly virtuous one who has few desires, knows sufficiency, and constantly dwells in dhyāna absorption,  pays his respects and sends this message: 'Now the Sangha has taken up a great matter of Dharma. You may descend immediately to survey the congregation of a multitude of jewels.'"
At this time, doubts arose in Gavāmpati's mind and he said to this , "The generals of Dharma don't have any matters in dispute wherefore they summon me to come, do they? There isn't anyone causing a schism in the Sangha, is there? Has the Buddha, the Sun, crossed into extinction?"
This said, "It is truly as you say. The Great Master, the Buddha, has already crossed into extinction."
Gavāmpati said, "The Buddha has passed into extinction too swiftly. The eye of the world has perished. That Dharma-Wheel-turning general capable of continuing on after the Buddha, my Upādhyāya, Sāriputra, ——where is he now?"
He replied, "He has already entered ."
Gavāmpati said, "The Dharma generals of the Great Master have each taken their leave. That could be a problem. Mahāmaudgalyāyana? Where is he now?"
The said, "That one too has crossed into extinction."
Gavāmpati said, "The Dharma of the Buddha is about to become scattered. The great men have passed on. Those beings [who remain] are to be pitied." He asked, "The Venerable Ananda. What is he doing now?"
This said, "After the Buddha crossed into extinction, the Venerable Ananda was so overcome with sorrow, whimpered so, wept so, and became so confused and desolate, that there is no way I can describe it."
Gavāmpati said, "Ananda is so grief-stricken because he still possesses the fetters of affection and experiences the [consequent] suffering of separation. Rāhula? How was he?"
[The ] replied, "Because Rāhula attained Arhatship, he was neither sorrowful nor melancholy. He simply meditated upon [the topic of] all dharmas being characterized by impermanence."
To be continued
English translation © 1996 Dharmamitra. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of Kalavinka (http://www.teleport.com/~dh-mitra/) |
has taken up a great matter of Dharma. You may come immediately.'"