迦葉赴佛般涅槃經

In former times, when the Buddha still dwelt in the world, Mahākāśyapa, among the bhikkhus, was the eldest and most venerable, accomplished, with bright and lucid wisdom. His body also had the color of pure gold and was endowed with the auspicious marks. Whenever the Buddha taught the Dharma, he would often sit facing the Buddha; when the people saw this, they mistakenly said that he was the Buddha’s teacher.

At that time Kāśyapa took leave of the Buddha and went to dwell on a mountain named Universal Capability in the Yi Si Li mountains. That mountain had a circumference of one thousand li, was twenty-six thousand li from the country of Śrāvastī, and often produced the seven treasures in great abundance. It lacked no delicious sweet fruits, famous fragrances, or excellent medicines. There were three kinds of candana: one kind emitted a rich fragrance, one kind cured the hundred illnesses of human beings, and one kind could be used to dye in five colors. All kinds of mixed fragrances and medicines were beyond counting. There were also flying birds and running beasts: tigers, wolves, white elephants, qilin, vermilion birds, and phoenixes. There were also pure ascetics of other teachings.

On that mountain was a square, level stone whose color was like vaiḍurya, one hundred and twenty li in height and breadth. It was shaded by a rare tree with flowers and leaves of five colors; in winter and summer it grew exceedingly luxuriant, spreading over the stone.

Before and after, Kāśyapa had instructed and transmitted teachings to two thousand disciples, all of them persons of lofty and pure virtue who had attained arhatship. They would often sit upon this stone, reciting sūtras and practicing the Path.

There was also a fragrant, sweet, pure stream flowing around it for forty li. In that water were uduṃbara flowers: flowers of azure blue, flowers of rose-red, and flowers of purple.

Seven of Kāśyapa’s disciples, on the same night, had dreams:

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that the central part of the square stone on which they sat had split and broken apart, and that all the trees had been uprooted.

_ Another bhikkhu dreamed that the forty-li stream had all dried up, and that all the flowers had fallen.

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that the kola grass beside the seat had all leaned over, collapsed, and been destroyed.

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that the earth of Jampu-dvīpa had all been damaged and sunk down.

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that Mount Sumeru had crumbled and slid away.

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that the Golden Wheel-Turning King had died.

_ One bhikkhu dreamed that the sun and moon had fallen to the earth, and that the world had lost its light.

Early the next morning, when they awoke, they each brought their dream and reported it to Kāśyapa.

Kāśyapa said: “Previously, when we saw the light, the earth greatly shook. Now you have had these dreams. Thus the Buddha is about to enter parinirvāṇa.”

He then sent his disciples to hurry to the country of Kuśinagara. On the road they saw a brāhmaṇa holding māndāra flowers. Kāśyapa asked him: “From where have you come? Where do you wish to go? How did you obtain these heavenly flowers?”

He replied: “I have come from the country of Kuśinagara. It has been seven days since the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa. The devas who went to attend all held heavenly flowers and heavenly fragrances to make offerings to the Buddha’s body. These are that kind of flower.”

When Kāśyapa heard this, he threw himself to the ground, weeping and saying: “Now the Buddha has entered parinirvāṇa; the three realms have lost their light. In the future, where shall we know to take refuge?!”

He then urged the disciples to set out. Before they had gone a hundred li, they saw the Four Heavenly Kings, together with Brahmā, Śakra, and the devas, all holding parasols of the seven treasures, fine fragrances, and beautiful flowers, all going to make offerings to the Buddha. The devas played the music of the twelve divisions. There were also asura kings and great ghost-spirits filling the sky. They also saw the king of the country of Kuśinagara and the kings of neighboring countries, all bringing their officials and ministers, their numbers reaching into the hundreds of myriads.

Seeing Kāśyapa bringing his disciples, King Guimo Mallaputra at that time immediately ordered the people of the country all to clear the road so that Kāśyapa and his disciples could pass.

Aniruddha came out to welcome him. When they met, he said: “It has been seven days since the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa, yet the cremation fire cannot burn. It has only been waiting for the Venerable One to arrive.”

When Ānanda saw Kāśyapa, he threw himself to the ground and wept, unable to restrain himself. There was an old bhikkhu named Bahuo who then stopped Ānanda, saying: “Stop! Stop! When the Buddha was in the world, he constantly restrained us and did not allow us freedom. Now that the Buddha has entered parinirvāṇa, we are free. You should not weep any more.”

At that time a deva heard Bahuo speak and immediately used his hand to lift Bahuo up. Kāśyapa then came forward and caught hold of him, so the deva stopped. For Bahuo’s sake, he said: “Now the Buddha has entered parinirvāṇa, and all have lost their refuge. Only you alone, in your foolishness, instead rejoice!”

When Bahuo heard these words, he immediately understood their meaning and attained the arhat path.

Kāśyapa then, together with the disciples, bowed until their heads and faces touched the ground, made obeisance, circumambulated the coffin three times, and said in grief: “Today, we do not know where the Buddha’s head and feet are!”

By the awe-inspiring spiritual power of the Buddha, the Buddha’s feet then appeared for Kāśyapa. Among the devas and the people, there was no one who was not moved with sorrow. At that time Kāśyapa then spoke verses praising the Buddha:

“_The Buddha is the Vehicle of the Three Realms,

Crossing over the abyss of birth and death.

Calm and serene, he ascends nirvāṇa,

Subtle and wondrous, beyond the world.

_ The Buddha is Immeasurable Light,

Illuminating the darkness of delusion.

May he, for the sake of all people,

Manifest wonder and reveal his majestic spirit.

_ The Buddha is Great Compassion,

Saving innumerable beings. The Venerable Body is in the golden coffin, Pure, still, and peaceful. May he, through his gentle virtue, Let us behold the color of his body and the radiance of his marks, Causing all devas and human beings Everywhere to give rise to immeasurable merit. _ The Buddha opened and revealed the Dharma; Sentient beings were moistened by it.

They were able to halt the cycle of birth and death, Or were able to enter the True Truth. Having received the grace of the Tathāgata, With heads and faces we bow to the Buddha’s feet. _ Now we see only the golden coffin; Our minds are sorrowful and moved with grief. Though the Buddha has attained the unconditioned, The sage has realized that extinction is not truly so.

Seeing that those later may have doubts and examine, He lets his feet appear from the golden coffin. Giving rise to an understanding of this birth and death, The Buddha has no more sorrow. The Dharma-kāya and prajñā ever remain; Do not say that nirvāṇa is final.”

THE SŪTRA OF KĀŚYAPA GOING TO ATTEND THE BUDDHA’S PARINIRVĀṆA End