|
li
in width and each of
the wings fifteen hundred
li
in length. I shall haunt the forests to devour the
feathered tribes (birds) and enter the waters to eat aquatic animals.” After he
made this vow his anger gradually abated, and through hard work he regained
his original meditative state soon afterward. Before long he died and was
reborn in the Heaven of Neither Thought Nor Non-thought, enjoying a life
span of eighty thousand
kalpa
s. The Tathāgata predicted that after the con-
clusion of his heavenly life the hermit would realize his original vow and be
reborn as the ugly creature. From that time on he would cycle in the evil
states of transmigration without a fixed time for his release.
To the east of the Mahā River I entered a great jungle and, going for more
than one hundred
li,
I reached Kukkuṭapāda (known as Jizu, “Cock’s Foot,”
in Chinese) Mountain, also called Gurupāda (known as Zunzu, “Sage’s Foot,”
in Chinese) Mountain. The lofty peaks are extremely steep and the deep
valleys seem to be bottomless. At the foot of the mountain and among the
brooks there are tall trees in the valleys, and the peaks and cliffs are covered
in luxuriant green grass. There are three precipitous, cloud-capped peaks,
nearly touching the sky. Because Venerable Mahākāśyapa entered nirvana
on this mountain people of later times, not wishing to mention his name inap-
propriately, called it Guru’s Foot Mountain.
Mahākāśyapa was a
śrāvaka
disciple [of the Buddha] who achieved the
six supernatural powers and possessed the eight forms of liberation. When
the Tathāgata had completed his career of edification and was about to enter
nirvana, he told Kāśyapa, “For innumerable
kalpa
s I diligently practiced aus-
terities seeking the supreme Dharma for the benefit of all living beings. As
I have now fulfilled my desire and expectation that I wished for in the past,
I am going to enter
mahānirvāṇa.
I entrust to you the Dharma
piṭaka
and
233
919c
The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions
you should preserve and spread it and never let it degrade. I will leave behind
the golden-thread
kaṣāya
that my aunt offered to me, to be transmitted to
Maitreya when he becomes a buddha in the future. All those who cultivate
themselves in my bequeathed teaching, whether
bhikṣu
s,
bhikṣunī
s,
upāsaka
s,
or
upāsikā
s (male and female lay devotees), should first be delivered from
the cycle of transmigration.”
Having received the Buddha’s instructions, Kāśyapa upheld the right Dharma.
In the twentieth year after the conclusion of the Great Council he grew tired
of the impermanent world and wished to enter nirvana. He went to Kukkuṭa
Mountain and climbed the north side of the mountain; going by a roundabout
route he reached the southwest ridge. The peaks are dangerous and difficult to
ascend, and the paths are tortuous and overgrown with weeds. He cleared the
way with his pewter staff and cut down the weeds as if he were using a knife.
After he had opened the mountain path he proceeded along the roundabout
route in a crisscross manner. On reaching the summit he faced the northeast.
Standing amid the three peaks, he held the Buddha’s
kaśāya
[robe] in both
hands and, by the power of his vow, the three peaks closed together, leaving
behind the three protuberant ridges we see now.
When Maitreya comes to the world as a World-honored One he will preach
the Dharma in three assemblies. After that there will still be numerous arrogant
people who will ascend this mountain and come to the place of Kāśyapa.
Maitreya will snap his fingers, and the mountain peaks will open by them-
selves, and, seeing Kāśyapa, the people will become all the more arrogant.
At this moment Mahākāśyapa will hand over the
kaṣāya
[to Maitreya]. After
making a speech and paying homage [to the new buddha] Kāśyapa will rise
into the air and manifest various divine transformations. A fire will burst
forth to cremate his body and in this manner he will enter nirvana. Having
seen this sight, the people will abandon their pride and then will be awakened
and realize sainthood. Therefore a stupa has been built on the mountain. On
quiet nights a burning torch can be seen from a distance, but if one goes up
the mountain nothing can be seen.
Going more than one hundred
li
northeast from Kukkuṭapāda Mountain
I reached Buddhavana Mountain with its lofty peaks and steep cliffs. Among
the rocks is a cave where the Buddha once stayed. Beside the cave is a huge
rock on which Indra and Brahmā pulverized oxhead sandalwood and rubbed
234
920a
Fascicle IX
the body of the Tathāgata with the powder. Even now the rock retains a strong
fragrance. The latent spirits of the five hundred arhats remain here. Those
who have the chance to meet them may see them appearing as
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