按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ddha's life referred to by Fa…hien）； or Brahmanical opponents of Buddha。 He was an ascetic； one of the Jnati clan； and is therefore called Nirgranthajnati。 He taught a system of fatalism； condemned the use of clothes； and thought he could subdue all passions by fasting。 He had a body of followers； who called themselves by his name （Eitel； pp。 84； 85）； and were the forerunners of the Jains。
＇10＇ The king was moved to this by Devadatta。 Of course the elephant disappointed them； and did homage to Sakyamuni。 See Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xx； Vinaya Texts； p。 247。
＇11＇ See chap。 xxv； note 3。 Jivaka was Ambapali's son by king Bimbisara； and devoted himself to the practice of medicine。 See the account of him in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xvii； Vinaya Texts； pp。 171…194。
CHAPTER XXIX
GRIDHRA…KUTA HILL； AND LEGENDS。 FA…HIEN PASSES A NIGHT ON IT。 HIS REFLECTIONS。
Entering the valley； and keeping along the mountains on the south… east； after ascending fifteen le； （the travellers） came to mount Gridhra…kuta。＇1＇ Three le before you reach the top； there is a cavern in the rocks； facing the south； in which Buddha sat in meditation。 Thirty paces to the north…west there is another； where Ananda was sitting in meditation； when the deva Mara Pisuna；＇2＇ having assumed the form of a large vulture； took his place in front of the cavern； and frightened the disciple。 Then Buddha； by his mysterious； supernatural power； made a cleft in the rock； introduced his hand； and stroked Ananda's shoulder； so that his fear immediately passed away。 The footprints of the bird and the cleft for （Buddha's） hand are still there； and hence comes the name of 〃The Hill of the Vulture Cavern。〃
In front of the cavern there are the places where the four Buddhas sat。 There are caverns also of the Arhats； one where each sat and meditated； amounting to several hundred in all。 At the place where in front of his rocky apartment Buddha was walking from east to west （in meditation）； and Devadatta； from among the beetling cliffs on the north of the mountain； threw a rock across； and hurt Buddha's toes；＇3＇ the rock is still there。＇4＇
The hall where Buddha preached his Law has been destroyed； and only the foundations of the brick walls remain。 On this hill the peak is beautifully green； and rises grandly up； it is the highest of all the five hills。 In the New City Fa…hien bought incense…（sticks）； flowers； oil and lamps； and hired two bhikshus； long resident （at the place）； to carry them （to the peak）。 When he himself got to it； he made his offerings with the flowers and incense； and lighted the lamps when the darkness began to come on。 He felt melancholy； but restrained his tears and said； 〃Here Buddha delivered the Surangama （Sutra）。＇5＇ I； Fa…hien； was born when I could not meet with Buddha； and now I only see the footprints which he has left； and the place where he lived； and nothing more。〃 With this； in front of the rock cavern； he chanted the Surangama Sutra； remained there over the night； and then returned towards the New City。＇6＇
NOTES
＇1＇ See chap。 xxviii； note 1。
＇2＇ See chap。 xxv； note 9。 Pisuna is a name given to Mara； and signifies 〃sinful lust。〃
＇3＇ See M。 B。； p。 320。 Hardy says that Devadatta's attempt was 〃by the help of a machine；〃 but the oldest account in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xx； Vinaya Texts； p。 245； agrees with what Fa…hien implies that he threw the rock with his own arm。
＇4＇ And； as described by Hsuan…chwang； fourteen or fifteen cubits high； and thirty paces round。
＇5＇ See Mr。 Bunyiu Nanjio's 〃Catalogue of the Chinese Translation of the Buddhist Tripitaka；〃 Sutra Pitaka； Nos。 399； 446。 It was the former of these that came on this occasion to the thoughts and memory of Fa…hien。
＇6＇ In a note （p。 lx） to his revised version of our author； Mr。 Beal says； 〃There is a full account of this perilous visit of Fa…hien； and how he was attacked by tigers； in the 'History of the High Priests。'〃 But 〃the high priests〃 merely means distinguished monks； 〃eminent monks；〃 as Mr。 Nanjio exactly renders the adjectival character。 Nor was Fa…hien 〃attacked by tigers〃 on the peak。 No 〃tigers〃 appear in the Memoir。 〃Two black lions〃 indeed crouched before him for a time this night； 〃licking their lips and waving their tails；〃 but their appearance was to 〃try；〃 and not to attack him； and when they saw him resolute； they 〃drooped their heads； put down their tails； and prostrated themselves before him。〃 This of course is not an historical account； but a legendary tribute to his bold perseverance。
CHAPTER XXX
THE SRATAPARNA CAVE； OR CAVE OF THE FIRST COUNCIL。 LEGENDS。 SUICIDE OF A BHIKSHU。
Out from the old city； after walking over 300 paces； on the west of the road； （the travellers） found the Karanda Bamboo garden；＇1＇ where the （old） vihara is still in existence； with a company of monks； who keep （the ground about it） swept and watered。
North of the vihara two or three le there was the Smasanam； which name means in Chinese 〃the field of graves into which the dead are thrown。〃＇2＇
As they kept along the mountain on the south； and went west for 300 paces； they found a dwelling among the rocks； named the Pippala cave；＇3＇ in which Buddha regularly sat in meditation after taking his （midday） meal。
Going on still to the west for five or six le； on the north of the hill； in the shade； they found the cavern called Srataparna；＇4＇ the place where； after the nirvana＇5＇ of Buddha； 500 Arhats collected the Sutras。 When they brought the Sutras forth； three lofty seats＇6＇ had been prepared and grandly ornamented。 Sariputtra occupied the one on the left； and Maudgalyayana that on the right。 Of the number of five hundred one was wanting。 Mahakasyapa was president （on the middle seat）。 Amanda was then outside the door； and could not get in。＇7＇ At the place there was （subsequently） raised a tope； which is still existing。
Along （the sides of） the hill； there are also a very great many cells among the rocks； where the various Arhans sat and meditated。 As you leave the old city on the north； and go down east for three le； there is the rock dwelling of Devadatta； and at a distance of fifty paces from it there is a large； square； black rock。 Formerly there was a bhikshu； who； as he walked backwards and forwards upon it； thought with himself：〃This body＇8＇ is impermanent； a thing of bitterness and vanity；＇9＇ and which cannot be looked on as pure。＇10＇ I am weary of this body； and troubled by it as an evil。〃 With this he grasped a knife； and was about to kill himself。 But he thought again：〃The World…honoured one laid down a prohibition against one's killing himself。〃＇11＇ Further it occurred to him：〃Yes； he did； but I now only wish to kill three poisonous thieves。〃＇12＇ Immediately with the knife he cut his throat。 With the first gash into the flesh he attained the state of a Srotapanna；＇13＇ when he had gone half through； he attained to be an Anagamin；＇14＇ and when he had cut right through； he was an Arhat； and attained to pari…nirvana；＇15＇ （and died）。
NOTES
＇1＇ Karanda Venuvana； a park presented to Buddha by king Bimbisara； who also built a vihara in it。 See the account of the transaction in M。 B。； p。 194。 The place was called Karanda； from a creature so named； which awoke the king just as a snake was about to bite him； and thus saved his life。 In Hardy the creature appears as a squirrel； but Eitel says that the Karanda is a bird of sweet voice； resembling a magpie； but herding in flocks； the /cuculus melanoleucus/。 See 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 118。
＇2＇ The language here is rather contemptuous； as if our author had no sympathy with any other mode of disposing of the dead； but by his own Buddhistic method of cremation。
＇3＇ The Chinese characters used for the name of this cavern serve also to name the pippala （peepul） tree； the /ficus religiosa/。 They make us think that there was such a tree overshadowing the cave； but Fa…hien would hardly have neglected to mention such a circumstance。
＇4＇ A very great place in the annals of Buddhism。 The Council in the Srataparna cave did not come together fortuitously； but appears to have been convoked by the older members to settle the rules and doctrines of the order。 The cave was prepared for the occasion by king Ajatasatru。 From the expression about the 〃bringing forth of the King；〃 it would seem that the Sutras or some of them had been already committed to writing。 May not the meaning of King ｛。｝ here be extended to the Vinaya rules； as well as the Sutras； and mean 〃the standards〃 of the system generally？ See Davids' Manual； chapter ix； and Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xx； Vinaya Texts； pp。 370…385。
＇5＇ So in the text； evidently for pari…nirvana。
＇6＇ Instead of 〃high〃 seats； the Chinese texts have 〃vacant。〃 The character for 〃prepared〃 denotes 〃spread；〃they were carpeted； perhaps； both cushioned and carpeted； being rugs spread on the ground； raised higher than the other places for seats。
＇7＇ Did they not contrive to let him in； with some cachinnation； even in so august an assembly； that so important a member should have been shut out？
＇8＇ 〃The life of this body〃 would； I think； fairly express the idea of the bhikshu。
＇9＇ See the account of Buddha's preaching in