record of buddhistic kingdoms-第15章
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ted floor。 One priest took the pulpit after another； and the hearers nodded their heads occasionally； and indicated their sympathy now and then by an audible 〃h'm；〃 which reminded me of Carlyle's description of meetings of 〃The Ironsides〃 of Cromwell。
＇16＇ This last statement is wanting in the Chinese editions。
＇17＇ There was a Kasyapa Buddha； anterior to Sakyamuni。 But this Maha… kasyapa was a Brahman of Magadha； who was converted by Buddha； and became one of his disciples。 He took the lead after Sakyamuni's death； convoked and directed the first synod； from which his title of Arya… sthavira is derived。 As the first compiler of the Canon； he is considered the fountain of Chinese orthodoxy； and counted as the first patriarch。 He also is to be reborn as Buddha。 Eitel； p。 64。
＇18＇ The bhikshunis are the female monks or nuns； subject to the same rules as the bhikshus； and also to special ordinances of restraint。 See Hardy's E。 M。； chap。 17。 See also Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xx； p。 321。
＇19＇ The Sramaneras are the novices； male or female； who have vowed to observe the Shikshapada； or ten commandments。 Fa…hien was himself one of them from his childhood。 Having heard the Trisharana； or threefold formula of Refuge；〃I take refuge in Buddha； the Law； the Church； the novice undertakes to observe the ten precepts that forbid （1） destroying life； （2） stealing； （3） impurity； （4） lying； （5） intoxicating drinks； （6） eating after midday； （7） dancing； singing； music； and stage…plays； （8） garlands； scents； unguents； and ornaments； （9） high or broad couches； （10） receiving gold or silver。〃 Davids' Manual； p。 160； Hardy's E。 M。； pp。 23； 24。
＇20＇ The eldest son of Sakyamuni by Yasodhara。 Converted to Buddhism； he followed his father as an attendant； and after Buddha's death became the founder of a philosophical realistic school （vaibhashika）。 He is now revered as the patron saint of all novices； and is to be reborn as the eldest son of every future Buddha。 Eitel； p。 101。 His mother also is to be reborn as Buddha。
＇21＇ There are six （sometimes increased to ten） paramitas； 〃means of passing to nirvana：Charity； morality； patience； energy； tranquil contemplation； wisdom （prajna）； made up to ten by use of the proper means； science； pious vows； and force of purpose。 But it is only prajna which carries men across the samsara to the shores of nirvana。〃 Eitel； p。 90。
＇22＇ According to Eitel （pp。 71； 72）； 〃A famous Bodhisattva； now specially worshipped in Shan…se； whose antecedents are a hopeless jumble of history and fable。 Fa…hien found him here worshipped by followers of the mahayana school； but Hsuan…chwang connects his worship with the yogachara or tantra…magic school。 The mahayana school regard him as the apotheosis of perfect wisdom。 His most common titles are Mahamati； 〃Great wisdom；〃 and Kumara…raja； 〃King of teaching； with a thousand arms and a hundred alms…bowls。〃
＇23＇ Kwan…she…yin and the dogmas about him or her are as great a mystery as Manjusri。 The Chinese name is a mistranslation of the Sanskrit name Avalokitesvra； 〃On…looking Sovereign；〃 or even 〃On… looking Self…Existent；〃 and means 〃Regarding or Looking on the sounds of the world；〃=〃Hearer of Prayer。〃 Originally； and still in Thibet； Avalokitesvara had only male attributes； but in China and Japan （Kwannon）； this deity （such popularly she is） is represented as a woman； 〃Kwan…yin； the greatly gentle； with a thousand arms and a thousand eyes；〃 and has her principal seat in the island of P'oo…t'oo； on the China coast； which is a regular place of pilgrimage。 To the worshippers of whom Fa…hien speaks； Kwan…she…yin would only be Avalokitesvara。 How he was converted into the 〃goddess of mercy；〃 and her worship took the place which it now has in China； is a difficult inquiry； which would take much time and space； and not be brought after all； so far as I see； to a satisfactory conclusion。 See Eitel's Handbook； pp。 18…20； and his Three Lectures on Buddhism （third edition）； pp。 124…131。 I was talking on the subject once with an intelligent Chinese gentleman； when he remarked； 〃Have you not much the same thing in Europe in the worship of Mary？〃
＇24＇ Compare what is said in chap。 v。
＇25＇ This nirvana of Buddha must benot his death； but his attaining to Buddhaship。
CHAPTER XVII
SANKASYA。 BUDDHA'S ASCENT TO AND DESCENT FROM THE TRAYASTRIMSAS HEAVEN； AND OTHER LEGENDS。
From this they proceeded south…east for eighteen yojanas； and found themselves in a kingdom called Sankasya；＇1＇ at the place where Buddha came down； after ascending to the Trayastrimsas heaven；＇2＇ and there preaching for three months his Law for the benefit of his mother。＇3＇ Buddha had gone up to this heaven by his supernatural power；＇4＇ without letting his disciples know； but seven days before the completion （of the three months） he laid aside his invisibility；＇4＇ and Anuruddha；＇5＇ with his heavenly eyes；＇5＇ saw the World…honoured one； and immediately said to the honoured one； the great Mugalan； 〃Do you go and salute the World…honoured one。〃 Mugalan forthwith went； and with head and face did homage at （Buddha's） feet。 They then saluted and questioned each other； and when this was over； Buddha said to Mugalan； 〃Seven days after this I will go down to Jambudvipa；〃 and thereupon Mugalan returned。 At this time the great kings of eight countries with their ministers and people； not having seen Buddha for a long time； were all thirstily looking up for him； and had collected in clouds in this kingdom to wait for the World…honoured one。
Then the bhikshuni Utpala＇6＇ thought in her heart； 〃To…day the kings； with their ministers and people； will all be meeting （and welcoming） Buddha。 I am （but） a woman； how shall I succeed in being the first to see him？〃＇7＇ Buddha immediately； by his spirit…like power； changed her into the appearance of a holy Chakravartti＇8＇ king； and she was the foremost of all in doing reverence to him。
As Buddha descended from his position aloft in the Trayastrimsas heaven； when he was coming down； there were made to appear three flights of precious steps。 Buddha was on the middle flight； the steps of which were composed of the seven precious substances。 The king of Brahma…loka＇9＇ also made a flight of silver steps appear on the right side； （where he was seen） attending with a white chowry in his hand。 Sakra； Ruler of Devas； made （a flight of） steps of purple gold on the left side； （where he was seen） attending and holding an umbrella of the seven precious substances。 An innumerable multitude of the devas followed Buddha in his descent。 When he was come down； the three flights all disappeared in the ground； excepting seven steps； which continued to be visible。 Afterwards king Asoka； wishing to know where their ends rested； sent men to dig and see。 They went down to the yellow springs＇10＇ without reaching the bottom of the steps； and from this the king received an increase to his reverence and faith； and built a vihara over the steps； with a standing image； sixteen cubits in height； right over the middle flight。 Behind the vihara he erected a stone pillar； about fifty cubits high；＇11＇ with a lion on the top of it。＇12＇ Let into the pillar； on each of its four sides；＇13＇ there is an image of Buddha； inside and out＇14＇ shining and transparent； and pure as it were of /lapis lazuli/。 Some teachers of another doctrine＇15＇ once disputed with the Sramanas about （the right to） this as a place of residence； and the latter were having the worst of the argument； when they took an oath on both sides on the condition that； if the place did indeed belong to the Sramanas； there should be some marvellous attestation of it。 When these words had been spoken； the lion on the top gave a great roar； thus giving the proof； on which their opponents were frightened； bowed to the decision； and withdrew。
Through Buddha having for three months partaken of the food of heaven； his body emitted a heavenly fragrance； unlike that of an ordinary man。 He went immediately and bathed； and afterwards； at the spot where he did so； a bathing…house was built； which is still existing。 At the place where the bhikshuni Utpala was the first to do reverence to Buddha； a tope has now been built。
At the places where Buddha；
