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第19章

a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第19章

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considered   the   fountain   of   Chinese   orthodoxy;   and   counted   as   the   first 

patriarch。 He also is to be reborn as Buddha。 Eitel; p。 64。 



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     '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 



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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。 



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                           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; 



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(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

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