37.3 （三）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at the Lion's Grove in the country of Vārāṇasī.

The venerable Śāriputra, the venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana, the venerable Mahākāśyapa, the venerable Revata, the venerable Ānanda, and others, a total of five hundred people. At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, and Aniruddha went to where Śāriputra in the morning. Ānanda saw from afar the three great śrāvakas going to where Śāriputra and said to Revata, "The three great śrāvakas are going to where Śāriputra. The two of us should also go to where Śāriputra. The reason is that we have heard that Śāriputra speaks wonderful Dharma."

Revata replied, "This is possible."

At that time, Revata and Ānanda went to where Śāriputra. At that time, Śāriputra said, "Welcome, all virtuous ones! Take a seat here." At that time, Śāriputra said to Ānanda, "I now wish to ask: 'This Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park is extremely pleasant, with natural heavenly fragrances spreading far and wide. How can this park be made pleasant?'"

Ānanda replied, "If a bhikṣu has heard much and does not forget, comprehending the meaning and flavor of the Dharma, fully practicing the brahmacarya, possessing all these dharmas without leaking or losing them, and expounding the Dharma to the four assemblies without losing the sequence, without being abrupt, without disordered thoughts. In this way, a bhikṣu is happy in this Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park."

At that time, Śāriputra said to Revata, "Ānanda has just now explained it. I now wish to ask you about the meaning. The Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park is as pleasant as this. Now you should explain next, what is the meaning?"

Revata replied, "In this way, a bhikṣu delights in a secluded place, contemplating and sitting in meditation, in accord with right contemplation. In this way, a bhikṣu delights in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park."

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra said to Aniruddha, "You should now explain the meaning of delight."

Aniruddha replied, "If a bhikṣu has the divine eye and can see the classes of beings, those who die and are born, the good and bad forms, the good and bad destinies, the beautiful and ugly, he knows them all. There are sentient beings whose body, speech, and mind do evil, who slander the sages, and when their bodies perish and their lives end, they are born in hell. There are also sentient beings whose body, speech, and mind do good, who do not slander the sages. It is like a man looking at the sky, seeing everything without exception. A bhikṣu with the divine eye is also like this, seeing the world without any doubt. In this way, a bhikṣu in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park is happy in this way."

At that time, Śāriputra said to Kāśyapa, "I now tell you. These wise ones have explained the meaning of happiness. You should now explain it next."

Kāśyapa replied, "If a bhikṣu practices the practice of araṇya, and also teaches others to practice araṇya, praising the virtues of tranquility; himself wearing patched robes, and also teaching others to practice dhuta; himself content, dwelling in a secluded place, and also teaching others to cultivate that practice; himself with complete precepts, samadhi, wisdom, liberation, and liberation-wisdom, and also teaching others to practice that Dharma; praising the Dharma and being able to inspire others, and also teaching others to practice that Dharma; teaching without ever being satisfied. In this way, a bhikṣu is incomparably happy in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park."

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra said to Mahāmaudgalyāyana, "The wise ones have explained the meaning of happiness. You should now explain the meaning of happiness. The happiness in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park is incomparable. How do you wish to explain it?"

Maudgalyāyana replied, "In this way, a bhikṣu has great supernatural powers and is free in supernatural powers. He can transform countless thousands of things without difficulty, and can also divide one body into countless bodies, or re-combine them into one. He can pass through stone walls and mountains, and rise and sink freely. He is like a swift river, like a flying bird leaving no trace in the sky. He is like a raging fire burning mountains and fields, and is like the sun and moon illuminating everywhere. He can also raise his hand to touch the sun and moon, and can transform his body to reach the Brahma heavens. Such a bhikṣu should be in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park."

At that time, Maudgalyāyana said to Śāriputra, "We each speak according to our eloquence. We now ask Śāriputra about the meaning. The Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park is extremely happy. What kind of bhikṣu should be in it?"

Śāriputra said, "If a bhikṣu can subdue the mind, then the mind cannot subdue the bhikṣu. If that bhikṣu wishes to attain samādhi, then that bhikṣu can attain samādhi. He can accomplish it according to his wishes, whether near or far. It is like a householder's house with fine clothes stored in a box. Then that householder can take whatever clothes he wants without difficulty. He can also enter samādhi according to his wishes. It is like this. The mind can control the bhikṣu, not the bhikṣu controlling the mind. Entering samādhi according to one's wishes is also like this. Such a bhikṣu can control the mind, not the mind controlling the bhikṣu. Such a person should be in the Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park."

At that time, Śāriputra said to the wise ones, "We each speak according to our eloquence. We each speak well according to our abilities. Now we should all go together to ask the World-Honored One, 'How can a bhikṣu enjoy this Vṛṣabhadhvaja Park?' If the World-Honored One says something, we should all practice it."

The bhikṣus replied, "Yes, Śāriputra!"

At that time, the great śrāvakas went together to where the Tathāgata was. Having arrived, they bowed their heads at his feet and sat to one side. At that time, the great śrāvakas fully informed the Buddha of this cause and condition. At that time, the World-Honored One said, "Excellent! As Ānanda has said. The reason is this: Bhikṣu Ānanda hears the Dharma and is able to uphold it, comprehensively embracing all dharmas and fully practicing the holy life. Such a Dharma is well-heard and not forgotten, without wrong views, and he expounds the Dharma to the four assemblies, his words are not mistaken or confused, nor are they abrupt.

The words spoken by Bhikṣu Liuyue are also excellent! The reason is this: He delights in solitary places, not dwelling among people, always contemplating sitting in meditation, without disputes or arguments, in accord with tranquility and insight, dwelling in solitude and quietude.

Bhikṣu Aniruddha is also excellent! The reason is this: Bhikṣu Aniruddha has the foremost divine eye. With his divine eye, he observes the trichiliocosm as if a person with eyes were looking at a pearl in the palm of their hand. Bhikṣu Aniruddha is also like this. With his divine eye, he observes this trichiliocosm without any difficulty.

Now Bhikṣu Kāśyapa is also excellent! The reason is this: Bhikṣu Kāśyapa himself practices the conduct of an araṇya ascetic and is also able to praise the conduct of solitary dwelling; he himself begs for alms and is also able to praise the virtue of begging for alms; he himself wears patched robes and is also able to praise the virtue of patched robes; he himself is content and is also able to praise the virtue of contentment; he himself dwells in caves and also praises the virtue of caves; he himself has accomplished the precepts, samadhi, wisdom, liberation, and the vision and wisdom of liberation, and is also able to teach others to accomplish these five parts of the Dharma body; he himself is able to teach and transform, and is also able to teach others to practice the Dharma.

Excellent! Excellent! As what Maudgalyāyana has said. The reason is this: Bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana has great power and the foremost supernatural powers. His mind is free and he can accomplish whatever he wishes. He can transform one body into myriads of billions, or combine them back into one. He can pass through stone walls without obstruction, rising and sinking freely. He is like a swift current, without any obstruction. Like a bird in the sky, he leaves no footprints. Like the sun and moon, he illuminates everywhere. He can transform his body up to the Brahma Heaven.

Excellent! As what Śāriputra has said. The reason is this: Śāriputra is able to subdue the mind, and the mind cannot subdue Śāriputra. When he wishes to enter samadhi, he can accomplish it without any difficulty, just as a householder can take whatever fine clothes he wants without any difficulty. Bhikṣu Śāriputra is also like this. He is able to subdue the mind, and the mind cannot subdue Śāriputra. He can enter samadhi according to his wishes, all before him.

"Excellent! Excellent! Bhikṣus! What you have said is each according to your expedient means. But now, listen to what I have to say. How do bhikṣus enjoy the Ox-Lion Park? If a bhikṣu lives near a village, he goes there at the right time, puts on his robe, takes his alms bowl, enters the village to beg for food, and returns to his place after begging for food. He washes his hands and face, sits upright with his legs crossed under a tree, and focuses his mind in front of him. The bhikṣu then thinks: 'I will not break this sitting until I have exhausted all defilements and attained purity.' At that time, the bhikṣu's defiled mind is liberated. Thus, bhikṣus should be in the Ox-Lion Park. Thus, bhikṣus should always be diligent and not lazy. Wherever they are, they will be respected. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train like this."

At that time, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said, and joyfully practiced it.