121. （一二一）请请经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa near Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of five hundred bhikṣus, all of whom were observing the summer retreat.

At that time, on the fifteenth day of the month, when the Buddha was about to give the Dharma talk on the characteristics of liberation, he sat on a prepared seat in front of the assembly of bhikṣus and said to them, "I am a brāhman, who has attained the end of cessation, the unsurpassed physician-king. This is my last body. I am a brāhman, who has attained the end of cessation, the unsurpassed physician-king. This is my last body. You are my true sons, born from my mouth, transformed by the Dharma. You are my true sons, born from my mouth, transformed by the Dharma. You should teach and transform each other.

At that time, Venerable Sāriputta was also in the assembly. Then Venerable Sāriputta rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! What you have just said: 'I am a brāhman, who has attained the end of cessation, the unsurpassed physician-king. This is my last body. I am a brāhman, who has attained the end of cessation, the unsurpassed physician-king. This is my last body. You are my true sons, born from my mouth, transformed by the Dharma. You are my true sons, born from my mouth, transformed by the Dharma. You should teach and transform each other.' World-Honored One! For those who are not disciplined, you discipline them; for those who are not at peace, you bring them peace; for those who are not liberated, you liberate them; for those who are not liberated from bondage, you liberate them; for those who have not attained the end of cessation, you bring them to the end of cessation; for those who have not attained the path, you bring them to the path; for those who have not established the practice of purity, you establish the practice of purity. You know the path, awaken to the path, recognize the path, and teach the path. The World-Honored One's disciples, having attained the Dharma, accept instruction, accept rebuke, accept instruction and rebuke, and then follow the World-Honored One's words and immediately practice accordingly, attaining their wishes and well understanding the true Dharma. World-Honored One! Do you not dislike my bodily, verbal, and mental actions?"

At that time, the World-Honored One said, "Sāriputta! I do not dislike your bodily, verbal, and mental actions. Why is that? Sāriputta! You have sharp wisdom, great wisdom, swift wisdom, quick wisdom, sharp wisdom, broad wisdom, deep wisdom, wisdom of transcendence, and penetrating wisdom. Sāriputta! You have accomplished true wisdom. Sāriputta! It is like a wheel-turning king who has a crown prince who does not go against the teachings and then receives the succession of the father king and is able to pass it on. In the same way, Sāriputta! I turn the wheel of the Dharma, and you are able to turn it again. Sāriputta! Therefore, I do not dislike your bodily, verbal, and mental actions."

Venerable Sāriputta again joined his palms towards the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! Do you not dislike my bodily, verbal, and mental actions? World-Honored One! Do you not dislike the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of these five hundred bhikṣus?"

The World-Honored One said, "Sāriputta! I also do not dislike the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of these five hundred bhikṣus. Why is that? Sāriputta! These five hundred bhikṣus have all attained non-attachment, their defilements are exhausted, their holy life are established, their tasks are accomplished, they have laid down their burdens, their bonds are exhausted, and they have attained the true meaning and right wisdom and liberation. Except for one bhikṣu, whom I have also previously predicted to attain ultimate wisdom in this present life, to have exhausted birth, to have established holy life, to have accomplished what was to be done, to no longer take rebirth, and to know it as it truly is. Sāriputta! Therefore, I do not dislike the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of these five hundred bhikṣus."

Venerable Sāriputta again joined his palms towards the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! You do not dislike my bodily, verbal, and mental actions, nor do you dislike the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of these five hundred bhikṣus. World-Honored One! Among these five hundred bhikṣus, how many bhikṣus have attained the three kinds of clear knowledge and insight? How many bhikṣus have attained liberation through both means? How many bhikṣus have attained liberation through wisdom?"

The World-Honored One said, "Sāriputta! Among these five hundred bhikṣus, ninety bhikṣus have attained the three kinds of clear knowledge and insight, ninety bhikṣus have attained liberation through both means, and the remaining bhikṣus have attained liberation through wisdom. Sāriputta! This assembly is without branches or leaves, without knots or bends, pure and true, and has attained correct abiding."

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was also in the assembly. Then Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "Yes, World-Honored One! Please bestow your spiritual power upon me. May the Well-Gone One bestow his spiritual power upon me, enabling me to praise in accordance with the meaning in front of the Buddha and the assembly of bhikṣus."

The World-Honored One said, "Ānanda! Do as you wish."

Then Venerable Ānanda praised in accordance with the meaning in front of the Buddha and the assembly of bhikṣus,

Today, on the fifteenth day of the invitation, the assembly of
five hundred is gathered, cutting off all bonds and fetters, the
unimpeded one with the end of existence. Pure and radiant illumination
liberated from all existence, birth, old age, sickness, and death are
exhausted, the taints are extinguished, and what is to be done
is accomplished. The bonds of remorse and doubt, the taints of
pride are exhausted, the thorn of the bond of craving is
uprooted, the supreme physician has no more. Courageous like a lion
all fears are removed, having already crossed over birth and death
all taints are extinguished. Like a wheel-turning king, surrounded by ministers
ruling over all lands, even to the great ocean, so too
is the courageous conqueror, the supreme merchant leader, disciples joyfully pay
respect, the three knowledges are free from the fear of death
All are the Buddha's children, forever removing branches, leaves, and joints
turning the supreme Dharma wheel, paying homage to the foremost honored one.

The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.