32. Extraordinary Qualities （三二）未曾有法经

unparalled, attendant, thin, asura, earthquake
and jampada, ugra, hand, each two

I have heard thus:

Once, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Shravasti, staying at the Jetavana Anathapindika Monastery in the Anathapindaka Grove.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda rose from his afternoon meditation, went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! I have heard that the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa. If the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa, and was reborn in the Tuṣita Heaven. If the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa, and was reborn in the Tuṣita Heaven, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa, and was reborn in the Tuṣita Heaven. The World-Honored One was later reborn with three superior qualities compared to the previous beings in the Tuṣita Heaven: heavenly lifespan, heavenly appearance, and heavenly fame. Because of this, the Tuṣita devas rejoiced and exclaimed, 'This deva is truly extraordinary! He has great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers. Why is that? Because he was later reborn with three superior qualities compared to the previous beings in the Tuṣita Heaven: heavenly lifespan, heavenly appearance, and heavenly fame.' If the World-Honored One first aspired to the Buddha Way and practiced the holy life under the Buddha Kasyapa, and was reborn in the Tuṣita Heaven, and the World-Honored One was later reborn with three superior qualities compared to the previous beings in the Tuṣita Heaven: heavenly lifespan, heavenly appearance, and heavenly fame. Because of this, the Tuṣita devas rejoiced and exclaimed, 'This deva is truly extraordinary! He has great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers. Why is that? Because he was later reborn with three superior qualities compared to the previous beings in the Tuṣita Heaven: heavenly lifespan, heavenly appearance, and heavenly fame,' I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was in the Tuṣita Heaven, he knew that he would be reborn in his mother's womb. At that time, the entire earth shook, and a great wondrous light universally illuminated the world, even reaching the dark and hidden places without obstruction. It is said that the sun and moon have great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers, and their light reaches even the places that are not illuminated. Because of this wondrous light, all beings know that a wondrous being is born, a wondrous being is born. If the World-Honored One was in the Tuṣita Heaven, he knew that he would be reborn in his mother's womb. At that time, the entire earth shook, and a great wondrous light universally illuminated the world, even reaching the dark and hidden places without obstruction. It is said that the sun and moon have great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers, and their light reaches even the places that are not illuminated. Because of this wondrous light, all beings know that a wondrous being is born, a wondrous being is born, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that the World-Honored One knew that he was dwelling in his mother's womb, leaning on his right side. If the World-Honored One knew that he was dwelling in his mother's womb, leaning on his right side, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One. I have heard that the World-Honored One stretched out his body while dwelling in his mother's womb. If the World-Honored One stretched out his body while dwelling in his mother's womb, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One. I have heard that the World-Honored One concealed himself while dwelling in his mother's womb, not being defiled by blood, nor by semen or any impurities. If the World-Honored One concealed himself while dwelling in his mother's womb, not being defiled by blood, nor by semen or any impurities, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One knew that he was to be born from his mother's womb, at that time the entire earth shook, and a great wondrous light universally illuminated the world, even reaching the dark and hidden places without obstruction. It is said that the sun and moon have great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers, and their light reaches even the places that are not illuminated. Because of this wondrous light, all beings know that a wondrous being is born, a wondrous being is born. If the World-Honored One knew that he was to be born from his mother's womb, at that time the entire earth shook, and a great wondrous light universally illuminated the world, even reaching the dark and hidden places without obstruction. It is said that the sun and moon have great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers, and their light reaches even the places that are not illuminated. Because of this wondrous light, all beings know that a wondrous being is born, a wondrous being is born, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that the World-Honored One stretched out his body when leaving his mother's womb. If the World-Honored One stretched out his body when leaving his mother's womb, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One. I have heard that the World-Honored One concealed himself when leaving his mother's womb, not being defiled by blood, nor by semen or any impurities. If the World-Honored One concealed himself when leaving his mother's womb, not being defiled by blood, nor by semen or any impurities, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was first born, four celestial beings held extremely fine garments in their hands, standing before his mother, causing her to rejoice, praising this child as very extraordinary, very special, with great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers. If the World-Honored One, when first born, had four celestial beings holding fine garments in their hands, standing before his mother, causing her to rejoice, praising this child as very extraordinary, very special, with great spiritual powers, great authority, great merit, and great supernatural powers, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was first born, he immediately took seven steps, not afraid, not terrified, not fearful, surveying the directions. If the World-Honored One, when first born, immediately took seven steps, not afraid, not terrified, not fearful, surveying the directions, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was first born, a large pond then appeared before his mother, its water full to the banks, allowing her to use it for purification. If the World-Honored One, when first born, a large pond then appeared before his mother, its water full to the banks, allowing her to use it for purification, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was first born, rain water poured down from the sky above, one part cold and one part warm, washing the body of the World-Honored One. If the World-Honored One, when first born, rain water poured down from the sky above, one part cold and one part warm, washing the body of the World-Honored One, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that when the World-Honored One was first born, the devas above played heavenly music and scattered heavenly blue lotus flowers, red lotus flowers, pink lotus flowers, white lotus flowers, heavenly mandārava flowers, and fine sandalwood powder over the World-Honored One. If the World-Honored One, when first born, the devas above played heavenly music and scattered heavenly blue lotus flowers, red lotus flowers, pink lotus flowers, white lotus flowers, heavenly mandārava flowers, and fine sandalwood powder over the World-Honored One, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was in his father King Śuddhodana's house, watching the plowing in the daytime, sitting under a rose apple tree, separated from desire, separated from evil and unwholesome states, with initial and sustained thought, separated joy and bliss, attained the first absorption and dwelt in it. At that time, in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the rose apple tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One. Then Śuddhodana went to see the plowing and asked the workers, 'Where is the boy?' The workers replied, 'The heavenly boy is now under the rose apple tree.' Then Śuddhodana went to the rose apple tree. At that time, Śuddhodana saw in the middle of the day that the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the rose apple tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One. He then thought, 'This boy is truly amazing! He has great spiritual powers, great virtue, great merit, and great spiritual power. Why is that? In the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees move, but only the rose apple tree's shadow does not move, shading the boy's body.' If the World-Honored One, in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the rose apple tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling in the great forest near Vaiśālī. Then, the World-Honored One, having passed the night, put on his robes, took his alms bowl, entered the city of Vaiśālī to beg for food, finished begging for food, put away his robes and bowl, washed his hands and feet, put his sitting mat over his shoulder, went into the forest, to the foot of a śāla tree, spread out his sitting mat, and sat down cross-legged. At that time, in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the śāla tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One. Then Mahānāma Śākya, in the middle of the day, strolling, went to the great forest. Mahānāma Śākya saw in the middle of the day that the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the śāla tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One. He then thought, 'The Śramaṇa Gautama is truly amazing! He has great spiritual powers, great virtue, great merit, and great spiritual power. Why is that? In the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees move, but only the śāla tree's shadow does not move, shading the body of the Śramaṇa Gautama.' If the World-Honored One, in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the śāla tree's shadow did not move, shading the body of the World-Honored One, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling in the great forest near Vaiśālī. At that time, the bhikṣus placed their bowls in the open air. Then, the World-Honored One's bowl was also among them. A monkey took the Buddha's bowl and went away. The bhikṣus scolded, 'Fear it will break the Buddha's bowl!' The Buddha told the bhikṣus, 'Stop! Stop! Do not scold! It will not break the bowl.' Then, the monkey took the Buddha's bowl and went to a śāla tree. Slowly climbing the tree, it took honey from the śāla tree and filled the bowl. Slowly descending the tree, it returned to where the Buddha was. It then offered the honey bowl to the World-Honored One, but the World-Honored One did not accept it. Then, the monkey went to one side, removed the insects, and returned to offer it to the Buddha, but the Buddha still did not accept it. The monkey again went to one side, added water to the honey, and returned to offer it to the Buddha. The World-Honored One then accepted it. Seeing the Buddha accept the honey bowl, the monkey was joyful and delighted. It backed away, danced, whirled, and left. If the World-Honored One allowed that monkey to see the Buddha accept the honey bowl, be joyful and delighted, back away, dance, whirl, and leave, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling near Vaiśālī by the river where the monkeys drink, in a high pavilion. At that time, the World-Honored One was sunning his sitting mat, shaking it and dusting it. Then, a great untimely cloud came and covered the sky, wanting to rain but holding back, waiting for the World-Honored One. The World-Honored One, having sunned his sitting mat, shaken it and dusted it, put it in one place, took up his broom, and stood on the foundation of the building. Then, the great cloud, seeing the World-Honored One put away his sitting mat, immediately poured down heavy rain, filling the low and high places. If the World-Honored One allowed that great cloud, seeing the World-Honored One put away his sitting mat, to immediately pour down heavy rain, filling the low and high places, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling among the Mallas, at the Hot Spring Grove, sitting under the king of śāla trees. At that time, in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the king of śāla trees did not move its shadow, shading the body of the World-Honored One. Then, the park keeper Rāma, while walking through the park, saw that in the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees moved, but only the king of śāla trees did not move its shadow, shading the body of the World-Honored One. He then thought: 'The Śramaṇa Gautama is indeed wondrous! He is indeed extraordinary! He has great supernatural powers, great authority, great merit, and great spiritual power. Why is that? In the middle of the day, the shadows of all the other trees move, but only the king of śāla trees does not move its shadow, shading the body of the Śramaṇa Gautama.' If the World-Honored One, in the middle of the day, allowed the shadows of all the other trees to move, but only the king of śāla trees did not move its shadow, shading the body of the World-Honored One, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling in a cave named Afu. At that time, the World-Honored One, after the night had passed, put on his robe, took his alms bowl, entered the Afu village to beg for food, finished begging for food, put away his robe and bowl, washed his hands and feet, put his sitting mat on his shoulder, entered the cave, and sat in meditation. At that time, there was a great thunderstorm with hail, which killed four oxen and two plowmen. When they were being buried, the crowd was noisy, with loud voices and sounds. Then, the World-Honored One, in the afternoon, rose from his meditation, left the cave, and walked in the open air. At that time, someone in the crowd saw the World-Honored One, in the afternoon, rise from his meditation, leave the cave, and walk in the open air. He then went to the Buddha, bowed his head, and followed the Buddha on his walk. The Buddha saw him behind him and asked him: 'Why is the crowd so noisy, with loud voices and sounds?' He replied: 'World-Honored One! Today there was a great thunderstorm with hail, which killed four oxen and two plowmen. When they were being buried, the crowd was noisy, with loud voices and sounds. World-Honored One! Didn't you hear the sound just now?' The World-Honored One replied: 'I did not hear the sound.' He further asked: 'World-Honored One! Were you sleeping just now?' He replied: 'No.' He further asked: 'World-Honored One! Were you awake and did not hear this loud sound?' He replied: 'Yes.' At that time, that person then thought: 'How wonderful! How extraordinary! The practice of the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is extremely peaceful and tranquil. Why is that? He was awake and did not hear this loud sound.' If the World-Honored One, being awake, did not hear this loud sound, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One was dwelling by the Nairañjanā River in Magadha, under the Ajapāla Nyagrodha tree, having just attained Buddhahood. At that time, there was a heavy rain for seven days, filling the high and low places, with floodwaters flowing everywhere. The World-Honored One walked in the open air in the midst of that, and dust arose from the place. If the World-Honored One walked in the open air in the midst of that floodwater, and dust arose from the place, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once Māra the Evil One pursued the Buddha for six years, seeking his faults, but was unable to find an opportunity. Disappointed, he returned. If the World-Honored One was pursued by Māra the Evil One for six years, seeking his faults, but was unable to find an opportunity, and Māra returned disappointed, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

I have heard that once the World-Honored One contemplated the body for seven years, constantly contemplating without interruption. If the World-Honored One contemplated the body for seven years, constantly contemplating without interruption, I will uphold this as a rare and wonderful quality of the World-Honored One.

Then the World-Honored One said, "Ānanda! You should uphold this rare and wonderful quality of the Tathāgata. Ānanda! The Tathāgata knows the arising, abiding, and cessation of knowledge, always knowing, never unknowing. Ānanda! The Tathāgata knows the arising, abiding, and cessation of thoughts, always knowing, never unknowing. Therefore, Ānanda! You should uphold this rare and wonderful quality of the Tathāgata.

The Buddha spoke thus. Venerable Ānanda and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.