SA-2 115（一一五）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, Venerable Mahākāśyapa was staying at the lecture hall of Viśākhā in the old garden. Then, at sunset, Venerable Kāśyapa arose from his meditation and went to where the Buddha was. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet and sat to one side. The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "You should instruct and teach the bhikṣus. Why is that? I always instruct, and you should be the same. I always teach them the essential Dharma, and you should be the same."

Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! These bhikṣus cannot accept instruction and are difficult to teach."

The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "Why do you not instruct and teach them?"

Kāśyapa replied, "The World-Honored One is the root of the Dharma, the guide of the Dharma, and the support of the Dharma. Excellent! World-Honored One, please explain it. After I hear it, I will accept it with utmost sincerity and uphold it."

The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "Listen well now, accept and uphold it, and remember it. I will explain it to you in detail."

Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, I wish to hear it with great joy."

The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "In the past, there was a bhikṣu who practiced the conduct of an araṇya ascetic and praised those who practiced the conduct of an araṇya ascetic. He himself begged for food and wore rag robes, praising those who begged for food and wore rag robes. He was content with few desires, always enjoying solitude and tranquility, diligently cultivating and practicing, his mind not wandering, always delighting in meditation, and ending his own afflictions, praising those who ended their afflictions. For this reason, all the bhikṣus came to be close to him and inquired after him. This bhikṣu said to those who came, 'Welcome, bhikṣu! Please sit here. What is your name? Whose disciple are you? Your conduct is virtuous and in accord with the Dharma of the śramaṇa. One who has left home should be like you, becoming a śramaṇa. If one sees you and learns from you, one will soon attain one's own benefit.' When the newly ordained bhikṣus saw this, they thought, 'There are bhikṣus who respect each other. I should also practice their conduct. I will practice the conduct of an araṇya ascetic and praise those who practice the conduct of an araṇya ascetic. I will beg for food and wear rag robes, praising those who beg for food and wear rag robes. I will be content with few desires, always enjoying solitude and tranquility, diligently cultivating and practicing, my mind not wandering, always delighting in meditation, and ending my own afflictions, praising those who end their afflictions. For this reason, all the bhikṣus will come to be close to me and comfort and inquire after me. This bhikṣu will say to those who come, "Welcome, bhikṣu! Please sit here. What is your name? Whose disciple are you? Your conduct is virtuous and in accord with the Dharma of the śramaṇa. One who has left home should be like you, becoming a śramaṇa. If one sees you and learns from you, one will soon attain one's own benefit."'" If the newly ordained ones give rise to this thought, it will be beneficial for them for a long time, they will attain meaning and happiness, and it will be called self-liberation. It will enable the true Dharma to remain in the world for a long time. Such a person will progress and never regress.

The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "If there is a bhikṣu who is born with merit and, when he first leaves home, obtains much support, with clothing, medicine, bedding, and utensils, the four things being abundant. There is also a bhikṣu who sees this bhikṣu, approaches him, speaks with him, and comforts and inquires after him. At that time, this bhikṣu says to that bhikṣu, 'What is your name? Whose disciple are you? You are born with merit and obtain much support, with clothing, medicine, bedding, and utensils, the four things being abundant. If there is a bhikṣu who approaches you, the four things will not be lacking.' If there are newly ordained bhikṣus who see this, they should think, 'There are bhikṣus born with merit who respect each other. I should also practice such conduct. I will provide clothing, bedding, food, and medicine, the four things being abundant, and always be bountiful.' If the newly ordained bhikṣus give rise to such thoughts and learn such things, this is called long-term decline, without any benefit or benefit and happiness. It is not the Dharma of the śramaṇa, experiencing various sufferings, called self-depreciation, the practice of purity not established, sinking in the mud, deceived by evil, possessing afflictions, repeatedly experiencing various existences, called giving rise to distress, obtaining the retribution of suffering, and certainly experiencing birth, old age, sickness, and death."

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