SA 1143（一一四三） 此时

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha, while Venerable Mahākāśyapa and Venerable Ānanda were staying at Vulture Peak.

At that time Venerable Ānanda went to Venerable Mahākāśyapa and said to him, "Now we should go down from Vulture Peak and enter Rājagṛha to beg for alms."

Venerable Mahākāśyapa silently consented.

At that time Venerable Mahākāśyapa and Venerable Ānanda put on their robes, took their bowls, and entered Rājagṛha to beg for alms. Venerable Ānanda said to Venerable Mahākāśyapa, "It is too early. Let us go to the nunnery for a while." They then went there.

At that time the nuns saw Venerable Mahākāśyapa and Venerable Ānanda coming from afar. They quickly prepared seats and invited them to sit down. The nuns then bowed to Venerable Mahākāśyapa and Ānanda, and sat to one side.

Venerable Mahākāśyapa taught the nuns the Dharma in various ways, showing, teaching, illuminating, and delighting them. Having shown, taught, illuminated, and delighted them, the nun Sthūlanandā was displeased and spoke these evil words: "How can Venerable Mahākāśyapa teach the Dharma to the nuns in front of Venerable Ānanda, the Vidiṭṭhamuni? It is like a needle seller trying to sell needles to a needle maker. Venerable Mahākāśyapa is also like this, teaching the Dharma to the nuns in front of Venerable Ānanda, the Vidiṭṭhamuni.

Venerable Mahākāśyapa heard the nun Sthūlanandā's displeasure and evil words. Having heard it, he said to Venerable Ānanda: "Look, Ānanda! This nun Sthūlanandā is displeased and speaks evil words. What do you think, Ānanda? Am I a needle seller trying to sell needles in front of you, the needle maker?"

Venerable Ānanda said to Venerable Mahākāśyapa: "Please stop! Be patient! This foolish old woman has little wisdom and has never cultivated it."

"Ānanda! Have you not heard the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who knows and sees, teach and instruct in the assembly with the Moon Simile Sūtra? Bhikṣus should abide like the moon, always like a beginner. Thus it is extensively taught. Ānanda! Do you abide like the moon, always like a beginner?"

Ānanda replied, "No, Venerable Mahākāśyapa!"

"Ānanda! Have you heard the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who knows and sees, say, 'Bhikṣus should abide like the moon, always like a beginner. Only the bhikṣu Mahākāśyapa'?"

Ānanda replied, "Yes, Venerable Mahākāśyapa!"

"Ānanda! Have you ever been known and seen by the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, to be invited to sit in an assembly of immeasurable people? And has the World-Honored One praised you with his own vast virtues, saying, 'Ānanda is free from desire, evil and unwholesome dharmas, up to the attainment of the supernormal knowledges'?"

He replied, "No, Venerable Mahākāśyapa!"

"In the same way, Ānanda! The World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, in an assembly of immeasurable people, himself said, 'Welcome, Mahākāśyapa! I invite you to share my seat.' And in the assembly, did he praise Mahākāśyapa with his own vast virtues, saying, 'Free from desire, evil and unwholesome dharmas, up to the attainment of the supernormal knowledges'?"

Ānanda replied, "Yes, Venerable Mahākāśyapa!"

At that time, Mahākāśyapa had finished his lion's roar among the bhikṣuṇīs.