SA 638（六三八） 纯陀

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at the Karanda Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha. At that time, Venerable Śāriputra was staying in the village of Nārāyaṇa in Magadha, where he was about to enter parinirvāṇa due to illness. The novice monk Cunda was attending to and serving him.

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra was about to enter parinirvāṇa due to illness.

At that time, the novice monk Cunda, having attended to Venerable Śāriputra, took the remaining relics, put on his robe and bowl, went to Rājagṛha, put away his robe and bowl, washed his feet, and went to Venerable Ānanda. He bowed at Venerable Ānanda's feet, stepped back to one side, and said to Venerable Ānanda, "Venerable Ānanda should know that my teacher, Venerable Śāriputra, has entered parinirvāṇa. I bring his relics and robe and bowl.

Then Venerable Ānanda, having heard the novice monk Cunda's words, went to the Buddha and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I now feel my whole body is numb, my eloquence is blocked, and the novice monk Cunda came to tell me, 'My teacher, Śāriputra, has entered parinirvāṇa. I bring his remaining relics and robe and bowl.'"

The Buddha said, "Ānanda, how is it? Did Śāriputra enter parinirvāṇa with the body of precepts he received? Or with the body of concentration, wisdom, liberation, or the knowledge and vision of liberation?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "If the Dharma I myself know and speak of, having attained perfect enlightenment, refers to the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four bases of supernormal power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of awakening, and the eightfold path, does it lead to parinirvāṇa?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One! Although one does not attain parinirvāṇa by upholding the precepts, the body, and even the factors of the path, still the Venerable Śāriputra upholds the precepts, has much learning, is content with few desires, always practices seclusion, diligently applies skillful means, gathers and abides in mindfulness, and attains one-pointed concentration. He has swift wisdom, deep and sharp wisdom, surpassing wisdom, discerning wisdom, great wisdom, vast wisdom, profound wisdom, incomparable wisdom, and has accomplished the jewel of wisdom. He is able to show, teach, illuminate, and delight, and is good at praising. He preaches the Dharma for the sake of the assembly. Therefore, World-Honored One, I am sorrowful, distressed, and afflicted for the sake of the Dharma and for the sake of those who uphold the Dharma."

The Buddha told Ānanda, "Do not be sorrowful, distressed, and afflicted. Why is that? Whether sitting, standing, or acting, conditioned things are subject to decay. How could they not decay? Wishing for them not to decay is impossible. I have already said that all beloved things, various objects of enjoyment, and pleasant experiences are all subject to separation and cannot be permanently preserved. It is like a large tree with luxuriant roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. The large branches will break first. It is like a great treasure mountain, where the large rocks will collapse first. In the same way, the great Saṅgha of the Tathāgata, the great disciples, will pass into parinirvāṇa first. If there were Śāriputra in that place, I would have nothing to do there. But that place would not be empty, because there would be Śāriputra. I have already said this before. Ānanda! As I have said before, all beloved things and various objects of enjoyment are subject to separation. Therefore, do not be greatly sorrowful now. Ānanda! Know that the Tathāgata will not remain for long. Therefore, Ānanda! You should rely on yourself as your island, rely on the Dharma as your island, and rely on the unchanging as your unchanging island."

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! How does one rely on oneself as an island? How does one rely on the Dharma as an island? How does one rely on the unchanging as an unchanging island?"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "If a bhikṣu contemplates the body with mindfulness of the body, diligently applying skillful means, with right knowledge and right mindfulness, to subdue worldly greed and sorrow. The same is true for the external body, internal and external body, feelings, mind, and dharmas. Contemplating the dharmas with mindfulness of the dharmas is also explained in the same way. Ānanda! This is called relying on oneself as an island, relying on the Dharma as an island, and relying on the unchanging as an unchanging island."

After the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus who heard what the Buddha had said rejoiced and received it respectfully.