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Biography of Maha Kasyapa, Thuta No. 1
Biography of Buddha’s Ten Disciples
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Maha Kasyapa-Thuta No. 1 (Great Kasyapa – Thuta No. 1)
1. A great man grows under a tree
If there is anyone who is still alive in the physical body from 2,500 years ago to the present, it is the Venerable Mahakassapa who is the number one among the Buddha’s disciples.
Not long ago, Dr. Berlinsen from France met Venerable Mahakassapa on Jizu Mountain in India and took refuge in him. The career of this legendary saint is really a beautiful story when introduced.
Let’s start with His Holiness’ birth!
Two thousand and five hundred years ago, in the village of Mahasaratha, not far from Rajagha, the capital of Mahadha State in Central India, there lived a rich man of the Brahman family, Nikurudara, who was said to have richer wealth than that at that time. King Bimbisara also had more property.
Venerable Mahakassapa was born into this family.
Speaking of the birth of Kasyapa, he also had a strange auspicious appearance, which can be said to be similar to that of Buddha. It is said that on the day his mother was due to give birth, she was walking in the courtyard and suddenly felt sleepy. While she was resting under the shade of the big pippala tree, a celestial garment came from somewhere and suddenly fell on the branch. , Da Kassapa came to the world with a wow sound.
Da Kasyapa, the name his parents gave him was originally called Pippalayana, which means born under a tree. He was fair and fat, similar to the Buddha’s thirty-two appearance. The only child in a wealthy family, not to mention the nurturing and love of his parents. For the wet nurse alone, four people were invited, and there were even more people playing with him.
When Kasyapa was eight years old, he received the precepts of Brahman as usual, and learned all kinds of knowledge from his teacher, starting from sacrificial law, calligraphy and painting, arithmetic, literature, five Ming, four Vedas, as well as the movement of stars, good and bad yin and yang, earthquakes and thunder, Music, singing and dancing, etc., because of his intelligence, he has studied everything thoroughly.
The strangest thing is that Da Kassapa was different from other children since he was a child. He hated the joys of the world, despised lust, and detested uncleanness.
2. Couples with different beds
The days and months passed quickly, and Da Kassapa had grown into a handsome young man. His parents were very happy and told him that they hoped to marry a young and beautiful girl for him in the near future.
Da Kassapa hastily declined and said: “This is absolutely impossible. My only hope is to cultivate the Tao. Having a wife will hinder my practice.”
Of course, his parents refused to agree to his request. When he had no way to refuse, he finally came up with a way. He immediately invited a famous artist to sculpt a golden statue of a beautiful woman in gold for him. He took it and said to his parents: “If you must marry me, please find a woman like this golden statue. Otherwise, I will marry you.” Make up your mind never to marry.”
The parents felt very troubled by such a request, and finally adopted the advice of a Brahmin who often visited his house, and decided to find him a girl like a golden statue. Therefore, the Brahmin made a big canopy and placed the golden girl inside as a goddess to worship. From this village to that village, from this city to that city, he went back and forth in this way, to those who gathered to watch the excitement. Proclamation: “Girls who wish for something! Come and make offerings to this goddess! Your wishes and requests will surely be fulfilled.”
Starting from Rajagha, crossed the Ganges, and gradually reached the northern city of Vaisali.
In the village of Kalavika outside the city of Vaisali, there lived a Brahmin Kapila who was also a rich man. He had a daughter named Miaoxian who was waiting for a family. She was beautiful and famous.
This day is the Burning Fire Festival, and young men and women are crazy about having fun. Miaoxian was invited by a friend to visit the golden goddess together. Miaoxian’s beautiful face eclipsed the golden goddess when she visited. As soon as the Brahmin who was in charge of the golden statue was overjoyed, he went to visit her family and told Miaoxian’s father, Kapila, about the intention of coming. marriage.
After the engagement formalities were completed, an auspicious day was chosen to welcome the bride to Kassapa’s home. Look at that Miao Xian, wearing brocade clothes and wearing necklaces, I am afraid that even the celestial maidens are not as beautiful as her.
Strangely, although the bride has an overwhelming beauty, she always frowns deeply, as if she has something unhappy in her heart.
Drum music, singing and dancing, and having paid homage to heaven and earth, Da Kasyapa and Miao Xian were both sent into the bridal chamber. The newlyweds didn’t smile at all, and they didn’t look at each other. They were all frowning, and they just sat in silence with their thoughts on their minds. This kind of wedding night in the bridal chamber makes people feel terribly gloomy and serious!
One watch and two watch, three watch and four watch, and after the fifth watch, the dawn gradually came, and the newlyweds hadn’t said a word yet. As the sky gradually dawned, Da Kassapa finally asked, “May I ask what is on your mind?”
Miaoxian frowned, remained silent, and did not answer.
“If you have something to talk about, you can discuss anything.”
Miaoxian shed tears and still did not answer.
“What is it that makes you so sad?” Da Kassapa pouted, as if he was about to get angry.
Kassapa couldn’t help interrogating again and again, Miaoxian finally said softly and sadly: “You ruined my wish. I originally hated the five desires and hoped to practice a pure holy life. My father was tempted by your family’s wealth and ruined my wish. !”
Da Kassapa was overjoyed when he heard that, and immediately told Miao Xian that he also hated love and was happy to practice purely.
Therefore, newly married couples agree to lay two beds in the room. They are husband and wife in name, but they never sleep in different beds.
3. Keep the contract for twelve years
Now that they are husband and wife, they sleep in different beds. Their parents vaguely knew about this, and one day they went to check in the new house. When they saw the two beds, they were very unhappy and said, “You two are just married. It is unlucky for couples who have just married to have two beds in their room, so I asked someone to dismantle one of them!”
Da Kassapa did not dare to oppose his parents, but he strengthened their covenant and vow.
Da Kasyapa said to Miaoxian: “We don’t have to be discouraged. We can take turns sleeping on this bed in the room. When you sleep in the first night and middle night, I can pace up and down or practice in the room. In the second night, you get up and let me sleep. , you can walk or meditate.”
Miao Xian liked Da Kassapa’s suggestion very much, but she said: “We’d better become a monk earlier, so as not to ambush dangers everywhere in the world of five desires, tempting people to fall!”
“I think so too, but my parents are still there, and they are only my only son. Be patient, our ideals and aspirations will come true one day!” Da Kassapa comforted Miaoxian.
Although the newlyweds are in the world of mortals, their hearts are happy and pure, and they don’t interfere with each other’s well water, spending time in peace and stability.
One night, Miaoxian was sleeping on the bed, and Da Kassapa was walking back and forth in the room, when suddenly a black poisonous snake crossed under Miaoxian’s bed. Da Kassapa took a closer look and saw that Miaoxian’s right hand was hanging under the bed not far from the poisonous snake. He thought anxiously, what if her hand was bitten by a poisonous snake?
At a very critical moment, Da Kassapa quickly wrapped his hands with his clothes, and then gently put Miaoxian’s hands on the bed. Miaoxian, who was sleeping soundly, was awakened by this sudden action. She was very surprised. She got up and sat up quickly, and asked sullenly, “What happened? Why did you do this?” Later, Da Kassapa explained , she was relieved, and was very grateful to Da Kassapa.
The long years, such a clean life, they continued to spend twelve years.
4. To become a monk to practice Taoism
Those who attend must leave, and those who live must die. This is a certain principle in the world. The parents who loved Da Kassapa finally died at the end of their lives.
One day not long after his parents passed away, Miaoxian asked the servants to squeeze out the sesame oil. There were many small worms wriggling in the sesame oil. Miaoxian heard the servants say in private: “I don’t know what kind of terrible retribution I will receive by crushing so many creatures. ? However, this is not our fault, but the order of the master!”
When Miaoxian heard this, she was startled and told them to stop squeezing the oil, and went into the room alone, closed the door, and thought quietly.
On this day, Da Kassapa happened to go to inspect the farm. He saw the hard work of the cattle and the desperate work of the farmers. There were many bugs in the field. Seeing this, he hated the worldly life even more. He thought: “For my own life, do these people and animals have to suffer all kinds of hardships? No matter who you eat, you can’t eat more than a liter of food; no matter how you sleep, you can’t sleep more than six feet. Beds and other daily necessities are nothing but superfluous waste. Now it is too unfair and unreasonable to destroy so many people and animals and kill so many lives just for those useless wastes and extravagances!”
Da Kasyapa thought so, and when he returned home to see his wife Miaoxian, he seemed to be unhappy about something he regretted. Later, they shared their thoughts with each other, and lamented the misery of the world and the boredom of life even more. Da Kasyapa said to Miaoxian: “No matter what, I am determined to give up my family and practice Taoism, because being at home is like being imprisoned, with all kinds of constraints and all kinds of troubles.
There is no end to creating karma in the family, so I want to Abandoning home to seek the truth of life. Going to the mountains and forests to practice Taoism is like walking in the void without any obstacles. I want to seek a teacher and visit Taoism first. You stay at home for the time being. When I meet a wise teacher, I will come back to pick you up. You become a monk together, just wait, I will definitely have good news for you.”
After hearing this, Miaoxian admired her husband’s volunteering and was grateful for his care. It was the long-cherished wish of the couple to become a monk and practice Taoism. For their parents, they waited for more than ten years.
Now, Da Kassapa left home to practice Taoism, his inner joy is self-evident.
5. Became a disciple of the Buddha
Da Kassapa is now in his thirties. According to legend, the day when he left home to practice Taoism was exactly the time when the Buddha saw the star at night on the vajra seat under the bodhi tree and became enlightened.
Da Kassapa visited his masters in the southeast, northwest and north to seek the way, but most of what the masters said could not satisfy his wish. Two years later, when he was in the Kingdom of Yuanjia, someone told him that Sakyamuni Buddha is the great enlightened person of today, and now he is leading more than a thousand people including Shariputra, Moggallana, and Uruvela Kassapa to live in the bamboo forest. Abode. He was very happy when he heard it, so he took the road back to the bamboo forest abode.
The Bamboo Grove Abode is the dojo where the Buddha organized the religious group to live, not far from the north gate of Rajagha City. When Da Kassapa arrived in Rajagha, he did not visit the Buddha directly, but only followed the followers of the Buddha in Rajagha, and listened to the Buddha’s teachings every day. He thought in his heart that if he is not the real Buddha, he must not be worshiped as his teacher. In his opinion, even if he can’t meet the Buddha or a teacher, he can practice to attain the attainment of independent enlightenment in the second vehicle.
The Buddha’s words, the Buddha’s virtue and wisdom gradually moved his heart. One day, after listening to the Buddha’s words, he wanted to go back to the city, and approached the place not far from the city gate.
Below, Buddha is sitting there. Before he left, he saw the Buddha sitting on the Dharma throne in the Bamboo Grove Abode. How could he meet the Buddha now? He looked and looked at the solemn and majestic appearance of the Buddha, like a golden mountain, and finally felt that he should go forward to worship. After bowing his palms together before the seat of the Buddha, he was very touched and said earnestly, “Buddha! Please accept Mahakassapa’s refuge. From then on, Mahasyapa is the Buddha’s disciple!”
Knowing Kasyapa’s belief at this moment, the Buddha said, “Maha Kassapa! You are really my disciple, and I am really your teacher. In this world, if there are no people who have attained enlightenment, I cannot afford you to be a disciple. You and Let me do it!”
The Buddha stood up quietly and walked towards the Bamboo Forest Abode. Kassapa followed behind the Buddha. He was respectful, moved, and joyful, and shed tears unknowingly.
The Buddha looked back at Kasyapa, and said, “I have heard about you a long time ago, and I know that you will come to me to seek enlightenment in the end. Today is the day for you to be saved. In the future, the spread of Dharma will require you in many places. , for all sentient beings and for yourself, cherish it!”
Back at the Bamboo Grove Abode, the Buddha shaved Kasyapa, and explained the Four Noble Truths and Twelve Causes and Conditions for him. The Buddha’s mighty virtue and friendly voice, it can be said that the atmosphere of enlightenment surrounded Da Kassapa. The teachings of the Buddha made Da Kasyapa like a dry field met with heavy rain. On the eighth day of his ordination, he became enlightened.
6. A woman who mourns for beauty
One year after Mahakassapa became a monk, that was the third year of Buddha’s enlightenment. When the Buddha accepted the invitation of his father and returned to his hometown of Vastu with his disciples, he also followed him. Later, when the Buddha returned to the Abode of Gion in Shewei State, among many Sakya tribes who pursued the Buddha to become a monk, the Buddha’s adoptive mother, Mrs. Katami (Mahapajapati), was also allowed to become a monk and established a bhikkhuni order.
Therefore, Da Kassapa remembered the agreement with Miaoxian. In the past, women were not allowed to become monks, so there was no way to speak to the Buddha. Now that the bhikkhuni order has been established, the agreement with his wife can be ended. Da Kassapa has gone through three or four years of wind, frost, cold and heat since he left home. In the past three or four years, I don’t know what Miaoxian is like? He quietly observes in samadhi, and knows that Miaoxian has become a disciple of heretics by the Ganges River.
It turned out that Da Kassapa’s wife Miaoxian, since her husband went to practice Taoism, she stayed at home alone waiting for her husband’s news. Decided not to wait any longer and left home. After she made up her mind, she immediately called the person in charge of the warehouse and distributed all the pearls and clothes to relatives, neighbors, and family members. She went to the Ganges River to worship the naked heretics who practiced Taoism there as teachers.
After Miaoxian became a disciple of the nude heretics, she suffered a lot of insults because of her beauty. Da Kassapa knew that she was eagerly waiting for him to welcome him. his beloved wife. So he told this reason to a bhikkhuni and asked him to meet Miaoxian. The bhikkhuni sympathized with Miaoxian very much and welcomed Miaoxian soon.
After Miaoxian joined the bhikkhuni’s order, because of her fairy-like beauty, she became the material for people to fabricate rumors. She felt very ashamed herself, and lamented the shortcomings of being a woman. Since then, she stopped begging for alms, stayed away from the public, and did not show her face in crowded places.
Da Kassapa was very sympathetic to her, so he asked the Buddha’s permission to give her half of the food he begged every day. Among the bhikkhunis, the well-known teller Thiolananda bhikkhuni knew about it and said a lot of bad things. She said, “Those two people are said to have never shared a bed in the 12 years at home, but now seeing them share meals so intimately every day, I think there must be some kind of affair in it.”
After Da Kasyapa heard this, he didn’t care about it in the heart of the Kuo Da saint, but in order to encourage Miao Xian to practice angrily, he ignored her from then on.
In a world full of right and wrong, such a pure and self-preserving sage Kasyapa, there are people who make pornographic news for him, which makes people feel aggrieved for him!
After being stimulated by this, Miaoxian practiced earnestly and strictly, stayed up all night, with sincerity and sincerity, confessed and repented, and finally became enlightened. After she became enlightened, she said: “Break the bondage, complete the pure action, I have done what I should do.”
The Buddha later praised him and said: “Among the bhikkhunis, there is no one who can understand fate better than the Miaoxian bhikkhuni!”
Da Kassapa was very happy, he had no worries about worldly kindness in his heart.
7. Visit by Shariputra
From then on, Mahakassapa appeared in the Sangha as a revered saint.
For a period of time, he and Shariputra were practicing monasticism on Mount Qijabori near Rajagha. At that time, many heretics asked the Venerable Shariputra their difficulties. Among the various questions they asked, they asked whether there would be life and death in the future. Would there be life and death in the future? Or is there no life and death in the future? Or is there neither birth and death nor no birth and death in the future?
As for heretics using the four-question method to ask difficult questions about the Buddha’s life and death, Venerable Shariputra answered them, only this question cannot be said about the Tathagata.
The heretics were dissatisfied with Shariputra’s answer, so they sneered: “How dare a person who can’t answer these few questions be called the lord of the Buddhist order? The so-called wisdom is the first, just like a baby.”
After the heretics laughed and swarmed away, Shariputra stood up slowly, walked through the green forest, and visited the venerable Kasyapa in the grotto not far away.
Shariputra first told Maha Kassapa the question asked by the layman, and then asked, “Venerable Maha Kassapa! Why didn’t the Buddha give an answer to the question asked by the layman?”
Da Kassapa immediately replied: “The Tathagata’s love and attachment have been exhausted, his heart has no worries, and he is eternally liberated. His enlightenment is so profound and vast that he can’t ask it with four sentences of ecstasy, nor can he answer it with words. Only this question can’t be answered. I should ask, so the Tathagata will not give an explanation.”
Shariputra was very happy after hearing this, so he said goodbye and went back to his place of practice.
Among the great disciples, they often sue and supervise each other, interrogate and interrogate each other, and discuss and ponder over and over again. Therefore, their questions and answers are not surprising, but regarding this big question raised by the Venerable Shariputra, Maha Kassapa can always After answering it, we can see how far-reaching Da Kassapa’s practice is!
8. The poor woman was born
Once, when the Buddha and his disciples were in Sravasti, the parish of Rajgasha was presided over by Da Kasyapa, who often went in and out of Rajgaha to give blessings. When he was begging for alms, he avoided the rich and chose a poor family. The Venerable thought in his heart that although rich people should be pitied, they are not as pitiful as those who have to worry about life every day.
Those poor people cannot enjoy the happiness of the five desires because of their poverty. Although they are very happy to hear the Dharma, they cannot obtain the happiness of giving. Venerable Maha Kassapa, the compassionate heart flowed to these poor people like flowing water.
In Rajagha, there lived a very poor old woman who had no relatives and no home to return to. During the day, wandering from East Street to West Street; at night, casually sleeping in corners of alleys. The clothes she wears are made of bamboo leaves, which can only cover her ugly nakedness. When her body develops a serious disease, she can only lie in the dust and wait to die. Sometimes, the servants of the rich family poured the rice-washing juice beside the old woman, and the old woman, who was forced by hunger, hurriedly used the broken tiles to accept the dirty rice juice to satisfy her hunger.
After Kasyapa knew about this poor old lady who was plagued by poverty and illness, he specially went to visit her. The old woman has never been visited by anyone since poverty and disease were imposed on her. When the venerable arrived, she stood up and saw that she was a very solemn begging monk. Could it be that the monk is poorer than the old woman? So she said: “My body is plagued by poverty and sickness, and the dusty haystack is my home. You see, I lie naked like this. In this country, there is no one who is more poor and distressed than I am. Alas! Isn’t there a benevolent person in the world who supports you ascetics? Why do you want to visit me? You should first try to relieve my poverty!”
Da Kasyapa replied: “The most honorable and kindest person in this world is the Buddha, or the person who is bathed in the teachings of the Buddha! Today, I come here to beg for you just to relieve your poverty. I also want to use material Help you, although this can save you from suffering for a while, but it will increase your poverty even more. Why don’t you just give me a little thing around you. With your merits, you will definitely be born in a rich family in the next life, or be born into a Heaven, enjoy longer happiness.”
Although the old woman was moved by His Holiness’ teaching and compassion, she couldn’t find anything to give. The old woman wept sadly and said: “Great Samana! Your noble teachings are deeply engraved in my heart. However, you also know that I am a poor and lowly person. I have neither food for you nor food around me. Clothes can be given to you.”
“Old woman! Those who wish to give are not poor; those who know shame are those who wear vestments. Since you possess these two rare treasures, you are by no means poor. Look at those who possess gold and silver treasures in this world, Those who don’t know how to give and who don’t know how to be ashamed are extremely foolish and poor.”
When the old woman heard such a teaching, she almost jumped up for joy. Her chest was overflowing with joy, and she was full of hope for the future. She forgot about her filthy body, and took the rice juice left in the tiles from the bamboo fence. To Venerable Mahakassapa, the Venerable also took it respectfully. In order to avoid her doubts, the Venerable drank up the rice juice immediately, and the old woman was very happy.
Not long after, the old woman finally passed away and was reborn in the Taoli Heavenly Palace. Because of the merit of offering rice juice, she became a beautiful goddess. Once she recalled the blessings of her previous life, and remembered the favor of Venerable Kasyapa, who had descended to the world and scattered the heavenly flowers on his body.
9. Dissatisfaction when inspecting religious groups
Once, the Buddha ordered Da Kassapa to go to the wilderness city to inspect the situation in the religious order. In the morning, he entered the city in his clothes and bowl, begging solemnly and dignifiedly.
He passed a few streets and found that people closed their doors when they saw him. The same happened when he went out of the city to beg alms in the country. He was very skeptical, because the Dharma here was very prosperous in the past, why don’t the people have any respect for the monks and make offerings now?
He found a believer he knew in the past and asked: “The Buddha has not left the wilderness city for too long, and there are still monks teaching here. How come everyone forgets the respect for the Three Jewels so quickly, and even the monks refuse to offer alms?”
The believer replied: “My lord! Since the Buddha left, the monks here have been building large-scale construction projects for several years. They built their own houses, saying that the Buddha allowed them.
Originally, if they built lecture halls or Buddhist houses, they would be used for spreading the Dharma and group practice. , This is what our believers should protect, but at present, the monks here are all building many small monk houses for personal well-being, and door-to-door asking believers to house wood, bricks, ropes, carts, etc. Believers feel this There are endless times to deal with, so people inside and outside the city will close the door when they see a monk. Alas! Speaking of which, we are really sorry for the Buddha!”
After hearing this, Mahakassapa felt very sad. He quickly returned to Rajgaha City and reported the situation to the Buddha. The Buddha said: “Bhikkhus, the spread of my Dharma depends on the purity and nobility of the Sangha. People have nothing to ask for, and you can’t demand from all living beings. You should contribute to all living beings. You can’t let the believers look down on you.
The most important task is to spread the Dharma and save one’s life, not to plan for one’s own residence. If you build lecture halls for all sentient beings and monasteries for group meditation instead of for yourself, I applaud your wish!
“Building a lot of small monk’s houses to provide for the enjoyment of a few people will disperse the power of the religious order. Opposing sects and doing their own thing will make it easier to increase selfishness!”
After the Buddha spoke to the monks, he returned to Rajgaha, where Kasyapa stayed to rebuild the confidence of the people.
His Holiness didn’t think about his own residence or plan for his own life, but was busy giving people the bliss of the Dharma. After everyone believed him, he left the wilderness city to go to other places. Taking the disaster of the sect as his own disaster, leaving immediately after finishing what should be done, and working for the Dharma instead of seeking for himself, his noble mind and personality of a saint are really worthy of our admiration!
10. The bowl given by Ananda
The sincerity of Venerable Mahakasyapa for the Dharma won the trust of the Buddha, and the Buddha cared for him in every possible way.
In the Buddha’s order, there are so-called six groups of bhikkhus all over the place, who specialize in forming gangs and committing crimes. Therefore, the Buddha established many precepts.
There was a period when the Buddha lived in Gion Abode, and the six groups of monks were working hard to accumulate bowls again. There are two types of bowls: iron bowls and clay bowls, but due to differences in origin, materials, and colors, there are six types of bowls: iron bowls, Suma bowls, Uga bowls, black bowls, Uga bowls, and red bowls. . Those six groups of monks, among these bowls, seek good bowls and store them in their own houses, just like opening a pottery shop.
These six groups of monks, from morning to night, did not know how to practice the Tao, and concentrated their energy on these things. Because accumulating gold, silver, clothes, rice and other property is absolutely forbidden in religious orders that implement the begging system, they shifted their interest to collecting antiques.
Therefore, the Buddha forbade the storage of bowls and established precepts. The Buddha said that if anyone keeps a bowl, it is a violation of the precept of Nisa Jibo Yiti (the meaning of giving up).
When the Buddha was about to formulate this precept, Ananda was getting a bowl from the noble Sumo country and wanted to present it to Kassapa, but unfortunately, Kasyapa traveled to other countries and would not go to Sravasti for the time being. country. If it is not allowed to accumulate bowls according to the established precepts, then Ananda would not be able to present this gift to Venerable Mahakassapa. Ananda had no choice but to tell the Buddha what he meant, and the Buddha asked, “When is the day when Kassapa came to Savatthi?”
“It will take about ten days for him to come!” Ananda replied.
The Buddha called together the public to speak about the upright Dharma of Thuta, and praised Mahakasyapa for his flawless practice of Thudha Dharma, and taught six groups of monks to learn from him. Finally, because of what Ananda said about donating bowls, this precept was modified so that bowls can be stored within ten days.
Inferring from this incident, we can roughly know how lofty Kassapa’s status is in the heart of the Buddha and in the religious order!
11. Willing to practice asceticism
Mahakassapa has always practiced his dhutanga asceticism with peace of mind. Speaking of his practice of asceticism until old age, no matter what the circumstances were or who persuaded him, he refused to stop his ascetic practice.
Anyone who practices the asceticism of Thutanga should firstly choose a free place; Keep the three robes and bowls, the seventh is to sit under the tree and think, the eighth is to sit in the open field, the ninth is to wear dung sweeping clothes, and the tenth is to live in the tomb. To learn the asceticism of Thutanga, one must live such a simple life, which is also a pure life.
For people like Da Kassapa, who do not save sentient beings, but like to live alone and live an ascetic life, more active monks are not always sympathetic. His compassion for benefiting others can be said to be admirable, but his teachings Enthusiasm is clearly not enough.
In addition to the Buddha, the great disciples who debated with heretics and enlightened the bhikkhus in the Sangha were the two venerables Shariputra and Moggallana. When the Buddha and the two great disciples were alive, the Great Kasyapa devoted himself to cultivating the Tao. statement. After the Buddha passed away, the ability to manage the public on behalf of the Buddha was developed during this period. Like a giant bell, he is silent when he is silent, but when he encounters a cause, he can make a loud and loud sound.
At the beginning, Shariputra and Moggallana, two venerables, also persuaded him to forget himself and arouse Bodhicitta to engage in the truth movement of propagating Dharma and benefiting living beings. Kassapa always answered them firmly: “As for promoting the righteous Dharma and educating all living beings, I It’s really not possible, how difficult it is to forget yourself!
I really don’t have the courage and perseverance to teach people who have no confidence or evil wisdom. I would like to set an example of more difficult practice in my life, so that those who come later Know how to respect and practice the asceticism of Thutuo with few desires and contentment. The arduous task of propagating Dharma and benefiting living beings is entirely up to you to take on.”
Shariputra and Moggallana after hearing the words of Mahakassapa were not disappointed, but praised: “It is very rare for the elders to be able to set up a Dharma banner in this respect. Dharma has many aspects, and everyone can rely on it.” We wish the elders good luck for their own aspirations and their own ideals!”
Da Kassapa disliked living in a group life in the Bamboo Forest Abode or the Gion Abode the most. He even hated the harmonious environment there. What he liked was sitting in the open air, watching corpses in the tombs, and mending clothes under trees. He believes that the smell of dead bodies or bones is more suitable for the meditation on impermanence, suffering, emptiness, non-self, and impurity.
Da Kasyapa is not afraid of storms, sun and night dew. His thin old body always lives under the trees in the mountains and jungles, or in the tombs where the bones are everywhere. No one persuades him to stop his asceticism. .
12. The Buddha sits in half
Da Kasyapa is finally getting old gradually, but he is becoming more and more serious about the ascetic life of Tuduo.
Once, the Buddha couldn’t bear him to live in the sun, night, dew, and storms in his old age, and wanted to persuade him to stop asceticism.
That was when the Buddha dharma lived in the Deer Mother Lecture Hall. The Buddha summoned Mahakassapa. Dakassapa was wearing a tattered robe, with long beard and hair, and he staggered. His disheveled appearance cast contemptuous glances, and some even stepped forward to prevent him from approaching the Buddha.
The Buddha knew everyone’s thoughts, so he greeted everyone from a distance: “Great Kassapa! You are here! I have reserved half a seat here, so hurry up and sit here!”
The bhikkhus were startled when they heard what the Buddha said. They did not expect that this old bhikkhu was the famous Venerable Mahakassapa. After bowing to the Buddha, he took a few steps back and said, “Buddha! I am your last disciple. I dare not sit in the seat set by the Buddha!”
At this time, the Buddha narrated to the public the vast and boundless mighty virtue of Mahakassapa, and said that he had the same journey as the Buddha in cultivating the Tao.
From this fact, it can be seen how much the Buddha valued the Venerable Mahakassapa, and even treated him as a guest, showing the importance of his position in the religious order.
The Buddha told him not to continue asceticism, take off the dung sweeping clothes, and change to the light clothes provided by the believers, and retire quietly without excessive fatigue.
Although he was so highly comforted by the Buddha, he refused to change his asceticism. He said to the Buddha: “Buddha! I don’t think the asceticism of the Buddha is suffering, but I feel very happy. I don’t worry about clothes, I don’t worry about food. Worry, there is no gain or loss in the world, I only feel the freedom of purity and liberation.
“Of course, some people say that my life is too self-interested, like Shariputra, Moggallana, Furuna, and Venerable Kajanyan. I hold the Dharma wheel of truth, so that all living beings can enjoy the Dharma and enjoy the Dharma together. Although I don’t have the enthusiasm for doing the Dharma, I will never forget the Buddha’s kindness to me. It is to repay the Buddha’s kindness that I am more To live the life of Thutuo. Because all living beings can be saved, it all depends on the Dharma propagating of the Sangha. Can you be healthy? Of course, only cultivate one’s own virtues from a serious life.
The dhutanga practice in the Buddha’s teachings is the most serious way of life. If you can get used to this kind of life, you can endure hardships, endure hardships, and be able to Willing to be indifferent, with one heart and one virtue, for the Dharma and for the people! Buddha! In order to directly strengthen the Sangha and indirectly benefit sentient beings, I am happy to be willing to do asceticism. Please forgive my disciple’s persistence!”
After hearing this, the Buddha was very happy. He looked at Da Kassapa and then at the monks, and said, “Very good! Have you heard the words of the elder Kassapa? The corruption and collapse of the Sangha! Kasyapa’s words are very correct. To spread the Dharma and let the light of truth shine on the world, you must first strengthen the Sangha. To strengthen the Sangha, you must live a serious life. My Dharma , such as Venerable Kassapa, can be in charge of the abbot!
“Great Kasyapa! Go and practice hard. I won’t force you. You can practice as you wish. If you want to see me, you can come to see me anytime.”
The Buddha and Kasyapa, though two people, have one heart. The teacher and the disciple are like two containers containing the same water, which flow without stagnation at all. The Buddha treated His Holiness as a guest, like relatives and friends, but His Holiness never forgot to treat Buddha with teacher courtesy, and there was a warm friendship between them.
When we talk about Buddha or Arhat, everyone will naturally imagine that they are as cold as dead wood and cold rock, and have no human feelings for the world. In fact, it is not true. Love is naturally revealed in it. This kind of love is called compassion in Buddhism. The root of compassion is contained in the Dharma boat of wisdom, which guides sentient beings like a magnet, so that they can come into contact with noble and warm personalities day and night, and improve their habits.
In the lush and verdant tropical forest, the red flowers of the Sala tree are in full bloom, especially in summer, when the bright moon at night casts silver light from the treetops. In this empty and quiet place, Da Kassapa has lived for decades like a day. Cultivating Taoism, his demeanor of a noble saint seems to be still in front of our eyes.
13. Carrying on the mantle of Buddha
Time flies like stone light and fire, and the fate of the Buddha’s reincarnation is complete. In the year when the Buddha was 80 years old, news spread that the Buddha was going to Nirvana.
In the year of Buddha’s Nirvana, first Moggallana was martyred for the teaching, and then Shariputra returned to his hometown to perish. Now the Buddha is going to Nirvana again. Pay attention to the candidates for succession. In the current order, the elderly Venerable Kasyapa and the young Venerable Ananda are recognized as the most suitable candidates to inherit the Buddha. Especially for Venerable Mahakassapa, the so-called smiling smile at Zhengfayan Zangfu at the Lingshan meeting is the original allusion of Zen Buddhism.
When the Buddha passed into Nirvana in the city of Kushinagara, Mahakassapa was leading five hundred bhikkhus in the northern country of Docha Naja to teach the congregation. After he heard the news, he was very sad and led the bhikkhus to Kushina at night. In Jialuo City, some were frowning, and some fell to the ground and cried bitterly.
But one of the monks, Bananda, one of the six groups of monks, said happily, “Why do you have to be so sad? After the Buddha Nirvana, we will be free. If he is alive, he will restrain us and manage us.” We, he often said that we are not good, that is not right, what a nuisance, what a trouble! Now that he has Nirvana, we can relax and relax!”
Without waiting for Kassapa’s punishment, a bhikkhu was about to beat Nanda, but Kassapa quickly stopped him, and earnestly taught, “Now that the Buddha has entered Nirvana, everyone is sad because he has lost their refuge. You fool, how can you turn your back on him?” Take pleasure in this?”
Even though he is a saint, Da Kassapa couldn’t help being in a state of confusion at the moment. Sometimes, he wanted to preach to his sons and grandchildren with painful words like a loving father admonishing them; He dared to approach him; sometimes he thought about the assembly of Fa Zang, who should be called to participate, who would preach the scriptures, and who would observe the law.
In short, Maha Kassapa’s heart is heavy. At this time, the Buddha’s golden coffin was placed in the Tianguan Temple, and some disciples wept secretly around it, and some poured a lot of sesame oil on it, and held the fire for several times, but did not burn the firewood. Seven days later, when the great Kasyapa arrived, the Buddha’s feet stretched out from the golden coffin. His Holiness couldn’t help weeping and weeping, and bowed his hands together and said, “Compassionate Buddha! Great Savior! Don’t worry, we will follow your footsteps! ”
After Da Kasyapa said, the Buddha’s feet were put into the golden coffin. While the disciples were crying, the Buddha used the samadhi real fire to set himself on fire.
From now on, the responsibility of spreading the Dafa will be borne by His Holiness the Great Kasyapa!
14. Collection of the Tripitaka
Ninety days after the Buddha passed away, the ceremony of gathering the Dharma Treasury began.
At first, Da Kassapa spent a lot of painstaking efforts in choosing the place for the assembly. The Bamboo Forest Abode and Gion Garden Abode are too large, and there are many monks living in these places who have not attained the fruition of renunciation. In the end, he chose a large stone room in the bamboo forest in the southeast of Rajagha City. This stone room is called Pippolo. Yan Grotto.
In the quiet forest, in the large stone room, it is the dust outside the dust. Among the holy disciples of the five hundred arhats, Mahakasyapa, Ananda, Analuddha, Upali, Fuluna, etc. were generally elected as the supreme leaders. In particular, the venerable Kasyapa, as the head seat, counted Ananda’s six sins in front of the public, and blamed him for not having attained the highest holy fruit. Like Ananda, before Da Kassapa, he did not dare to resist, so he had to admit his mistake.
The greatness of Kasyapa was passed down by the Buddha. Among so many holy disciples, he was able to govern the masses, and it can be known from the fact that he did not break up the sect. At the time of Buddha’s Nirvana, his prestige and authority were as important as a rock
When the Buddha was alive, the talented Shariputra and Moggallana, the two great disciples, were active in and out of the religious group, and when they were the Buddha’s thighs, Kasyapa practiced silently, even if there were some activities, they were very limited. . But after the Buddha and his second disciple Nirvana, the so-called truth came out, and he actually took charge of leading the sect. From this we can see his profound cultivation and magnanimity.
The Venerable’s style is conservative. He is not as aggressive as Shariputra and Moggallana. Today’s Buddhism has a reclusive, forested, conservative, and ascetic atmosphere, which is influenced by Mahakassapa. Great, this is an undeniable historical fact.
However, although Da Kassapa could not turn the waves into flat ground, he could persevere and get through the difficulties no matter what. To spread the light of the Buddha’s truth across the earth like a mountain like a mountain, and spread it to the infinite future. There is really no one more suitable than him in the religious order at that time with this kind of personality.
From the second day of gathering the Tripitaka, Ananda recited the sutras and Upali recited the Vinaya, and then the elders reviewed and revised the recited sutras and Vinayas. The so-called sacred cause of gathering the Tripitaka for the first time was successfully completed in this way.
We can bear the nectar rain of the Buddha, and we can have as many scriptures as the sea, we have to thank the Venerable Mahakassapa!
15. Longhua three associations wish to meet
About 20 to 30 years after gathering the Tripitaka, Da Kassapa suddenly became weary of the world. He thought: “The Buddha has become my teacher, just like a parent loves a child, and he has shown me great kindness as deep as the sea. I have taught Dafa to the future. Passing it on, I will finally repay the Buddha’s kindness. Now that I am old and decayed, who would still love such an old and ugly body, it would be better to nirvana sooner!”
Da Kassapa was over a hundred years old at this time, there is no doubt about it.
He immediately went to the place where Ananda lived, entrusted Dharma Treasure to ask Ananda to inherit, and then he jumped into the void and went to the Buddha’s eight pagodas to make offerings and worship one by one.
When he returned to Rajagha, he went to bid farewell to King Ajashi. The guards said that the king was sleeping, so he went straight to Jizu Mountain, which is more than eight miles southwest of Rajagha. There are three peaks standing on the mountain, shaped like chicken feet. Above the half-mountain, there are lush and verdant forests; below the half-mountain, it is covered with vines.
When the venerable reached the mountain, the three peaks split open and naturally formed his meditation seat. He immediately sat down on the grass mat and said to himself: “I will use supernatural powers to maintain this body and cover it with dung sweeping clothes. After 6.7 billion years, Maitreya Bodhisattva will become a Buddha, and I will go to see him again.” , help him educate all living beings!” After finishing speaking, the chicken-legged three peaks folded together, hiding his body.
King Aja was extremely sad when he heard the news of the death of Venerable Kasyapa! Immediately went to see Venerable Ananda and asked him to climb Jizu Mountain together. When Venerable Ananda and King Aja reached Jizu Mountain, the three peaks of Jizu naturally split open. When he entered meditation, his body was covered with mandala flowers. After the two of them made offerings and bowed out, the mountain peaks naturally closed again, and they looked back at the silent forest. After 6.7 billion years, the Venerable Kassapa will hold the Buddha’s mantle for a long time and wait for Maitreya Buddha in this mountain. Visit him, pass on the mantle of the Buddha to him, and teach him with this legacy, so that they can’t help admiring him!
Such a beautiful and mysterious story is recorded in many scriptures. From here we can see the great personality of Maha Kasyapa, who is immortal after all calamities!
Some people say that the spirit of a great man enters into the bosom of good fortune and participates in the mystery of heaven and earth, and life is as long as endless time! Judging from the story of the Venerable Kasyapa, although the life of the Venerable is endless, even the teachings of the Buddha will be handed down endlessly!
The life of Venerable Mahakassapa is colorful, from his birth under a tree to the sculpture of a golden man to propose marriage; Willing to practice asceticism; the smiling smile at the Lingshan meeting can inherit the Buddha’s legal system; the attachment to Dafa will not relax even when he is one hundred years old; At the time of fruition, he voluntarily passed on the legal system to Ananda to inherit. This is really a life of a great man, which is worth remembering and worth learning from.
As I write this, His Holiness’s character and demeanor seem to appear dimly in front of my eyes! I pray: I am honored to meet His Holiness at the Longhua Three Meetings of Maitreya Buddha, and let me pay my respects to His Holiness!
