..續本文上一頁ho were those who came first

　　"

　　"The Four Great Divine Kings, upasika."

　　"Are you, then, greater than they

　　" she asked.

　　"They are like temple attendants," said the Elder. "Ever since our Master took rebirth they have stood guard over him with swords in hand."

　　"After they had left, who was it that came then, dear

　　"

　　"It was Sakka the king of the gods."

　　"Are you then, greater than the king of gods, dear

　　"

　　"He is like a novice who carries a bhikkhu”s belongings," answered Sariputta. "When our Master returned from the heaven of the Thirty-three (Tavatimsa), Sakka took his bowl and robe and descended to earth together with him."

　　"And when Sakka had gone, who was it that came after him, filling the room with his radiance

　　"

　　"Upasika, that was your own Lord and Master, the Great Brahma."

　　"Then are you greater, my son, even than my Lord, the Great Brahma

　　"

　　"Yes, Upasika. On the day when our Master was born, it is said that four Great Brahmas received the Great Being in a golden net."

　　Upon hearing this, the brahman lady thought: "If my son”s power is such as this, what must be the majestic power of my son”s Master and Lord

　　" And while she was thinking this, suddenly the fivefold rapture arose in her, suffusing her entire body.

　　The Elder thought: "Rapture and joy have arisen in my mother. Now is the time to preach the Dhamma to her." And he said: "What was it you were thinking about, upasika

　　"

　　"I was thinking," she replied, "if my son has such virtue, what must be the virtue of his Master

　　"

　　The Venerable Sariputta answered: "At the moment of my Master”s birth, at his Great Renunciation (of worldly life), on his attaining Enlightenment and at his first turning of the Dhamma Wheel — on all these occasions the ten thousand world-system quaked and shook. None is there who equals him in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom, in deliverance, and in the knowledge and vision of deliverance." And he then explained to her in detail the words of homage: "Such indeed is that Blessed One..." (Iti pi so Bhagava...). And thus he gave her an exposition of the Dhamma, basing it on the virtues of the Buddha.

　　When the Dhamma talk given by her beloved son had come to an end, the brahman lady was firmly established in the Fruition of stream-entry, and she said: "Oh, my dear Upatissa, why did you act like that

　　 Why, during all these years, did you not bestow on me this ambrosia (the knowledge of the Deathless)

　　"

　　The Elder thought: "Now I have given my mother, the brahman lady Rupa-Sari, the nursing-fee for bringing me up. This should suffice." and he dismissed her with the words: "You may go now, upasika."

　　When she was gone, he asked: "What is the time now, Cunda

　　"

　　"Venerable sir, it is early dawn."

　　And the Elder said: "Let the community of bhikkhus assemble."

　　When the bhikkhus had assembled, he said to Cunda: "Lift me up to a sitting position, Cunda." And Cunda did so.

　　Then the Elder spoke to the bhikkhus, saying: "For forty-four years I have lived and traveled with you, my brethren. If any deed or word of mine was unpleasant to you, forgive me, brethren."

　　And they replied: "Venerable sir, not the least displeasure has ever come from you to us, who followed you inseparably like your shadow. But may you, venerable sir, grant forgiveness to us!"

　　After that the Elder gathered his large robe around him, covered his face and lay down on his right side. Then, just as the Master was to do at his Maha Parinibbana, he entered into the nine successive attainments of meditation, in forward and reverse order, and beginning again with the first absorption he led his meditation up to the fourth absorption. And at the moment after he had entered it, just as the crest of the rising sun appeared over the horizon, he utterly passed away into the Nibbana-element…

《The Life of Sariputta》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…