..續本文上一頁hat it is said that first he accepted from Nanda and Nandapara [

　　] a pasture with two cows which gave him milk and gruel and then afterward he attained the anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. In reality, I did not eat them. I now shall demonstrate it to all of the great assembly of congregations. This is why I have taken your very last offerings. In reality, I will not eat them."

　　At that time, upon hearing that the Buddha, the World Honored One, would mercifully accept Cunda”s very last offerings for the sake of the great assembly, the congregation was elated, danced joyfully, and sang praises in unison, saying, "Excellent, excellent is this most extraordinary Cunda! Your name shall be established to be a non-empty praise. The meaning of the word Cunda is “Free and Marvelous”. You are now the expression of such a great meaning. This is why it is in accord with reality that your name is established from this meaning. It is why you are named Cunda. In this present life, you have attained this great name, your blessed virtue and vows are fulfilled. Most exceptional is Cunda who has been born human and attained this difficult blessing of the unsurpassed.

　　"Excellent is this Cunda! He is a rarity in the world like that of the udumbara flower. The appearance of the Buddha in the world is also very rare. To meet with the birth of a Buddha and have faith in the Dharma one hears [from him] is again difficult. Being able to provide the very last offerings when the Buddha nears parinirvana is also the rarest of events. Namo Cunda, namo Cunda! You have now fulfilled the perfection of giving. Just as the Autumn moon is pure for a period of fifteen days and nights, it is completely full without any clouds to obstruct the view. Just as none the sentient beings can avoid look at it with reverence, you are also so. And we do look reverently upon the Buddha who has accepted your very last offerings and lead you to consummate the perfection of giving. Namo Cunda! This is why we saythat you are like the moon at its peak fullness, which none of the sentient beings can avoid look at with reverence. Namo Cunda! Although you have received a human body, your mind is like the Buddha”s mind. You, Cunda, are truly a Buddhist disciple, no different than Rahula.

　　At that time, the great congregation proclaimed gathas, saying,

　　"Although you were born into the path of humans You have transcended even the sixth heaven. Because of this, we and all of the sentient beings Now prostrate ourselves to and beseech you.

　　In the person of the most exceptional worthy

　　Who now shall soon enter Nirvana,

　　You should commiserate with us.

　　Our only wish is to make haste to and beseech the Buddha

　　To remain in the world for a long time

　　And bless the infinite sentient beings

　　With the thorough praises for the wisdom

　　Of the unsurpassed sweet Dharma dew.

　　If you do not beseech the Buddha [to do this],

　　Our lives will not be full.

　　This is why it should be seen that

　　We prostrate ourselves to the lion tamer."

　　At that time, Cunda was elated and danced joyfully. He was like someone whose father and mother”s dead corpses had suddenly returned to life.

　　Cunda”s elation was also so. He again rose to pay his respects to the Buddha

　　and proclaimed gathas, saying,

　　"How delightful it is to obtain one”s own benefit!

　　Skillfully attaining it in a human body

　　By abolishing greed and anger,

　　One forever parts with the three evil paths.

　　How delightful it is to obtain one”s own benefit!

　　Coming to attain piles of gold and gems

　　And encountering the Lion Tamer,

　　One does not fear falling into [the path] of animals.

　　The Buddha is like the udumbara flower.

　　Encountering his birth faithfully is difficult. Having encountered him, one sows the good roots, Forever extinguishing the distress of the hungry gho…

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