第一祖摩訶迦葉尊者
First Patriarch, Venerable Mahakashyapa
摩竭陀國人也。姓婆羅門。父名飲澤。母香志。昔毗婆尸佛世。為鍛金師。莊嚴彼佛像。時有貧女得一金錢。覩如來相。發希有意。持詣金師。請飾佛像。既而共發願。永劫為清淨夫婦。由是因緣。九十一劫身皆金色。後生梵天。次生摩竭陀國。始名迦葉波。此云飲光勝。身有殊妙光明。亦名金勝。盖以金色為號也。復名婆耆子。聞如來出世。志求出家。冀度諸有。佛言。善來比丘。鬚髮自落。袈裟著體。持頭陀行。佛常稱讚。
Mahakashyapa was a native of the kingdom of Magadha. He was born into a Brahmin family, with his father named Yinze and his mother named Xiangzhi. In the era of the past Buddha Vipashyin, he was a goldsmith who adorned the statue of that Buddha. At that time, there was a poor woman who obtained a single gold coin. Gazing upon the Buddha's appearance, she was moved by a rare and extraordinary aspiration. She brought the coin to the goldsmith and asked him to decorate the Buddha statue. Together, they made a vow to remain a pure and chaste couple for countless eons. Due to this karmic connection, for ninety-one eons their bodies were golden in hue. Later, he was reborn in the Brahma Heaven, and then in the kingdom of Magadha, where he was first given the name Kashyapa, meaning "One Who Drinks Light and Surpasses All." His body radiated a uniquely magnificent glow, earning him the name "Golden Supremacy," so called for his golden complexion. He was also known as the Son of Vaki. Upon hearing of the Buddha's appearance in the world, he resolved to renounce worldly life and seek liberation from all forms of existence. The Buddha said, "Welcome, monk." His hair and beard naturally fell away, and the monastic robe draped itself upon him. He embraced the practice of asceticism, for which the Buddha often praised him.
如來在靈山說法。諸天献華。世尊持華示眾。迦葉微笑。世尊告眾曰。吾有正法眼藏。涅槃妙心。付囑摩訶迦葉。流布將來。勿令斷絕。仍以金縷僧伽梨衣付迦葉。以俟慈氏。
The Tathāgata was teaching on Mount Lingshan. The heavenly beings offered flowers. The World-Honored One held up a flower to the assembly. Mahakashyapa smiled. The World-Honored One said to the assembly, "I have the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, the wondrous mind of Nirvana. I entrust it to Mahakashyapa, to be passed down through the ages, never to be cut off." He also gave the golden-threaded monastic robe to Kāśyapa, to be kept until the coming of Maitreya.
世尊涅槃時。迦葉不在眾會。時迦葉方自外還。如來於金棺出現雙足以示之。迦葉作禮訖。世尊化三昧火闍維之。
When the World-Honored One entered Nirvana, Mahakashyapa was not present at the assembly. At that time, Mahakashyapa had just returned from outside. The Tathagata, from within the golden coffin, extended both feet to show him. After Mahakashyapa paid his respects, the World-Honored One transformed into the fire of samadhi and cremated his body.
迦葉乃造眾曰。如來雙林示滅。我等宜興後事。可共結集。宣傳法教。于是集諸大眾。所傳聲曰。
Mahakashyapa addressed the assembly, saying: "The Thus Come One has shown the Cessation of Suffering at the Twin Trees. It is fitting that we undertake the task that follows. Let us come together to compile and transmit the Dharma, spreading its teachings far and wide." Thereupon, he gathered the great assembly, and the call resounded throughout.
如來弟子 且莫涅槃 得神通者 當赴結集
是時。偈聲周徧沙界。證阿羅漢者。悉集賓鉢羅窟。(此云七業巖也)時阿難諸漏未盡。大迦葉不令會集。阿難自念。我事如來。曾無缺犯。何期有漏。不預聖倫。坐盤陀石。經三晝夜。證無漏果。即還眾會。擊其石門。
迦葉曰。汝未解脫。何須再來。
阿難曰。我已證無漏。
迦葉曰。可現神通。以遣眾疑。
阿難即入自戶鑰中。會眾生疑。迦葉白槌。請第一座阿難尊者說法。阿難即升法座云。如是我聞。
大迦葉結集三藏已。作是思惟。持如來傳受僧伽梨衣。當隱雞足山中。以俟龍華三會。遂告阿難曰。汝今當知。婆伽婆未圓寂時。多子塔前以正法眼藏付囑於我。我今將隱雞峰。以此正法傳付於汝。汝善護持。流通將來。無令斷絕。汝受吾教。聽吾偈曰。
法法本來法 無法無非法 何於一法中
有法有不法
阿難受教已。迦葉遂茲隱焉。