釋迦母摩訶摩耶夫人記第十六(出佛昇忉利天為母說法經)
Chapter 16: Queen Mahamaya, Mother of Shakyamuni(From the Sutra on the Buddha's Ascension to Trayastrimsa Heaven to Teach His Mother)
佛在忉利天歡喜園中。波利質多羅樹下。三月安居。爾時如來四眾圍繞。身毛孔中放千光明。普照三千大千世界。一一光中有千葉蓮花花中皆有化佛。威光照耀不可譬類。諸天子等。不知何緣而有此事。佛告文殊。汝詣母所道我在此。願母暫屈禮敬三寶。文殊即往宣白摩耶。聞已乳自流出。而作此言。若審我所生悉達多者。當令乳汁置至其口。作此語已。兩乳湩出猶白蓮花。而便入於如來口中。時摩耶見已踊躍怡悅。如花開榮。大千世界普皆震動。諸妙花果非時敷熟。即語文殊。我從與佛為母子來。歡喜安樂未曾如今日也。即與文殊俱趣佛所。世尊遙見母來。如須彌山鼓動之相。便以梵音而白母言。身所經處與苦樂俱。當修涅槃永離苦樂。摩耶一心五體投地。專精正念結使消伏。佛為說法。摩耶聞已即識宿命。善根純熟。破八十億熾然之結。得須陀洹果。即白佛言。生死牢獄已證解脫。時會大眾聞此語已。異口同音而作是言。願一切眾生皆得解脫。爾時世尊於忉利天。為眾廣說大有利益。至三月盡將欲還下。命鳩摩羅。汝今可下至閻浮提語言。如來不久當入涅槃。于時眾生聞是語已。極大愁惱作如是言。我等頃來不知大師所在。今者乃在忉利天上。又復欲入涅槃。何其苦哉。世眼將滅。我等罪身天人殊絕。無由昇天恭敬勸請。唯願仁者為宣啟請。唯願愍念閻浮提人。時速還下。時鳩摩羅還至佛所。具以白佛。爾時世尊聞此語已。放五色光明照耀顯赫。時天帝釋知佛當下。即使鬼神作三道寶階。中央閻浮檀金。左用瑠璃右用馬瑙。欄楯彫鏤極為嚴麗。佛語摩耶。生死之法會必有離。我今應下還閻浮提。不久亦當入於涅槃。摩耶垂淚說偈。爾時世尊。與母辭別。下躡寶階梵天執蓋。及四天王侍立左右。四部大眾歌唄讚嘆。天作妓樂充塞虛空。散花燒香導從來下。閻浮提王波斯匿等。一切大眾集在寶階。稽首奉迎。佛還祇洹處師子座。四眾圍繞歡喜踊躍。
The Buddha was residing in the delightful garden of Trayastrimsa Heaven, beneath the Pāricchattaka tree, observing the three-month rainy season retreat. At that time, the Tathāgata was surrounded by the fourfold assembly. From the pores of his body, a thousand rays of light shone forth, illuminating the entire trichiliocosm—the great thousandfold world system. Within each ray of light, there was a thousand-petaled lotus flower, and within each flower, there was a manifestation Buddha. The majesty and radiance of these lights were beyond any comparison. The heavenly beings did not know what cause or condition had brought about this extraordinary event.
The Buddha addressed Mañjuśrī, saying, "Go to my mother and tell her that I am here. Request that she graciously come to pay homage to the Three Jewels." Mañjuśrī then went and conveyed this message to Māyā. Upon hearing it, her milk began to flow of its own accord, and she said, "If he is truly my son Siddhārtha, then let this milk be placed in his mouth." As she spoke these words, both streams of milk flowed forth like white lotus flowers and entered directly into the Tathāgata's mouth.
When Māyā saw this, she leapt with joy and delight, blossoming like a flower in full bloom. The entire great thousandfold world system trembled, and all manner of exquisite flowers and fruits ripened out of season. She then said to Mañjuśrī, "Since the time I became the mother of the Buddha, my joy and happiness have never been as great as they are today." So she set out with Mañjuśrī to meet the Buddha.
From afar, the World-Honored One saw his mother coming, with a presence like the trembling of Mount Sumeru. He addressed her with his Brahma voice, saying, "Wherever the body travels, it is accompanied by both pleasure and pain. One should cultivate Nirvana to forever transcend both pleasure and pain."
Māyā, with full focus, prostrated herself with all five limbs touching the ground. With single-minded attention and right mindfulness, her mental fetters were subdued. The Buddha then taught her the Dharma. Upon hearing it, Māyā immediately recognized her past lives. Her wholesome roots were fully matured, and she shattered the blazing fetters of eighty billion defilements, attaining the fruit of Stream-Enterer. She then said to the Buddha, "The prison of birth and death—I have now attained liberation from it."
When the great assembly heard these words, they spoke with one voice, saying, "May all sentient beings attain liberation."
At that time, the World-Honored One, in Trayastrimsa Heaven, extensively taught the Dharma for the benefit of all. When the three months were complete and he was about to descend, he instructed Kumāra, saying, "You may now go down to Jambudvīpa and announce that the Tathāgata will soon enter Parinirvana."
When the living beings of that world heard this, they were overwhelmed with sorrow and lamented, saying, "All this time, we did not know where the Great Teacher was. Now he is in Trayastrimsa Heaven, and yet he is about to enter Parinirvana. How bitter is our suffering! The world's eye is about to be extinguished. We are beings burdened with sin, severed from the devas and humans of the heavens, with no means to ascend to the heavens to reverently make our requests. We humbly ask you, kind one, to convey our plea: we only beg that he take pity on the people of Jambudvīpa and return swiftly."
Then Kumāra returned to the Buddha's presence and reported all of this to him. Upon hearing these words, the World-Honored One emitted brilliant five-colored light, shining resplendently. At that time, Śakra, the lord of devas, knew the Buddha was about to descend, and had spiritual beings construct a precious staircase with three tiers—the center made of Jambūnada gold, the left of lapis lazuli, and the right of agate—with carved railings of extraordinary splendor.
The Buddha said to Māyā, "The nature of birth and death is such that meetings must inevitably end in separation. I should now descend back to Jambudvīpa, and before long, I too will enter Parinirvana." Māyā, with tears streaming down her face, recited verses in farewell.
At that time, the World-Honored One, bidding farewell to his mother, stepped onto the precious stairs. Brahma held the canopy above him, while the Four Heavenly Kings stood in attendance at his sides. The fourfold assembly sang praises and hymns, and heavenly music filled the sky. Flowers were scattered and incense burned as the procession descended. King Prasenajit of Jambudvīpa, along with the entire great assembly, gathered at the base of the precious stairs, bowing in reverence to welcome him.
The Buddha returned to Jetavana and took his seat upon the lion throne. The fourfold assembly surrounded him, rejoicing and leaping with delight.
祐敬惟。佛生七日母昇忉利。三世如來莫不同然。摩耶積因託化誕聖。是以。既為天師而方味其乳。已入泥洹而還起致敬。欲報之德。於斯至矣。
In reverence, we recall: the Buddha was born and after seven days, his mother ascended to the Heaven of the Thirty-Three Gods. All Buddhas of the past, present, and future follow the same path. Maya, having accumulated merits over countless lifetimes, was blessed to give birth to the Holy One. Thus, even though he was already the teacher of gods and humans, he still savored the taste of milk. Though he had already entered nirvana, he rose again to pay respects. To repay such kindness, this is the utmost expression of filial gratitude.