Chapter 24: The Chapter on the Farewell of the Licchavis

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

The Venerable Ananda (阿難陀 [a nan tuo])
saw the great trembling of the entire earth,
his heart was startled and the hair on his body stood on end,
and he asked the Buddha, "What is the reason for this?"
The Buddha told Ananda (阿難陀 [a nan tuo]):
"I am staying for three months,
and have abandoned the remainder of my life span.
Therefore, the great earth trembled."
Ananda (阿難 [a nan]) heard the Buddha's teaching,
and tears of sadness flowed like a river,
just like a powerful elephant (大力象 [da li xiang])
shaking a sandalwood tree (栴檀樹 [zhan tan shu]),
the disturbance and pressure cause
fragrant juice and tears to flow down.
"My respected and great teacher (親重大師尊 [qin zhong da shi zun]),
my deep kindness is not yet free from desires.
Because of these four matters,
my sadness and suffering are unbearable.
Now I hear the World-Honored One's (世尊 [shi zun])
decisive teaching about Nirvana (涅槃 [nie pan]).
My whole body withers away,
I am lost and my usual voice is gone.
I have forgotten all the Dharma (法 [fa]) I have heard,
and I am so panicked that I am lost between heaven and earth.
How strange that the savior of the world (救世主 [jiu shi zhu])
is extinguished so quickly.
Encountering a cold river and about to die,
meeting a fire that suddenly goes out.
In the wilderness of afflictions (煩惱曠野 [fan nao kuang ye]),
I am lost and bewildered,
and suddenly meet a good guide (善導師 [shan dao shi]),
but before I have crossed, he is suddenly lost.
It is like a person walking in a long desert,
thirsty for a long time and without water,
suddenly encountering a clear and cool pond,
but when he rushes to it, it is all dried up.
The beautiful eyelashes and wide-open eyes,
which clearly see the three worlds (三世 [san shi]),
the wisdom (智慧 [zhi hui]) that illuminates the darkness,
how can it be dark so quickly?
It is like a seedling in a dry land,
looking up to the clouds, hoping for rain.
A storm suddenly makes the clouds disappear,
and hope is lost as one guards the empty field.
The ignorant are in great darkness,
and all sentient beings are lost.
The Tathagata (如來 [ru lai]) lit the lamp of wisdom (慧燈 [hui deng]),
but it is suddenly extinguished, and there is no way out."
The Buddha heard Ananda's (阿難 [a nan]) words,
his mournful and sorrowful feelings were deep.
He comforted him with gentle words,
and spoke the true Dharma (真實法 [zhen shi fa]) for him.
"If a person knows his own nature (自性 [zi xing]),
he should not be in sorrow and grief.
All conditioned things (有為 [you wei])
are all subject to destruction.
I have already told you,
that meetings are by nature destined to be separated.
The principle of love and affection is not permanent,
you should abandon your mind of sorrow and attachment.
Conditioned things (有為 [you wei]) are a flowing Dharma (流動法 [liu dong fa]),
they are not free from arising and ceasing.
The desire to make them last forever
will never be realized.
If conditioned things (有為 [you wei]) were permanent,
and there were no changes,
this would be liberation.
What else would you seek?
What do you and other sentient beings
seek from me now?
What you should attain,
I have already finished speaking.
What is the use of this body of mine?
The body of the wonderful Dharma (妙法身 [miao fa shen]) is permanent,
my staying and my quietude,
the only thing needed is this.
However, for sentient beings,
I have never been tired.
You should cultivate the thought of aversion and separation,
and live well on your own island (自洲 [zi zhou]).
You should know that your own island
is to specialize in diligent expedient means (專精勤方便 [zhuan jing qin fang bian]),
to live alone in quiet seclusion (獨靜脩閑居 [du jing xiu xian ju]),
and not to believe in others.
You should know that the island of the Dharma (法洲 [fa zhou])
is the decisive and bright lamp of wisdom (決定明慧燈 [jue ding ming hui deng]).
It can extinguish the darkness of ignorance (癡闇 [chi an]),
by observing the four realms (四境界 [si jing jie]).
By attaining the supreme Dharma (勝法 [sheng fa]),
you will be free from 'I' and 'what is mine' (我離我所 [wo li wo suo]).
This body of bone poles, skin, and flesh coating,
held together by blood and tendons,
if you truly observe it, it is all impure.
How can you delight in this body?
All feelings (諸受 [zhu shou]) arise from conditions (緣 [yuan]),
like a bubble on the water.
They arise and cease, are impermanent, and are suffering.
Be far from the thought of pleasure.
The mind and consciousness arise, abide, and cease,
newly appearing and never stopping for a moment.
By contemplating on quietude,
the thought of permanence is gone forever.
All karmic formations (眾行 [zhong xing]) arise from conditions,
and they gather and scatter, and do not last forever.
The ignorant give rise to the thought of 'I'.
The wise have no 'what is mine'.
By truly contemplating and observing
these four realms,
this is the one-vehicle path (一乘道 [yi cheng dao])
that can extinguish all sufferings.
If you can abide in this,
the true and right view,
the existence or extinction of the Buddha's body
this Dharma is always without end."
When the Buddha spoke this wonderful Dharma (妙法 [miao fa])
to comfort Ananda (阿難 [a nan]),
the Licchavis (離車 [li che]) heard it,
and with fear and panic, they all gathered.
They all gave up their worldly majestic manners,
and rushed to the Buddha's place.
After bowing, they sat on one side,
wanting to ask but unable to speak.
The Buddha knew their minds,
and spoke to them with expedient means (方便 [fang bian]):
"I now observe that your minds
have an unusual thought.
You have abandoned your worldly duties,
and your minds are only concerned with the Dharma (法 [fa]).
What you now wish to hear
and know from me,
at the time of my existence or extinction,
you must not give rise to sorrow and grief.
Impermanence is the nature of conditioned things (有為性 [you wei xing]),
a restless and changing Dharma (變易法 [bian yi fa]).
It is not firm or beneficial,
and has no lasting form.
In ancient times, the kings and sages (諸仙王 [zhu xian wang]),
the sage Vasistha (婆私吒仙 [po si zha xian]) and others,
and the Wheel-Turning King Mandhata (曼陀轉輪王 [man tuo zhuan lun wang]),
there were also many like them.
Such former victors,
whose power was like the god of freedom (自在天 [zi zai tian]),
have all been long destroyed,
and none exist today.
The sun, moon, and the lord of heaven Indra (天帝釋 [tian di shi]),
their numbers were also very many.
They all returned to destruction,
and none existed forever.
The Buddhas of the past,
their number was like the sand of the Ganges (恒邊沙 [heng bian sha]).
Their wisdom illuminated the world,
and they were all extinguished like a lamp.
The Buddhas of the future,
when they are about to be extinguished, it will also be like this.
How can I be different?
I am about to enter Nirvana (涅槃 [nie pan]).
Those who should be saved are there.
You should now advance forward.
The joy of Vaisali (毘舍離 [pi she li]),
you should be at peace with yourselves.
There is no protector in the world.
The three realms (三界 [san jie]) are not worth rejoicing in.
You should stop your sorrow and suffering,
and give rise to a mind of separation from desires."
After deciding on this long farewell,
he traveled to the north,
slowly walking the long road,
like the sun setting behind the western mountain.
At that time, the Licchavis (離車 [li che])
lamented and followed the road,
looking up at the sky and sighing with sorrow:
"Alas, how strange!
A body like a true golden mountain (真金山 [zhen jin shan]),
adorned with all the marks,
will soon collapse and be destroyed?
How merciless is impermanence?
We have been thirsty for birth and death for a long time,
but now the mother of the Tathagata's (如來 [ru lai]) wisdom (智慧 [zhi hui])
is suddenly abandoning us.
There is no savior, what can we do?
Sentient beings have been in darkness for a long time,
relying on the light of wisdom (明慧 [ming hui]) to walk.
How can the sun of wisdom (智慧日 [zhi hui ri])
suddenly hide its light?
Ignorance (無智 [wu zhi]) is a swift current,
drifting all sentient beings.
How can the bridge of the Dharma (法橋梁 [fa qiao liang])
suddenly collapse one day?
The great king of medicine with compassion (慈悲大醫王 [ci bei da yi wang]),
the supreme good medicine with wisdom (無上智良藥 [wu shang zhi liang yao]),
who heals the sufferings of sentient beings,
how can he suddenly go far away?
The wonderful heavenly banner of compassion (慈悲妙天幢 [ci bei miao tian chuang]),
adorned with wisdom (智慧 [zhi hui]),
wrapped with the adamantine mind (金剛心 [jin gang xin]),
the world looks at it without being tired.
The grand and solemn supreme banner (祠祀嚴勝幢 [ci si yan sheng chuang]),
how can it collapse one day?
How little merit do sentient beings have?
They are in the cycle of birth and death (生死流 [sheng si liu]).
The gate of liberation is suddenly closed,
and there is no end to their long suffering."
The Tathagata (如來 [ru lai]) comforted them well,
and with a long farewell that cut their feelings.
They controlled their minds and endured their sorrowful attachment,
like a withered kanika flower.
They lingered and delayed,
disappointed and walking along the road,
like a person who has lost a parent,
and returns after the burial and the long farewell.

[24] fú suǒ xíng zàn lí chē cí bié pǐn dì èr shí sì

zūn zhě ā nán tuó,　　jiàn de pǔ dà dòng,
　xīn jīng shēn máo shù,　　wèn fú hé yīn yuán?
　fú gào ā nán tuó:　　 “wǒ zhù sān yuè shòu,
　yú mìng xíng xī shě,　　shì gù de dà dòng.”
　ā nán wén fú jiào,　　bēi gǎn lèi jiāo liú,
　yóu rú dà lì xiàng,　　yáo bǐ zhān tán shù,
　rǎo dòng lǐ pò zé,　　xiāng zhī lèi liú xià.
“qīn zhòng dà shī zūn,　　ēn shēn wèi lí yù,
　wéi cǐ sì shì gù,　　bēi kǔ bù zì shèng.
　jīn wǒ wén shì zūn,　　niè pán jué dìng jiào,
　jǔ tǐ xī wēi xiāo,　　mí fāng shī cháng yīn,
　suǒ wén fǎ xī wàng,　　huāng jì wáng tiān de.
　guài zāi jiù shì zhǔ,　　miè dù yī hé jué,
　zāo hán shuǐ chuí sǐ,　　yù huǒ hū fù miè.
　yú fán nǎo kuàng yě,　　mí luàn shī qí fāng,
　hū yù shàn dǎo shī,　　wèi dù hū fù shī.
　rú rén shè zhǎng mò,　　rè kě jiǔ fá shuǐ,
　hū yù qīng liáng chí,　　bēn qù xī kū jié.
　gàn jié dèng jīng mù,　　míng jiàn yú sān shì,
　zhì huì zhào yōu míng,　　hūn míng yī hé sù?
　yóu rú hàn de miáo,　　yún xìng yǎng xī yǔ,
　bào fēng yún sù miè,　　wàng jué shǒu kōng tián.
　wú zhì dà àn míng,　　qún shēng xī mí fāng,
　rú lái rán huì dēng,　　hū miè mò yóu chū.”
　fú wén ā nán shuō,　　suān sù qíng bēi qiè,
　ruǎn yǔ ān wèi yán,　　wèi shuō zhēn shí fǎ.
“ruò rén zhī zì xìng,　　bù yīng chù yōu bēi,
　yī qiè zhū yǒu wèi,　　xī jiē mó miè fǎ.
　wǒ yǐ wèi rǔ shuō,　　hé huì xìng bié lí,
　ēn ài lǐ bù cháng,　　dāng shě bēi liàn xīn.
　yǒu wèi liú dòng fǎ,　　shēng miè bù zì zài,
　yù lìng zhǎng cún zhě,　　zhōng wú yǒu shì chù.
　yǒu wèi ruò cháng cún,　　wú yǒu qiān biàn zhě,
　cǐ zé wèi jiě tuō,
　yú hé ér gèng qiú?　　rǔ jí yú zhòng shēng,
　jīn yú wǒ hé qiú?　　rǔ děng suǒ yīng dé,
　wǒ yǐ wèi shuō jìng,　　hé yòng wǒ cǐ shēn?
　miào fǎ shēn zhǎng cún,　　wǒ zhù wǒ jì jìng,
　suǒ yào wéi zài cǐ.　　rán wǒ yú zhòng shēng,
　wèi céng yǒu suǒ quán.　　dāng xiū yàn lí xiǎng,
　shàn zhù yú zì zhōu.　　dāng zhī zì zhōu zhě,
　zhuān jīng qín fāng biàn,　　dú jìng xiū xián jū,
　bù cóng yú tā xìn.　　dāng zhī fǎ zhōu zhě,
　jué dìng míng huì dēng,　　néng miè chú chī àn,
　guān chá sì jìng jiè.　　dǎi dé yú shèng fǎ,
　lí wǒ lí wǒ suǒ,　　gǔ gān pí ròu tú,
　xuè jiāo yǐ jīn chán.　　dì guān xī bù jìng,
　yún hé lè cǐ shēn?　　zhū shòu cóng yuán shēng,
　yóu rú shuǐ shàng pào,　　shēng miè wú cháng kǔ,
　yuǎn lí yú lè xiǎng.　　xīn shí shēng zhù miè,
　xīn xīn bù zàn tíng.　　sī wéi yú jì miè,
　cháng xiǎng yǒng yǐ guāi.　　zhòng xíng yīn yuán qǐ,
　jù sàn bù cháng jù.　　yú chī shēng wǒ xiǎng,
　huì zhě wú wǒ suǒ.　　yú cǐ sì jìng jiè,
　sī wéi zhèng guān chá,　　cǐ zé yī chéng dào,
　zhòng kǔ xī jiē miè.　　ruò néng zhù yú cǐ,
　zhēn shí zhèng guān zhě,　　fú shēn zhī cún wáng,
　cǐ fǎ cháng wú jǐn.” 　　fú shuō cǐ miào fǎ,
　ān wèi ā nán shí,　　zhū lí chē wén zhī,
　huáng bù xián lái jí.　　xī shě sú wēi yí,
　qū chí zhì fú suǒ,　　lǐ bì yī miàn zuò,
　yù wèn bù néng xuān.　　fú yǐ zhī qí xīn,
　nì wèi fāng biàn shuō:　　 “wǒ jīn guān chá rǔ,
　xīn yǒu yì cháng xiǎng,　　fàng shě sú yuán wù,
　wéi niàn fǎ wèi qíng.　　rǔ jīn yù cóng wǒ,
　suǒ wén suǒ zhī zhě,　　yú wǒ cún wáng jì,
　shèn mò shēng yōu bēi.　　wú cháng yǒu wèi xìng,
　zào dòng biàn yì fǎ,　　bù jiān fēi lì yì,
　wú yǒu jiǔ zhù xiāng.　　gǔ xī zhū xiān wáng,
　pó sī zhā xiān děng,　　màn tuó zhuǎn lún wáng,
　qí bǐ yì zhòng duō.　　rú shì zhū xiān shèng,
　lì rú zì zài tiān,　　xī yǐ jiǔ mó miè,
　wú yī cún yú jīn.　　rì yuè tiān dì shì,
　qí shù yì shén zhòng,　　xī jiē guī mó miè,
　wú yǒu zhǎng cún zhě.　　guò qù shì zhū fú,
　shù rú héng biān shā,　　zhì huì zhào shì jiān,
　xī jiē rú dēng miè.　　wèi lái shì zhū fú,
　jiāng miè yì fù rán,　　wǒ jīn qǐ dú yì?
　dāng rù yú niè pán.　　bǐ yǒu yīng dù zhě,
　jīn yí jìn qián xíng,　　pí shě lí kuài lè,
　rǔ děng qiě zì ān.　　shì jiān wú yī hù,
　sān jiè bù zú huān,　　dāng zhǐ yōu bēi kǔ,
　ér shēng lí yù xīn.” 　　jué duàn zhǎng bié yǐ,
　ér yóu yú běi fāng,　　mí mí shè zhǎng lù,
　rú rì bàng xī shān.
　ěr shí zhū lí chē,　　bēi yín zhú lù suí,
　yǎng tiān ér āi tàn:　　 “wū hū hé guài zāi?
　xíng rú zhēn jīn shān,　　zhòng xiāng jù zhuāng yán,
　bù jiǔ jiāng bēng huài?　　wú cháng hé wú cí,
　shēng sǐ jiǔ xū kě,　　rú lái zhì huì mǔ,
　ér jīn dùn fàng shě,　　wú jiù kǔ nài hé?
　zhòng shēng jiǔ àn míng,　　jiǎ míng huì yǐ xíng,
　rú hé zhì huì rì,　　hū rán ér qián guāng?
　wú zhì wèi xùn liú,　　piào làng zhū zhòng shēng,
　rú hé fǎ qiáo liáng,　　yī dàn hū rán cuī.
　cí bēi dà yī wáng,　　wú shàng zhì liáng yào,
　liáo zhì zhòng shēng kǔ,　　rú hé hū yuǎn shì?
　cí bēi miào tiān chuáng,　　zhì huì yǐ zhuāng yán,
　jīn gāng xīn jiǎo luò,　　shì jiān guān wú yàn,
　cí sì yán shèng chuáng,　　yún hé yī dàn bēng?
　zhòng shēng hé báo fú?　　lún huí shēng sǐ liú,
　jiě tuō mén hū bì,　　zhǎng kǔ wú chū qī.”
　rú lái shàn ān wèi,　　gē qíng ér zhǎng cí.
　zhì xīn rěn bēi liàn,　　rú wēi jiā ní huā,
　pái huái ér chí chí,　　chàng yàng suí lù xíng,
　rú rén sàng qí qīn,　　zàng bì zhǎng jué hái.

[24] fu suo xing zan li che ci bie pin di er shi si

zun zhe a nan tuo, jian de pu da dong,
xin jing shen mao shu, wen fu he yin yuan?
fu gao a nan tuo: "wo zhu san yue shou,
yu ming xing xi she, shi gu de da dong."
a nan wen fu jiao, bei gan lei jiao liu,
you ru da li xiang, yao bi zhan tan shu,
rao dong li po ze, xiang zhi lei liu xia.
"qin zhong da shi zun, en shen wei li yu,
wei ci si shi gu, bei ku bu zi sheng.
jin wo wen shi zun, nie pan jue ding jiao,
ju ti xi wei xiao, mi fang shi chang yin,
suo wen fa xi wang, huang ji wang tian de.
guai zai jiu shi zhu, mie du yi he jue,
zao han shui chui si, yu huo hu fu mie.
yu fan nao kuang ye, mi luan shi qi fang,
hu yu shan dao shi, wei du hu fu shi.
ru ren she zhang mo, re ke jiu fa shui,
hu yu qing liang chi, ben qu xi ku jie.
gan jie deng jing mu, ming jian yu san shi,
zhi hui zhao you ming, hun ming yi he su?
you ru han de miao, yun xing yang xi yu,
bao feng yun su mie, wang jue shou kong tian.
wu zhi da an ming, qun sheng xi mi fang,
ru lai ran hui deng, hu mie mo you chu."
fu wen a nan shuo, suan su qing bei qie,
ruan yu an wei yan, wei shuo zhen shi fa.
"ruo ren zhi zi xing, bu ying chu you bei,
yi qie zhu you wei, xi jie mo mie fa.
wo yi wei ru shuo, he hui xing bie li,
en ai li bu chang, dang she bei lian xin.
you wei liu dong fa, sheng mie bu zi zai,
yu ling zhang cun zhe, zhong wu you shi chu.
you wei ruo chang cun, wu you qian bian zhe,
ci ze wei jie tuo,
yu he er geng qiu? ru ji yu zhong sheng,
jin yu wo he qiu? ru deng suo ying de,
wo yi wei shuo jing, he yong wo ci shen?
miao fa shen zhang cun, wo zhu wo ji jing,
suo yao wei zai ci. ran wo yu zhong sheng,
wei ceng you suo quan. dang xiu yan li xiang,
shan zhu yu zi zhou. dang zhi zi zhou zhe,
zhuan jing qin fang bian, du jing xiu xian ju,
bu cong yu ta xin. dang zhi fa zhou zhe,
jue ding ming hui deng, neng mie chu chi an,
guan cha si jing jie. dai de yu sheng fa,
li wo li wo suo, gu gan pi rou tu,
xue jiao yi jin chan. di guan xi bu jing,
yun he le ci shen? zhu shou cong yuan sheng,
you ru shui shang pao, sheng mie wu chang ku,
yuan li yu le xiang. xin shi sheng zhu mie,
xin xin bu zan ting. si wei yu ji mie,
chang xiang yong yi guai. zhong xing yin yuan qi,
ju san bu chang ju. yu chi sheng wo xiang,
hui zhe wu wo suo. yu ci si jing jie,
si wei zheng guan cha, ci ze yi cheng dao,
zhong ku xi jie mie. ruo neng zhu yu ci,
zhen shi zheng guan zhe, fu shen zhi cun wang,
ci fa chang wu jin." fu shuo ci miao fa,
an wei a nan shi, zhu li che wen zhi,
huang bu xian lai ji. xi she su wei yi,
qu chi zhi fu suo, li bi yi mian zuo,
yu wen bu neng xuan. fu yi zhi qi xin,
ni wei fang bian shuo: "wo jin guan cha ru,
xin you yi chang xiang, fang she su yuan wu,
wei nian fa wei qing. ru jin yu cong wo,
suo wen suo zhi zhe, yu wo cun wang ji,
shen mo sheng you bei. wu chang you wei xing,
zao dong bian yi fa, bu jian fei li yi,
wu you jiu zhu xiang. gu xi zhu xian wang,
po si zha xian deng, man tuo zhuan lun wang,
qi bi yi zhong duo. ru shi zhu xian sheng,
li ru zi zai tian, xi yi jiu mo mie,
wu yi cun yu jin. ri yue tian di shi,
qi shu yi shen zhong, xi jie gui mo mie,
wu you zhang cun zhe. guo qu shi zhu fu,
shu ru heng bian sha, zhi hui zhao shi jian,
xi jie ru deng mie. wei lai shi zhu fu,
jiang mie yi fu ran, wo jin qi du yi?
dang ru yu nie pan. bi you ying du zhe,
jin yi jin qian xing, pi she li kuai le,
ru deng qie zi an. shi jian wu yi hu,
san jie bu zu huan, dang zhi you bei ku,
er sheng li yu xin." jue duan zhang bie yi,
er you yu bei fang, mi mi she zhang lu,
ru ri bang xi shan.
er shi zhu li che, bei yin zhu lu sui,
yang tian er ai tan: "wu hu he guai zai?
xing ru zhen jin shan, zhong xiang ju zhuang yan,
bu jiu jiang beng huai? wu chang he wu ci,
sheng si jiu xu ke, ru lai zhi hui mu,
er jin dun fang she, wu jiu ku nai he?
zhong sheng jiu an ming, jia ming hui yi xing,
ru he zhi hui ri, hu ran er qian guang?
wu zhi wei xun liu, piao lang zhu zhong sheng,
ru he fa qiao liang, yi dan hu ran cui.
ci bei da yi wang, wu shang zhi liang yao,
liao zhi zhong sheng ku, ru he hu yuan shi?
ci bei miao tian chuang, zhi hui yi zhuang yan,
jin gang xin jiao luo, shi jian guan wu yan,
ci si yan sheng chuang, yun he yi dan beng?
zhong sheng he bao fu? lun hui sheng si liu,
jie tuo men hu bi, zhang ku wu chu qi."
ru lai shan an wei, ge qing er zhang ci.
zhi xin ren bei lian, ru wei jia ni hua,
pai huai er chi chi, chang yang sui lu xing,
ru ren sang qi qin, zang bi zhang jue hai.