English
English version They were not frightened, and came to where the Buddha was, filling the space. At that time, the Venerable Ananda, seeing this sight, was startled and his hair stood on end. He quickly went to the Buddha and said to him, 'What is the reason for this sudden appearance of such a sight?' The Buddha told Ananda, 'Mara Papiyas (the evil one, a demon in Buddhism) came to me just now, urging me to enter Nirvana (the ultimate state of enlightenment). I have already agreed to it, and will soon relinquish my life, but because of my spiritual power, I can remain alive for three more months.' Ananda reported to the Buddha, 'World Honored One, you often say that those who possess the four bases of spiritual power (catvāri ṛddhipādāḥ) can live for a kalpa (an eon in Buddhist cosmology), or less than a kalpa, at will. Why is it that the Tathagata (a title of the Buddha) will not remain in the world longer, like ordinary beings?' At this time, the Tathagata answered Ananda, 'I said such things to you before, because the demon had obscured your mind, and you did not ask me to remain. I have already agreed to him, how can I remain alive? Ananda, you should know that all conditioned phenomena (saṃskāra) are like this, they cannot exist forever.' At that time, Ananda, hearing these words from the Buddha, felt confused, distressed, and unable to control himself. He wept with sorrow and deep remorse. At this time, the World Honored One and Ananda gradually reached various realms, villages, and settlements, widely proclaiming the Dharma, and the number of those they converted was countless. They gradually arrived again at Kushinagar (an ancient Indian city), the birthplace of the strongmen, between the twin Sal trees (Shorea robusta) by the Hiranyavati River. The Buddha said to Ananda, 'You may prepare a rope bed with its head facing north. My body is now in great pain, and I will enter Nirvana in the middle of the night.' Ananda accepted the teaching, and after preparing the rope bed, the Buddha lay down, resting on his right side. At this time, Ananda, seeing the Buddha lying down, hid behind the Buddha, weeping with sorrow and great distress. The World Honored One then asked the monks, 'Where is Ananda now?' The monks said, 'He is near the Buddha, weeping with sorrow.' The Tathagata then used his great compassionate Brahma-svara (the voice of the Buddha) to tell Ananda, 'You should not weep like a child now. Why is that? It is all like this in the cycle of birth and death. You should focus your mind on contemplating the Dharma. From the past until now, you have served me, and your actions of body, speech, and mind have been extremely pure and good. I have never seen you --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
有毫过失。今者宜应勤求解脱，忍割悲心勿自煎恼。” 尔时，阿难而白佛言：“如来入于般涅槃后，阇维之法当云何耶？” 佛告阿难：“阇维之法如转轮圣王，取于千端新净之㲲用缠佛身，香油洒灌内金棺中，又以金棺内银棺中，又以银棺内铜棺中，又以铜棺内铁棺中，积众香薪而用阇维，收拾舍利起立塔庙、表刹、幡盖种种供养。” 尔时，世尊告阿难言：“汝今入城告诸力士，道我在此，夜入涅槃，若欲来者宜自知时。” 阿难受敕即便入城，街巷道路高声唱言：“三界大师——如来、应供——今近在于双树之间，当于中夜而取涅槃。诸人若欲礼拜、供养并欲咨决，宜知是时。” 时诸力士闻此语已皆大懊恼，问阿难言：“世尊灭度一何驶哉？我等从今无所依怙。”涕泪缘路往诣佛所。 时熙连河侧娑罗双树周匝纵广四百八十里，天龙八部充塞盈满间无空缺，莫不恋慕、悲号、苦恼，咸言：“世间失于慈父。”各相谓言：“我等从今方沦生死，谁拔济者？” 尔时，城中有一梵志名须跋陀罗，年百二十岁，闻佛近在双树之间，当于中夜而入涅槃，即往佛所白阿难言：“我闻如来——一切智者——当于中夜而入涅槃，欲少决疑，唯愿听前。” 是时阿难心自 现代汉语译本：没有任何过失。现在应该勤奋求解脱，忍住悲伤的心情，不要自己煎熬烦恼。 这时，阿难对佛说：‘如来入般涅槃（涅槃：佛教指修行者达到的最高境界，即解脱生死轮回的状态）后，荼毗（荼毗：佛教指火葬）的仪式应该如何进行呢？’ 佛告诉阿难：‘荼毗的仪式如同转轮圣王（转轮圣王：佛教传说中拥有统治世界的理想君主），取用一千端崭新干净的细布缠裹佛身，用香油浇灌放入金棺中，再将金棺放入银棺中，再将银棺放入铜棺中，再将铜棺放入铁棺中，堆积众多香木柴薪进行荼毗，收拾舍利（舍利：佛教指佛陀或高僧圆寂后遗留的遗骨或遗物）并建立塔庙、表刹（表刹：佛教指佛塔顶端的装饰物）、幡盖等各种供养。’ 这时，世尊告诉阿难说：‘你现在进城告诉各位力士，说我在这里，今晚入涅槃，如果想来的人应该自己把握时间。’ 阿难接受佛的命令，立即进城，在大街小巷高声宣唱：‘三界（三界：佛教指欲界、色界、无色界）大师——如来（如来：佛教指佛的十大称号之一，意为“如实而来”）、应供（应供：佛教指佛的十大称号之一，意为“应受人天供养”）——现在就在双树之间，将于半夜入涅槃。各位如果想礼拜、供养或者想请教决疑，应该知道这个时间。’ 当时，各位力士听到这话都非常懊恼，问阿难说：‘世尊灭度（灭度：佛教指佛或高僧圆寂）怎么这么快啊？我们从今以后就没有依靠了。’他们一边流着眼泪，一边沿着道路前往佛所在的地方。 当时，熙连河（熙连河：印度古代河流名）旁的娑罗双树（娑罗双树：佛教指佛陀涅槃时的树木）周围纵横四百八十里，天龙八部（天龙八部：佛教指八种护法神）充塞盈满，没有空缺，没有不留恋、悲号、苦恼的，都说：‘世间失去了慈父。’他们互相说道：‘我们从今以后就要沉沦生死，谁来救拔我们呢？’ 当时，城中有一位婆罗门（婆罗门：印度古代的祭司阶层）名叫须跋陀罗（须跋陀罗：人名），年龄一百二十岁，听说佛在双树之间，将于半夜入涅槃，就前往佛所在的地方，对阿难说：‘我听说如来——一切智者（一切智者：佛教指佛的称号，意为“通晓一切智慧的人”）——将于半夜入涅槃，想稍微请教一些疑问，希望允许我上前。’ 这时，阿难心里想
English
English version: There is no fault at all. Now, one should diligently seek liberation, endure the sorrowful heart, and not torment oneself with worries. At that time, Ananda said to the Buddha, 'After the Tathagata (Tathagata: one of the ten titles of a Buddha, meaning 'one who has thus come') enters Parinirvana (Parinirvana: the final nirvana, the ultimate state of liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth), how should the cremation (cremation: the act of burning a body) ceremony be conducted?' The Buddha told Ananda, 'The cremation ceremony should be like that of a Chakravartin King (Chakravartin King: a universal ruler in Buddhist cosmology), using a thousand pieces of new and clean cloth to wrap the Buddha's body, pouring fragrant oil and placing it in a golden coffin, then placing the golden coffin in a silver coffin, then placing the silver coffin in a copper coffin, then placing the copper coffin in an iron coffin, piling up many fragrant wood and firewood for cremation, collecting the relics (relics: the remains of a Buddha or an enlightened being) and building stupas, banners, and canopies for various offerings.' At that time, the World Honored One told Ananda, 'Now you go into the city and tell the strong men that I am here, and will enter Nirvana tonight. Those who wish to come should know the time themselves.' Ananda received the Buddha's command and immediately entered the city, proclaiming loudly in the streets and alleys, 'The master of the three realms (three realms: the realm of desire, the realm of form, and the formless realm) - the Tathagata (Tathagata: one of the ten titles of a Buddha, meaning 'one who has thus come'), the Arhat (Arhat: one of the ten titles of a Buddha, meaning 'worthy of offerings') - is now near the twin Sala trees, and will enter Nirvana in the middle of the night. Those who wish to pay homage, make offerings, or seek clarification should know the time.' At that time, the strong men, upon hearing these words, were greatly distressed and asked Ananda, 'Why is the World Honored One's passing (passing: the death of a Buddha or an enlightened being) so swift? From now on, we have no one to rely on.' They wept and made their way to where the Buddha was. At that time, the area around the twin Sala trees (Sala trees: the trees under which the Buddha passed away) by the side of the Hiranyavati River (Hiranyavati River: an ancient river in India) was four hundred and eighty miles in circumference, filled with Devas, Nagas, and the eight classes of beings (Devas, Nagas, and the eight classes of beings: various types of deities and supernatural beings in Buddhist cosmology), with no space left. All were filled with longing, grief, and sorrow, saying, 'The world has lost its compassionate father.' They said to each other, 'From now on, we will be lost in the cycle of birth and death. Who will save us?' At that time, there was a Brahmin (Brahmin: a member of the priestly class in ancient India) in the city named Subhadra (Subhadra: a person's name), who was one hundred and twenty years old. Upon hearing that the Buddha was near the twin Sala trees and would enter Nirvana in the middle of the night, he went to where the Buddha was and said to Ananda, 'I have heard that the Tathagata - the All-Knowing One (All-Knowing One: a title of the Buddha, meaning 'one who knows all things') - will enter Nirvana in the middle of the night. I wish to ask a few questions to resolve my doubts. I hope you will allow me to approach.' At this time, Ananda thought to himself --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
念言：“今此梵志久习异见，必于今者与佛论议，世尊身痛而作扰乱。”即便默然不听许之，乃至三请亦复如是。 尔时，世尊天耳遥闻，语阿难言：“汝可听是老梵志前，此即是吾最后弟子。” 须跋陀罗既见佛已欢喜踊跃，头面作礼。尔时，世尊随应为说八正道法，即于座上得罗汉果，而白佛言：“生死苦海已蒙得过，不忍当见大师涅槃，我今当先而取灭度。”即于佛前入般涅槃。 尔时，世尊为诸八部一切大众说妙法已，既至中夜，涅槃时到，而说偈言： “我于诸众生， 应度缘今毕， 夜静气恬和， 涅槃时已到。” 尔时，世尊说此偈已即入初禅，入初禅已复入二禅，入二禅已次入三禅，入三禅已次入四禅，入四禅已次入空处，入空处已次入识处，入识处已次入无所有处，入无所有处已次入非想非非想处，入非想非非想处已次入灭尽正受。时会大众既见如来诸根不动，即便问于阿那律言：“世尊今者入涅槃未？”时阿那律语诸人言：“世尊今入灭尽正受。” 尔时，如来出灭尽正受还入非想非非想处，出非想非非想处还入无所有处，出无所有处还入识处，出于识处还入空处，出于空处还入四禅，出于四禅还入三禅，出于三禅还入二禅，出于二禅还入初禅。即于初 现代汉语译本：念（Nian）说道：‘这个婆罗门（梵志，Brahmacari，指修行婆罗门教的人）长期以来习惯于不同的见解，今天必定会和佛陀辩论，世尊身体不适，这会造成扰乱。’于是就默不作声，不让他去见佛陀，甚至请求了三次也是这样。 这时，世尊用天耳（天耳，divya-shrotra，指佛陀具有的超自然听力）远远地听到了，就对阿难（Ananda，佛陀的十大弟子之一）说：‘你可以让这位老婆罗门来见我，他将是我最后的弟子。’ 须跋陀罗（Subhadra，佛陀的最后一位弟子）见到佛陀后，欢喜雀跃，顶礼佛陀。这时，世尊根据他的根器为他宣说了八正道（八正道，arya-ashtanga-marga，佛教的修行方法，包括正见、正思惟、正语、正业、正命、正精进、正念、正定）的法门，他当即在座位上证得了阿罗汉果（罗汉，arhat，佛教修行所能达到的最高果位之一），并对佛陀说：‘我已经度过了生死苦海，不忍心看到大师涅槃，我今天应当先入灭度。’随即在佛陀面前入般涅槃（般涅槃，parinirvana，指佛陀或阿罗汉的最终死亡）。 这时，世尊为八部（八部，ashta-parisad，指天龙八部等八类护法神）一切大众宣说了妙法之后，到了半夜，涅槃的时间到了，于是说了偈语： ‘我对于一切众生，应该度化的因缘现在已经完毕，夜深了，气息也平静祥和，涅槃的时间已经到了。’ 这时，世尊说完偈语后就进入初禅（初禅，prathama-dhyana，禅定的第一层次），进入初禅后又进入二禅（二禅，dvitiya-dhyana，禅定的第二层次），进入二禅后又进入三禅（三禅，tritiya-dhyana，禅定的第三层次），进入三禅后又进入四禅（四禅，chaturtha-dhyana，禅定的第四层次），进入四禅后又进入空无边处（空无边处，akashanantya-ayatana，四空定之一），进入空无边处后又进入识无边处（识无边处，vijnananantya-ayatana，四空定之一），进入识无边处后又进入无所有处（无所有处，akimcanya-ayatana，四空定之一），进入无所有处后又进入非想非非想处（非想非非想处，naivasamjna-nasamjna-ayatana，四空定之一），进入非想非非想处后又进入灭尽定（灭尽定，nirodha-samapatti，一种高级禅定）。当时在场的大众看到如来诸根不动，就问阿那律（Aniruddha，佛陀的十大弟子之一）说：‘世尊现在入涅槃了吗？’这时阿那律对众人说：‘世尊现在进入了灭尽定。’ 这时，如来从灭尽定出来，又回到非想非非想处，从非想非非想处出来，又回到无所有处，从无所有处出来，又回到识无边处，从识无边处出来，又回到空无边处，从空无边处出来，又回到四禅，从四禅出来，又回到三禅，从三禅出来，又回到二禅，从二禅出来，又回到初禅。就在初禅中...