The Transmission of the Dharma: Mahākāśyapa and Ānanda

Taking gold and jewels to a goldsmith, they requested the decoration of a Buddha statue’s face. Afterward, they made a shared vow: "May the two of us be husband and wife without carnal desire." Due to this karmic connection, for ninety-one kalpas Kalpa: An immense period of time in Buddhist cosmology, often described as the duration of a world system., their bodies were always the color of gold. Later, he was born in the Brahma Heaven, and when his heavenly lifespan ended, he was born into a Brahmin The highest priestly caste in traditional Indian society. family in the kingdom of Magadha in Central India. His name was Kāśyapa Also known as Mahākāśyapa, the leader of the disciples after the Buddha's passing., which is translated as "Drinking Light" original: 飮光 (Yǐnguāng) and "Supreme Excellence," titles given because of his golden hue.

Because of this, he resolved to seek the homeless life to ferry all beings across the sea of suffering. The Buddha said to him, "Welcome, monk!" and his hair and beard fell away naturally, and a kasaya Kasaya: The traditional patchwork robe of a Buddhist monk. draped over his body. Among the assembly, he was always praised as the foremost in ascetic practices. The Buddha further said, "I entrust to you the pure Eye of the True Dharma; you must spread it and never let it be extinguished."

The Nirvana Sutra says: At that time, when the World-Honored One was about to enter Nirvana, Kāśyapa was not present in the assembly. The Buddha told his great disciples, "When Kāśyapa arrives, let him proclaim the Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma." At that time, Kāśyapa was in the Pippala Cave on Gridhrakuta Hill Also known as Vulture Peak, a favorite retreat of the Buddha.. Seeing a magnificent light, he immediately entered a state of meditative absorption and, with his pure divine eye, saw the World-Honored One entering Parinirvana Parinirvana: The final passing of a Buddha, which ends the cycle of rebirth. by the Hiranyavati River. He told his disciples, "The Tathagata Tathagata: An honorific for the Buddha, meaning 'One who has thus come/gone.' has entered Nirvana; how swift it was!"

He immediately went to the space between the twin Sal trees, weeping with sorrowful longing. The Buddha, from within his golden coffin, manifested his two feet to show him. At that time, Kāśyapa told the monks, "The Buddha has been cremated. The diamond-like sarira Sarira: Crystalline relics found among the ashes after the cremation of a Buddhist master. are not our concern; our concern is to compile the Eye of the Dharma so it is never extinguished." He then spoke this verse:

The disciples of the Tathagata should not yet enter Nirvana,
Those who have attained spiritual powers should attend the Council.

Those with spiritual powers all gathered at the Pippala Cave on Gridhrakuta Hill near the city of Rajgir. At that time, Ānanda The Buddha’s cousin and personal attendant. had not yet ended all his "outflows" He had not yet achieved the final stage of enlightenment (Arhatship). and was not permitted to enter the assembly.

Later, after attaining the fruit of Arhatship Arhatship: The state of one who has attained enlightenment and is free from the cycle of rebirth., Ānanda was able to enter. Kāśyapa then spoke to the assembly, "This monk Ānanda has heard much and can retain it all; he possesses great wisdom. He followed the Tathagata constantly, and his pure conduct was stainless. It is said that the Buddha's Dharma was like water poured from one vessel into another, without a single drop lost. He was praised by the Buddha as the foremost in intelligence. We should invite him to compile the Sutra Pitaka Sutra Pitaka: The collection of the Buddha's basket of teachings or discourses.." The great assembly remained silent in agreement.

Kāśyapa said to Ānanda, "You should now proclaim the Eye of the Dharma." Hearing these words, Ānanda accepted the instruction with faith. Observing the minds of the assembly, he recited this verse:

The assembly of monks
Without the Buddha is not adorned,
Just like the vast empty sky
With many stars but no moon.

Having spoken this verse, he prostrated at the feet of the monks, ascended the Dharma seat, and proclaimed: "Thus have I heard The traditional opening of a Buddhist sutra, indicating Ānanda is reciting from memory.. At one time, the Buddha was staying at such-and-such a place, teaching such-and-such a scripture..." continuing through to the mention of gods and humans "bowing in greeting and putting the teachings into practice."

Kāśyapa then asked the monks, "Are the words spoken by Ānanda correct and without error?" They all replied, "They are no different from what the World-Honored One taught."

Kāśyapa then said to Ānanda, "My years are now few. I now entrust the True Dharma to you. Guard it well." Listen to my verse:

The Dharma that is the fundamental Dharma is essentially no-dharma;
The Dharma of no-dharma is also a Dharma.
Now that I entrust this no-dharma,
What Dharma has ever been the Dharma?

Having spoken this verse, he took his sanghati The outer robe of a monk. and entered Mount Kukkutapada to await the descent of Maitreya Maitreya: The future Buddha, currently residing in the Tushita Heaven.. This occurred in the year Bingchen, the fifth year of the reign of King Xiao of the Zhou Dynasty.

Once, a follower of another path asked the Venerable [Kāśyapa], "What is my 'Self'?"
The Venerable replied, "The one seeking the 'Self' is your 'Self'."
The follower asked, "This is 'my' Self; where is 'my teacher's' Self?"
The Venerable replied, "You are asking me to go find it."

One day, while the Venerable was treading through mud, a shramanera Shramanera: A novice monk. saw him and asked, "Venerable, why must you do this yourself?"