12.6 （六）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at the Karanda Bamboo Grove in the city of Rajagriha, together with a great assembly of five hundred bhikshus.

At that time, Venerable Mahakasyapa was dwelling in a forest hermitage. He begged for alms at mealtime, without discriminating between rich and poor. He ate in one place and did not move. He sat under a tree or in the open, wore rag robes, or carried the three robes. He stayed in charnel grounds, ate only one meal a day, or ate at noon. He practiced austerities and was old and tall. At that time, after Venerable Mahakasyapa had eaten, he went to sit in meditation under a tree. After meditating, he rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, and went to where the World-Honored One was.

At that time, the World-Honored One saw Kasyapa coming from afar and said, "Welcome, Kasyapa!"

Then Kasyapa went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side.

The World-Honored One said, "Kasyapa! You are now old and your aspirations are declining. You should now give up begging for food and all the ascetic practices. You can also accept invitations from wealthy householders and receive their robes."

Kasyapa replied, "I do not follow the Tathāgata's instruction. The reason is that if the Tathāgata does not attain supreme, perfect enlightenment, I will become a pratyekabuddha. Those pratyekabuddhas all practice araṇya, beg for food at the right time, not discriminating between the poor and the wealthy, sit in one place without moving, under a tree, in the open, or in an empty and quiet place, wearing five-piece robes, or carrying three robes, in a charnel ground, eating once a day, or eating at noon, or practicing austerities. I now dare not abandon my original practices and learn other practices."

The World-Honored One said, "Excellent! Excellent! Kasyapa! You will benefit many, liberate countless people, and widely liberate all, including gods and humans. The reason is that, Kasyapa! If these ascetic practices exist in the world, my Dharma will also remain in the world for a long time. If the Dharma remains in the world, it will increase the heavenly path and reduce the three evil paths. It will also establish the three vehicles of stream-enterer, once-returner, and non-returner, all existing in the world. All bhikṣus should learn like Kasyapa's practice. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train like this."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.