迦葉破顔 31. Three Occasion of the Buddha's Transmission of Mahakashyapa

迦葉破顔 31. Three Occasion of the Buddha's Transmission of Mahakashyapa   Ⅰ. One morning, The Buddha sat in front of the Pagoda of Many Children. Many disciples had gathered from near and far to hear his Dharma speech. Everyone waited for him to begin, but the Buddha did not open his mouth. In the front rows were the older students, including many venerable monks. The new monks and novices sat far away in the back. Mahakashyapa arrived and walked to the front, in front of the Buddha. Though he was an old man, he had only recently become a monk, so everyone thought it was incorrect of him to walk in front of the Buddha. But when the Buddha saw him, he moved over and allowed Mahakashyapa to sit next to him on his cushion. Everyone was surprised and amazed. By this action, the Buddha was demonstrating the equality of dharma nature. Ⅱ. The Buddha was at Vulture's Peak. Over a thousand disciples were assembled to hear him speak, but he did not open his mouth. After several minutes of silence, he held up a flower before the assembly. No one understood. Only Mahakashyapa smiled. Then the Buddha said, "I transmit my true Dharma to you." Ⅲ. The Buddha died when he was eighty years old. In those days, people often lived to one hundred, so many of his disciples did a lot of checking: "Why did the Buddha die?" "Why didn't he live longer?" "This is not fair." Furthermore, they could not begin the funeral ceremony without the Buddha's great disciple, Mahakashyapa. They anxiously waited seven days, when finally Mahakashyapa arrived. The wood was stacked high for the funeral pyre and on top was the gold coffin containing the Buddha's body. Perceiving that everyone was still sad and confused, Mahakashyapa bowed three times in front of pyre, walked clockwise around it three times, and bowed in front of it three times. After the last bow, there was a big clap of thunder. The coffin broke open and the Buddha's feet appeared. Everyone was very shocked and instantly realized this teaching: Only the Buddha's body had died, but the true Buddha never dies. Ⅰ. a. Mahakashyapa sat next to the Buddha.What does this mean?b.What is the equality of dharma nature?Ⅱ. a. Why did Mahakashyapa smile?b.What kind of Dharma was transmitted to him?Ⅲ. a. The Buddha's feet broke through the coffin.What does this mean?b."Only the Buddha's body had died,but the true Buddha never dies."What does this mean? COMMENTARY: The Buddha and Mahakashyapa are good actors. But nobody understands their meaning: Only the Buddha and Mahakashyapa understand each other, so they are not good actors. If you have neither the Buddha nor Mahakashyapa, then everything is very clear: the sky is blue, the tree is green, water is flowing. You can hear clearly. But the Buddha and Mahakashyapa take away all of their students' eyes, ears, noses, and mouths. This is a number one bad job. If you attain this "bad job" then you are better than the Buddha and Mahakashyapa. How wonderful!