The perpetuity of the Dharma: A study and translation of “Da Aluohan Nantimiduoluo suoshuo fazhu ji”. (“A Record of the Perpetuity of the Dharma, Narrated by the Great Arhat Nandimitra”, “Nandimitrāvadāna”)
Perpetuity of the Dharma; Translation; Dharma; Da Aluohan Nantimiduoluo suoshuo fazhu ji; Record of the Perpetuity of the Dharma; Narrated by the Great Arhat Nandimitra; Nandimitravadana
摘要
The objective of this study is to provide a complete interpretation and translation of the Da Aluohan Nantimiduoluo suoshuo fazhu ji (“A Record of the Perpetuity of the Dharma, Narrated by the Great Arhat Nandimitra”, Sanskrit: Nandimitrāvadāna) in English using the Chinese, Tibetan and Khotanese versions of the text.
The Da Aluohan Nantimiduoluo suoshuo fazhu ji, also known as Fazhu ji, contains the fourth or fifth century Arhat Nandimitra's teaching and prophecy concerning the duration of the Dharma. Although the text now contains some Mahayana textual elements, I argue that it originally was a Hinayana text. Previous scholars have focused on the role this text gives to Arhats in protecting the Dharma, but in reality the text situates Arhats as just one aspect of perpetuating the Dharma. Nandimitra creates a coherent cosmological theory that describes the continued lineage of the Dharma from Sakyamuni to Maitreya Buddha. The text emphasizes preserving Sakyamuni's Dharma throughout the cosmological cycle by seeking every opportunity to sustain his Dharma. He provides three ways for donors to support the Dharma: first by giving offerings to the sixteen Arhats and providing feasts to the Triple Gems (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), as a result of these two they will be reborn in Maitreya's world. He also includes the appearance of pratyekabuddhas and links human lifespan to the prevailing level of morality. All of these items are arrayed in order to maximize the duration of the Dharma.
The importance of this text was recognized by the great Chinese translator of the seventh century, Xuanzang, as he chose to translate this text early in his career ahead of other more famous texts. His recognition of the meaning of the text is also expressed in the phrase he added to the title of the translation: fazhu or “perpetuity of the Dharma.”
