增支部第 5 集（Sujato 英译）第 31 阅读页 · AN5.31 · With Sumanā

Numbered Discourses 5.31Numbered Discourses 5.314. With Sumanā4. With Sumanā

With SumanāWith SumanāAt one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.Then Princess Sumanā, escorted by five hundred chariots and five hundred royal maidens, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:Then Princess Sumanā, escorted by five hundred chariots and five hundred royal maidens, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, suppose there were two disciples equal in faith, ethics, and wisdom.“Sir, suppose there were two disciples equal in faith, ethics, and wisdom.One is a giver, one is not.One is a giver, one is not.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

When they have become gods, would there be any distinction or difference between them?”When they have become gods, would there be any distinction or difference between them?”“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.“As a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects:“As a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects:

heavenly lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty.heavenly lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty.As a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”As a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”“But sir, if they pass away from there and come back to this place as human beings, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”“But sir, if they pass away from there and come back to this place as human beings, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”

“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.“As a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects:“As a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects:human lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty.human lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty.

As a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”As a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”“But sir, if they both go forth from the lay life to homelessness, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”“But sir, if they both go forth from the lay life to homelessness, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.

“As a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects.“As a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects.They usually use only what they’ve been invited to accept—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—rarely using them without invitation.They usually use only what they’ve been invited to accept—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—rarely using them without invitation.When living with other spiritual practitioners, they usually find themselves treated agreeably by them by way of body, speech, and mind, and rarely disagreeably. And they are usually presented with agreeable things by them, rarely with disagreeable ones.When living with other spiritual practitioners, they usually find themselves treated agreeably by them by way of body, speech, and mind, and rarely disagreeably. And they are usually presented with agreeable things by them, rarely with disagreeable ones.

As a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”As a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.”“But sir, if they both attain perfection, as perfected ones would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”“But sir, if they both attain perfection, as perfected ones would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”“In that case, I say there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other.”“In that case, I say there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other.”

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!This is quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.This is quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”

“That’s so true, Sumanā.“That’s so true, Sumanā.It’s quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.It’s quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”

That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:“The moon so immaculate,“The moon so immaculate,

journeying across the dimension of space;journeying across the dimension of space;outshines with its radianceoutshines with its radianceall the world’s stars.all the world’s stars.

So too, a faithful individual,So too, a faithful individual,perfect in ethics,perfect in ethics,outshines with their generosityoutshines with their generosity

all the world’s stingy people.all the world’s stingy people.The thundering rain cloud,The thundering rain cloud,its hundred peaks wreathed in lightning,its hundred peaks wreathed in lightning,

pours down over the rich earth,pours down over the rich earth,soaking the uplands and valleys.soaking the uplands and valleys.Even so, an astute person accomplished in vision,Even so, an astute person accomplished in vision,

a disciple of the fully awakened Buddha,a disciple of the fully awakened Buddha,surpasses a stingy personsurpasses a stingy personin five respects:in five respects:

long life and fame,long life and fame,beauty and happiness.beauty and happiness.Lavished with riches,Lavished with riches,

they depart to rejoice in heaven.”they depart to rejoice in heaven.”