增支部第 7 集（Sujato 英译）第 57 阅读页 · AN7.57 · General Sīha

Numbered Discourses 7.57Numbered Discourses 7.576. The Undeclared Points6. The Undeclared Points

General SīhaGeneral SīhaSo I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Then General Sīha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:Then General Sīha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:“Sir, can you point out a fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life?”“Sir, can you point out a fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life?”“Well then, Sīha, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.“Well then, Sīha, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.

What do you think, Sīha?What do you think, Sīha?Consider two people.Consider two people.One is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive. One is a faithful donor who loves charity.One is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive. One is a faithful donor who loves charity.

Which do you think the perfected ones will show sympathy for first?”Which do you think the perfected ones will show sympathy for first?”“Why would the perfected ones first show sympathy for the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive?“Why would the perfected ones first show sympathy for the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive?They’d show sympathy first for the faithful donor who loves charity.”They’d show sympathy first for the faithful donor who loves charity.”

“Which do you think the perfected ones will first approach?”“Which do you think the perfected ones will first approach?”“They’d first approach the faithful donor who loves charity.”“They’d first approach the faithful donor who loves charity.”“Which do you think the perfected ones will receive alms from first?”“Which do you think the perfected ones will receive alms from first?”

“They’d receive alms first from the faithful donor who loves charity.”“They’d receive alms first from the faithful donor who loves charity.”“Which do you think the perfected ones will teach the Dhamma to first?”“Which do you think the perfected ones will teach the Dhamma to first?”“They’d first teach the Dhamma to the faithful donor who loves charity.”“They’d first teach the Dhamma to the faithful donor who loves charity.”

“Which do you think would get a good reputation?”“Which do you think would get a good reputation?”“The faithful donor who loves charity would get a good reputation.”“The faithful donor who loves charity would get a good reputation.”“Which do you think would enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics?”“Which do you think would enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics?”

“How could the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics?“How could the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics?The faithful donor who loves charity would enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.”The faithful donor who loves charity would enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.”

“When their body breaks up, after death, which do you think would be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?”“When their body breaks up, after death, which do you think would be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?”“Why would the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?“Why would the person who is faithless, stingy, miserly, and abusive be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?The faithful donor who loves charity would, when their body breaks up, after death, be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.The faithful donor who loves charity would, when their body breaks up, after death, be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

When it comes to these fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t rely on faith in the Buddha,When it comes to these fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t rely on faith in the Buddha,for I know them too.for I know them too.I’m a giver, a donor, and the perfected ones show sympathy for me first.I’m a giver, a donor, and the perfected ones show sympathy for me first.

I’m a giver, and the perfected ones approach me first.I’m a giver, and the perfected ones approach me first.I’m a giver, and the perfected ones receive alms from me first.I’m a giver, and the perfected ones receive alms from me first.I’m a giver, and the perfected ones teach me Dhamma first.I’m a giver, and the perfected ones teach me Dhamma first.

I’m a giver, and I have this good reputation:I’m a giver, and I have this good reputation:‘General Sīha gives, serves, and attends on the Saṅgha.’‘General Sīha gives, serves, and attends on the Saṅgha.’I’m a giver, I enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.I’m a giver, I enter any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

When it comes to these fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t rely on faith in the Buddha,When it comes to these fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t rely on faith in the Buddha,for I know them too.for I know them too.But when the Buddha says:But when the Buddha says:

‘When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ I don’t know this,‘When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ I don’t know this,so I rely on faith in the Buddha.”so I rely on faith in the Buddha.”“That’s so true, Sīha! That’s so true!“That’s so true, Sīha! That’s so true!

When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”