增支部第 8 集（Sujato 英译）第 56 阅读页 · AN8.55 · With Ujjaya

Numbered Discourses 8.55Numbered Discourses 8.556. Gotamī6. Gotamī

With UjjayaWith UjjayaThen Ujjaya the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.Then Ujjaya the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

“Worthy Gotama, we wish to travel abroad.“Worthy Gotama, we wish to travel abroad.May the Buddha please teach us the Dhamma in a way that leads to our welfare and happiness in this life and lives to come.”May the Buddha please teach us the Dhamma in a way that leads to our welfare and happiness in this life and lives to come.”“Brahmin, these four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.“Brahmin, these four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.

What four?What four?Accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances.Accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances.And what is accomplishment in initiative?And what is accomplishment in initiative?

It’s when a gentleman earns a living by means such asIt’s when a gentleman earns a living by means such asfarming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, or one of the professions.farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, or one of the professions.He understands how to go about these things in order to complete and organize the work.He understands how to go about these things in order to complete and organize the work.

This is called accomplishment in initiative.This is called accomplishment in initiative.And what is accomplishment in protection?And what is accomplishment in protection?It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.

He ensures it is guarded and protected, thinking:He ensures it is guarded and protected, thinking:‘How can I prevent my wealth from being taken by rulers or bandits, consumed by fire, swept away by flood, or taken by unloved heirs?’‘How can I prevent my wealth from being taken by rulers or bandits, consumed by fire, swept away by flood, or taken by unloved heirs?’This is called accomplishment in protection.This is called accomplishment in protection.

And what is accomplishment in good friendship?And what is accomplishment in good friendship?It’s when a gentleman resides in a town or village. And in that place there are householders or their children who may be young or old, but are mature in conduct, accomplished in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. He associates with them, converses and engages in discussion. And he emulates the same kind of accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.It’s when a gentleman resides in a town or village. And in that place there are householders or their children who may be young or old, but are mature in conduct, accomplished in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. He associates with them, converses and engages in discussion. And he emulates the same kind of accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.

This is called accomplishment in good friendship.This is called accomplishment in good friendship.And what is accomplishment in balanced finances?And what is accomplishment in balanced finances?It’s when a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’It’s when a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’

It’s like an appraiser or their apprentice who, holding up the scales, knows that it’s low by this much or high by this much.It’s like an appraiser or their apprentice who, holding up the scales, knows that it’s low by this much or high by this much.In the same way, a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’In the same way, a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’If a gentleman has little income but an opulent life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman eats their wealth like a fig-eater!’If a gentleman has little income but an opulent life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman eats their wealth like a fig-eater!’

If a gentleman has a large income but a spartan life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman is starving themselves to death!’If a gentleman has a large income but a spartan life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman is starving themselves to death!’But a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too frugal, thinking, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’But a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too frugal, thinking, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’This is called accomplishment in balanced finances.This is called accomplishment in balanced finances.

There are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.There are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the drains and close off the inlets, and the heavens don’t provide enough rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to dwindle, not expand.Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the drains and close off the inlets, and the heavens don’t provide enough rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to dwindle, not expand.

In the same way, there are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.In the same way, there are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.There are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.There are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.

Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the inlets and close off the drains, and the heavens provide plenty of rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to expand, not dwindle.Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the inlets and close off the drains, and the heavens provide plenty of rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to expand, not dwindle.In the same way, there are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.In the same way, there are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.

Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.These four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.These four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.

What four?What four?Accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.Accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.And what is accomplishment in faith?And what is accomplishment in faith?

It’s when a gentleman has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:It’s when a gentleman has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’This is called accomplishment in faith.This is called accomplishment in faith.

And what is accomplishment in ethics?And what is accomplishment in ethics?It’s when a gentleman doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.It’s when a gentleman doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.This is called accomplishment in ethics.This is called accomplishment in ethics.

And what is accomplishment in generosity?And what is accomplishment in generosity?It’s when a gentleman lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.It’s when a gentleman lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.This is called accomplishment in generosity.This is called accomplishment in generosity.

And what is accomplishment in wisdom?And what is accomplishment in wisdom?It’s when a gentleman is wise. He has the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.It’s when a gentleman is wise. He has the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.This is called accomplishment in wisdom.This is called accomplishment in wisdom.

These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.They’re enterprising in the workplace,They’re enterprising in the workplace,diligent in managing things,diligent in managing things,

they balance their finances,they balance their finances,and preserve their wealth.and preserve their wealth.Faithful, accomplished in ethics,Faithful, accomplished in ethics,

bountiful, rid of stinginess,bountiful, rid of stinginess,they always purify the paththey always purify the pathto well-being in lives to come.to well-being in lives to come.

And so these eight qualitiesAnd so these eight qualitiesof a faithful householder of discernmentof a faithful householder of discernmentare declared by the one who is truly namedare declared by the one who is truly named

to lead to happiness in both spheres,to lead to happiness in both spheres,welfare and benefit in this life,welfare and benefit in this life,and happiness in lives to come.and happiness in lives to come.

This is how, for a householder,This is how, for a householder,merit grows by generosity.”merit grows by generosity.”