长部第 11 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Kevaḍḍha · 2/2

I am askingI am askingwhere these four principal states cease without remainder.’where these four principal states cease without remainder.’Then the Great Divinity took that mendicant by the arm, led him off to one side, and said to him,Then the Great Divinity took that mendicant by the arm, led him off to one side, and said to him,

‘Mendicant, these gods think that there is nothing at all that I don’t know and see and understand and realize.‘Mendicant, these gods think that there is nothing at all that I don’t know and see and understand and realize.That’s why I didn’t answer in front of them.That’s why I didn’t answer in front of them.But I too do not know where these four principal states cease with no residue left behind.But I too do not know where these four principal states cease with no residue left behind.

Therefore, mendicant, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone, in that you passed over the Buddha and searched elsewhere for an answer to this question.Therefore, mendicant, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone, in that you passed over the Buddha and searched elsewhere for an answer to this question.Mendicant, go to the Buddha and ask him this question. You should remember it in line with his answer.’Mendicant, go to the Buddha and ask him this question. You should remember it in line with his answer.’Then that mendicant, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.Then that mendicant, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.

Then he bowed, sat down to one side, and said to me,Then he bowed, sat down to one side, and said to me,‘Sir, where do these four principal states cease without remainder, namely, the elements of earth, water, fire, and air?’‘Sir, where do these four principal states cease without remainder, namely, the elements of earth, water, fire, and air?’

4.1. The Simile of the Land-Spotting Bird4.1. The Simile of the Land-Spotting Bird

When he said this, I said to him:When he said this, I said to him:‘Once upon a time, mendicant, some sea-merchants set sail for the ocean deeps, taking with them a land-spotting bird.‘Once upon a time, mendicant, some sea-merchants set sail for the ocean deeps, taking with them a land-spotting bird.When their ship was out of sight of land, they released the bird.When their ship was out of sight of land, they released the bird.

It flew right away to the east, the west, the north, the south, upwards, and in-between.It flew right away to the east, the west, the north, the south, upwards, and in-between.If it saw land on any side, it went there and stayed.If it saw land on any side, it went there and stayed.But if it saw no land on any side it returned to the ship.But if it saw no land on any side it returned to the ship.

In the same way, after failing to get an answer to this question even after searching as far as the realm of divinity, you’ve returned to me.In the same way, after failing to get an answer to this question even after searching as far as the realm of divinity, you’ve returned to me.Mendicant, this is not how the question should be asked:Mendicant, this is not how the question should be asked:“Sir, where do these four principal states cease without remainder, namely, the elements of earth, water, fire, and air?”“Sir, where do these four principal states cease without remainder, namely, the elements of earth, water, fire, and air?”

This is how the question should be asked:This is how the question should be asked:“Where do water and earth,“Where do water and earth,fire and air have no footing;fire and air have no footing;

where long and short,where long and short,tiny and huge, beautiful and ugly?tiny and huge, beautiful and ugly?Where do name and formWhere do name and form

cease no residue left behind?”cease no residue left behind?”And the answer to that is:And the answer to that is:“‘Consciousness where no form appears,“‘Consciousness where no form appears,

infinite, radiant all-round.’infinite, radiant all-round.’Here water and earth,Here water and earth,fire and air have no footing;fire and air have no footing;

here long and short,here long and short,tiny and huge, beautiful and ugly.tiny and huge, beautiful and ugly.Here name and formHere name and form

cease with no residue left behind—cease with no residue left behind—with the cessation of consciousness,with the cessation of consciousness,here they cease.”’”here they cease.”’”

That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the householder Kevaḍḍha approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the householder Kevaḍḍha approved what the Buddha said.