长部第 16 经（Sujato 英译）第 7 阅读页 · The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment · 7/14

Did I not prepare for this when I explained thatDid I not prepare for this when I explained thatwe must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved?we must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved?How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out?How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out?

The Realized One has discarded, eliminated, released, given up, relinquished, and surrendered the life force. He has categorically stated:The Realized One has discarded, eliminated, released, given up, relinquished, and surrendered the life force. He has categorically stated:‘The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.‘The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.’Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.’

It’s not possible for the Realized One, for the sake of life, to take back the life force once it has been given up like that.It’s not possible for the Realized One, for the sake of life, to take back the life force once it has been given up like that.Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.”Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.”“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the hall with the peaked roof, and said to him,So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the hall with the peaked roof, and said to him,“Go, Ānanda, gather all the mendicants staying in the vicinity of Vesālī together in the assembly hall.”“Go, Ānanda, gather all the mendicants staying in the vicinity of Vesālī together in the assembly hall.”“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He did what the Buddha asked, went up to him, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He did what the Buddha asked, went up to him, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, the mendicant Saṅgha has assembled. Please, sir, go at your convenience.”“Sir, the mendicant Saṅgha has assembled. Please, sir, go at your convenience.”Then the Buddha went to the assembly hall, where he sat down on the seat spread outThen the Buddha went to the assembly hall, where he sat down on the seat spread outand addressed the mendicants:and addressed the mendicants:

“So, mendicants, having carefully memorized those things I have taught you from my direct knowledge, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.“So, mendicants, having carefully memorized those things I have taught you from my direct knowledge, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge?And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge?They are: the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.They are: the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.These are the things I have taught from my direct knowledge. Having carefully memorized them, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”These are the things I have taught from my direct knowledge. Having carefully memorized them, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:“Come now, mendicants, I say to you all:“Come now, mendicants, I say to you all:‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’

The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.”Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.”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:“I’ve reached a ripe old age,“I’ve reached a ripe old age,and little of my life is left.and little of my life is left.

Having given it up, I’ll depart;Having given it up, I’ll depart;I’ve made a refuge for myself.I’ve made a refuge for myself.Diligent and mindful,Diligent and mindful,

be of good virtues, mendicants!be of good virtues, mendicants!With well-settled thoughts,With well-settled thoughts,take good care of your minds.take good care of your minds.

Whoever meditates diligentlyWhoever meditates diligentlyin this teaching and training,in this teaching and training,giving up transmigration through rebirths,giving up transmigration through rebirths,

will make an end to suffering.”will make an end to suffering.”The third recitation section.The third recitation section.

21. The Elephant Look21. The Elephant Look

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he turned to gaze back at Vesālī, the way that elephants do. He said to Venerable Ānanda:Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he turned to gaze back at Vesālī, the way that elephants do. He said to Venerable Ānanda:“Ānanda, this will be the last time the Realized One sees Vesālī.“Ānanda, this will be the last time the Realized One sees Vesālī.

Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Wares Village.”Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Wares Village.”“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Wares Village,Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Wares Village,

and stayed there.and stayed there.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:“Mendicants, due to not understanding and not penetrating four things, both you and I have wandered and transmigrated for such a very long time.“Mendicants, due to not understanding and not penetrating four things, both you and I have wandered and transmigrated for such a very long time.

What four?What four?Noble ethics,Noble ethics,immersion,immersion,

wisdom,wisdom,and freedom.and freedom.These noble ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom have been understood and comprehended. Craving for continued existence has been cut off; the leash to existence is ended; now there’ll be no more future lives.”These noble ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom have been understood and comprehended. Craving for continued existence has been cut off; the leash to existence is ended; now there’ll be no more future lives.”

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:“Ethics, immersion, and wisdom,“Ethics, immersion, and wisdom,

and the supreme freedom:and the supreme freedom:these things have been understoodthese things have been understoodby Gotama the renowned.by Gotama the renowned.

And so the Buddha, having insight,And so the Buddha, having insight,explained this teaching to the mendicants.explained this teaching to the mendicants.The teacher made an end of suffering,The teacher made an end of suffering,

seeing clearly, he is fully quenched.”seeing clearly, he is fully quenched.”And while staying there, too, he often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:And while staying there, too, he often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

22. The Four Great References22. The Four Great References

When the Buddha had stayed in Wares Village as long as he pleased, he addressed Ānanda,When the Buddha had stayed in Wares Village as long as he pleased, he addressed Ānanda,“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Elephant Village.” …“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Elephant Village.” …“Let’s go to Mango Village.” …“Let’s go to Mango Village.” …

“Let’s go to Black Plum Village.” …“Let’s go to Black Plum Village.” …“Let’s go to Bhoga City.”“Let’s go to Bhoga City.”“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Bhoga City,Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Bhoga City,where he stayed at the Ānanda Shrine.where he stayed at the Ānanda Shrine.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, I will teach you the four great references.“Mendicants, I will teach you the four great references.Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Yes, sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:“Take a mendicant who says:“Take a mendicant who says:‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.

If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.It has been incorrectly memorized by that mendicant.’It has been incorrectly memorized by that mendicant.’

And so you should discard it.And so you should discard it.If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.

It has been correctly memorized by that mendicant.’It has been correctly memorized by that mendicant.’You should remember it. This is the first great reference.You should remember it. This is the first great reference.Take another mendicant who says:Take another mendicant who says:

‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.It has been incorrectly memorized by that Saṅgha.’It has been incorrectly memorized by that Saṅgha.’And so you should discard it.And so you should discard it.

If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.It has been correctly memorized by that Saṅgha.’It has been correctly memorized by that Saṅgha.’

You should remember it. This is the second great reference.You should remember it. This is the second great reference.Take another mendicant who says:Take another mendicant who says:‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior mendicants who are very learned, inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior mendicants who are very learned, inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior mendicants:I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior mendicants:this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.

Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.