长部第 19 经（Sujato 英译）第 4 阅读页 · The Great Steward · 4/4

I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness!”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness!”

Then the six aristocrats withdrew to one side and thought up a plan,Then the six aristocrats withdrew to one side and thought up a plan,“These brahmins are greedy for wealth.“These brahmins are greedy for wealth.Why don’t we bestow him with wealth?”Why don’t we bestow him with wealth?”

They returned to the Great Steward and said,They returned to the Great Steward and said,“In these seven kingdoms there is abundant wealth. We’ll get you as much as you want.”“In these seven kingdoms there is abundant wealth. We’ll get you as much as you want.”“Enough, sirs. I already have abundant wealth, owing to my lords.“Enough, sirs. I already have abundant wealth, owing to my lords.

Giving up all that, I shall go forth.”Giving up all that, I shall go forth.”Then the six aristocrats withdrew to one side and thought up a plan,Then the six aristocrats withdrew to one side and thought up a plan,“These brahmins are greedy for women.“These brahmins are greedy for women.

Why don’t we bestow him with women?”Why don’t we bestow him with women?”They returned to the Great Steward and said,They returned to the Great Steward and said,“In these seven kingdoms there are many women. We’ll get you as many as you want.”“In these seven kingdoms there are many women. We’ll get you as many as you want.”

“Enough, sirs. I already have forty equal wives.“Enough, sirs. I already have forty equal wives.Giving up all them, I shall go forth.”Giving up all them, I shall go forth.”“If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”“If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”

“If you all give up sensual pleasures,“If you all give up sensual pleasures,to which ordinary people are attached,to which ordinary people are attached,exert yourselves, being strong,exert yourselves, being strong,

and possessing the power of patience.and possessing the power of patience.This path is the straight path,This path is the straight path,this path is supreme.this path is supreme.

Guarded by the good, the true teachingGuarded by the good, the true teachingleads to rebirth in the realm of divinity.”leads to rebirth in the realm of divinity.”“Well then, sir, please wait for seven years.“Well then, sir, please wait for seven years.

When seven years have passed, we shall go forth with you. Your destiny shall be ours.”When seven years have passed, we shall go forth with you. Your destiny shall be ours.”“Seven years is too long, sirs. I cannot wait that long.“Seven years is too long, sirs. I cannot wait that long.Who knows what will happen to the living?Who knows what will happen to the living?

We are headed for lives to come. We must be thoughtful and wake up! We must do what’s good and lead the spiritual life, for no one born can escape death.We are headed for lives to come. We must be thoughtful and wake up! We must do what’s good and lead the spiritual life, for no one born can escape death.I shall go forth.”I shall go forth.”“Well then, sir, please wait for six years,“Well then, sir, please wait for six years,

five years,five years,four years,four years,three years,three years,

two years,two years,one year,one year,seven months,seven months,

six months,six months,five months,five months,four months,four months,

three months,three months,two months,two months,one month,one month,

or even a fortnight. When a fortnight has passed, we shall go forth. Your destiny shall be ours.”or even a fortnight. When a fortnight has passed, we shall go forth. Your destiny shall be ours.”“A fortnight is too long, sirs. I cannot wait that long.“A fortnight is too long, sirs. I cannot wait that long.Who knows what will happen to the living?Who knows what will happen to the living?

We are headed for lives to come. We must be thoughtful and wake up! We must do what’s good and lead the spiritual life, for no one born can escape death.We are headed for lives to come. We must be thoughtful and wake up! We must do what’s good and lead the spiritual life, for no one born can escape death.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

“Well then, sir, please wait for a week, so that we can instruct our sons and brothers in kingship. When a week has passed, we shall go forth. Your destiny shall be ours.”“Well then, sir, please wait for a week, so that we can instruct our sons and brothers in kingship. When a week has passed, we shall go forth. Your destiny shall be ours.”“A week is not too long, sirs. I will wait that long.”“A week is not too long, sirs. I will wait that long.”

6.6. Informing the Brahmins6.6. Informing the Brahmins

Then the Great Steward also went to the seven well-to-do brahmins and seven hundred bathed initiates and said,Then the Great Steward also went to the seven well-to-do brahmins and seven hundred bathed initiates and said,“Good fellows, please now find another tutor to teach you to recite the hymns.“Good fellows, please now find another tutor to teach you to recite the hymns.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”“Please don’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness!“Please don’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness!

The life of one gone forth is of little influence or profit,The life of one gone forth is of little influence or profit,whereas the life of a brahmin is of great influence and profit.”whereas the life of a brahmin is of great influence and profit.”“Please, good fellows, don’t say that.“Please, good fellows, don’t say that.

Who has greater influence and profit than myself?Who has greater influence and profit than myself?For now I am like a king to kings, like the Divinity to brahmins, like a deity to householders.For now I am like a king to kings, like the Divinity to brahmins, like a deity to householders.Giving up all that, I shall go forth.Giving up all that, I shall go forth.

As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”“If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”“If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”

6.7. Informing the Wives6.7. Informing the Wives

Then the Great Steward went to his forty equal wives and said,Then the Great Steward went to his forty equal wives and said,“Ladies, please do whatever you wish, whether returning to your own families, or finding another husband.“Ladies, please do whatever you wish, whether returning to your own families, or finding another husband.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”“You are the only family we want! You are the only husband we want!“You are the only family we want! You are the only husband we want!

If you are going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”If you are going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”

6.8. The Great Steward Goes Forth6.8. The Great Steward Goes Forth

When a week had passed, the Great Steward shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.When a week had passed, the Great Steward shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.And when he had gone forth, the seven anointed aristocrat kings, the seven brahmins with seven hundred initiates, the forty equal wives, and many thousands of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and many harem women shaved off their hair and beards, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.And when he had gone forth, the seven anointed aristocrat kings, the seven brahmins with seven hundred initiates, the forty equal wives, and many thousands of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and many harem women shaved off their hair and beards, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Escorted by that assembly, the Great Steward wandered on tour among the villages, towns, and capital cities.Escorted by that assembly, the Great Steward wandered on tour among the villages, towns, and capital cities.And at that time, whenever he arrived at a village or town, he was like a king to kings, like the Divinity to brahmins, like a deity to householders.And at that time, whenever he arrived at a village or town, he was like a king to kings, like the Divinity to brahmins, like a deity to householders.And whenever people sneezed or tripped overAnd whenever people sneezed or tripped over

they’d say:they’d say:“Homage to the Great Steward! Homage to the high priest for the seven!”“Homage to the Great Steward! Homage to the high priest for the seven!”And the Great Steward meditated spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, he spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.And the Great Steward meditated spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, he spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

He meditated spreading a heart full of compassion …He meditated spreading a heart full of compassion …rejoicing …rejoicing …equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, he spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, he spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

And he taught his disciples the path to rebirth in the company of Divinity.And he taught his disciples the path to rebirth in the company of Divinity.Those of his disciples who completely understood the Great Steward’s instructions,Those of his disciples who completely understood the Great Steward’s instructions,at the breaking up of the body, after death, were reborn in the realm of divinity.at the breaking up of the body, after death, were reborn in the realm of divinity.

Of those disciples who only partly understood the Great Steward’s instructions, some were reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others,Of those disciples who only partly understood the Great Steward’s instructions, some were reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others,while some were reborn in the company of the gods who love to create,while some were reborn in the company of the gods who love to create,or the joyful gods,or the joyful gods,

or the gods of Yama,or the gods of Yama,or the gods of the thirty-three,or the gods of the thirty-three,or the gods of the four great kings.or the gods of the four great kings.

And at the very least they swelled the hosts of the centaurs.And at the very least they swelled the hosts of the centaurs.And so the going forth of all those gentlemen was not in vain, was not barren, but was fruitful and fertile.’And so the going forth of all those gentlemen was not in vain, was not barren, but was fruitful and fertile.’Do you remember this, Blessed One?”Do you remember this, Blessed One?”

“I remember, Pañcasikha.“I remember, Pañcasikha.I myself was the brahmin Great Steward at that time.I myself was the brahmin Great Steward at that time.And I taught those disciples the path to rebirth in the company of Divinity.And I taught those disciples the path to rebirth in the company of Divinity.

But that spiritual path of mine doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the realm of divinity.But that spiritual path of mine doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the realm of divinity.But this spiritual path does lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.But this spiritual path does lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.And what is the spiritual path that leads to extinguishment?And what is the spiritual path that leads to extinguishment?

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.This is the spiritual path that leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.This is the spiritual path that leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Those of my disciples who completely understand my instructions realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.Those of my disciples who completely understand my instructions realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.Of those disciples who only partly understand my instructions, some, with the ending of the five lower fetters, become reborn spontaneously. They are extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.Of those disciples who only partly understand my instructions, some, with the ending of the five lower fetters, become reborn spontaneously. They are extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

Some, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, become once-returners. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.Some, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, become once-returners. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.And some, with the ending of three fetters, become stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.And some, with the ending of three fetters, become stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.And so the going forth of all those gentlemen was not in vain, was not barren, but was fruitful and fertile.”And so the going forth of all those gentlemen was not in vain, was not barren, but was fruitful and fertile.”

That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Delighted, the centaur Pañcasikha approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.Delighted, the centaur Pañcasikha approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.