长部第 20 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Great Congregation · 1/3

Long Discourses 20Long Discourses 20The Great CongregationThe Great Congregation

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones.And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of mendicants.And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of mendicants.

Then four deities of the pure abodes, aware of what was happening, thought:Then four deities of the pure abodes, aware of what was happening, thought:“Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”“Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha.Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha.

They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side.They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side.Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:“There’s a great congregation in the woods,“There’s a great congregation in the woods,

where heavenly hosts have assembled.where heavenly hosts have assembled.We’ve come to this righteous congregationWe’ve come to this righteous congregationto see the invincible Saṅgha!”to see the invincible Saṅgha!”

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:“The mendicants there are immersed in samādhi,“The mendicants there are immersed in samādhi,they’ve straightened their own minds.they’ve straightened their own minds.

Like a charioteer holding the reins,Like a charioteer holding the reins,the astute ones protect their senses.”the astute ones protect their senses.”Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“They snapped the post and snapped the cross-bar,“They snapped the post and snapped the cross-bar,unstirred, they tore out Indra’s pillar.unstirred, they tore out Indra’s pillar.They live pure and immaculate,They live pure and immaculate,

the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge

won’t go to a plane of loss.won’t go to a plane of loss.After giving up this human body,After giving up this human body,they swell the heavenly host.”they swell the heavenly host.”

1. The Gathering of Deities1. The Gathering of Deities

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:“Mendicants, most of the deities from ten solar systems have gathered to see the Realized One and the mendicant Saṅgha.“Mendicants, most of the deities from ten solar systems have gathered to see the Realized One and the mendicant Saṅgha.Those who were perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the past also had gatherings of deities that were at best like the gathering for me now.Those who were perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the past also had gatherings of deities that were at best like the gathering for me now.

Those who will be perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the future will also have gatherings of deities that will be at best like the gathering for me now.Those who will be perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the future will also have gatherings of deities that will be at best like the gathering for me now.I shall declare the names of the heavenly hosts;I shall declare the names of the heavenly hosts;I shall extol the names of the heavenly hosts;I shall extol the names of the heavenly hosts;

I shall teach the names of the heavenly hosts.I shall teach the names of the heavenly hosts.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:“I invoke a paean of praise!“I invoke a paean of praise!Where the earth-gods dwell,Where the earth-gods dwell,

there, in mountain caves,there, in mountain caves,resolute and composed,resolute and composed,dwell many like lonely lions,dwell many like lonely lions,

who have mastered their fears.who have mastered their fears.Their minds are bright and pure,Their minds are bright and pure,clear and unclouded.”clear and unclouded.”

Over five hundred were knownOver five hundred were knownin the wood at Kapilavatthu.in the wood at Kapilavatthu.Consequently, the Teacher addressedConsequently, the Teacher addressed

the disciples who love the teaching:the disciples who love the teaching:“The heavenly hosts have come forth;“The heavenly hosts have come forth;mendicants, you should be aware of them.”mendicants, you should be aware of them.”

Those monks grew keen,Those monks grew keen,hearing the Buddha’s instruction.hearing the Buddha’s instruction.Knowledge manifested in them,Knowledge manifested in them,

seeing those non-human beings.seeing those non-human beings.Some saw a hundred,Some saw a hundred,a thousand, even seventy thousand,a thousand, even seventy thousand,

while some saw a hundred thousandwhile some saw a hundred thousandnon-human beings.non-human beings.But some saw an endless numberBut some saw an endless number

spread out in every direction.spread out in every direction.And all that was knownAnd all that was knownand distinguished by the Clear-eyed One.and distinguished by the Clear-eyed One.

Consequently, the Teacher addressedConsequently, the Teacher addressedthe disciples who love the teaching:the disciples who love the teaching:“The heavenly hosts have come forth;“The heavenly hosts have come forth;

mendicants, you should be aware of them.mendicants, you should be aware of them.I shall extol them for you,I shall extol them for you,with lyrics in proper order.with lyrics in proper order.

There are seven thousand spirits,There are seven thousand spirits,earth-gods of Kapilavatthu.earth-gods of Kapilavatthu.They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,

so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forthto the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.

From the Himalayas there are six thousandFrom the Himalayas there are six thousandspirits of different colors.spirits of different colors.They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,

so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forthto the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.

From Mount Sātā there are three thousandFrom Mount Sātā there are three thousandspirits of different colors.spirits of different colors.They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,

so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forthto the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.

And thus there are sixteen thousandAnd thus there are sixteen thousandspirits of different colors.spirits of different colors.They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,

so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forthto the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.

From Vessāmitta’s mountain there are five hundredFrom Vessāmitta’s mountain there are five hundredspirits of different colors.spirits of different colors.They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,

so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forthto the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.

And there’s Kumbhīra of Rājagaha,And there’s Kumbhīra of Rājagaha,whose home is on Mount Vepulla.whose home is on Mount Vepulla.Attended by more thanAttended by more than

a hundred thousand spirits,a hundred thousand spirits,Kumbhīra of RājagahaKumbhīra of Rājagahaalso came to the meeting in the wood.also came to the meeting in the wood.

King Dhataraṭṭha rulesKing Dhataraṭṭha rulesthe eastern quarter.the eastern quarter.Lord of the centaurs,Lord of the centaurs,

he’s a great king, glorious.he’s a great king, glorious.And he has many mighty sonsAnd he has many mighty sonsall of them named Indra.all of them named Indra.

They’re powerful and brilliant,They’re powerful and brilliant,so beautiful and glorious.so beautiful and glorious.Rejoicing, they’ve come forthRejoicing, they’ve come forth

to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.to the meeting of mendicants in the wood.King Virūḷhaka rulesKing Virūḷhaka rulesthe southern quarter.the southern quarter.