长部第 23 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Pāyāsi · 2/6

Then you’d tell them toThen you’d tell them toprovide that man with costly garlands, makeup, and clothes,provide that man with costly garlands, makeup, and clothes,and they’d do so.and they’d do so.

Then you’d tell them toThen you’d tell them tobring that man up to the stilt longhouse and set him up with the five kinds of sensual stimulation,bring that man up to the stilt longhouse and set him up with the five kinds of sensual stimulation,and they’d do so.and they’d do so.

What do you think, chieftain?What do you think, chieftain?Now that man is nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, bedecked with garlands and bracelets, dressed in white, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation upstairs in the royal longhouse. Would he want to plunge back into that sewer again?”Now that man is nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, bedecked with garlands and bracelets, dressed in white, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation upstairs in the royal longhouse. Would he want to plunge back into that sewer again?”“No, worthy Kassapa.“No, worthy Kassapa.

Why is that?Why is that?Because that sewer is filthy, stinking, disgusting, and repulsive, and it’s regarded as such.”Because that sewer is filthy, stinking, disgusting, and repulsive, and it’s regarded as such.”“In the same way, chieftain, to the gods, human beings are filthy, stinking, disgusting, and repulsive, and are regarded as such.“In the same way, chieftain, to the gods, human beings are filthy, stinking, disgusting, and repulsive, and are regarded as such.

The smell of humans reaches the gods even a hundred leagues away.The smell of humans reaches the gods even a hundred leagues away.What then of your friends and colleagues, relatives and kin who are reborn in a higher realm after doing good things? Will they come back to tell you thatWhat then of your friends and colleagues, relatives and kin who are reborn in a higher realm after doing good things? Will they come back to tell you thatthere is an afterlife?there is an afterlife?

By this method, too, it ought to be proven thatBy this method, too, it ought to be proven thatthere is an afterlife.”there is an afterlife.”“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think that“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think that

there is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”“Can you prove it?”“Can you prove it?”“I can.”“I can.”

“How, exactly, chieftain?”“How, exactly, chieftain?”“Well, I have friends and colleagues, relatives and kin who refrain from killing living creatures and so on.“Well, I have friends and colleagues, relatives and kin who refrain from killing living creatures and so on.Some time later they become sick, suffering, gravely ill.Some time later they become sick, suffering, gravely ill.

When I know thatWhen I know thatthey will not recover from their illness, I go to them and say,they will not recover from their illness, I go to them and say,‘Worthy sir, there are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:‘Worthy sir, there are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:

“Those who refrain from killing living creatures and so on are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.”“Those who refrain from killing living creatures and so on are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.”You do all these things.You do all these things.If what those ascetics and brahmins say is true, when your body breaks up, after death, you’ll be reborn in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.If what those ascetics and brahmins say is true, when your body breaks up, after death, you’ll be reborn in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.

If that happens, worthy sir, come and tell me thatIf that happens, worthy sir, come and tell me thatthere is an afterlife.there is an afterlife.I trust you and believe you. Anything you see will be just as if I’ve seen it for myself.’I trust you and believe you. Anything you see will be just as if I’ve seen it for myself.’

They agree to this. But they don’t come back to tell me, nor do they send a messenger.They agree to this. But they don’t come back to tell me, nor do they send a messenger.This is how I prove thatThis is how I prove thatthere is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.4. The Simile of the gods of the thirty-three2.4. The Simile of the gods of the thirty-three

“Well then, chieftain, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.“Well then, chieftain, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.A hundred human years are equivalent to one day and night for the gods of the thirty-three. Thirty such days make a month, and twelve months make a year. The gods of the thirty-three have a lifespan of a thousand such years.A hundred human years are equivalent to one day and night for the gods of the thirty-three. Thirty such days make a month, and twelve months make a year. The gods of the thirty-three have a lifespan of a thousand such years.Now, as to your friends who are reborn in the company of the gods of the thirty-three after doing good things.Now, as to your friends who are reborn in the company of the gods of the thirty-three after doing good things.

If they think,If they think,‘First I’ll amuse myself for two or three days, supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation. Then I’ll go back to Pāyāsi and tell him that‘First I’ll amuse myself for two or three days, supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation. Then I’ll go back to Pāyāsi and tell him thatthere is an afterlife.’there is an afterlife.’

Would they come back to tell you thatWould they come back to tell you thatthere is an afterlife?”there is an afterlife?”“No, worthy Kassapa.“No, worthy Kassapa.

For I would be long dead by then.For I would be long dead by then.But worthy Kassapa, who has told youBut worthy Kassapa, who has told youthat the gods of the thirty-three exist, or that they have such a long lifespan?that the gods of the thirty-three exist, or that they have such a long lifespan?

I don’t believe you.”I don’t believe you.”

2.5. Blind From Birth2.5. Blind From Birth

“Chieftain, suppose there was a person blind from birth. They couldn’t see sights that are dark or bright, or blue, yellow, red, or magenta. They couldn’t see even and uneven ground, or the stars, or the moon and sun.“Chieftain, suppose there was a person blind from birth. They couldn’t see sights that are dark or bright, or blue, yellow, red, or magenta. They couldn’t see even and uneven ground, or the stars, or the moon and sun.They’d say,They’d say,‘There’s no such thing as dark and bright sights, and no one who sees them.‘There’s no such thing as dark and bright sights, and no one who sees them.

There’s no such thing as blue,There’s no such thing as blue,yellow,yellow,red,red,

magenta,magenta,even and uneven ground,even and uneven ground,stars,stars,

moon and sun, and no one who sees these things.moon and sun, and no one who sees these things.I don’t know it or see it, therefore it doesn’t exist.’I don’t know it or see it, therefore it doesn’t exist.’Would they be speaking rightly?”Would they be speaking rightly?”

“No, worthy Kassapa.“No, worthy Kassapa.There are such things as dark and bright sights, and one who sees them.There are such things as dark and bright sights, and one who sees them.And those other things are real, too, as is the one who sees them.And those other things are real, too, as is the one who sees them.

So it’s not right to say this:So it’s not right to say this:‘I don’t know it or see it, therefore it doesn’t exist.’”‘I don’t know it or see it, therefore it doesn’t exist.’”“In the same way, chieftain, when you tell me you don’t believe me you seem like the blind man in the simile.“In the same way, chieftain, when you tell me you don’t believe me you seem like the blind man in the simile.

You can’t see the other world the way you think, with the eye of the flesh.You can’t see the other world the way you think, with the eye of the flesh.There are ascetics and brahmins who live in the wilderness, frequenting remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. Meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, they purify the heavenly eye, the power of clairvoyance.There are ascetics and brahmins who live in the wilderness, frequenting remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. Meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, they purify the heavenly eye, the power of clairvoyance.With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see this world and the other world, and sentient beings who are spontaneously reborn.With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see this world and the other world, and sentient beings who are spontaneously reborn.

That’s how to see the other world,That’s how to see the other world,not how you think, with the eye of the flesh.not how you think, with the eye of the flesh.By this method, too, it ought to be proven thatBy this method, too, it ought to be proven that

there is an afterlife.”there is an afterlife.”“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think that“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think thatthere is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

“Can you prove it?”“Can you prove it?”“I can.”“I can.”“How, exactly, chieftain?”“How, exactly, chieftain?”

“Well, I see ascetics and brahmins who are ethical, of good character, who want to live and don’t want to die, who want to be happy and recoil from pain.“Well, I see ascetics and brahmins who are ethical, of good character, who want to live and don’t want to die, who want to be happy and recoil from pain.I think to myself,I think to myself,‘If those ascetics and brahmins knew that‘If those ascetics and brahmins knew that

things were going to be better for them after death,things were going to be better for them after death,they’d drink poison, take their lives, hang themselves, or throw themselves off a cliff.they’d drink poison, take their lives, hang themselves, or throw themselves off a cliff.They mustn’t know thatThey mustn’t know that

things are going to be better for them after death. That’s why they are ethical, of good character, wanting to live and not wanting to die, wanting to be happy and recoiling from pain.’things are going to be better for them after death. That’s why they are ethical, of good character, wanting to live and not wanting to die, wanting to be happy and recoiling from pain.’This is the method by which I prove thatThis is the method by which I prove thatthere is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.6. The Simile of the Pregnant Woman2.6. The Simile of the Pregnant Woman

“Well then, chieftain, I shall give you a simile.“Well then, chieftain, I shall give you a simile.For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said.For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said.Once upon a time, a certain brahmin had two wives.Once upon a time, a certain brahmin had two wives.

One had a son ten or twelve years of age, while the other was pregnant and about to give birth.One had a son ten or twelve years of age, while the other was pregnant and about to give birth.Then the brahmin passed away.Then the brahmin passed away.So the youth said to his mother’s co-wife,So the youth said to his mother’s co-wife,

‘Madam, all the money, grain, silver, and gold is mine,‘Madam, all the money, grain, silver, and gold is mine,and you get nothing.and you get nothing.Transfer to me my father’s inheritance.’Transfer to me my father’s inheritance.’

But the brahmin lady said,But the brahmin lady said,‘Wait, my dear, until I give birth.‘Wait, my dear, until I give birth.If it’s a boy, one portion shall be his.If it’s a boy, one portion shall be his.

If it’s a girl, she will be your reward.’If it’s a girl, she will be your reward.’But for a second time,But for a second time,and a third time, the youth insisted that the entire inheritance must be his.and a third time, the youth insisted that the entire inheritance must be his.

So the brahmin lady took a knife, went to her bedroom, and sliced open her belly, thinking,So the brahmin lady took a knife, went to her bedroom, and sliced open her belly, thinking,‘Until I give birth—whether it’s a boy or a girl!’‘Until I give birth—whether it’s a boy or a girl!’She destroyed her own life and that of the fetus, as well as any wealth.She destroyed her own life and that of the fetus, as well as any wealth.

Being foolish and incompetent, she sought an inheritance irrationally and fell to ruin and disaster. In the same way, chieftain, being foolish and incompetent, you’re seeking the other world irrationally and will fall to ruin and disaster,Being foolish and incompetent, she sought an inheritance irrationally and fell to ruin and disaster. In the same way, chieftain, being foolish and incompetent, you’re seeking the other world irrationally and will fall to ruin and disaster,just like that brahmin lady.just like that brahmin lady.Good ascetics and brahmins don’t force what is unripe to ripen;Good ascetics and brahmins don’t force what is unripe to ripen;

rather, they wait for it to ripen.rather, they wait for it to ripen.For the life of astute ascetics and brahmins is beneficial.For the life of astute ascetics and brahmins is beneficial.So long as they remain, good ascetics and brahmins brim with merit, and act 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 long as they remain, good ascetics and brahmins brim with merit, and act for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

By this method, too, it ought to be proven thatBy this method, too, it ought to be proven thatthere is an afterlife.”there is an afterlife.”“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think that“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I think that

there is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”“Can you prove it?”“Can you prove it?”