长部第 23 经（Sujato 英译）第 3 阅读页 · With Pāyāsi · 3/6

“I can.”“I can.”“How, exactly, chieftain?”“How, exactly, chieftain?”“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,

‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.Punish him as you will.’Punish him as you will.’I say to them,I say to them,

‘Well then, worthy sir, place this man in a pot while he’s still alive. Close up the mouth, bind it up with damp leather, and seal it with a thick coat of damp clay. Then lift it up on a stove and light the fire.’‘Well then, worthy sir, place this man in a pot while he’s still alive. Close up the mouth, bind it up with damp leather, and seal it with a thick coat of damp clay. Then lift it up on a stove and light the fire.’They agree, and do what I ask.They agree, and do what I ask.When we know that that man has passed away, we lift down the pot and break it open, uncover the mouth, and slowly peek inside, thinking,When we know that that man has passed away, we lift down the pot and break it open, uncover the mouth, and slowly peek inside, thinking,

‘Hopefully we’ll see his soul escaping.’‘Hopefully we’ll see his soul escaping.’But we don’t see his soul escaping.But we don’t see his soul escaping.This is how I prove thatThis is how I prove that

there is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.7. The Simile of the Dream2.7. The Simile of the Dream

“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.Do you recall ever having a midday nap and seeing delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds in a dream?”Do you recall ever having a midday nap and seeing delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds in a dream?”“I do, worthy Kassapa.”“I do, worthy Kassapa.”

“At that time were you guarded by hunchbacks, dwarves, coquettes, and maidens?”“At that time were you guarded by hunchbacks, dwarves, coquettes, and maidens?”“I was.”“I was.”“But did they see your soul entering or leaving?”“But did they see your soul entering or leaving?”

“No they did not.”“No they did not.”“So if they couldn’t even see your soul entering or leaving while you were still alive,“So if they couldn’t even see your soul entering or leaving while you were still alive,how could you see the soul of a dead man?how could you see the soul of a dead man?

By this method, too, it ought to be proven thatBy this method, too, it ought to be proven thatthere is an afterlife, there are beings reborn spontaneously, and there is a fruit or result of good and bad deeds.”there is an afterlife, there are beings reborn spontaneously, and there is a fruit or result of good and bad deeds.”“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?”“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.

Punish him as you will.’Punish him as you will.’I say to them,I say to them,‘Well then, worthy sir, weigh this man with scales while he’s still alive. Then strangle him with a bowstring, and when he’s dead, weigh him again.’‘Well then, worthy sir, weigh this man with scales while he’s still alive. Then strangle him with a bowstring, and when he’s dead, weigh him again.’

They agree, and do what I ask.They agree, and do what I ask.So long as they are alive, they’re lighter, softer, more flexible.So long as they are alive, they’re lighter, softer, more flexible.But when they die they become heavier, stiffer, less flexible.But when they die they become heavier, stiffer, less flexible.

This is how I prove thatThis is how I prove thatthere is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.8. The Simile of the Hot Iron Ball2.8. The Simile of the Hot Iron Ball

“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.Suppose a person was to heat an iron ball all day until it was burning, blazing, and glowing, and then they weigh it with scales.Suppose a person was to heat an iron ball all day until it was burning, blazing, and glowing, and then they weigh it with scales.

After some time, when it had cooled and become quenched, they’d weigh it again.After some time, when it had cooled and become quenched, they’d weigh it again.When would that iron ball be lighter, softer, and more workable—when it’s burning or when it’s cool?”When would that iron ball be lighter, softer, and more workable—when it’s burning or when it’s cool?”“So long as the iron ball is full of heat and air—burning, blazing, and glowing—it’s lighter, softer, and more workable.“So long as the iron ball is full of heat and air—burning, blazing, and glowing—it’s lighter, softer, and more workable.

But when it lacks heat and air—cooled and quenched—it’s heavier, stiffer, and less workable.”But when it lacks heat and air—cooled and quenched—it’s heavier, stiffer, and less workable.”“In the same way, so long as this body is full of life and warmth and consciousness it’s lighter, softer, and more flexible.“In the same way, so long as this body is full of life and warmth and consciousness it’s lighter, softer, and more flexible.But when it lacks life and warmth and consciousness it’s heavier, stiffer, and less flexible.But when it lacks life and warmth and consciousness it’s heavier, stiffer, and less flexible.

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?”“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.

Punish him as you will.’Punish him as you will.’I say to them,I say to them,‘Well then, worthy sir, take this man’s life without damaging his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or marrow. Hopefully we’ll see his soul escaping.’‘Well then, worthy sir, take this man’s life without damaging his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or marrow. Hopefully we’ll see his soul escaping.’

They agree, and do what I ask.They agree, and do what I ask.When he’s nearly dead, I tell them toWhen he’s nearly dead, I tell them tolay him on his back in hope of seeing his soul escape.lay him on his back in hope of seeing his soul escape.

They do so.They do so.But we don’t see his soul escaping.But we don’t see his soul escaping.I tell them toI tell them to

lay him bent over,lay him bent over,to lay him on his side,to lay him on his side,to lay him on the other side;to lay him on the other side;

to stand him upright,to stand him upright,to stand him upside down;to stand him upside down;to strike him with fists,to strike him with fists,

stones,stones,rods,rods,and swords;and swords;

and to give him a good shaking in hope of seeing his soul escape.and to give him a good shaking in hope of seeing his soul escape.They do all these things.They do all these things.But we don’t see his soul escaping.But we don’t see his soul escaping.

For him the eye itself is present, and so are those sights. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.For him the eye itself is present, and so are those sights. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The ear itself is present, and so are those sounds. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The ear itself is present, and so are those sounds. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The nose itself is present, and so are those smells. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The nose itself is present, and so are those smells. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.

The tongue itself is present, and so are those tastes. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The tongue itself is present, and so are those tastes. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The body itself is present, and so are those touches. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.The body itself is present, and so are those touches. Yet he does not experience that sense-field.This is how I prove thatThis is how I prove that

there is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.9. The Simile of the Horn Blower2.9. The Simile of the Horn Blower

“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 horn blower took his horn and traveled to a borderland,Once upon a time, a certain horn blower took his horn and traveled to a borderland,

where he went to a certain village. Standing in the middle of the village, he sounded his horn three times, then placed it on the ground and sat down to one side.where he went to a certain village. Standing in the middle of the village, he sounded his horn three times, then placed it on the ground and sat down to one side.Then the people of the borderland thought,Then the people of the borderland thought,‘Oh my, what is making this sound, so arousing, sensuous, intoxicating, infatuating, and captivating?’‘Oh my, what is making this sound, so arousing, sensuous, intoxicating, infatuating, and captivating?’

They gathered around the horn blower and said,They gathered around the horn blower and said,‘Oh my, what is making this sound, so arousing, sensuous, intoxicating, infatuating, and captivating?’‘Oh my, what is making this sound, so arousing, sensuous, intoxicating, infatuating, and captivating?’‘The sound is made by this, which is called a horn.’‘The sound is made by this, which is called a horn.’

They laid that horn on its back, saying,They laid that horn on its back, saying,‘Speak, good horn! Speak, good horn!’‘Speak, good horn! Speak, good horn!’But still the horn made no sound.But still the horn made no sound.

Then they lay the horn bent over, they lay it on its side, they lay it on its other side; they stood it upright, they stood it upside down; they struck it with fists, stones, rods, and swords; and they gave it a good shake, saying,Then they lay the horn bent over, they lay it on its side, they lay it on its other side; they stood it upright, they stood it upside down; they struck it with fists, stones, rods, and swords; and they gave it a good shake, saying,‘Speak, good horn! Speak, good horn!’‘Speak, good horn! Speak, good horn!’But still the horn made no sound.But still the horn made no sound.

So the horn blower thought,So the horn blower thought,‘How foolish are these borderland folk! For how on earth can they seek the sound of a horn so irrationally?’‘How foolish are these borderland folk! For how on earth can they seek the sound of a horn so irrationally?’And as they looked on, he picked up the horn, sounded it three times, and took it away with him.And as they looked on, he picked up the horn, sounded it three times, and took it away with him.

Then the people of the borderland thought,Then the people of the borderland thought,‘So, it seems, when what is called a horn is accompanied by a person, effort, and wind, it makes a sound. But when these things are absent it makes no sound.’‘So, it seems, when what is called a horn is accompanied by a person, effort, and wind, it makes a sound. But when these things are absent it makes no sound.’In the same way, so long as this body is full of life and warmth and consciousness it walks back and forth, stands, sits, and lies down. It sees sights with the eye, hears sounds with the ear, smells odors with the nose, tastes flavors with the tongue, encounters touches with the body, and knows ideas with the mind.In the same way, so long as this body is full of life and warmth and consciousness it walks back and forth, stands, sits, and lies down. It sees sights with the eye, hears sounds with the ear, smells odors with the nose, tastes flavors with the tongue, encounters touches with the body, and knows ideas with the mind.

But when it lacks life and warmth and consciousness it does none of these things.But when it lacks life and warmth and consciousness it does none of these things.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 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?”“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to me, saying,

‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.‘Sir, this is a bandit, a criminal.Punish him as you will.’Punish him as you will.’