长部第 23 经（Sujato 英译）第 4 阅读页 · With Pāyāsi · 4/6

I say to them,I say to them,‘Well then, worthy sir, cut open this man’s outer skin. Hopefully we might see his soul.’‘Well then, worthy sir, cut open this man’s outer skin. Hopefully we might see his soul.’They cut open his outer skin,They cut open his outer skin,

but we see no soul.but we see no soul.I say to them,I say to them,‘Well then, worthy sir, cut open his inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or marrow. Hopefully we’ll see his soul.’‘Well then, worthy sir, cut open his inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or marrow. Hopefully we’ll see his soul.’

They do so, but we see no soul.They do so, but we see no soul.This is how I prove thatThis is how I prove thatthere is no afterlife.”there is no afterlife.”

2.10. The Simile of the Fire-Worshiping Matted-Hair Ascetic2.10. The Simile of the Fire-Worshiping Matted-Hair Ascetic

“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 fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic settled in a leaf hut in a wilderness region.Once upon a time, a certain fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic settled in a leaf hut in a wilderness region.

Then a caravan came out from a certain country.Then a caravan came out from a certain country.It stayed for one night not far from that ascetic’s hermitage, and then moved on.It stayed for one night not far from that ascetic’s hermitage, and then moved on.The ascetic thought,The ascetic thought,

‘Why don’t I go to that caravan’s campsite? Hopefully I’ll find something useful there.’‘Why don’t I go to that caravan’s campsite? Hopefully I’ll find something useful there.’So he went, and he saw a little baby boy abandoned there.So he went, and he saw a little baby boy abandoned there.When he saw this he thought,When he saw this he thought,

‘It’s not proper for me to look on while a human being dies.‘It’s not proper for me to look on while a human being dies.Why don’t I bring this boy back to my hermitage, nurse him, provide for him, and raise him?’Why don’t I bring this boy back to my hermitage, nurse him, provide for him, and raise him?’So that’s what he did.So that’s what he did.

When the boy was ten or twelve years old, the ascetic had some business come up in the country.When the boy was ten or twelve years old, the ascetic had some business come up in the country.So he said to the boy,So he said to the boy,‘My dear, I wish to go to the country.‘My dear, I wish to go to the country.

Serve the sacred flame.Serve the sacred flame.Do not extinguish it.Do not extinguish it.But if you should extinguish it, here is the hatchet, the firewood, and the bundle of drill-sticks. Light the fire and serve it.’But if you should extinguish it, here is the hatchet, the firewood, and the bundle of drill-sticks. Light the fire and serve it.’

And having instructed the boy, the ascetic went to the country.And having instructed the boy, the ascetic went to the country.But the boy was so engrossed in his play, the fire went out.But the boy was so engrossed in his play, the fire went out.He thought,He thought,

‘My father told me to serve the sacred flame.‘My father told me to serve the sacred flame.Why don’t I light it again and serve it?’Why don’t I light it again and serve it?’So he chopped the bundle of drill-sticks with the hatchet, thinking,So he chopped the bundle of drill-sticks with the hatchet, thinking,

‘Hopefully I’ll get a fire!’‘Hopefully I’ll get a fire!’But he still got no fire.But he still got no fire.He split the bundle of drill-sticks into two, three, four, five, ten, or a hundred parts. He chopped them into splinters, pounded them in a mortar, and swept them away in a strong wind, thinking,He split the bundle of drill-sticks into two, three, four, five, ten, or a hundred parts. He chopped them into splinters, pounded them in a mortar, and swept them away in a strong wind, thinking,

‘Hopefully I’ll get a fire!’‘Hopefully I’ll get a fire!’But he still got no fire.But he still got no fire.Then the matted-hair ascetic, having concluded his business in the country, returned to his own hermitage, and said to the boy,Then the matted-hair ascetic, having concluded his business in the country, returned to his own hermitage, and said to the boy,

‘I trust, my dear, that the fire didn’t go out?’‘I trust, my dear, that the fire didn’t go out?’And the boy told him what had happened.And the boy told him what had happened.Then the ascetic thought,Then the ascetic thought,

‘How foolish is this boy, how incompetent! For how on earth can he seek a fire so irrationally?’‘How foolish is this boy, how incompetent! For how on earth can he seek a fire so irrationally?’So while the boy looked on, he took a bundle of fire-sticks, lit the fire, and said,So while the boy looked on, he took a bundle of fire-sticks, lit the fire, and said,‘Dear boy, this is how to light a fire.‘Dear boy, this is how to light a fire.

Not the foolish and incompetent way you sought it so irrationally.’Not the foolish and incompetent way you sought it so irrationally.’In the same way, chieftain, being foolish and incompetent, you seek the other world irrationally.In the same way, chieftain, being foolish and incompetent, you seek the other world irrationally.Let go of this harmful misconception, chieftain, let go of it!Let go of this harmful misconception, chieftain, let go of it!

Don’t create lasting harm and suffering for yourself!”Don’t create lasting harm and suffering for yourself!”“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I’m not able to let go of that harmful misconception.“Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still I’m not able to let go of that harmful misconception.King Pasenadi of Kosala knows my views, and so do foreign kings.King Pasenadi of Kosala knows my views, and so do foreign kings.

If I let go of this harmful misconception, there will be some who say to me,If I let go of this harmful misconception, there will be some who say to me,‘How foolish is the chieftain Pāyāsi, how incompetent, that he should hold on to a mistake!’‘How foolish is the chieftain Pāyāsi, how incompetent, that he should hold on to a mistake!’I shall carry on with this view out of anger, contempt, and spite!”I shall carry on with this view out of anger, contempt, and spite!”

2.11. The Simile of the Two Caravan Leaders2.11. The Simile of the Two Caravan Leaders

“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 large caravan of a thousand wagons traveled from a country in the east to the west.Once upon a time, a large caravan of a thousand wagons traveled from a country in the east to the west.

Wherever they went they quickly used up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.Wherever they went they quickly used up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.Now, that caravan had two leaders, each in charge of five hundred wagons.Now, that caravan had two leaders, each in charge of five hundred wagons.They thought,They thought,

‘This is a large caravan of a thousand wagons.‘This is a large caravan of a thousand wagons.Wherever we go we quickly use up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.Wherever we go we quickly use up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.Why don’t we split the caravan in two halves?’Why don’t we split the caravan in two halves?’

So that’s what they did.So that’s what they did.One caravan leader, having prepared much grass, wood, and water, started the caravan.One caravan leader, having prepared much grass, wood, and water, started the caravan.After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,

‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’‘From such-and-such a country.’‘From such-and-such a country.’‘And where are you going?’‘And where are you going?’

‘To the country named such-and-such.’‘To the country named such-and-such.’‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.

Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,‘This man says that‘This man says that

there has been much rain in the desert up ahead.there has been much rain in the desert up ahead.He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.So let’s discard the grass, wood, and water and restart the caravan with lightly-laden wagons.’So let’s discard the grass, wood, and water and restart the caravan with lightly-laden wagons.’

‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and that’s what they did.‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and that’s what they did.But in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.But in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.And in the second,And in the second,

third,third,fourth,fourth,fifth,fifth,

sixth,sixth,and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.And all fell to ruin and disaster.And all fell to ruin and disaster.

And the men and beasts in that caravan were all devoured by that non-human spirit.And the men and beasts in that caravan were all devoured by that non-human spirit.Only their bones were left over.Only their bones were left over.Now, when the second caravan leader knew thatNow, when the second caravan leader knew that

the first caravan was well underway, he prepared much grass, wood, and water and started the caravan.the first caravan was well underway, he prepared much grass, wood, and water and started the caravan.After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’

‘From such-and-such a country.’‘From such-and-such a country.’‘And where are you going?’‘And where are you going?’‘To the country named such-and-such.’‘To the country named such-and-such.’

‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’

So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,‘This man says that‘This man says thatthere has been much rain in the desert up ahead.there has been much rain in the desert up ahead.

He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.But this person is neither our friend nor relative. How can we proceed out of trust in him?But this person is neither our friend nor relative. How can we proceed out of trust in him?We shouldn’t discard any grass, wood, or water, but continue with our goods as laden.We shouldn’t discard any grass, wood, or water, but continue with our goods as laden.

We shall not discard any old stock.’We shall not discard any old stock.’‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and they restarted the caravan with the goods as laden.‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and they restarted the caravan with the goods as laden.And in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.And in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.

And in the second,And in the second,third,third,fourth,fourth,

fifth,fifth,sixth,sixth,and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.

And they saw the other caravan that had come to ruin.And they saw the other caravan that had come to ruin.And they saw the bones of the men and beasts who had been devoured by that non-human spirit.And they saw the bones of the men and beasts who had been devoured by that non-human spirit.So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,

‘This caravan came to ruin, as happens when guided by a foolish caravan leader.‘This caravan came to ruin, as happens when guided by a foolish caravan leader.