长部第 29 经（Sujato 英译）第 3 阅读页 · An Impressive Discourse · 3/4

10. The Benefits of Indulgence in Pleasure10. The Benefits of Indulgence in Pleasure

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,‘How many fruits and benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways?’‘How many fruits and benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways?’You should say to them,You should say to them,

‘Four benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways.‘Four benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways.What four?What four?Firstly, with the ending of three fetters a mendicant becomes a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.Firstly, with the ending of three fetters a mendicant becomes a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

This is the first fruit and benefit.This is the first fruit and benefit.Furthermore, a mendicant—with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion—becomes a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.Furthermore, a mendicant—with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion—becomes a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.This is the second fruit and benefit.This is the second fruit and benefit.

Furthermore, with the ending of the five lower fetters, a mendicant is reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.Furthermore, with the ending of the five lower fetters, a mendicant is reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.This is the third fruit and benefit.This is the third fruit and benefit.Furthermore, a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.Furthermore, a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.

This is the fourth fruit and benefit.This is the fourth fruit and benefit.These four benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways.’These four benefits may be expected by those who live indulging in pleasure in these four ways.’

11. Things Impossible for the Perfected11. Things Impossible for the Perfected

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,‘The ascetics who follow the Sakyan are fickle.’‘The ascetics who follow the Sakyan are fickle.’You should say to them,You should say to them,

‘Reverends, these things have been taught and pointed out for his disciples by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.‘Reverends, these things have been taught and pointed out for his disciples by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.Suppose there was an Indra’s pillar or an iron pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable.Suppose there was an Indra’s pillar or an iron pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable.In the same way, these things have been taught and pointed out for his disciples by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.In the same way, these things have been taught and pointed out for his disciples by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.

A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—can’t transgress in nine respects.A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—can’t transgress in nine respects.A mendicant with defilements ended can’t deliberately take the life of a living creature, take something with the intention to steal, have sex, tell a deliberate lie, or store up goods for their own enjoyment like they used to as a layperson. And they can’t make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, or cowardice.A mendicant with defilements ended can’t deliberately take the life of a living creature, take something with the intention to steal, have sex, tell a deliberate lie, or store up goods for their own enjoyment like they used to as a layperson. And they can’t make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, or cowardice.

A mendicant who is perfected can’t transgress in these nine respects.’A mendicant who is perfected can’t transgress in these nine respects.’

12. Questions and Answers12. Questions and Answers

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,‘The ascetic Gotama demonstrates boundless knowledge and vision of the past, but not of the future. What’s up with that?’‘The ascetic Gotama demonstrates boundless knowledge and vision of the past, but not of the future. What’s up with that?’Those wanderers, like incompetent fools, seem to imagine that one kind of knowledge and vision can be demonstrated by means of another kind of knowledge and vision.Those wanderers, like incompetent fools, seem to imagine that one kind of knowledge and vision can be demonstrated by means of another kind of knowledge and vision.

Regarding the past, the Realized One has knowledge stemming from memory.Regarding the past, the Realized One has knowledge stemming from memory.He recollects as far as he wants.He recollects as far as he wants.Regarding the future, the Realized One has the knowledge born of awakening:Regarding the future, the Realized One has the knowledge born of awakening:

‘This is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’‘This is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’If a question about the past is untrue, false, and pointless, the Realized One does not reply.If a question about the past is untrue, false, and pointless, the Realized One does not reply.If a question about the past is true and correct, but pointless, he does not reply.If a question about the past is true and correct, but pointless, he does not reply.

If a question about the past is true, correct, and beneficial, he knows the right time to reply.If a question about the past is true, correct, and beneficial, he knows the right time to reply.And the Realized One replies to questions about the future or the present in the same way.And the Realized One replies to questions about the future or the present in the same way.And so the Realized One has speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training. That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.And so the Realized One has speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training. That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.

In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—whatever is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind, all that has been understood by the Realized One.In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—whatever is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind, all that has been understood by the Realized One.That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.From the night when the Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening until the night he becomes fully extinguished—in the element of extinguishment with no residue—everything he speaks, says, and expresses is real, not otherwise.From the night when the Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening until the night he becomes fully extinguished—in the element of extinguishment with no residue—everything he speaks, says, and expresses is real, not otherwise.

That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.That’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.The Realized One does as he says, and says as he does.The Realized One does as he says, and says as he does.Since this is so, that’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.Since this is so, that’s why he’s called the ‘Realized One’.

In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—the Realized One is the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power.In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—the Realized One is the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power.

13. The Undeclared Points13. The Undeclared Points

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,‘Is this your view: “A realized one still exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’‘Is this your view: “A realized one still exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’You should say to them,You should say to them,

‘Reverend, this has not been declared by the Buddha.’‘Reverend, this has not been declared by the Buddha.’The wanderers might say,The wanderers might say,‘Then is this your view: “A realized one no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’‘Then is this your view: “A realized one no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’

You should say to them,You should say to them,‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’The wanderers might say,The wanderers might say,

‘Then is this your view: “A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’‘Then is this your view: “A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’You should say to them,You should say to them,‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’

The wanderers might say,The wanderers might say,‘Then is this your view: “A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’‘Then is this your view: “A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile”?’You should say to them,You should say to them,

‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’‘This too has not been declared by the Buddha.’The wanderers might say,The wanderers might say,‘But why has this not been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’‘But why has this not been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’

You should say to them,You should say to them,‘Because it’s not beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. That’s why it hasn’t been declared by the Buddha.’‘Because it’s not beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. That’s why it hasn’t been declared by the Buddha.’

14. The Declared Points14. The Declared Points

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say,‘But what has been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’‘But what has been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’You should say to them,You should say to them,

‘What has been declared by the Buddha is this: “This is suffering”—“This is the origin of suffering”—“This is the cessation of suffering”—“This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.”’‘What has been declared by the Buddha is this: “This is suffering”—“This is the origin of suffering”—“This is the cessation of suffering”—“This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.”’The wanderers might say,The wanderers might say,‘But why has this been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’‘But why has this been declared by the ascetic Gotama?’

You should say to them,You should say to them,‘Because it’s beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. That’s why it has been declared by the Buddha.’‘Because it’s beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. That’s why it has been declared by the Buddha.’

15. Views of the First Beginning15. Views of the First Beginning

Cunda, I have explained to you as they should be explained the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning.Cunda, I have explained to you as they should be explained the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning.Shall I explain them to you in the wrong way?Shall I explain them to you in the wrong way?I have explained to you as they should be explained the views that some rely on regarding the final end.I have explained to you as they should be explained the views that some rely on regarding the final end.

Shall I explain them to you in the wrong way?Shall I explain them to you in the wrong way?What are the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning?What are the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning?There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:

‘The self and the cosmos are eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’‘The self and the cosmos are eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:‘The self and the cosmos are not eternal,‘The self and the cosmos are not eternal,

or both eternal and not eternal,or both eternal and not eternal,or neither eternal nor not eternal.or neither eternal nor not eternal.The self and the cosmos are made by oneself,The self and the cosmos are made by oneself,

or made by another,or made by another,or made by both oneself and another,or made by both oneself and another,or they have arisen anomalously, not made by oneself or another.or they have arisen anomalously, not made by oneself or another.

Pleasure and pain are eternal,Pleasure and pain are eternal,or not eternal,or not eternal,or both eternal and not eternal,or both eternal and not eternal,

or neither eternal nor not eternal.or neither eternal nor not eternal.Pleasure and pain are made by oneself,Pleasure and pain are made by oneself,or made by another,or made by another,

or made by both oneself and another,or made by both oneself and another,or they have arisen anomalously, not made by oneself or another. This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’or they have arisen anomalously, not made by oneself or another. This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’Regarding this, I go up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatRegarding this, I go up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that

the self and the cosmos are eternal,the self and the cosmos are eternal,and say,and say,‘Reverends, is this what you say,‘Reverends, is this what you say,

“The self and the cosmos are eternal”?’“The self and the cosmos are eternal”?’But when they say, ‘Yes!But when they say, ‘Yes!This is the only truth, anything else is futile,’This is the only truth, anything else is futile,’

I don’t grant that.I don’t grant that.Why is that?Why is that?Because there are beings who have different opinions on this topic.Because there are beings who have different opinions on this topic.

I don’t see any such expositions that are equal to my own, still less superior.I don’t see any such expositions that are equal to my own, still less superior.Rather, I am the one who is superior when it comes to the higher exposition.Rather, I am the one who is superior when it comes to the higher exposition.Regarding this, I go up to the ascetics and brahmins who assert all the other views as described above.Regarding this, I go up to the ascetics and brahmins who assert all the other views as described above.

And in each case, I don’t grant that.And in each case, I don’t grant that.Why is that?Why is that?Because there are beings who have different opinions on this topic.Because there are beings who have different opinions on this topic.

I don’t see any such expositions that are equal to my own, still less superior.I don’t see any such expositions that are equal to my own, still less superior.Rather, I am the one who is superior when it comes to the higher exposition.Rather, I am the one who is superior when it comes to the higher exposition.These are the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning.These are the views that some rely on regarding the first beginning.

16. Views of the Final End16. Views of the Final End

What are the views that some rely on regarding the final end?What are the views that some rely on regarding the final end?