长部第 4 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Soṇadaṇḍa · 2/3

And when you’re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes.And when you’re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes.When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes.When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes.But my wealth relies on my reputation.”But my wealth relies on my reputation.”

Then Soṇadaṇḍa went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.Then Soṇadaṇḍa went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side.When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side.Before sitting down to one side, some of the brahmins and householders of Campā bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent.Before sitting down to one side, some of the brahmins and householders of Campā bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent.

But while sitting there, Soṇadaṇḍa continued to be plagued by many second thoughts. He thought,But while sitting there, Soṇadaṇḍa continued to be plagued by many second thoughts. He thought,“If only the ascetic Gotama would ask me about my own tutor’s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas! Then I could definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.”“If only the ascetic Gotama would ask me about my own tutor’s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas! Then I could definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.”

5. What Makes a Brahmin5. What Makes a Brahmin

Then, knowing Soṇadaṇḍa’s train of thought, it occurred to the Buddha,Then, knowing Soṇadaṇḍa’s train of thought, it occurred to the Buddha,“This brahmin Soṇadaṇḍa is troubled by his own thoughts.“This brahmin Soṇadaṇḍa is troubled by his own thoughts.Why don’t I ask him about his own tutor’s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas?”Why don’t I ask him about his own tutor’s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas?”

So he said to Soṇadaṇḍa,So he said to Soṇadaṇḍa,“Brahmin, how many factors must a brahmin possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;“Brahmin, how many factors must a brahmin possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood?”and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood?”

Then Soṇadaṇḍa thought,Then Soṇadaṇḍa thought,“The ascetic Gotama has asked me about exactly what I wanted, what I wished for, what I desired, what I yearned for; that is, my own scriptural heritage.“The ascetic Gotama has asked me about exactly what I wanted, what I wished for, what I desired, what I yearned for; that is, my own scriptural heritage.I can definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.”I can definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.”

Then Soṇadaṇḍa straightened his back, looked around the assembly, and said to the Buddha,Then Soṇadaṇḍa straightened his back, looked around the assembly, and said to the Buddha,“Worthy Gotama, a brahmin must possess five factors for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;“Worthy Gotama, a brahmin must possess five factors for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood.and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood.

What five?What five?It’s when a brahmin is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.It’s when a brahmin is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.He recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man.He recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man.

He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold.He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold.He is ethical, mature in ethical conduct.He is ethical, mature in ethical conduct.He’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.He’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.

These are the five factors which a brahmin must possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;These are the five factors which a brahmin must possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin;and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood.”and so that when he says ‘I am a brahmin’ he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood.”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these five factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these five factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”

“It is possible, worthy Gotama.“It is possible, worthy Gotama.We could leave appearance out of the five factors.We could leave appearance out of the five factors.For what does appearance matter?For what does appearance matter?

A brahmin must possess the remaining four factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”A brahmin must possess the remaining four factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these four factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these four factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“It is possible, worthy Gotama.“It is possible, worthy Gotama.

We could leave the hymns out of the four factors.We could leave the hymns out of the four factors.For what do the hymns matter?For what do the hymns matter?A brahmin must possess the remaining three factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”A brahmin must possess the remaining three factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”

“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these three factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these three factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“It is possible, worthy Gotama.“It is possible, worthy Gotama.We could leave birth out of the three factors.We could leave birth out of the three factors.

For what does birth matter?For what does birth matter?It’s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct;It’s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct;and he’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.and he’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.

A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”When he had spoken, those brahmins said to him,When he had spoken, those brahmins said to him,“Please don’t say that, worthy Soṇadaṇḍa, please don’t say that!“Please don’t say that, worthy Soṇadaṇḍa, please don’t say that!

You’re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You’re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine!”You’re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You’re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine!”So the Buddha said to them,So the Buddha said to them,“Well, brahmins, if you think that“Well, brahmins, if you think that

Soṇadaṇḍa is unlearned, a poor speaker, witless, and not capable of debating with me about this, then leave him aside and you can debate with me.Soṇadaṇḍa is unlearned, a poor speaker, witless, and not capable of debating with me about this, then leave him aside and you can debate with me.But if you think thatBut if you think thathe’s learned, a good speaker who enunciates well, astute, and capable of debating with me about this, then you should stand aside and let him debate with me.”he’s learned, a good speaker who enunciates well, astute, and capable of debating with me about this, then you should stand aside and let him debate with me.”

When he said this, Soṇadaṇḍa said to the Buddha,When he said this, Soṇadaṇḍa said to the Buddha,“Let it be, worthy Gotama, be silent. I myself will respond to them in a legitimate manner.”“Let it be, worthy Gotama, be silent. I myself will respond to them in a legitimate manner.”Then he said to those brahmins,Then he said to those brahmins,

“Don’t say this, good fellows, don’t say this:“Don’t say this, good fellows, don’t say this:‘You’re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You’re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine!’‘You’re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You’re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine!’I’m not condemning appearance, hymns, or birth.”I’m not condemning appearance, hymns, or birth.”

Now at that time Soṇadaṇḍa’s nephew, the young student Aṅgaka was sitting in that assembly.Now at that time Soṇadaṇḍa’s nephew, the young student Aṅgaka was sitting in that assembly.Then Soṇadaṇḍa said to those brahmins,Then Soṇadaṇḍa said to those brahmins,“Gentlemen, do you see my nephew, the young student Aṅgaka?”“Gentlemen, do you see my nephew, the young student Aṅgaka?”

“Yes, sir.”“Yes, sir.”“Aṅgaka is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. There’s no one in this assembly so good-looking, apart from the ascetic Gotama.“Aṅgaka is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. There’s no one in this assembly so good-looking, apart from the ascetic Gotama.Aṅgaka recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man.Aṅgaka recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man.

And I am the one who teaches him the hymns.And I am the one who teaches him the hymns.Aṅgaka is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.Aṅgaka is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.And I know his mother and father.And I know his mother and father.

But if Aṅgaka were to kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, and drink liquor, then what’s the use of his appearance, his hymns, or his birth?But if Aṅgaka were to kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, and drink liquor, then what’s the use of his appearance, his hymns, or his birth?It’s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct;It’s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct;and he’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.and he’s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle.

A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.”

6. The Discussion of Ethics and Wisdom6. The Discussion of Ethics and Wisdom

“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these two factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“But brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these two factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?”“No, worthy Gotama.“No, worthy Gotama.For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.

Ethics and wisdom always go together.Ethics and wisdom always go together.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.

It’s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other.It’s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other.In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.Ethics and wisdom always go together.Ethics and wisdom always go together.

An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.”And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.”“That’s so true, brahmin, that’s so true! For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.“That’s so true, brahmin, that’s so true! For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.

Ethics and wisdom always go together.Ethics and wisdom always go together.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.

It’s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other.It’s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other.In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom.Ethics and wisdom always go together.Ethics and wisdom always go together.

An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.But what, brahmin, is that ethical conduct?But what, brahmin, is that ethical conduct?

And what is that wisdom?”And what is that wisdom?”“That’s all I know about this matter, worthy Gotama.“That’s all I know about this matter, worthy Gotama.May the worthy Gotama himself please clarify the meaning of this.”May the worthy Gotama himself please clarify the meaning of this.”

“Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Yes, worthy sir,” Soṇadaṇḍa replied.“Yes, worthy sir,” Soṇadaṇḍa replied.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:

“It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha …“It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha …That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics.That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics.This, brahmin, is that ethical conduct. …This, brahmin, is that ethical conduct. …

They enter and remain in the first absorption …They enter and remain in the first absorption …second absorption …second absorption …third absorption …third absorption …

fourth absorption …fourth absorption …They project and extend the mind toward knowledge and vision …They project and extend the mind toward knowledge and vision …This pertains to their wisdom. …This pertains to their wisdom. …

They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’This pertains to their wisdom.This pertains to their wisdom.This, brahmin, is that wisdom.”This, brahmin, is that wisdom.”

7. Soṇadaṇḍa Declares Himself a Lay Follower7. Soṇadaṇḍa Declares Himself a Lay Follower

When he had spoken, Soṇadaṇḍa said to the Buddha,When he had spoken, Soṇadaṇḍa said to the Buddha,“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways.As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways.

I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.Would you and the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”Would you and the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”