中部第 129 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Foolish and the Astute · 1/3

Middle Discourses 129Middle Discourses 129The Foolish and the AstuteThe Foolish and the Astute

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“Mendicants!”“Mendicants!”“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Venerable sir,” they replied.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:

“These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool.“These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool.What three?What three?A fool thinks poorly, speaks poorly, and acts poorly.A fool thinks poorly, speaks poorly, and acts poorly.

If a fool didn’t think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then how would the astute know of them,If a fool didn’t think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then how would the astute know of them,‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’?‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’?But since a fool does think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then the astute do know of them,But since a fool does think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then the astute do know of them,

‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’.‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’.A fool experiences three kinds of suffering and sadness in this very life.A fool experiences three kinds of suffering and sadness in this very life.Suppose a fool is sitting in a council hall, a street, or a crossroad,Suppose a fool is sitting in a council hall, a street, or a crossroad,

where people are discussing what is proper and fitting.where people are discussing what is proper and fitting.And suppose that fool is someone who kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.And suppose that fool is someone who kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.Then that fool thinks,Then that fool thinks,

‘These people are discussing what is proper and fitting.‘These people are discussing what is proper and fitting.But those bad things are found in me and I exhibit them!’But those bad things are found in me and I exhibit them!’This is the first kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.This is the first kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.

Furthermore, a fool sees that the kings have arrested a bandit, a criminal, and subjected them to various punishments—Furthermore, a fool sees that the kings have arrested a bandit, a criminal, and subjected them to various punishments—whipping, caning, and clubbing; cutting off hands or feet, or both; cutting off ears or nose, or both; the ‘porridge pot’, the ‘shell-shave’, the ‘Rāhu’s mouth’, the ‘garland of fire’, the ‘burning hand’, the ‘bulrush twist’, the ‘bark dress’, the ‘antelope’, the ‘meat hook’, the ‘coins’, the ‘caustic pickle’, the ‘twisting bar’, the ‘straw mat’; being splashed with hot oil, being fed to the hounds, being impaled alive, and being beheaded.whipping, caning, and clubbing; cutting off hands or feet, or both; cutting off ears or nose, or both; the ‘porridge pot’, the ‘shell-shave’, the ‘Rāhu’s mouth’, the ‘garland of fire’, the ‘burning hand’, the ‘bulrush twist’, the ‘bark dress’, the ‘antelope’, the ‘meat hook’, the ‘coins’, the ‘caustic pickle’, the ‘twisting bar’, the ‘straw mat’; being splashed with hot oil, being fed to the hounds, being impaled alive, and being beheaded.

Then that fool thinks,Then that fool thinks,‘The kinds of deeds for which the kings inflict such punishments—‘The kinds of deeds for which the kings inflict such punishments—those things are found in me and I exhibit them!those things are found in me and I exhibit them!

If the kings find out about me, they will inflict the same kinds of punishments on me!’If the kings find out about me, they will inflict the same kinds of punishments on me!’This is the second kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.This is the second kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.Furthermore, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them.Furthermore, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them.

It is like the shadow of a great mountain peak in the evening as it settles down, rests down, and lays down upon the earth.It is like the shadow of a great mountain peak in the evening as it settles down, rests down, and lays down upon the earth.In the same way, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them.In the same way, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them.Then that fool thinks,Then that fool thinks,

‘Alas, I haven’t done good and skillful things that keep me safe.‘Alas, I haven’t done good and skillful things that keep me safe.And I have done bad things, violence and sin.And I have done bad things, violence and sin.When I depart, I’ll go to the place where people who’ve done such things go.’When I depart, I’ll go to the place where people who’ve done such things go.’

They sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breasts and falling into confusion.They sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breasts and falling into confusion.This is the third kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.This is the third kind of suffering and sadness that a fool experiences in this very life.Having done bad things by way of body, speech, and mind, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.Having done bad things by way of body, speech, and mind, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

And if there’s anything of which it may be rightly said thatAnd if there’s anything of which it may be rightly said thatit is utterly unlikable, undesirable, and disagreeable, it is of hell that this should be said.it is utterly unlikable, undesirable, and disagreeable, it is of hell that this should be said.So much so that it’s not easy to give a simile for how painful hell is.”So much so that it’s not easy to give a simile for how painful hell is.”

When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,“But sir, is it possible to give a simile?”“But sir, is it possible to give a simile?”“It’s possible,” said the Buddha.“It’s possible,” said the Buddha.

“Suppose they arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to the king, saying,“Suppose they arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to the king, saying,‘Your Majesty, this is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.’‘Your Majesty, this is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.’The king would say,The king would say,

‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the morning with a hundred spears!’‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the morning with a hundred spears!’The king’s men did as they were told.The king’s men did as they were told.Then at midday the king would say,Then at midday the king would say,

‘Look here, how is that man?’‘Look here, how is that man?’‘He’s still alive, Your Majesty.’‘He’s still alive, Your Majesty.’The king would say,The king would say,

‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the midday with a hundred spears!’‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the midday with a hundred spears!’The king’s men did as they were told.The king’s men did as they were told.Then late in the afternoon the king would say,Then late in the afternoon the king would say,

‘Look here, how is that man?’‘Look here, how is that man?’‘He’s still alive, Your Majesty.’‘He’s still alive, Your Majesty.’The king would say,The king would say,

‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the late afternoon with a hundred spears!’‘Go, my men, and strike this man in the late afternoon with a hundred spears!’The king’s men did as they were told.The king’s men did as they were told.What do you think, mendicants?What do you think, mendicants?

Would that man experience pain and distress from being struck with three hundred spears?”Would that man experience pain and distress from being struck with three hundred spears?”“Sir, that man would experience pain and distress from being struck with one spear, let alone three hundred spears!”“Sir, that man would experience pain and distress from being struck with one spear, let alone three hundred spears!”Then the Buddha, picking up a stone the size of his palm, addressed the mendicants,Then the Buddha, picking up a stone the size of his palm, addressed the mendicants,

“What do you think, mendicants?“What do you think, mendicants?Which is bigger: the stone the size of my palm that I’ve picked up, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”Which is bigger: the stone the size of my palm that I’ve picked up, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”“Sir, the stone you’ve picked up is tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.”“Sir, the stone you’ve picked up is tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.”

“In the same way, compared to the suffering in hell, the pain and distress experienced by that man due to being struck with three hundred spears doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.“In the same way, compared to the suffering in hell, the pain and distress experienced by that man due to being struck with three hundred spears doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.The wardens of hell punish them with the five-fold crucifixion.The wardens of hell punish them with the five-fold crucifixion.They drive red-hot stakes through the hands and feet, and another in the middle of the chest.They drive red-hot stakes through the hands and feet, and another in the middle of the chest.

And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.The wardens of hell throw them down and hack them with axes. …The wardens of hell throw them down and hack them with axes. …They hang them upside-down and hack them with hatchets. …They hang them upside-down and hack them with hatchets. …

They harness them to a chariot, and drive them back and forth across burning ground, blazing and glowing. …They harness them to a chariot, and drive them back and forth across burning ground, blazing and glowing. …They make them climb up and down a big mountain of burning coals, blazing and glowing. …They make them climb up and down a big mountain of burning coals, blazing and glowing. …The wardens of hell turn them upside down and throw them into a red-hot copper pot, burning, blazing, and glowing.The wardens of hell turn them upside down and throw them into a red-hot copper pot, burning, blazing, and glowing.

There they’re seared in boiling scum, and they’re swept up and down and round and round.There they’re seared in boiling scum, and they’re swept up and down and round and round.And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.The wardens of hell toss them in the Great Hell.The wardens of hell toss them in the Great Hell.

Now, about that Great Hell:Now, about that Great Hell:‘Four are its corners, four its doors,‘Four are its corners, four its doors,neatly divided section by section.neatly divided section by section.

Surrounded by an iron wall,Surrounded by an iron wall,of iron is its roof.of iron is its roof.The ground is even made of iron,The ground is even made of iron,

it burns with fierce fire.it burns with fierce fire.The heat forever radiatesThe heat forever radiatesa hundred leagues around.’a hundred leagues around.’

I could tell you many different things about hell.I could tell you many different things about hell.So much so that it’s not easy to completely describe the suffering in hell.So much so that it’s not easy to completely describe the suffering in hell.There are, mendicants, animals that feed on grass.There are, mendicants, animals that feed on grass.

They eat by cropping fresh or dried grass with their teeth.They eat by cropping fresh or dried grass with their teeth.And what animals feed on grass?And what animals feed on grass?Elephants, horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, deer, and various others.Elephants, horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, deer, and various others.

A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who feed on grass.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who feed on grass.There are animals that feed on dung.There are animals that feed on dung.When they catch a whiff of dung they run to it, thinking,When they catch a whiff of dung they run to it, thinking,

‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’It’s like when brahmins smell a burnt offering, they run to it, thinking,It’s like when brahmins smell a burnt offering, they run to it, thinking,‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’

In the same way, there are animals that feed on dung.In the same way, there are animals that feed on dung.When they catch a whiff of dung they run to it, thinking,When they catch a whiff of dung they run to it, thinking,‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’‘There we’ll eat! There we’ll eat!’

And what animals feed on dung?And what animals feed on dung?Chickens, pigs, hounds, jackals, and various others.Chickens, pigs, hounds, jackals, and various others.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who feed on dung.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who feed on dung.

There are animals who are born, live, and die in darkness.There are animals who are born, live, and die in darkness.And what animals are born, live, and die in darkness?And what animals are born, live, and die in darkness?Moths, maggots, earthworms, and various others.Moths, maggots, earthworms, and various others.

A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who are born, live, and die in darkness.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who are born, live, and die in darkness.There are animals who are born, live, and die in water.There are animals who are born, live, and die in water.And what animals are born, live, and die in water?And what animals are born, live, and die in water?

Fish, turtles, dolphins, and various others.Fish, turtles, dolphins, and various others.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who are born, live, and die in water.A fool who used to be a glutton here and did bad deeds here, after death is reborn in the company of those sentient beings who are born, live, and die in water.There are animals who are born, live, and die in filth.There are animals who are born, live, and die in filth.

And what animals are born, live, and die in filth?And what animals are born, live, and die in filth?Those animals that are born, live, and die in a rotten fish, a rotten carcass,Those animals that are born, live, and die in a rotten fish, a rotten carcass,