中部第 133 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night · 1/2

Middle Discourses 133Middle Discourses 133Mahākaccāna and One Fine NightMahākaccāna and One Fine Night

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Hot Springs Monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Hot Springs Monastery.Then Venerable Samiddhi rose at the crack of dawn and went to the hot springs to bathe.Then Venerable Samiddhi rose at the crack of dawn and went to the hot springs to bathe.

When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs.When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs.Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire hot springs, went up to Samiddhi, stood to one side, and said to Samiddhi:Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire hot springs, went up to Samiddhi, stood to one side, and said to Samiddhi:“Mendicant, do you remember the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?”“Mendicant, do you remember the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?”

“No, reverend, I do not.“No, reverend, I do not.Do you?”Do you?”“I also do not.“I also do not.

But do you remember just the verses on the one who has one fine night?”But do you remember just the verses on the one who has one fine night?”“I do not.“I do not.Do you?”Do you?”

“I also do not.“I also do not.Learn the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night, mendicant,Learn the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night, mendicant,memorize it,memorize it,

and remember it.and remember it.It is beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”It is beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”That is what that deity said,That is what that deity said,

before vanishing right there.before vanishing right there.Then, when the night had passed, Samiddhi went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he added:Then, when the night had passed, Samiddhi went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he added:“Sir, please teach me the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.”“Sir, please teach me the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.”

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

“Don’t run back to the past,“Don’t run back to the past,don’t anticipate the future.don’t anticipate the future.What’s past is left behind,What’s past is left behind,

the future has not arrived;the future has not arrived;and any present phenomenonand any present phenomenonyou clearly discern in every case.you clearly discern in every case.

The unfaltering, the unshakable:The unfaltering, the unshakable:having known that, foster it.having known that, foster it.Today’s the day to keenly work—Today’s the day to keenly work—

who knows, tomorrow may bring death!who knows, tomorrow may bring death!For there is no bargain to be struckFor there is no bargain to be struckwith Death and his mighty horde.with Death and his mighty horde.

One who keenly meditates like this,One who keenly meditates like this,tireless all night and day:tireless all night and day:that’s who has one fine night—that’s who has one fine night—

so declares the peaceful sage.”so declares the peaceful sage.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,“The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …“The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?”Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?”

Then those mendicants thought:Then those mendicants thought:“This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.“This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.

Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”Then those mendicants went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him.Then those mendicants went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him.When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said:

“May Venerable Mahākaccāna please explain this.”“May Venerable Mahākaccāna please explain this.”“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves.“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves.Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter.Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter.

For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.

We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.Still, Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.Still, Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.

Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”“Well then, reverends, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Well then, reverends, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Yes, reverend,” they replied.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

Venerable Mahākaccāna said this:Venerable Mahākaccāna said this:“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:‘Don’t run back to the past …‘Don’t run back to the past …

that’s who has one fine night—that’s who has one fine night—so declares the peaceful sage.’so declares the peaceful sage.’And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital.And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital.

And how do you run back to the past?And how do you run back to the past?Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past.So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past.

Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds …Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds …such a nose and such smells …such a nose and such smells …such a tongue and such tastes …such a tongue and such tastes …

such a body and such touches …such a body and such touches …such a mind and such ideas.’such a mind and such ideas.’So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past.So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past.

That’s how you run back to the past.That’s how you run back to the past.And how do you not run back to the past?And how do you not run back to the past?Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’

So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past.So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past.Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds …Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds …such a nose and such smells …such a nose and such smells …

such a tongue and such tastes …such a tongue and such tastes …such a body and such touches …such a body and such touches …such a mind and such ideas.’such a mind and such ideas.’

So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past.So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past.That’s how you don’t run back to the past.That’s how you don’t run back to the past.And how do you anticipate the future?And how do you anticipate the future?

The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future.So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future.The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds …The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds …

such a nose and such smells …such a nose and such smells …such a tongue and such tastes …such a tongue and such tastes …such a body and such touches …such a body and such touches …

such a mind and such ideas in the future.’such a mind and such ideas in the future.’So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future.So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future.That’s how you anticipate the future.That’s how you anticipate the future.

And how do you not anticipate the future?And how do you not anticipate the future?The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future.So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future.

The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds …The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds …such a nose and such smells …such a nose and such smells …such a tongue and such tastes …such a tongue and such tastes …

such a body and such touches …such a body and such touches …such a mind and such ideas in the future.’such a mind and such ideas in the future.’So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future.So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future.

That’s how you don’t anticipate the future.That’s how you don’t anticipate the future.And how do you falter amid presently arisen phenomena?And how do you falter amid presently arisen phenomena?Both the eye and sightsBoth the eye and sights

are presently arisen.are presently arisen.If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena.If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena.Both the ear and sounds …Both the ear and sounds …

nose and smells …nose and smells …tongue and tastes …tongue and tastes …body and touches …body and touches …