中部第 140 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Analysis of the Elements · 1/2

Middle Discourses 140Middle Discourses 140The Analysis of the ElementsThe Analysis of the Elements

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was wandering in the Magadhan lands when he arrived at Rājagaha.At one time the Buddha was wandering in the Magadhan lands when he arrived at Rājagaha.He went to see Bhaggava the potter, and said,He went to see Bhaggava the potter, and said,

“Bhaggava, if it is no trouble, I’d like to spend a single night in your workshop.”“Bhaggava, if it is no trouble, I’d like to spend a single night in your workshop.”“It’s no trouble, sir.“It’s no trouble, sir.But there’s a renunciate already staying there.But there’s a renunciate already staying there.

If he allows it, sir, you may stay as long as you please.”If he allows it, sir, you may stay as long as you please.”Now at that time a gentleman named Pukkusāti had gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness in the Buddha’s name.Now at that time a gentleman named Pukkusāti had gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness in the Buddha’s name.And it was he who had first taken up residence in the workshop.And it was he who had first taken up residence in the workshop.

Then the Buddha approached Venerable Pukkusāti and said,Then the Buddha approached Venerable Pukkusāti and said,“Mendicant, if it is no trouble, I’d like to spend a single night in the workshop.”“Mendicant, if it is no trouble, I’d like to spend a single night in the workshop.”“The potter’s workshop is spacious, reverend.“The potter’s workshop is spacious, reverend.

Stay as long as you please.”Stay as long as you please.”Then the Buddha entered the workshop and spread out a grass mat to one side. He sat down cross-legged, set his body straight, and brought mindfulness to the present.Then the Buddha entered the workshop and spread out a grass mat to one side. He sat down cross-legged, set his body straight, and brought mindfulness to the present.He spent much of the night sitting in meditation,He spent much of the night sitting in meditation,

and so did Pukkusāti.and so did Pukkusāti.Then it occurred to the Buddha,Then it occurred to the Buddha,“This gentleman’s behavior is impressive.“This gentleman’s behavior is impressive.

Why don’t I question him?”Why don’t I question him?”So the Buddha said to Pukkusāti,So the Buddha said to Pukkusāti,“In whose name have you gone forth, mendicant? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?”“In whose name have you gone forth, mendicant? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?”

“Reverend, there is the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family.“Reverend, there is the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family.He has this good reputation:He has this good reputation:‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

I’ve gone forth in his name.I’ve gone forth in his name.That Blessed One is my Teacher,That Blessed One is my Teacher,and I believe in his teaching.”and I believe in his teaching.”

“But mendicant, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”“But mendicant, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”“In the northern lands there is a city named Sāvatthī.“In the northern lands there is a city named Sāvatthī.There the Blessed One is now staying, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”There the Blessed One is now staying, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”

“But have you ever seen that Buddha?“But have you ever seen that Buddha?Would you recognize him if you saw him?”Would you recognize him if you saw him?”“No, I’ve never seen him,“No, I’ve never seen him,

and I wouldn’t recognize him if I did.”and I wouldn’t recognize him if I did.”Then it occurred to the Buddha,Then it occurred to the Buddha,“This gentleman has gone forth in my name.“This gentleman has gone forth in my name.

Why don’t I teach him the Dhamma?”Why don’t I teach him the Dhamma?”So the Buddha said to Pukkusāti,So the Buddha said to Pukkusāti,“Mendicant, I shall teach you the Dhamma.“Mendicant, I shall teach you the Dhamma.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Yes, reverend,” replied Pukkusāti.“Yes, reverend,” replied Pukkusāti.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:

“‘This person has six elements, six fields of contact, eighteen mental preoccupations, and four foundations.“‘This person has six elements, six fields of contact, eighteen mental preoccupations, and four foundations.Where they stand, the streams of conceiving do not flow. And where the streams of conceiving do not flow, they are called a sage at peace.Where they stand, the streams of conceiving do not flow. And where the streams of conceiving do not flow, they are called a sage at peace.Do not neglect wisdom; preserve truth; foster generosity; and train only for peace.’Do not neglect wisdom; preserve truth; foster generosity; and train only for peace.’

This is the summary recital for the analysis of the elements.This is the summary recital for the analysis of the elements.‘This person has six elements.’‘This person has six elements.’That’s what I said, but why did I say it?That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

There are these six elements:There are these six elements:the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.‘This person has six elements.’‘This person has six elements.’

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.‘This person has six fields of contact.’‘This person has six fields of contact.’That’s what I said, but why did I say it?That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

The fields of contact of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.The fields of contact of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.‘This person has six fields of contact.’‘This person has six fields of contact.’That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘This person has eighteen mental preoccupations.’‘This person has eighteen mental preoccupations.’That’s what I said, but why did I say it?That’s what I said, but why did I say it?Seeing a sight with their eyes, one is preoccupied with a sight that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.Seeing a sight with their eyes, one is preoccupied with a sight that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.

Hearing a sound with their ears …Hearing a sound with their ears …Smelling an odor with their nose …Smelling an odor with their nose …Tasting a flavor with their tongue …Tasting a flavor with their tongue …

Encountering a touch with their body …Encountering a touch with their body …Becoming conscious of an idea with their mind, one is preoccupied with an idea that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.Becoming conscious of an idea with their mind, one is preoccupied with an idea that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.So there are six preoccupations with happiness, six preoccupations with sadness, and six preoccupations with equanimity.So there are six preoccupations with happiness, six preoccupations with sadness, and six preoccupations with equanimity.

‘This person has eighteen mental preoccupations.’‘This person has eighteen mental preoccupations.’That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.‘This person has four foundations.’‘This person has four foundations.’

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?That’s what I said, but why did I say it?The foundations of wisdom, truth, generosity, and peace.The foundations of wisdom, truth, generosity, and peace.‘This person has four foundations.’‘This person has four foundations.’

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.‘Do not neglect wisdom; preserve truth; foster generosity; and train only for peace.’‘Do not neglect wisdom; preserve truth; foster generosity; and train only for peace.’That’s what I said, but why did I say it?That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

And how does one not neglect wisdom?And how does one not neglect wisdom?There are these six elements:There are these six elements:the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.

And what is the earth element?And what is the earth element?The earth element may be interior or exterior.The earth element may be interior or exterior.And what is the interior earth element?And what is the interior earth element?

Anything internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated. This includes:Anything internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated. This includes:head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, or anything else internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated.head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, or anything else internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated.This is called the interior earth element.This is called the interior earth element.

The interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element.The interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.

And what is the water element?And what is the water element?The water element may be interior or exterior.The water element may be interior or exterior.And what is the interior water element?And what is the interior water element?

Anything internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated. This includes:Anything internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated. This includes:bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine, or anything else internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated.bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine, or anything else internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated.This is called the interior water element.This is called the interior water element.

The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element.The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.

And what is the fire element?And what is the fire element?The fire element may be interior or exterior.The fire element may be interior or exterior.And what is the interior fire element?And what is the interior fire element?

Anything internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated. This includes:Anything internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated. This includes:that which warms, that which ages, that which heats you up when feverish, that which properly digests food and drink; or anything else internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated.that which warms, that which ages, that which heats you up when feverish, that which properly digests food and drink; or anything else internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated.This is called the interior fire element.This is called the interior fire element.

The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element.The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.

And what is the air element?And what is the air element?The air element may be interior or exterior.The air element may be interior or exterior.And what is the interior air element?And what is the interior air element?

Anything internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated. This includes:Anything internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated. This includes:winds that go up or down, winds in the belly or the bowels, winds that flow through the limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths; or anything else internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated.winds that go up or down, winds in the belly or the bowels, winds that flow through the limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths; or anything else internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated.This is called the interior air element.This is called the interior air element.

The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element.The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.

And what is the space element?And what is the space element?The space element may be interior or exterior.The space element may be interior or exterior.And what is the interior space element?And what is the interior space element?

Anything internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated. This includes:Anything internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated. This includes: