中部第 21 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Simile of the Saw · 1/2

Middle Discourses 21Middle Discourses 21The Simile of the SawThe Simile of the Saw

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.Now at that time, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot was spending too long mixing closely with some nuns.Now at that time, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot was spending too long mixing closely with some nuns.

So much so thatSo much so thatif any mendicant criticized those nuns in his presence, Phagguna of the Top-Knot got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.if any mendicant criticized those nuns in his presence, Phagguna of the Top-Knot got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.And if any mendicant criticized Phagguna of the Top-Knot in their presence, those nuns got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.And if any mendicant criticized Phagguna of the Top-Knot in their presence, those nuns got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.

That’s how close Phagguna of the Top-Knot was with those nuns.That’s how close Phagguna of the Top-Knot was with those nuns.Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was going on.Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was going on.So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,

“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot that“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot thatthe Teacher summons him.”the Teacher summons him.”“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Phagguna of the Top-Knot and said to him,“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Phagguna of the Top-Knot and said to him,

“Reverend Phagguna, the Teacher summons you.”“Reverend Phagguna, the Teacher summons you.”“Yes, reverend,” Phagguna replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:“Yes, reverend,” Phagguna replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:“Is it really true, Phagguna, that you’ve been spending too long mixing closely with some nuns?“Is it really true, Phagguna, that you’ve been spending too long mixing closely with some nuns?

So much so thatSo much so thatif any mendicant criticizes those nuns in your presence, you get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?if any mendicant criticizes those nuns in your presence, you get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?And if any mendicant criticizes you in those nuns’ presence, they get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?And if any mendicant criticizes you in those nuns’ presence, they get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?

Is that how close you’ve become with those nuns?”Is that how close you’ve become with those nuns?”“Yes, sir.”“Yes, sir.”“Phagguna, are you not a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness?”“Phagguna, are you not a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness?”

“Yes, sir.”“Yes, sir.”“As such, it’s not appropriate for you to mix so closely with those nuns.“As such, it’s not appropriate for you to mix so closely with those nuns.So if anyone criticizes those nuns in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.So if anyone criticizes those nuns in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.

If that happens, you should train like this:If that happens, you should train like this:‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’That’s how you should train.That’s how you should train.

So even if someone strikes those nuns with fists, stones, rods, and swords in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.So even if someone strikes those nuns with fists, stones, rods, and swords in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.If that happens, you should train like this:If that happens, you should train like this:‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’

That’s how you should train.That’s how you should train.So if anyone criticizes you in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.So if anyone criticizes you in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’

That’s how you should train.That’s how you should train.So Phagguna, even if someone strikes you with fists, stones, rods, and swords, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.So Phagguna, even if someone strikes you with fists, stones, rods, and swords, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’

That’s how you should train.”That’s how you should train.”Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:“Mendicants, I used to be satisfied with the mendicants.“Mendicants, I used to be satisfied with the mendicants.

Once, I addressed them:Once, I addressed them:‘I eat my food in one sitting per day.‘I eat my food in one sitting per day.Doing so, I find that I’m healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.Doing so, I find that I’m healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

You too should eat your food in one sitting per day.You too should eat your food in one sitting per day.Doing so, you’ll find that you’re healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.’Doing so, you’ll find that you’re healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.’I didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;I didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;

I just had to prompt their mindfulness.I just had to prompt their mindfulness.Suppose a chariot stood harnessed to thoroughbreds at a level crossroads, with a goad ready.Suppose a chariot stood harnessed to thoroughbreds at a level crossroads, with a goad ready.A deft horse trainer, a master charioteer, might mount the chariot, taking the reins in his right hand and goad in the left. He’d drive out and back wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes.A deft horse trainer, a master charioteer, might mount the chariot, taking the reins in his right hand and goad in the left. He’d drive out and back wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes.

In the same way, I didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;In the same way, I didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;I just had to prompt their mindfulness.I just had to prompt their mindfulness.So, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.So, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.

In this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.In this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.Suppose that not far from a town or village there was a large grove of sal treesSuppose that not far from a town or village there was a large grove of sal treesthat was choked with castor-oil weeds.that was choked with castor-oil weeds.

Then along comes a person who wants to help protect and nurture that grove.Then along comes a person who wants to help protect and nurture that grove.They’d cut down the crooked sal saplings that were robbing the sap, and throw them out. They’d clean up the interior of the grove,They’d cut down the crooked sal saplings that were robbing the sap, and throw them out. They’d clean up the interior of the grove,and properly care for the straight, well-formed sal saplings.and properly care for the straight, well-formed sal saplings.

In this way, in due course, that sal grove would grow, increase, and mature.In this way, in due course, that sal grove would grow, increase, and mature.In the same way, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.In the same way, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.In this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.In this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.

Once upon a time, mendicants, right here in Sāvatthī there was a housewife named Vedehikā.Once upon a time, mendicants, right here in Sāvatthī there was a housewife named Vedehikā.She had this good reputation:She had this good reputation:‘The housewife Vedehikā is gentle, placid, and calm.’‘The housewife Vedehikā is gentle, placid, and calm.’

Now, Vedehikā had a bonded maid named Kāḷī who was deft, tireless, and well-organized in her work.Now, Vedehikā had a bonded maid named Kāḷī who was deft, tireless, and well-organized in her work.Then Kāḷī thought,Then Kāḷī thought,‘My mistress has a good reputation as being‘My mistress has a good reputation as being

gentle, placid, and calm.gentle, placid, and calm.But does she actually have anger in her and just not show it? Or does she have no anger?But does she actually have anger in her and just not show it? Or does she have no anger?Or is it just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside?Or is it just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside?

Why don’t I test my mistress?’Why don’t I test my mistress?’So Kāḷī got up during the day.So Kāḷī got up during the day.Vedehikā said to her,Vedehikā said to her,

‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’‘What is it, ma’am?’‘What is it, ma’am?’‘You’re getting up in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’‘You’re getting up in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’

‘Nothing, ma’am.’‘Nothing, ma’am.’‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up in the day!’ Angry and upset, she scowled.‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up in the day!’ Angry and upset, she scowled.Then Kāḷī thought,Then Kāḷī thought,

‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.It’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.It’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.Why don’t I test my mistress further?’Why don’t I test my mistress further?’

So Kāḷī got up later in the day.So Kāḷī got up later in the day.Vedehikā said to her,Vedehikā said to her,‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’

‘What is it, ma’am?’‘What is it, ma’am?’‘You’re getting up later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’‘You’re getting up later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’‘Nothing, ma’am.’‘Nothing, ma’am.’

‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she blurted out angry words.‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she blurted out angry words.Then Kāḷī thought,Then Kāḷī thought,‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.

It’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.It’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.Why don’t I test my mistress further?’Why don’t I test my mistress further?’So Kāḷī got up even later in the day.So Kāḷī got up even later in the day.

Vedehikā said to her,Vedehikā said to her,‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’‘What is it, ma’am?’‘What is it, ma’am?’

‘You’re getting up even later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’‘You’re getting up even later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’‘Nothing, ma’am.’‘Nothing, ma’am.’‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up even later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she grabbed a door-pin and hit Kāḷī on the head, cracking it open.‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up even later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she grabbed a door-pin and hit Kāḷī on the head, cracking it open.

Then Kāḷī, with blood pouring from her cracked skull, denounced her mistress to the neighbors,Then Kāḷī, with blood pouring from her cracked skull, denounced her mistress to the neighbors,‘See, ladies, what the gentle one did!‘See, ladies, what the gentle one did!See what the placid one did! See what the calm one did!See what the placid one did! See what the calm one did!

How on earth can she grab a door-pin and hit her only maid on the head, cracking it open, just for getting up late?’How on earth can she grab a door-pin and hit her only maid on the head, cracking it open, just for getting up late?’Then after some time the housewife Vedehikā got this bad reputation:Then after some time the housewife Vedehikā got this bad reputation:‘The housewife Vedehikā is fierce, ill-tempered, and not calm at all.’‘The housewife Vedehikā is fierce, ill-tempered, and not calm at all.’

In the same way, a mendicant may be the gentlest of the gentle, the most placid of the placid, the calmest of the calm, so long as they don’t encounter any disagreeable criticism.In the same way, a mendicant may be the gentlest of the gentle, the most placid of the placid, the calmest of the calm, so long as they don’t encounter any disagreeable criticism.But it’s when they encounter disagreeable criticism that you’ll know whether they’re really gentle, placid, and calm.But it’s when they encounter disagreeable criticism that you’ll know whether they’re really gentle, placid, and calm.I don’t say that a mendicant is easy to admonish if they make themselves easy to admonish only for the sake of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.I don’t say that a mendicant is easy to admonish if they make themselves easy to admonish only for the sake of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Why is that?Why is that?Because when they don’t get robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, they’re no longer easy to admonish.Because when they don’t get robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, they’re no longer easy to admonish.But when a mendicant is easy to admonish purely because they honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching, then I say that they’re easy to admonish.But when a mendicant is easy to admonish purely because they honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching, then I say that they’re easy to admonish.

So, mendicants, you should train yourselves: ‘We will be easy to admonish purely because we honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching.’So, mendicants, you should train yourselves: ‘We will be easy to admonish purely because we honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching.’That’s how you should train.That’s how you should train.Mendicants, there are these five ways in which others might criticize you.Mendicants, there are these five ways in which others might criticize you.

Their speech may be timely or untimely,Their speech may be timely or untimely,true or false,true or false,gentle or harsh,gentle or harsh,

beneficial or harmful,beneficial or harmful,