中部第 22 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Simile of the Cobra · 1/3

Middle Discourses 22Middle Discourses 22The Simile of the CobraThe Simile of the Cobra

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 a mendicant named Ariṭṭha, who had previously been a vulture trapper, had the following harmful misconception:Now at that time a mendicant named Ariṭṭha, who had previously been a vulture trapper, had the following harmful misconception:

“As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”“As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”Several mendicants heard this rumour.Several mendicants heard this rumour.They went up to Ariṭṭha and said to him,They went up to Ariṭṭha and said to him,

“Is it really true, Reverend Ariṭṭha, that you have such a harmful misconception:“Is it really true, Reverend Ariṭṭha, that you have such a harmful misconception:‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them’?”‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them’?”“Indeed, reverends. As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”“Indeed, reverends. As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”

Then, wishing to dissuade Ariṭṭha from his view, the mendicants pursued, pressed, and grilled him,Then, wishing to dissuade Ariṭṭha from his view, the mendicants pursued, pressed, and grilled him,“Don’t say that, Ariṭṭha! Don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for misrepresentation of the Buddha is not good. And the Buddha would not say that.“Don’t say that, Ariṭṭha! Don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for misrepresentation of the Buddha is not good. And the Buddha would not say that.In many ways the Buddha has said that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them.In many ways the Buddha has said that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them.

The Buddha says that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.The Buddha says that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.With the similes of a skeleton …With the similes of a skeleton …a scrap of meat …a scrap of meat …

a grass torch …a grass torch …a pit of glowing coals …a pit of glowing coals …a dream …a dream …

borrowed goods …borrowed goods …fruit on a tree …fruit on a tree …a butcher’s knife and chopping board …a butcher’s knife and chopping board …

swords and spears …swords and spears …a cobra’s head, the Buddha says that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.”a cobra’s head, the Buddha says that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.”But even though the mendicants pursued, pressed, and grilled him in this way, Ariṭṭha obstinately stuck to his misconception and insisted on it.But even though the mendicants pursued, pressed, and grilled him in this way, Ariṭṭha obstinately stuck to his misconception and insisted on it.

When they weren’t able to dissuade Ariṭṭha from his view, the mendicants went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.When they weren’t able to dissuade Ariṭṭha from his view, the mendicants went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture trapper, that“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture trapper, that

the Teacher summons him.”the Teacher summons him.”“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Ariṭṭha and said to him,“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Ariṭṭha and said to him,“Reverend Ariṭṭha, the Teacher summons you.”“Reverend Ariṭṭha, the Teacher summons you.”

“Yes, reverend,” Ariṭṭha replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,“Yes, reverend,” Ariṭṭha replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,“Is it really true, Ariṭṭha, that you have such a harmful misconception:“Is it really true, Ariṭṭha, that you have such a harmful misconception:‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them’?”‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them’?”

“Indeed, sir. As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”“Indeed, sir. As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, the acts that he says are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.”“Futile man, who on earth have you ever known me to teach in that way?“Futile man, who on earth have you ever known me to teach in that way?Haven’t I said in many ways that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them?Haven’t I said in many ways that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them?

I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.With the similes of a skeleton …With the similes of a skeleton …a scrap of meat …a scrap of meat …

a grass torch …a grass torch …a pit of glowing coals …a pit of glowing coals …a dream …a dream …

borrowed goods …borrowed goods …fruit on a tree …fruit on a tree …a butcher’s knife and chopping board …a butcher’s knife and chopping board …

swords and spears …swords and spears …a cobra’s head, I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.a cobra’s head, I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.But still you misrepresent me by your wrong grasp, harm yourself, and brim with much wickedness.But still you misrepresent me by your wrong grasp, harm yourself, and brim with much wickedness.

This will be for your lasting harm and suffering.”This will be for your lasting harm and suffering.”Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,“What do you think, mendicants?“What do you think, mendicants?

Has this mendicant Ariṭṭha kindled even a spark of ardor in this teaching and training?”Has this mendicant Ariṭṭha kindled even a spark of ardor in this teaching and training?”“How could that be, sir?“How could that be, sir?No, sir.”No, sir.”

When this was said, Ariṭṭha sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.When this was said, Ariṭṭha sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.Knowing this, the Buddha said,Knowing this, the Buddha said,“Futile man, you will be known by your own harmful misconception.“Futile man, you will be known by your own harmful misconception.

I’ll question the mendicants about this.”I’ll question the mendicants about this.”Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,“Mendicants, do you understand my teaching as Ariṭṭha does, when he misrepresents me by his wrong grasp, harms himself, and brims with much wickedness?”“Mendicants, do you understand my teaching as Ariṭṭha does, when he misrepresents me by his wrong grasp, harms himself, and brims with much wickedness?”

“No, sir.“No, sir.For in many ways the Buddha has told us that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them.For in many ways the Buddha has told us that obstructive acts are obstructive, and that they really do obstruct the one who performs them.The Buddha has said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.The Buddha has said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.

With the similes of a skeleton …With the similes of a skeleton …a cobra’s head, the Buddha has said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.”a cobra’s head, the Buddha has said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.”“Good, good, mendicants! It’s good that you understand my teaching like this.“Good, good, mendicants! It’s good that you understand my teaching like this.

For in many ways I have said that obstructive acts are obstructive …For in many ways I have said that obstructive acts are obstructive …I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.I’ve said that sensual pleasures give little gratification and much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks.But still this Ariṭṭha misrepresents me by his wrong grasp, harms himself, and brims with much wickedness.But still this Ariṭṭha misrepresents me by his wrong grasp, harms himself, and brims with much wickedness.

This will be for his lasting harm and suffering.This will be for his lasting harm and suffering.Truly, mendicants, it is quite impossible to perform sensual acts without sensual desires, sensual perceptions, and sensual thoughts.Truly, mendicants, it is quite impossible to perform sensual acts without sensual desires, sensual perceptions, and sensual thoughts.Take a futile person who memorizes the teaching—Take a futile person who memorizes the teaching—

statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.But they don’t examine the meaning of those teachings with wisdom,But they don’t examine the meaning of those teachings with wisdom,and so don’t come to an acceptance of them after deliberation.and so don’t come to an acceptance of them after deliberation.

They memorize the teaching for the sake of finding fault and winning debates.They memorize the teaching for the sake of finding fault and winning debates.They don’t realize the goal for which they memorized them.They don’t realize the goal for which they memorized them.Because they’re wrongly grasped, those teachings lead to their lasting harm and suffering.Because they’re wrongly grasped, those teachings lead to their lasting harm and suffering.

Why is that?Why is that?Because of their wrong grasp of the teachings.Because of their wrong grasp of the teachings.Suppose there was a person in need of a cobra. And while wandering in search of a cobraSuppose there was a person in need of a cobra. And while wandering in search of a cobra

they’d see a big cobra,they’d see a big cobra,and grasp it by the coil or the tail.and grasp it by the coil or the tail.But that cobra would twist back and bite them on the hand or the arm or other major or minor limb,But that cobra would twist back and bite them on the hand or the arm or other major or minor limb,

resulting in death or deadly pain.resulting in death or deadly pain.Why is that?Why is that?Because of their wrong grasp of the cobra.Because of their wrong grasp of the cobra.

In the same way, a futile person memorizes the teaching …In the same way, a futile person memorizes the teaching …and those teachings lead to their lasting harm and suffering.and those teachings lead to their lasting harm and suffering.Why is that?Why is that?

Because of their wrong grasp of the teachings.Because of their wrong grasp of the teachings.Now, take a gentleman who memorizes the teaching—Now, take a gentleman who memorizes the teaching—statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

And once he’s memorized them, he examines their meaning with wisdom,And once he’s memorized them, he examines their meaning with wisdom,and comes to an acceptance of them after deliberation.and comes to an acceptance of them after deliberation.He doesn’t memorize the teaching for the sake of finding fault and winning debates.He doesn’t memorize the teaching for the sake of finding fault and winning debates.

He realizes the goal for which he memorized them.He realizes the goal for which he memorized them.Because they’re correctly grasped, those teachings lead to his lasting welfare and happiness.Because they’re correctly grasped, those teachings lead to his lasting welfare and happiness.Why is that?Why is that?

Because of his correct grasp of the teachings.Because of his correct grasp of the teachings.Suppose there was a person in need of a cobra. And while wandering in search of a cobraSuppose there was a person in need of a cobra. And while wandering in search of a cobrathey’d see a big cobra,they’d see a big cobra,

and hold it down carefully with a cleft stick.and hold it down carefully with a cleft stick.Only then would they correctly grasp it by the neck.Only then would they correctly grasp it by the neck.And even though that cobra might wrap its coils around that person’s hand or arm or some other major or minor limb, that wouldn’t result in death or deadly pain.And even though that cobra might wrap its coils around that person’s hand or arm or some other major or minor limb, that wouldn’t result in death or deadly pain.

Why is that?Why is that?Because of their correct grasp of the cobra.Because of their correct grasp of the cobra.In the same way, a gentleman memorizes the teaching …In the same way, a gentleman memorizes the teaching …

and those teachings lead to his lasting welfare and happiness.and those teachings lead to his lasting welfare and happiness.Why is that?Why is that?Because of his correct grasp of the teachings.Because of his correct grasp of the teachings.

So, mendicants, when you understand what I’ve said, you should remember it accordingly.So, mendicants, when you understand what I’ve said, you should remember it accordingly.But if I’ve said anything that you don’t understand, you should ask me about it, or some competent mendicants.But if I’ve said anything that you don’t understand, you should ask me about it, or some competent mendicants.Mendicants, I will teach you a simile of the teaching as a raft: for crossing over, not for holding on.Mendicants, I will teach you a simile of the teaching as a raft: for crossing over, not for holding on.

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

“Suppose there was a person traveling along the road.“Suppose there was a person traveling along the road.