中部第 26 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Noble Quest · 1/4

Middle Discourses 26Middle Discourses 26The Noble QuestThe Noble Quest

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.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Then several mendicants went up to Venerable Ānanda and said to him,Then several mendicants went up to Venerable Ānanda and said to him,“Reverend, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.“Reverend, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.It would be good if we got to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”It would be good if we got to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”

“Well then, reverends, go to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.“Well then, reverends, go to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.Hopefully you’ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”Hopefully you’ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”“Yes, reverend,” they replied.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha addressed Ānanda,Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha addressed Ānanda,“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.”“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.”“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed Ānanda,In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed Ānanda,“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the eastern gate to bathe.”“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the eastern gate to bathe.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the eastern gate to bathe.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the eastern gate 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 Ānanda said to the Buddha,Then Ānanda said to the Buddha,“Sir, the hermitage of the brahmin Rammaka is nearby.“Sir, the hermitage of the brahmin Rammaka is nearby.It’s so delightful,It’s so delightful,

so lovely.so lovely.Please visit it out of sympathy.”Please visit it out of sympathy.”The Buddha consented with silence.The Buddha consented with silence.

He went to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.He went to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.Now at that time several mendicants were sitting together in the hermitage talking about the teaching.Now at that time several mendicants were sitting together in the hermitage talking about the teaching.The Buddha stood outside the door waiting for the talk to end.The Buddha stood outside the door waiting for the talk to end.

When he knew the talk had ended he cleared his throat and knocked on the door-panel.When he knew the talk had ended he cleared his throat and knocked on the door-panel.The mendicants opened the door for the Buddha,The mendicants opened the door for the Buddha,and he entered the hermitage, where he sat down on the seat spread outand he entered the hermitage, where he sat down on the seat spread out

and addressed the mendicants:and addressed the mendicants:“Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”“Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”“Sir, our unfinished discussion on the teaching was about the Buddha himself when the Buddha arrived.”“Sir, our unfinished discussion on the teaching was about the Buddha himself when the Buddha arrived.”

“Good, mendicants!“Good, mendicants!It’s appropriate for gentlemen like you, who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, to sit together and talk about the teaching.It’s appropriate for gentlemen like you, who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, to sit together and talk about the teaching.When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things:When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things:

discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.Mendicants, there are these two quests:Mendicants, there are these two quests:the noble quest and the ignoble quest.the noble quest and the ignoble quest.

And what is the ignoble quest?And what is the ignoble quest?It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn seeks what is also liable to be reborn. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, they seek what is also liable to these things.It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn seeks what is also liable to be reborn. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, they seek what is also liable to these things.And what should be described as liable to be reborn?And what should be described as liable to be reborn?

Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to be reborn.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to be reborn.These attachments are liable to be reborn.These attachments are liable to be reborn.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to being reborn, seeks what is also liable to be reborn.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to being reborn, seeks what is also liable to be reborn.

And what should be described as liable to grow old?And what should be described as liable to grow old?Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to grow old.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to grow old.These attachments are liable to grow old.These attachments are liable to grow old.

Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to grow old, seeks what is also liable to grow old.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to grow old, seeks what is also liable to grow old.And what should be described as liable to fall sick?And what should be described as liable to fall sick?Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to fall sick.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to fall sick.

These attachments are liable to fall sick.These attachments are liable to fall sick.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to falling sick, seeks what is also liable to fall sick.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to falling sick, seeks what is also liable to fall sick.And what should be described as liable to die?And what should be described as liable to die?

Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to die.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to die.These attachments are liable to die.These attachments are liable to die.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to die, seeks what is also liable to die.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to die, seeks what is also liable to die.

And what should be described as liable to sorrow?And what should be described as liable to sorrow?Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to sorrow.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to sorrow.These attachments are liable to sorrow.These attachments are liable to sorrow.

Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to sorrow, seeks what is also liable to sorrow.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to sorrow, seeks what is also liable to sorrow.And what should be described as liable to corruption?And what should be described as liable to corruption?Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to corruption.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to corruption.

These attachments are liable to corruption.These attachments are liable to corruption.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to corruption, seeks what is also liable to corruption.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to corruption, seeks what is also liable to corruption.This is the ignoble quest.This is the ignoble quest.

And what is the noble quest?And what is the noble quest?It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, seeks that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, they seek that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, seeks that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, they seek that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

This is the noble quest.This is the noble quest.Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I too, being liable to be reborn, sought what is also liable to be reborn. Myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, I sought what is also liable to these things.Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I too, being liable to be reborn, sought what is also liable to be reborn. Myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, I sought what is also liable to these things.Then it occurred to me:Then it occurred to me:

‘Why do I, being liable to be reborn, grow old, fall sick, sorrow, die, and become corrupted, seek things that have the same nature?‘Why do I, being liable to be reborn, grow old, fall sick, sorrow, die, and become corrupted, seek things that have the same nature?Why don’t I seek that which is free of rebirth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment?’Why don’t I seek that which is free of rebirth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment?’Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life—though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces—I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life—though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces—I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,‘Reverend Kālāma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’‘Reverend Kālāma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’Āḷāra Kālāma replied,Āḷāra Kālāma replied,

‘Stay, venerable.‘Stay, venerable.This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’I quickly memorized that teaching.I quickly memorized that teaching.

As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘It is not solely by mere faith that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”‘It is not solely by mere faith that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”

Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.’Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.’So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,‘Reverend Kālāma, to what extent do you say you’ve realized this teaching with your own insight?’‘Reverend Kālāma, to what extent do you say you’ve realized this teaching with your own insight?’

When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness.When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘It’s not just Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith,‘It’s not just Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith,

energy,energy,mindfulness,mindfulness,immersion,immersion,

and wisdom; I too have these things.and wisdom; I too have these things.Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Āḷāra Kālāma says he has realized with his own insight?’Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Āḷāra Kālāma says he has realized with his own insight?’I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.

So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,‘Reverend Kālāma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?’‘Reverend Kālāma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?’‘I have, reverend.’‘I have, reverend.’

‘I too, reverend, have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’‘I too, reverend, have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunateto see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!

So the teaching that I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.So the teaching that I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it.The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it.So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching that you know, I know.So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching that you know, I know.

I am like you and you are like me.I am like you and you are like me.Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.’Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.’And that is how my tutor Āḷāra Kālāma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with high praise.And that is how my tutor Āḷāra Kālāma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with high praise.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.

I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,‘Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’‘Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’Uddaka replied,Uddaka replied,

‘Stay, venerable.‘Stay, venerable.This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’I quickly memorized that teaching.I quickly memorized that teaching.

As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,