中部第 26 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · The Noble Quest · 2/4

‘It is not solely by mere faith that Rāma declared: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”‘It is not solely by mere faith that Rāma declared: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.’Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.’So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,

‘Reverend, to what extent did Rāma say he’d realized this teaching with his own insight?’‘Reverend, to what extent did Rāma say he’d realized this teaching with his own insight?’When I said this, Uddaka son of Rāma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.When I said this, Uddaka son of Rāma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘It’s not just Rāma who had faith,‘It’s not just Rāma who had 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 Rāma said he had realized with his own insight?’Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Rāma said he had 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 Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,‘Reverend, had Rāma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?’‘Reverend, had Rāma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?’

‘He had, reverend.’‘He had, reverend.’‘I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’‘I too 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 fortunate

to 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 Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.So the teaching that Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared 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, Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it.The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it.

So the teaching that Rāma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, Rāma directly knew.So the teaching that Rāma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, Rāma directly knew.Rāma was like you and you are like Rāma.Rāma was like you and you are like Rāma.Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.’Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.’

And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of Rāma placed me in the position of a tutor and honored me with high praise.And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of Rāma placed me in the position of a tutor 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 neither perception nor non-perception.’‘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 neither perception nor non-perception.’

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. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at the town of Senā in Uruvelā.I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at the town of Senā in Uruvelā.There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to resort to for alms.There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to resort to for alms.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to resort to for alms.‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to resort to for alms.This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’

So I sat down right there, thinking,So I sat down right there, thinking,‘This is good enough for striving.’‘This is good enough for striving.’And so, being myself liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, I sought that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it. Being myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, I sought that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it.And so, being myself liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, I sought that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it. Being myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, I sought that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it.

Knowledge and vision arose in me:Knowledge and vision arose in me:‘My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’‘My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of logic, subtle, comprehensible to the astute.‘This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of logic, subtle, comprehensible to the astute.But people like clinging, they love it and enjoy it.But people like clinging, they love it and enjoy it.It’s hard for them to see this topic; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination.It’s hard for them to see this topic; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination.

It’s also hard for them to see this topic; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.It’s also hard for them to see this topic; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.And if I were to teach this principle, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’And if I were to teach this principle, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me:And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me:

‘I’ve struggled hard to realize this,‘I’ve struggled hard to realize this,there’s no need to reveal it now!there’s no need to reveal it now!Those mired in greed and hateThose mired in greed and hate

can’t really understand this teaching.can’t really understand this teaching.It goes against the stream, subtle,It goes against the stream, subtle,deep, obscure, and very fine.deep, obscure, and very fine.

Those besotted by greed cannot see,Those besotted by greed cannot see,for they’re cloaked in a mass of darkness.’for they’re cloaked in a mass of darkness.’So, as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.So, as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.

Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, thought,Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, thought,‘Oh lord! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.’‘Oh lord! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.’Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the divinity Sahampati vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the divinity Sahampati vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.

He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward me, and said,He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward me, and said,‘Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma!‘Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma!There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.

There will be those who understand the teaching!’There will be those who understand the teaching!’That is what the divinity Sahampati said.That is what the divinity Sahampati said.Then he went on to say:Then he went on to say:

‘Among the Magadhans there appeared in the past‘Among the Magadhans there appeared in the pastan impure teaching thought up by the stained.an impure teaching thought up by the stained.Fling open the door to freedom from death!Fling open the door to freedom from death!

Let them hear the teaching the immaculate one discovered.Let them hear the teaching the immaculate one discovered.Standing high on a rocky mountain,Standing high on a rocky mountain,you can see the people all around.you can see the people all around.

In just the same way, All-seer, so intelligent,In just the same way, All-seer, so intelligent,having ascended the Temple of Truth,having ascended the Temple of Truth,rid of sorrow, look upon the peoplerid of sorrow, look upon the people

swamped with sorrow, overcome by rebirth and old age.swamped with sorrow, overcome by rebirth and old age.Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader,Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader,wander the world free of debt.wander the world free of debt.

Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!There will be those who understand!’There will be those who understand!’Then, understanding the Divinity’s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings.Then, understanding the Divinity’s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings.

And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not.And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not.It’s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water’s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them.It’s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water’s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them.

In the same way, I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes.In the same way, I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes.Then I replied in verse to the divinity Sahampati:Then I replied in verse to the divinity Sahampati:‘Flung open are the doors to freedom from death!‘Flung open are the doors to freedom from death!

Let those with ears to hear commit to faith.Let those with ears to hear commit to faith.Thinking it would be troublesome, Divinity, I did not teachThinking it would be troublesome, Divinity, I did not teachthe sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among mankind.’the sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among mankind.’

Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there.Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there.Then I thought,Then I thought,‘Who should I teach first of all?‘Who should I teach first of all?

Who will quickly understand this teaching?’Who will quickly understand this teaching?’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘That Āḷāra Kālāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.‘That Āḷāra Kālāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.

Why don’t I teach him first of all?Why don’t I teach him first of all?He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’But a deity came to me and said,But a deity came to me and said,

‘Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’‘Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’And knowledge and vision arose in me,And knowledge and vision arose in me,‘Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’‘Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

I thought,I thought,‘This is a great loss for Āḷāra Kālāma.‘This is a great loss for Āḷāra Kālāma.If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

Then I thought,Then I thought,‘Who should I teach first of all?‘Who should I teach first of all?Who will quickly understand this teaching?’Who will quickly understand this teaching?’

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘That Uddaka son of Rāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.‘That Uddaka son of Rāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.Why don’t I teach him first of all?Why don’t I teach him first of all?

He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’But a deity came to me and said,But a deity came to me and said,‘Sir, Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’‘Sir, Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’

And knowledge and vision arose in me,And knowledge and vision arose in me,‘Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’‘Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’I thought,I thought,

‘This is a great loss for Uddaka.‘This is a great loss for Uddaka.If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’Then I thought,Then I thought,

‘Who should I teach first of all?‘Who should I teach first of all?Who will quickly understand this teaching?’Who will quickly understand this teaching?’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving.‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving.