中部第 47 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Inquirer · 1/1

Middle Discourses 47Middle Discourses 47The InquirerThe Inquirer

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.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“Mendicants!”“Mendicants!”“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Venerable sir,” they replied.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:

“Mendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another’s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One to understand whether he is a fully awakened Buddha or not.”“Mendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another’s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One to understand whether he is a fully awakened Buddha or not.”“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”“Well then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Well then, mendicants, 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:“Mendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another’s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One for two things—things that can be seen and heard:“Mendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another’s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One for two things—things that can be seen and heard:

‘Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find thatnothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One.nothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One.

They scrutinize further:They scrutinize further:‘Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find that

nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One.nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One.They scrutinize further:They scrutinize further:‘Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’

Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find thatclean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One.clean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One.They scrutinize further:They scrutinize further:

‘Did the venerable attain this skillful state a long time ago, or just recently?’‘Did the venerable attain this skillful state a long time ago, or just recently?’Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find thatthe venerable attained this skillful state a long time ago, not just recently.the venerable attained this skillful state a long time ago, not just recently.

They scrutinize further:They scrutinize further:‘Are certain dangers found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown?’‘Are certain dangers found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown?’For, mendicants, so long as a mendicant has not achieved fame and renown, certain dangers are not found in them.For, mendicants, so long as a mendicant has not achieved fame and renown, certain dangers are not found in them.

But when they achieve fame and renown, those dangers appear.But when they achieve fame and renown, those dangers appear.Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find thatthose dangers are not found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown.those dangers are not found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown.

They scrutinize further:They scrutinize further:‘Is this venerable securely stilled or insecurely stilled?‘Is this venerable securely stilled or insecurely stilled?Is the reason they don’t indulge in sensual pleasures that they’re free of greed because greed has ended?’Is the reason they don’t indulge in sensual pleasures that they’re free of greed because greed has ended?’

Scrutinizing him they find thatScrutinizing him they find thatthat venerable is securely stilled, not insecurely stilled.that venerable is securely stilled, not insecurely stilled.The reason they don’t indulge in sensual pleasures is that they’re free of greed because greed has ended.The reason they don’t indulge in sensual pleasures is that they’re free of greed because greed has ended.

If others should ask that mendicant,If others should ask that mendicant,‘But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?’‘But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?’Answering rightly, the mendicant should say,Answering rightly, the mendicant should say,

‘Because, whether that venerable is staying in a community or alone, some people there are in a good state or a sorry state, some instruct a group, and some are seen among pleasures of the flesh while others remain unsullied. Yet that venerable doesn’t look down on them for that.‘Because, whether that venerable is staying in a community or alone, some people there are in a good state or a sorry state, some instruct a group, and some are seen among pleasures of the flesh while others remain unsullied. Yet that venerable doesn’t look down on them for that.Also, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:Also, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:“I am securely stilled, not insecurely stilled. The reason I don’t indulge in sensual pleasures is that I’m free of greed because greed has ended.”’“I am securely stilled, not insecurely stilled. The reason I don’t indulge in sensual pleasures is that I’m free of greed because greed has ended.”’

Next, they should ask the Realized One himself about this,Next, they should ask the Realized One himself about this,‘Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’The Realized One would answer,The Realized One would answer,

‘Nothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One.’‘Nothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One.’‘Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’The Realized One would answer,The Realized One would answer,

‘Nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One.’‘Nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One.’‘Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’‘Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?’The Realized One would answer,The Realized One would answer,

‘Clean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One.‘Clean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One.I am the scope and the range of that, but I am not determined by that.’I am the scope and the range of that, but I am not determined by that.’A disciple ought to approach a teacher who has such a doctrine in order to listen to the teaching.A disciple ought to approach a teacher who has such a doctrine in order to listen to the teaching.

The teacher explains Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides.The teacher explains Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides.When they directly know a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how they were taught, the mendicant comes to a conclusion about the teachings. They have confidence in the Teacher:When they directly know a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how they were taught, the mendicant comes to a conclusion about the teachings. They have confidence in the Teacher:‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Saṅgha is practicing well!’‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Saṅgha is practicing well!’

If others should ask that mendicant,If others should ask that mendicant,‘But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?’‘But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?’Answering rightly, the mendicant should say,Answering rightly, the mendicant should say,

‘Reverends, I approached the Buddha to listen to the teaching.‘Reverends, I approached the Buddha to listen to the teaching.He explained Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides.He explained Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides.When I directly knew a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how I was taught, I came to a conclusion about the teachings. I had confidence in the Teacher:When I directly knew a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how I was taught, I came to a conclusion about the teachings. I had confidence in the Teacher:

“The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Saṅgha is practicing well!”’“The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Saṅgha is practicing well!”’When someone’s faith is settled, rooted, and planted in the Realized One in this manner, with these words and phrases, it’s said to be grounded faith that’s based on evidence.When someone’s faith is settled, rooted, and planted in the Realized One in this manner, with these words and phrases, it’s said to be grounded faith that’s based on evidence.It is strong, and cannot be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or divinity or by anyone in the world.It is strong, and cannot be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or divinity or by anyone in the world.

That is how there is legitimate scrutiny of the Realized One,That is how there is legitimate scrutiny of the Realized One,and that is how the Realized One is legitimately well-scrutinized.”and that is how the Realized One is legitimately well-scrutinized.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.

Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.