中部第 58 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · With Prince Abhaya · 1/1

Middle Discourses 58Middle Discourses 58With Prince AbhayaWith Prince Abhaya

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.Then Prince Abhaya went up to the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Jain Ñātika said to him,Then Prince Abhaya went up to the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Jain Ñātika said to him,

“Come, prince, refute the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine.“Come, prince, refute the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine.Then you will get a good reputation:Then you will get a good reputation:‘Prince Abhaya refuted the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, so mighty and powerful!’”‘Prince Abhaya refuted the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, so mighty and powerful!’”

“But sir, how am I to do this?”“But sir, how am I to do this?”“Here, prince, go to the ascetic Gotama and say to him:“Here, prince, go to the ascetic Gotama and say to him:‘Sir, may the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?’‘Sir, may the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?’

When he’s asked this, if he answers:When he’s asked this, if he answers:‘He may, prince,’ say this to him,‘He may, prince,’ say this to him,‘So what then, sir, is the difference between you and an ordinary person?‘So what then, sir, is the difference between you and an ordinary person?

For even an ordinary person may utter speech that is disliked by others.’For even an ordinary person may utter speech that is disliked by others.’But if he answers,But if he answers,‘He may not, prince,’ say this to him:‘He may not, prince,’ say this to him:

‘So why then, sir, did you declare of Devadatta:‘So why then, sir, did you declare of Devadatta:“Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable”?“Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable”?Devadatta was angry and upset with what you said.’Devadatta was angry and upset with what you said.’

When you put this dilemma to him, the Buddha won’t be able to either spit it out or swallow it down.When you put this dilemma to him, the Buddha won’t be able to either spit it out or swallow it down.He’ll be like a man with an iron cross stuck in his throat, unable to either spit it out or swallow it down.”He’ll be like a man with an iron cross stuck in his throat, unable to either spit it out or swallow it down.”“Yes, sir,” replied Abhaya. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Jain Ñātika, keeping him on his right. Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.“Yes, sir,” replied Abhaya. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Jain Ñātika, keeping him on his right. Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Then he looked up at the sun and thought,Then he looked up at the sun and thought,“It’s too late to refute the Buddha’s doctrine today.“It’s too late to refute the Buddha’s doctrine today.I shall refute his doctrine in my own home tomorrow.” He said to the Buddha,I shall refute his doctrine in my own home tomorrow.” He said to the Buddha,

“Sir, would the Buddha, together with three other monks, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”“Sir, would the Buddha, together with three other monks, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”The Buddha consented with silence.The Buddha consented with silence.Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Abhaya rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Abhaya rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Then when the night had passed, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Abhaya’s home, and sat down on the seat spread out.Then when the night had passed, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Abhaya’s home, and sat down on the seat spread out.Then Abhaya served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.Then Abhaya served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Abhaya took a low seat, sat to one side,When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Abhaya took a low seat, sat to one side,

and said to him,and said to him,“Sir, may the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?”“Sir, may the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?”“This matter is not categorical, prince.”“This matter is not categorical, prince.”

“Then the Jains have lost in this, sir.”“Then the Jains have lost in this, sir.”“But prince, why do you say that“But prince, why do you say thatthe Jains have lost in this?”the Jains have lost in this?”

Then Abhaya told the Buddha all that had happened.Then Abhaya told the Buddha all that had happened.Now at that time a little baby boy was sitting in Prince Abhaya’s lap.Now at that time a little baby boy was sitting in Prince Abhaya’s lap.Then the Buddha said to Abhaya,Then the Buddha said to Abhaya,

“What do you think, prince?“What do you think, prince?If—because of your negligence or his nursemaid’s negligence—your boy were to put a stick or stone in his mouth, what would you do to him?”If—because of your negligence or his nursemaid’s negligence—your boy were to put a stick or stone in his mouth, what would you do to him?”“I’d try to take it out, sir.“I’d try to take it out, sir.

If that didn’t work, I’d cradle his head with my left hand and take it out using a hooked finger of my right hand, even if it drew blood.If that didn’t work, I’d cradle his head with my left hand and take it out using a hooked finger of my right hand, even if it drew blood.Why is that?Why is that?Because I have sympathy for the boy, sir.”Because I have sympathy for the boy, sir.”

“In the same way, prince, the Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and pointless, and which is disliked by others.“In the same way, prince, the Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and pointless, and which is disliked by others.The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and correct, but which is harmful and disliked by others.The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and correct, but which is harmful and disliked by others.The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, correct, and beneficial, but which is disliked by others.The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, correct, and beneficial, but which is disliked by others.

The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and pointless, but which is liked by others.The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and pointless, but which is liked by others.The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and correct, but which is harmful, even if it is liked by others.The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and correct, but which is harmful, even if it is liked by others.The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, correct, and beneficial, and which is liked by others.The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, correct, and beneficial, and which is liked by others.

Why is that?Why is that?Because the Realized One has sympathy for sentient beings.”Because the Realized One has sympathy for sentient beings.”“Sir, there are astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics who come to see you with a question already planned.“Sir, there are astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics who come to see you with a question already planned.

Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer just strike you on the spot?”Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer just strike you on the spot?”“Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.“Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.What do you think, prince?What do you think, prince?

Are you skilled in the various parts of a chariot?”Are you skilled in the various parts of a chariot?”“I am, sir.”“I am, sir.”“What do you think, prince?“What do you think, prince?

When they come to you and ask:When they come to you and ask:‘What’s the name of this chariot part?’‘What’s the name of this chariot part?’Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer appear to you on the spot?”Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer appear to you on the spot?”

“Sir, I’m well-known as a charioteer skilled in a chariot’s parts.“Sir, I’m well-known as a charioteer skilled in a chariot’s parts.All the major and minor parts are well-known to me.All the major and minor parts are well-known to me.The answer just appears to me on the spot.”The answer just appears to me on the spot.”

“In the same way, when astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics come to see me with a question already planned, the answer just strikes me on the spot.“In the same way, when astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics come to see me with a question already planned, the answer just strikes me on the spot.Why is that?Why is that?Because the Realized One has clearly penetrated the principle of the teachings, so that the answer just strikes him on the spot.”Because the Realized One has clearly penetrated the principle of the teachings, so that the answer just strikes him on the spot.”

When he had spoken, Prince Abhaya said to the Buddha,When he had spoken, Prince Abhaya said to the Buddha,“Excellent, sir! Excellent! …“Excellent, sir! Excellent! …From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”