中部第 60 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · A Sure Bet · 1/3

Middle Discourses 60Middle Discourses 60A Sure BetA Sure Bet

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Sālā.At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Sālā.The brahmins and householders of Sālā heard:The brahmins and householders of Sālā heard:

“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—wandering in the land of the Kosalans has arrived at Sālā, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—wandering in the land of the Kosalans has arrived at Sālā, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.He has this good reputation:He has this good reputation:‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others.He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others.He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

It’s good to see such perfected ones.”It’s good to see such perfected ones.”Then the brahmins and householders of Sālā went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. The Buddha said to them:Then the brahmins and householders of Sālā went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. The Buddha said to them:“So, householders, is there any teacher you’re happy with, in whom you have acquired grounded faith?”“So, householders, is there any teacher you’re happy with, in whom you have acquired grounded faith?”

“No, sir.”“No, sir.”“Since you haven’t found a teacher you’re happy with, you should undertake and implement this sure bet teaching.“Since you haven’t found a teacher you’re happy with, you should undertake and implement this sure bet teaching.For when the sure bet teaching is undertaken, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.For when the sure bet teaching is undertaken, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.

And what is the sure bet teaching?And what is the sure bet teaching?There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’

And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.They say:They say:‘There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are such things as mother and father, and beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’‘There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are such things as mother and father, and beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’

What do you think, householders?What do you think, householders?Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”“Yes, sir.”“Yes, sir.”

“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatthere’s no meaning in giving, etc.there’s no meaning in giving, etc.You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

Why is that?Why is that?Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is no other world is wrong view.Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is no other world is wrong view.

Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is no other world is wrong purpose.Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is no other world is wrong purpose.Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is no other world is wrong speech.Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is no other world is wrong speech.Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is no other world they contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is no other world they contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.

Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is no other world they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is no other world they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.

And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:‘If there is no other world, when this individual person’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.‘If there is no other world, when this individual person’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.

And if there is another world, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.And if there is another world, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, a nihilist.’Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, a nihilist.’

But if there really is another world, they hold a losing hand on both counts.But if there really is another world, they hold a losing hand on both counts.For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.

Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatSince this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatthere is meaning in giving, etc.there is meaning in giving, etc.You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

Why is that?Why is that?Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is another world is right view.Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is another world is right view.

Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is another world is right purpose.Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is another world is right purpose.Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is another world is right speech.Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is another world is right speech.Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is another world they don’t contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is another world they don’t contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.

Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is another world they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is another world they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.

And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:‘If there is another world, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.‘If there is another world, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms a positive teaching.’Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms a positive teaching.’So if there really is another world, they hold a winning hand on both counts.So if there really is another world, they hold a winning hand on both counts.

For they are praised by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.For they are praised by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.They have rightly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of both sides, leaving out the unskillful premise.They have rightly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of both sides, leaving out the unskillful premise.There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:

‘The one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do nothing wrong when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.‘The one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do nothing wrong when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.

If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, no merit comes of that, and no outcome of merit.If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, no merit comes of that, and no outcome of merit.In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is no merit or outcome of merit.’In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is no merit or outcome of merit.’

And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this. They say:And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this. They say:‘The one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do a bad deed when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.‘The one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do a bad deed when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.

If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, merit comes of that, and an outcome of merit.If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, merit comes of that, and an outcome of merit.

In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is merit and outcome of merit.’In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is merit and outcome of merit.’What do you think, householders?What do you think, householders?Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”

“Yes, sir.”“Yes, sir.”“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatthe one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, etc.the one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, etc.

You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.Why is that?Why is that?Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.

Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is ineffective is wrong view.Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is ineffective is wrong view.Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is ineffective is wrong purpose.Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is ineffective is wrong purpose.Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is ineffective is wrong speech.Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is ineffective is wrong speech.

Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is ineffective they contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is ineffective they contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is ineffective they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is ineffective they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.

So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:

‘If there is no effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.‘If there is no effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.And if there is effective action, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.And if there is effective action, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.

Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, one who denies the efficacy of action.’Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, one who denies the efficacy of action.’But if there really is effective action, they hold a losing hand on both counts.But if there really is effective action, they hold a losing hand on both counts.For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatSince this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is thatthe one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, etc.the one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, etc.

You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.Why is that?Why is that?Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.

Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is effective is right view.Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is effective is right view.Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is effective is right purpose.Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is effective is right purpose.Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is effective is right speech.Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is effective is right speech.

Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is effective they don’t contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is effective they don’t contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is effective they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is effective they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.

So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:

‘If there is effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.‘If there is effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms the efficacy of action.’Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms the efficacy of action.’

So if there really is effective action, they hold a winning hand on both counts.So if there really is effective action, they hold a winning hand on both counts.