中部第 71 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · To Vacchagotta on the Three Knowledges · 1/1

Middle Discourses 71Middle Discourses 71To Vacchagotta on the Three KnowledgesTo Vacchagotta on the Three Knowledges

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.Now at that time the wanderer Vacchagotta was residing in the Single Lotus monastery for the wanderers.Now at that time the wanderer Vacchagotta was residing in the Single Lotus monastery for the wanderers.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.Then it occurred to him,Then it occurred to him,“It’s too early to wander for alms in Vesālī.“It’s too early to wander for alms in Vesālī.

Why don’t I visit the wanderer Vacchagotta at the Single Lotus Monastery?”Why don’t I visit the wanderer Vacchagotta at the Single Lotus Monastery?”So that’s what he did.So that’s what he did.Vacchagotta saw the Buddha coming off in the distance,Vacchagotta saw the Buddha coming off in the distance,

and said to him,and said to him,“Let the Blessed One come, sir!“Let the Blessed One come, sir!Welcome to the Blessed One, sir!Welcome to the Blessed One, sir!

It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here.It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here.Please, sir, sit down, here, a seat is ready.”Please, sir, sit down, here, a seat is ready.”The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out,The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out,

while Vacchagotta took a low seat and sat to one side.while Vacchagotta took a low seat and sat to one side.Then Vacchagotta said to the Buddha:Then Vacchagotta said to the Buddha:“Sir, I have heard this:“Sir, I have heard this:

‘The ascetic Gotama claims to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus:‘The ascetic Gotama claims to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus:“Knowledge and vision are constantly and continually present to me, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking.”’“Knowledge and vision are constantly and continually present to me, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking.”’I trust those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”I trust those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”

“Vaccha, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.”“Vaccha, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.”“So how should we answer so as to repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? How should we explain in line with his teaching, with no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”“So how should we answer so as to repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? How should we explain in line with his teaching, with no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”“‘The ascetic Gotama has the three knowledges.’ Answering like this you would repeat what I have said, and not misrepresent me with an untruth. You would explain in line with my teaching, and there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism.“‘The ascetic Gotama has the three knowledges.’ Answering like this you would repeat what I have said, and not misrepresent me with an untruth. You would explain in line with my teaching, and there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism.

For, Vaccha, whenever I want, I recollect my many kinds of past lives.For, Vaccha, whenever I want, I recollect my many kinds of past lives.That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. I remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so I recollect my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. I remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so I recollect my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

And whenever I want, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.And whenever I want, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.And I have realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. I live having realized it with my own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.And I have realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. I live having realized it with my own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.

‘The ascetic Gotama has the three knowledges.’ Answering like this you would repeat what I have said, and not misrepresent me with an untruth. You would explain in line with my teaching, and there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism.”‘The ascetic Gotama has the three knowledges.’ Answering like this you would repeat what I have said, and not misrepresent me with an untruth. You would explain in line with my teaching, and there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism.”When he said this, the wanderer Vacchagotta said to the Buddha,When he said this, the wanderer Vacchagotta said to the Buddha,“Worthy Gotama, are there any laypeople who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, make an end of suffering when the body breaks up?”“Worthy Gotama, are there any laypeople who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, make an end of suffering when the body breaks up?”

“No, Vaccha.”“No, Vaccha.”“But are there any laypeople who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, go to heaven when the body breaks up?”“But are there any laypeople who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, go to heaven when the body breaks up?”“There’s not just one hundred laypeople, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, go to heaven when the body breaks up.”“There’s not just one hundred laypeople, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that who, without giving up the fetter of lay life, go to heaven when the body breaks up.”

“Worthy Gotama, are there any Ājīvaka ascetics who make an end of suffering when the body breaks up?”“Worthy Gotama, are there any Ājīvaka ascetics who make an end of suffering when the body breaks up?”“No, Vaccha.”“No, Vaccha.”“But are there any Ājīvaka ascetics who go to heaven when the body breaks up?”“But are there any Ājīvaka ascetics who go to heaven when the body breaks up?”

“Vaccha, when I recollect the past ninety-one eons, I can’t find any Ājīvaka ascetics who have gone to heaven, except one;“Vaccha, when I recollect the past ninety-one eons, I can’t find any Ājīvaka ascetics who have gone to heaven, except one;and he taught the efficacy of deeds and action.”and he taught the efficacy of deeds and action.”“In that case, worthy Gotama, that sectarian fold is empty even of the chance to go to heaven.”“In that case, worthy Gotama, that sectarian fold is empty even of the chance to go to heaven.”

“Yes, Vaccha, that sectarian fold is empty even of the chance to go to heaven.”“Yes, Vaccha, that sectarian fold is empty even of the chance to go to heaven.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the wanderer Vacchagotta approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the wanderer Vacchagotta approved what the Buddha said.