中部第 76 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · With Sandaka · 1/2

Middle Discourses 76Middle Discourses 76With SandakaWith Sandaka

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery.Now at that time the wanderer Sandaka was residing at the cave of the wavy leaf fig tree together with a large assembly of around five hundred wanderers.Now at that time the wanderer Sandaka was residing at the cave of the wavy leaf fig tree together with a large assembly of around five hundred wanderers.

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat and addressed the mendicants:Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat and addressed the mendicants:“Come, reverends, let’s go to the Devakata Pool to see the cave.”“Come, reverends, let’s go to the Devakata Pool to see the cave.”“Yes, reverend,” they replied.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

Then Ānanda together with several mendicants went to the Devakata Pool.Then Ānanda together with several mendicants went to the Devakata Pool.Now at that time, Sandaka and the large assembly of wanderers were sitting together making an uproar, a colossal racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such asNow at that time, Sandaka and the large assembly of wanderers were sitting together making an uproar, a colossal racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such astalk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place.talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place.

Sandaka saw Ānanda coming off in the distance,Sandaka saw Ānanda coming off in the distance,and hushed his own assembly,and hushed his own assembly,“Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound.“Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound.

The ascetic Ānanda, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming.The ascetic Ānanda, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming.He is included among the disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Kosambī.He is included among the disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Kosambī.Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet.Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet.

Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.”Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.”Then those wanderers fell silent.Then those wanderers fell silent.Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the wanderer Sandaka,Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the wanderer Sandaka,

who said to him,who said to him,“Come, worthy Ānanda! Welcome, worthy Ānanda!“Come, worthy Ānanda! Welcome, worthy Ānanda!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 sit down, here, a seat is ready.”Please sit down, here, a seat is ready.”Ānanda sat down on the seat spread out,Ānanda sat down on the seat spread out,while Sandaka took a low seat and sat to one side.while Sandaka took a low seat and sat to one side.

Ānanda said to Sandaka,Ānanda said to Sandaka,“Sandaka, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”“Sandaka, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”“Worthy Ānanda, leave aside what we were sitting talking about just now.“Worthy Ānanda, leave aside what we were sitting talking about just now.

It won’t be hard for you to hear about that later.It won’t be hard for you to hear about that later.It’d be great if Mister Ānanda himself would give a Dhamma talk explaining his own denomination.”It’d be great if Mister Ānanda himself would give a Dhamma talk explaining his own denomination.”“Well then, Sandaka, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Well then, Sandaka, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, worthy sir,” replied Sandaka.“Yes, worthy sir,” replied Sandaka.Venerable Ānanda said this:Venerable Ānanda said this:“Sandaka, these things have been explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha: four ways that negate the spiritual life, and four kinds of unreliable spiritual life. A sensible person would, to the best of their ability, not practice such spiritual paths, and if they did practice them, they wouldn’t succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”“Sandaka, these things have been explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha: four ways that negate the spiritual life, and four kinds of unreliable spiritual life. A sensible person would, to the best of their ability, not practice such spiritual paths, and if they did practice them, they wouldn’t succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”

“But worthy Ānanda, what are the four ways that negate the spiritual life, and the four kinds of unreliable spiritual life?”“But worthy Ānanda, what are the four ways that negate the spiritual life, and the four kinds of unreliable spiritual life?”“Sandaka, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:“Sandaka, take a certain teacher who has 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.

This person is made up of the four principal states. When they die, the earth in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of earth. The water in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of water. The fire in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of fire. The air in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of air. The faculties are transferred to space.This person is made up of the four principal states. When they die, the earth in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of earth. The water in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of water. The fire in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of fire. The air in their body progresses and proceeds to the substance of air. The faculties are transferred to space.

Four men with a bier carry away the corpse.Four men with a bier carry away the corpse.Their footprints show the way to the cremation ground.Their footprints show the way to the cremation ground.The bones become bleached.The bones become bleached.

Offerings dedicated to the gods end in ashes.Offerings dedicated to the gods end in ashes.Giving is a doctrine of morons.Giving is a doctrine of morons.When anyone affirms a positive teaching it’s just hollow, false nonsense.When anyone affirms a positive teaching it’s just hollow, false nonsense.

Both the foolish and the astute are annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and they don’t exist after death.’Both the foolish and the astute are annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and they don’t exist after death.’A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.

If what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished itIf what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished ithave attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that both of us are annihilated and destroyed when our body breaks up, and we don’t exist after death.have attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that both of us are annihilated and destroyed when our body breaks up, and we don’t exist after death.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.

What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?This negates the spiritual life.’This negates the spiritual life.’Realizing this, they leave disappointed.Realizing this, they leave disappointed.

This is the first way that negates the spiritual life.This is the first way that negates the spiritual life.Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has 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. Nothing bad is done 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. Nothing bad is done 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.’A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.

If what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished itIf what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished ithave attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that when both of us act, nothing wrong is done.have attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that when both of us act, nothing wrong is done.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.

What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?This negates the spiritual life.’This negates the spiritual life.’Realizing this, they leave disappointed.Realizing this, they leave disappointed.

This is the second way that negates the spiritual life.This is the second way that negates the spiritual life.Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:‘There is no cause or reason for the corruption of sentient beings.‘There is no cause or reason for the corruption of sentient beings.

Sentient beings are corrupted without cause or reason.Sentient beings are corrupted without cause or reason.There’s no cause or reason for the purification of sentient beings.There’s no cause or reason for the purification of sentient beings.Sentient beings are purified without cause or reason.Sentient beings are purified without cause or reason.

There is no power, no energy, no human strength or vigor.There is no power, no energy, no human strength or vigor.All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:

‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.If what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished itIf what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished ithave attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that both of us are purified without cause or reason.have attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that both of us are purified without cause or reason.

But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?

This negates the spiritual life.’This negates the spiritual life.’Realizing this, they leave disappointed.Realizing this, they leave disappointed.This is the third way that negates the spiritual life.This is the third way that negates the spiritual life.

Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:Furthermore, take a certain teacher who has this doctrine and view:‘There are these seven substances that are not made, not derived, not created, without a creator, barren, steady as a mountain peak, standing firm like a pillar.‘There are these seven substances that are not made, not derived, not created, without a creator, barren, steady as a mountain peak, standing firm like a pillar.They don’t move or deteriorate or obstruct each other. They’re unable to cause pleasure, pain, or both pleasure and pain to each other.They don’t move or deteriorate or obstruct each other. They’re unable to cause pleasure, pain, or both pleasure and pain to each other.

What seven?What seven?The substances of earth, water, fire, air; pleasure, pain, and the soul is the seventh.The substances of earth, water, fire, air; pleasure, pain, and the soul is the seventh.These seven substances are not made, not derived, not created, without a creator, barren, steady as a mountain peak, standing firm like a pillar.These seven substances are not made, not derived, not created, without a creator, barren, steady as a mountain peak, standing firm like a pillar.

They don’t move or deteriorate or obstruct each other. They’re unable to cause pleasure, pain, or both pleasure and pain to each other.They don’t move or deteriorate or obstruct each other. They’re unable to cause pleasure, pain, or both pleasure and pain to each other.And here there is no one who kills or who makes others kill; no one who learns or who educates others; no one who understands or who helps others understand.And here there is no one who kills or who makes others kill; no one who learns or who educates others; no one who understands or who helps others understand.If you chop off someone’s head with a sharp sword, you don’t take anyone’s life.If you chop off someone’s head with a sharp sword, you don’t take anyone’s life.

The sword simply passes through the gap between the seven substances.The sword simply passes through the gap between the seven substances.There are 1.4 million main wombs, and 6,000, and 600; 500 deeds, and five, and three; deeds and half-deeds; 62 paths of practice, 62 sub-eons, six classes of rebirth, and eight stages in a person’s life; 4,900 Ājīvaka ascetics, 4,900 wanderers, and 4,900 dragon abodes; 2,000 lordships, 3,000 hells, and 36 realms of dusky sky; seven percipient embryos, seven non-percipient embryos, seven knotless embryos, seven gods, seven mental heavens, seven goblins, seven streams, seven castoff incarnations and 700 castoff incarnations, seven downfalls and 700 downfalls, seven dreams and 700 dreams, and 8.4 million great eons—through all of which the foolish and the astute transmigrate before making an end of suffering.There are 1.4 million main wombs, and 6,000, and 600; 500 deeds, and five, and three; deeds and half-deeds; 62 paths of practice, 62 sub-eons, six classes of rebirth, and eight stages in a person’s life; 4,900 Ājīvaka ascetics, 4,900 wanderers, and 4,900 dragon abodes; 2,000 lordships, 3,000 hells, and 36 realms of dusky sky; seven percipient embryos, seven non-percipient embryos, seven knotless embryos, seven gods, seven mental heavens, seven goblins, seven streams, seven castoff incarnations and 700 castoff incarnations, seven downfalls and 700 downfalls, seven dreams and 700 dreams, and 8.4 million great eons—through all of which the foolish and the astute transmigrate before making an end of suffering.

And here there is no such thing as this: “By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual practice I shall force unripened deeds to bear their fruit, or eliminate old deeds by experiencing their results little by little”—for that cannot be.And here there is no such thing as this: “By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual practice I shall force unripened deeds to bear their fruit, or eliminate old deeds by experiencing their results little by little”—for that cannot be.Pleasure and pain are allotted. Transmigration lasts only for a limited period, so there’s no increase or decrease, no getting better or worse.Pleasure and pain are allotted. Transmigration lasts only for a limited period, so there’s no increase or decrease, no getting better or worse.

It’s like how, when you toss a ball of string, it rolls away unraveling.It’s like how, when you toss a ball of string, it rolls away unraveling.In the same way, after transmigrating the foolish and the astute will make an end of suffering.’In the same way, after transmigrating the foolish and the astute will make an end of suffering.’A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:

‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.‘This teacher has such a doctrine and view.If what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished itIf what that teacher says is true, both I who have not accomplished this and one who has accomplished ithave attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that after transmigrating both of us will make an end of suffering.have attained exactly the same level. Yet I’m not one who says that after transmigrating both of us will make an end of suffering.

But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.But it’s superfluous for this teacher to go nude, bald, persisting in squatting, tearing out their hair and beard. For I’m living at home with my children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency. Yet I’ll have exactly the same destiny in the next life as this teacher.What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?What do I know or see that I should lead the spiritual life under this teacher?

This negates the spiritual life.’This negates the spiritual life.’Realizing this, they leave disappointed.Realizing this, they leave disappointed.This is the fourth way that negates the spiritual life.This is the fourth way that negates the spiritual life.

These are the four ways that negate the spiritual life that have been explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. A sensible person would, to the best of their ability, not practice such spiritual paths, and if they did practice them, they wouldn’t succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”These are the four ways that negate the spiritual life that have been explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. A sensible person would, to the best of their ability, not practice such spiritual paths, and if they did practice them, they wouldn’t succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”“It’s incredible, worthy Ānanda, it’s amazing,“It’s incredible, worthy Ānanda, it’s amazing,

how these four ways that negate the spiritual life have been explained by the Buddha.how these four ways that negate the spiritual life have been explained by the Buddha.But worthy Ānanda, what are the four kinds of unreliable spiritual life?”But worthy Ānanda, what are the four kinds of unreliable spiritual life?”“Sandaka, take a certain teacher who claims to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus:“Sandaka, take a certain teacher who 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.’They enter an empty house; they get no almsfood; a dog bites them; they encounter a wild elephant, a wild horse, and a wild cow; they ask the name and clan of a woman or man; they ask the name and path to a village or town.They enter an empty house; they get no almsfood; a dog bites them; they encounter a wild elephant, a wild horse, and a wild cow; they ask the name and clan of a woman or man; they ask the name and path to a village or town.When asked, ‘Why is this?’ they answer: ‘I had to enter an empty house, that’s why I entered it. I had to get no almsfood, that’s why I got none. I had to get bitten by a dog, that’s why I was bitten. I had to encounter a wild elephant, a wild horse, and a wild cow, that’s why I encountered them. I had to ask the name and clan of a woman or man, that’s why I asked. I had to ask the name and path to a village or town, that’s why I asked.’When asked, ‘Why is this?’ they answer: ‘I had to enter an empty house, that’s why I entered it. I had to get no almsfood, that’s why I got none. I had to get bitten by a dog, that’s why I was bitten. I had to encounter a wild elephant, a wild horse, and a wild cow, that’s why I encountered them. I had to ask the name and clan of a woman or man, that’s why I asked. I had to ask the name and path to a village or town, that’s why I asked.’

A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:‘This teacher makes such a claim, but they answer in such a way.‘This teacher makes such a claim, but they answer in such a way.