中部第 85 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Prince Bodhi · 2/5

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to resort to for alms.‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to resort to for alms.This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’

So I sat down right there, thinking,So I sat down right there, thinking,‘This is good enough for striving.’‘This is good enough for striving.’And then these three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me.And then these three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me.

Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water.Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water.Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingThen a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingto light a fire and produce heat.to light a fire and produce heat.

What do you think, Prince?What do you think, Prince?By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”“No, sir.“No, sir.

Why is that?Why is that?Because it’s a green, sappy log, and it’s lying in the water.Because it’s a green, sappy log, and it’s lying in the water.That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”

“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

This was the first example that occurred to me.This was the first example that occurred to me.Then a second example occurred to me.Then a second example occurred to me.Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.

Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingThen a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingto light a fire and produce heat.to light a fire and produce heat.What do you think, Prince?What do you think, Prince?

By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”“No, sir.“No, sir.Why is that?Why is that?

Because it’s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it’s lying on dry land far from water.Because it’s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it’s lying on dry land far from water.That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

This was the second example that occurred to me.This was the second example that occurred to me.Then a third example occurred to me.Then a third example occurred to me.Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.

Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingThen a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinkingto light a fire and produce heat.to light a fire and produce heat.What do you think, Prince?What do you think, Prince?

By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”“Yes, sir.“Yes, sir.Why is that?Why is that?

Because it’s a dried up, withered log, and it’s lying on dry land far from water.”Because it’s a dried up, withered log, and it’s lying on dry land far from water.”“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

This was the third example that occurred to me.This was the third example that occurred to me.These are the three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me.These are the three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘Why don’t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and scorch mind with mind?’‘Why don’t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and scorch mind with mind?’So that’s what I did,So that’s what I did,until sweat ran from my armpits.until sweat ran from my armpits.

It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and crushes them.It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and crushes them.In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and crushed mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits.In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and crushed mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I practice the breathless absorption?’‘Why don’t I practice the breathless absorption?’So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose.So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose.

But then winds came out my ears making a loud noise,But then winds came out my ears making a loud noise,like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

But then severe winds ground my head,But then severe winds ground my head,like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point.like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

But then I got a severe headache,But then I got a severe headache,like a strong man was tightening a strong leather strap around my head.like a strong man was tightening a strong leather strap around my head.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

But then severe winds carved up my belly,But then severe winds carved up my belly,like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a sharp meat cleaver.like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a sharp meat cleaver.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

But then there was a severe burning in my body,But then there was a severe burning in my body,like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals.like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Then some deities saw me and said,Then some deities saw me and said,‘The ascetic Gotama is dead.’‘The ascetic Gotama is dead.’Others said,Others said,

‘He’s not dead, but he’s dying.’‘He’s not dead, but he’s dying.’Others said,Others said,‘He’s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.’‘He’s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.’

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Why don’t I practice completely cutting off food?’‘Why don’t I practice completely cutting off food?’But deities came to me and said,But deities came to me and said,

‘Good fellow, don’t practice totally cutting off food.‘Good fellow, don’t practice totally cutting off food.If you do, we’ll infuse heavenly nectar into your pores and you will live on that.’If you do, we’ll infuse heavenly nectar into your pores and you will live on that.’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing heavenly nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.’‘If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing heavenly nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.’So I refused those deities, saying, ‘There’s no need.’So I refused those deities, saying, ‘There’s no need.’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘Why don’t I just take a little bit of food each time, a handful of broth made from mung beans, horse gram, chickpeas, or green gram?’‘Why don’t I just take a little bit of food each time, a handful of broth made from mung beans, horse gram, chickpeas, or green gram?’So that’s what I did,So that’s what I did,until my body became severely emaciated.until my body became severely emaciated.

Due to eating so little, my major and minor limbs became like the joints of an eighty-year-old or a dying man,Due to eating so little, my major and minor limbs became like the joints of an eighty-year-old or a dying man,my bottom became like a camel’s hoof,my bottom became like a camel’s hoof,my vertebrae stuck out like beads on a string,my vertebrae stuck out like beads on a string,

and my ribs were as gaunt as the broken-down rafters on an old barn.and my ribs were as gaunt as the broken-down rafters on an old barn.Due to eating so little, the gleam of my eyes sank deep in their sockets, like the gleam of water sunk deep down a well.Due to eating so little, the gleam of my eyes sank deep in their sockets, like the gleam of water sunk deep down a well.Due to eating so little, my scalp shriveled and withered like a green bitter-gourd in the wind and sun.Due to eating so little, my scalp shriveled and withered like a green bitter-gourd in the wind and sun.

Due to eating so little, the skin of my belly stuck to my backbone, so that when I tried to rub the skin of my belly I grabbed my backbone, and when I tried to rub my backbone I rubbed the skin of my belly.Due to eating so little, the skin of my belly stuck to my backbone, so that when I tried to rub the skin of my belly I grabbed my backbone, and when I tried to rub my backbone I rubbed the skin of my belly.Due to eating so little, when I tried to urinate or defecate I fell face down right there.Due to eating so little, when I tried to urinate or defecate I fell face down right there.Due to eating so little, when I tried to relieve my body by rubbing my limbs with my hands, the hair, rotted at its roots, fell out.Due to eating so little, when I tried to relieve my body by rubbing my limbs with my hands, the hair, rotted at its roots, fell out.

Then some people saw me and said, ‘The ascetic Gotama is black.’Then some people saw me and said, ‘The ascetic Gotama is black.’Some said, ‘He’s not black, he’s brown.’Some said, ‘He’s not black, he’s brown.’Some said, ‘He’s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has dingy skin.’Some said, ‘He’s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has dingy skin.’

That’s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food.That’s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food.Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion—whether in the past, future, or present—this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this.‘Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion—whether in the past, future, or present—this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this.

But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, grueling work.But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, grueling work.Could there be another path to awakening?’Could there be another path to awakening?’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘I recall sitting in the cool shade of a black plum tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.‘I recall sitting in the cool shade of a black plum tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.Could that be the path to awakening?’Could that be the path to awakening?’

Stemming from that memory came the understanding:Stemming from that memory came the understanding:‘That is the path to awakening!’‘That is the path to awakening!’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?’‘Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?’