相应部第 22 相应（Sujato 英译）第 97 阅读页 · SN22.95 · A Lump of Foam

Linked Discourses 22.95Linked Discourses 22.9510. Flowers10. Flowers

A Lump of FoamA Lump of FoamAt one time the Buddha was staying near Ayodhya on the bank of the Ganges River.At one time the Buddha was staying near Ayodhya on the bank of the Ganges River.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, suppose this Ganges River was carrying along a big lump of foam. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a lump of foam?“Mendicants, suppose this Ganges River was carrying along a big lump of foam. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a lump of foam?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near—examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in form?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near—examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in form?

Suppose it was autumn, when the heavens rain heavily, and a bubble on the water forms and pops right away. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a water bubble?Suppose it was autumn, when the heavens rain heavily, and a bubble on the water forms and pops right away. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a water bubble?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of feeling at all … examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in feeling?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of feeling at all … examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in feeling?

Suppose that in the last month of summer, at noon, a shimmering mirage appears. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a mirage?Suppose that in the last month of summer, at noon, a shimmering mirage appears. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a mirage?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of perception at all … examining it carefully. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in perception?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of perception at all … examining it carefully. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in perception?

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. Wandering in search of heartwood, they’d take a sharp axe and enter a forest. There they’d see a big banana trunk, straight and young and grown unskewed. They’d cut it down at the base, cut off the top, and unroll the coiled sheaths. But they wouldn’t even find sapwood, much less heartwood. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a banana trunk?Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. Wandering in search of heartwood, they’d take a sharp axe and enter a forest. There they’d see a big banana trunk, straight and young and grown unskewed. They’d cut it down at the base, cut off the top, and unroll the coiled sheaths. But they wouldn’t even find sapwood, much less heartwood. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in a banana trunk?

In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of choices at all … examining them rationally. And they appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in choices?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of choices at all … examining them rationally. And they appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in choices?Suppose an illusionist or their apprentice was to demonstrate an illusion at the crossroads. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in an illusion?Suppose an illusionist or their apprentice was to demonstrate an illusion at the crossroads. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in an illusion?

In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near—examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in consciousness?In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near—examining it rationally. And it appears to them completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what essence could there be in consciousness?Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:“Form is like a lump of foam;“Form is like a lump of foam;feeling is like a bubble;feeling is like a bubble;

perception seems like a mirage;perception seems like a mirage;choices like a banana plant;choices like a banana plant;and consciousness like an illusion:and consciousness like an illusion:

so taught the Kinsman of the Sun.so taught the Kinsman of the Sun.However you contemplate them,However you contemplate them,examining them rationally,examining them rationally,

they’re vacuous and hollowthey’re vacuous and hollowwhen you look at them closely.when you look at them closely.Concerning this body,Concerning this body,

he of vast wisdom has taughthe of vast wisdom has taughtthat when three things are given up,that when three things are given up,you’ll see this form discarded.you’ll see this form discarded.

When vitality, warmth, and consciousnessWhen vitality, warmth, and consciousnessleave this body,leave this body,it lies dumped there,it lies dumped there,

food for others, insentient.food for others, insentient.Such is this continuity,Such is this continuity,this illusion, this lament of fools.this illusion, this lament of fools.

It’s said to be a killer,It’s said to be a killer,for no core is found here.for no core is found here.An energetic mendicantAn energetic mendicant

should examine the aggregates like this,should examine the aggregates like this,with situational awareness and mindfulnesswith situational awareness and mindfulnesswhether by day or by night.whether by day or by night.

They should give up all fetters,They should give up all fetters,and make a refuge for themselves.and make a refuge for themselves.They should live as though their head was on fire,They should live as though their head was on fire,

aspiring to the state that does not pass.”aspiring to the state that does not pass.”