Sutta 6: Three Characteristics of the Foolish and Three Characteristics of the Wise

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c24] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was in the Jeta Grove (祇樹給孤獨園 [qi shu gei gu du yuan]) in Sravasti (舍衛國 [she wei guo]).

[0607c24] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán.

[0607c24] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c25] At that time, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) told the Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu]): "A foolish person (愚人 [yu ren]) has three marks (三相 [san xiang]) and three Dharmas (三法 [san fa]) that cannot be relied upon (不可恃怙 [bu ke shi hu]). What are the three? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) contemplate what should not be contemplated (不可思惟而思惟之 [bu ke si wei er si wei zhi]); they speak what should not be spoken (不可論說而論說之 [bu ke lun shuo er lun shuo zhi]); they practice what should not be practiced (不可行者而修習之 [bu ke xing zhe er xiu xi zhi]).

[0607c25] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “yú rén yǒu sān xiāng sān fǎ, bù kě shì hù. yún hé wèi sān? yú shì, yú zhě bù kě sī wéi ér sī wéi zhī； bù kě lùn shuō ér lùn shuō zhī； bù kě xíng zhě ér xiū xí zhī.

[0607c25] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "yu ren you san xiang san fa, bu ke shi hu. yun he wei san? yu shi, yu zhe bu ke si wei er si wei zhi; bu ke lun shuo er lun shuo zhi; bu ke xing zhe er xiu xi zhi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0607c28] "How does a foolish person (愚者 [yu zhe]) contemplate what should not be contemplated (不可思惟而思念之 [bu ke si wei er si nian zhi])? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) contemplate three mental actions (意三行 [yi san xing]). What are the three? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) give rise to a jealous mind (嫉心 [ji xin]) towards others' wealth (他財物 [ta cai wu]) and women (女色 [nu se]), and their minds think evil words (心念惡言 [xin nian e yan]), giving rise to jealousy (悉興嫉心 [xi xing ji xin]): 'May what belongs to them be mine.' Thus, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) contemplate what should not be contemplated (不可思惟而思惟之 [bu ke si wei er si wei zhi]).

[0607c28] “yún hé yú zhě bù kě sī wéi ér sī niàn zhī? yú shì, yú zhě yì sān xíng biàn sī yì zhī. yún hé wèi sān? yú shì, yú zhě qǐ jí xīn, yú tā cái wù jí yú nǚ sè, xīn niàn è yán xī xìng jí xīn: ‘bǐ zhī suǒ yǒu, yuàn shì wǒ xǔ.’ rú shì, yú zhě bù kě sī wéi ér sī wéi zhī.

[0607c28] "yun he yu zhe bu ke si wei er si nian zhi? yu shi, yu zhe yi san xing bian si yi zhi. yun he wei san? yu shi, yu zhe qi ji xin, yu ta cai wu ji yu nu se, xin nian e yan xi xing ji xin: 'bi zhi suo you, yuan shi wo xu.' ru shi, yu zhe bu ke si wei er si wei zhi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a03] "How does a foolish person (愚者 [yu zhe]) speak what should not be spoken (不可論說而論說之 [bu ke lun shuo er lun shuo zhi])? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) commit four verbal transgressions (口四過 [kou si guo]). What are the four? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) always love to lie (妄言 [wang yan]), engage in frivolous talk (綺語 [qi yu]), speak harshly (惡口 [e kou]), and cause discord between others (鬪亂彼此 [dou luan bi ci]). Thus, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) commit four verbal transgressions (口四過 [kou si guo]).

[0608a03] “yún hé yú zhě bù kě lùn shuō ér lùn shuō zhī? yú shì, yú zhě zào kǒu sì guò. yún hé wèi sì? yú shì, yú zhě héng xǐ wàng yán,, qǐ yǔ,, è kǒu,, dòu luàn bǐ cǐ. rú shì, yú zhě zào kǒu sì guò.

[0608a03] "yun he yu zhe bu ke lun shuo er lun shuo zhi? yu shi, yu zhe zao kou si guo. yun he wei si? yu shi, yu zhe heng xi wang yan,, qi yu,, e kou,, dou luan bi ci. ru shi, yu zhe zao kou si guo.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a06] "How does a foolish person (愚者 [yu zhe]) commit evil deeds (惡行 [e xing])? In this, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) commit evil bodily deeds (身惡行 [shen e xing]), always thinking of killing (殺生 [sha sheng]), stealing (竊盜 [qie dao]), and sexual misconduct (淫泆 [yin yi]). Thus, the foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) commit evil deeds (惡行 [e xing]). Thus, Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu])! The foolish (愚者 [yu zhe]) have these three actions (三行 [san xing]), and foolish people (愚癡之人 [yu chi zhi ren]) practice these three things (三事 [san shi]).

[0608a06] “yún hé yú zhě zào yú è xíng? yú shì, yú zhě zào shēn è xíng, cháng niàn shā shēng,, qiè dào,, yín yì. rú shì, yú zhě zào yú è xíng. rú shì, bǐ qiū! yú zhě yǒu cǐ sān xíng, yú chī zhī rén xí cǐ sān shì.

[0608a06] "yun he yu zhe zao yu e xing? yu shi, yu zhe zao shen e xing, chang nian sha sheng,, qie dao,, yin yi. ru shi, yu zhe zao yu e xing. ru shi, bi qiu! yu zhe you ci san xing, yu chi zhi ren xi ci san shi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a09] "Furthermore, Bhikkhu (比丘 [bi qiu])! The wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) have three things (三事 [san shi]) they should constantly practice. What are the three? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) contemplate what should be contemplated (應思惟者 [ying si wei zhe]), and they contemplate it; they speak what should be spoken (應論說者 [ying lun shuo zhe]), and they speak it; they practice what is good (應行善者 [ying xing shan zhe]), and they practice it.

[0608a09] “fù cì, bǐ qiū! zhì zhě yǒu sān shì, dāng niàn xiū xíng. yún hé wèi sān? yú shì, zhì zhě yīng sī wéi zhě, biàn sī wéi zhī； yīng lùn shuō zhě, biàn lùn shuō zhī； yīng xíng shàn zhě, biàn xiū xíng shàn.

[0608a09] "fu ci, bi qiu! zhi zhe you san shi, dang nian xiu xing. yun he wei san? yu shi, zhi zhe ying si wei zhe, bian si wei zhi; ying lun shuo zhe, bian lun shuo zhi; ying xing shan zhe, bian xiu xing shan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a12] "How does a wise person (智者 [zhi zhe]) contemplate what should be contemplated (應思惟事 [ying si wei shi])? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) contemplate three mental actions (意三行 [yi san xing]). What are the three? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) do not envy (不嫉妬 [bu ji du]), hate (恚 [hui]), or delude (癡 [chi]), but always practice right view (正見 [zheng jian]), and when seeing others' wealth (他財貨 [ta cai huo]), they do not give rise to thoughts of covetousness (不生想念 [bu sheng xiang nian]). Thus, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) contemplate what should be contemplated (應思惟者 [ying si wei zhe]), and they contemplate it.

[0608a12] “bǐ yún hé zhì zhě yīng sī wéi shì, biàn sī wéi zhī? yú shì, zhì zhě sī wéi yì sān xíng. yún hé wèi sān? yú shì, zhì zhě bù jí dù,, huì,, chī, cháng xíng zhèng jiàn, jiàn tā cái huò, bù shēng xiǎng niàn. rú shì, zhì zhě yīng sī wéi zhě, biàn sī wéi zhī.

[0608a12] "bi yun he zhi zhe ying si wei shi, bian si wei zhi? yu shi, zhi zhe si wei yi san xing. yun he wei san? yu shi, zhi zhe bu ji du,, hui,, chi, chang xing zheng jian, jian ta cai huo, bu sheng xiang nian. ru shi, zhi zhe ying si wei zhe, bian si wei zhi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a16] "How does a wise person (智者 [zhi zhe]) speak what should be spoken (應論說之 [ying lun shuo zhi])? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) accomplish four verbal actions (口四行 [kou si xing]). What are the four? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) do not lie (不行妄語 [bu xing wang yu]), nor do they teach others to lie (不教人妄語 [bu jiao ren wang yu]); they do not rejoice when they see others lie (見人妄語者意不喜樂 [jian ren wang yu zhe yi bu xi le]). This is how the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) guard their speech (護其口 [hu qi kou]). Furthermore, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) do not engage in frivolous talk (不行綺語 [bu xing qi yu]), harsh speech (惡口 [e kou]), or divisive speech (鬪亂彼此 [dou luan bi ci]), nor do they teach others to engage in frivolous talk (綺語 [qi yu]), harsh speech (惡口 [e kou]), or divisive speech (鬪亂 [dou luan]). Thus, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) accomplish four verbal actions (口四行 [kou si xing]).

[0608a16] “yún hé zhì zhě yīng lùn shuō zhī? yú shì, zhì zhě chéng jiù kǒu sì xíng. yún hé wèi sì? yú shì, zhì zhě bù xíng wàng yǔ, yì bù jiào rén wàng yǔ, jiàn rén wàng yǔ zhě yì bù xǐ lè, shì wèi zhì zhě ér hù qí kǒu. fù cì, zhì zhě bù xíng qǐ yǔ,, è kǒu,, dòu luàn bǐ cǐ, yì bù jiào rén shǐ xíng qǐ yǔ,, è kǒu,, dòu luàn. rú shì, zhì zhě chéng jiù kǒu sì xíng.

[0608a16] "yun he zhi zhe ying lun shuo zhi? yu shi, zhi zhe cheng jiu kou si xing. yun he wei si? yu shi, zhi zhe bu xing wang yu, yi bu jiao ren wang yu, jian ren wang yu zhe yi bu xi le, shi wei zhi zhe er hu qi kou. fu ci, zhi zhe bu xing qi yu,, e kou,, dou luan bi ci, yi bu jiao ren shi xing qi yu,, e kou,, dou luan. ru shi, zhi zhe cheng jiu kou si xing.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608a22] "How does a wise person (智者 [zhi zhe]) accomplish three bodily actions (身三行 [shen san xing])? In this, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) contemplate bodily actions (身行 [shen xing]), without committing any offense. Furthermore, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) themselves do not kill (不殺生 [bu sha sheng]), nor do they teach others to kill (不教人殺生 [bu jiao ren sha sheng]); they do not rejoice when they see others kill (見人殺者心不喜樂 [jian ren sha zhe xin bu xi le]). They themselves do not steal (不偷竊 [bu tou qie]), nor do they teach others to steal (不教人盜 [bu jiao ren dao]); they do not rejoice when they see others steal (見人盜者心不喜樂 [jian ren dao zhe xin bu xi le]). They also do not commit sexual misconduct (不淫泆 [bu yin yi]); when they see the form of another woman (他女人色 [ta nu ren se]), their mind (心 [xin]) does not give rise to thoughts of lust (不起想 [bu qi xiang]); nor do they teach others to engage in sexual misconduct (不教人使行淫泆 [bu jiao ren shi xing yin yi]). If they see an old mother (老母 [lao mu]), they regard her as their own parent (如己親 [ru ji qin]); a middle-aged woman as an elder sister (中者如姊 [zhong zhe ru zi]); a young woman as a younger sister (小者如妹 [xiao zhe ru mei]); without any high or low thoughts (意無高下 [yi wu gao xia]). Thus, the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) accomplish three bodily actions (身成就三行 [shen cheng jiu san xing]). This is what the wise (智者 [zhi zhe]) practice. Thus, Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu])! There are these three marks of conditioned phenomena (三有為之相 [san you wei zhi xiang]). Therefore, Bhikkhus (諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu])! You should always abandon the three marks of the foolish (愚者三相 [yu zhe san xiang]), and practice these three actions of the wise (三智者所行 [san zhi zhe suo xing]), without even a moment's delay. Thus, Bhikkhus (諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu])! You should learn in this way."

[0608a22] “yún hé zhì zhě chéng jiù shēn sān xíng? yú shì, zhì zhě sī wéi shēn xíng, wú suǒ chù fàn. rán fù zhì zhě zì bù shā shēng, yì bù jiào rén shā shēng, jiàn rén shā zhě xīn bù xǐ lè. zì bù tōu qiè, bù jiào rén dào, jiàn rén dào zhě xīn bù xǐ lè. yì bù yín yì, jiàn tā nǚ rén sè, xīn bù qǐ xiǎng, yì bù jiào rén shǐ xíng yín yì. shè jiàn lǎo mǔ, shì zhī rú jǐ qīn, zhōng zhě rú zǐ, xiǎo zhě rú mèi, yì wú gāo xià. rú shì, zhì zhě shēn chéng jiù sān xíng, shì wèi zhì zhě suǒ xíng. rú shì, bǐ qiū! yǒu cǐ sān yǒu wèi zhī xiāng. shì gù, zhū bǐ qiū! yú zhě sān xiāng cháng dāng shě lí, cǐ sān zhì zhě suǒ xíng, bù fā sī xū. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0608a22] "yun he zhi zhe cheng jiu shen san xing? yu shi, zhi zhe si wei shen xing, wu suo chu fan. ran fu zhi zhe zi bu sha sheng, yi bu jiao ren sha sheng, jian ren sha zhe xin bu xi le. zi bu tou qie, bu jiao ren dao, jian ren dao zhe xin bu xi le. yi bu yin yi, jian ta nu ren se, xin bu qi xiang, yi bu jiao ren shi xing yin yi. she jian lao mu, shi zhi ru ji qin, zhong zhe ru zi, xiao zhe ru mei, yi wu gao xia. ru shi, zhi zhe shen cheng jiu san xing, shi wei zhi zhe suo xing. ru shi, bi qiu! you ci san you wei zhi xiang. shi gu, zhu bi qiu! yu zhe san xiang chang dang she li, ci san zhi zhe suo xing, bu fa si xu. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0608b03] At that time, the Bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu]) heard what the Buddha (佛 [fu]) said, rejoiced, and practiced it.

[0608b03] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0608b03] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.