Sutta 8: The Four Fundamentals of Dharma

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

[0639a01] Thus have I heard:

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

[0639a01] wén rú shì:

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

[0639a01] 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.]

[0639a02] At that time, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) addressed the bhikṣus: "I am not only revered among bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]), bhikṣuṇīs (比丘尼 [bi qiu ni]), laymen (清信士 [qing xin shi]), and laywomen (清信女 [qing xin nu]), but also uniquely revered among the people of the world. Now there are four fundamental dharmas (四法本末 [si fa ben mo]) that I have personally known and attested to among the four assemblies (四部之眾 [si bu zhi zhong]), in heaven (天上 [tian shang]), and among humans (人中 [ren zhong]). What are these four? First, all phenomena (一切諸行 [yi qie zhu xing]) are impermanent (無常 [wu chang]). I now know this and attest to it among the four assemblies (四部之眾 [si bu zhi zhong]), in heaven (天上 [tian shang]), and among humans (人中 [ren zhong]); second, all phenomena (一切諸行 [yi qie zhu xing]) are suffering (苦 [ku]); third, all phenomena (一切諸行 [yi qie zhu xing]) are selfless (無我 [wu wo]); fourth, Nirvāṇa (涅槃 [nie pan]) is cessation (休息 [xiu xi]). I now know this and attest to it among the four assemblies (四部之眾 [si bu zhi zhong]), in heaven (天上 [tian shang]), and among humans (人中 [ren zhong]). These, bhikṣus, are the fundamentals of the four dharmas (四法之本 [si fa zhi ben]). Therefore, among devas (天上 [tian shang]) and humans (人中 [ren zhong]), I alone am supremely revered."

[0639a02] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “wǒ jīn fēi dú zài bǐ qiū,, bǐ qiū ní,, qīng xìn shì,, qīng xìn nǚ zhōng wèi zūn, nǎi zhì shì jiān rén mín zhōng dú zūn, jīn yǒu sì fǎ běn mò, wǒ gōng zì zhī zhī, ér zuò zhèng yú sì bù zhī zhòng,, tiān shàng,, rén zhōng. yún hé wèi sì? yī zhě yī qiè zhū xíng jiē xī wú cháng, wǒ jīn zhī zhī, yú sì bù zhī zhòng,, tiān shàng,, rén zhōng ér zuò zhèng； èr zhě yī qiè zhū xíng kǔ； sān zhě yī qiè zhū xíng wú wǒ； sì zhě niè pán xiū xī. wǒ jīn zhī zhī, yú sì bù zhī zhòng, yú tiān shàng,, rén zhōng ér zuò zhèng. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! sì fǎ zhī běn, shì gù yú tiān shàng,, rén zhōng ér dú dé zūn.”

[0639a02] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "wo jin fei du zai bi qiu,, bi qiu ni,, qing xin shi,, qing xin nu zhong wei zun, nai zhi shi jian ren min zhong du zun, jin you si fa ben mo, wo gong zi zhi zhi, er zuo zheng yu si bu zhi zhong,, tian shang,, ren zhong. yun he wei si? yi zhe yi qie zhu xing jie xi wu chang, wo jin zhi zhi, yu si bu zhi zhong,, tian shang,, ren zhong er zuo zheng; er zhe yi qie zhu xing ku; san zhe yi qie zhu xing wu wo; si zhe nie pan xiu xi. wo jin zhi zhi, yu si bu zhi zhong, yu tian shang,, ren zhong er zuo zheng. shi wei, bi qiu! si fa zhi ben, shi gu yu tian shang,, ren zhong er du de zun."

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

[0639a11] At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha (佛 [fu]) had said, rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.

[0639a11] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0639a11] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.