Sutta 3: The Four Kinds of Seating

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

[0650a20] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was near the shrine of Arāvala (阿羅毘祠 [a luo pi ci]). At that time, it was extremely cold, and the trees were withered.

[0650a20] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài ā luó pí cí cè. ěr shí, jí wèi shèng hán, shù mù diāo luò.

[0650a20] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai a luo pi ci ce. er shi, ji wei sheng han, shu mu diao luo.

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

[0650a21] At that time, Āḷavaka (手阿羅婆 [shou a luo po]) the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son left that city and was walking outside. He gradually came to the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]). Upon arrival, he bowed his head to his feet and sat to one side. At that time, the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son said to the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]), "I wonder if you slept well last night?"

[0650a21] ěr shí, shǒu ā luó pó zhǎng zhě zi chū bǐ chéng zhōng, zài wài jīng xíng, jiàn lái zhì shì zūn suǒ. dào yǐ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn zuò. ěr shí, bǐ zhǎng zhě zi bái shì zūn yán: “bù shěn sù xī zhī zhōng dé shàn mián hū?”

[0650a21] er shi, shou a luo po zhang zhe zi chu bi cheng zhong, zai wai jing xing, jian lai zhi shi zun suo. dao yi, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian zuo. er shi, bi zhang zhe zi bai shi zun yan: "bu shen su xi zhi zhong de shan mian hu?"

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

[0650a24] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "Indeed, young man! I slept very well."

[0650a24] shì zūn gào yuē: “rú shì, tóng zi! kuài shàn mián yě.”

[0650a24] shi zun gao yue: "ru shi, tong zi! kuai shan mian ye."

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

[0650a25] Then the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son said to the Buddha (佛 [fu]), "It is a severely cold day now, and all things are withered. Yet, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) sits on a grass mat, and your robes are extremely thin. How can the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) say, 'I slept very well'?"

[0650a25] shí, zhǎng zhě zi bái fú: “jīn shèng hán rì, wàn wù diāo luò, rán fù shì zūn zuò yòng cǎo rù, suǒ zhe yī shang, jí wèi dān báo, yún hé shì zūn zuò shì shuō: ‘wǒ kuài dé shàn mián.’ ?”

[0650a25] shi, zhang zhe zi bai fu: "jin sheng han ri, wan wu diao luo, ran fu shi zun zuo yong cao ru, suo zhe yi shang, ji wei dan bao, yun he shi zun zuo shi shuo: 'wo kuai de shan mian.' ?"

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

[0650a28] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "Young man! Listen carefully! I will now ask you, and you respond as you deem fit. Suppose a householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) house is firmly built, without wind or dust, and within that house, there are beds, blankets, and rugs, all fully equipped. There are four beautiful women with beautiful faces like peach blossoms, rare in the world, whose sight is never tiresome. Furthermore, there are bright lamps lit. Did that householder (長者 [zhang zhe]) sleep well?"

[0650a28] shì zūn gào yuē: “tóng zi! dì tīng! wǒ jīn hái wèn rǔ, suí suǒ bào zhī. yóu rú zhǎng zhě jiā láo zhì wū shě, wú yǒu fēng chén, rán bǐ wū zhōng yǒu chuáng rù,, qú lǘ,, tà [tǎn-yán+dēng], shì shì jù jù, yǒu sì yù nǚ yán mào duān zhèng, miàn rú táo huá, shì zhī xī yǒu, shì wú yàn zú, rán hǎo míng dēng, rán bǐ zhǎng zhě kuài dé shàn mián hū?”

[0650a28] shi zun gao yue: "tong zi! di ting! wo jin hai wen ru, sui suo bao zhi. you ru zhang zhe jia lao zhi wu she, wu you feng chen, ran bi wu zhong you chuang ru,, qu lu,, ta [tan-yan+deng], shi shi ju ju, you si yu nu yan mao duan zheng, mian ru tao hua, shi zhi xi you, shi wu yan zu, ran hao ming deng, ran bi zhang zhe kuai de shan mian hu?"

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

[0650b04] The householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son replied, "Indeed, World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun])! With good bedding, he would have slept very well."

[0650b04] zhǎng zhě zi bào yuē: “rú shì. shì zūn! yǒu hǎo chuáng wò, kuài dé shàn mián.”

[0650b04] zhang zhe zi bao yue: "ru shi. shi zun! you hao chuang wo, kuai de shan mian."

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

[0650b05] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "What do you think, householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son! If that person slept very well, would thoughts of desire arise at that time, and because of those thoughts of desire, would he be unable to sleep?"

[0650b05] shì zūn gào yuē: “yún hé, zhǎng zhě zi! ruò bǐ rén kuài dé shàn mián, shí yǒu yù yì qǐ, yuán cǐ yù yì bù dé mián hū?”

[0650b05] shi zun gao yue: "yun he, zhang zhe zi! ruo bi ren kuai de shan mian, shi you yu yi qi, yuan ci yu yi bu de mian hu?"

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

[0650b06] The householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son replied, "Indeed, World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun])! If thoughts of desire arise in that person, he would not be able to sleep."

[0650b06] zhǎng zhě zi duì yuē: “rú shì. shì zūn! ruò bǐ rén yù yì qǐ zhě, biàn bù dé mián yě.”

[0650b06] zhang zhe zi dui yue: "ru shi. shi zun! ruo bi ren yu yi qi zhe, bian bu de mian ye."

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

[0650b08] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "Just as strong desires exist for such a person, now the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) has completely extinguished them, leaving no root, and they will never arise again. What do you think, householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son! If thoughts of anger (瞋恚 [chen hui]) or ignorance (愚癡 [yu chi]) arise, would one be able to sleep well?"

[0650b08] shì zūn gào yuē: “rú bǐ yù yì shèng zhě, jīn rú lái yǒng jǐn wú yú, wú fù gēn běn, gèng bù fù xìng. yún hé, zhǎng zhě zi! shè yǒu chēn huì,, yú chī xīn qǐ zhě, qǐ dé shàn mián hū?”

[0650b08] shi zun gao yue: "ru bi yu yi sheng zhe, jin ru lai yong jin wu yu, wu fu gen ben, geng bu fu xing. yun he, zhang zhe zi! she you chen hui,, yu chi xin qi zhe, qi de shan mian hu?"

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

[0650b10] The young man replied, "No, one would not be able to sleep well. The reason is due to the presence of the three poisons (三毒 [san du]) in the mind."

[0650b10] tóng zi bào yán: “bù dé shàn mián yě. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, yóu yǒu sān dú xīn gù.”

[0650b10] tong zi bao yan: "bu de shan mian ye. suo yi ran zhe, you you san du xin gu."

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

[0650b12] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "The Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) today no longer has such a mind; it is forever extinguished, leaving no trace, and without any root. Young man, you should know that I will now explain four kinds of seating. What are these four? There is the base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]), the heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]), the Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]), and the Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]). Young man, you should know that the base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]) is the seating of a cakravartin (轉輪聖王 [zhuan lun sheng wang]). The heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]) is the seating of Śakra, the lord of devas (釋提桓因 [shi ti huan yin]). The Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]) is the seating of Brahmā, the heavenly king (梵天王 [fan tian wang]). The Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]) is the seating of the Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]). The base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]) is the seating of one approaching Sotāpanna (須陀洹 [xu tuo huan]). The heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]) is the seating of one who has attained Sotāpanna (須陀洹 [xu tuo huan]). The Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]) is the seating of one approaching Sakadagami (斯陀含 [si tuo han]). The Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]) is the seating of the four foundations of mindfulness (四意止 [si yi zhi]). The base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]) is the seating of one who has attained Sakadagami (斯陀含 [si tuo han]). The heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]) is the seating of one approaching Anāgāmi (阿那含 [a na han]). The Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]) is the seating of one who has attained the Anāgāmi fruit (阿那含果 [a na han guo]). The Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]) is the seating of the four immeasurables (四等 [si deng]). The base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]) is the seating of the desire realm (欲界 [yu jie]). The heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]) is the seating of the form realm (色界 [se jie]). The Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]) is the seating of the formless realm (無色界 [wu se jie]). The Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]) is the seating of the four bases of spiritual power (四神足 [si shen zu]).

[0650b12] shì zūn gào yuē: “rú lái jīn rì wú fù cǐ xīn, yǒng jǐn wú yú, yì wú gēn běn. tóng zi dāng zhī, wǒ jīn dāng shuō sì zhǒng zhī zuò. yún hé wèi sì? yǒu bēi zuò,, yǒu tiān zuò,, yǒu fàn zuò,, yǒu fú zuò. tóng zi dāng zhī, bēi zuò zhě, shì zhuǎn lún shèng wáng zuò yě. tiān zuò zhě, shì tí huán yīn zuò yě. fàn zuò zhě, fàn tiān wáng zhī zuò yě. fú zuò zhě, shì sì dì zhī zuò yě. bēi zuò zhě, xiàng xū tuó huán zuò yě. tiān zuò zhě, dé xū tuó huán zuò yě. fàn zuò zhě, xiàng sī tuó hán zuò yě. fú zuò zhě, sì yì zhǐ zhī zuò yě. bēi zuò zhě, dé sī tuó hán zhī zuò yě. tiān zuò zhě, xiàng ā nà hán zhī zuò yě. fàn zuò zhě, dé ā nà hán guǒ zuò yě. fú zuò zhě, sì děng zhī zuò yě. bēi zuò zhě, yù jiè zhī zuò yě. tiān zuò zhě, sè jiè zhī zuò yě. fàn zuò zhě, wú sè jiè zhī zuò yě. fú zuò zhě, sì shén zú zhī zuò yě.

[0650b12] shi zun gao yue: "ru lai jin ri wu fu ci xin, yong jin wu yu, yi wu gen ben. tong zi dang zhi, wo jin dang shuo si zhong zhi zuo. yun he wei si? you bei zuo,, you tian zuo,, you fan zuo,, you fu zuo. tong zi dang zhi, bei zuo zhe, shi zhuan lun sheng wang zuo ye. tian zuo zhe, shi ti huan yin zuo ye. fan zuo zhe, fan tian wang zhi zuo ye. fu zuo zhe, shi si di zhi zuo ye. bei zuo zhe, xiang xu tuo huan zuo ye. tian zuo zhe, de xu tuo huan zuo ye. fan zuo zhe, xiang si tuo han zuo ye. fu zuo zhe, si yi zhi zhi zuo ye. bei zuo zhe, de si tuo han zhi zuo ye. tian zuo zhe, xiang a na han zhi zuo ye. fan zuo zhe, de a na han guo zuo ye. fu zuo zhe, si deng zhi zuo ye. bei zuo zhe, yu jie zhi zuo ye. tian zuo zhe, se jie zhi zuo ye. fan zuo zhe, wu se jie zhi zuo ye. fu zuo zhe, si shen zu zhi zuo ye.

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

[0650b24] "Therefore, young man! The Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]), by sitting in the four bases of spiritual power (四神足 [si shen zu]) seating, sleeps well, and in it, lust (婬 [yin]), hatred (怒 [nu]), and delusion (癡 [chi]) do not arise. Since these three poisons (三毒 [san du]) do not arise, he enters parinirvāṇa (般涅槃 [ban nie pan]) in the realm of nirvāṇa without remainder (無餘涅槃界 [wu yu nie pan jie]). Birth and death (生死 [sheng si]) are extinguished, the brahmacarya (梵行 [fan xing]) has been established, what needed to be done has been done, and there will be no further rebirth. This is known as it truly is. Therefore, householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son, having observed this meaning, I say that the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) sleeps well."

[0650b24] “shì gù, tóng zi! rú lái yǐ zuò sì shén zú zuò, kuài dé shàn mián, yú zhōng bù qǐ yín,, nù,, chī, yǐ bù qǐ cǐ sān dú zhī xīn, biàn yú wú yú niè pán jiè ér bān niè pán: shēng sǐ yǐ jǐn, fàn xíng yǐ lì, suǒ zuò yǐ bàn, gèng bù fù shòu yǒu, rú shí zhī zhī. shì gù, zhǎng zhě zi, wǒ guān cǐ yì yǐ, shì gù shuō rú lái kuài dé shàn mián.”

[0650b24] "shi gu, tong zi! ru lai yi zuo si shen zu zuo, kuai de shan mian, yu zhong bu qi yin,, nu,, chi, yi bu qi ci san du zhi xin, bian yu wu yu nie pan jie er ban nie pan: sheng si yi jin, fan xing yi li, suo zuo yi ban, geng bu fu shou you, ru shi zhi zhi. shi gu, zhang zhe zi, wo guan ci yi yi, shi gu shuo ru lai kuai de shan mian."

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

[0650c01] At that time, the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son recited this verse:

"It has been a very long time since we met.
The brahmin (梵志 [fan zhi]) has entered parinirvāṇa (般涅槃 [ban nie pan]).
Having attained the Tathāgata's (如來 [ru lai]) power,
The enlightened one (明眼 [ming yan]) attained extinction (滅度 [mie du]).
The base seating (卑坐 [bei zuo]) and the heavenly seating (天坐 [tian zuo]),
The Brahma seating (梵坐 [fan zuo]) and the Buddha seating (佛坐 [fu zuo]),
The Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) has distinguished them all,
Therefore, he obtains good sleep.
I take refuge in the foremost among men (人中尊 [ren zhong zun]),
And also take refuge in the supreme among men (人中上 [ren zhong shang]).
I do not yet know,
Upon which dhyāna (禪 [chan]) he relies."

[0650c01] ěr shí, zhǎng zhě zi biàn shuō cǐ jì:

“xiāng jiàn rì jí jiǔ,　　fàn zhì bān niè pán,
　yǐ dǎi rú lái lì,　　míng yǎn qǔ miè dù.
　bēi zuò jí tiān zuò,　　fàn zuò jí fú zuò,
　rú lái xī fēn bié,　　shì gù dé shàn mián.
　zì guī rén zhōng zūn,　　yì guī rén zhōng shàng,
　wǒ jīn wèi néng zhī,　　wèi yī hé děng chán.”

[0650c01] er shi, zhang zhe zi bian shuo ci ji:

"xiang jian ri ji jiu, fan zhi ban nie pan,
yi dai ru lai li, ming yan qu mie du.
bei zuo ji tian zuo, fan zuo ji fu zuo,
ru lai xi fen bie, shi gu de shan mian.
zi gui ren zhong zun, yi gui ren zhong shang,
wo jin wei neng zhi, wei yi he deng chan."

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

[0650c08] After the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son said this, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) approved. At that time, the householder's (長者 [zhang zhe]) son thought, "The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) has approved, I am extremely overjoyed and cannot contain myself." He immediately rose from his seat, bowed his head to his feet, and departed.

[0650c08] zhǎng zhě zi zuò shì yǔ yǐ, shì zūn rán kě zhī. shì shí, zhǎng zhě zi biàn zuò shì niàn: “shì zūn yǐ rán kě, wǒ jí huái huān xǐ, bù néng zì shèng.” jí cóng zuò qǐ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, biàn tuì ér qù.

[0650c08] zhang zhe zi zuo shi yu yi, shi zun ran ke zhi. shi shi, zhang zhe zi bian zuo shi nian: "shi zun yi ran ke, wo ji huai huan xi, bu neng zi sheng." ji cong zuo qi, tou mian li zu, bian tui er qu.

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

[0650c11] At that time, the young man, hearing what the Buddha (佛 [fu]) said, rejoiced and practiced it.

[0650c11] ěr shí, bǐ tóng zi wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0650c11] er shi, bi tong zi wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.