Sutta 7: The Four Kinds of Destinations

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

[0670a21] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was staying in [Sravasti] 舍衛國 [she wei guo], at [Jetavana-Anathapindada-aram] 祇樹給孤獨園 [qi shu gei gu du yuan]. At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] was with a great assembly of five hundred [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu].

[0670a21] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán. ěr shí shì zūn yǔ dà bǐ qiū zhòng wǔ bǎi rén jù.

[0670a21] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan. er shi shi zun yu da bi qiu zhong wu bai ren ju.

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

[0670a22] At that time, an [Upasaka] 優婆塞 [you po sai] in [Sravasti] 舍衛城 [she wei cheng] died and was reborn in a wealthy householder's family in [Sravasti] 舍衛城 [she wei cheng], as the son of the eldest wife. At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun], with his pure and faultless [Divine Eye] 天眼 [tian yan], saw this [Upasaka] 優婆塞 [you po sai] reborn in the wealthiest householder's family in [Sravasti] 舍衛城 [she wei cheng]. On that very same day, a [Brahmin] 梵志 [fan zhi] died and was reborn in hell. At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] also observed with his [Divine Eye] 天眼 [tian yan]. On that very same day, [Anathapindika] 阿那邠邸長者 [a na bin di zhang zhe] died and was reborn in a good destiny in heaven. At this time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] also observed with his [Divine Eye] 天眼 [tian yan]. On that very same day, a [Bhikshu] 比丘 [bi qiu] attained [Nirvana] 滅度 [mie du]. The [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] also observed this with his [Divine Eye] 天眼 [tian yan].

[0670a22] ěr shí, shě wèi chéng zhōng yǒu yī yōu pó sāi, ér mìng zhōng hái shēng shě wèi chéng zhōng dà zhǎng zhě jiā, zuì dà fū rén rèn shēn. ěr shí, shì zūn yǐ tiān yǎn guān, qīng jìng wú xiá huì, jiàn cǐ yōu pó sāi shēng shě wèi chéng zhōng zuì fù zhǎng zhě jiā. jí yú qí rì, fù yǒu fàn zhì shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng de yù zhōng, ěr shí shì zūn yì yǐ tiān yǎn guān. fù jí yǐ qí rì, ā nà bīn dǐ zhǎng zhě mìng zhōng, shēng shàn chù tiān shàng, shì shí shì zūn yì yǐ tiān yǎn guān. jí qí rì, yǒu yī bǐ qiū ér qǔ miè dù, shì zūn yì yǐ tiān yǎn guān jiàn.

[0670a22] er shi, she wei cheng zhong you yi you po sai, er ming zhong hai sheng she wei cheng zhong da zhang zhe jia, zui da fu ren ren shen. er shi, shi zun yi tian yan guan, qing jing wu xia hui, jian ci you po sai sheng she wei cheng zhong zui fu zhang zhe jia. ji yu qi ri, fu you fan zhi shen huai ming zhong, sheng de yu zhong, er shi shi zun yi yi tian yan guan. fu ji yi qi ri, a na bin di zhang zhe ming zhong, sheng shan chu tian shang, shi shi shi zun yi yi tian yan guan. ji qi ri, you yi bi qiu er qu mie du, shi zun yi yi tian yan guan jian.

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

[0670b01] At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun], having seen these four events, spoke this verse:

"If a person receives a body in the womb,
Evil actions lead to hell.
The good are born in heaven,
The undefiled enter [Nirvana] 涅槃 [nie pan].
The wise are now conceived,
The [Brahmin] 梵志 [fan zhi] enters hell,
[Sudatta] 須達 [xu da] is born in heaven,
The [Bhikshu] 比丘 [bi qiu] attains [Nirvana] 滅度 [mie du]."

[0670b01] ěr shí, shì zūn jiàn cǐ sì shì yǐ, biàn shuō sī jì:

“ruò rén shòu bāo tāi,　　è xíng rù de yù,
　shàn zhě shēng tiān shàng,　　wú lòu rù niè pán.
　xián zhě jīn shòu tāi,　　fàn zhì rù de yù,
　xū dá shēng tiān shàng,　　bǐ qiū qǔ miè dù.”

[0670b01] er shi, shi zun jian ci si shi yi, bian shuo si ji:

"ruo ren shou bao tai, e xing ru de yu,
shan zhe sheng tian shang, wu lou ru nie pan.
xian zhe jin shou tai, fan zhi ru de yu,
xu da sheng tian shang, bi qiu qu mie du."

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

[0670b07] At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] rose from his quiet room and went to the public lecture hall to sit down. At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] said to the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], "Today there are four things. If a person can practice them, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, they will be reborn among humans. What are the four? Namely, when one's bodily, verbal, mental, and livelihood conduct are pure and faultless. When one dies, one will be reborn among humans.

[0670b07] shì shí, shì zūn cóng jìng shì qǐ, yì pǔ jí jiǎng táng ér jiù zuò. ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “jīn yǒu sì shì. ruò rén néng xiū xíng zhě, shēn huài mìng zhōng, dé shēng rén zhōng. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi shēn,, kǒu,, yì,, mìng qīng jìng wú xiá huì zhě. ruò mìng zhōng shí dé shēng rén zhōng.

[0670b07] shi shi, shi zun cong jing shi qi, yi pu ji jiang tang er jiu zuo. er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "jin you si shi. ruo ren neng xiu xing zhe, shen huai ming zhong, de sheng ren zhong. yun he wei si? suo wei shen,, kou,, yi,, ming qing jing wu xia hui zhe. ruo ming zhong shi de sheng ren zhong.

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

[0670b11] "Furthermore, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! There are four other [Dharmas] 法 [fa]. If a person practices them, they will enter hell. What are the four? Namely, when one's bodily, verbal, mental, and livelihood conduct are impure. These, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! are the four [Dharmas] 法 [fa]. If a person approaches them, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, they will be reborn in hell.

[0670b11] “ruò fù, bǐ qiū! gèng yǒu sì fǎ, yǒu rén xí xíng zhě, rù de yù zhōng. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi shēn,, kǒu,, yì,, mìng bù qīng jìng. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! yǒu cǐ sì fǎ. ruò yǒu rén qīn jìn zhě, shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng de yù zhōng.

[0670b11] "ruo fu, bi qiu! geng you si fa, you ren xi xing zhe, ru de yu zhong. yun he wei si? suo wei shen,, kou,, yi,, ming bu qing jing. shi wei, bi qiu! you ci si fa. ruo you ren qin jin zhe, shen huai ming zhong, sheng de yu zhong.

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

[0670b14] "Furthermore, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! There are four other [Dharmas] 法 [fa]. If one practices them, one will be reborn in a good destiny in heaven. What are the four? Generosity [Hui Shi] 惠施 [hui shi], loving-kindness [Ren Ai] 仁愛 [ren ai], benefiting others [Li Ren] 利人 [li ren], and impartiality [Deng Li] 等利 [deng li]. These, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! are the four [Dharmas] 法 [fa]. If a person practices them, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, they will be reborn in a good destiny in heaven.

[0670b14] “fù cì, bǐ qiū! fù yǒu sì fǎ, xí xiū xíng zhě, shēng shàn chù tiān shàng. yún hé wèi sì? huì shī,, rén ài,, lì rén,, děng lì. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! yǒu rén xíng cǐ fǎ zhě, shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng shàn chù tiān shàng.

[0670b14] "fu ci, bi qiu! fu you si fa, xi xiu xing zhe, sheng shan chu tian shang. yun he wei si? hui shi,, ren ai,, li ren,, deng li. shi wei, bi qiu! you ren xing ci fa zhe, shen huai ming zhong, sheng shan chu tian shang.

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

[0670b17] "Furthermore, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! There are four other [Dharmas] 法 [fa]. If a person practices them, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, they will exhaust defilements and attain the undefiled liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom: birth and death are exhausted, the holy life is established, what needed to be done has been done, and they will not receive another rebirth, truly knowing this. What are the four? The [Dhyana] 禪 [chan] with [awareness] 有覺 [you jue] and [investigation] 有觀 [you guan], the [Dhyana] 禪 [chan] without [awareness] 無覺 [wu jue] and [investigation] 無觀 [wu guan], the [Dhyana] 禪 [chan] of [mindfulness] 護念 [hu nian], and the [Dhyana] 禪 [chan] of the cessation of suffering and pleasure. These, [Bhikshus] 比丘 [bi qiu]! are the four [Dharma] 法 [fa]. If a person practices them, they will exhaust defilements and attain the undefiled liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom: birth and death are exhausted, the holy life is established, what needed to be done has been done, and they will not receive another rebirth, truly knowing this.

[0670b17] “fù cì, bǐ qiū! gèng yǒu sì fǎ, ruò yǒu rén xiū xíng zhě, shēn huài mìng zhōng, jǐn yǒu lòu, chéng wú lòu xīn jiě tuō,, zhì huì jiě tuō: shēng sǐ yǐ jǐn, fàn xíng yǐ lì, suǒ zuò yǐ bàn, gèng bù fù shòu tāi, rú shí zhī zhī. yún hé wèi sì? yǒu jué yǒu guān chán,, wú jué wú guān chán,, hù niàn chán,, kǔ lè miè chán, shì wèi bǐ qiū yǒu sì shì fǎ. ruò yǒu rén xí xíng zhě, jǐn yǒu lòu, chéng wú lòu xīn jiě tuō,, zhì huì jiě tuō: shēng sǐ yǐ jǐn, fàn xíng yǐ lì, suǒ zuò yǐ bàn, gèng bù fù shòu tāi, rú shí zhī zhī.

[0670b17] "fu ci, bi qiu! geng you si fa, ruo you ren xiu xing zhe, shen huai ming zhong, jin you lou, cheng wu lou xin jie tuo,, zhi hui jie tuo: sheng si yi jin, fan xing yi li, suo zuo yi ban, geng bu fu shou tai, ru shi zhi zhi. yun he wei si? you jue you guan chan,, wu jue wu guan chan,, hu nian chan,, ku le mie chan, shi wei bi qiu you si shi fa. ruo you ren xi xing zhe, jin you lou, cheng wu lou xin jie tuo,, zhi hui jie tuo: sheng si yi jin, fan xing yi li, suo zuo yi ban, geng bu fu shou tai, ru shi zhi zhi.

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

[0670b24] "Therefore, [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]! If any noble sons [Zu Xing Zi] 族姓子 [zu xing zi] or members of the four assemblies [Si Bu Zhi Zhong] 四部之眾 [si bu zhi zhong] wish to be reborn among humans, they should seek skillful means to practice pure bodily, verbal, mental, and livelihood conduct; if they wish to be reborn in heaven, they should also seek skillful means to practice the four kindnesses; if they wish to exhaust defilements and attain the undefiled liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, they should also seek skillful means to practice the four [Dhyanas] 禪 [chan]. Thus, [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]! You should train yourselves in this way."

[0670b24] “shì gù, zhū bǐ qiū! ruò yǒu zú xìng zi,, sì bù zhī zhòng, yù shēng rén zhōng zhě, dāng qiú fāng biàn, xíng shēn,, kǒu,, yì,, mìng qīng jìng； ruò dé shēng tiān shàng zhě, yì dāng qiú fāng biàn, xíng sì ēn； ruò dé jǐn yǒu lòu, chéng wú lòu xīn jiě tuō,, zhì huì jiě tuō, yì dāng qiú fāng biàn, xíng sì chán. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0670b24] "shi gu, zhu bi qiu! ruo you zu xing zi,, si bu zhi zhong, yu sheng ren zhong zhe, dang qiu fang bian, xing shen,, kou,, yi,, ming qing jing; ruo de sheng tian shang zhe, yi dang qiu fang bian, xing si en; ruo de jin you lou, cheng wu lou xin jie tuo,, zhi hui jie tuo, yi dang qiu fang bian, xing si chan. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

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

[0670b29] At that time, the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and practiced it.

[0670b29] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0670b29] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.