Sutta 9: The Four Floods and Four Joys

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

[0672b03] 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].

[0672b03] wén rú shì:

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

[0672b03] 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.]

[0672b04] At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] said to the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], "Long ago in the past, [Shakra, the king of devas] 釋提桓因 [shi ti huan yin] in the [Trayastrimsa Heaven] 三十三天 [san shi san tian], accompanied by numerous heavenly maidens [Yu Nu] 玉女 [yu nu], went to the [Nandana Garden] 難檀槃那園 [nan tan pan na yuan] to play in the pavilions.

[0672b04] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “guò qù jiǔ yuǎn, sān shí sān tiān shì tí huán yīn jí jiāng zhū yù nǚ, yì nán tán pán nà yuán yóu.

[0672b04] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "guo qu jiu yuan, san shi san tian shi ti huan yin ji jiang zhu yu nu, yi nan tan pan na yuan you.

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

[0672b06] "At that time, a certain [Deva] 天人 [tian ren] spoke this verse:

"'Without seeing [Nandana Garden] 難檀園 [nan tan yuan],
One does not know of joy.
The dwelling place of [Devas] 諸天 [zhu tian],
There is none greater than this.'

[0672b06] “shì shí, yǒu yī tiān rén biàn shuō cǐ jì:

“ ‘bù jiàn nán tán yuán,　　zé bù zhī yǒu lè,
　　zhū tiān zhī suǒ jū,　　wú yǒu guò shì zhě.’

[0672b06] "shi shi, you yi tian ren bian shuo ci ji:

" 'bu jian nan tan yuan, ze bu zhi you le,
zhu tian zhi suo ju, wu you guo shi zhe.'

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

[0672b09] "At that time, a [Deva] 天 [tian] said to that [Deva] 天 [tian], 'You are ignorant and cannot distinguish what is right. You speak of sorrowful things as joy; things that are not firm, you say are firm; things that are impermanent, you say are permanent; things that are not essential, you say are essential. The reason is that have you not heard the [Tathagata] 如來 [ru lai]'s verse?

"'All formations are impermanent,
Those who are born will surely die.
Those who are not born will surely not die,
This extinction is the greatest joy.'

[0672b09] “shì shí, yǒu tiān yǔ bǐ tiān yán: ‘rǔ jīn wú zhì bù néng fēn bié zhèng lǐ, yōu kǔ zhī wù, fǎn yán shì lè； wú láo zhī wù, ér yán shì láo； wú cháng zhī wù, fǎn yán shì cháng； bù jiān yào zhī wù, fù yán jiān yào. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, rǔ jìng bù wén rú lái shuō jì hū?

“ ‘yī qiè xíng wú cháng,　　shēng zhě bì yǒu sǐ,
　　bù shēng bì bù sǐ,　　cǐ miè zuì wèi lè.’

[0672b09] "shi shi, you tian yu bi tian yan: 'ru jin wu zhi bu neng fen bie zheng li, you ku zhi wu, fan yan shi le; wu lao zhi wu, er yan shi lao; wu chang zhi wu, fan yan shi chang; bu jian yao zhi wu, fu yan jian yao. suo yi ran zhe, ru jing bu wen ru lai shuo ji hu?

" 'yi qie xing wu chang, sheng zhe bi you si,
bu sheng bi bu si, ci mie zui wei le.'

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

[0672b16] "'This has such meaning, and also this verse. How can you then say that this place is the greatest joy? You should now know that the [Tathagata] 如來 [ru lai] also speaks of the four floods [Si Liu] 四流 [si liu]. If all beings are submerged in these floods, they will never attain the path. What are the four? Namely, the flood of desire [Yu Liu] 欲流 [yu liu], the flood of existence [You Liu] 有流 [you liu], the flood of views [Jian Liu] 見流 [jian liu], and the flood of ignorance [Wu Ming Liu] 無明流 [wu ming liu].

[0672b16] “ ‘bǐ yǒu cǐ yì, yòu yǒu cǐ jì, yún hé fāng yán cǐ chù zuì wèi lè yé? rǔ jīn dāng zhī, rú lái yì shuō yǒu sì liú fǎ. ruò yī qiè zhòng shēng méi zài cǐ liú zhě, zhōng bù dé dào. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi yù liú,, yǒu liú,, jiàn liú,, wú míng liú.

[0672b16] " 'bi you ci yi, you you ci ji, yun he fang yan ci chu zui wei le ye? ru jin dang zhi, ru lai yi shuo you si liu fa. ruo yi qie zhong sheng mei zai ci liu zhe, zhong bu de dao. yun he wei si? suo wei yu liu,, you liu,, jian liu,, wu ming liu.

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

[0672b19] "'What is called the flood of desire [Yu Liu] 欲流 [yu liu]? It refers to the five desires [Wu Yu] 五欲 [wu yu]. What are the five? Namely, if the eye sees forms and gives rise to the thought of visual forms; if the ear hears sounds and gives rise to the thought of auditory consciousness; if the nose smells odors and gives rise to the thought of olfactory consciousness; if the tongue tastes flavors and gives rise to the thought of gustatory consciousness; if the body experiences tactile sensations and gives rise to the thought of tactile consciousness. This is called the flood of desire [Yu Liu] 欲流 [yu liu].

[0672b19] “ ‘yún hé míng wèi yù liú? suǒ wèi wǔ yù shì yě. yún hé wèi wǔ? suǒ wèi ruò yǎn jiàn sè qǐ yǎn sè xiǎng； ruò ěr wén shēng qǐ shí xiǎng； ruò bí xiù xiāng qǐ shí xiǎng； ruò shé zhī wèi qǐ shí xiǎng； ruò shēn zhī xì huá qǐ shí xiǎng, shì wèi míng wèi yù liú.

[0672b19] " 'yun he ming wei yu liu? suo wei wu yu shi ye. yun he wei wu? suo wei ruo yan jian se qi yan se xiang; ruo er wen sheng qi shi xiang; ruo bi xiu xiang qi shi xiang; ruo she zhi wei qi shi xiang; ruo shen zhi xi hua qi shi xiang, shi wei ming wei yu liu.

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

[0672b23] "'What is called the flood of existence [You Liu] 有流 [you liu]? It refers to the three existences [San You] 三有 [san you]. What are the three? Namely, existence in the realm of desire [Yu You] 欲有 [yu you], existence in the realm of form [Se You] 色有 [se you], and existence in the formless realm [Wu Se You] 無色有 [wu se you]. This is called the flood of existence [You Liu] 有流 [you liu].

[0672b23] “ ‘yún hé míng wèi yǒu liú? suǒ wèi yǒu zhě, sān yǒu shì yě. yún hé wèi sān? suǒ wèi yù yǒu,, sè yǒu,, wú sè yǒu, shì wèi míng wèi yǒu liú yě.

[0672b23] " 'yun he ming wei you liu? suo wei you zhe, san you shi ye. yun he wei san? suo wei yu you,, se you,, wu se you, shi wei ming wei you liu ye.

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

[0672b25] "'What is called the flood of views [Jian Liu] 見流 [jian liu]? It refers to the flood of views: whether the world is eternal or impermanent; whether the world has an end or is endless; whether the body and life are one or not; whether the [Tathagata] 如來 [ru lai] dies, does not die, or neither dies nor does not die. This is called the flood of views [Jian Liu] 見流 [jian liu].

[0672b25] “ ‘yún hé míng wèi jiàn liú? suǒ wèi jiàn liú zhě: shì yǒu cháng,, wú cháng； shì yǒu biān jiàn,, wú biān jiàn； bǐ shēn bǐ mìng,, fēi shēn fēi mìng； yǒu rú lái sǐ,, wú rú lái sǐ,, ruò yǒu rú lái sǐ wú rú lái sǐ,, yì fēi yǒu rú lái sǐ yì fēi wú rú lái sǐ； shì wèi míng wèi jiàn liú.

[0672b25] " 'yun he ming wei jian liu? suo wei jian liu zhe: shi you chang,, wu chang; shi you bian jian,, wu bian jian; bi shen bi ming,, fei shen fei ming; you ru lai si,, wu ru lai si,, ruo you ru lai si wu ru lai si,, yi fei you ru lai si yi fei wu ru lai si; shi wei ming wei jian liu.

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

[0672b29] "'What is called the flood of ignorance [Wu Ming Liu] 無明流 [wu ming liu]? It refers to ignorance: lack of knowledge, lack of faith, lack of insight, a mind constantly greedy with hope, as well as the five hindrances: the hindrance of sensual desire [Tan Yu Gai] 貪欲蓋 [tan yu gai], the hindrance of ill will [Chen Hui Gai] 瞋恚蓋 [chen hui gai], the hindrance of sloth and torpor [Shui Mian Gai] 睡眠蓋 [shui mian gai], the hindrance of restlessness and remorse [Diao Xi Gai] 調戲蓋 [diao xi gai], and the hindrance of doubt [Yi Gai] 疑蓋 [yi gai]. Furthermore, if one does not know suffering, does not know the origin of suffering, does not know the cessation of suffering, and does not know the path, this is called the flood of ignorance [Wu Ming Liu] 無明流 [wu ming liu]. Son of [Devas] 天子 [tian zi], you should know that the [Tathagata] 如來 [ru lai] speaks of these four floods. If anyone is submerged in them, they cannot attain the path.'

[0672b29] “ ‘bǐ yún hé wú míng liú? suǒ wèi wú míng zhě, wú zhī,, wú xìn,, wú jiàn, xīn yì tān yù héng yǒu xī wàng, jí qí wǔ gài: tān yù gài,, chēn huì gài,, shuì mián gài,, diào xì gài,, yí gài. ruò fù bù zhī kǔ,, bù zhī xí,, bù zhī jǐn,, bù zhī dào, shì wèi míng wèi wú míng liú. tiān zi dāng zhī, rú lái shuō cǐ sì liú. ruò yǒu rén méi zài cǐ zhě, yì bù néng dé dào.’

[0672b29] " 'bi yun he wu ming liu? suo wei wu ming zhe, wu zhi,, wu xin,, wu jian, xin yi tan yu heng you xi wang, ji qi wu gai: tan yu gai,, chen hui gai,, shui mian gai,, diao xi gai,, yi gai. ruo fu bu zhi ku,, bu zhi xi,, bu zhi jin,, bu zhi dao, shi wei ming wei wu ming liu. tian zi dang zhi, ru lai shuo ci si liu. ruo you ren mei zai ci zhe, yi bu neng de dao.'

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

[0672c06] "At that time, that [Deva] 天 [tian], having heard these words, like a strong man bending and extending his arm, vanished from the [Trayastrimsa Heaven] 三十三天 [san shi san tian] and came to my place, prostrated at my feet, and stood to one side. At that time, that [Deva] 天 [tian] said to me: 'Excellent! [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun]! You have spoken these words well! The [Tathagata] 如來 [ru lai] has spoken of the four floods. If ordinary people do not hear of these four floods, they will not attain the four joys. What are the four? Namely, the joy of rest [Xiu Xi Le] 休息樂 [xiu xi le], the joy of true awakening [Zheng Jue Le] 正覺樂 [zheng jue le], the joy of a [Shramana] 沙門 [sha men] [Sha Men Le] 沙門樂 [sha men le], and the joy of [Nirvana] 涅槃 [nie pan] [Nie Pan Le] 涅槃樂 [nie pan le]. If ordinary people do not know these four floods, they will not attain these four joys.' Having said this, I again replied: 'It is so, Son of [Devas] 天子 [tian zi]! As you say, if one does not realize these four floods, one will not realize these four joys.'

[0672c06] “shì shí, bǐ tiān wén cǐ yǔ yǐ, yóu rú lì shì qū shēn bì qǐng, cóng sān shí sān tiān méi, lái zhì wǒ suǒ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn lì. ěr shí, bǐ tiān ér bái wǒ yán: ‘shàn zāi! shì zūn! kuài shuō cǐ yǔ! rú lái nǎi shuō sì liú. ruò fán fū zhī rén bù wén cǐ sì liú zhě, zé bù huò sì lè. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi xiū xī lè,, zhèng jué lè,, shā mén lè,, niè pán lè. ruò fán fū zhī rén bù zhī cǐ sì liú zhě, bù huò cǐ sì lè.’ zuò shì yǔ yǐ, wǒ fù gào yuē: ‘rú shì, tiān zi! rú rǔ suǒ yán, ruò bù jué cǐ sì liú, zé bù jué cǐ sì lè.’

[0672c06] "shi shi, bi tian wen ci yu yi, you ru li shi qu shen bi qing, cong san shi san tian mei, lai zhi wo suo, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian li. er shi, bi tian er bai wo yan: 'shan zai! shi zun! kuai shuo ci yu! ru lai nai shuo si liu. ruo fan fu zhi ren bu wen ci si liu zhe, ze bu huo si le. yun he wei si? suo wei xiu xi le,, zheng jue le,, sha men le,, nie pan le. ruo fan fu zhi ren bu zhi ci si liu zhe, bu huo ci si le.' zuo shi yu yi, wo fu gao yue: 'ru shi, tian zi! ru ru suo yan, ruo bu jue ci si liu, ze bu jue ci si le.'

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

[0672c14] "At that time, I gradually conversed with that [Deva] 天 [tian] about various topics: the discourse on generosity [Shi Lun] 施論 [shi lun], the discourse on precepts [Jie Lun] 戒論 [jie lun], the discourse on rebirth in heaven [Sheng Tian Zhi Lun] 生天之論 [sheng tian zhi lun], the contemplation of impurity of desire, the great danger of defilements, and the joy of liberation. At that time, the [Deva] 天 [tian] had a joyful mind; at that time, I extensively expounded the [Dharma] 法 [fa] of the four floods and spoke of the four joys. At that time, that [Deva] 天 [tian], having concentrated his mind and contemplated this [Dharma] 法 [fa], all his defilements were exhausted, and he attained the pure [Dharma Eye] 法眼淨 [fa yan jing]. I now also speak of these four [Dharmas] 法 [fa] and four joys, and thus attain the [Dharma] 法 [fa] of the four noble truths. Thus, [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]! You should train yourselves in this way."

[0672c14] “wǒ shí yǔ bǐ tiān rén jiàn jiàn gòng lùn, suǒ wèi lùn zhě: shī lùn,, jiè lùn,, shēng tiān zhī lùn, yù bù jìng xiǎng, lòu wèi dà huàn, chū yào wèi lè. ěr shí, tiān rén yǐ fā huān xǐ zhī xīn； shì shí, wǒ biàn guǎng yǎn shuō sì liú zhī fǎ, jí shuō sì lè. ěr shí, bǐ tiān zhuān xīn yī yì, sī wéi cǐ fǎ yǐ, zhū chén gòu jǐn, dé fǎ yǎn jìng. wǒ jīn yì shuō cǐ sì fǎ,, sì lè, biàn dé sì dì zhī fǎ. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0672c14] "wo shi yu bi tian ren jian jian gong lun, suo wei lun zhe: shi lun,, jie lun,, sheng tian zhi lun, yu bu jing xiang, lou wei da huan, chu yao wei le. er shi, tian ren yi fa huan xi zhi xin; shi shi, wo bian guang yan shuo si liu zhi fa, ji shuo si le. er shi, bi tian zhuan xin yi yi, si wei ci fa yi, zhu chen gou jin, de fa yan jing. wo jin yi shuo ci si fa,, si le, bian de si di zhi fa. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

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

[0672c21] At that time, the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and practiced it.

[0672c21] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0672c21] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.