Sutta 10: The Impermanence of All Beings

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

[0672c22] 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].

[0672c22] wén rú shì:

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

[0672c22] 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.]

[0672c23] At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] said to the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], "You should cultivate the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang], and extensively spread the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang]. Having cultivated the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang] and extensively spread the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang], one eradicates desire in the realm of desire [Yu Jie Ai] 欲界愛 [yu jie ai], desire for form [Se Ai] 色愛 [se ai], and desire for the formless [Wu Se Ai] 無色愛 [wu se ai], completely eradicates ignorance [Wu Ming] 無明 [wu ming], and completely eradicates arrogance [Jiao Man] 憍慢 [jiao man], just as a fire burns grass and trees, completely removing them. This is also the case. If one cultivates the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang], all defilements will be completely removed. The reason is that long ago in the past, a [Devaputra] 天子 [tian zi], accompanied by five hundred heavenly maidens [Yu Nu] 玉女 [yu nu], went to play in the pavilions of the [Nandana Garden] 難檀槃那園 [nan tan pan na yuan]; they then moved to the foot of a [Kani] 迦尼 [jia ni] tree and enjoyed the five desires [Wu Yu] 五欲 [wu yu]. At that time, that [Devaputra] 天子 [tian zi] climbed the tree and played, his mind confused, and as he gathered flowers, he fell from the tree and died, being reborn in a wealthy householder's family in this [Sravasti] 舍衛城 [she wei cheng]. At that time, the five hundred heavenly maidens [Yu Nu] 玉女 [yu nu] beat their chests and cried out, unable to restrain themselves.

[0672c23] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “dāng xiū wú cháng xiǎng, dāng guǎng bù wú cháng xiǎng, yǐ xiū wú cháng xiǎng, guǎng bù wú cháng xiǎng, duàn yù jiè ài,, sè ài,, wú sè ài, jǐn duàn wú míng, jǐn duàn jiāo màn, yóu rú liáo shāo cǎo mù, jiē xī chú jǐn. cǐ yì rú shì, ruò xiū wú cháng xiǎng, jǐn chú duàn yī qiè zhū jié. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, wǎng xī jiǔ yuǎn yǒu yī tiān zi, jiāng wǔ bǎi yù nǚ qián hòu dǎo cóng, chū yóu nán tán pán nà yuán zhōng xì lú； zhuǎn yì jiā ní shù xià wǔ yù zì yú lè. shí, bǐ tiān zi dēng shù yóu xì, xīn yì cuò luàn, bìng fù cǎi huá, jí biàn duò shù ér mìng zhōng, shēng cǐ shě wèi chéng zhōng dà zhǎng zhě jiā. shì shí, wǔ bǎi yù nǚ chuí xiōng huàn hū, bù néng zì shèng.

[0672c23] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "dang xiu wu chang xiang, dang guang bu wu chang xiang, yi xiu wu chang xiang, guang bu wu chang xiang, duan yu jie ai,, se ai,, wu se ai, jin duan wu ming, jin duan jiao man, you ru liao shao cao mu, jie xi chu jin. ci yi ru shi, ruo xiu wu chang xiang, jin chu duan yi qie zhu jie. suo yi ran zhe, wang xi jiu yuan you yi tian zi, jiang wu bai yu nu qian hou dao cong, chu you nan tan pan na yuan zhong xi lu; zhuan yi jia ni shu xia wu yu zi yu le. shi, bi tian zi deng shu you xi, xin yi cuo luan, bing fu cai hua, ji bian duo shu er ming zhong, sheng ci she wei cheng zhong da zhang zhe jia. shi shi, wu bai yu nu chui xiong huan hu, bu neng zi sheng.

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

[0673a04] "At that time, I observed with my [Divine Eye] 天眼 [tian yan] that the [Devaputra] 天子 [tian zi] died and was reborn in a wealthy householder's family in [Sravasti] 舍衛城 [she wei cheng]. After eight or nine months, a son was born, extraordinarily beautiful, with a complexion like peach blossoms. As the householder's son gradually grew up, his parents sought a wife for him. Not long after he took a wife, he died again and was reborn in the great sea, taking the form of a [Naga] 龍蛇 [long she]. At that time, the household of that householder, both young and old, mourned and wept, their hearts deeply pained. At that time, that [Naga] 龍 [long] was again eaten by a [Garuda] 金翅鳥 [jin chi niao], died, and was reborn in hell. At that time, the [Naga] 龍 [long] maidens' longing was so intense, it was truly inexpressible."

[0673a04] “wǒ ěr shí, yǐ tiān yǎn guān jiàn tiān zi, ér mìng zhōng shēng shě wèi chéng zhōng dà zhǎng zhě jiā, jīng bā,, jiǔ yuè biàn shēng nán ér, duān zhèng wú shuāng, rú táo huá sè. shì shí, zhǎng zhě zi jiàn jiàn zhǎng dà, fù mǔ biàn qiú fù chù. qǔ fù wèi jiǔ biàn fù mìng zhōng, shēng dà hǎi zhōng, zuò lóng shé xíng. shì shí, bǐ zhǎng zhě jū mén dà xiǎo, zhuī mù hào kū, tòng dú shāng xīn. shì shí, bǐ lóng fù wèi jīn chì niǎo suǒ shí, shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng de yù zhōng. shì shí, zhū lóng nǚ zhuī mù qíng qiè, shí bù kě yán.”

[0673a04] "wo er shi, yi tian yan guan jian tian zi, er ming zhong sheng she wei cheng zhong da zhang zhe jia, jing ba,, jiu yue bian sheng nan er, duan zheng wu shuang, ru tao hua se. shi shi, zhang zhe zi jian jian zhang da, fu mu bian qiu fu chu. qu fu wei jiu bian fu ming zhong, sheng da hai zhong, zuo long she xing. shi shi, bi zhang zhe ju men da xiao, zhui mu hao ku, tong du shang xin. shi shi, bi long fu wei jin chi niao suo shi, shen huai ming zhong, sheng de yu zhong. shi shi, zhu long nu zhui mu qing qie, shi bu ke yan."

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

[0673a11] At that time, the [World Honored One] 世尊 [shi zun] spoke this verse:

"When that [Deva] 天 [tian] was gathering flowers,
His mind was disturbed and uneasy,
Like water engulfing a village,
All submerged and unable to be saved.
At that time, the host of heavenly maidens,
Surrounded him and wept,
With faces extremely beautiful,
Dying as they loved flowers.
Humans also weep,
Losing our beloved children,
Soon after, they die again,
Destroyed by impermanence.
The [Naga] 龍 [long] maidens followed in pursuit,
All the [Nagas] 龍 [long] gathered,
Seven heads, extremely fierce,
Harm by the [Garuda] 金翅 [jin chi].
[Devas] 諸天 [zhu tian] also sorrow,
Humans are also like this,
[Naga] 龍 [long] maidens also sorrow,
Suffering in hell.
The subtle [Dharma] 法 [fa] of the Four Noble Truths,
Not truly known as it is,
There is birth and there is death,
Cannot escape the long flowing sea.
Therefore, one should give rise to the thought,
Cultivate all pure [Dharmas] 法 [fa],
One will surely be free from suffering,
And no longer suffer from illness."

[0673a11] ěr shí, shì zūn biàn shuō cǐ jì:

“bǐ tiān cǎi huá shí,　　xīn yì luàn bù níng,
　yóu shuǐ piāo cūn luò,　　xī méi bù dé jì.
　shì shí yù nǚ zhòng,　　wéi rào ér tí kū,
　yán mào jí duān zhèng,　　ài huá ér mìng zhōng.
　rén zhōng yì tí kū,　　shī wǒ qióng cháng zi,
　xún fù qǔ mìng zhōng,　　wú cháng zhī suǒ huài.
　lóng nǚ suí hòu zhuī,　　zhū lóng jiē gòng jí,
　qī tóu jí yǒng měng,　　jīn chì zhī suǒ hài.
　zhū tiān yì chóu yōu,　　rén zhōng yì fù ěr,
　lóng nǚ yì chóu yōu,　　de yù shòu kǔ tòng.
　sì dì zhī miào fǎ,　　rú shí ér bù zhī,
　yǒu shēng yì yǒu sǐ,　　bù tuō zhǎng liú hǎi.
　shì gù dāng qǐ xiǎng,　　xiū zhū qīng jìng fǎ,
　bì dāng lí kǔ nǎo,　　gèng bù shòu yǒu huàn.

[0673a11] er shi, shi zun bian shuo ci ji:

"bi tian cai hua shi, xin yi luan bu ning,
you shui piao cun luo, xi mei bu de ji.
shi shi yu nu zhong, wei rao er ti ku,
yan mao ji duan zheng, ai hua er ming zhong.
ren zhong yi ti ku, shi wo qiong chang zi,
xun fu qu ming zhong, wu chang zhi suo huai.
long nu sui hou zhui, zhu long jie gong ji,
qi tou ji yong meng, jin chi zhi suo hai.
zhu tian yi chou you, ren zhong yi fu er,
long nu yi chou you, de yu shou ku tong.
si di zhi miao fa, ru shi er bu zhi,
you sheng yi you si, bu tuo zhang liu hai.
shi gu dang qi xiang, xiu zhu qing jing fa,
bi dang li ku nao, geng bu shou you huan.

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

[0673a26] "Therefore, [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]! You should always cultivate the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang], and extensively spread the perception of impermanence [Wu Chang Xiang] 無常想 [wu chang xiang], and you will then eradicate desire for form [Se Ai] 色愛 [se ai] and desire for the formless [Wu Se Ai] 無色愛 [wu se ai], and completely remove arrogance [Jiao Man] 憍慢 [jiao man], with ignorance [Wu Ming] 無明 [wu ming] utterly exhausted. Thus, [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]! You should train yourselves in this way."

[0673a26] “shì gù, zhū bǐ qiū! cháng dāng xiū xíng wú cháng xiǎng, guǎng bù wú cháng xiǎng, biàn duàn sè ài,, wú sè ài, yì duàn jiāo màn, wú míng yǒng jǐn wú yú. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0673a26] "shi gu, zhu bi qiu! chang dang xiu xing wu chang xiang, guang bu wu chang xiang, bian duan se ai,, wu se ai, yi duan jiao man, wu ming yong jin wu yu. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

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

[0673a28] At that time, the [Bhikshus] 諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu], having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and practiced it.

[0673a28] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0673a28] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.