Sutta 1: The Elimination of Three Defilements

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

[0744a02] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shì chì jiā pí luó wèi ní jū lǚ yuán zhōng.

[0744a02] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai shi chi jia pi luo wei ni ju lu yuan zhong.

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

[0744a03] At that time, Mahānāma Śākya (摩呵男釋 [mo he nan shi]) went to the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]), bowed his head at his feet, and sat down to one side. Then, Mahānāma Śākya (摩呵男釋 [mo he nan shi]) said to the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]), "I personally received this teaching from the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]): 'All virtuous men and women (善男子 [shan nan zi]、善女人 [shan nu ren]) who have cut off the three fetters (三結使 [san jie shi]) and become Srotāpannas (須陀洹 [xu tuo huan]) are called non-returning, will certainly attain the fruit of the path (道果 [dao guo]), and will no longer seek other heterodox teachings (外道異學 [wai dao yi xue]), nor will they observe what others say.' If this is the case, then this is not so. If I see a fierce ox, horse, or camel, I immediately feel fear, and my hair stands on end. I then think, 'If I die today while feeling this fear, where will I be reborn?'"

[0744a03] shì shí, mó hē nán shì wǎng zhì shì zūn suǒ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn zuò. ěr shí, mó hē nán shì bái shì zūn yán: “gōng cóng rú lái shòu cǐ yán jiào: ‘zhū yǒu shàn nán zi,, shàn nǚ rén duàn sān jié shǐ, chéng xū tuó huán, míng bù tuì zhuǎn, bì chéng dào guǒ, gèng bù qiú zhū wài dào yì xué, yì fù bù guān chá yú rén suǒ shuō.’ shè dāng ěr zhě, cǐ shì bù rán. wǒ ruò jiàn bào niú,, mǎ,, luò tuó, jí shí kǒng jù, yī máo jiē shù, fù zuò shì niàn: ‘shè wǒ jīn rì huái cǐ kǒng jù, dāng qǔ mìng zhōng zhě, wèi shēng hé chù?’ ”

[0744a03] shi shi, mo he nan shi wang zhi shi zun suo, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian zuo. er shi, mo he nan shi bai shi zun yan: "gong cong ru lai shou ci yan jiao: 'zhu you shan nan zi,, shan nu ren duan san jie shi, cheng xu tuo huan, ming bu tui zhuan, bi cheng dao guo, geng bu qiu zhu wai dao yi xue, yi fu bu guan cha yu ren suo shuo.' she dang er zhe, ci shi bu ran. wo ruo jian bao niu,, ma,, luo tuo, ji shi kong ju, yi mao jie shu, fu zuo shi nian: 'she wo jin ri huai ci kong ju, dang qu ming zhong zhe, wei sheng he chu?' "

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

[0744a10] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said to Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan]), "Do not give rise to fear. If you die, you will not fall into the three evil destinies (三惡趣 [san e qu]). Why is that? Now there are three meanings of elimination. What are the three? For example, if one is attached to lust and gives rise to vexation, and also gives rise to a harmful mind towards others, if one has no such desire, one will not give rise to a mind of killing and harming, and one will not experience suffering in the present Dharma (現法 [xian fa]). If there are unwholesome dharmas (惡不善法 [e bu shan fa]) that wish to harm oneself, if these are absent, then there will be no disturbance and no sorrow. This, Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan]), is the meaning of these three: all unwholesome dharmas (惡不善法 [e bu shan fa]) fall downward, and all wholesome dharmas (善之法 [shan zhi fa]) rise upward. It is like a butter jar breaking in water; then the pottery and stones sink, and the butter floats to the top. This is also the case: all unwholesome dharmas (惡不善之法 [e bu shan zhi fa]) fall downward, and all wholesome dharmas (善之法 [shan zhi fa]) float upward. Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan])! You should know that in the past, before I attained Buddhahood (佛道 [fu dao]), I diligently practiced austerities for six years in Uruvelā (優留毘 [you liu pi]), not eating delicious food, and my body became emaciated, like a person a hundred years old, all due to not eating. When I wanted to get up, I would fall to the ground. At that time, I thought to myself, 'If I die here, where will I be reborn?' At that time, I thought to myself, 'If I die now, I will certainly not be reborn in an evil path.' However, the meaning is that one cannot go from pleasure to pleasure; one must go through suffering to reach pleasure.

[0744a10] shì zūn gào mó hē nán: “wù qǐ kǒng wèi zhī xīn, shè dāng qǔ mìng zhōng, bù duò sān è qù. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jīn yǒu sān xiāo miè zhī yì. yún hé wèi sān? rú yǒu zhe yú yín yù ér qǐ nǎo luàn, fù qǐ hài xīn xiàng tā rén, yǐ wú cǐ yù, zé bù qǐ shā hài zhī xīn, yú xiàn fǎ zhōng bù qǐ kǔ nǎo, zhū yǒu è bù shàn fǎ yù zì hài jǐ； shè wú cǐ zhě, zé wú rǎo luàn, biàn wú chóu yōu. shì wèi, mó hē nán, cǐ sān yì, zhū è bù shàn fǎ biàn duò zài xià, zhū shàn zhī fǎ biàn zài yú shàng. yì rú sū píng zài shuǐ zhōng huài, shì shí wǎ shí biàn chén zài xià, sū biàn fú zài shàng. cǐ yì rú shì, zhū è bù shàn zhī fǎ biàn zài yú xià, zhū shàn zhī fǎ biàn fú zài shàng. mó hē nán! dāng zhī wǒ xī rì wèi chéng fú dào, zài yōu liú pí liù nián qín kǔ, bù shí měi wèi, shēn tǐ léi shòu, rú shì bǎi nián zhī rén, jiē yóu bù shí zhī suǒ zhì. ruò wǒ yù qǐ shí, biàn zì duò de. shí, wǒ fù zuò shì niàn: ‘shè wǒ yú zhōng mìng zhōng zhě, dāng shēng hé chù?’ shí, wǒ fù zuò shì niàn: ‘wǒ jīn mìng zhōng zhě, bì bù shēng è dào zhōng.’ rán fù yì qù bù kě cóng lè zhì lè, yào dāng yóu kǔ rán fù zhì lè.

[0744a10] shi zun gao mo he nan: "wu qi kong wei zhi xin, she dang qu ming zhong, bu duo san e qu. suo yi ran zhe, jin you san xiao mie zhi yi. yun he wei san? ru you zhe yu yin yu er qi nao luan, fu qi hai xin xiang ta ren, yi wu ci yu, ze bu qi sha hai zhi xin, yu xian fa zhong bu qi ku nao, zhu you e bu shan fa yu zi hai ji; she wu ci zhe, ze wu rao luan, bian wu chou you. shi wei, mo he nan, ci san yi, zhu e bu shan fa bian duo zai xia, zhu shan zhi fa bian zai yu shang. yi ru su ping zai shui zhong huai, shi shi wa shi bian chen zai xia, su bian fu zai shang. ci yi ru shi, zhu e bu shan zhi fa bian zai yu xia, zhu shan zhi fa bian fu zai shang. mo he nan! dang zhi wo xi ri wei cheng fu dao, zai you liu pi liu nian qin ku, bu shi mei wei, shen ti lei shou, ru shi bai nian zhi ren, jie you bu shi zhi suo zhi. ruo wo yu qi shi, bian zi duo de. shi, wo fu zuo shi nian: 'she wo yu zhong ming zhong zhe, dang sheng he chu?' shi, wo fu zuo shi nian: 'wo jin ming zhong zhe, bi bu sheng e dao zhong.' ran fu yi qu bu ke cong le zhi le, yao dang you ku ran fu zhi le.

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[0744a27] "At that time, I also traveled in the Hermit's Cave (仙人窟 [xian ren ku]). At that time, many Nirgranthas (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) were practicing the Dharma (道 [dao]) there. At that time, the Nirgranthas (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) raised their hands towards the sun, exposing their bodies to practice the Dharma (道 [dao]), or some squatted to practice the Dharma (道 [dao]). At that time, I went to them and said to the Nirgranthas (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]), 'Why do you leave your seats and raise your hands and stand on one leg?' Those Nirgranthas (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) said, 'Gotama (瞿曇 [qu tan])! You should know that our former teacher committed unwholesome deeds, and the reason we suffer now is to extinguish our sins. Although we are now naked, there is a sense of shame, and there is also a way to eliminate this. Gotama (瞿曇 [qu tan])! You should know that when actions cease, suffering also ceases; when suffering ceases, actions also cease. When ascetic practice ceases, one reaches Nirvāṇa (涅槃 [nie pan]).'

[0744a27] “wǒ ěr shí fù yóu zài xiān rén kū zhōng. ěr shí, yǒu duō ní qián zi zài bǐ xué dào. shì shí, ní qián zi jǔ shǒu zhǐ rì, pù tǐ xué dào, huò fù yǒu dūn ér xué dào. wǒ ěr shí wǎng zhì bǐ suǒ, yǔ ní qián zi: ‘rǔ děng hé gù lí zuò jǔ shǒu qiào zú hū?’ bǐ ní qián zi yuē: ‘qú tán dāng zhī, xī wǒ xiān shī zuò bù shàn xíng, jīn suǒ yǐ kǔ zhě, yù miè qí zuì； jīn suī lù xíng tǐ, yǒu cán rǔ fēn, yì yǒu xiāo miè cǐ shì. qú tán dāng zhī, xíng jǐn kǔ yì jǐn, kǔ jǐn xíng yì jǐn, kǔ xíng yǐ jǐn, biàn zhì niè pán.’

[0744a27] "wo er shi fu you zai xian ren ku zhong. er shi, you duo ni qian zi zai bi xue dao. shi shi, ni qian zi ju shou zhi ri, pu ti xue dao, huo fu you dun er xue dao. wo er shi wang zhi bi suo, yu ni qian zi: 'ru deng he gu li zuo ju shou qiao zu hu?' bi ni qian zi yue: 'qu tan dang zhi, xi wo xian shi zuo bu shan xing, jin suo yi ku zhe, yu mie qi zui; jin sui lu xing ti, you can ru fen, yi you xiao mie ci shi. qu tan dang zhi, xing jin ku yi jin, ku jin xing yi jin, ku xing yi jin, bian zhi nie pan.'

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

[0744b06] "At that time, I replied to the Nirgranthas (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]), 'This is not so. It is not by the cessation of actions that suffering ceases, nor by the cessation of suffering that actions cease, that one attains Nirvāṇa (涅槃 [nie pan]); but if ascetic practice ceases and one attains Nirvāṇa (涅槃 [nie pan]), this is true! But one cannot go from pleasure to pleasure.' The Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) said, 'What suffering did King Bimbisāra (頻毘娑羅王 [pin pi suo luo wang]) have, going from pleasure to pleasure?' At that time, I replied to the Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]), 'How does the pleasure of King Bimbisāra (頻毘娑羅王 [pin pi suo luo wang]) compare to my pleasure?' The Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) replied, 'The pleasure of King Bimbisāra (頻毘娑羅王 [pin pi suo luo wang]) surpasses your pleasure.' At that time, I replied to the Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]), 'Can King Bimbisāra (頻毘娑羅王 [pin pi suo luo wang]) sit in the full lotus posture for seven days and seven nights without moving his body? Or even for six, five, four, three, two, or even one day in the full lotus posture?' The Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) replied, 'No, Gotama (瞿曇 [qu tan])!' The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, 'I am able to sit in the full lotus posture without moving my body. What do you say, Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi])! Who has greater pleasure? The pleasure of King Bimbisāra (頻毘娑羅王 [pin pi suo luo wang]) or my pleasure?' The Nirgrantha (尼揵子 [ni qian zi]) said, 'The Śramaṇa Gotama (瞿曇沙門 [qu tan sha men]) has greater pleasure.'

[0744b06] “wǒ ěr shí fù yǔ ní qián zi yuē: ‘cǐ shì bù rán, yì wú yóu xíng jǐn kǔ yì jǐn, yì bù yóu kǔ jǐn xíng yì jǐn, dé zhì niè pán； dàn jīn kǔ xíng jǐn dé zhì niè pán zhě, cǐ shì rán yǐ! dàn bù kě cóng lè zhì lè.’ ní qián zi yuē: ‘pín pí suō luó wáng cóng lè zhì lè, yǒu hé kǔ zāi?’ wǒ ěr shí fù yǔ ní qián zi yuē: ‘pín pí suō luó wáng lè, hé rú wǒ lè?’ ní qián zi bào wǒ yán: ‘pín pí suō luó wáng lè, shèng rǔ lè yě.’ wǒ ěr shí fù yǔ ní qián zi yuē: ‘pín pí suō luó wáng néng shǐ wǒ qī rì qī yè jié jiā fū zuò, xíng tǐ bù yí dòng hū? zhèng shǐ liù,, wǔ,, sì,, sān,, èr, nǎi zhì yī rì jié jiā fū zuò hū?’ ní qián zi bào yuē: ‘bù yě. qú tán! ’ shì zūn gào yuē: ‘wǒ néng kān rèn jié jiā fū zuò, xíng bù yí dòng. yún hé, ní qián zi! shuí zhě wèi lè? pín pí suō luó wáng lè yé? wèi wǒ lè yé?’ ní qián zi yuē: ‘qú tán shā mén lè.’

[0744b06] "wo er shi fu yu ni qian zi yue: 'ci shi bu ran, yi wu you xing jin ku yi jin, yi bu you ku jin xing yi jin, de zhi nie pan; dan jin ku xing jin de zhi nie pan zhe, ci shi ran yi! dan bu ke cong le zhi le.' ni qian zi yue: 'pin pi suo luo wang cong le zhi le, you he ku zai?' wo er shi fu yu ni qian zi yue: 'pin pi suo luo wang le, he ru wo le?' ni qian zi bao wo yan: 'pin pi suo luo wang le, sheng ru le ye.' wo er shi fu yu ni qian zi yue: 'pin pi suo luo wang neng shi wo qi ri qi ye jie jia fu zuo, xing ti bu yi dong hu? zheng shi liu,, wu,, si,, san,, er, nai zhi yi ri jie jia fu zuo hu?' ni qian zi bao yue: 'bu ye. qu tan! ' shi zun gao yue: 'wo neng kan ren jie jia fu zuo, xing bu yi dong. yun he, ni qian zi! shui zhe wei le? pin pi suo luo wang le ye? wei wo le ye?' ni qian zi yue: 'qu tan sha men le.'

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

[0744b19] "Thus, Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan])! You should make this effort, knowing that one cannot go from pleasure to pleasure; one must go from suffering to pleasure. Just as, Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan])! there is a large village with a large pond, one yojana (由旬 [you xun]) in length and width, full of water. If someone comes and takes one drop of water from it. What do you say, Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan])! Which is more water? The one drop of water or the pond water?"

[0744b19] “rú shì. mó hē nán! dāng zuò cǐ fāng biàn, zhī bù kě cóng lè zhì lè, yào dāng cóng kǔ zhì lè. yóu rú, mó hē nán! dà cūn zuǒ yòu yǒu dà chí shuǐ, zòng guǎng yī yóu xún, shuǐ mǎn qí zhōng. ruò fù yǒu rén, lái qǔ bǐ yī dì shuǐ. yún hé, mó hē nán! shuǐ hé zhě wèi duō? yī dì shuǐ duō? wèi chí shuǐ duō hū?”

[0744b19] "ru shi. mo he nan! dang zuo ci fang bian, zhi bu ke cong le zhi le, yao dang cong ku zhi le. you ru, mo he nan! da cun zuo you you da chi shui, zong guang yi you xun, shui man qi zhong. ruo fu you ren, lai qu bi yi di shui. yun he, mo he nan! shui he zhe wei duo? yi di shui duo? wei chi shui duo hu?"

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

[0744b24] Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan]) said, "The pond water is more, not the one drop of water."

[0744b24] mó hē nán yuē: “chí shuǐ duō, fēi yī dì shuǐ duō yě.”

[0744b24] mo he nan yue: "chi shui duo, fei yi di shui duo ye."

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

[0744b25] The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said, "This is also the same. For noble disciples (賢聖弟子 [xian sheng di zi]), all suffering has ceased, completely gone, and what remains is like a single drop of water. Among my assembly, even the lowest on the path will not experience more than seven deaths and seven rebirths before suffering ends. If one is courageous and diligent, becoming a householder, one will immediately attain the path."

[0744b25] shì zūn gào yuē: “cǐ yì rú shì. xián shèng dì zi zhū kǔ yǐ jǐn, yǒng wú fù yǒu, yú cún zài zhě rú yī dì shuǐ ěr. rú wǒ zhòng zhōng zuì xià dào zhě, bù guò qī sǐ qī shēng ér jǐn kǔ jì. ruò fù yǒng měng jīng jìn, biàn wèi jiā jiā, jí dé dào jī.”

[0744b25] shi zun gao yue: "ci yi ru shi. xian sheng di zi zhu ku yi jin, yong wu fu you, yu cun zai zhe ru yi di shui er. ru wo zhong zhong zui xia dao zhe, bu guo qi si qi sheng er jin ku ji. ruo fu yong meng jing jin, bian wei jia jia, ji de dao ji."

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

[0744b29] Then, the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) further expounded the subtle Dharma (微妙之法 [wei miao zhi fa]) to Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan]). After hearing the Dharma (法 [fa]), he rose from his seat and departed.

[0744b29] ěr shí, shì zūn zhòng yǔ mó hē nán shuō wēi miào zhī fǎ, bǐ wén fǎ yǐ, jí cóng zuò qǐ ér qù.

[0744b29] er shi, shi zun zhong yu mo he nan shuo wei miao zhi fa, bi wen fa yi, ji cong zuo qi er qu.

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

[0744c01] Then, Mahānāma (摩呵男 [mo he nan]) rejoiced and practiced what the Buddha had said.

[0744c01] ěr shí, mó hē nán wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0744c01] er shi, mo he nan wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.