Sutta 7: Caring for the Sick

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

[0766b22] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was in the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove (迦蘭陀竹園 [jia lan tuo zhu yuan]) in Rājagṛha (羅閱城 [luo yue cheng]), with a great assembly of five hundred bhikkhus (大比丘眾五百人 [da bi qiu zhong wu bai ren]).

[0766b22] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài luó yuè chéng jiā lán tuó zhú yuán suǒ, yǔ dà bǐ qiū zhòng wǔ bǎi rén jù.

[0766b22] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai luo yue cheng jia lan tuo zhu yuan suo, yu da bi qiu zhong wu bai ren ju.

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

[0766b23] At that time, there was a bhikkhu in Rājagṛha who was gravely ill and emaciated. He lay in his own excrement and urine, unable to get up or move himself, and no bhikkhu came to attend to him. Day and night he called upon the name of the Buddha (佛名號 [fu ming hao]), "Why does the World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) not pity me alone?"

[0766b23] ěr shí, luó yuè chéng zhōng yǒu yī bǐ qiū, shēn yù jí bìng, zhì wèi kùn cuì, wò dà xiǎo biàn, bù néng zì qǐ zhǐ, yì wú bǐ qiū wǎng zhān shì zhě, zhòu yè chēng fú míng hào: “yún hé shì zūn dú bù jiàn mǐn?”

[0766b23] er shi, luo yue cheng zhong you yi bi qiu, shen yu ji bing, zhi wei kun cui, wo da xiao bian, bu neng zi qi zhi, yi wu bi qiu wang zhan shi zhe, zhou ye cheng fu ming hao: "yun he shi zun du bu jian min?"

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

[0766b26] At that time, the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) heard the bhikkhu's (比丘 [bi qiu]) lament and call for refuge in the Tathāgata with his divine ear (天耳 [tian er]). Thereupon, the World-Honored One told the bhikkhus, "I will go with you to inspect all the monastic dwellings and observe all the residences."

[0766b26] shì shí, rú lái yǐ tiān ěr wén bǐ bǐ qiū chēng yuàn, huàn hū tóu guī rú lái. ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “wú yǔ rǔ děng, xī àn xíng zhū fáng, guān zhū zhù chù.”

[0766b26] shi shi, ru lai yi tian er wen bi bi qiu cheng yuan, huan hu tou gui ru lai. er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "wu yu ru deng, xi an xing zhu fang, guan zhu zhu chu."

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

[0766b29] The bhikkhus replied, "So it is, World-Honored One!"

Thereupon, the World-Honored One, surrounded by the bhikkhu Saṅgha (比丘僧 [bi qiu seng]), went to inspect the monastic dwellings. At that time, the sick bhikkhu, seeing the World-Honored One approaching from afar, tried to get up from his seat but could not move himself. Thereupon, the Tathāgata came to that bhikkhu and told him, "Stop! Stop! Bhikkhu! Do not move yourself. I have my own sitting mat, which is sufficient for sitting."

[0766b29] zhū bǐ qiū duì yuē: “rú shì. shì zūn! ”

shì shí, shì zūn yǔ bǐ qiū sēng qián hòu wéi rào, zhū fáng jiān àn xíng. ěr shí, bìng bǐ qiū yáo jiàn shì zūn lái, jí yù cóng zuò qǐ ér bù néng zì zhuǎn yáo. shì shí, rú lái dào bǐ bǐ qiū suǒ, ér gào zhī yuē: “zhǐ! zhǐ! bǐ qiū! wù zì dòng zhuǎn, wú zì yǒu zuò jù, zú dé zuò ěr.”

[0766b29] zhu bi qiu dui yue: "ru shi. shi zun! "

shi shi, shi zun yu bi qiu seng qian hou wei rao, zhu fang jian an xing. er shi, bing bi qiu yao jian shi zun lai, ji yu cong zuo qi er bu neng zi zhuan yao. shi shi, ru lai dao bi bi qiu suo, er gao zhi yue: "zhi! zhi! bi qiu! wu zi dong zhuan, wu zi you zuo ju, zu de zuo er."

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

[0766c05] At that time, Vaiśravaṇa Deva-rāja (毘沙門天王 [pi sha men tian wang]), knowing the Tathāgata's (如來 [ru lai]) thought, disappeared from the Yema (野馬 [ye ma]) world and came to the Buddha (佛 [fu]) place. He prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet and stood to one side. At that time, Śakra Devānām Indra (釋提桓因 [shi ti huan yin]), knowing the Tathāgata's inner thought, immediately came to the Buddha place. The Brahmā King (梵天王 [fan tian wang]) also knew the Tathāgata's inner thought, disappeared from Brahmā heaven (梵天 [fan tian]), came to the Buddha place, prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. At that time, the Four Great Kings (四天王 [si tian wang]), knowing the Tathāgata's inner thought, came to the Buddha place, prostrated themselves at the Buddha's feet, and stood to one side.

[0766c05] shì shí, pí shā mén tiān wáng zhī rú lái suǒ niàn, cóng yě mǎ shì jiè méi, lái zhì fú suǒ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn lì. shì shí, shì tí huán yīn zhī rú lái xīn zhōng suǒ niàn, jí lái zhì fú suǒ. fàn tiān wáng yì fù zhī rú lái xīn zhōng suǒ niàn, cóng fàn tiān méi, lái zhì fú suǒ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn zuò. shí, sì tiān wáng zhī rú lái xīn zhōng suǒ niàn, lái zhì fú suǒ, tóu miàn lǐ zú, zài yī miàn lì.

[0766c05] shi shi, pi sha men tian wang zhi ru lai suo nian, cong ye ma shi jie mei, lai zhi fu suo, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian li. shi shi, shi ti huan yin zhi ru lai xin zhong suo nian, ji lai zhi fu suo. fan tian wang yi fu zhi ru lai xin zhong suo nian, cong fan tian mei, lai zhi fu suo, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian zuo. shi, si tian wang zhi ru lai xin zhong suo nian, lai zhi fu suo, tou mian li zu, zai yi mian li.

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

[0766c11] Thereupon, the Buddha asked the sick bhikkhu, "Are your ailments less severe or increasing?"

[0766c11] shì shí, fú gào bìng bǐ qiū yuē: “rǔ jīn huàn kǔ yǒu sǔn bù zhì zēng hū?”

[0766c11] shi shi, fu gao bing bi qiu yue: "ru jin huan ku you sun bu zhi zeng hu?"

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

[0766c12] The bhikkhu replied, "My ailments are increasing, not lessening. I have very little relief."

[0766c12] bǐ qiū duì yuē: “dì zi huàn kǔ suì zēng bù sǔn, jí wèi shǎo lài.”

[0766c12] bi qiu dui yue: "di zi huan ku sui zeng bu sun, ji wei shao lai."

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

[0766c13] The Buddha asked the bhikkhu, "Where is your attendant? Who comes to attend to you?"

[0766c13] fú gào bǐ qiū: “zhān bìng rén jīn wèi suǒ zài? hé rén lái xiāng zhān shì?”

[0766c13] fu gao bi qiu: "zhan bing ren jin wei suo zai? he ren lai xiang zhan shi?"

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

[0766c14] The bhikkhu reported to the Buddha, "Now that I have this illness, no one attends to me."

[0766c14] bǐ qiū bái fú yán: “jīn yù cǐ bìng, wú rén xiāng zhān shì yě.”

[0766c14] bi qiu bai fu yan: "jin yu ci bing, wu ren xiang zhan shi ye."

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

[0766c15] The Buddha asked the bhikkhu, "When you were not ill, did you ever go to inquire about the sick?"

[0766c15] fú gào bǐ qiū: “rǔ xī rì wèi bìng zhī shí, pō wǎng wèn xùn bìng rén hū?”

[0766c15] fu gao bi qiu: "ru xi ri wei bing zhi shi, po wang wen xun bing ren hu?"

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

[0766c16] The bhikkhu reported to the Buddha, "I did not go to inquire about the sick."

[0766c16] bǐ qiū bái fú yán: “bù wǎng wèn xùn zhū bìng rén.”

[0766c16] bi qiu bai fu yan: "bu wang wen xun zhu bing ren."

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

[0766c17] The Buddha told the bhikkhu, "You now have no good fortune in the Right Dharma (正法 [zheng fa]). Why? It is all because you did not go to attend to the sick. You, bhikkhu, should not be afraid. I will personally attend to you, so you will not be lacking. Just as I, today, am unsurpassed in heaven and among humans, I can also attend to all sick people, provide aid to those without help, give sight to the blind, and rescue all the ill." Thereupon, the World-Honored One personally removed the impurities and laid out a sitting mat for him.

[0766c17] fú gào bǐ qiū: “rǔ jīn wú yǒu shàn lì yú zhèng fǎ zhōng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jiē yóu bù wǎng zhān shì bìng gù yě. rǔ jīn, bǐ qiū! wù huái kǒng jù, dāng gōng gōng yǎng, lìng bù yǒu fá. rú wǒ jīn rì tiān shàng,, rén zhōng dú bù wú lǚ, yì néng zhān shì yī qiè bìng rén, wú jiù hù zhě yǔ zuò jiù hù, máng zhě yǔ zuò yǎn mù, jiù zhū jí rén.” shì shí, shì zūn zì chú bù jìng, gèng yǔ fū zuò jù.

[0766c17] fu gao bi qiu: "ru jin wu you shan li yu zheng fa zhong. suo yi ran zhe, jie you bu wang zhan shi bing gu ye. ru jin, bi qiu! wu huai kong ju, dang gong gong yang, ling bu you fa. ru wo jin ri tian shang,, ren zhong du bu wu lu, yi neng zhan shi yi qie bing ren, wu jiu hu zhe yu zuo jiu hu, mang zhe yu zuo yan mu, jiu zhu ji ren." shi shi, shi zun zi chu bu jing, geng yu fu zuo ju.

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

[0766c23] At that time, Vaiśravaṇa Deva-rāja and Śakra Devānām Indra reported to the Buddha, "We ourselves will attend to this sick bhikkhu. The Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) should not exert himself."

[0766c23] shì shí, pí shā mén tiān wáng jí shì tí huán yīn bái fú yán: “wǒ děng zì dāng zhān cǐ bìng bǐ qiū, rú lái wù fù zhí láo.”

[0766c23] shi shi, pi sha men tian wang ji shi ti huan yin bai fu yan: "wo deng zi dang zhan ci bing bi qiu, ru lai wu fu zhi lao."

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

[0766c25] The Buddha told the devas, "You should stop! The Tathāgata will know the right time. As I recall, in the past, before attaining Buddhahood (佛道 [fu dao]), when I cultivated Bodhisattva practice (菩薩行 [pu sa xing]), I sacrificed my life for a pigeon. How much more so now that I have attained Buddhahood, should I abandon this bhikkhu? There is no such possibility. Moreover, Śakra Devānām Indra did not attend to this sick bhikkhu before, nor did Vaiśravaṇa Deva-rāja, the lord of the world-protectors, attend to him." Thereupon, Śakra Devānām Indra and Vaiśravaṇa Deva-rāja remained silent and did not reply.

[0766c25] fú gào zhū tiān yuē: “rǔ děng qiě zhǐ! rú lái zì dāng zhī shí. rú wǒ zì yì xī rì wèi chéng fú dào, xiū pú sà xíng, yóu yī gē gù, zì tóu mìng gēn, hé kuàng jīn rì yǐ chéng fú dào, dāng shě cǐ bǐ qiū hū? zhōng wú cǐ chù. yòu shì tí huán yīn xiān bù zhān cǐ bìng bǐ qiū, pí shā mén tiān wáng,, hù shì zhī zhǔ yì bù xiāng zhān shì.” shì shí, shì tí huán yīn jí pí shā mén tiān wáng jiē mò rán bù duì.

[0766c25] fu gao zhu tian yue: "ru deng qie zhi! ru lai zi dang zhi shi. ru wo zi yi xi ri wei cheng fu dao, xiu pu sa xing, you yi ge gu, zi tou ming gen, he kuang jin ri yi cheng fu dao, dang she ci bi qiu hu? zhong wu ci chu. you shi ti huan yin xian bu zhan ci bing bi qiu, pi sha men tian wang,, hu shi zhi zhu yi bu xiang zhan shi." shi shi, shi ti huan yin ji pi sha men tian wang jie mo ran bu dui.

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

[0767a02] Thereupon, the Tathāgata, holding a broom (掃篲 [sao hui]), removed the dirt, laid out a new sitting mat, and washed the bhikkhu's clothes. He attended to him in three ways, helped the sick bhikkhu to sit up, and bathed him with clean water. There were devas (天 [tian]) above who sprinkled fragrant water. At that time, when the World-Honored One had bathed the bhikkhu, he returned to sit on the bed and personally gave him food.

[0767a02] ěr shí, rú lái shǒu zhí sǎo huì chú qù wū ní, gèng shī shè zuò jù, fù yǔ huàn yī shang, sān fǎ shì zhī, fú bìng bǐ qiū lìng zuò, jìng shuǐ mù yù. yǒu zhū tiān zài shàng, yǐ xiāng shuǐ guàn zhī. shì shí, shì zūn yǐ mù yù bǐ qiū yǐ, hái zuò chuáng shàng, shǒu zì shòu shí.

[0767a02] er shi, ru lai shou zhi sao hui chu qu wu ni, geng shi she zuo ju, fu yu huan yi shang, san fa shi zhi, fu bing bi qiu ling zuo, jing shui mu yu. you zhu tian zai shang, yi xiang shui guan zhi. shi shi, shi zun yi mu yu bi qiu yi, hai zuo chuang shang, shou zi shou shi.

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

[0767a06] At that time, the World-Honored One, seeing that the bhikkhu had finished eating, removed the bowl and told that bhikkhu, "You should now abandon the diseases of the three times (三世 [san shi]). Why? Bhikkhu, you should know that birth (生 [sheng]) involves the hardship of being in the womb. Because of birth, there is old age (老 [lao]). One who is old is frail in body and exhausted in energy. Because of old age, there is illness (病 [bing]). One who is ill groans while sitting and lying down, and all four hundred and four diseases appear at once. Because of illness, there is death (死 [si]). One who dies has body and spirit separated and goes to good or evil. If one has many sins, one will enter hell (地獄 [de yu]), with mountains of knives, trees of swords, fire chariots, furnaces of charcoal, and drinking molten copper. Or one may become an animal (畜生 [chu sheng]), used by others, eating grass and suffering immeasurable pain. Furthermore, for countless kalpas (劫 [jie]) beyond measure, one may take the form of a hungry ghost (餓鬼 [e gui]), with a body tens of yojanas (由旬 [you xun]) long, a throat as thin as a needle, and molten copper poured into one's mouth. After countless kalpas, one may obtain a human body (人身 [ren shen]), subjected to immeasurable flogging and torture. Again, after countless kalpas, one may be born in heaven (天上 [tian shang]), experiencing the union of affection and also the separation of affection, with insatiable desires. Only by attaining the noble path (賢聖道 [xian sheng dao]) can one be free from suffering.

[0767a06] ěr shí, shì zūn jiàn bǐ qiū shí qì, chú qù bō qì, gào bǐ bǐ qiū yuē: “rǔ jīn dāng shě sān shì zhī bìng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, bǐ qiū dāng zhī, shēng yǒu chù tāi zhī è, yīn shēng yǒu lǎo. fū wèi lǎo zhě, xíng léi qì jié. yīn lǎo yǒu bìng. fū wèi bìng zhě, zuò wò shēn yín, sì bǎi sì bìng yī shí jù zhēn. yīn bìng yǒu sǐ. fū wèi sǐ zhě, xíng shén fēn lí, wǎng qù shàn è. shè zuì duō zhě, dāng rù de yù, dāo shān,, jiàn shù, huǒ chē,, lú tàn,, tūn yǐn róng tóng； huò wèi chù shēng, wèi rén suǒ shǐ, shí yǐ chú cǎo, shòu kǔ wú liàng； fù yú bù kě chēng jì wú shù jié zhōng, zuò è guǐ xíng, shēn zhǎng shù shí yóu xún, yàn xì rú zhēn, fù yǐ róng tóng ér guàn qí kǒu, jīng lì wú shù jié zhōng dé zuò rén shēn, bǎng chī kǎo lüè, bù kě chēng jì. fù yú wú shù jié zhōng dé shēng tiān shàng, yì jīng ēn ài hé huì, yòu yù ēn ài bié lí, yù wú yàn zú； dé xián shèng dào, ěr nǎi lí kǔ.

[0767a06] er shi, shi zun jian bi qiu shi qi, chu qu bo qi, gao bi bi qiu yue: "ru jin dang she san shi zhi bing. suo yi ran zhe, bi qiu dang zhi, sheng you chu tai zhi e, yin sheng you lao. fu wei lao zhe, xing lei qi jie. yin lao you bing. fu wei bing zhe, zuo wo shen yin, si bai si bing yi shi ju zhen. yin bing you si. fu wei si zhe, xing shen fen li, wang qu shan e. she zui duo zhe, dang ru de yu, dao shan,, jian shu, huo che,, lu tan,, tun yin rong tong; huo wei chu sheng, wei ren suo shi, shi yi chu cao, shou ku wu liang; fu yu bu ke cheng ji wu shu jie zhong, zuo e gui xing, shen zhang shu shi you xun, yan xi ru zhen, fu yi rong tong er guan qi kou, jing li wu shu jie zhong de zuo ren shen, bang chi kao lue, bu ke cheng ji. fu yu wu shu jie zhong de sheng tian shang, yi jing en ai he hui, you yu en ai bie li, yu wu yan zu; de xian sheng dao, er nai li ku.

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

[0767a19] "Now there are nine kinds of people who are free from suffering. What are these nine? They are one who is heading towards Arhatship (向阿羅漢 [xiang a luo han]), one who has attained Arhatship (得阿羅漢 [de a luo han]), one who is heading towards Anāgāminship (向阿那含 [xiang a na han]), one who has attained Anāgāminship (得阿那含 [de a na han]), one who is heading towards Sakadāgāminship (向斯陀含 [xiang si tuo han]), one who has attained Sakadāgāminship (得斯陀含 [de si tuo han]), one who is heading towards Sotāpanna (向須陀洹 [xiang xu tuo huan]), one who has attained Sotāpanna (得須陀洹 [de xu tuo huan]), and one who is of noble lineage (種性人 [zhong xing ren]) are the nine. These, bhikkhu, are the nine. The Tathāgata's appearance in the world is extremely difficult to encounter. A human body is difficult to obtain. Being born in a righteous country (正國 [zheng guo]) is also difficult to encounter. Meeting good friends is likewise difficult. Hearing the Dharma is also rarely encountered. The Dharma arises from the Dharma, and it appears only from time to time. Bhikkhu, you should know that the Tathāgata is present in the world today. You have obtained the opportunity to hear the Right Dharma (正法 [zheng fa]), your faculties are complete, and you are capable of hearing the Right Dharma. If you are not diligent now, regret will be useless later. This is my instruction."

[0767a19] “jīn yǒu jiǔ zhǒng zhī rén, lí yú kǔ huàn. yún hé wèi jiǔ? suǒ wèi xiàng ā luó hàn,, dé ā luó hàn,, xiàng ā nà hán,, dé ā nà hán,, xiàng sī tuó hán,, dé sī tuó hán,, xiàng xū tuó huán,, dé xū tuó huán,, zhǒng xìng rén wèi jiǔ. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! rú lái chū xiàn shì jiān, shén wèi nán zhí, rén shēn nán dé, shēng zhèng guó zhōng, yì fù nán zāo, yǔ shàn zhī shí xiāng yù, yì fù rú shì, wén shuō fǎ yán, yì bù kě yù, fǎ fǎ xiāng shēng, shí shí nǎi yǒu. bǐ qiū dāng zhī, rú lái jīn rì xiàn zài shì jiān, dé wén zhèng fǎ, zhū gēn bù quē, kān rèn wén qí zhèng fǎ, jīn bù yīn qín, hòu huǐ wú jí. cǐ shì wǒ zhī jiào jiè.”

[0767a19] "jin you jiu zhong zhi ren, li yu ku huan. yun he wei jiu? suo wei xiang a luo han,, de a luo han,, xiang a na han,, de a na han,, xiang si tuo han,, de si tuo han,, xiang xu tuo huan,, de xu tuo huan,, zhong xing ren wei jiu. shi wei, bi qiu! ru lai chu xian shi jian, shen wei nan zhi, ren shen nan de, sheng zheng guo zhong, yi fu nan zao, yu shan zhi shi xiang yu, yi fu ru shi, wen shuo fa yan, yi bu ke yu, fa fa xiang sheng, shi shi nai you. bi qiu dang zhi, ru lai jin ri xian zai shi jian, de wen zheng fa, zhu gen bu que, kan ren wen qi zheng fa, jin bu yin qin, hou hui wu ji. ci shi wo zhi jiao jie."

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

[0767a28] At that time, that bhikkhu, having heard the Tathāgata's instruction, gazed intently at the World-Honored One's (尊顏 [zun yan]) face, and immediately attained the three insights (三明 [san ming]) on his seat, and his defilements were extinguished, and his mind was liberated.

[0767a28] ěr shí, bǐ bǐ qiū wén rú lái jiào yǐ, shú shì zūn yán, jí yú zuò shàng dé sān míng, lòu jǐn yì jiě.

[0767a28] er shi, bi bi qiu wen ru lai jiao yi, shu shi zun yan, ji yu zuo shang de san ming, lou jin yi jie.

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

[0767b01] The Buddha asked the bhikkhu, "Have you understood the root of illness?"

[0767b01] fú gào bǐ qiū: “rǔ yǐ jiě bìng zhī yuán běn hū?”

[0767b01] fu gao bi qiu: "ru yi jie bing zhi yuan ben hu?"

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

[0767b02] The bhikkhu reported to the Buddha, "I have understood the root of illness and have departed from this birth, old age, illness, and death. This is all due to the Tathāgata's (如來 [ru lai]) divine power, covering and protecting all beings with the mind of four immeasurables (四等之心 [si deng zhi xin]), immeasurable, boundless, and incalculable, with pure body, speech, and mind."

[0767b02] bǐ qiū bái fú: “wǒ yǐ jiě bìng zhī yuán běn, qù lí cǐ shēng,, lǎo,, bìng,, sǐ. jiē shì rú lái shén lì suǒ jiā, yǐ sì děng zhī xīn, fù hù yī qiè, wú liàng wú xiàn bù kě chēng jì, shēn,, kǒu,, yì jìng.”

[0767b02] bi qiu bai fu: "wo yi jie bing zhi yuan ben, qu li ci sheng,, lao,, bing,, si. jie shi ru lai shen li suo jia, yi si deng zhi xin, fu hu yi qie, wu liang wu xian bu ke cheng ji, shen,, kou,, yi jing."

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

[0767b05] At that time, the World-Honored One, having fully expounded the Dharma, immediately rose from his seat and departed.

[0767b05] shì shí, shì zūn jù zú shuō fǎ yǐ, jí cóng zuò qǐ ér qù.

[0767b05] shi shi, shi zun ju zu shuo fa yi, ji cong zuo qi er qu.

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

[0767b06] At that time, the World-Honored One told Ānanda (阿難 [a nan]), "You should immediately strike the gaṇḍī (揵椎 [qian chui]). All bhikkhus in Rājagṛha (羅閱城 [luo yue cheng]) should assemble in the Sarvasaṅgaha Lecture Hall (普會講堂 [pu hui jiang tang])."

[0767b06] ěr shí, shì zūn gào ā nán yuē: “rǔ jīn sù dǎ qián chuí, zhū yǒu bǐ qiū zài luó yuè chéng zhě, jǐn jí pǔ huì jiǎng táng.”

[0767b06] er shi, shi zun gao a nan yue: "ru jin su da qian chui, zhu you bi qiu zai luo yue cheng zhe, jin ji pu hui jiang tang."

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

[0767b07] At that time, Ānanda, having received the Buddha's instruction, immediately gathered all the bhikkhus in the Sarvasaṅgaha Lecture Hall, and then reported to the Buddha, "The bhikkhus have assembled. May the World-Honored One know that now is the time."

[0767b07] shì shí, ā nán cóng fú shòu jiào, jí jí zhū bǐ qiū zài pǔ huì jiǎng táng, qián bái fú yán: “bǐ qiū yǐ jí, wéi yuàn shì zūn yí zhī shì shí.”

[0767b07] shi shi, a nan cong fu shou jiao, ji ji zhu bi qiu zai pu hui jiang tang, qian bai fu yan: "bi qiu yi ji, wei yuan shi zun yi zhi shi shi."

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

[0767b10] At that time, the World-Honored One went to the lecture hall and sat on his seat. Thereupon, the World-Honored One told the bhikkhus, "Have you entered the Path (學道 [xue dao]) out of fear of kings or bandits, or have you left home (出家 [chu jia]) for another reason? Bhikkhus, with firm faith, you cultivate the supreme Brahmacarya (無上梵行 [wu shang fan xing]), desiring to abandon birth, old age, illness, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, and distress, and also desiring to be free from the twelve links of dependent origination (十二牽連 [shi er qian lian])."

[0767b10] ěr shí, shì zūn wǎng zhì jiǎng táng suǒ, jiù zuò ér zuò. ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “rǔ děng xué dào wèi wèi guó wáng,, dào zéi ér chū jiā hū? bǐ qiū! xìn jiān gù xiū wú shàng fàn xíng, yù dé shě shēng,, lǎo,, bìng,, sǐ,, yōu,, bēi,, kǔ,, nǎo, yì yù lí shí èr qiān lián.”

[0767b10] er shi, shi zun wang zhi jiang tang suo, jiu zuo er zuo. er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "ru deng xue dao wei wei guo wang,, dao zei er chu jia hu? bi qiu! xin jian gu xiu wu shang fan xing, yu de she sheng,, lao,, bing,, si,, you,, bei,, ku,, nao, yi yu li shi er qian lian."

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

[0767b13] The bhikkhus replied, "So it is, World-Honored One!"

[0767b13] zhū bǐ qiū duì yuē: “rú shì. shì zūn! ”

[0767b13] zhu bi qiu dui yue: "ru shi. shi zun! "

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

[0767b14] The Buddha told the bhikkhus, "You have all left home under one teacher and share the same milk and water, yet you do not attend to each other. From now on, you should take turns attending to each other. If a sick bhikkhu has no disciples, you should assign someone from the Saṅgha to care for the sick person. Why? Apart from this, there is no other action that yields greater merit than caring for the sick. One who cares for the sick cares for me, without difference."

[0767b14] fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “rǔ děng suǒ yǐ chū jiā zhě, gòng yī shī,, tóng yī shuǐ rǔ, rán gè bù xiāng zhān shì. zì jīn yǐ wǎng, dāng zhǎn zhuǎn xiāng zhān shì. shè bìng bǐ qiū wú dì zi zhě, dāng yú zhòng zhōng chà cì shǐ kàn bìng rén. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, lí cǐ yǐ, gèng bù jiàn suǒ wèi zhī chù, fú shèng shì bìng zhī rén zhě； qí zhān bìng zhě zhān wǒ wú yì.”

[0767b14] fu gao zhu bi qiu: "ru deng suo yi chu jia zhe, gong yi shi,, tong yi shui ru, ran ge bu xiang zhan shi. zi jin yi wang, dang zhan zhuan xiang zhan shi. she bing bi qiu wu di zi zhe, dang yu zhong zhong cha ci shi kan bing ren. suo yi ran zhe, li ci yi, geng bu jian suo wei zhi chu, fu sheng shi bing zhi ren zhe; qi zhan bing zhe zhan wo wu yi."

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

[0767b19] Thereupon, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

"If one offers供養 [gong yang] to me,
And to all past Buddhas,
The merit (福德 [fu de]) of offering to me,
Is no different from attending to the sick."

[0767b19] ěr shí, shì zūn biàn shuō sī jì:

“shè yǒu gōng yǎng wǒ,　　jí guò qù zhū fú,
　shī wǒ zhī fú dé,　　zhān bìng ér wú yì.”

[0767b19] er shi, shi zun bian shuo si ji:

"she you gong yang wo, ji guo qu zhu fu,
shi wo zhi fu de, zhan bing er wu yi."

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

[0767b23] At that time, the World-Honored One, having spoken this instruction, told Ānanda, "From now on, bhikkhus should attend to each other. If a bhikkhu knows and does not act, he shall be dealt with according to the Dharma-Vinaya (法律 [fa lu]). This is my instruction."

[0767b23] ěr shí, shì zūn shuō cǐ jiào yǐ, gào ā nán yuē: “zì jīn yǐ hòu zhū bǐ qiū gè gè xiāng zhān shì: ruò fù bǐ qiū zhī ér bù wèi zhě, dāng àn fǎ lǜ. cǐ shì wǒ zhī jiào jiè.”

[0767b23] er shi, shi zun shuo ci jiao yi, gao a nan yue: "zi jin yi hou zhu bi qiu ge ge xiang zhan shi: ruo fu bi qiu zhi er bu wei zhe, dang an fa lu. ci shi wo zhi jiao jie."

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

[0767b25] At that time, the bhikkhus, having heard what the Buddha had said, rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.

[0767b25] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0767b25] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.