From:
中阿含經 16 Medium Discourses 16
伽藍經 The Kālāmas
我聞如是。 Thus I have heard:
一時佛遊伽藍國與大比丘衆倶。 One time, the Buddha traveled to the country of Kālāma accompanied by a great assembly of monks.
至羇舍子。住羇舍子村北尸攝和林中 He went to [Kesaputta] and stayed in the rosewood grove to the north.
爾時羇舍子伽藍人聞沙門瞿曇釋種子捨釋宗族。出家學道。 It was then that the Kālāma people of [Kesaputta] heard that the ascetic Gautama from the Śākya clan had renounced the Śākya dynasty, left home, and trained on the path.
遊伽藍國。與大比丘衆倶。來至此羇舍子。住羇舍子村北尸攝和林中。 He had traveled to Kālāma and arrived at [Kesaputta] with a great assembly of monks and was staying in the rosewood grove to the north.
彼沙門瞿曇有大名稱。周聞十方。 That ascetic Gautama had a great reputation that was widely heard in ten directions:
沙門瞿曇如來無所著等正覺明行成爲善逝世間解無上士道法御天人師。號佛衆祐。 “The ascetic Gautama is the Tathāgata, Arhat, and Completely Awakened One who’s accomplished in knowledge and conduct, well gone, an understander of the world, an unsurpassed man, a trainer in the principles of the path, a teacher to gods and humans, and who’s called the Buddha, the Blessed One.
彼於此世。天及魔梵沙門梵志。從人至天。自知自覺。自作證成就遊。 Among the gods, Māra, Brahmā, ascetics, and priests of this world, from humans up to the gods, his own knowledge and awakening was accomplished by self-realization.
彼若説法。初善中善竟亦善。有義有文。具足清淨。顯現梵行。 When he teaches the Dharma, it’s good in the beginning, middle, and end, both its meaning and words are complete and pure, and it demonstrates the religious practice.
若見如來無所著等正覺。尊重禮拜。供養承事者。快得善利。 If someone meets the Tathāgata, Arhat, and Completely Awakened One and honors, venerates, makes offerings, and serves him, they will quickly attain good benefits.
我等應共往見沙門瞿曇。禮事供養 We should go together to see the ascetic Gautama to honor, serve, and make offerings to him.”
羇舍子伽藍人聞已。各與等類眷屬相隨從羇舍子出。北行至尸攝和林。 After the Kālāma people of [Kesaputta] heard this, they each left [Kesaputta] with their followers and went north to the rosewood grove.
欲見世尊禮事供養。 They wanted to meet the Bhagavān and venerate, serve, and make offerings to him.
往詣佛已。彼伽藍人或稽首佛足。却坐一面。 When they arrived, some of those Kālāma people bowed their heads at the Buddha’s feet and withdrew to sit at one side.
或問訊佛。却坐一面。 Some of them exchanged greetings with the Buddha and withdrew to sit at one side.
或叉手向佛。却坐一面。 Some saluted the Buddha with their palms together and withdrew to sit at one side.
或遙見佛已。默然而坐。 Some looked at the Buddha from a distance and quietly sat down.
彼時伽藍人各坐已定。佛爲説法。 After they each had sat down, the Kālāma people concentrated as the Buddha taught the Dharma.
勸發渇仰。成就歡喜。無量方便爲彼説法。 He encouraged, roused, and made them rejoice, teaching the Dharma for them with measureless methods.
勸發渇仰。成就歡喜已。默然而住。 After he encouraged, roused, and made them rejoice, he waited silently.
時伽藍人。佛爲説法。勸發渇仰。成就歡喜已。各從坐起。偏袒著衣。叉手向佛。 After the Buddha taught Dharma for them and had encouraged, roused, and made them rejoice, each of the Kālāma people rose from their seat, adjusted their robes to bare one shoulder, and saluted the Buddha with their palms together.
白世尊曰。 They then said to the Bhagavān,
瞿曇。有一沙門梵志來詣伽藍。 “Gautama, there was an ascetic or priest who came to Kālāma.
但自稱歎己所知見。而呰毀他所知所見。 He simply praised his own knowledge and views and disparaged the knowledge and views of others.
瞿曇。復有一沙門梵志來詣伽藍。亦自稱歎己所知見。而呰毀他所知所見。 Gautama, there was another ascetic or priest who came to Kālāma, and he too praised his own knowledge and views and disparaged the knowledge and views of others.
瞿曇。我等聞已。便生疑惑。 Gautama, after listening to them, we had this doubt,
此沙門梵志何者爲實。何者爲虚。 ‘Which of these ascetics or priests is genuine and which of them is false?’”
世尊告曰。 The Bhagavān told them,
伽藍。汝等莫生疑惑。 “Kālāmas, don’t have these doubts.
所以者何。 Why is that?
因有疑惑。便生猶豫。 As a result of having doubts, you’ll become hesitant.
伽藍。汝等自無淨智。 Kālāmas, they comes from your own lack of pure knowledge.
爲有後世。爲無後世。 ‘Is there an afterlife or no afterlife?’
伽藍。汝等亦無淨智。所作有罪。所作無罪。 Kālāmas, you also lack pure knowledge about which actions are blameworthy and which are blameless.
伽藍。當知諸業有三。因習本有。 Kālāmas, you should know that there are three actions that have caused past existences.
何云爲三。 What are the three?
伽藍。謂貪是諸業。因習本有。 “Kālāmas, actions of greed have caused past existences.
伽藍。恚及癡是諸業。因習本有。 Kālāmas, actions of anger and delusion have caused past existences.
伽藍。貪者爲貪所覆。 Kālāmas, ‘greed’ means to be hindered by greed.
心無厭足。或殺生。或不與取。或行邪婬。或知已妄言。或復飮酒。 When the mind lacks satisfaction, sometimes a person kills beings, takes what’s not given, commits sexual misconduct, knowingly lies, and drinks alcohol.
伽藍。恚者爲恚所覆。 “Kālāmas, ‘anger’ means to be hindered by anger.
心無厭足。或殺生。或不與取。或行邪婬。或知已妄言。或復飮酒。 When the mind lacks satisfaction, sometimes a person kills beings, takes what’s not given, commits sexual misconduct, knowingly lies, and drinks alcohol.
伽藍。癡者爲癡所覆。 “Kālāmas, ‘delusion’ means to be hindered by delusion.
心無厭足。或殺生。或不與取。或行邪婬。或知已妄言。或復飮酒。 When the mind lacks satisfaction, sometimes a person kills beings, takes what’s not given, commits sexual misconduct, knowingly lies, and drinks alcohol.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子離殺斷殺。棄捨刀杖。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with killing, stops killing, and discards the knife and bludgeon.
有慚有愧。有慈悲心。饒益一切。乃至蜫蟲。 With conscience and modesty and with kindness and compassion, they are beneficial to all living things, even insects and worms.
彼於殺生淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of killing living things.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子離不與取。斷不與取。與之乃取。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with taking what’s not given, stops taking what’s not given, and takes after something is given.
樂於與取。常好布施。 They are happy with taking what is given and always like generosity.
歡喜無吝。不望其報。 Rejoicing in having no stinginess, they don’t expect any reward.
彼於不與取淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of taking what’s not given.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子離非梵行。斷非梵行。勤修梵行 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with what’s not the religious life, stops what’s not the religious life, and diligently cultivates the religious life.
精勤妙行。 Diligent is their wondrous conduct.
清淨無穢。離欲斷婬。 They are pure and undefiled, part with desire, and stop lust.
彼於非梵行淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of what’s not the religious life.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離妄言斷妄言。眞諦言樂眞諦。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with false speech, stops false speech, and speaks truly.
住眞諦不移動一切可信不欺世間。 They enjoy truth, abide in truth, and don’t budge from it.
彼於妄言淨除其心。 They are believed by all and don’t deceive the worldly.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離兩舌斷兩舌。行不兩舌。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with duplicity, stops duplicity, and practices what’s not duplicitous.
不破壞他。 They don’t divide others.
不聞此語彼欲破壞此。 They don’t hear something here and tell it there with the desire to divide those here.
不聞彼語此欲破壞彼。 They don’t hear something there and tell it here with the desire to divide those there.
離者欲合合者歡喜。 They want to bring the estranged together, and they rejoice for those who are united.
不作群黨不樂群黨不稱群黨。 They don’t act partisan, don’t enjoy partisanship, and don’t commend partisanship.
彼於兩舌淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of duplicity.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離麤言斷麤言。若有所言辭氣麤獷惡聲逆耳。衆所不喜衆所不愛。使他苦惱令不得定斷如是言。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with coarse speech and stops coarse speech.
若有所説清和柔潤順耳入心。可喜可愛使他安樂言聲具了不使人畏。令他得定説如是言。 If something said is in expression or feeling coarse and mean, bad sounding and disagreeable to the ear, that displeases many and isn’t loved by many, that causes others to suffer, or that makes concentration impossible, they stop such words.
彼於麤言淨除其心。 If some expression is clear, peaceful, and flexible, that agrees with the ear and enters the mind, that’s pleasing and lovely, that causes the well-being of others, that uses words and sounds that are completely understandable, that don’t cause people to be frightened, and that allow others to concentrate, then they speak such words.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離綺語斷綺語。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple parts with fancy speech and stops fancy speech.
時説眞説法説義説止息説。 [They speak] timely speech, true speech, Dharma speech, purposeful speech, and calming speech.
樂止息説。事順時得宜。善教善訶。 They enjoy calming speech, perform tasks in a timely way as appropriate, and they well teach and well admonish [others].
彼於綺語淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of fancy speech.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離貪伺斷貪伺。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple is free of longing and stops longing.
心不懷諍。 They don’t harbor quarrels in their mind.
見他財物諸生活具。不起貪伺欲令我得。 Seeing the valuables of others and their requisites for living, they don’t long for or wish to obtain them for themselves.
彼於貪伺淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of longing.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離恚斷恚。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple is free of anger and stops anger.
有慚有愧有慈悲心。饒益一切乃至蜫虫。 With conscience and modesty and with kindness and compassion, they’re beneficial to all living things, even insects and worms.
彼於嫉恚淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of animosity.
伽藍。多聞聖弟子。離邪見斷邪見。 “Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple is free of wrong view and stops wrong view.
行於正見而不顛倒。 They conduct themselves in right view and aren’t mistaken.
如是見如是説。 Thus viewing and thus speaking, [they say]:
有施有齋亦有呪説。 ‘There’s generosity, purification, and incantations.
有善惡業報。 There’s the results of good and bad actions.
有此世彼世。 There’s the present world and another world.
有父有母。 There’s father and mother.
世有眞人。往至善處善去善向 The world truly has people who depart and go to good places, good departures, and good headings.
此世彼世。自知自覺自作證成就遊。 In this world and another world, their own knowledge and awakening is accomplished by self-realization.’
彼於邪見淨除其心。 They purify their mind and rid it of wrong views.
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。成就身淨業。成就口意淨業。 “Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple achieves pure physical conduct and achieves pure verbal and mental conduct.
離恚離諍除去睡眠。 They’re free of anger, free of dispute, and they abandon drowsiness.
無調貢高斷疑度慢。 Without agitation or arrogance, they end doubt and free themselves from conceit.
正念正智無有愚癡。 With right mindfulness and right knowledge, they have no delusions.
彼心與慈倶遍滿一方成就遊。 “They pervade one direction with both mind and kindness.
如是二三四方。四維上下 They do so in two, three, or four directions, the four counterpoints, and up and down.
普周一切心與慈倶 They completely pervade them all with both their mind and kindness.
無結無怨無恚無諍。極廣甚大 It’s without fetters, without enmity, without anger, without disputation, and very broad and great.
無量善修。遍滿一切世間成就遊。 Measureless and well cultivated, they accomplish the filling of the whole world.
如是悲喜心與捨倶 “So it is with both their mind and compassion … joy … equanimity.
無結無怨無恚無諍。極廣甚大 It’s without fetters, without enmity, without anger, without disputation, and very broad and great.
無量善修。遍滿一切世間成就遊。 Measureless and well cultivated, they accomplish the filling of the whole world.
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 “Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
便得四安隱住處。 They readily attain four peaceful dwelling places.
云何爲四。 What are the four?
有此世彼世。有善惡業報。 ‘There’s the present world and another world, and there are the results of good and bad actions.
我得此正見相應業受持具足。 I’ve attained this right view associated with actions, upholding and perfecting it.
身壞命終必至善處乃生天上。 When my body breaks up and my life ends, I’ll surely go to a good place and be born up in the heavens.’
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第一安隱住處。 This is called attaining the first peaceful dwelling place.
復次伽藍。 “Furthermore, Kālāmas:
無此世彼世。無善惡業報。 ‘“There’s no present world or another world and no results of good and bad actions.”
如是我於現法中。非以此故爲他所毀。 I don’t criticize others for such [views] here in the present.
但爲正智所稱譽。 I simply praise those of right knowledge.
精進人正見人説其有。 Those who make effort and those of right view say those [things] exist.’
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第二安隱住處。 This is called attaining the second peaceful dwelling place.
復次伽藍。 “Furthermore, Kālāmas:
若有所作必不作惡我不念惡。 ‘If I do anything, I mustn’t do evil; I won’t think of evil.
所以者何。 Why is that?
自不作惡。苦何由生。 Where will suffering come from if I don’t do evil?’
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第三安隱住處。 This is called the third peaceful dwelling place.
復次伽藍。 “Furthermore, Kālāmas:
若有所作必不作惡。 ‘If I do anything, I mustn’t do evil.
我不犯世怖與不怖。 I won’t transgress worldly fears and non-fears.
常當慈愍一切世間。 I’ll always have compassion for the whole world.
我心不與衆生共諍。 My thoughts won’t be to fight with sentient beings.
無濁歡悦。 They’ll be unsullied and joyous.’
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第四安隱住處。 This is called the fourth peaceful dwelling place.
如是伽藍。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 “Thus, Kālāmas, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得四安隱住處。 These are called the four peaceful dwelling places.
伽藍白世尊曰。 The Kālāmas said to the Bhagavān,
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。得四安隱住處。 “Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation and attains four peaceful dwelling places.
云何爲四。 What are the four?
有此世彼世。有善惡業報。 ‘There’s the present world and another world, and there are the results of good and bad actions.
我得此正見相應業受持具足。 I’ve attained this right view associated with actions, upholding and perfecting it.
身壞命終必至善處。乃生天上。 When my body breaks up and my life ends, I’ll surely go to a good place and be born up in the heavens.’
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第一安隱住處。 This is called attaining the first peaceful dwelling place.
復次瞿曇。 “Furthermore, Gautama:
若無此世彼世。無善惡業報。 ‘“There’s no present world or another world and no results of good and bad actions.”
我於現法中。非以此故爲他所毀。 I don’t criticize others for such [views] here in the present.
但爲正智所稱譽。 I simply praise those of right knowledge.
精進人正見人説其有。 Those who makes effort and those of right view say those [things] exist.’
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第二安隱住處。 This is called attaining the second peaceful dwelling place.
復次瞿曇。 “Furthermore, Gautama:
若有所作必不作惡我不念惡。 ‘If I do anything, I mustn’t do evil; I won’t think of evil.
所以者何。 Why is that?
自不作惡。苦何由生。 Where will suffering come from if I don’t do evil?’
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第三安隱住處。 This is called the third peaceful dwelling place.
復次瞿曇。 “Furthermore, Gautama:
若有所作必不作惡。 ‘If I do anything, I mustn’t do evil.
我不犯世怖與不怖。 I won’t transgress worldly fears and non-fears.
常當慈愍一切世間。 I’ll always have compassion for the whole world.
我心不與衆生共諍。 My thoughts won’t be to fight with sentient beings.
無濁歡悦。 They’ll be unsullied and joyous.’
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得第四安隱住處。 This is called the fourth peaceful dwelling place.
如是瞿曇。多聞聖弟子。心無結無怨無恚無諍。 “Thus, Gautama, the well-versed noble disciple’s mind is without fetters, without enmity, without anger, and without disputation.
是謂得四安隱住處。 These are called the four peaceful dwelling places.
瞿曇。我已知。善逝。我已解。世尊。 “Gautama, we’ve realized it, Sugata; we’ve understood it, Bhagavān.
我等盡自歸佛法及比丘衆。 We all take our refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and the community of monks.
唯願世尊。受我等爲優婆塞。 Please let the Bhagavān accept us as laymen.
從今日始終身自歸乃至命盡。 Starting today, these [three jewels] will be our personal refuge for the rest of our lives.”
佛説如是 The Buddha spoke thus.
一切伽藍人及諸比丘聞佛所説。歡喜奉行 All the Kālāma people and the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and handed it down.