離睡經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Bhagavān was dwelling in the Deer Park at Bhaggi, at Suṃsumāragiri.

At that time the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana was staying in the village of Kalyāṇa-mitra (Good Friend), in the country of Magadha. At that time the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana, dwelling alone in a quiet place practicing walking meditation, was afflicted with drowsiness. The World-Honored One knew that the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana, dwelling alone in a quiet place to practice walking meditation, was being overcome by drowsiness.

Then the World-Honored One, having known that the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana, dwelling alone in a quiet place to practice walking meditation, was being overcome by drowsiness, immediately entered the right concentration of the samādhi called Tathāgata. By the power of that samādhi, as swiftly as a strong man bends or stretches his arm in an instant, even so the World-Honored One, who was in the Deer Park at Bhaggi, at Suṃsumāragiri, suddenly vanished and went to the village of Kalyāṇa-mitra (Good Friend), in the country of Magadha, and stood before the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana. Then the World-Honored One arose from concentration and said to the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana:

"Maudgalyāyana! Maudgalyāyana! Are you afflicted with drowsiness?"

"Yes indeed, World-Honored One."

The Buddha taught:

"Whatever the thought may be that gives rise to drowsiness, do not pursue that perception, do not discriminate that perception, do not discriminate it much. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness. If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then according to the Dharma as you have heard it, according to the Dharma as you have recited it, you should expand it broadly and recite and practice it. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then according to the Dharma as you have heard it, according to the Dharma as you have recited it, you should expound it widely for others to hear. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then according to the Dharma as you have recited it, according to the Dharma as you have heard it, your mind should reflect upon it and you should practice it. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then take cold water, wash your eyes, and pour it over your whole body. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then with both hands rub the rims of your ears. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then rise up and go out of the lecture hall, gaze all around in the four directions, and gaze upon the stars. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then in an open piece of ground leisurely practice walking meditation, guard the sense faculties, keep your mind upon what is to be done, and thereafter give rise to all the perceptions. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then return, walk in meditation no more, spread the sitting cloth (niṣīdana) upon the bed, and sit in the full lotus posture. In this way you will be able to be free from drowsiness.

"If you still cannot be free from drowsiness, Maudgalyāyana, then return to the lecture hall, fold the uttarāsaṅga robe in four and spread it upon the bed, fold the saṅghāṭī robe to make a pillow, lie down upon your right side with your two feet placed one upon the other, give rise to the perception of light (the perception of brightness), do not let the mind be disturbed, and constantly give rise to the perception of wishing to wake up.

Maudgalyāyana, do not crave the pleasure of beds and couches, do not crave the pleasure of lying down to sleep upon the right side, do not crave sleep and rest, do not crave the flavor of the world's reverence. Why is this? Maudgalyāyana, because I do not say: 'All things may be drawn near to (associated with).' Nor do I say: 'All things may not be drawn near to (associated with).'

"Maudgalyāyana, why do I say: 'All things may not be drawn near to'? Maudgalyāyana, I say that one should not draw near to the white-robed (laypeople). Maudgalyāyana, if one draws near to the white-robed, then one must converse with them but not recite and practice with them; and through conversing with them there arises flattery and deceit, and arrogance; and because there is arrogance there comes to be jealousy; and because there is jealousy one cannot know tranquility. Maudgalyāyana, if one does not know tranquility one is therefore far removed from samādhi. Maudgalyāyana, for this reason I say that those things may not be drawn near to.

"Maudgalyāyana, why do I say that those things should be drawn near to? Maudgalyāyana, go to a secluded place, take a mat of grass for a bed, remain silent without speaking, keep far from all evil, withdraw from all people, and constantly sit in contemplation. Maudgalyāyana, for this reason I say that those things should be drawn near to.

"Maudgalyāyana, if you enter a village to beg for alms, do not do so for the sake of seeking gain and support, do not do so for the sake of seeking reverence. Maudgalyāyana, put an end to the intention of seeking gain, support, and reverence, and only then enter the village to beg for alms.

"Maudgalyāyana, when you enter the village to beg for alms, do not give rise to the intention of entering other people's houses. Why? Maudgalyāyana, the householder's house has many worldly affairs. If a bhikṣu, upon entering a householder's house, is not invited by them, that bhikṣu then thinks thus: 'Who has said something to this householder about me, that the householder will not speak with me?' He then has a mind of anger and resentment, and because he has a mind of anger and resentment he then has haughtiness, and because he has haughtiness his mind is not tranquil. Maudgalyāyana, because the mind is not tranquil it is then far removed from samādhi.

"Maudgalyāyana, if at the time of expounding the Dharma, do not think of winning or losing; have the thought of not seeking to prevail. If you have the thought of contending for victory, then there will be many words; because there are many words there will be haughtiness; because of haughtiness there will be envy; and on account of envy there will be no tranquility. Maudgalyāyana, because there is no tranquility, I say one is far removed from samādhi.

"Maudgalyāyana, if at the time of expounding the Dharma you must speak beneficial words, you must speak decisive words, and say nothing else. Discourse like the roar of the lion. Thus, Maudgalyāyana, you should train yourself in this way."

Then the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana rose up from his seat, stood to one side, arranged his robe, joined his palms toward the World-Honored One, and addressed the World-Honored One, saying: "Yes indeed, World-Honored One! In what way does a bhikṣu reach the ultimate, the ultimate freedom from defilement, the ultimate practice of the holy life?"

The World-Honored One said: "Maudgalyāyana! If a bhikṣu is afflicted with painful illness, whether he feels a painful feeling, a pleasant feeling, or a feeling that is neither painful nor pleasant, that bhikṣu should contemplate that pain as impermanent, should contemplate it as subject to decay, should contemplate it as free from defilement, should contemplate it as utterly extinguished, should contemplate it as cessation (relinquishment), should contemplate it as a place of resting.

He should contemplate that pain in this way. He should contemplate that pain as not abiding permanently, should contemplate it as subject to decay, should contemplate it as free from defilement, should contemplate it as utterly extinguished, should contemplate it as cessation, should contemplate it as firmly abiding. He then does not cling to this world; because he does not cling he is without fear, and so he attains Nirvāṇa with remainder.

Birth has been exhausted, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, and he knows clearly concerning name-and-form. Maudgalyāyana, this is a bhikṣu who has reached the ultimate, the ultimate freedom from defilement, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate practice of the holy life."

The Buddha having spoken thus, the venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana, having heard what the Buddha taught in this way, was joyful and delighted.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA ON DISPELLING DROWSINESS