佛說呵雕阿那鋡經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. Hadiao the Anāgāmin led five hundred upāsakas to the place of Śāriputra; they paid homage and then withdrew to sit to one side. Śāriputra expounded the sūtra for them. Having heard it, everyone was greatly delighted and then withdrew.

At that time, everyone went to the place of the Buddha, bowed their heads and faces to the Buddha's feet, joined their palms, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and then sat to one side.

The Buddha asked Hadiao the Anāgāmin:

"By what merits have you been able to teach and transform these five hundred disciples so that they follow you?"

Hadiao the Anāgāmin then knelt, joined his palms, and said:

"I have constantly upheld four things the Buddha taught."

What are the four?

1. Giving to others.

2. Speaking perfect words.

3. Looking after one's friends, providing them in full with the things they need to use.

4. Helping friends with wealth and goods without calculation.

The Buddha said:

"Excellent! Excellent! The Buddhas of the past did not neglect these four matters. The Buddhas of the future will not neglect these four matters. The Buddhas of the present likewise do not neglect these four matters."

Having heard the Buddha expound the sūtra, Hadiao the Anāgāmin and everyone were greatly delighted and withdrew.

Returning home, Hadiao the Anāgāmin called out his servants and bondservants, had them sit before him, and then expounded the sūtra, revealing and explaining it to them, speaking of the paths of good and evil and of birth and death.

Then he went up to the upper hall and called out the storekeepers and the serving maids before him, and expounded the sūtra and the precepts for them. All were greatly delighted.

Then he went up to the rear hall and expounded the sūtra and the precepts for the wives and the women.

After that he went to the main hall of the proper fast and observance of the precepts, ascended his seat, and sat upright with right mindfulness, and at once attained concentration of mind.

At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings of the first heaven invited the devas to assemble together, and together they praised the merits of Hadiao the Anāgāmin. The greatest king among the four heavenly kings descended and came to the place of Hadiao the Anāgāmin to praise his merits.

At that moment, Hadiao the Anāgāmin, having attained concentration of mind, did not answer the words of the heavenly king.

A bhikṣu who was beside the Buddha came to the house of Hadiao the Anāgāmin. He at once rose to welcome the bhikṣu and invited him to sit before him.

The bhikṣu said:

"Within the assembly, the Buddha often praises your merits."

Hadiao the Anāgāmin asked the bhikṣu:

"When the Buddha praised me, were there any lay practitioners present?"

The bhikṣu replied:

"There were no lay practitioners. If there had been lay practitioners, what suspicion would it have given rise to?"

Hadiao the Anāgāmin said:

"The Buddha speaks true words. I fear that lay practitioners who do not believe will fall into hell. If those who believe the Buddha's words were to come and serve me and give to me—I do not like to trouble others. For this reason I asked as I did."

The bhikṣu took his leave and departed.

Hadiao the Anāgāmin said:

"Perhaps from early until now, Venerable, you have not eaten anything. I invite you, Venerable, to stay and receive a meal."

Having said this, he then went to fetch water and food.

When the eating and drinking were finished, the bhikṣu returned and said to the Buddha:

"I went to the house of Hadiao the Anāgāmin and said:

'Within the assembly, the Buddha often praises Hadiao the Anāgāmin.'

Thereupon, he asked me: 'When the Buddha praised me, were there any lay practitioners present?'

I said: 'There were no lay practitioners. If there had been lay practitioners, what suspicion would it have given rise to?'

Hadiao the Anāgāmin said:

'The Buddha praised me with sincere words, without error. Lay practitioners who do not believe the Buddha's words will fall into hell. If they believe, then again they will come and serve me. I do not like to trouble others. For this reason I asked as I did.'"

The Buddha said:

"Excellent! Excellent! I have not yet told you of the seven matters of Hadiao the Anāgāmin. Now I add one more matter, making eight matters."

What are the eight?

1. He does not seek anything, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

2. He has faith, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

3. He knows to fear transgressions, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

4. He knows shame, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

5. He is diligent, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

6. He contemplates himself, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

7. He attains dhyāna, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

8. He is penetratingly wise, yet he does not wish people to know of it.

The reason he does not wish people to know is this: not wishing to trouble others, he therefore does not wish to let others know of it.

When the Buddha had finished expounding the sūtra, all the bhikṣus were greatly delighted, and came forward to pay homage to the Buddha.

THE SŪTRA SPOKEN BY THE BUDDHA ON HADIAO THE ANĀGĀMIN

The End