尊上經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Bhagavān was dwelling at Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika. At that time the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya was dwelling among the Śākyans, in an Araṇya cave. Then the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, rising early at dawn, came out of the cave and went to an open place where he set up a rope bed, spread out his sitting mat, and sat down cross-legged.

Then a certain deva of exceedingly beautiful form, at the break of dawn, came to where Lomasakaṅgiya was; having arrived, he bowed his head at the feet of the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya and then stood to one side. Because of the radiance of that deva, the whole cave was illuminated. The deva, standing to one side, said to the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya:

"Bhikṣu! Bhikṣu, do you hold the verse of the Auspicious One and are you able to explain its meaning?"

When he had spoken thus, the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya replied to the deva:

"Deva, I do not hold the verse of the Auspicious One, nor am I able to explain its meaning. And you, deva, do you hold the verse of the Auspicious One and are you able to explain it?"

When he had spoken thus, the deva replied to the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya:

"Bhikṣu, I receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One, but I am not able to explain its meaning."

"Why is that? You receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One but are not able to explain it?"

"Bhikṣu, at one time I heard the Bhagavān, while dwelling at Rājagṛha, in the Bamboo Grove of Kalandaka, speak this verse of the Auspicious One to the bhikṣus:

Thus, Bhikṣu, I receive and hold this verse of the Auspicious One, but I am not able to explain its meaning."

"Then, deva, who holds the verse of the Auspicious One and is able to explain its meaning?"

"Bhikṣu, the Bhagavān is dwelling at Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika. He holds this verse of the Auspicious One and is able to explain its meaning. Therefore, Bhikṣu, follow the Bhagavān: receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One and understand its meaning; ponder it well, remember it, recite it, and uphold it.

Why is this so? Bhikṣu, the verse of the Auspicious One and the meaning of the verse are meaning, are Dharma; they lead to the holy life, accomplish the spiritual penetrations, and even reach the supreme path, in accord with Nirvāṇa. This son of good family who has faith and delights in studying the Way, who has faith and delights in going forth, leaving the home life to study the Way, should receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One and its meaning; he must ponder it well, remember it, and reverently uphold it."

When the deva had spoken, he bowed his head at the feet of the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, circumambulated the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, and then vanished. Then the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, not long after the deva had departed, went to the country of the Śākyans to keep the rains retreat; having kept the rains retreat for three months and having mended his robes, he took up his bowl and set out for Śrāvastī. Traveling in stages, he arrived at Śrāvastī, where he stopped at the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika. Then the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya went to where the Bhagavān was; having arrived, he bowed at the feet of the Buddha and then stood to one side. Standing to one side, the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya said to the Bhagavān:

"World-Honored One! At one time I was dwelling among the Śākyans, in a solitary cave. World-Honored One, rising early at dawn, I came out of the cave and went to an open place where I set up a rope bed, spread out my sitting mat, and sat down cross-legged. Then a certain deva of exceedingly beautiful form, at the break of dawn, came to where I was; having arrived, he bowed his head at my feet and then stood to one side. The radiance of that deva illuminated the whole cave. The deva, standing to one side, said to me:

"Bhikṣu! Bhikṣu, do you hold the verse of the Auspicious One and understand the meaning of that verse?"

When he had spoken thus, I answered the deva:

"Deva, I do not hold the verse of the Auspicious One, nor do I understand the meaning of that verse. Venerable sir, do you then receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One and understand the meaning of that verse?"

When I had spoken thus, the deva answered me:

"Bhikṣu, I receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One, but I do not know the meaning of the verse."

"Deva, why do you receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One yet not understand the meaning of the verse?"

"Bhikṣu, at one time I heard the Bhagavān, while dwelling at Rājagṛha, in the Bamboo Grove of Kalandaka, speak this verse of the Auspicious One to the bhikṣus, but He did not explain its meaning. (The verse is as above.) Thus, Bhikṣu, I receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One but am not able to explain it."

"Deva, how then? Who holds the verse of the Auspicious One and is able to explain the meaning of that verse?"

The deva said:

"Bhikṣu, the Bhagavān is dwelling at Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika. He holds this verse of the Auspicious One and is able to understand the meaning of that verse. Therefore, Bhikṣu, you should follow the Bhagavān: receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One and read and understand the meaning of this verse; ponder it, remember it, and reverently practice that verse.

Why is this so? Bhikṣu, the verse of the Auspicious One and the meaning of that verse are the meaning and the practice of the Dharma of the holy life; they accomplish the spiritual penetrations, even reaching the utmost path, also in accord with Nirvāṇa. That son of a noble family who has faith and delights in studying the Way, who has faith and delights in going forth, leaving the home life to study the Way, should receive and hold the verse of the Auspicious One and study and understand the meaning of that verse.

Ponder it well, remember it, and reverently uphold it."

When the deva had spoken, he bowed at my feet, circumambulated me, and then suddenly vanished."

The Buddha said:

"Kaṅgiya! Do you know the name of that deva?"

"World-Honored One, I do not know the name of that deva."

"Kaṅgiya, that deva is named the deva-son Padmaka, a great general in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three."

"World-Honored One, now is the right time. Well-Gone One, now is the right time. May the Bhagavān speak the verse of the Auspicious One and the meaning of the verse for the bhikṣus to hear. When the Bhagavān has taught it, the bhikṣus will reverently uphold it."

"Kaṅgiya, ponder it well, listen, ponder it well and remember it; I shall speak it for you."

"Even so, World-Honored One!"

The Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya received the teaching of the World-Honored One. The Bhagavān spoke this verse (as above).

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu to recall and dwell upon the past? Kaṅgiya, a bhikṣu, with regard to past form, rejoices in it, is attached to it, and abides in it; or with regard to past sensation (vedanā), perception, formations, and consciousness, rejoices in them, is attached to them, and abides in them. In this way, Kaṅgiya, the bhikṣu recalls and dwells upon the past.

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu not to recall and dwell upon the past? Kaṅgiya, a bhikṣu, with regard to past form, does not delight in it, is not attached to it, and does not abide in it; with regard to past sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness, he likewise does not delight in them, is not attached to them, and does not abide in them. In this way, Kaṅgiya, the bhikṣu does not recall and dwell upon the past.

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu to long for the future? Kaṅgiya, a bhikṣu longs for form in the future, and rejoices in it, or is attached to it, or abides in it; or with regard to sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness in the future, he rejoices in them, is attached to them, or abides in them. In this way, Kaṅgiya, this is the bhikṣu recalling and dwelling upon the future.

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu not to long for the future? Kaṅgiya, a bhikṣu, with regard to form in the future, has no rejoicing, no attachment, and does not abide in it; or with regard to sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness in the future, he likewise has no rejoicing, no attachment, and does not abide in them. In this way, Kaṅgiya, this is the bhikṣu not longing for the future.

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu to contemplate the present dharma? Kaṅgiya, this is a bhikṣu who delights in present form, is attached to it, and abides in it; with regard to present sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness, he likewise delights in them, is attached to them, and abides in them. In this way, Kaṅgiya, this is called the bhikṣu contemplating and dwelling upon the present dharma.

Kaṅgiya, what is it for a bhikṣu not to contemplate and dwell upon the present, right in the present? Kaṅgiya, a bhikṣu, with regard to present form, has no delight, no attachment, and no abiding; with regard to sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness, he likewise has no delight, no attachment, and does not abide in them. This is the bhikṣu who, with regard to the present dharma, does not contemplate and dwell upon it.

When the Buddha had spoken thus, the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, hearing what the World-Honored One had said, was joyful and delighted.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA OF THE SUPREMELY HONORED ONE