梵志計水淨經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Bhagavān, having just attained the Way, was dwelling alone beneath a tree on the bank of the Uruvelā River (at the border of Magadha).

At that time there was a brahmin named Sundarika-Bhāradvāja who, after midday, came at his ease to where the World-Honored One was. The World-Honored One saw from afar the brahmin Sundarika-Bhāradvāja approaching. On account of seeing the brahmin Sundarika-Bhāradvāja, He then said to the bhikṣus:

"If there are these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one will fall into the evil destinies and be born in the Niraya hells.

"What are the twenty-one things that bind the mind? They are: wrong view binding the mind, unrighteous desire, deceit, the wrong dharmas of the world, greed, hatred, indolence, drowsiness, frivolity, lack of a sense of shame, doubt, anger, resentment, stinginess, jealousy, lack of joyful relinquishment, crooked flattery, illusory trickery, being without shame and without remorse, envy and excessive envy, and heedlessness binding the mind. If there are these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one will fall into the evil destinies and be born in the Niraya hells.

"It is like the soiled garment of a child, which its owner hands to a dyer or to a dyer's apprentice. The dyer soaks the garment in lye water, or in soap-nut water, or in washing powder, and scrubs it most thoroughly so as to make the garment exceedingly clean. Although the dyer or his apprentice has soaked the garment in lye water, soap-nut water, or washing powder and then scrubbed it most thoroughly to make the garment exceedingly clean, yet because that child's garment originally had many grimy black stains (it still retains a soiled color). In the same way, if there are these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one straightaway falls into the evil destinies and is born in the Niraya hells.

"What are the twenty-one? They are wrong view binding the mind, on through to heedlessness binding the mind. If there are these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one straightaway falls into the evil destinies and is born in the Niraya hells. If there are not these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one is straightaway born in a good place, among the heavens. What are the twenty-one? They are (the absence of) wrong view binding the mind, on through to (the absence of) heedlessness binding the mind. If there are not these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one is straightaway born in a good place, among the heavens.

"It is like a garment woven of Vārāṇasī cloth, which its owner hands to a dyer or to his apprentice (to be dyed). The dyer uses lye, or soap-nut powder, or washing powder to soak the garment, then scrubs and launders it so as to make the garment truly clean. Although that Vārāṇasī-cloth garment has been soaked by the dyer or his apprentice in lye water or soap-nut powder and then scrubbed and laundered most thoroughly to make it clean, yet that Vārāṇasī-cloth garment was originally clean, and now it becomes whiter and cleaner still. In the same way, if there are not these twenty-one things that bind the mind, one is straightaway born in a good place, among the heavens.

"What are the twenty-one? They are wrong view binding the mind, on through to heedlessness binding the mind. (If these are absent) one is straightaway born in a good place, among the heavens.

"Wrong view binding the mind—having seen it, one must discard it; on through to heedlessness binding the mind—having seen it, one must discard it. The mind of such a one dwells together with loving-kindness, pervading one direction, abiding in right concentration (samādhi). In the same way, on through to the second direction, the third direction, the fourth direction, the four intermediate directions, above and below, encompassing all, dwelling together with loving-kindness, without harm, without anger, vast and boundless, immeasurable, free of all discrimination, pervading one direction and then abiding in right concentration. In the same way, the mind dwelling together with compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity pervades all the directions and then abides in right concentration.

"This is the brahmin who washes clean both within and without, and not merely clean on the outside alone."

At that time the brahmin said to the World-Honored One:

"Gautama! Come to the river to bathe. Gautama, the river water washes clean; it accords with moral discipline, accords with merit, and accords with the deliverance of all the world. Gautama, all the people of the world who use water to bathe will rid themselves of all evil; bathing and cleansing themselves gently in the pure water, even ordinary people will thereby ever obtain peace and joy."

"But water cannot remove dark deeds. Though one uses that pure water, what does the water see in itself? As for one who commits evil deeds, how could this water be able to wash him clean? If you wish for firm purity, then keep the moral precepts, practice the conduct of diligence, and ever be in accord with the precepts. If you do not kill, steal, or speak falsely, you will attain deliverance. Brahmin, abide right here; do all that is wholesome, and you will gain peace and security.

"Brahmin, what need is there to return home? What need is there to be outside the home? Brahmin, you should seek the pure and wholesome Dharma; what need have you of that base and evil water, which only removes outer dust and defilement?"

"Gautama, someone might think: 'One need only seek the pure and wholesome Dharma; there is no need for that base and evil water, which only removes outer dust and defilement.' It is enough, Gautama. Now I take refuge in the World-Honored One, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha of bhikṣus. World-Honored One, I ask to become an upāsaka from this day forth until the end of my life. I take refuge in the Buddha and forsake the taking of life."

Thus spoke the Buddha. When the bhikṣus had heard what the World-Honored One said, they rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA OF THE BRAHMIN SUNDARIKA-BHĀRADVĀJA