佛說放牛經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park in Jeta's Grove.

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

"If a cowherd accomplishes eleven things, his herd of cattle will never increase, nor will he be able to keep the cattle safe. What are the eleven? The cowherd does not distinguish form, does not understand the marks, does not curry-comb them when they need to be curried,[147] does not cover their open sores, does not smoke them out at the proper times, does not know the fertile fields where grass is abundant, does not know the places that are safe, does not know the fords where cattle can cross the river, does not know what is timely,[148] when milking he milks them dry and does not know to leave some, and when the cattle have grown large and can be used he does not tend them in due season.[149]

"Bhikṣus, these are the eleven things which, if a cowherd accomplishes them, make him unable to develop his herd of cattle, unable to care for their bodies. Here it is the same with a bhikṣu among the assembly: he will be unable to gain any benefit. What are the eleven? He does not distinguish form, does not clearly understand the marks, does not curry-comb when currying is needed, does not cover open sores, does not smoke out at the proper times, does not know the fertile fields where grass is abundant, does not know the places that are safe, does not know the fords where cattle can cross the river, does not know the right time to feed, does not know to leave some, and does not respect and give special honor to the elder bhikṣus.

"How is it that a bhikṣu does not know form? Here, bhikṣus, there are the four great elements and form derived from the four great elements, of which he is wholly ignorant. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know form.

"How is it that a bhikṣu does not clearly understand the marks? Here, a bhikṣu does not know which conduct is foolish and which conduct is wise; none of this does he know as it really is. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to clearly understand the marks.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he needs to curry-comb but does not curry-comb? Here, a bhikṣu, upon seeing a form, at once gives rise to a perception of form, has various distracted thoughts, and does not guard the eye-faculty; because he does not skillfully collect his mindfulness [794a] he brings about piled-up calamities,[150] and does not guard the eye-faculty.[151] In the same way, a bhikṣu, when the ear hears a sound, the nose smells a scent, the tongue tastes a flavor, the body contacts something smooth, and the mind cognizes a dharma, gives rise to various mixed and distracted perceptions, and likewise does not protect the mind-faculty, does not correct his conduct. Bhikṣus, this is what it means to need to curry-comb but not curry-comb.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not cover the wound? Here a bhikṣu gives rise to a perception of desire and does not relinquish it, nor does he remove that thought. Or he gives rise to a perception of anger, a perception of harming, gives rise to various evil and unwholesome perceptions and never casts them off.[152] Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to cover the wound.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not smoke out at the proper times? Here, the dharmas that a bhikṣu has recited he does not at the proper times speak for others to hear. In this way, bhikṣus, he does not smoke out at the proper times.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not know the fertile fields where grass is abundant? Here, a bhikṣu does not know the four bases of mindfulness; he does not know them as they really are. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know the fertile fields where grass is abundant.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not know the place to cross the river? Here a bhikṣu does not know the Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know the place to cross the river.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not know what is to be cherished?[153] Here, a bhikṣu, with regard to the twelvefold divisions: Sūtra, Geya, Vyākaraṇa, Gāthā, Nidāna, Itivṛttaka, Vaipulya, Avadāna, Jātaka, Upadeśa, the Extensive and Universal, and Marvelous Dharmas. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know what is to be cherished.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not know what is timely? Here, a bhikṣu goes to lowly houses, to gambling houses. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know what is timely.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not know to leave some? Here, a bhikṣu has brahmins and upāsakas, people of faith, who come to invite him. But this bhikṣu, greedy for food and drink, does not know when he has enough and stops. Bhikṣus, this is what it means not to know to leave some.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he does not respect the elder bhikṣus of lofty virtue? Here, a bhikṣu does not give rise to a mind of reverence for those who possess virtue. Such a bhikṣu has many transgressions. This is called a bhikṣu who does not respect the elders.

"If any bhikṣu accomplishes these eleven things, that person, within this true Dharma, will in the end gain nothing of benefit.

"Furthermore, if a cowherd accomplishes eleven things, he is able to care for his herd of cattle without ever missing the proper time, and gains much benefit. What are the eleven? Here a cowherd knows form, knows how to distinguish the marks, curry-combs them when currying is needed, covers their open sores, smokes them out at the proper times, knows the fertile fields where grass is abundant, knows the place to cross the river, knows how to love the cattle, distinguishes [794c] what is timely, knows their dispositions, when milking knows to leave some, and tends in due season the calf that is being used. In this way a cowherd cares for his herd of cattle.

"In the same way, just as with the cowherd, a bhikṣu who accomplishes eleven things without losing the proper season will in the end not be obstructed. A bhikṣu who accomplishes the eleven things in this way, in this very present life, gains much benefit. What are the eleven? Here, a bhikṣu knows form, knows the marks, knows how to curry-comb, knows how to cover the wound, knows how to smoke out, knows the fertile fields where grass is abundant, knows what is to be cherished, knows how to choose the path to travel, knows the place to cross the river, and knows to respect the elder bhikṣus and to pay homage to them at the proper times.

"How is it that a bhikṣu knows form? Here, a bhikṣu knows the form of the four great elements, and also knows the form derived from the four great elements. This is called a bhikṣu who knows form.

"How is it that a bhikṣu knows the marks? Here, a bhikṣu knows the marks of folly, knows the marks of wisdom; he knows as it really is. In this way, a bhikṣu knows the marks.

"How is it that a bhikṣu knows how to curry-comb? Here, a bhikṣu, when a mental thought of desire arises, at once knows to relinquish it, does not draw near to it, and forever has no perception of desire. When perceptions of anger, perceptions of harming, and various evil and unwholesome perceptions arise, he at once knows to relinquish them, does not draw near to them, and forever has no perceptions of anger and the like. In this way, a bhikṣu knows how to curry-comb.

"How is it that a bhikṣu knows how to cover the wound? Here, a bhikṣu, when the eye sees a form, does not give rise to a perception of form, nor is he stained by attachment, but purifies the eye-faculty; he removes evil and unwholesome dharmas, sorrow and distress, his mind is not greedily attached, and therein he guards the eye-faculty. In the same way, a bhikṣu, when the ear hears a sound, the nose smells a scent, the tongue tastes a flavor, the body knows something smooth, and the mind cognizes a dharma, does not give rise to perceptions of consciousness, nor is he stained by attachment, but purifies the mind-faculty. In this way, a bhikṣu knows how to cover the wound.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows how to smoke out? Here, a bhikṣu repeats to others the dharma that he himself has heard. In this way, a bhikṣu knows how to smoke out.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows the fertile fields where grass is abundant? Here, a bhikṣu knows as it really is the Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones. In this way, a bhikṣu knows the fertile fields where grass is abundant.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows what is to be cherished? Here, a bhikṣu, hearing the precious Dharma that the Tathāgata has spoken, cherishes it in his heart. In this way, a bhikṣu knows what is to be cherished.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows how to choose the path to travel? Here, a bhikṣu, with regard to the twelvefold divisions of scripture,[154] knows how to select and practice them. That is, Sūtra, Geya, Vyākaraṇa, Gāthā, Nidāna, Itivṛttaka, Vaipulya, Avadāna, [795a] Jātaka, Upadeśa, the Extensive and Universal, and Marvelous Dharmas. In this way, a bhikṣu knows how to choose the path to travel.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows the place to cross the river? Here, a bhikṣu knows the four foundations of mindfulness.[155] This is a bhikṣu who knows the place to cross the river.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he knows how to eat just enough to be satisfied?[156] Here, a bhikṣu has brahmins and upāsakas, people of faith, who come to invite him. The bhikṣu is not greedy for food and drink and is able to know when he has enough and stop. Bhikṣus, this is what it means to have just enough.

"How is it, bhikṣus, that he respects the elder bhikṣus at the proper times? Here, a bhikṣu constantly engages in wholesome conduct of body, speech, and mind toward the elder bhikṣus. In this way a bhikṣu serves the elder bhikṣus at the proper times.

"A bhikṣu who accomplishes the eleven things in this way, in this very present life, gains much benefit."

Then the World-Honored One spoke a verse:

Tending cattle without negligence,

The owner gains much merit.

Six cattle in six years,

In turn become sixty.

A bhikṣu accomplished in the precepts,

Sovereign in meditative concentration,

His six faculties become tranquil and still,

In six years attaining the six superknowledges.

"In this way, bhikṣus, if anyone can keep far from these evil things and accomplish these last eleven things, that person in this present life gains much benefit. Bhikṣus, you should train yourselves in this way."

When the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and respectfully practiced it.

THE SŪTRA ON HERDING CATTLE