Ekottaragama (Sanskrit fragments) 3.7

3.7.1

（七）

(7)

3.7.2

聞如是：

Thus have I heard:

Thus I have heard: One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.

3.7.3

一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。

At one time, the Buddha was staying in Śrāvastī at the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada's Park.

3.7.4

爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「當修行一法，當廣布一法；修行一法已，便有名譽，成大果報，諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處，便成神通，除諸亂想，逮沙門果，自致涅槃。云何為一法？所謂念休息。」

At that time, the Bhagavat said to the bhikṣus: "You should cultivate one dharma, you should widely diffuse one dharma. Having cultivated the one dharma, one will gain renown, accomplish a great fruit and reward, all goods will universally arrive, one will obtain the taste of the deathless, reach the unconditioned state, accomplish supernatural powers, eliminate all distracted thoughts, attain the fruit of the śramaṇa, and personally reach nirvāṇa. What is the one dharma? It is called recollection of stillness."

It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “One should cultivate one thing and disseminate one thing. After cultivating this one thing, they’ll become well known and achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments. They’ll attain the sweet-tasting dew and arrive at the unconditioned state. They then will achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves. What’s this one thing? It’s called recollecting peace.”

3.7.5

佛告諸比丘：「云何修行念休息，便有名譽，成大果報，眾善普至，得甘露味，至無為處，便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃？」

The Buddha said to the bhikṣus: "How does cultivating the recollection of stillness cause one to gain renown, accomplish a great fruit and reward, have all goods universally arrive, obtain the taste of the deathless, reach the unconditioned state, accomplish supernatural powers, eliminate all distracted thoughts, obtain the fruit of the śramaṇa, and personally reach nirvāṇa?"

The Buddha addressed the monks, “How does someone who cultivates the recollection of peace become well known, achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state? How do they achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves?”

3.7.6

爾時，諸比丘白世尊曰：「諸法之本，如來所說。唯願世尊為諸比丘說此妙義，諸比丘從如來聞已，便當受持。」

At that time, the bhikṣus said to the Bhagavat: "The root of all dharmas is spoken by the Tathāgata. We only pray that the Bhagavat will explain this subtle meaning for the bhikṣus; having heard it from the Tathāgata, the bhikṣus will uphold it."

The monks then said to the Bhagavān, “What the Tathāgata says is the source of the teachings. Please, Bhagavān, explain the wonderful meaning of this for the monks. After we hear it from the Tathāgata, the monks will accept and retain it.”

3.7.7

爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「諦聽！諦聽！善思念之，吾當為汝廣分別說。」

At that time, the Bhagavat said to the bhikṣus: "Listen closely! Listen closely, and consider it well! I shall analyze and explain it to you in detail."

The Bhagavān then told the monks, “Listen closely! Listen closely, and consider it well. I will discern this for you in detail.”

3.7.8

諸比丘對曰：「如是。世尊！」諸比丘前受教已。

The bhikṣus replied: "Yes, Bhagavat!" The bhikṣus then stepped forward to receive the teaching.

They replied, “Yes, Bhagavān.”

Once the monks had accepted the teaching, the Bhagavān told them, “Suppose a monk sits cross-legged with correct posture and thought and fixes his attention on what’s in front of him. With no other idea, he focuses on recollecting peace.

3.7.9

世尊告曰：「若有比丘正身正意，結跏趺坐，繫念在前，無有他想，專精念休息。所謂休息者，心意想息，志性詳諦，亦無卒暴，恒專一心，意樂閑居，常求方便，入三昧定。常念不貪，勝光上達。如是，諸比丘！名曰念休息，便得具足，成大果報，諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處，便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃。是故，諸比丘！常當思惟，不離休息念，便當獲此諸善功德。如是，諸比丘！當作是學。」

The Bhagavat said: "If a bhikṣu straightens his body and corrects his intention, sits cross-legged, fixes his mindfulness before him, has no other thoughts, and single-mindedly recollects stillness: by stillness is meant that the thoughts of the mind are stilled, the temperament is calm and careful, without impetuosity, constantly focused on one mind, delighting in quiet seclusion, constantly seeking the means to enter samādhi concentration, constantly mindful and without greed, with superior radiance ascending. Thus, bhikṣus, it is called recollection of stillness; one will then obtain fulfillment, accomplish a great fruit and reward, all goods will universally arrive, one will obtain the taste of the deathless, reach the unconditioned state, accomplish supernatural powers, eliminate all distracted thoughts, obtain the fruit of the śramaṇa, and personally reach nirvāṇa. Therefore, bhikṣus, you should constantly contemplate and never abandon the recollection of stillness, and you will certainly obtain all these wholesome virtues. Thus, bhikṣus, you should train."

“‘Peace’ means calmness of heart, mind, and ideas. One’s intent and disposition becomes careful, honest, and without abruptness. Being focused all the time, they are happy living in seclusion and regularly pursuing the methods of entering samādhi. They are always mindful, not covetous, and rise up to a greater light.

“This is how someone who cultivates the recollection of peace will become well known, achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state. They’ll achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves.

“Therefore, monks, one should constantly recollect peace and not part from it. Then, they’ll win these good virtues. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”

3.7.10

爾時，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。

At that time, the bhikṣus, hearing what the Buddha said, rejoiced and put it into practice.

When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.