Samyuktagama (Sanskrit fragments) 38

38.1

（三八）

(38)

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

38.2

如是我聞：

Thus have I heard:

38.3

一時，佛住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。

At one time the Buddha was dwelling at Śrāvastī in the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍadārāma.

38.4

爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「世人為卑下業，種種求財活命，而得巨富，世人皆知。如世人之所知，我亦如是說。所以者何？莫令我異於世人。

At that time the Bhagavat told the bhikṣus: "People of the world engage in menial occupations, seeking wealth in various ways to make a living, and attain great riches; people of the world all know this. As people of the world know it, so do I speak of it. Why is that? Lest I be different from the people of the world.

It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Worldly people of lowly occupations search in various ways for wealth and livelihood, and they obtain their fortunes. Worldly people all know this. According to how something is known to worldly people, I also thus speak. Why is that? It doesn’t set me apart from worldly people.

38.5

「諸比丘！譬如一器，有一處人，名為揵茨，有名鉢，有名匕匕羅，有名遮留，有名毘悉多，有名婆闍那，有名薩牢。如彼所知，我亦如是說。所以者何？莫令我異於世人故。如是，比丘！有世間法，我自知自覺，為人分別演說顯示，知見而說，世間盲無目者不知不見；世間盲無目者不知不見，我其如之何！

"Bhikṣus, it is just like a single vessel: people of one place call it a ghata, some call it a pātra, some call it a pippala, some call it a caru, some call it a bi-xi-duo, some call it a bhājana, and some call it a śarāva. As they know it, so do I speak of it. Why is that? Because I would not be different from the people of the world. In the same way, bhikṣus, there is a worldly phenomenon that I have myself known and myself awakened to, and which I analyze, expound, and reveal for others, speaking with knowledge and vision, yet the blind in the world who lack eyes do not know and do not see it. If the blind in the world who lack eyes do not know and do not see it, what can I do about them!

“Monks, take for example a vessel in a person’s dwelling that’s called a ghaṭī. Some call it a pātra, some call it a pipīla, some call it a jvāla, some call it a vistha, some call it a vacana, and some call it a śarāva. However they know it, I also thus speak. Why is that? It’s so I’m not set apart from worldly people.

Thus, monks, there’s a mundane rule of the world that I myself know and realize and that I discern, explain, and demonstrate for people. Knowing and seeing it, I say: ‘The world is blind, without eyes, and doesn’t know or see it.’ How am I like the world that’s blind, without eyes, and doesn’t know or see it?

38.6

「比丘！云何世間世間法，我自知自覺，乃至不知不見？色無常、苦、變易法，是為世間世間法；受、想、行、識，無常、苦、變易法，是世間世間法。比丘！是名世間世間法，我自知自見，乃至盲無目者不知不見，其如之何！」

"Bhikṣus, what is the worldly worldly phenomenon that I have myself known and myself awakened to, up to [those who] do not know and do not see it? That rūpa is anitya, duḥkha, and subject to change—this is a worldly worldly phenomenon; that vedanā, saṃjñā, saṃskāra, and vijñāna are anitya, duḥkha, and subject to change—these are worldly worldly phenomena. Bhikṣus, these are called worldly worldly phenomena that I have myself known and myself seen, up to the blind who lack eyes do not know and do not see them; what can I do about them!"

“Monks, what is the mundane rule of the world that I know and realize … doesn’t know or see it? Form is impermanent, painful, and liable to change. This is the mundane rule of the world. Feeling … conception … volition … consciousness is impermanent, painful, and liable to change. This is the mundane rule of the world. Monks, this is called the mundane rule of the world that I know and see … How am I like those who are blind, without eyes, and don’t know or see it?”

38.7

佛說此經已，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。

When the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and respectfully practiced it.

After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.