法苑珠林 66.10

66.10

佛告諸比丘。汝等見諸眾生安隱快樂。當作是念。我等長夜輪轉生死。亦曾受斯樂。其數無量。或見諸眾生受苦惱。當作是念。我昔長夜輪轉生死以來。曾受如是之苦。其數無量。或見諸眾生而生恐悑衣毛為竪。當作是念。我等過去必曾殺生為傷害者。為惡知識於無始生死長夜輪轉。不知其苦之本際。或見諸眾生愛念歡喜者。當作是念。如過去世時。必為我等父母兄弟妻子親屬師友知識。如是長夜生死輪轉。無明所蓋。愛繫其頸。故長夜輪轉。不知苦之本際。是故諸比丘當如是學。精勤方便斷除諸大莫令增長。爾時世尊即說偈言。

'The Buddha addressed the monks: "When you see sentient beings at ease and happy, you should think: 'During the long night of transmigrating through birth and death, we too once experienced such pleasure, an immeasurable number of times.' Or when you see sentient beings undergoing suffering and affliction, you should think: 'Ever since we transmigrated through the long night of birth and death in the past, we have experienced suffering such as this, an immeasurable number of times.' Or when you see sentient beings and feel terror so that your hairs stand on end, you should think: 'In the past we surely killed living beings and harmed them, acting as bad companions in transmigrating through the long night of beginningless birth and death, unaware of the fundamental limit of suffering.' Or when you see sentient beings and feel fond affection and joy, you should think: 'In past lifetimes, they were surely our parents, brothers, wives, children, relatives, teachers, and good friends. Thus through the long night of birth and death we have transmigrated, covered by ignorance and bound about the neck by craving; hence we transmigrate through the long night, unaware of the fundamental limit of suffering. Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves in this way: diligently cultivate expedients to sever and eliminate the great [elements of suffering], and not let them increase." At that time, the World-Honoured One spoke a verse:'