MN 131：Bhaddekaratta Sutta (An Auspicious Day)

中部 131：吉祥一日经

英译：Bhikkhu Thanissaro

中译：HiLL （2020.12.27 西水之泉）

英文版：

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.

There he addressed the monks:

“Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks responded to him.

The Blessed One said:

“Monks, I will teach you the summary & exposition of one who has had an auspicious day. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak.”

“As you say, lord,” the monks responded to him.

The Blessed One said:

You shouldn't chase after the past or place expectations on the future.

What is past is left behind.

The future is as yet unreached.

Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there.

Not taken in, unshaken, that's how you develop the heart.

Ardently doing what should be done today,

for—who knows?— tomorrow death.

There is no bargaining with Mortality & his mighty horde.

Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day & night,

has truly had an auspicious day.

So says the Peaceful Sage.

“And how, monks, does one chase after the past?

One gets carried away with the delight of

‘In the past I had such a form [body]’ …

‘In the past I had such a feeling’ …

‘In the past I had such a perception’ …

‘In the past I had such a fabrication” …

‘In the past I had such a consciousness.’

This is called chasing after the past.

“And how does one not chase after the past?

One does not get carried away with the delight of

‘In the past I had such a form’ …

‘In the past I had such a feeling’ …

‘In the past I had such a perception’ …

‘In the past I had such a fabrication” … ‘

In the past I had such a consciousness.’

This is called not chasing after the past.

“And how does one place expectations on the future?

One gets carried away with the delight of

‘In the future I might have such a form’ …

‘In the future I might have such a feeling’ …

‘In the future I might have such a perception’ …

‘In the future I might have such a fabrication” …

‘In the future I might have such a consciousness.’

This is called placing expectations on the future.

“And how does one not place expectations on the future?

One does not get carried away with the delight of

‘In the future I might have such a form’ …

‘In the future I might have such a feeling’ …

‘In the future I might have such a perception’ …

‘In the future I might have such a fabrication” …

‘In the future I might have such a consciousness.’

This is called not placing expectations on the future.

“And how is one taken in with regard to present qualities?

There is the case where an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person who has not seen the noble ones, is not versed in the teachings of the noble ones, is not trained in the teachings of the noble ones, sees form as self, or self as possessing form, or form as in self, or self as in form.

“He/she sees feeling as self, or self as possessing feeling, or feeling as in self, or self as in feeling.

“He/she sees perception as self, or self as possessing perception, or perception as in self, or self as in perception.

“He/she sees fabrications as self, or self as possessing fabrications, or fabrications as in self, or self as in fabrications.

“He/she sees consciousness as self, or self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness.

This is called being taken in with regard to present qualities.

“And how is one not taken in with regard to present qualities?

There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones who has seen the noble ones, is versed in the teachings of the noble ones, is well-trained in the teachings of the noble ones, does not see form as self, or self as possessing form, or form as in self, or self as in form.

“He/she does not see feeling as self, or self as possessing feeling, or feeling as in self, or self as in feeling.

“He/she does not see perception as self, or self as possessing perception, or perception as in self, or self as in perception.

“He/she does not see fabrications as self, or self as possessing fabrications, or fabrications as in self, or self as in fabrications.

“He/she does not see consciousness as self, or self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness.

This is called not being taken in with regard to present qualities.

You shouldn’t chase after the past or place expectations on the future.

What is past is left behind.

The future is as yet unreached.

Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there.

Not taken in, unshaken, that's how you develop the heart.

Ardently doing what should be done today,

for—who knows?— tomorrow death.

There is no bargaining with Mortality & his mighty horde.

Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day & night,

has truly had an auspicious day.

So says the Peaceful Sage.

“‘Monks, I will teach you the summary & exposition of one who has had an

auspicious day’:

Thus it was said, and in reference to this was it said.”

That is what the Blessed One said.

Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One' words.

中文版：

如是我闻：

一时，佛在舍卫城祁树林给孤独园。

佛告众比丘：比丘！

众比丘答曰：世尊！

佛曰：

比丘，今将开示，何谓 “吉祥一日”。

谛听谛听，我先概述，后作详解。

众比丘答曰：愿闻圣教。

佛曰：

不恋过去，不欣未来。

逝者已逝，来者未来。

活在当下，正观现前，所生诸法。

不著当下，了了分明，如如不动。

此为修心之道。

今朝之事今朝了，

谁知无常何日来，

阎罗殿上无商量。

谁能日夜以此行，

日日皆为吉祥日。

何谓：眷恋过去 ？

答曰：沉迷于对过去五蕴之乐的贪恋执迷中，是谓眷恋过去。

何谓：不恋过去 ？

答曰：不沉迷于对过去五蕴之乐的贪恋执迷中，是谓不恋过去。

何谓：欣乐未来 ？

答曰：沉迷于对未来五蕴之乐的渴盼幻想中，是谓欣乐未来。

何谓：不欣未来 ？

答曰：不沉迷于对未来五蕴之乐的渴盼幻想中，是谓不欣未来。

何谓：著于当下 ？

答曰：愚痴凡夫，不见圣者，不闻圣教，不修圣法，故妄执五蕴为我、我所、相在。

何谓：不著当下 ？

答曰：多闻圣弟子，已见圣者，已闻圣教，已修圣法，故正观五蕴非我、非我所、不相在。

不恋过去，

不欣未来，

不著当下，

二六时中，

如法而行。

是谓吉祥一日。

佛说法已，闻者欢喜。