31.9 （九）四乐

Thus have I heard:

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

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "Long ago, Śakra Devānām-Indra of the Thirty-three Heavens, together with his celestial maidens, went to Nandana Grove to play.

At that time, a certain god spoke this verse:

Not seeing Nandana Grove, one does not know what happiness is
The abode of the gods, there is none that surpasses it.

At that time, a certain god spoke to that god, saying: 'You are now unwise and cannot distinguish the right principles. You call suffering and painful things happy; you call impermanent things permanent; you call unstable things stable. Why is this so? Have you not heard the Buddha speak the verse:

All conditioned things are impermanent, those who are born must die. Those
who are not born will not die, this cessation is the most blissful.

'They have this meaning and also this verse, how can you say that this place is the most blissful? You should know that the Tathāgata also spoke of the four streams of dharmas. If all sentient beings are submerged in these streams, they will never attain the Way. What are the four? Namely, the stream of desire, the stream of existence, the stream of views, and the stream of ignorance.

'What is called the stream of desire? Namely, the five desires. What are the five? Namely, if the eyes see form and give rise to eye-form thoughts; if the ears hear sound and give rise to cognition thoughts; if the nose smells fragrance and gives rise to cognition thoughts; if the tongue knows taste and gives rise to cognition thoughts; if the body knows smoothness and gives rise to cognition thoughts, this is called the stream of desire.

'What is called the stream of existence? Namely, existence refers to the three existences. What are the three? Namely, the existence of desire, the existence of form, and the existence of formlessness. This is called the stream of existence.

'What is called the stream of views? Namely, the stream of views: the world is eternal or not eternal; the world has an end or no end; there is a self or no self; there is a Tathāgata after death or not; there is a Tathāgata after death or not; there is neither a Tathāgata after death nor not a Tathāgata after death. This is called the stream of views.

'What is called the stream of ignorance? Namely, ignorance refers to ignorance, disbelief, and wrong views, with a mind that is always greedy and hopeful, and the five hindrances: the hindrance of sensual desire, the hindrance of ill will, the hindrance of sloth and torpor, the hindrance of restlessness and remorse, and the hindrance of doubt. If one does not know suffering, does not know its origin, does not know its cessation, and does not know the path, this is called the stream of ignorance. Heavenly sons should know that this is the four streams spoken of by the Tathāgata. If a person is submerged in these, they will also not be able to attain the path.'

"At that time, having heard these words, the heavenly being, as quickly as a strong man bends and stretches his arm, disappeared from the Heaven of the Thirty-three and came before me. He bowed his head at my feet and stood to one side. Then the heavenly being said to me, 'Excellent, World-Honored One! You have spoken these words well. The Tathāgata has spoken of the four streams. If ordinary people do not hear about these four streams, they will not attain the four kinds of happiness. What are the four? Namely, the happiness of rest, the happiness of right awakening, the happiness of the śramaṇa, and the happiness of nirvāṇa. If ordinary people do not know about these four streams, they will not attain these four kinds of happiness.' Having said this, I further told him, 'So it is, heavenly being! As you have said, if one does not awaken to these four streams, one will not awaken to these four kinds of happiness.'"

"At that time, I gradually discussed with that heavenly being. The discussion was about giving, precepts, and the idea of rebirth in heaven. I spoke about the impure nature of desire, the great suffering of defilements, and the happiness of liberation. At that time, the heavenly being gave rise to a joyful mind. Then I extensively explained the Dharma of the four streams and the four kinds of happiness. At that time, the heavenly being single-mindedly contemplated this Dharma, and all his defilements were exhausted, attaining the purity of the Dharma eye. I now also speak of these four dharmas and four kinds of happiness, and one can attain the Dharma of the four truths. Thus, bhikṣus! One should practice in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said, and joyfully received and practiced it.