39.6 （六）均头

Thus have I heard:

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

At that time, Venerable Upavāna was lying in bed with a serious illness, unable to get up on his own. He thought, "The Tathāgata World-Honored One does not show compassion today. I have a serious illness and my life is not long. Medicine and treatment do not help. I have also heard the World-Honored One say, 'I will not abandon until one person is liberated.' But now I am seen as abandoned. How can I bear this suffering?"

At that time, the World-Honored One heard Venerable Upavāna's lament with his divine ear. The World-Honored One then told the bhikṣus, "All of you gather together and go to Venerable Upavāna to inquire about his illness."

The bhikṣus replied, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The World-Honored One gradually approached Venerable Upavāna's room with many bhikṣus. At that time, Upavāna saw the Tathāgata coming from afar and immediately threw himself to the ground. The World-Honored One then said to Upavāna, "Your illness is very serious now. You don't need to get off the bed. I have a seat myself."

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Upavāna, "Does your illness increase or decrease? Is it not increasing or decreasing? Can you bear to receive my teaching?"

At that time, the bhikṣu Upavāna said to the Buddha, "The illness of this disciple today is extremely serious. It only increases and does not decrease. I have tried all kinds of medicinal herbs."

The World-Honored One asked, "Who is attending to the sick?"

Upavāna said, "The practitioners of the Brahma-way come to see and attend to him."

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Upavāna, "Can you now speak to me about the seven factors of awakening?"

At that time, Upavāna thrice proclaimed the names of the seven factors of awakening, saying, "I am now able to speak about the Dharma of the seven factors of awakening in the presence of the Tathāgata."

The World-Honored One said, "If you are able to speak to the Tathāgata, then speak now."

At that time, Upavāna addressed the Buddha, saying, "As for the seven factors of awakening, what are the seven? Namely, the factor of awakening of mindfulness, as taught by the Tathāgata, the factor of awakening of the Dharma, the factor of awakening of diligence, the factor of awakening of joy, the factor of awakening of tranquility, the factor of awakening of concentration, and the factor of awakening of equanimity. These, World-Honored One, are said to be the seven factors of awakening, and they are indeed so."

At that time, after the Venerable Upavāna had spoken these words, all his illnesses were completely cured and he was free from afflictions. Then Upavāna addressed the World-Honored One, saying, "Among medicines, the most excellent is the Dharma of the seven factors of awakening. If one speaks of the most excellent among medicines, it is none other than these seven factors of awakening. Now, contemplating these seven factors of awakening, all illnesses are completely cured."

At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus, saying, "You should uphold this Dharma of the seven factors of awakening, recite it well, and have no doubts about the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha. The illnesses of those sentient beings will all be cured. The reason is that these seven factors of awakening are very difficult to understand. They comprehend all dharmas, illuminate all dharmas, and are like good medicine to cure all illnesses. They are like nectar, inexhaustible when eaten. If one does not attain these seven factors of awakening, sentient beings will wander in birth and death. Bhikṣus! One should seek skillful means to cultivate the seven factors of awakening. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and upheld it.