12. To Vappa （一二）惒破经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was wandering in the Śākya country of Kapilavastu, staying in the Nyagrodha Park.

At that time, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana was together with a group of bhikṣus. After the midday meal, for some reason, they gathered and sat in the Dharma hall. At that time, there was a disciple of the Nirgranthas, a Śākya named Āpaṇa, who was strolling around in the middle of the day and came to where the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana was. They exchanged greetings and then sat to one side.

Then the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana asked about this matter: "What do you think, Āpaṇa? If there is a bhikṣu who guards his body, speech, and mind, have you ever seen a place where this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world?"

Āpaṇa replied: "Mahāmaudgalyāyana! If there is a bhikṣu who guards his body, speech, and mind, I see a place where this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world. Mahāmaudgalyāyana! If one has engaged in unwholesome conduct in a past life, this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world."

Later, the World-Honored One was sitting in quiet meditation. With his pure divine hearing that surpasses that of humans, he heard the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana discussing this matter with the Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa. Having heard this, the World-Honored One then rose from his quiet meditation in the afternoon, went to the lecture hall, sat down in front of the assembly of bhikṣus, and asked: "Mahāmaudgalyāyana! What were you discussing with the Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa? And what was the reason for gathering in the lecture hall?"

The Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana replied: "World-Honored One! Today, after the midday meal, I gathered with the assembly of bhikṣus in the lecture hall for a certain purpose. The Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa came wandering to me in the afternoon, exchanged greetings, and sat to one side. I asked him: 'What do you think, Āpaṇa? If there is a bhikṣu who guards his body, speech, and mind, have you ever seen a place where this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world?' The Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa then replied to me: 'If there is a bhikṣu who guards his body, speech, and mind, I have seen a place where this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world. Mahāmaudgalyāyana! If one has engaged in unwholesome conduct in a past life, this gives rise to unwholesome taints that lead to the next world.' World-Honored One! This is what I was discussing with the Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa, and this is why we gathered in the lecture hall."

Then the World-Honored One said to the Nirgrantha disciple Āpaṇa: "If what I say is so, you should say it is so. If it is not so, you should say it is not so. If you have any doubts, you may ask me: 'śramaṇa Gautama! What is the meaning of this?' According to what I say, if you can accept it, I can discuss this matter with you."

Āpaṇa replied: "śramaṇa Gautama! If what you say is so, I will say it is so. If it is not so, I will say it is not so. If I have any doubts, I will ask Gautama: 'Gautama! What is the meaning of this?' According to what the śramaṇa Gautama says, I will accept it. The śramaṇa Gautama should only discuss this matter with me."

The World-Honored One asked: "What do you think, Āpaṇa? If a bhikṣu gives rise to unwholesome bodily actions, leaks, afflictions, and sorrow, then later on, those unwholesome bodily actions cease, he does not create new karma, and abandons past karma. In this very life, he attains final cessation, without afflictions, abiding eternally and unchanging, as seen and known by the wisdom of the noble ones. If he gives rise to unwholesome bodily actions, unwholesome verbal actions, unwholesome mental actions, unwholesome actions of ignorance, leaks, afflictions, and sorrow, then later on, those unwholesome actions of ignorance cease, he does not create new karma, and abandons past karma. In this very life, he attains final cessation, without afflictions, abiding eternally and unchanging, as seen and known by the wisdom of the noble ones. What do you think, Āpaṇa? For such a bhikṣu who guards body, speech, and mind, have you ever seen a place where unwholesome leaks arise from this, leading to the next life?"

Āpaṇa replied: "Gautama! If a bhikṣu guards body, speech, and mind in this way, I do not see a place where unwholesome leaks arise from this, leading to the next life."

The World-Honored One praised: "Excellent! Āpaṇa! What do you think, Āpaṇa? If a bhikṣu has exhausted ignorance and given rise to wisdom, then with the exhaustion of ignorance and the arising of wisdom, he knows the arising of subsequent body-consciousness and subsequent life-consciousness. When the body perishes and life ends, the lifespan is exhausted, and all subsequent consciousnesses cease and come to an end in this very life. It is like, Āpaṇa, a shadow arises from a tree. If someone were to come with a sharp axe and cut down the tree at the root, chopping it into pieces, dividing it into ten or a hundred parts, burning it to ashes, or blowing it away with a strong wind, or throwing it into the water. What do you think, Āpaṇa? The shadow arises from the tree. From then on, the cause for the shadow is cut off, and it ceases and does not arise again,

Āpaṇa replied: "Yes, Gautama!"

"Āpaṇa! Know that the bhikṣu is also like this. With the exhaustion of ignorance and the arising of wisdom, he knows the arising of subsequent body-consciousness and subsequent life-consciousness. When the body perishes and life ends, the lifespan is exhausted, and all subsequent consciousnesses cease and come to an end in this very life. It is like, Āpaṇa, a bhikṣu is also like this. With right mind liberation, he attains six good abodes. What are the six? Āpaṇa! A bhikṣu sees forms with the eyes, neither joyful nor sorrowful, abandoning seeking and attaining the unconditioned, with right mindfulness and right knowledge. Āpaṇa! A bhikṣu with right mind liberation attains the first good abode. Similarly, with the ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind knowing dharmas, neither joyful nor sorrowful, abandoning seeking and attaining the unconditioned, with right mindfulness and right knowledge. Āpaṇa! A bhikṣu with right mind liberation attains the sixth good abode. Āpaṇa! A bhikṣu with right mind liberation attains these six good abodes."

Āpaṇa said: "Yes, Gautama! The well-learned noble disciple with right mind liberation attains six good abodes. What are the six? Gautama! The well-learned noble disciple sees forms with the eyes, neither joyful nor sorrowful, abandoning seeking and attaining the unconditioned, with right mindfulness and right knowledge. Gautama! The well-learned noble disciple with right mind liberation attains the first good abode. Similarly, with the ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind knowing dharmas, neither joyful nor sorrowful, abandoning seeking and attaining the unconditioned, with right mindfulness and right knowledge. Thus, Gautama! The well-learned noble disciple with right mind liberation attains the sixth good abode. Thus, Gautama! The well-learned noble disciple with right mind liberation attains these six good abodes."

Then Āpaṇa said to the World-Honored One: "Gautama! I have understood, Well-Gone One! I have understood. Gautama is like a person with clear eyes who turns the upside down right-side up, pulls out the stuck, shows the way to the lost, and provides light in the dark, so that those with eyes can see forms. The Śramaṇa Gautama is also like this. He has taught me the Dharma with immeasurable skillful means, revealing the meaning according to the various paths. World-Honored One! I now take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. I only wish that the World-Honored One would accept me as a lay follower. From this day forth, until the end of my life, I take refuge with all my heart, until the end of my life.

World-Honored One! It is like a person raising a bad horse, hoping for profit, only tiring themselves without gaining profit. World-Honored One! I am also like this. That foolish Nirgrantha does not understand well, cannot comprehend, does not recognize the good field, and does not examine himself. For a long time, I have respectfully made offerings and paid homage to him, hoping for profit, but it is in vain and without benefit. World-Honored One! I now take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for a second time. I only wish that the World-Honored One would accept me as a lay follower. From this day forth, until the end of my life, I take refuge with all my heart, until the end of my life.

World-Honored One! I was originally ignorant and had faith and respect for the foolish Nirgrantha. From today, I will cut it off. Why? Because he deceived me. World-Honored One! I now take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for a third time. I only wish that the World-Honored One would accept me as a lay follower. From this day forth, until the end of my life, I take refuge with all my heart, until the end of my life.

The Buddha spoke thus. Śāriputra and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and received them with respect.