149. （一四九）何欲经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the Brāhman student Tiṣya was strolling about in the middle of the day and went to where the Buddha was. They exchanged greetings and then sat to one side. Tiṣya said, "Gautama! I wish to ask something. Please listen before I speak."

The World-Honored One said, "Ask as you please."

The Brāhman then asked, "Gautama! What do the Kṣatriyas desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they accomplish?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for the Kṣatriyas, they desire to obtain wealth, practice wisdom, establish themselves with swords, rely on the people, and consider self-mastery as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen asked, "Gautama! What do the householders desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they accomplish?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for the householders, they desire to obtain wealth, practice wisdom, establish themselves with skills, rely on work, and consider the completion of work as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen asked, "Gautama! What do women desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they consider as their accomplishment?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for women, they desire to obtain men, practice adornment, establish themselves with sons, rely on having no opposition, and consider being self-willed as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen asked, "Gautama! What do thieves desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they consider as their accomplishment?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for thieves, they desire to take what is not given, practice in hidden places, establish themselves with knives, rely on darkness, and consider not being seen as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen asked, "Gautama! What do Brahmins desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they consider as their accomplishment?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for Brahmins, they desire to obtain wealth, practice wisdom, establish themselves with scriptures, rely on fasting and precepts, and consider the Brahma Heaven as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen asked, "Gautama! What do Śramaṇas desire, what do they practice, what do they establish, what do they rely on, and what do they consider as their accomplishment?"

The World-Honored One replied, "As for Śramaṇas, they desire to attain true reality, practice wisdom, establish themselves with precepts, rely on the absence of any basis, and consider Nirvāṇa as their accomplishment."

The Brāhman Shengwen said, "World-Honored One! I have understood. Well-Gone One! I have understood. World-Honored One! I now take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the community of bhikṣus. I only wish that the World-Honored One would accept me as an upāsaka, from this day forth until the end of my life, taking refuge until my life ends."

The Buddha spoke thus. The Brāhman Shengwen, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.