160. （一六〇）阿兰那经

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 bhikṣus gathered in the Dharma hall after the midday meal and discussed this matter: "Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the holy life, for there is no birth without death. However, now people in this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the sublime, without striving.

At that time, the World-Honored One was in the daytime walking place. With his pure divine ear surpassing that of humans, he heard the bhikṣus gathered in the Dharma hall after the midday meal discussing this matter: "Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the holy life, for there is no birth without death. However, now people in this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the sublime, without striving.

Having heard this, the World-Honored One then rose from his afternoon meditation and went to the Dharma hall. He sat in front of the assembly of bhikṣus and asked, "What were you discussing? Why did you gather in the Dharma hall?"

The bhikṣus then said, "World-Honored One! After the midday meal, we gathered in the Dharma hall and discussed this matter: 'Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the holy life, for there is no birth without death. However, now people in this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the sublime, without striving.' World-Honored One! We discussed this matter together and gathered in the Dharma hall for this reason."

The World-Honored One praised, "Excellent! Excellent! Bhikṣus! You say, 'Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the holy life, for there is no birth without death. However, now people in this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the sublime, without striving.' Why is that? Because I also say, 'It is truly amazing! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the holy life, for there is no birth without death. However, now people in this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the sublime, without striving.' Why is that? In the past, there were beings with a lifespan of eighty thousand years. Bhikṣus! When the lifespan of humans was eighty thousand years, this Jambudvīpa was extremely prosperous and joyful, with abundant wealth and treasures. The villages were close together, like a chicken's flight. Bhikṣus! When the lifespan of humans was eighty thousand years, women would marry at the age of five hundred. Bhikṣus! When the lifespan of humans was eighty thousand years, there was only one kind of illness, namely, cold, heat, defecation, urination, desire, hunger, and old age, and no other afflictions.

Bhikṣus! When the lifespan of humans was eighty thousand years, there was a king named Kaurava, who was a wheel-turning king, intelligent and wise, with a fourfold army, ruling the world, self-reliant, a righteous Dharma king who accomplished the seven treasures. Those seven treasures were the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, queen treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure. These were called the seven. He had a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue other armies. He would certainly rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using swords or weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace.

Bhikṣus! King Kaurava had a brāhman named Aranna, a great elder, raised by his parents, pure in birth, up to seven generations of parents without interruption in the lineage, born without evil, learned and retentive, reciting more than the four Vedas, deeply understanding the five kinds of statements on causes, conditions, correctness, texts, and playfulness. Bhikṣus! The brāhman Aranna had countless hundreds of thousands of young brāhmans. The brāhman Aranna taught the scriptures to countless hundreds of thousands of young brāhmans in a place of no affairs.

At that time, the brāhman Aranna lived alone in a quiet place, sitting in meditation and contemplating, thinking in his mind: "How wonderful! How wonderful! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the brahman way of life. There is no birth without death. However, the people of this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the wonderful. They do not strive or seek. I should now shave my beard and hair, wear the dyed robes, leave home out of utmost faith, become homeless, and study the path." Then, the brāhman Aranna went to where many young brāhmans were gathered in various countries and said to them: "Young brāhmans! When I lived alone in a quiet place, sitting in meditation and contemplating, I thought in my mind: 'How wonderful! How wonderful! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the brahman way of life. There is no birth without death; however, the people of this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the wonderful. They do not strive or seek. I should now shave my beard and hair, wear the dyed robes, leave home out of utmost faith, become homeless, and study the path.' Young brāhmans! What will you do now? "

The many young brāhmans from various countries said: "Venerable Teacher! All that we know is due to the kindness of the Teacher. If the Venerable Teacher shaves his beard and hair, wears the dyed robes, leaves home out of utmost faith, becomes homeless, and studies the path, we too will shave our beards and hair, wear the dyed robes, leave home out of utmost faith, become homeless, and study the path under that Venerable Teacher." Then, the brāhman Aranna shaved his beard and hair, wore the dyed robes, left home out of utmost faith, became homeless, and studied the path; the many young brāhmans from various countries also shaved their beards and hair, wore the dyed robes, left home out of utmost faith, became homeless, and studied the path under that Venerable Teacher, the brāhman Aranna. This is how the Venerable Teacher Aranna and the Venerable Teacher Aranna's disciples came to be known.

At that time, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! How wonderful! How wonderful! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the brahman way of life. There is no birth without death. However, the people of this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the wonderful. They do not strive or seek." At that time, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! How wonderful! How wonderful! Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the brahman way of life. There is no birth without death. However, the people of this world do not practice the Dharma, do not practice the meaning, do not practice goodness, and do not practice the wonderful. They do not strive or seek." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like morning dew drops on the grass, which disappear when the sun rises. They are temporary and do not last long. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like morning dew. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like when it rains heavily, water drops form bubbles, which sometimes appear and sometimes disappear. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a bubble. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like throwing a stick into the water, which comes out quickly. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a stick thrown into the water, which comes out quickly. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a new clay pot thrown into the water, which quickly floats up and dries out in the wind and heat. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a new clay pot soaked in water and quickly dried out. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a small piece of meat thrown into a large pot of boiling water, which quickly dissolves. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like meat dissolving. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a captured criminal being led to the execution ground to be killed. With each step they take, they are closer to death, closer to the end of their life. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a criminal being led to the execution ground to be killed. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a butcher leading a cow to be killed. With each step the cow takes, it is closer to death, closer to the end of its life. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a cow being led to be killed. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a loom, which is almost finished with each thread that is woven. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a loom that is almost finished. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples. Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like a mountain stream, which flows swiftly and carries away many things. The water flows quickly and does not stop for a moment. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life passes quickly, without a moment's pause. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like a swiftly flowing stream. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! It is like throwing a stick into the darkness of night, which may land head down, head up, or on its side, or in a clean place or an unclean place. In the same way, young brāhmans! Beings, covered by ignorance and bound by craving, may be reborn in hell, as animals, as hungry ghosts, in the heavens, or as humans. In the same way, young brāhmans! Human life is like throwing a stick into the darkness. It is extremely difficult to obtain, has little taste, and is full of great suffering and calamity. The calamities are very many." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! I have in this world eliminated greed and desire, and have no contention in my mind. Seeing the wealth and possessions of others, I do not give rise to greed and desire, wishing to obtain them for myself. I have purified my mind of greed and desire. In the same way, I have eliminated anger, sloth, and remorse. I have in this world eliminated doubt and confusion, and have no hesitation regarding wholesome dharmas. I have purified my mind of doubt and confusion. Young brāhmans! You should also in this world eliminate greed and desire, and have no contention in your mind. Seeing the wealth and possessions of others, do not give rise to greed and desire, wishing to obtain them for yourselves. You should purify your minds of greed and desire. In the same way, eliminate anger, sloth, and remorse. You should in this world eliminate doubt and confusion, and have no hesitation regarding wholesome dharmas." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples, saying: "Young brāhmans! My mind is filled with loving-kindness, pervading one direction, and I dwell having accomplished it. In the same way, the second, third, and fourth directions, the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, my mind is filled with loving-kindness, without knots, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, and I dwell having accomplished it throughout the entire world. In the same way, with compassion and joy, my mind is filled with equanimity, without knots, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, and I dwell having accomplished it throughout the entire world. Young brāhmans! You should also fill your minds with loving-kindness, pervading one direction, and dwell having accomplished it. In the same way, the second, third, and fourth directions, the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, your minds should be filled with loving-kindness, without knots, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, and you should dwell having accomplished it throughout the entire world. In the same way, with compassion and joy, your minds should be filled with equanimity, without knots, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, and you should dwell having accomplished it throughout the entire world." Thus, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma to his disciples.

Furthermore, the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm to his disciples. When the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm, if his disciples did not fully practice the Dharma, after their lives ended, they were reborn in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods, the Yama Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Nirmāṇarati Heaven, or the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven. When the Venerable Teacher Aranna taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm, if his disciples fully practiced the Dharma, cultivating the four Brahma abodes, and abandoning desire, after their lives ended, they were reborn in the Brahma Heaven. At that time, the Venerable Teacher Aranna thought: "I should not be reborn in the same place as my disciples in the next life. I should now further cultivate supreme loving-kindness. Having cultivated supreme loving-kindness, I will be reborn in the Heaven of Bright Light after my life ends." The Venerable Teacher Aranna then further cultivated supreme loving-kindness. Having cultivated supreme loving-kindness, he was reborn in the Heaven of Bright Light after his life ended. The Venerable Teacher Aranna and his disciples did not practice the path in vain, and attained great rewards.

Monks! What do you think? Was the Venerable Teacher Aranna of that time someone else? Do not think so. Why? Monks! You should know that I was the Venerable Teacher Aranna at that time. At that time, I had countless hundreds of thousands of disciples. At that time, I taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm to my disciples.

When I taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm, if my disciples did not fully practice the Dharma, after their lives ended, they were reborn in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods, the Yama Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Nirmāṇarati Heaven, or the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven. When I taught the Dharma of the Brahma Realm, if my disciples fully practiced the Dharma, cultivating the four Brahma abodes, and abandoning desire, after their lives ended, they were reborn in the Brahma Heaven. At that time, I thought: "I should not be reborn in the same place as my disciples in the next life. I should now further cultivate supreme loving-kindness." Having cultivated supreme loving-kindness, I was reborn in the Heaven of Bright Light after my life ended. At that time, I and my disciples did not practice the path in vain, and attained great rewards.

At that time, I benefited myself, benefited others, benefited many people, had compassion for the world, and sought benefit and happiness for gods and humans. At that time, my teaching did not reach the ultimate, did not reach the ultimate purity, did not reach the ultimate practice of the Brahma way, and did not reach the ultimate completion of the Brahma way. At that time, I was not free from birth, old age, sickness, death, crying, and sorrow, and I was not yet able to be free from all suffering. Monks! Now I have appeared in the world as a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, called Buddha, Blessed One. Now I benefit myself, benefit others, benefit many people, have compassion for the world, and seek benefit and happiness for gods and humans. Now my teaching reaches the ultimate, reaches the ultimate purity, reaches the ultimate practice of the Brahma way, and reaches the ultimate completion of the Brahma way. Now I am free from birth, old age, sickness, death, crying, and sorrow, and now I have attained freedom from all suffering.

Monks! If there is a correct statement: 'Human life is extremely short, and one must go to the next world. One should do good deeds and practice the Brahma way. There is no birth without death.' Monks! This is the correct statement. Why is that? Now if there is a long life, up to a hundred years, or a little more. If there is a long-lived one, their life lasts three hundred times, a hundred in spring, a hundred in summer, and a hundred in winter. This life lasts one thousand two hundred months, four hundred in spring, four hundred in summer, and four hundred in winter. If the life lasts one thousand two hundred months, it lasts two thousand four hundred half-months, eight hundred in spring, eight hundred in summer, and eight hundred in winter. If the life lasts two thousand four hundred half-months, it lasts thirty-six thousand days and nights, twelve thousand in spring, twelve thousand in summer, and twelve thousand in winter. If the life lasts thirty-six thousand days and nights, it lasts seventy-two thousand meals, with obstacles and breast milk. When there are obstacles, one does not eat due to suffering, anger, illness, or business. One does not eat when going or coming, when visiting the king, on fast days, or when unable to obtain food. This is called a life of one hundred years lasting for one hundred years, one hundred times, one hundred seasons, one hundred years and seasons, one hundred months, one hundred half-months, one hundred months and half-months, one hundred days, one hundred nights, one hundred days and nights, one hundred meals, one hundred obstacles, and one hundred meals with obstacles.

Monks! If a teacher has great compassion and pity for his disciples, seeking benefit and happiness for them, I have already done so. You should also do so, going to a place free from affairs, under a tree in a mountain forest, in an empty and quiet place, sitting in meditation and contemplating, do not be negligent, strive diligently, and do not regret it later. This is my instruction and admonition.

The Buddha spoke thus. Those monks, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.