194. （一九四）跋陀和利经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying in the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus, and was spending the summer retreat.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "I eat in one sitting. After eating in one sitting, I am free from activity and seeking, without illness or pain, with a light body, strong energy, and peaceful happiness. You should also learn to eat in one sitting. After eating in one sitting, you will be free from activity and seeking, without illness or pain, with a light body, strong energy, and peaceful happiness."

At that time, Venerable Bhaddāli was also in the assembly. Then Venerable Bhaddāli rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! I am not able to eat in one sitting. Why is that? If I eat in one sitting, I will not be able to finish, and will regret it with a distressed mind. World-Honored One! Therefore, I am not able to eat in one sitting."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! If I am invited, you may also follow me. I allow you to accept the invitation and take it away to eat in one sitting. Bhaddāli! If it is like this, you will be able to live well."

Venerable Bhaddāli again said, "World-Honored One! It is like this, I am also not able to eat in one sitting. Why is that? If I eat in one sitting, I will not be able to finish, and will regret it with a distressed mind. World-Honored One! Therefore, I am not able to eat in one sitting."

The World-Honored One again and again told the monks, "I eat in one sitting. After eating in one sitting, I am free from doing and seeking, have no illness or pain, have a light body, strong energy, and am peaceful and happy. You should also learn to eat in one sitting. After eating in one sitting, you will be free from doing and seeking, have no illness or pain, have a light body, strong energy, and be peaceful and happy."

Venerable Bhaddāli also rose from his seat again and again, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! I am not able to eat in one sitting. Why is that? If I eat in one sitting, I will not be able to finish, and will regret it with a distressed mind. World-Honored One! Therefore, I am not able to eat in one sitting."

The World-Honored One again and again told him, "Bhaddāli! If I am invited, you can also follow me. I allow you to accept the invitation and take it away to eat in one sitting. Bhaddāli! If it is like this, you will be able to live well."

Venerable Bhaddāli again and again said, "World-Honored One! It is like this, I am also not able to eat in one sitting. Why is that? If I eat in one sitting, I will not be able to finish, and will regret it with a distressed mind. World-Honored One! Therefore, I am not able to eat in one sitting."

At that time, the World-Honored One established the precept of eating in one sitting for the assembly of bhikṣus. The assembly of bhikṣus all upheld the precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Only Venerable Bhaddāli said he was not able to, and got up from his seat and left. Why was that? Because he did not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Thus, Venerable Bhaddāli hid for the summer and did not see the World-Honored One. Why was that? Because he did not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm.

At that time, the bhikṣus were making robes for the Buddha. The World-Honored One had completed the summer retreat in Śrāvastī, and after three months, had finished mending his robes. He put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and was about to travel among the people. Venerable Bhaddāli heard that the bhikṣus were making robes for the Buddha, and that the World-Honored One had completed the summer retreat in Śrāvastī, and after three months, had finished mending his robes. He put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and was about to travel among the people. Having heard this, Venerable Bhaddāli went to where the bhikṣus were. The bhikṣus saw Venerable Bhaddāli coming from afar, and said, "Venerable Bhaddāli! You should know that this is being made into a robe for the Buddha. The World-Honored One has completed the summer retreat in Śrāvastī, and after three months, has finished mending his robes. He has put on his robe, taken his alms bowl, and is about to travel among the people. Bhaddāli, you should take good care of it there, so as not to cause much trouble later.

Venerable Bhaddāli, having heard these words, went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and said, "World-Honored One! I truly have faults, I truly have faults. I am foolish, ignorant, unclear, and unskillful. Why is that? The World-Honored One has established the precept of eating in one sitting for the assembly of bhikṣus. The assembly of bhikṣus all uphold the precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Only I say I am not able to, and get up from my seat and leave. Why is that? Because I do not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm.

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! At that time, you did not know that many bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs were spending the summer retreat in Śrāvastī. They knew me and saw me. There was a bhikṣu named Bhaddāli, a disciple of the World-Honored One, who did not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Bhaddāli! At that time, did you not know this? Bhaddāli! At that time, you did not know that many upāsakas and upāsikās were living in Śrāvastī. They knew me and saw me. There was a bhikṣu named Bhaddāli, a disciple of the World-Honored One, who did not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Bhaddāli! At that time, did you not know this? Bhaddāli! At that time, you did not know that many non-Buddhist śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas were spending the summer retreat in Śrāvastī. They knew me and saw me. There was a bhikṣu named Bhaddāli, a disciple of the Śramaṇa Gautama, who was renowned and virtuous, but did not learn the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Bhaddāli! At that time, did you not know this? Bhaddāli! If there were bhikṣus who were both liberated, I would tell them, 'Come and enter the mud.' Bhaddāli! What do you think? Would I instruct those bhikṣus, and would those bhikṣus be able to stay and avoid it?"

Venerable Bhaddāli replied, "No, World-Honored One."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! If there were bhikṣus who were not both liberated, but had wisdom liberation, if they were not wisdom liberated, but had body realization, if they were not body realized, but had insight attainment, if they were not insight attained, but had faith liberation, if they were not faith liberated, but had Dharma practice, if they were not Dharma practitioners, but had faith practice, I would tell them, 'Come and enter the mud.' Bhaddāli! What do you think? Would I instruct those bhikṣus, and would those bhikṣus be able to stay and avoid it?"

Venerable Bhaddāli replied, "No, World-Honored One."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! What do you think? At that time, did you attain faith practice, Dharma practice, faith liberation, insight attainment, body realization, wisdom liberation, or both liberation?"

Venerable Bhaddāli replied, "No, World-Honored One."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! At that time, were you not like an empty house?"

Then, Venerable Bhaddāli, having been rebuked by the World-Honored One face to face, was inwardly distressed, lowered his head in silence, lost his eloquence, and was as if waiting for something.

Then, the World-Honored One, having rebuked Venerable Bhaddāli face to face, further wished to delight him and said, "Bhaddāli! At that time, you had no faith in my teachings, no love for my teachings, and no tranquility in my teachings. Why is that? I have established the precept of eating one meal a day for the assembly of monks, and all the monks practice the precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm. Only you say you are unable to do so and leave your seat. Why is that? Because you do not practice the complete precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm."

Venerable Bhaddāli said, "Indeed it is so. Why is that? The World-Honored One has established the precept of eating one meal a day for the assembly of monks, and all the monks practice the precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm. Only I say I am unable to do so and leave my seat. Why is that? Because I do not practice the complete precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm. May the World-Honored One accept my faults. Having seen my faults, I will repent myself and from now on guard against them and not do them again."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! It is so. You are indeed foolish, ignorant, unclear, and unskillful. Why is that? I have established the precept of eating one meal a day for the assembly of monks, and all the monks practice the precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm. Only you say you are unable to do so and leave your seat. Why is that? Because you do not practice the complete precepts and the subtle teachings of the World-Honored One's realm. Bhaddāli! If you have faults, see them and repent yourself. From now on guard against them and do not do them again. Bhaddāli! It is like this. It is beneficial and not harmful in the noble Dharma and Vinaya. If you have faults, see them and repent yourself. From now on guard against them and do not do them again. Bhaddāli! What do you think? If there is a monk who does not practice the complete precepts, he dwells in a place free from affairs, in a mountain forest under a tree, or in a high cave with no sound, far away, without evil, and without people. He follows the practice of sitting in meditation. Dwelling in a place far away, he practices diligently and attains the supreme mind, dwelling happily in the present life. Dwelling in a place far away, he practices diligently, peacefully and happily. He falsely slanders the World-Honored One's precepts, and also falsely slanders the wise and pure Brahmins of the heavens, and also falsely slanders his own precepts. Having falsely slandered the World-Honored One's precepts, and also falsely slanders the wise and pure Brahmins of the heavens, and also falsely slanders his own precepts, he does not give rise to joy. Not giving rise to joy, he does not give rise to delight. Not giving rise to delight, he does not stop the body. Not stopping the body, he does not experience bliss. Not experiencing bliss, his mind is not concentrated. Bhaddāli! When the noble disciples' minds are not concentrated, they do not see things as they really are and know them as they truly are.

Bhaddāli! What do you think? If there is a monk who practices the complete precepts, he dwells in a place free from affairs, in a mountain forest under a tree, or in a high cave with no sound, far away, without evil, and without people. He follows the practice of sitting in meditation. Dwelling in a place far away, he practices diligently and attains the supreme mind, dwelling happily in the present life. Dwelling in a place far away, he practices diligently, peacefully and happily. He does not falsely slander the World-Honored One's precepts, and also does not falsely slander the wise and pure Brahmins of the heavens, and also does not falsely slander his own precepts. Having not falsely slandered the World-Honored One's precepts, and also not falsely slandered the wise and pure Brahmins of the heavens, and also not falsely slandered his own precepts, he gives rise to joy. Giving rise to joy, he gives rise to delight. Giving rise to delight, he stops the body. Stopping the body, he experiences bliss. Experiencing bliss, his mind is concentrated.

Bhaddāli! The noble disciples, with their minds concentrated, then see things as they really are and know them as they truly are. Having seen things as they really are and known them as they truly are, they then separate from desire, separate from evil and unwholesome dharmas, have initial and sustained thought, and with the joy and bliss born of separation, attain the first concentration and abide in it. Bhaddāli! This is called attaining the first supreme mind at that time, attaining peaceful dwelling in the present life, which is easy to attain, not difficult, and blissful dwelling without fear, peaceful and blissful, leading to nirvāṇa. Bhaddāli! They then cease initial and sustained thought, internally calm, with one-pointed mind, without initial and sustained thought, with concentration born joy and bliss, attain the second concentration and abide in it. Bhaddāli! This is called attaining the second supreme mind at that time, attaining peaceful dwelling in the present life, which is easy to attain, not difficult, and blissful dwelling without fear, peaceful and blissful, leading to nirvāṇa. Bhaddāli! They then separate from joy, abandon seeking, dwell with right mindfulness and right knowledge, and experience bodily bliss, which is said to be the bliss of the noble ones, the bliss of the noble ones' equanimity, mindfulness, bliss, and emptiness, attain the third concentration and abide in it. Bhaddāli! This is called attaining the third supreme mind at that time, attaining peaceful dwelling in the present life, which is easy to attain, not difficult, and blissful dwelling without fear, peaceful and blissful, leading to nirvāṇa. Bhaddāli! They then cease bliss, cease suffering, joy and sorrow have already ceased, neither suffering nor bliss, equanimity, mindfulness, and purity, attain the fourth concentration and abide in it. Bhaddāli! This is called attaining the fourth supreme mind at that time, attaining peaceful dwelling in the present life, which is easy to attain, not difficult, and blissful dwelling without fear, peaceful and blissful, leading to nirvāṇa.

They attain such a concentrated mind, pure, undefiled, pliant, well-established, immovable, and attain the knowledge and vision of recollecting past lives. They have practice and characteristics, recollecting countless past lives, such as one life, two lives, a hundred lives, a thousand lives, an eon of formation, an eon of destruction, and countless eons of formation and destruction. They know, 'Those beings were named so-and-so, and I was born there before, with such a family name, such a given name, such a birth, such food and drink, such suffering and happiness, such a long life, such a long stay, such a life span. I died here and was born there, and died there and was born here, with such a family name, such a given name, such a birth, such food and drink, such suffering and happiness, such a long life, such a long stay, such a life span.' Bhaddāli! This is called attaining this first knowledge and vision at that time, with previous non-distraction, delighting in dwelling in seclusion, practicing diligently, that is, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of knowledge, the destruction of darkness and the arising of light, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of light, that is, the knowledge and vision of recollecting past lives.

They attain such a concentrated mind, pure, undefiled, pliant, well-established, immovable, and attain the knowledge and vision of the passing away and rebirth of beings. With their pure divine eye, surpassing that of humans, they see beings passing away and being reborn, inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in good and bad destinies, according to their karma. They know, 'These beings, having done evil deeds by body, speech, and mind, slandered the noble ones, held wrong views, and performed wrong deeds, because of that, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will certainly go to a bad realm of existence, to hell. These beings, having done good deeds by body, speech, and mind, not slandering the noble ones, holding right views, and performing right deeds, because of that, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will certainly go to a good realm of existence, to a heavenly realm.' Bhaddāli! This is called attaining this second knowledge and vision at that time, with previous non-distraction, delighting in dwelling in seclusion, practicing diligently, that is, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of knowledge, the destruction of darkness and the arising of light, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of light, that is, the knowledge and vision of the passing away and rebirth of beings.

They attain such a concentrated mind, pure, undefiled, pliant, well-established, immovable, and attain the knowledge and vision of the destruction of the taints. They know this suffering as it really is, know the arising of this suffering, know the cessation of this suffering, and know the path to the cessation of this suffering as it really is. They know these taints as they really are, know the arising of these taints, know the cessation of these taints, and know the path to the cessation of these taints as it really is. Knowing and seeing thus, their mind is liberated from the taint of sensual desire, from the taint of existence, and from the taint of ignorance. Being liberated, they know they are liberated. The supreme knowledge arises: 'Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, there is no more of this state.' Bhaddāli! This is called attaining this third knowledge and vision at that time, with previous non-distraction, delighting in dwelling in seclusion, practicing diligently, that is, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of knowledge, the destruction of darkness and the arising of light, the extinction of ignorance and the arising of light, that is, the knowledge and vision of the destruction of the taints.

Then the Venerable Bhaddāli rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet, and said, “World-Honored One! For what reason do the monks, when they commit the same offense, receive different punishments, some being punished and some not being punished?”

The World-Honored One replied, "Bhaddāli! There are monks who repeatedly break the precepts. Because of repeatedly breaking the precepts, they are criticized by the virtuous. They are criticized by the virtuous for what they have seen, heard, or suspected from others. After being criticized by the virtuous for what they have seen, heard, or suspected from others, they then speak various other matters, become angry and jealous, give rise to great anger and malice, disturb the assembly, and despise the assembly, saying, 'I will now do what pleases the assembly.' Bhaddāli! The monks then think, 'This venerable one repeatedly breaks the precepts. Because of repeatedly breaking the precepts, he is criticized by the virtuous. He is criticized by the virtuous for what he has seen, heard, or suspected from others. After being criticized by the virtuous for what he has seen, heard, or suspected from others, he then speaks various other matters, becomes angry and jealous, gives rise to great anger and malice, disturbs the assembly, and despises the assembly, saying, "I will now do what pleases the assembly." Having seen this, he says, "Venerables! Please observe and let him stay for a long time."'

There are monks who repeatedly break the precepts. Because of repeatedly breaking the precepts, they are criticized by the virtuous. They are criticized by the virtuous for what they have seen, heard, or suspected from others. After being criticized by the virtuous for what they have seen, heard, or suspected from others, they do not speak various other matters, do not become angry and jealous, do not give rise to great anger and malice, do not disturb the assembly, and do not despise the assembly, saying, 'I will now do what pleases the assembly.' Bhaddāli! The monks then think, 'This venerable one repeatedly breaks the precepts. Because of repeatedly breaking the precepts, he is criticized by the virtuous. He is criticized by the virtuous for what he has seen, heard, or suspected from others. After being criticized by the virtuous for what he has seen, heard, or suspected from others, he does not speak various other matters, does not become angry and jealous, does not give rise to great anger and malice, does not disturb the assembly, and does not despise the assembly, saying, "I will now do what pleases the assembly." Having seen this, he says, "Venerables! Please observe and let him be eliminated early."'

"Bhaddāli! There are monks who have faith, affection, and tranquility. This monk has faith, affection, and tranquility. If we punish this venerable one, he will be cut off because of his faith, affection, and tranquility. We should rather protect this venerable one well together.' The monks then protect him well together. Bhaddāli! It is like a person who has only one eye. His relatives pity and protect him, seeking benefit and welfare, seeking peace and happiness, protecting him well, not letting him be cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, sick, or worried, not letting him be dusty, smoky, or dusty and smoky. Why? For fear that this person might lose his only eye. Therefore, his relatives protect him well. Bhaddāli! In the same way, a monk has little faith, affection, and tranquility. The monks then think, 'This monk has little faith, affection, and tranquility. If we punish this venerable one, he will be cut off because of his little faith, affection, and tranquility. We should rather protect this venerable one well together.' Therefore, the monks protect him well together, just like relatives protecting a person with only one eye."

Then the Venerable Bhaddāli rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, and with palms joined, said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! For what reason and condition did the Buddha in the past establish few precepts, and many monks upheld them? For what reason and condition does the World-Honored One today establish many precepts, and few monks uphold them?"

The World-Honored One replied, "Bhaddāli! If the Sangha does not gain benefits, the Sangha will not give rise to the Dharma of joy and delight. If the Sangha gains benefits, the Sangha will give rise to the Dharma of joy and delight. Having given rise to the Dharma of joy and delight, the World-Honored One, wishing to cut off this Dharma of joy and delight, then establishes precepts for the disciples. Thus, the praise is vast and widely known by the great king, with great merit and much learning. Bhaddāli! If the Sangha is not learned, the Sangha will not give rise to the Dharma of joy and delight. If the Sangha is learned, the Sangha will give rise to the Dharma of joy and delight. Having given rise to the Dharma of joy and delight, the World-Honored One, wishing to cut off this Dharma of joy and delight, then establishes precepts for the disciples. Bhaddāli! It is not for the sake of cutting off the defilements of this present life that I establish precepts for the disciples, but for the sake of cutting off the defilements of future lives. Bhaddāli! Therefore, I establish precepts for the disciples to cut off the defilements, and they accept my teachings. Bhaddāli! I have previously spoken to the monks about the Dharma of the pure horse simile. Do you remember the reason for this?"

The Venerable Bhaddāli said, "World-Honored One! There is a reason for this. Why is that? The World-Honored One established the precept of eating in one sitting for the monks, and the Sangha all upheld the precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. Only I said I was incapable, and left my seat, because I did not uphold the complete precepts and the subtle Dharma of the World-Honored One's realm. World-Honored One! This is the reason for this."

The World-Honored One again said, "Bhaddāli! This is not the only reason. Bhaddāli! If I were to speak to the monks about the Dharma of the pure horse simile, you would certainly not listen with a single-minded, respectful, and attentive mind. Bhaddāli! This is another reason for this."

Then the Venerable Bhaddāli rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! Now is the time. Well-Gone One! Now is the time. If the World-Honored One would speak to the monks about the Dharma of the pure horse simile, the monks would listen well and uphold it."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhaddāli! It is like a horse trainer who obtains a pure, good horse. That horse trainer first trains its mouth. Having trained its mouth, it becomes disinclined to movement, either wanting or not wanting. Why is that? Because it has never been trained before. Bhaddāli! If a pure, good horse is trained by a horse trainer, and the first training is accomplished, that horse trainer then further trains it by restraining its mouth and legs, restraining its legs and restraining its mouth, and makes it drive. It is made to ascend the threshold, fit to be ridden by the king, with supreme movement and supreme rest. All its limbs are trained and accomplished, and it becomes disinclined to movement, either wanting or not wanting. Why is that? Because it is repeatedly trained. Bhaddāli! If a pure, good horse is repeatedly trained by that horse trainer and becomes accomplished, then at that time it is tamed, well-tamed, attains supreme taming, attains the foremost supreme taming, supreme movement, attains the foremost movement, and is then fit to be ridden by the king, eating the king's rice, and is praised as the king's horse.

"Bhaddāli! It is like this. When a wise and intelligent person accomplishes the ten unlearned dharmas, unlearned right view, up to unlearned right knowledge, then at that time they are tamed, well-tamed, attain supreme taming, attain the foremost supreme taming, supreme stopping, attain the foremost stopping, eliminate all crookedness, eliminate all defilement, eliminate all fear, eliminate all delusion, eliminate all deceit, stop all dust, purify all defilement without attachment, are worthy of respect, worthy of honor, worthy of offerings, worthy of worship, and are a good field of merit for all gods and humans."

The Buddha spoke thus. The Venerable Bhaddāli and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.