22. Perfecting the Precepts （二二）成就戒经

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, Venerable Śāriputra said to the bhikṣus, "If a bhikṣu accomplishes morality, concentration, and wisdom, he will be able to enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti in this present life. There is such a place. If he does not attain ultimate knowledge in this present life, when his body perishes and his life ends, he will transcend the heaven of material food and be reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings. There is such a place where he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti."

At that time, Venerable Udāyin was also in the assembly. Venerable Udāyin said, "Venerable Śāriputra! If a bhikṣu is reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings and enters and exits the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti, there is no such place."

Venerable Śāriputra said to the bhikṣus for a second time, "If a bhikṣu accomplishes morality, concentration, and wisdom, he will be able to enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti in this present life. There is such a place. If he does not attain ultimate knowledge in this present life, when his body perishes and his life ends, he will transcend the heaven of material food and be reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings. There is such a place where he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti."

Venerable Udāyin also said to Venerable Śāriputra for a second time, "Venerable Śāriputra! If a bhikṣu is reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings and enters and exits the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti, there is no such place."

Then Venerable Śāriputra thought, "This bhikṣu has denied my words up to three times. Not a single bhikṣu has praised my words. I should go to the World-Honored One." Then Venerable Śāriputra went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side.

Not long after Venerable Śāriputra left, Venerable Udāyin and the other bhikṣus also went to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. Among them, Venerable Śāriputra again told the bhikṣus, "If a bhikṣu accomplishes morality, concentration, and wisdom, he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti in this very life. There is such a place. If in this very life he does not attain ultimate knowledge, when his body perishes and his life ends, he will transcend the heaven of material food and be reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings. There he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti. There is such a place."

Venerable Udāyin again said, "Venerable Śāriputra! If a bhikṣu is reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings and enters and exits the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti, there is no such place."

Venerable Śāriputra again told the bhikṣus three times, "If a bhikṣu accomplishes morality, concentration, and wisdom, he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti in this very life. There is such a place. If in this very life he does not attain ultimate knowledge, when his body perishes and his life ends, he will transcend the heaven of material food and be reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings. There he can enter and exit the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti. There is such a place."

Venerable Udāyin also said three times, "Venerable Śāriputra! If a bhikṣu is reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings and enters and exits the sañjñāvedayitanirodha-samāpatti, there is no such place."

Venerable Śāriputra then thought, "This bhikṣu has denied my words three times in the presence of the World-Honored One, and no bhikṣu has praised my words. I should remain silent."

Then the World-Honored One asked, "Udāyin! Do you say that the mind-made heaven is form?"

Venerable Udāyin replied to the World-Honored One, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The World-Honored One rebuked Udāyin, saying, "You foolish man! Blind and without eyes, how can you discuss the profound Abhidharma?" Thereupon, Venerable Udāyin, having been rebuked by the Buddha, was inwardly distressed, lowered his head in silence, lost his eloquence, and was speechless, as if in deep thought.

Having rebuked Venerable Udāyin, the World-Honored One said to Venerable Ānanda, "When an elder bhikṣu of great virtue is questioned, why do you let it go unchecked? You foolish man! Without compassion, you abandon an elder bhikṣu of great virtue."

Thereupon, the World-Honored One, having rebuked Venerable Udāyin and Venerable Ānanda, addressed the bhikṣus, "If a bhikṣu accomplishes morality, concentration, and wisdom, he will be able to enter and exit the cessation of perception and feeling in this very life. There is such a place. If he does not attain ultimate knowledge in this very life, when his body perishes and his life ends, he will transcend the heaven of material food and be reborn in the heaven of other mind-made beings. There is such a place where he can enter and exit the cessation of perception and feeling." The Buddha spoke thus and then entered the meditation chamber, sitting in silence.

At that time, Venerable Pañcakaṇikā was in the assembly. Venerable Ānanda said to Venerable Pañcakaṇikā, "He did it, but I am blamed. Venerable Pañcakaṇikā! The World-Honored One will surely come out of the meditation chamber in the afternoon, go before the assembly of bhikṣus, spread his seat, and sit down to discuss this matter. Venerable Pañcakaṇikā should answer this matter. I am extremely ashamed before the World-Honored One and the virtuous ones.

Then, the World-Honored One came out of the meditation chamber in the afternoon, went before the assembly of bhikṣus, spread his seat, and sat down. He said, "Pañcakaṇikā! What are the few qualities that the elder bhikṣus are loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones? "

Venerable Pañcakaṇikā said, "World-Honored One! If an elder bhikṣu has five qualities, he is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. What are the five? World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu practices the precepts, guards the precepts, and is well-disciplined in deportment and etiquette. Seeing even the slightest fault, he is always fearful and upholds the precepts. World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu who upholds the precepts is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. Furthermore, World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu extensively studies and memorizes, guarding and not forgetting, accumulating extensive learning. The teachings he upholds are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with meaning and expression, complete and pure, manifesting the holy life. He extensively studies and memorizes such teachings, mastering them a thousand times, contemplating them with the mind, clearly seeing and deeply understanding. World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu who is learned is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. Furthermore, World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu attains the four immeasurably vast states of mind, dwelling in the present with ease, not difficult to attain. World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu who practices meditation is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. Furthermore, World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu practices wisdom, observing the arising and ceasing of phenomena, attaining such wisdom, with the illumination of holy wisdom, discerning and understanding, with right knowledge to completely end suffering. World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu who is wise is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. Furthermore, World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu has exhausted all taints, has no further bonds, is liberated in mind and wisdom, and in this very life, knows and realizes for himself, attains accomplishment, and abides in it. Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, and there will be no more continuation of existence, knowing it as it really is. World-Honored One! An elder bhikṣu who has exhausted the taints is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones. World-Honored One! If an elder bhikṣu accomplishes these five qualities, he is loved, respected, and revered by the virtuous ones."

The World-Honored One asked, "Pañcakaṇikā! If an elder bhikṣu does not have these five qualities, what other reasons would make the virtuous ones love, respect, and revere him?" Venerable Pañcakaṇikā said, "World-Honored One! If an elder bhikṣu does not have these five qualities, there is no other reason for the virtuous ones to love, respect, and revere him, except for his old age, gray hair, and falling teeth, his prime gradually declining, his bent body and crooked legs, his heavy body and wheezing breath, leaning on a cane to walk, his skin sagging and wrinkled like hemp seeds, his faculties deteriorating and his complexion ugly. They would love, respect, and revere him for these reasons."

The World-Honored One said, "So it is! So it is! If an elder bhikṣu does not have these five qualities, there is no other reason for the virtuous ones to love, respect, and revere him, except for his old age, gray hair, and falling teeth, his prime gradually declining, his bent body and crooked legs, his heavy body and wheezing breath, leaning on a cane to walk, his skin sagging and wrinkled like hemp seeds, his faculties deteriorating and his complexion ugly. They would love, respect, and revere him for these reasons. Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu has these five qualities. You should love, respect, and revere him. Why is that? Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu practices the precepts, guards the precepts, and is well-disciplined in deportment and etiquette. Seeing even the slightest fault, he is always fearful and upholds the precepts. Furthermore, Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu extensively studies and memorizes, guarding and not forgetting, accumulating extensive learning. The teachings he upholds are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with meaning and expression, complete and pure, manifesting the holy life. He extensively studies and memorizes such teachings, mastering them a thousand times, contemplating them with the mind, clearly seeing and deeply understanding. Furthermore, Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu attains the four immeasurably vast states of mind, dwelling in the present with ease, not difficult to attain. Furthermore, Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu practices wisdom, observing the arising and ceasing of phenomena, attaining such wisdom, with the illumination of holy wisdom, discerning and understanding, with right knowledge to completely end suffering. Furthermore, Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu has exhausted all taints, has no further bonds, is liberated in mind and wisdom, and in this very life, knows and realizes for himself, attains accomplishment, and abides in it. Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, and there will be no more continuation of existence, knowing it as it really is. Pañcakaṇikā! Śāriputra bhikṣu has accomplished these five qualities. You should love, respect, and revere him."

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