MĀ 6
Madhyamāgama 中阿含经
Chapter 1 七法品
6. The Destination of a Good Person （六）善人往经（初一日诵）
Parallel to: AN 7.55
I have heard thus: | 我闻如是： |
Once, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Shravasti, staying at the Jeta Grove Anathapindika Monastery. At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the monks, saying, "I shall now explain to you the seven good people's places of going and the nirvāṇa without remainder. Listen attentively, listen attentively! Consider it well and keep it in mind." At that time, the monks accepted the teaching and listened. | 一时，佛游舍卫国，在胜林给孤独园。尔时，世尊告诸比丘：「我当为汝说七善人所往至处及无余涅槃。谛听，谛听！善思念之。」时，诸比丘受教而听。 |
The Buddha said, "What are the seven? A monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like burning wheat flour, which burns and then goes out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the middle parinirvāṇa. This is called the first place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 佛言：「云何为七？比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。如是行者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬如烧麸，才燃便灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得中般涅槃，是谓第一善人所往至处，世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the middle parinirvāṇa. This is called the second place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次，比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞燃俱炽，以椎打之，迸火飞空，上已即灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得中般涅槃，是谓第二善人所往至处，世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and come back down. Before they reach the ground, they go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the middle parinirvāṇa. This is called the third place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次，比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞燃俱炽，以椎打之。迸火飞空，从上来还，未至地灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得中般涅槃，是谓第三善人所往至处。世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and fall to the ground and go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the birth parinirvāṇa. This is called the fourth place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次，比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞然俱炽，以椎打之，迸火飞空，堕地而灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得生般涅槃，是谓第四善人所往至处。世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and fall to the ground. If they fall on a small amount of firewood or grass, they may smoke or burn, and after burning, they go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the practice parinirvāṇa. This is called the fifth place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次，比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞燃俱炽，以椎打之，迸火飞空，堕少薪草上，若烟若燃，燃已便灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得行般涅槃，是谓第五善人所往至处。世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and fall to the ground. If they fall on a large amount of firewood or grass, they may smoke or burn, and after burning, they go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the non-practice parinirvāṇa. This is called the sixth place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次。比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞燃俱炽，以椎打之，迸火飞空，堕多薪草上，若烟若燃，燃尽已灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得无行般涅槃，是谓第六善人所往至处。世间谛如有。 |
Furthermore, a monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, but has not yet attained it. If a monk practices like this, where will he go? It is like a piece of iron that is burning and blazing, and when struck with a hammer, sparks fly into the air and fall to the ground. If they fall on a large amount of firewood or grass, they may smoke or burn, and after burning, they go out. Know that a monk is also like this. If his slight pride is not yet exhausted, but the five lower fetters are already severed, he attains the upper stream parinirvāṇa in the Akaniṣṭha heaven. This is called the seventh place where good people go, which exists in the worldly truth. | 「复次。比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，然未得证。比丘行如是，往至何所？譬若如铁洞燃俱炽，以椎打之，迸火飞空，堕多薪草上，若烟若燃，燃已便烧村邑、城郭、山林、旷野。烧村邑、城郭、山林、旷野已，或至道、至水、至平地灭。当知比丘亦复如是，少慢未尽，五下分结已断，得上流阿迦腻咤般涅槃，是谓第七善人所往至处。世间谛如有。 |
What is the nirvāṇa without remainder? A monk should practice like this. The self is selfless, and there is no 'mine'. The future self is also selfless, and there is no 'mine'. What has already arisen is to be abandoned, and what has already been abandoned is to be relinquished. There is joy, but one is not defiled. One is united, but not attached. One who practices like this sees the highest cessation of traces through wisdom, and has already attained it. I say that such a monk does not go to the east, west, south, north, the four intermediate directions, or above or below. He attains cessation and nirvāṇa in this very life. The seven places where good people go and the nirvāṇa without remainder that I spoke of earlier are spoken of for this reason. | 「云何无余涅槃？比丘行当如是。我者无我，亦无我所，当来无我，亦无我所，已有便断，已断得舍，有乐不染，合会不著。行如是者，无上息迹慧之所见，而已得证。我说彼比丘不至东方，不至西方、南方、北方、四维、上、下，便于现法中息迹灭度。我向所说七善人所往至处及无余涅槃者，因此故说。」 |
The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them. | 佛说如是。彼诸比丘闻佛所说，欢喜奉行。 |
Translated from Chinese using Gemma-2-Mitra (Buddhist-NLP).
This is the classical Chinese root text of Madhyamāgama, a parallel to the Pali sutta(s) listed above. Source: CBETA (Taishō edition).