84. （八四）无刺经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was wandering in Vesali, staying at the High Tower Pavilion by the Monkey River. These venerable, senior, and great disciples, such as Chala, Upachala, Kshanti, Kshantivadin, Anupadhika, and Yasas, were also wandering in Vesali at the High Tower Pavilion by the Monkey River, all staying near the Buddha's leaf hut.

The Licchavis of Vesali heard that the World-Honored One was wandering in Vesali at the High Tower Pavilion by the Monkey River. They thought, "We should perform great supernatural powers, with the majesty of a king, and proclaim it loudly, leaving Vesali to go to where the Buddha is to make offerings and pay respects."

Then the venerable, senior, and great disciples heard that the Licchavis of Vesali were performing great supernatural powers, with the majesty of a king, and proclaiming it loudly, leaving Vesali to go to where the Buddha was to make offerings and pay respects. They thought, "Meditation is pierced by sound. The World-Honored One also said that meditation is pierced by sound. We should go to the Ox-horn Sala Grove, where there is no disturbance, to dwell in seclusion, in a quiet place, and sit in meditation." So the venerable, senior, and great disciples went to the Ox-horn Sala Grove, where there was no disturbance, to dwell in seclusion, in a quiet place, and sat in meditation.

At that time, many Licchavis of Vesali performed great supernatural powers, with the majesty of a king, and proclaimed it loudly, leaving Vesali to go to where the Buddha was to make offerings and pay respects. Some Licchavis bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet and sat to one side, some exchanged greetings with the Buddha and sat to one side, some joined their palms towards the Buddha and sat to one side, and some sat silently upon seeing the Buddha from afar.

At that time, the many Licchavis of Vesali each sat in concentration. The World-Honored One taught the Dharma for them, inspiring them with yearning and bringing them to fulfillment and joy. Having taught the Dharma for them with immeasurable skillful means, inspiring them with yearning and bringing them to fulfillment and joy, he remained silent. Then the many Licchavis of Vesali, for whom the World-Honored One had taught the Dharma, inspiring them with yearning and bringing them to fulfillment and joy, rose from their seats, bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

Not long after the Licchavis of Vesali left, the World-Honored One asked the bhikshus, "Where have the elders, the great disciples, gone?"

The bhikshus replied, "World-Honored One! The elders, the great disciples, heard the Licchavis of Vesali perform great supernatural powers, proclaim their royal majesty, and loudly proclaim their departure from Vesali to come to the Buddha to make offerings and pay homage. They thought, 'Meditation is pierced by sound. The World-Honored One also said that meditation is pierced by sound. We should go to the Gosirigaha Forest, where there is no disturbance, to dwell in seclusion, in a quiet place, to sit in meditation and contemplate.' World-Honored One! The elders, the great disciples, have all gone there."

Then the World-Honored One, having heard this, praised, "Excellent! Excellent! If the elders, the great disciples, should say, 'Meditation is pierced by sound. The World-Honored One also said that meditation is pierced by sound.' Why is that? Because I indeed said that meditation has thorns. For those who uphold precepts, breaking precepts is a thorn. For those who guard the sense faculties, adorning the body is a thorn. For those who cultivate the impurity of the body, the appearance of purity is a thorn. For those who cultivate loving-kindness, anger is a thorn. For those who abstain from alcohol, drinking alcohol is a thorn. For those who practice the brahma-conduct, seeing female form is a thorn. For those who enter the first dhyana, sound is a thorn. For those who enter the second dhyana, initial and sustained thought are thorns. For those who enter the third dhyana, joy is a thorn. For those who enter the fourth dhyana, inhalation and exhalation are thorns. For those who enter the sphere of infinite space, the perception of form is a thorn. For those who enter the sphere of infinite consciousness, the perception of the sphere of infinite space is a thorn. For those who enter the sphere of nothingness, the perception of the sphere of infinite consciousness is a thorn. For those who enter the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, the perception of the sphere of nothingness is a thorn. For those who enter the cessation of perception and feeling, perception and feeling are thorns.

"Furthermore, there are three thorns: the thorn of desire, the thorn of anger, and the thorn of ignorance. These three thorns have been cut off, known, uprooted, and extinguished by the arhat who has exhausted the taints. They will not arise again. This is called the arhat being without thorns, the arhat being free from thorns, the arhat being without thorns and free from thorns."

The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.