MĀ 85
Madhyamāgama 中阿含经
Chapter 7 长寿王品
85. （八五）真人经
I have heard thus: | 我闻如是： |
At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma. | 一时，佛游舍卫国，在胜林给孤独园。 |
At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "I will now explain to you the Dharma of the true person and the Dharma of the false person. Listen carefully, listen carefully, and consider it well." | 尔时，世尊告诸比丘：「我今为汝说真人法及不真人法，谛听，谛听，善思念之。」 |
At that time, the bhikṣus accepted the teaching and listened. | 时，诸比丘受教而听。 |
The Buddha said, "What is the Dharma of the false person? If someone is from a noble family and has renounced the world to study the path, while others are not, they may become arrogant because of their noble family and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of being from a noble family.' If someone is not from a noble family and has renounced the world to study the path, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 佛言：「云何不真人法？或有一人是豪贵族出家学道，余者不然，彼因是豪贵族故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此是豪贵族故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人不是豪贵出家学道，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone is handsome and attractive, while others are not, they may become arrogant because of their good looks and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of being handsome and attractive.' If someone is not handsome and attractive, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人端正可爱，余者不然，彼因端正可爱故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此端正可爱故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人不端正可爱，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone is eloquent and skilled in debate, while others are not, they may become arrogant because of their eloquence and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of being eloquent and skilled in debate.' If someone is not eloquent and skilled in debate, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人才辩工谈，余者不然，彼因才辩工谈故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此才辩工谈故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人无才辩工谈，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone is an elder, known to the king and the people, and has great merit, while others are not, they may become arrogant because of being an elder, known to the king and the people, and having great merit, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of being an elder, known to the king and the people, and having great merit.' If someone is not an elder, not known to the king and the people, and does not have great merit, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人是长老，为王者所识及众人所知，而有大福，余者不然，彼因是长老，为王者所识及众人所知，而有大福故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此是长老，为王者所识及众人所知，而有大福故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人非是长老，不为王者所识及众人所知，亦无大福，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone recites the sutras, upholds the Vinaya, studies Abhidharma, is well-versed in the Agamas, and has studied many scriptures, while others are not, they may become arrogant because of being well-versed in the Agamas and having studied many scriptures, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of being well-versed in the Agamas and having studied many scriptures.' If someone is not well-versed in the Agamas and has not studied many scriptures, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人诵经、持律、学阿毘昙，谙阿含慕，多学经书，余者不然，彼因谙阿含慕，多学经书故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此谙阿含慕，多学经书故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人不谙阿含慕，亦不多学经书，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone wears rag robes, upholds the three Dharma robes, and holds the robes of non-arrogance, while others do not, they may become arrogant because of holding the robes of non-arrogance, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of holding the robes of non-arrogance.' If someone does not hold the robes of non-arrogance, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人著粪扫衣，摄三法服，持不慢衣，余者不然，彼因持不慢衣故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此持不慢衣故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人不持不慢衣，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone always begs for food, eats only five sheng of rice, limits their meals to seven households, or eats only one meal, and does not drink anything after noon, while others do not, they may become arrogant because of not drinking anything after noon, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of not drinking anything after noon.' If someone does not stop drinking after noon, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人常行乞食，饭齐五升，限七家食，或复一食，过中不饮浆，余者不然，彼因过中不饮浆故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此过中不饮浆故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人不断过中饮浆，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone lives in an uninhabited place, under a tree in a mountain forest, or on a high cliff, or stays in the open, or in a charnel ground, and is able to know the right time, while others do not, they may become arrogant because of knowing the right time, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'I do not cut off desire, anger, and ignorance because of knowing the right time.' If someone does not know the right time, but they practice the Dharma according to the Dharma, follow the Dharma, and progress towards the Dharma, they may receive offerings and respect because of this. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人在无事处、山林树下，或住高岩，或止露地，或处冢间，或能知时，余者不然，彼因此知时故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『我不因此知时故，断婬、怒、痴。』或有一人而不知时，彼行法如法，随顺于法，向法次法，彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone attains the first dhyāna, and because of attaining the first dhyāna, they become arrogant and look down on others, this is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'The first dhyāna is said by the World-Honored One to be immeasurable. If one clings to it, it is called attachment.' Because of this, they may receive offerings and respect. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人逮得初禅，彼因得初禅故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『初禅者，世尊说无量种，若有计者是谓爱也。』彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Furthermore, if someone attains the second, third, and fourth dhyānas, the sphere of emptiness, the sphere of consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, and the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, while others do not, they may become arrogant because of attaining the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, and look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the false person. The Dharma of the true person is to contemplate thus: 'The sphere of neither perception nor non-perception is said by the World-Honored One to be immeasurable. If one clings to it, it is called attachment.' Because of this, they may receive offerings and respect. If they progress towards the true Dharma in this way, they do not become arrogant or look down on others. This is called the Dharma of the true person. | 「复次，或有一人得第二、第三、第四禅，得空处、识处、无所有处、非有想非无想处，余者不然，彼因得非有想非无想处故，自贵贱他，是谓不真人法。真人法者作如是观：『非有想非无想处，世尊说无量种，若有计者是谓爱也。』彼因此故，得供养恭敬，如是趣向得真谛法者，不自贵、不贱他，是谓真人法。 |
Bhikṣus! This is called the Dharma of the true person and the Dharma of the false person. You should know the Dharma of the true person and the Dharma of the false person. Having known the Dharma of the true person and the Dharma of the false person, abandon the Dharma of the false person and practice the Dharma of the true person. You should train like this. | 「诸比丘！是谓真人法、不真人法，汝等当知真人法、不真人法，知真人法、不真人法已，舍离不真人法，学真人法，汝等当学如是。」 |
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。 |
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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).