SA-2 111（一一一）

The Buddha was at the Bamboo Grove in the Kalandaka Park in Rājagṛha. At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "You should all diligently cultivate good practices, gradually increasing them, like the waxing moon." At that time, there was a bhikṣu who had just received the precepts. He gradually cultivated a sense of shame and guilt, upheld the dignified deportment, traveled among the people, was gentle and respectful, not arrogant, and was able to restrain his body and mind. It was like a person with clear eyes avoiding a deep, empty well and a steep mountain cliff. The bhikṣu was also like this, like the waxing moon, gradually increasing, with good practices becoming new every day. The Buddha further told the bhikṣus, "In this assembly, the bhikṣu Kāśyapa diligently cultivates good practices, like the waxing moon, gradually increasing, gradually cultivating a sense of shame and guilt, traveling among the people, able to restrain his body and mind, being gentle and respectful, never being arrogant. It is like a person with clear eyes being able to avoid a deep well and stay far away from a steep valley. The bhikṣu Kāśyapa is also like this."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "What kind of bhikṣu is in accord with the Dharma and can go to people's homes?" At that time, the bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! The Tathāgata is the root of all dharmas, the guide of all dharmas, and the basis of all dharmas. Excellent! World-Honored One! Please explain this meaning for us. Having heard it, we will accept and uphold it with utmost sincerity."

The Buddha further told the bhikṣus, "Listen attentively! Listen attentively! Remember it well! If there is a bhikṣu who is not attached to anything, does not love or hate, is not bound by the household, does not give rise to increase or decrease, has no resentment in his mind, and is also not jealous. Seeing others' gains, he gives rise to joy. Seeing others give to others, he is not resentful. He rejoices in the merit-making of others. He does not praise himself for having virtuous practices. Whatever he says is always for the sake of all. Seeing other bhikṣus going to others' homes together, he never criticizes. He has no high or low thoughts towards himself and others. If the bhikṣus can cultivate good thoughts as explained above, they are then said to be in accord with the Dharma, going back and forth among the people in accordance with the Dharma."

At that time, the World-Honored One himself moved his hand in the sky and told the bhikṣus, "Now, my hand is not attached to the sky, not bound by the sky, and has no resentment or anger. Is there any binding, attachment, increase or decrease in this hand?" The bhikṣus then said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! This hand in the sky is not bound, not attached, and has no increase or decrease."

The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "It is so, it is so. If there is a bhikṣu whose mind is not bound or attached, like moving a hand in the sky, he can then enter and leave, going back and forth to various homes, without giving rise to increase or decrease, without giving rise to regret or distress, and also without jealousy. Seeing others' gains, he gives rise to joy. Seeing others give to others, not to himself, he is also not resentful. Seeing those who cultivate merit, he rejoices in them all, and even has no high or low thoughts." The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "The bhikṣu Kāśyapa is also like this, going back and forth among the people, with no bound or attached mind, and even with no high or low thoughts."

The Buddha again moved his hand in the sky for a second time and told the bhikṣus, "As explained above, even the bhikṣu Kāśyapa is also like this."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "How do bhikṣus enter and leave various homes to teach the Dharma to people? How can they be called pure Dharma teachers? How can they be called impure?" The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! The Tathāgata is the root of all dharmas, guided by the Dharma, relying on the Dharma. Excellent! World-Honored One! Please explain it for us. After we hear it, we will wholeheartedly uphold it."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Listen carefully! Listen carefully! Remember it well! If a bhikṣu teaches the Dharma to others, thinking, 'I teach the Dharma for that person, so that person will have faith and respect for me, and be able to give me a lot of food, clothing, and medicine for illness,' if he speaks like this, it is called impure. If a bhikṣu teaches the Dharma to others, wishing to make the listeners realize and understand the Buddha's teachings, eliminate present suffering, and be free from all afflictions, not choosing the time, guiding and showing the good paths, revealing it for them, so that they can know for themselves and not be taught by others, being free from birth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, and distress, and making the listeners hear what he says and practice according to the Dharma, so that the listeners may attain the Dharma, attain the meaning, attain benefits, and attain peace for a long time, if he speaks like this, it is called the pure teaching of compassion and kindness. It is out of compassion and benefit, wishing to make the true Dharma last long, that he speaks the Dharma like this. This is called pure. Therefore, bhikṣus should think like this when teaching the Dharma to others. They should study like this. The third is also as explained above. Kāśyapa bhikṣu is able to speak like this, wishing to make the listeners realize and understand the Buddha's teachings, and so on, up to wishing to make the true Dharma last long, out of compassion and benefit, speaking like this is called pure, in accordance with the Buddha's teachings."

At that time, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said, and joyfully received and practiced it.