SA 1136（一一三六） 月喻

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalanda Bamboo Grove in the city of Shravasti.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "You should abide like the moon, like a beginner, with shame and humility, controlling your mind and restraining your appearance when entering others' homes. It is like a person with clear eyes approaching a precipice or climbing a peak, controlling their mind and restraining their appearance, proceeding with difficulty and speed. In the same way, bhikṣus should abide like the moon, like beginners, with shame and humility, controlling their minds and restraining their appearances when entering others' homes. The bhikṣu Kāśyapa abides like the moon, like a beginner, with shame and humility, controlling the arrogance of the proud, controlling his mind and restraining his appearance when entering others' homes. It is like a person with clear eyes approaching a precipice or climbing a peak, controlling his mind and restraining his appearance, proceeding with right observation."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "What kind of appearance should a bhikṣu have when entering others' homes?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "The World-Honored One is the root of the Dharma, the eye of the Dharma, and the reliance of the Dharma. Please explain it extensively! When we have heard it, we will accept and uphold it."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Listen carefully and consider it well, I will explain it to you. If a bhikṣu is not attached to and delights in others' homes, and is happy for others' gains and merits as if they were his own, without giving rise to jealousy, not elevating himself or belittling others, a bhikṣu of this kind should enter others' homes."

At that time, the World-Honored One touched the empty space with his hand and said to the bhikṣus, "Does my hand now touch, bind, or stain the empty space?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "The way of bhikṣus is always like this: not attached, not bound, not defiled in mind, entering others' homes. Only the bhikṣu Kāśyapa enters others' homes with an unattached, unbound, and undefiled mind, rejoicing in others' gains and merits as if they were his own, not giving rise to jealous thoughts, not elevating himself, and not belittling others. Only the bhikṣu Kāśyapa should enter others' homes."

At that time, the World-Honored One again touched the empty space with his hand and said to the bhikṣus, "What do you think? Is my hand now attached to the empty space, bound to the empty space, or defiled by the empty space?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Only the bhikṣu Kāśyapa has a mind like this, entering others' homes with a mind that is not attached, not bound, and not defiled."

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "What kind of bhikṣu should give a pure Dharma talk?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "The World-Honored One is the root of the Dharma, the eye of the Dharma, and the reliance of the Dharma. Please explain it extensively! When the bhikṣus hear it, they will accept and uphold it."

The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "Listen carefully and think well, I will explain it for you. If a bhikṣu has such a mind when teaching others the Dharma, thinking, 'What kind of person will have pure faith in me and provide me with robes, food and drink, bedding, and medicine?' Such a teacher is called one who gives an impure Dharma talk.

If a bhikṣu teaches the Dharma to others with the thought, 'The World-Honored One has revealed the true Dharma and Vinaya, which is free from all burning, not dependent on time, and leads to the realization of nirvāṇa in this very life. But sentient beings are immersed in old age, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress. If these sentient beings hear the true Dharma, they will be greatly benefited and find long-lasting peace.' With such true Dharma as the cause and condition, and with a mind of kindness, compassion, pity, and a desire for the true Dharma to endure, they teach others. This is called giving a pure Dharma talk. Only the bhikṣu Kāśyapa has such a pure mind to teach others the Dharma, using the true Dharma and Vinaya of the Tathāgata, and even with the intention of making the Dharma endure. Therefore, bhikṣus! You should study and teach the Dharma in this way, using the true Dharma and Vinaya of the Tathāgata, and even with the intention of making the Dharma endure.

After the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus who heard what the Buddha had said rejoiced and received it respectfully.