SA 1174（一一七四） 树

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was staying by the banks of the Aciravatī River. At that time, a bhikṣu came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "Excellent! World-Honored One! Please teach the Dharma for me. After I have heard the Dharma, I will dwell alone in a quiet place, diligently contemplating and not being negligent. The reason why a noble son shaves his beard and hair, with right faith leaves home, goes forth to practice the path, and further cultivates the holy life, is to see the Dharma, know for himself, and realize: 'My births are exhausted, the holy life are established, what was to be done is done, and I know for myself that I will not undergo further rebirth.'"

At that time, the World-Honored One observed the water and saw a large tree in the river flowing downstream. He said to the bhikṣu, "Do you see the large tree in the river flowing downstream?"

He replied, "I see it, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha said to the bhikṣu, "This large tree does not cling to this shore, does not cling to the other shore, does not sink to the bottom of the water, does not obstruct the islands, does not enter the whirlpools, is not taken by people, is not taken by non-humans, and does not rot. Will it flow along with the water, flowing, flowing, and flowing into the great ocean?"

The bhikṣu said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha said, "The bhikṣu is also like this. He does not cling to this shore, does not cling to the other shore, does not sink to the bottom of the water, does not obstruct the islands, does not enter the whirlpools, is not taken by people, is not taken by non-humans, and does not rot. He flows, flows, and flows into nirvāṇa."

The bhikṣu said to the Buddha, "What is this shore? What is the other shore? What is sinking? What are the islands? What are the whirlpools? What is taken by people? What is taken by non-humans? What is rotting? Excellent, World-Honored One! Please explain it to me in detail. After I hear the Dharma, I will dwell alone in a quiet place, diligently contemplating and not being negligent, and I will know for myself that I will not be reborn again."

The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "This shore refers to the six sense bases. The other shore refers to the six external sense bases. Being taken by people is like someone who associates with laypeople and renunciants, sharing their joys, sorrows, sufferings, and pleasures, and doing things together with them. They start and end together. This is being taken by people. Being taken by non-humans is like someone who wishes to practice the holy life, thinking, 'I now uphold the precepts, practice austerities, and cultivate various holy life. I will be reborn in such and such a place, in the heavens.' This is being taken by non-humans. Whirlpools are like someone who regresses from the precepts. Rotting refers to breaking the precepts, practicing evil and unwholesome dharmas, being ignorant, like weeds and chaff, the sound of a conch, not being a śramaṇa but appearing to be a śramaṇa, not practicing the holy life but appearing to practice the holy life. Thus, bhikṣu! This is called not clinging to this shore or the other shore, and flowing, flowing, and flowing into nirvāṇa."

At that time, the bhikṣu, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully rejoiced, paid homage, and departed.

At that time, the bhikṣu, alone in a quiet place, contemplated the teachings of the Water Flowing and Great Tree Sutra spoken by the Buddha, and attained arahantship, knowing for himself that he would not be reborn again.

At that time, a cowherd named Nandu was not far from the Buddha, holding a staff to herd the cows. After the bhikṣu left, he went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Can I now leave behind this shore, leave behind the other shore, not sink, not be obstructed by islands, not be taken by non-humans, not be taken by non-humans, not enter whirlpools, and not decay? Can I go forth and practice the holy life in the World-Honored One's true Dharma and Vinaya?"

The Buddha said to the cowherd, "Did you return the cows to their owner?"

The cowherd said, "All the cows have calves and can return by themselves. There is no need to send them back. I only ask to be allowed to go forth and study the path."

The Buddha said to the cowherd, "Although the cows can return home, you have already received the food and clothing of others. You must repay the owner."

At that time, the cowherd, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully followed and paid homage before departing.

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra was in this assembly. Not long after the cowherd left, he addressed the Buddha, saying, "World-Honored One! The cowherd who was difficult to slaughter wished to go forth. Why did the World-Honored One send him back home?"

The Buddha told Śāriputra, "It is impossible for the cowherd who is difficult to slaughter to return home and indulge in the five desires! After entrusting the cattle to the owner, he will certainly return to go forth in this Dharma and Vinaya, practice the holy life, and even know for himself that he will not be reborn again, attaining arahantship."

At that time, the cowherd who was difficult to slaughter entrusted the cattle to the owner, returned to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and addressed the Buddha, saying, "World-Honored One! The cattle have been entrusted to the owner. Please allow me to go forth in the true Dharma and Vinaya to practice the path."

The Buddha told the cowherd who was difficult to slaughter, "You may go forth in this Dharma and Vinaya, receive full ordination, and attain the status of a bhikṣu."

After going forth, he contemplated, "The reason why a clansman shaves his beard and hair, puts on the monastic robe, with right faith leaves home to study the path, and cultivates the holy life, is to know for himself that he will not be reborn again." He attained arahantship.