SA 1265（一二六五） 跋迦黎

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha. At that time, Venerable Vakkali was staying at the Goldsmith's Rest House in Rājagṛha, suffering from a serious illness. Venerable Pūrṇa was attending to and providing for him.

Then Vakkali said to Pūrṇa, "You should go to the World-Honored One and bow on my behalf at the feet of the World-Honored One. Inquire about the World-Honored One's well-being, whether he is free from illness and affliction, whether he is light and at ease, and whether he is dwelling in comfort. Say: 'Vakkali is staying at the Goldsmith's Rest House, suffering from a serious illness. He is confined to his bed and wishes to see the World-Honored One. Due to his serious illness, he is weak and exhausted, and is unable to come to see you. I only hope that the World-Honored One will come to the Goldsmith's Rest House out of compassion.'"

At that time, Pūrṇa, having received Vakkali's instructions, went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed at his feet, and stood to one side. He said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Venerable Vakkali bows at the feet of the World-Honored One and inquires about the World-Honored One's well-being, whether he is free from illness and affliction, whether he is light and at ease, and whether he is dwelling in comfort."

The World-Honored One replied, "May he be at ease."

Pūrṇa said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Venerable Vakkali is staying at the goldsmith's dwelling, gravely ill and confined to his bed. He wishes to see the World-Honored One but has no strength to come to the World-Honored One. Excellent, World-Honored One! Please go to the goldsmith's dwelling out of compassion!"

At that time, the World-Honored One silently consented. Pūrṇa, knowing that the World-Honored One had consented, bowed at his feet and left.

At that time, the World-Honored One, in the afternoon, arose from meditation and went to the goldsmith's dwelling, to the dwelling where Vakkali was staying. The bhikṣu Vakkali, seeing the World-Honored One from afar, tried to rise from his bed.

The Buddha told Vakkali, "Stop! Do not rise!"

The World-Honored One then sat on a separate bed and said to Vakkali, "Can you endure this illness? Is your illness increasing or decreasing?"

Vakkali said to the Buddha...as in the previous sutra of Maudgalyayana. "World-Honored One! The pain in my body is extremely difficult to endure. I wish to use a knife to kill myself. I do not enjoy being born in suffering."

The Buddha said to Vakkali, "I will now ask you, answer me as you wish. What do you think, Vakkali? Is form permanent or impermanent?"

Vakkali replied, "Impermanent, World-Honored One!"

He further asked, "If it is impermanent, is it suffering?"

He replied, "It is suffering, World-Honored One!"

He further asked, "Vakkali! If it is impermanent and suffering, it is a changing and transforming phenomenon. Is there anything in it that can be desired and loved?"

Vakkali said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One!" The same was said for feeling, perception, formation, and consciousness.

The Buddha told Vakkali, "If there is nothing in that body that can be desired and loved, then it is a good end, and the next life will also be good."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke various teachings for Vakkali, showing, teaching, illuminating, and delighting him. After rising from his seat, he departed. That very night, Venerable Vakkali contemplated liberation, wanting to kill himself with a knife, not wishing to live long.

At that time, two celestial beings of extremely upright bodies came to where the World-Honored One was in the latter part of the night, bowed their heads at his feet, withdrew and stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Venerable Vakkali is suffering from illness and wants to contemplate liberation. He wants to kill himself with a knife, not wishing to live long.

The second celestial being said, "That Venerable Vakkali has already attained liberation through the good liberation." Having said this, they both bowed at the Buddha's feet and disappeared.

At that time, the World-Honored One, after the night had passed, sat down on a prepared seat in front of the great assembly and addressed the monks, saying, "Last night, two celestial beings of upright bodies came to where I was, bowed their heads, withdrew and stood to one side, and said, 'Venerable Vakkali is staying at the goldsmith's residence, suffering from illness and contemplating liberation. He wants to kill himself with a knife, not wishing to live long.' The second celestial being said, 'Venerable Vakkali has already attained liberation through the good liberation.' Having said this, they bowed their heads, and then disappeared.

At that time, the World-Honored One told a monk, "You should go to Venerable Vakkali and say to him, 'Last night, two celestial beings came to where I was, bowed their heads, withdrew and stood to one side, and said to me, "Venerable Vakkali is seriously ill and contemplating liberation. He wants to kill himself with a knife, not wishing to live long." The second celestial being said, "Venerable Vakkali has attained liberation through the good liberation." Having said this, they disappeared. This is the celestial message. The Buddha also prophesied to you, "If you do not give rise to desire for this body, it will be a good end, and the next life will also be good."'

At that time, the monk received the World-Honored One's instruction and went to the goldsmith's residence and Vakkali's room.

At that time, Vakkali said to the attendant, "You all hold the bed and lift my body outside the residence. I want to kill myself with a knife. I do not wish to live long.

At that time, many monks were walking in the open air outside their rooms. The messenger monk went to the many monks and asked them, "Venerable ones! Where is the monk Vakkali staying?"

The monks replied, "The monk Vakkali told his attendant to lift the bed outside the residence and kill himself with a knife, not wishing to live long." The messenger monk then went to Vakkali.

The monk Vakkali saw the messenger monk coming from afar and told his attendant, "Put the bed on the ground. That monk is coming quickly, he seems to be sent by the World-Honored One." The attendant then put the bed on the ground.

At that time, the messenger monk said to Vakkali, "The World-Honored One has a teaching and the gods have something to say.

At that time, Vakkali said to his attendant, "Support me to the ground. I cannot receive the teaching of the World-Honored One and the words of the gods while lying on the bed." At that time, the attendant supported Vakkali and put him on the ground.

At that time, Vakkali said, "You should proclaim the instructions of the World-Honored One and the words of the gods.

The monk said, "Vakkali! The Master tells you, 'Two gods came to me last night and said, "The monk Vakkali is gravely ill and is contemplating liberation. He wants to kill himself with a knife and does not wish to live long." The second god said, "The monk Vakkali has already attained liberation through good liberation." Having said this, they disappeared.' The World-Honored One also predicted that you will have a good end to your life and a good afterlife.

Vakkali said, "Venerable one! The Master knows what is to be known and sees what is to be seen. Those two gods also know what is to be known and see what is to be seen. But today, I have no doubt about whether form is permanent or impermanent; if it is impermanent, then it is suffering. If it is impermanent and suffering, then it is a changing phenomenon. There is nothing to be desired or sought after in it. I have no doubt about this. The same is true for feeling, perception, formation, and consciousness. But today, my illness and pain still follow my body. I want to kill myself with a knife and do not wish to live long." He then took a knife and killed himself.

The messenger monk, having made offerings to Vakkali's dead body, returned to where the Buddha was. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have fully informed Venerable Vakkali of what the World-Honored One instructed. He said, 'The Master knows what is to be known and sees what is to be seen. Those two gods also know what is to be known and see what is to be seen. But today, I have no doubt about whether form is permanent or impermanent...'" and so on, up to "he took a knife and killed himself"

At that time, the World-Honored One told the monks, "Let us all go to the goldsmith's hut where Vakkali's body is." Seeing Vakkali's dead body, there was a look of detachment. Having seen it, he said to the monks, "Do you see that Vakkali monk's dead body on the ground, with a look of detachment?"

The monks said to the Buddha, "We have seen it, World-Honored One!"

He further said to the monks, "Does the body of Vakkali, when circumambulated, have a dark and gloomy appearance surrounding it?"

The monks said to the Buddha, "We have seen it, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha said to the monks, "This is the form of Mara, who is searching all around for the good man Vakkali's consciousness to see where it will be reborn."

The Buddha said to the monks, "The good man Vakkali did not dwell in consciousness and killed himself with a knife."

At that time, the World Honored One gave the first prediction to Vakkali.

Having spoken this sutra, the Buddha said to the monks, "Having heard the Buddha's words, the monks rejoiced and practiced accordingly."