SA 265（二六五） 泡沫

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the bank of the Ganges River in the country of Apidu.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "It is like the great floodwaters of the Ganges River, which carry along foam. A person with clear eyes carefully observes and distinguishes it. When carefully observing and distinguishing it, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness. Why is that? Because there is no firmness in that foam. In the same way, all forms, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, coarse or subtle, beautiful or ugly, far or near, bhikṣus! Carefully contemplate and distinguish them, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness, like a disease, like a boil, like a thorn, like a killer, impermanent, suffering, empty, and not-self. Why is that? Because form is not solid.

Bhikṣus! It is like the water bubbles in a heavy rainstorm, appearing and disappearing. A person with clear eyes carefully contemplates and distinguishes them. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing them, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness. Why is that? Because those water bubbles are not solid. In the same way, bhikṣus! All feelings, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, coarse or subtle, beautiful or ugly, far or near. Bhikṣus! Carefully contemplate and distinguish them. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing them, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness, like a disease, like a boil, like a thorn, like a killer, impermanent, suffering, empty, and not-self. Why is that? Because feelings are not solid.

Bhikṣus! It is like the mirage in the hot season, without clouds or rain, in the middle of the day, when the sun is shining. A person with clear eyes carefully contemplates and distinguishes it. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing it, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness. Why is that? Because that mirage is not solid. In the same way, bhikṣus! All perceptions, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, coarse or subtle, beautiful or ugly, far or near. Bhikṣus! Carefully contemplate and distinguish them. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing them, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness, like a disease, like a boil, like a thorn, like a killer, impermanent, suffering, empty, and not-self. Why is that? Because perceptions are not solid.

Bhikṣus! It is like a person with clear eyes seeking solid wood. Holding a sharp axe, they enter a forest and see a large plantain tree, straight and tall. They immediately cut its roots and chop off its top, peeling off the leaves one by one, finding nothing solid. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing it, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness. Why is that? Because that plantain has no solidity. In the same way, bhikṣus! All formations, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, coarse or subtle, beautiful or ugly, far or near. Bhikṣus! Carefully contemplate and distinguish them. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing them, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness, like a disease, like a boil, like a thorn, like a killer, impermanent, suffering, empty, and not-self. Why is that? Because those formations have no solidity.

Bhikṣus! It is like a magician or a magician's disciple, at the crossroads, conjuring up an army of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry. A person with clear eyes and wisdom carefully contemplates and distinguishes it. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing it, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness. Why is that? Because that illusion has no solidity. In the same way, bhikṣus! All consciousness, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, coarse or subtle, beautiful or ugly, far or near. Bhikṣus! Carefully contemplate and distinguish it. When carefully contemplating and distinguishing it, there is nothing, no solidity, no reality, no firmness, like a disease, like a boil, like a thorn, like a killer, impermanent, suffering, empty, and not-self. Why is that? Because consciousness has no solidity.

At that time, the World-Honored One, wanting to elaborate on this meaning, spoke a verse:

Seeing form as like foam, feeling as like bubbles on water, perception
as like a spring mirage, conditioning as like a plantain tree, and
consciousness as like an illusion, the Honored One of the Solar Clan
has said. Carefully contemplating all around, with right mindfulness and good observation
there is no reality, no solidity, no firmness, no self or mine
Regarding this body of suffering, the greatly wise one has explained it
as being separate from the three dharmas. The body becomes discarded, with
life, warmth, and consciousness leaving it. The remaining parts of the body
are forever abandoned in the charnel ground, like a log without the
thought of consciousness. This body is always like this, an illusion to
deceive the foolish. Like killing, like a poisonous thorn, there is no
solidity. The bhikṣu diligently cultivates and observes this body of aggregates, always
diligently and single-mindedly during day and night, with right wisdom and focused
attention. The conditioned activities cease, and one forever attains the place of coolness.

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.