SA 565（五六五） 婆头

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was traveling in the human realm of Qiaochi, together with Venerable Ānanda, and arrived at the north of the country of Potou, in the forest of the body-forgiving.

At that time, the young men of Potou Village heard that Venerable Ānanda was traveling in the human realm of Qiaochi and staying in the forest of the body-forgiving, north of the country of Potou. Having heard this, they called each other to gather and went to where Venerable Ānanda was. They bowed their heads to Venerable Ānanda's feet and sat to one side.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda said to the young men, "Imperial lineage! The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, speaks of four kinds of purity: purity of precepts, purity of mind, purity of view, and purity of liberation.

What is purity of precepts? It means that a noble disciple abides in precepts, the precepts of the Prātimokṣa, increasing them, being fully endowed with dignified conduct, able to give rise to fear even for minor offenses, and upholding the precepts. For those whose precepts are not yet complete, it enables them to be fulfilled; for those who have already fulfilled them, it enables them to uphold them in accordance. With the desire, effort, and skillful means to surpass, one diligently strives with vigor and is able to embrace all mental and physical dharmas. This is called the purity of precepts that is to be abandoned.

Kṣatriya! What is meant by the purity of mind that is to be abandoned? It means that a noble disciple, having abandoned sensual desires and unwholesome states, abides fully in the fourth dhyāna. For those whose concentration is not yet complete, it enables them to be fulfilled; for those who have already fulfilled it, it enables them to uphold it in accordance. With the desire, effort, and so forth, up to always upholding it, this is called the purity of mind that is to be abandoned.

Kṣatriya! What is meant by the purity of view that is to be abandoned? It means that a noble disciple hears the Dharma taught by the Great Teacher. As he teaches the Dharma in such and such a way, he enters into the correct contemplation of reality in such and such a way. In this way, he attains joy, follows joy, and follows the Buddha.

Furthermore, a noble disciple does not hear the Dharma taught by the Great Teacher, but hears it from other wise and venerable practitioners of the holy life. As he hears the venerable practitioners of the holy life teach in such and such a way, he enters into the correct contemplation of reality in such and such a way. As he contemplates in this way, he attains joy, follows joy, and has faith in the true Dharma.

Furthermore, a noble disciple does not hear the Dharma taught by the Great Teacher, nor does he hear it from other wise and venerable practitioners of the holy life. He recites and practices what he has previously heard and received. As he recites and practices what he has previously heard and received in such and such a way, he enters into those teachings in such and such a way, and so on, up to having faith in the true Dharma.

Furthermore, a noble disciple does not hear the Dharma taught by the Great Teacher, nor does he hear it from other wise and venerable practitioners of the holy life. He is also unable to recite and practice what he has previously heard and received. However, he explains in detail the teachings he has previously heard. As he explains in detail the teachings he has previously heard in such and such a way, he enters into the teachings in such and such a way, correctly contemplates with right knowledge, and so on, up to having faith in the true Dharma.

Furthermore, a noble disciple does not hear the Dharma taught by the Great Teacher, nor does he hear it from other wise and venerable practitioners of the holy life. He is also unable to recite and practice what he has previously heard and received, nor does he explain in detail the teachings he has previously heard. However, he alone in a quiet place contemplates and observes the teachings he has previously heard. As he contemplates and observes in such and such a way, he enters into the true Dharma in such and such a way, and so on, up to having faith in the true Dharma. Thus, hearing from others and contemplating correctly within, this is called causing the arising of right view that has not yet arisen, and causing the increase of right view that has already arisen. This is called causing the completion of the body of precepts that has not yet been completed, and causing the acceptance and support of those who have already completed it. The desire, effort, and means, up to the constant acceptance and support, are called the purification of view.

Kuda, what is the purification of liberation? It means that a noble disciple is liberated from desire, anger, and delusion. Such liberation, if not yet complete, causes it to be completed, and if already complete, causes it to be accepted and supported. The desire, effort, and means, up to the constant acceptance and support, are called the purification of liberation.

Kuda, when the Venerable Ānanda spoke this teaching, the young men of the village of Bathula, having heard the Venerable Ānanda's words, rejoiced and paid homage before departing.