SA 912（九一二） 王发

Thus have I heard:

Thus have I heard:

At that time, the World-Honored One told the headman of the village of Rājagṛha: "Now, sentient beings rely on two extremes. What are the two? One is to delight in and cling to the inferior, rustic, ordinary, and foolish pleasures of the five desires. The other is to practice self-mortification, which is incorrect and not beneficial. Headman, there are three kinds of pleasure in enjoying desires, which are inferior, rustic, ordinary, and foolish; and there are three kinds of self-mortification, which are incorrect and not beneficial.

Headman, what are the three kinds of inferior, rustic, ordinary, and foolish pleasures in enjoying desires? There are those who enjoy desires in an improper and indiscriminate way, not for their own peace and happiness, not to provide for their parents, support their brothers, wives, children, servants, relatives, friends, and acquaintances, nor to make timely offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas in the hope of attaining a superior state of peace and happiness and a future birth in heaven. This is called the first kind of worldly enjoyment of desires.

Furthermore, headman, those who enjoy desires take wealth through proper and improper means, enjoy themselves, provide for their parents, support their brothers, wives, children, servants, relatives, friends, and acquaintances, but do not make timely offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas in the hope of attaining a superior state of peace and happiness and a future birth in heaven. This is called the second kind of enjoyment of desires.

Furthermore, headman, those who enjoy desires seek wealth through proper means, not through improper means, enjoy themselves, provide for their parents, support their brothers, wives, children, servants, relatives, and acquaintances, and make timely offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas in the hope of attaining a superior state of peace and happiness and a future birth in heaven. This is called the third kind of enjoyment of desires.

Headman, I do not say that all enjoyment of desires is equal. I say that those who enjoy desires are inferior, I say that those who enjoy desires are middling, I say that those who enjoy desires are superior.

What is meant by inferior enjoyment of desires? It means seeking wealth through improper means, up to not seeking a superior state of peace and happiness and a future birth in heaven. This is what I call inferior enjoyment of desires.

What is meant by middling enjoyment of desires? It means seeking wealth through both proper and improper means, up to not seeking a future birth in heaven. This is what I call the second kind of middling enjoyment of desires.

What is meant by superior enjoyment of desires? It means seeking wealth through proper means, up to seeking a future birth in heaven. This is what I call the third kind of superior enjoyment of desires.

What are the three kinds of self-mortification that are unwholesome, incorrect, and not conducive to benefit? There is one who mortifies himself and lives in a state of emaciation. Initially he violates the precepts and defiles the precepts. He practices various austerities and diligently abides in a dwelling. He is unable to attain the state of freedom from burning, the superhuman state, the sublime knowledge and vision, and the peaceful dwelling in this very life. Householder, this is called the first kind of self-mortification that leads to emaciation.

Furthermore, there is self-mortification that leads to emaciation, but one does not initially violate the precepts or defile the precepts. One practices various austerities, but one does not attain the state of freedom from burning, the superhuman state, the sublime knowledge and vision, and the peaceful dwelling in this very life through this. This is called the second kind of self-mortification that leads to emaciation.

Furthermore, there is self-mortification that leads to emaciation, but one does not initially violate the precepts or defile the precepts. One practices various austerities, but one is also unable to attain the state of freedom from burning, the superhuman state, the sublime knowledge and vision, and the peaceful dwelling in this very life through this. This is called the third kind of self-mortification that leads to emaciation.

Householder, I do not say that all self-mortification that leads to emaciation is the same. I say that some self-mortification that leads to emaciation is for inferior people, some is for middling people, and some is for superior people.

What is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for inferior people? If one's self-mortification that leads to emaciation initially violates the precepts and defiles the precepts, and one does not attain the sublime knowledge and vision and peaceful dwelling, I say that this is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for inferior people.

What is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for middling people? If one's self-mortification that leads to emaciation does not initially violate the precepts and defile the precepts, and one does not attain the sublime knowledge and vision and peaceful dwelling, I say that this is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for middling people.

What is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for superior people? If one's self-mortification that leads to emaciation is emaciated and alive, does not initially violate the precepts and defile the precepts, and does not attain the sublime knowledge and vision and peaceful dwelling, I say that this is self-mortification that leads to emaciation for superior people.

Householder, these are the three kinds of self-mortification that lead to emaciation. They are suffering, not the Dharma, not right, and not beneficial.

"Householder, there is a path and a way that does not lead to the three kinds of sensual pleasures and their corresponding methods, which are inferior, rustic, and ordinary, and that does not lead to the three kinds of self-mortification that are suffering, not the Dharma, not right, and not beneficial. Householder, what is the path and what is the way that does not lead to the three kinds of sensual pleasures and the three kinds of self-mortification? Householder, because of the hindrance of desire and greed, one may wish to harm oneself, harm others, or harm both oneself and others. In this life and the next, one will attain the retribution of suffering, with mental afflictions and suffering. Because of the hindrance of anger and delusion, one may wish to harm oneself, harm others, or harm both oneself and others. In this life and the next, one will attain the retribution of suffering, with mental afflictions and suffering. If one is free from the hindrance of desire and does not wish to harm oneself, harm others, or harm both oneself and others, one will not attain the retribution of suffering in this life and the next. One's mind and mental factors will always experience joy and happiness. In this way, if one is free from the hindrances of anger and delusion, one will not wish to harm oneself, harm others, or harm both oneself and others. One will not attain the retribution of suffering in this life and the next. One's mind and mental factors will always experience peace and happiness. In this life, one will be far from burning and not wait for the right time. One will be close to nirvana, and one will personally realize it in this very life. Householder, in this way, one is far from burning in this very life, does not wait for the right time, is close to nirvana, and personally realizes it in this very life. This is the eightfold noble path - right view, and so on, up to right concentration."

When the World-Honored One spoke this Dharma, the village headman Wangding was free from defilements and attained the pure Dharma eye. At that time, the village headman Wangding saw the Dharma, attained the Dharma, understood the Dharma, deeply penetrated the Dharma, crossed over doubts, and was not dependent on others. He attained fearlessness in the true Dharma and Vinaya. He immediately rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha, "I am now liberated. World-Honored One! I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha of bhikṣus. From now until the end of my life, I will be an upāsaka."

At that time, having heard the Buddha's teaching, he rejoiced and followed it. He bowed and departed.