The Numerical Discourses
Chapter 3: Broader Explanations
| (六) 念天 | 6. Recollecting the Gods |
|---|---|
| 聞如是： 一時，佛在舍衞國、祇樹、給孤獨園。 | 1. Thus I have heard:1 One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī. |
| 爾時，世尊告諸比丘： 「當修行一法，當廣布一法。 修行一法已，便有名譽，成大果報、諸善普至。 得甘露法，至無為處。 便成神通，除諸亂想，逮沙門果，自致涅槃。 云何為一法？ 所謂念天。」 | 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “One should cultivate one thing and disseminate one thing. After cultivating this one thing, they’ll become well known and achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments. They’ll attain the sweet-tasting dew and arrive at the unconditioned state. They then will achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves. What’s this one thing? It’s called recollecting the gods.” |
| 佛告諸比丘： 「云何修行念天便有名譽，成大果報、諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處？ 便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃？」 | 3. The Buddha addressed the monks, “How does someone who cultivates the recollection of the gods become well known, achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state? How do they achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves?” |
| 爾時，諸比丘白世尊曰： 「諸法之本如來所説。 唯願，世尊，為諸比丘説此妙義。 諸比丘從如來聞已，便當受持。」 | The monks then said to the Bhagavān, “What the Tathāgata says is the source of the teachings. Please, Bhagavān, explain the wonderful meaning of this for the monks. After we hear it from the Tathāgata, the monks will accept and retain it.” |
| 爾時，世尊告諸比丘： 「諦聽！諦聽，善思念之！ 吾當為汝廣分別説。」 | 4. The Bhagavān then told the monks, “Listen closely! Listen closely, and consider it well. I will discern this for you in detail.” |
| 諸比丘對曰： 「如是，世尊。」 | They replied, “Yes, Bhagavān.” |
| 諸比丘前受教已，世尊告曰： 「若有比丘正身、正意，結跏趺坐，繋念在前。 無有他想，專精念天。 | 5. Once the monks had accepted the teaching, the Bhagavān told them, “Suppose a monk sits cross-legged with correct posture and thought and fixes his attention on what’s in front of him. With no other idea, he focuses on recollecting the gods. |
| 「身、口、意淨，不造穢行，行戒，成身。 身放光明無所不照，成彼天身。 善果報成彼天身。 眾行具足，乃成天身。 | 6. “Their bodies are made by being pure in body, speech, and mind, not performing polluted practices, and practicing the precepts. When they achieve those divine bodies, they shine with a light that nothing else can outshine. Those divine bodies are rewards for good deeds. One achieves a divine body by perfecting many such practices. |
| 「如是，諸比丘，名曰念天。便得具足，成大果報、諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處。 便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃。 | 7. “This is how someone who cultivates the recollection of the gods will become well known,2 achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state. They’ll achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves. |
| 「是故，諸比丘，常當思惟、不離天念。 便當獲此諸善功徳。 如是，諸比丘當作是學。」 | 8. “Therefore, monks, one should constantly recollect the gods and not part from it. Then, they’ll win these good virtues. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.” |
| 爾時，諸比丘聞佛所説歡喜，奉行。 | 9. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved. |
Notes
For the source text, cf. T125.2.555b25-c19. This sūtra is an expanded explanation of EĀ 2.6. [back]
This is how … well known. C. 如是，諸比丘，名曰念天。便得具足⋯. The Taisho edition appears to be corrupt, for it omits mention of becoming well known. Lit., it reads: “Thus, monks, is called ‘recollecting the gods.’ Then, attaining its perfection …”. I’ve translated the passage assuming that the original followed the format of the initial sūtras in this chapter (i.e., 「是謂，諸比丘，若念天者便有名譽⋯」). [back]
Translator: Charles Patton
Last Revised: 11 March 2023
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