Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Numerical Discourses

Chapter 8: Asura

(七) 沒盡 7. Disappearance
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： 「若有一人沒盡於世，人民之類多懷愁憂。 天及人民普失廕覆。 云何為一人？ 所謂多薩阿竭、阿羅呵、三耶三佛。 是謂一人沒盡於世，人民之類多懷愁憂。 天及人民普失廕覆。 所以然者？ 若多薩阿竭於世滅盡，三十七品亦復滅盡。 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks: “There’s one person whose disappearance from the world makes all sorts of people feel anguished. Gods and humans everywhere are lost in darkness then. Who is that one person? He is called the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and the Correctly and Perfectly Awakened One. He is known as the one person whose disappearance from the world makes all sorts of people feel anguished. Gods and humans everywhere are lost in darkness then. Why is that? When the Tathāgata disappears from the world, the thirty-seven factors of the path disappear.
「是故，諸比丘，常當恭敬於佛。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。」 3. “Therefore, monks, always pay respect to the Buddha. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所説歡喜，奉行。 4. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.

Notes

  1. For the source text, cf. T125.2.561b26-c5. This sūtra is similar to AN 1.173. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 15 February 2023

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