Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Numerical Discourses

Chapter 9: The Only Son

(六) 生天 6. Birth in Heaven
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： 「我恒觀見一人心中所念之事。 如屈伸臂頃而生天上。 所以然者？ 由善心故。 已生善心，便生天上。」 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “When I continuously examine the things that a person thinks about in their mind, I see: ‘This person will be born up in Heaven in the time it takes to flex their arm.’ Why is that? It’s because of their good mind. Having given rise to a good mind, they’ll be born up in Heaven.”
爾時，世尊便説偈言： 3. The Bhagavān then spoke in verse:
  • 「設復有一人
    而生善妙心。
    今告諸比丘
    廣演其義趣。
  • “Suppose that a person
    Produces a good and wonderful mind.
    Now, I’ll tell you monks
    The meaning of this in detail.
  • 今正是其時
    設有命終者，
    便得生天上
    由心善行故。
  • Supposing their life were to end
    Right at this moment in time,
    They would be born up in Heaven
    Because of their mind’s good conduct.
「是故，諸比丘，當發淨意勿生穢行。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。」 4. “Therefore, monks, one should purify their thinking and not produce defiled conduct. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所説歡喜，奉行。 5. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.

Notes

  1. For the source text, cf. T125.2.563a01-12. This sūtra is similar to AN 1.44 and Iti 21. It’s closer to Iti 21 in format, and the concluding are also very similar to the Iti version, but this sūtra adds a conclusion that was standard for EĀ. AN 1.44 includes only the prose portion of the sūtra. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 3 March 2023

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