Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Numerical Discourses

Chapter 12: The Single-Entry Path

(一〇) 師利羅 10. Śrīla
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： 「受人利養甚為不易，令人不得至無為之處。 所以然者？ 若彼師利羅比丘不貪利養者，不作爾許無量殺生。 身壞、命終，生地獄中。」 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Someone taking profit is a serious thing, not an easy thing,2 for it prevents a person from reaching the unconditioned abode. Why is that? If that monk Śrīla3 hadn’t craved profit, it wouldn’t have occurred to him to kill measureless beings. He was born in Hell after his body broke up and his life ended.”
爾時，世尊便説此偈： 3. The Bhagavān then spoke in verse:
  • 「受人利養重；
    壞人清白行。
    是故當制心
    莫貪著於味。
  • “Taking profit is a serious thing;
    It can ruin a person’s clean conduct.
    Therefore, you must discipline your thinking;
    Don’t take delight in that greedy longing.
  • 師利以得定，
    乃至天帝宮。
    便於神通退
    墮於屠殺中。
  • Because he attained samādhi, Śrīla
    Ascended up to Lord Śakra’s palace.
    He regressed from that spiritual knowledge
    And then fell back down to a slaughterhouse.”
「諸比丘，當以此方便知受人利養甚為不易。如是比丘當作是學。 未生利養心，制令不生。 已生此心，求方便令滅。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。」 4. “Therefore, monks, you should know from this that taking profit is a serious thing, not an easy thing.4 Control and prevent thoughts about profit before they arise. If they’ve already arisen, work to make them cease. 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. T125.2.571a5-19. [back]

  2. a serious thing, not an easy thing. C. 甚為不易. The previous sutra has the same opening line, which reads 甚重、不易. I’ve corrected this passage assuming a copyist has replaced 重 with 為. [back]

  3. Śrīla. C. 師利羅 (EMC. ṣïi-lɪi-la = G. śirila = S. śrīla). This personal name is attested in G. sources, but the particular figure being referenced here is thus far unknown to me. [back]

  4. a serious thing, not an easy thing. The same correction applies here as in the opening of the sūtra. I’ve also ignored the spurious insertion of “Thus, monks, you should train yourselves” that occurs at this point. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 12 July 2023

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