Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Related Discourses

5. Elements

（四四四）無量諸界 1 (444). Measureless Elements
如是我聞： 一時，佛住舍衛國、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： 「譬如眼藥丸深廣一由旬。 若有士夫取此藥丸，界界安置。 能速令盡於彼界界不得其邊。 當知諸界其數無量。 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Suppose that a pill of eye medication were as deep and wide as one yojana. Suppose a man were to take this medicinal pill and put element after element into it.2 He would quickly fill it, but he would not reach the limit of those elements. You should know that the number of those elements is measureless.”
「是故，比丘，當善界學善種種界。 當如是學。」 3. “Therefore, monks, you should train in the various good elements.3 Thus you should train yourselves.”
佛說此經已，諸比丘聞佛所說歡喜，奉行。 4. After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

Notes

  1. This is sūtra no. 444 in the Taisho edition and no. 692 in Yinshun (T99.2.114c27-5a4). It does not appear to have a parallel. The point about the elements (C. 界, P/S. dhātu) being measureless in number is explained in the Yogācārabhūmi commentary as meaning that the eighteen basic elements of experience manifest in countless different ways in the karmic destinations of sentient beings (雖界種類十八可得，然一一界，業趣有情種種品類有差別故，當知無量 [T1579.30.846c24]). This point will be brought out in the sūtras that follow as they give examples of sentient beings being grouped according to their experiences and interests. [back]</p>
  2. put element after element into it. C. 界界安置. In this metaphor, the elements are likened to the individual ingredients that are mixed together to make a medicine. The medicine itself must be something fantastic that includes every ingredient possible. An interesting bit of context that may or may not apply here is that eye oinments were sometimes used to help meditators stay awake late into the night. The Indic term translated here as “eye medicine” (眼藥) is likely S. añjana or bhaiṣajyâñjana. [back]</p>
  3. you should [discern] the various elements well. C. 當善界學善種種界. A very similar conclusion occurs in SĀ 5.4, which reads 當善分別種種諸界. I wonder if this conclusion has been corrupted by inserting 界 before 學. It would seem that 善界學善種種界 should read along the same lines as 善分別種種諸界, but I have preserved the Chinese reading here as it is. [back]</p>

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 11 January 2026

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