《南傳法句經》第1

 

故事為鄙人摘譯自 K. Sri Dhammananda 長老主編的英文版 The Dhammapada,添枝減葉若干。

 

  《法句經》第一偈登場的主角是 Cakkhupāla 尊者。Cakkhu 是「眼睛」,Pāla 意謂「護衛者」,兩字合起來直譯即為「護眼」。名為護眼,這位阿羅漢卻是個盲人。眼盲,心可不盲,他精進得很。

  話說某天,護眼尊者來到祇園精舍禮拜佛陀。禮畢,尊者開始例常的禪修,來來回回經行時,無意間踩死了一些蟲子。隔天早上,一群比丘前來拜會,赫然發現地上的蟲屍,心想:出家人怎能殺生?對尊者產生了不好的想法,於是趕緊向佛陀彙報。佛陀總能見人之所未見,便問:「你們是否親眼看見護眼踩死蟲子?」比丘們老實回答:「沒有,世尊。」佛陀接著教誨眾人:「正如你們並未看見護眼殺生,同樣地,他也沒看見那些活著的蟲子。再說,護眼尊者已證得阿羅漢,不會再起殺念;因此,這件惡行不能歸罪於他。」

  護眼尊者好好的,怎麼搞到失明呢?佛陀觀機示教,為眾比丘講述護眼尊者的宿世業報。

  過去某一世,護眼尊者是一位醫生。有一回,他竟然故意害一名女性病患失明。這、這怎麼回事?原來那位婦人許下承諾,假如她的眼睛能夠完全復元,她和孩子們自願為醫師作奴作婢。不料那婦人雙眼復明後,卻反悔了,唯恐自己和孩子真的得為人僕役,於是向醫生謊報病情,說自己視力越來越壞了。醫生那有那麼好騙的?一氣之下,他決定報復,給了那婦人另一種眼藥膏。這下可好了,徹徹底底失明啦。

  護眼尊者因著這項惡行,在接下來許多世的輪迴中,都遭到雙眼失明的果報。佛陀講完故事後,接著就語重心長告誡大家。惡業始終跟著造業者,猶如車輪緊緊追著拉車牛的足印,遲早要受到苦報的。

 

  有分教:縱經百千劫,所作業不亡;因緣會遇時,果報還自受。

 

 

[巴利原文與英譯取自 Nārada 長老編譯的 The Dhammapada

 

001 Evil Begets Evil

 

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā

Manoseṭṭhā manomayā

Manasā ce paduṭṭhena

Bhāsati vā karoti vā

Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti

Cakkaṃ’va vahato padaṃ

 

 

Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with wicked mind, because of that, suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox.

 

 

[中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》]

 

諸法心先導,心主心所作,

若以意惡行,惡語惡身行,

則苦必隨彼,如輪隨獸足。

 

 

NOTES 

註釋主要依據: A Dictionary of the Pali Language, by R. C. Childers;

Pali-English Dictionary, by T. W. Rhys Davids and W. Stede

 

Manopubbaṅgama: (adj) having mind for its predecessor, following upon or resulting from the mind or thoughts, caused by the mind

Dhamma: (m/n) nature, condition, quality, property, characteristic; function, practice, duty; object, thing, idea, phenomenon; doctrine; law; virtue, piety; justice; the law or Truth of Buddha; the Buddhist scriptures; religion

Manoseṭṭha: (adj) having mind for its chief, governed by the mind

Manomaya: (adj) springing from the mind, caused by the mind

Mana: (m/n) the mind, the intellect, thoughts, the heart

Ce: (adv) even, if

Paduṭṭha: (pp. of padussati) corrupt, wicked

Bhāsati: to speak, say, address

Vā: (conj) or

Karoti: to act, do, cause, cause to become, render, make, perform

Tato: (adv) thence, therefrom; thereafter, subsequently; further, moreover

Dukkha: (n) pain, suffering, trouble

Anveti: to follow     aor. anvagā

Cakka: (n) a wheel; a circle; a discus; an army; a multitude; a body of religious doctrine; a religion; tract, circuit; region, domain, sphere

Iva, viya, va: (part.) like, as

Vahati: to carry, transport, draw; bear along, carry off; experience, possess

   Ppr. vahaṃ, vahanta, vahamāna

Pada: (m/n) a foot; step, stride; footprint, trace, track, vestige, mark; site, etc.

 

 

 

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