《南傳法句經》第6偈
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6偈講的是僧團內部的不和、以及所產生的惡果。佛陀總盼望大眾和合,無諍為上;但就算是修行人,也難免因知見差異而起爭執。
話說在憍賞彌(Kosambi),一群比丘因著細故引發口角。其中一派比丘追隨以戒律為主的上師,另一派則以經典為主。這兩派不時彼此攻訐謾罵,甚至連佛陀的勸解也不聽。弟子不聽話,天人師也沒轍。不過,佛陀曉得他們終將省悟自身的過錯,於是獨自離開,前往深林中結夏安居。佛陀孤身一人誰照顧?別擔心,林中的大象和猴子侍候著呢。
憍賞彌的在家眾獲悉佛陀離開的理由後,可不高興了,拒絕提供那群比丘生活所需。缺衣少食能怎辦?那群比丘終於明白自己的愚蠢,決定和解。然而,在家眾對比丘們的態度依舊不如從前恭敬,除非他們承認佛陀之所以離開,全是他們的錯。在家眾要求他們向佛陀道歉、請求原諒。但佛陀遠在林深不知處,此時正是雨安居的中期,比丘可不行隨意走動。所以呢,這群愛吵架的比丘只好忍饑挨苦熬過雨安居。
雨安居結束時,阿難尊者偕同多位其他比丘將消息轉告佛陀,懇請他回來,保證大家都已痛改前非。佛陀看看時候到了,便返回舍衛城的祇園精舍。當那群比丘見到佛陀時,立刻向前禮敬,坦承過錯。佛陀接著告誡眾人,世間無常,大家必須停止諍論,別活得好像永遠不會死似的。
[巴利原文與英譯取自 Nārada 長老編譯的 The Dhammapada]
006 Quarrels Cease Through Right Thinking
Pare ca na vijānanti
Mayamettha yamāmase
Ye ca tattha vijānanti
Tato sammanti medhagā
The others know not that in this quarrel we perish; those of them who realize it have their quarrels calmed thereby.
[中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》]
愚人*不明瞭,人生終歸死;
彼等若明瞭,諍論自息滅。
*Kosambi的諍論比丘
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
Para: (adj) other, different; opposite, adverse; distant, further
Pare: (m. pl.) other men
Ca: (conj) and; but; even
Na: (negative particle) not
Vijānāti: to discern, distinguish, perceive, learn, understand, know exactly
Mayaṃ: (pron) we
Ettha: (adv) here; herein; now
Yamati: to perish; to restrain, suppress;
Yamāmase: (1st pers. pl. imperative, ātm. with a future sense) we shall perish
Ye: (pron. pl.) who, which, what; they who
Tattha, tatra: (adv) there; thither; in that case; now; in that, therein
Tato: (adv) thence, therefrom; thereafter, subsequently; further, moreover
Sammati: to be appeased or calmed; to cease pp. santa
Medhaga: (m) quarrel, strife
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