佛說月喻經
The Moon Simile Sutra
西天譯經三藏傳法大師賜紫臣施護奉 詔譯
Translated by Tripitaka Dharma Master Shihu of the Western Regions, Commanded by Imperial Decree
如是我聞：
This is what I have heard:
一時，世尊在王舍城，迦蘭陀竹林精舍，與苾芻眾俱。是時，世尊告諸苾芻言：「如世所見，皎月圓滿，行於虛空，清淨無礙。而諸苾芻，不破威儀，常如初臘者，具足慚愧，若身若心，曾無散亂，如其法儀，入白衣舍，清淨無染，亦復如是。諸苾芻！又如明眼人，或入大水深廣之中、或涉江河險惡之處、或履山巖高下之所，以明眼故，而悉能見，離諸疑懼。如前所說，苾芻亦然。諸苾芻！今我所說，猶月行空，清淨無礙。譬明眼人，涉履諸險，離諸疑懼。而迦葉苾芻，不破威儀，常如初臘者，具足慚愧，若身若心，曾無散亂，如其法儀。入白衣舍，清淨無染。離諸怯懼，亦復如是。」
At one time, the World-Honored One was dwelling in the Bamboo Grove Monastery at Kalandaka, near Rājagṛha, together with the assembly of monks. Then, the World-Honored One addressed the monks:
"As the world sees it, the bright moon is full, moving through the sky, pure and unobstructed. So too, monks who do not break their dignified conduct, who remain as mindful as when they first took the precepts, who are fully endowed with a sense of shame and modesty, whose body and mind are never scattered or disturbed—when they enter the homes of laypeople in accordance with the Dharma, they are likewise pure and untainted.
"Monks, again, just as a person with clear eyes, whether entering deep and vast waters, crossing dangerous rivers, or traversing rugged and uneven mountain cliffs, can see clearly and thus remain free from doubt and fear—so too are the monks as described before.
"Monks, what I have said now is like the moon moving through the sky, pure and unobstructed. It is like a clear-eyed person traversing all dangers, free from doubt and fear. And the monk Kāśyapa, who does not break his dignified conduct, who remains as mindful as when he first took the precepts, who is fully endowed with a sense of shame and modesty, whose body and mind are never scattered or disturbed—when he enters the homes of laypeople in accordance with the Dharma, he is pure and untainted, free from all timidity and fear, just like that."
爾時，世尊復告諸苾芻言：「汝等苾芻，若入白衣舍時，當起何心、當以何相而入其舍？」
Then, the World-Honored One again addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "O bhikkhus, when you enter the homes of laypeople, with what mind, with what demeanor, should you enter their homes?"
諸苾芻白佛言：「世尊！佛是所歸向，佛為諸法本，佛為清淨眼，我等不知是義云何？願佛世尊，善為宣說，令諸苾芻，聞已了知。」
The monks said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! You are the one we turn to for refuge. You are the source of all teachings. You are the clear eye of wisdom. We do not fully understand the meaning of this. Please, World-Honored One, explain it well, so that we monks may hear and truly understand."
佛言：「諸苾芻！汝等諦聽，當善作意，今為汝說。若諸苾芻，欲入白衣舍時，應起無著無縛無執取心，依律儀相而入其舍，雖受利養，但欲為彼作諸福事，隨自所得分量而受。復善作意，於自不高，於他不下。起如是心，以如是相，應入白衣舍。」
The Buddha said, "Monks, listen carefully and pay close attention. I will now teach you. When a monk is about to enter a layperson's home, he should develop a mind free from attachment, clinging, and grasping. Let him enter in accordance with the rules of conduct. Even if he receives offerings, his only intention should be to help them perform meritorious deeds. He should accept only what is appropriately given to him, with right mindfulness—neither thinking himself superior nor others inferior. With such an attitude and conduct, he may enter a layperson's home."
爾時，世尊舉手捫空，告苾芻眾言：「於汝意云何？虛空有著不？有縛不？有執取不？」
At that time, the World-Honored One raised his hand and touched the sky, then said to the assembly of monks: "What do you think? Does the sky have attachment? Does it have bondage? Does it have grasping?"
諸苾芻言：「不也。世尊！」
The monks replied, "No, World-Honored One."
佛言：「若苾芻，以無著無縛無執取心，入白衣舍，亦復如是。」
爾時，世尊又復舉手捫空，告苾芻眾言：「諸苾芻！於汝意云何？虛空有著不？有縛不？有執取不？」
諸苾芻言：「不也。世尊！」
佛言：「迦葉苾芻亦復如是，以無著無縛無執取心，入白衣舍，雖受利養，但欲為彼作諸福事，隨自所得分量而受。復善作意，於自不高，於他不下。諸苾芻！以是義故，如迦葉苾芻者，應入白衣舍，堪受利養。」
爾時，諸苾芻重白佛言：「世尊！若諸苾芻為白衣說法時，或有清淨、或不清淨，其事云何？願佛世尊，善為宣說。」
佛言：「諸苾芻！汝等諦聽，當善作意，今為汝說。若苾芻，為欲令他發起信心，及作信心事給施衣服、飲食、坐臥之具、病緣醫藥，以是利故，為他說法者，此不清淨。若苾芻，於佛所說法，安住正見，離諸染污，如鍊真金，去除鑛穢，見如是法，證如是法，如佛所發起，是法能離生、老、病、死、憂、悲、苦惱，以如是法，為他演說，令他得聞如是法已，隨順修行，於長夜中，得大利樂，以此緣故，發生慈心悲愍等心，由是因故，令佛正法得久住世。諸苾芻！若起如是心，為他說法者，斯則清淨。
「復次，諸苾芻！汝等當知，迦葉苾芻能起清淨心，為他說法，以清淨故，令佛正法得久住世。是故汝等諸苾芻眾，亦應如是，如理修學。
「又，諸苾芻！若有能起如是心，為他說法者，我說名為最上清淨真實，能令如來正法得久住世。」
Furthermore, O monks! If anyone can arouse such a mind and teach the Dharma to others, I declare that person to be the purest, truest, and most capable of ensuring the long-lasting presence of the Tathagata's true Dharma in this world.
佛說此經已。諸苾芻眾，歡喜信受。
The Buddha finished speaking this sutra. All the monks, with joy and faith, received and upheld it.
佛說月喻經
The Moon Parable Sutra