佛說水沫所漂經
The Buddha Speaks on the Foam-Floating Sutra
東晉西域沙門竺曇無蘭譯
Translated by Zhu Tanwulan, a monk from the Western Regions during the Eastern Jin Dynasty
聞如是：
This is what I heard:
一時，婆伽婆在阿迎闍(波斯匿王所造觀也)恒水側，與大比丘眾五百人俱。時，有大聚沫為水所漂。世尊見已告諸比丘：「汝等頗見此沫聚為恒水所漂不？」
At one time, the Blessed One was staying on the banks of the Ganges River at the Ajjhesaka (a pavilion built by King Prasenajit), together with five hundred great bhikkhus. At that moment, a large mass of foam was being carried along by the water. Seeing this, the World-Honored One addressed the bhikkhus, saying, "Do you see that mass of foam being carried by the Ganges?"
諸比丘對曰：「如是。世尊！」
The monks replied, "Yes, World-Honored One."
世尊告曰：「此沫聚，若有目士，諦觀察之思惟分別，彼人見已諦觀察之思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固。此水聚沫何可依怙？如是諸所有色，過去、當來、現在，若麁、若細、若遠、若近，彼有目士諦觀察之思惟分別。彼人見已諦觀察之思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，空無所有，亦不堅固，此色陰有何堅固？譬如夏雨有泡現，或有生者，或有滅者，彼有目士諦觀察之思惟分別。彼人已見諦觀察之思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，猶如此水沫有何堅固？如是，此身中痛，當來過去現在，若麁、若細、若好、若醜、若遠、若近，彼有目士諦觀察之思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，覺知空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此痛陰中有何堅固？譬若夏後日日正中，無有雲曀，野馬熾盛，彼有目士而觀察之思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，則覺知空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此野馬有何堅固？如是，諸所有想，過去、當來、現在，若麁、若細、若好、若醜、若遠、若近，彼有目士而觀察之思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦無堅固，此想陰中有何堅固？譬如有人從城郭村落出，求堅固彼器，便往大叢樹中，若見芭蕉樹生茂盛好，人見者歡喜，獨生無枝葉，若斷其根作三四段，在處皮處皮剝却，欲求實不可得，況欲得堅固？彼有目士諦觀察思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此芭蕉樹有何堅固？如是，諸所有行，過去、當來、現在，若麁、若細、若好、若醜、若遠、若近，彼有目士而觀察之思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，覺知空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此行陰有何堅固？譬如黠慧幻師及幻師弟子，在眾人前自現幻術，若有目士諦觀察思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此幻術有何堅固？如是，諸所有識，過去、當來、現在，若麁、若細、若好、若醜、若遠、若近，彼有目士而諦觀察思惟分別。彼已觀察思惟分別，空無所有，無來無往，亦不堅固，此識陰有何堅固？」
The World-Honored One said: "This mass of foam — if a person with clear sight closely examines it, reflects on it, and discerns it, they will see upon careful examination and discernment that it is utterly empty, with nothing coming or going, and no solidity. What support can this heap of foam provide? In the same way, all forms — whether past, future, or present; coarse or subtle; far or near — if a person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns them, they will see that they are empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity is there in this aggregate of form?
Consider a rain shower in summer that produces bubbles — some arise, some vanish. A person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns them, and sees they are empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity does that bubble have?
In the same way, all feelings — whether past, future, or present; coarse or subtle; pleasant or unpleasant; far or near — if a person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns them, they will realize they are empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity is there in this aggregate of feeling?
Consider the heat shimmer that blazes intensely on a cloudless day at high noon. A person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns it, and realizes it is empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity does that shimmer have?
In the same way, all perceptions — whether past, future, or present; coarse or subtle; pleasant or unpleasant; far or near — if a person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns them, they will see they are empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity is there in this aggregate of perception?
Consider someone who leaves a town or village in search of solid wood for building. They go into a large grove and see a banana tree — lush and beautiful, standing alone without branches. If they cut it at the root, break it into pieces, peel off the layers of skin one by one, seeking the core, they will find nothing solid. What solidity does that banana tree have?
In the same way, all mental formations — whether past, future, or present; coarse or subtle; pleasant or unpleasant; far or near — if a person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns them, they will realize they are empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity is there in this aggregate of mental formations?
Consider a skilled magician or their apprentice performing illusions before a crowd. A person with clear sight examines, reflects, and discerns the performance, and sees it is empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity does that magic trick have?
In the same way, all consciousness — whether past, future, or present; coarse or subtle; pleasant or unpleasant; far or near — if a person with clear sight closely examines, reflects, and discerns it, they will realize it is empty, without coming or going, without solidity. What solidity is there in this aggregate of consciousness?"
爾時，世尊便說偈言：
At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:
「色如彼聚沫， 痛如彼水泡，
想如夏野馬， 行如芭蕉樹，
識如彼幻術， 最勝之所說。
若能諦觀察， 思惟而分別，
空亦無所有。 若能作是觀，
諦察此身中， 大智之所說，
當滅此三法， 能捨除去色，
此行亦如是， 幻師不真術。」
Form is like a mass of foam, Feeling like a water bubble, Perception like a mirage in summer, Mental formations like a banana tree, Consciousness like a magic trick— This is what the Supreme One taught.
If you observe closely, Reflect and discern, Emptiness itself has no substance. If you can contemplate thus, And truly examine this body— As taught by the Great Wise One— You will overcome these three things, And let go of form.
This conditioned existence is likewise, Like a magician’s unreal illusion.
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
At that time, all the monks heard what the Buddha had taught, rejoiced, and faithfully put it into practice.
佛說水沫所漂經