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  1. Buddha's Teaching on the Dust of the Mind Sutra (佛說法受塵經)
  1. Buddha's Teaching on the Dharma Gathering Dust Sutra (佛說法受塵經)
  2. Buddha's Teaching on the Dust of the Mind Sutra (佛說法受塵經)

Buddha's Teaching on the Dharma Gathering Dust Sutra (佛說法受塵經)

About 佛說法受塵經

Later Han · Source text translated by 安世高

321 · about 1 min

The "Sutra on the Defilement of the Dharma by Dust" translated by the Later Han dynasty translator An Shigao is an important early scripture in Chinese Buddhism. This sutra uses dust as a metaphor for afflictions, explaining that when the mind clings to external objects, it becomes as if covered in dust, obscuring its originally pure nature. It emphasizes the need to separate from dust and remove defilements in order to realize liberation. Its content focuses on how practitioners should counteract the pollution of the six sense faculties, offering a straightforward teaching on cultivating the mind within the foundational doctrines of Buddhism. This sutra not only reflects the characteristics of the Śrāvakayāna Abhidharma and meditation tradition transmitted by An Shigao but also provides crucial textual evidence for the early period of Chinese Buddhist translation. It holds significant importance in the history of Buddhist thought transmission and the study of Chinese-translated canonical texts.

Human translations available

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佛說法受塵經

Sutra on the Buddha's Teaching on Receiving Defilements

後漢安息國三藏安世高譯
聞如是:

This is what I have heard:

一時,佛遊於舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。

Once, the Buddha was traveling in the kingdom of Shravasti, staying at the Jeta Grove in the garden of Anathapindika.

佛告:「諸比丘!」比丘:「受教。」從佛而聽。

The Buddha said, "Monks!" The monks replied, "We are ready to learn." And they listened as the Buddha taught.

佛言:「比丘!凡人為一法,受塵自污,迷惑憂愁,沒無端際,吾見其不得無上吉祥之道。如丈夫欲見女子色,是以好色之士,為染、為醉、為貪、為污、為惑、為著、為住、為受。從婬女言故,長久趨走往來,為受懃苦。耳常欲聞婬女之聲,鼻欲聞其香,舌欲得其味,身欲更其細滑,是以長久趨走,往來受苦。是故,不當為女色、聲、香、味、細滑所染惑也,當覺知是。

The Buddha said: "Monks, when a person becomes attached to just one thing, they become polluted by desire, confused, and troubled. They sink without end, and I see that they cannot attain the supreme, blissful path.

It is like a man who longs to see a woman's beauty. Because of this lust for beauty, he becomes stained, intoxicated, greedy, polluted, deluded, attached, fixated, and trapped. Following a seductive woman's words, he runs back and forth for a long time, enduring hardship. His ears constantly yearn to hear her voice, his nose longs to smell her fragrance, his tongue craves her taste, his body desires her soft touch. Thus, for a long time he runs back and forth, experiencing suffering.

Therefore, one should not be polluted or deluded by women's forms, voices, fragrances, tastes, or gentle touch. One should recognize and be aware of this."

「又復,諸比丘!凡人為法,受塵自污,迷惑憂愁,沒而無際,吾見其不得無上吉祥之道。如婬女欲見男子色,是以好色之女,為染、為醉、為貪、為污、為惑、為著、為住、為受,為士色故,長久趨走,往來受苦。耳常欲聞男子之聲,鼻欲聞其香,舌欲得其味,身欲更其細滑,是以長久趨走,往來受苦。是故,不當為士色、聲、香、味、細滑所染惑也,當覺知是。」
佛說是已,皆歡喜受行。
佛說法受塵經

CBETA Code: T0792

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Copyright: Original texts from CBETA
AI translation for reference only — not authoritative, not a statement of final truth. Awakening of the Dharma requires personal practice.