佛說十支居士八城人經
The Sutra on the Ten Branches Spoken by the Buddha to the Layman of Eight Cities
後漢安息國三藏安世高譯
Translation by An Shigao, Tripitaka Master from Parthia during the Later Han Dynasty
聞如是：
I have heard it thus:
一時，諸上尊比丘，在波羅梨弗都盧城雞園中。世尊般涅槃不久，於是十支居士八城人多有財物，詣波羅梨弗都盧治生，於是十支居士八城人持錢財物盡買，盡買已極歡喜，得盈利極大歡喜意、極悅豫。出波羅梨弗都盧城已至雞園中，到已禮諸上尊比丘足，却坐一面。彼十支居士八城人却坐一面，時諸上尊比丘為說法勸進、等勸進，教授、等教授，以無量方便為說法勸進至等教授，等令歡喜已默然住。於是彼十支居士及八城人，聞諸上尊比丘所說法勸進至等歡喜已，白諸上尊比丘曰：「此諸上尊！今尊者阿難在何所住？我今欲見。」
At one time, a group of respected senior monks were dwelling in the Chicken Garden in the city of Pataliputra. Not long after the Blessed One had passed into final Nirvana, there was a wealthy merchant from the city of Atthaka named Dasaka. He came to Pataliputra on business, and after conducting his trade, he gained great profit and felt immense joy and satisfaction. Leaving the city of Pataliputra, he went to the Chicken Garden. Upon arrival, he paid respects to the feet of the senior monks and sat to one side. The merchant Dasaka, having seated himself, listened as the senior monks taught the Dharma, encouraged him, guided him, and instructed him with various skillful means. After bringing him joy through their teaching, they fell silent. Having heard the Dharma and been filled with delight, the merchant Dasaka addressed the senior monks, saying, "Venerable ones, where is the Venerable Ananda now staying? I wish to see him."
「此居士！彼尊者阿難，在毘舍離獼猴水岸上，欲見者當往見之。」於是十支居士八城人，從坐起，禮諸上尊比丘足，繞諸上尊已，離諸上尊，還至彼尊者阿難所。到已，禮尊者阿難足已，却坐一面。彼十支居士八城人却住一面已，白尊者阿難曰：「此阿難！我欲有所問，聽我所問。」
"Venerable Ananda, this lay disciple wishes to see you. They say you are staying by the monkey pond in Vaishali. If you wish to meet him, you may go there."
Then the lay disciple of the Ten Branches, a man from the city of Eight, rose from his seat, bowed at the feet of the senior monks, and after respectfully circling them, he left their presence and went to where Venerable Ananda was staying. Upon arriving, he bowed at Venerable Ananda's feet and sat to one side.
After sitting to one side, the lay disciple of the Ten Branches, the man from the city of Eight, addressed Venerable Ananda, saying: "Venerable Ananda, I have something I wish to ask. Please allow me to ask my question."
「當問。居士！」聞已知之。
"Please ask, householder!" Hearing this, he understood.
「此尊者阿難！彼世尊有智有見，如來、無所著、等正覺，以眼見第一義說一法，聖弟子所住，於有餘處有漏盡意解脫不？」
"Venerable Ananda, did the Blessed One, who is wise and discerning, the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One, ever declare a single teaching based on direct insight, by which a noble disciple, dwelling in it, could attain the liberation of mind through the exhaustion of defilements while still in this very life?"
「此居士！彼世尊有智有見，如來、無所著、等正覺，以眼見第一義說一法，聖弟子所住，有餘處有漏盡意解脫。」
"Good householder, the Blessed One, who is fully enlightened, has wisdom and insight. With his own eyes, he sees the ultimate truth and teaches one principle. A noble disciple dwells in this, and in that dwelling, the mind is liberated, and all defilements are exhausted."
「云何，尊者阿難！彼如來、無所著、等正覺，眼見第一義說一法，聖弟子所住，有餘處有漏盡意解脫？」
Venerable Ananda, how is it that the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One, with his eye of wisdom seeing the ultimate truth, speaks of a single teaching? How is it that a noble disciple, dwelling in this teaching, can attain the liberation of mind through the exhaustion of defilements, with nothing further remaining?
「此居士！聖弟子所聞，於婬解脫至住四禪正受住，彼依入法法相觀行止，彼依入法法相觀行止住，可有是處；彼所住得有漏盡，不住彼處得有漏盡；彼自樂法、彼自愛法、彼自習法、彼自敬法，得歡喜，五下結盡得化生，彼般涅槃成阿那含，不還此世間。是為，居士！彼世尊有智有見，如來、無所著、等正覺，眼見第一義說一法，聖弟子所住，有餘處有漏盡意解脫。復次，居士！聖弟子所聞，意與慈俱滿一方已正受住，如是二三四上下一切諸方，意與慈俱，無怨無二無恚，極廣極大無量極分別，滿諸方已正受住，如是意與悲喜護俱滿一切諸方已正受住，彼依入法法相觀行止，彼依入法法相觀行止住，可有是處，住彼已得有漏盡；不住彼處得有漏盡，若彼以法樂、以法愛，習行法敬法，得歡喜法，五下結盡得化生，於彼處般涅槃成阿那含，不還此世間。是為，居士！彼世尊有智有見，如來、無所著、等正覺，眼見第一義、說第一法，聖弟子所住，有餘處有漏盡意解脫。復次，居士！聖弟子所聞，度一切色相，至有想無想處正受住，彼依入法法相觀行止，至有漏盡意解脫。」
Householder, consider a noble disciple who has heard the teaching and attained the four meditations, dwelling free from sensual desire. It is possible that by observing and contemplating the nature of phenomena, he may dwell in that state. But whether he dwells there or not, it is possible for him to fully exhaust the defilements. If he delights in the Dharma, cherishes it, practices it, and reveres it, he will find joy. With the five lower fetters destroyed, he will be reborn spontaneously and there attain final Nirvana, becoming a Non-Returner who does not come back to this world. Thus, householder, the Blessed One—who is wise and seeing, the Tathagata, free from attachment, fully enlightened—with direct vision of the ultimate truth, declares one Dharma by which a noble disciple may dwell and, even with something remaining, attain liberation of mind through the exhaustion of the defilements.
Furthermore, householder, consider a noble disciple who has heard the teaching and dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, then the second, third, and fourth, above, below, and all around—pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, vast, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility and ill will. In the same way, he dwells pervading all directions with a mind imbued with compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. It is possible that by observing and contemplating the nature of phenomena, he may dwell in that state. But whether he dwells there or not, it is possible for him to fully exhaust the defilements. If he delights in the Dharma, cherishes it, practices it, and reveres it, he will find joy. With the five lower fetters destroyed, he will be reborn spontaneously and there attain final Nirvana, becoming a Non-Returner who does not come back to this world. Thus, householder, the Blessed One—who is wise and seeing, the Tathagata, free from attachment, fully enlightened—with direct vision of the ultimate truth, declares the foremost Dharma by which a noble disciple may dwell and, even with something remaining, attain liberation of mind through the exhaustion of the defilements.
Furthermore, householder, consider a noble disciple who has heard the teaching and, having transcended all perceptions of form, attains and dwells in the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. By observing and contemplating the nature of phenomena, he may reach the exhaustion of the defilements and the liberation of mind.
於是十支居士八城人，白尊者阿難曰：「甚奇！尊者阿難！我等問尊者阿難一甘露門，而為說十二甘露門。甚多！尊者阿難！於此十二甘露門，依各各甘露門，當安隱自御之。猶若，尊者阿難！離城村不遠有重閣，若重閣房邊有十二門，或有人入中少有所為，或有人生無有義、不饒益、不安隱、不快樂，或有以火燒重閣，此尊者阿難！彼人於十二門，隨彼意安隱出。如是，甚奇！尊者阿難！我等問尊者阿難一甘露門，而為說十二甘露門。此尊者阿難！為甚多，當於十二甘露門，依各各甘露門各各當出之。此尊者阿難！彼諸婆羅門與惡法俱？施與師物；況當我等今於大師，當不以財施之？」於是十支居士八城人，於其夜饌具淨妙飲食。於其夜饌具淨妙飲食已，隨時敷座。敷座已，請雞園中比丘僧、毘舍離比丘僧皆悉聚之。雞園中諸比丘僧、毘舍離諸比丘僧皆悉聚已，以淨妙飲食手自授與。以淨妙飲食手授與已，知食訖，收攝鉢器，行澡水，以五百種物買房，施與尊者阿難以為私有。彼尊者阿難施與招提僧。
Then the householder Dasama from Atthakanagara said to Venerable Ananda: "How wonderful, Venerable Ananda! We asked you about one gate to the Deathless, and you explained twelve gates to the Deathless. How abundant, Venerable Ananda! Among these twelve gates to the Deathless, one may safely guide oneself through each gate. Just as, Venerable Ananda, not far from a town or village there is a mansion, and around that mansion there are twelve doors. Suppose someone enters it for some small purpose, or someone is born there without meaning, without benefit, without safety, without happiness, or perhaps a fire burns the mansion. That person, Venerable Ananda, can safely exit through whichever of the twelve doors they wish. In the same way, how wonderful, Venerable Ananda! We asked you about one gate to the Deathless, and you explained twelve gates to the Deathless. This, Venerable Ananda, is truly abundant. One may exit through each of the twelve gates to the Deathless, each according to its own gate. Venerable Ananda, those brahmins give gifts to their teachers even while being associated with bad qualities. How much more should we now give material support to our Great Teacher?"
Then the householder Dasama from Atthakanagara, that night, prepared pure and excellent food. Having prepared the pure and excellent food that night, he had seats arranged at the proper time. After arranging the seats, he invited the community of monks from the Kukkuta Monastery and the community of monks from Vesali, gathering them all. When the monks from the Kukkuta Monastery and the monks from Vesali had all gathered, he personally served them the pure and excellent food. After personally serving them the pure and excellent food, knowing they had finished eating, he collected the bowls, offered water for washing, and with five hundred items, he purchased a dwelling and gave it to Venerable Ananda as his personal property. That Venerable Ananda then gave it to the Sangha of the four directions.
阿難如是說。十支居士八城人聞尊者阿難所說，歡喜而樂。
Thus did Ananda speak. The householder Dasama, from the city of Atthaka, having heard Venerable Ananda's words, was delighted and filled with joy.
佛說十支居士八城人經
The Sutra on the Ten Branches Spoken by the Buddha to the Layman of Eight Cities