善恭敬經
Sutra on Proper Respect
隋天竺三藏闍那崛多譯
Translated by Jñānagupta of the Sui Dynasty
如是我聞：
This is what I heard:
一時婆伽婆住在如來本所行處寶莊嚴殿。爾時世尊與大比丘及諸菩薩摩訶薩等，并餘無量百千萬億四部大眾，左右圍繞，共會說法。
At that time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Jewel-Adorned Hall, the place where the Tathagata had formerly practiced. The World-Honored One was then surrounded by a great assembly of bhikkhus, bodhisattva-mahasattvas, and countless hundreds of thousands of millions from the fourfold assembly. Together they gathered to listen to the Dharma.
爾時長老阿難從坐而起，整理衣服，右膝著地，以十指爪合掌向佛，身心恭敬，而白佛言：「世尊！如來常說有多聞者有大功德；若復教他立多聞處，世尊！彼善男子得幾所功德？」作是語已，默然而住。
At that time, the venerable Ananda rose from his seat, straightened his robe, placed his right knee on the ground, and with his ten fingers joined in reverence toward the Buddha, respectfully addressed him: "World-Honored One, the Tathagata often speaks of great merit for those who hear much. If one further teaches others to establish themselves in hearing much, World-Honored One, how much merit does that virtuous man attain?" Having spoken thus, he remained silent.
爾時世尊告長老阿難言：「阿難！汝既問我，以是義故，我當為汝譬喻解釋。所以者何？智者於義，譬喻得解。阿難！譬如三千大千世界，所有樹木、百卉、藥草，若小若大，乃至似於如橫一指，從地生者，彼等樹木，並著枝、葉、花、果、子實皆悉備具。阿難！而彼所有樹木之中，如橫一指最小之者，所生花、果多少之數，如一恒沙；如向一指所生花、葉、果、實、枝等，如橫二指所生草木，還有若干花、果、子實多少之數，如二恒沙。如是次第乃至從地更有出生，如橫三指還有若干枝、葉、花、果，多少之數，如三恒沙。阿難！於意云何，頗復有人能數彼樹多少以不？」
Then the World-Honored One said to the Elder Ananda, "Ananda, since you have asked me, for this reason I will give you a parable to explain it. Why is that? The wise understand meaning through parables.
Ananda, imagine a great universe of a thousand million worlds. In it, all the trees, herbs, grasses, and medicinal plants—whether small or large, even those as thin as a single finger's width growing from the ground—each and every one of them is fully equipped with branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
Ananda, among all those trees, the smallest—those just a finger's width—produce as many flowers and fruits as there are grains of sand in one Ganges River. Those the size of two fingers' width produce as many flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, and branches as there are grains of sand in two Ganges Rivers. Going on in this way, whatever grows from the ground the width of three fingers produces as many branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits as there are grains of sand in three Ganges Rivers.
Ananda, what do you think? Could anyone possibly count how many trees there are?"
阿難言：「不也，世尊！」
Ananda replied, “No, World-Honored One.”
爾時佛復告阿難言：「彼之一指以上所有花、果、子實，有人尚能數知多少；而彼善男子、善女人，教他乃至一四句偈，為他顯示不求果報，發慈哀心、憐愍之心，乃至教他令得阿羅漢果。復作是念：『以何方便，令多眾生以此法施因緣力故，令得須陀洹果，乃至令得阿羅漢果，乃至令發菩提之心？』以慈愍故，教他乃至一四句偈，為他解釋、分別顯示。以此功德，欲比於前譬喻功德多少之數，於此功德百分不及一，千分不及一，百千分不及一，億千分不及一，歌羅數分不及一，譬喻分不及一，優婆尼沙陀分不及一，彼等福德不可稱量。阿難！彼之男女多得善根，乃至令他住多聞中，復能向他乃至宣說一四句偈。」
At that time, the Buddha spoke further to Ananda, saying: "One could count the number of flowers, fruits, and seeds held on a single finger, yet the merit of a good man or woman who teaches even a single four-line verse to others—doing so without seeking reward, with a heart of compassion and pity—is beyond measure. This is even more so when such a person guides others to attain the fruit of Arhatship, thinking, 'By what skillful means can I help many beings, through the power of this gift of Dharma, to attain the fruit of Stream-entry, or even to become Arhats, or to awaken the mind of Enlightenment?' With such kindness and compassion, they teach others even a single four-line verse, explaining and revealing its meaning clearly. Compared to the merit described in the earlier simile, the merit of this teaching is unsurpassed. For each single share of that earlier merit, this merit is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one-billionth, not one-*koti*-part, not one-simile-part, not even one-*upanishad*-part—it is immeasurable and cannot be counted. Ananda! That man or woman has planted abundant roots of virtue, even enabling others to abide in much learning; further still, they expound even a single four-line verse to others."
爾時世尊作是語已，長老阿難復白佛言：「希有，世尊！世尊乃能作如是說。希有，婆伽婆！如來乃能作如是說。世尊！彼之受法善男子、善女人，於是法中及法師所，應作何等恭敬之心？」
At that time, after the World-Honored One had spoken these words, the elder Ananda again addressed the Buddha: "How wonderful, World-Honored One! How wonderful, Bhagavan! The Tathagata has spoken so profoundly. World-Honored One, for those good men and women who receive this teaching, what kind of reverence and respect should they show toward both the Dharma and the Dharma teacher?"
作是語已，佛告阿難言：「阿難！汝莫問我如是之事。何以故？今者眾生無敬法心。」
Once these words were spoken, the Buddha said to Ananda, "Ananda, do not ask me about such matters. Why? The people of this time have no reverence for the Dharma."
阿難復更重白佛言：「善哉，世尊！我渴仰法，於是法中深生敬心，如法學法，我作世尊侍者已來，未曾聞此如是之法。世尊！我從今已當作如是恭敬之心，如世尊勅，不違聖教！」
Ānanda again addressed the Buddha, saying, "Excellent, World-Honored One! I thirst for the Dharma and have deeply profound respect within this teaching, learning it as it truly is. Since I became your attendant, I have never before heard such a teaching as this. World-Honored One, from now on I will maintain a heart of reverence just as you have instructed, and will not go against the sacred teachings!"
爾時阿難復白佛言：「世尊！於後末世有善男子、善女人等，於諸法中或有渴仰敬重心相，惟有口言，為衣食故、為利養故，從貧賤中剃髮出家，而作是言：『我能為法，雖復彼等求諸佛法。』世尊！然彼眾生無行法心，示下賤相，是人還起下賤之心。世尊！我為自身故發是問，我等云何應住？云何應行？」
At that time, Ananda again said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in the final period of the Dharma, there may be good men and good women who outwardly show reverence and devotion toward the teachings but only pay lip service. For the sake of clothing, food, and material gain, they shave their heads and leave home life from humble circumstances, saying: 'I can teach the Dharma.' Though they seek the Buddha's teachings, World-Honored One, these beings have no sincere intention to practice the Dharma; they exhibit signs of lowliness, and soon their minds revert to that lowly state. World-Honored One, I ask this question for my own sake: How should we abide? How should we practice?"
作是語已，爾時佛告長老阿難作如是言：「阿難！若有善男子、善女人樂於法者，欲得讀誦，彼等眾生欲向和上、阿闍梨所。至已，應問諸佛法言，隨心所樂所堪說處，應說依止，彼或十臘或十二臘，為重法故，應乞依止。何以故？如來往昔雖復說言：『五夏比丘不須依止。』而彼學者於前敬心乃能為法，以是義故，應當依止。何以故？彼人欲學於佛法故。
「阿難！而彼和上阿闍梨等，為彼應作如是依止：『當如是耶，我許汝耶，汝得利耶，我教汝耶！汝當謹順，莫放逸耶，應練行耶，如是與耶。』若有比丘得具足法，彼則堪能與他依止，若能如是分別法句，與他依止，名依止師。
「若有比丘雖復百夏，不能閑解如是法句，彼亦應當從他依止。所以者？何自尚不解，況欲與他作依止師。假令耆舊百夏比丘而不能解沙門釋種祕密之事，彼人為法應說依止，雖有百夏上座比丘，不解律法，彼等亦應說於依止。
「若有比丘從他受法，彼等比丘於彼師邊，應起尊貴敬重之心。欲受法時，當在師前不得輕笑，不得露齒，不得交足，不得視足，不得動足，不得踔脚，足踝齊整，勿令高下。於彼師前勿昇高座；師不發問，不得輒言；凡有所使，勿得違命。勿視師面，離師三肘，命坐即坐，勿得違教。安坐已訖，於彼師所應起慈心。若有弟子欲受法時，長跪師前，先誦所得。誦已有疑，先應諮白；若見聽許，然後請決。
「是時學者既受法已，右膝著地，兩手捧足，一心頂禮師所住處。地若平正，即應設敬；若地偏隘，即還却立，乃至師過至彼平所，即便請法。若至平處，禮師足已，却縮而行，至十肘地。遙禮師已，隨意歸還。又復弟子應作是念：『師在我後，觀我是非，不應放逸。我若即來，尋至師前，請決所疑，是即為善。儻不得來，應當知時。』一日三時應參進止，若三時間不參進止，是師應當如法治之。
「又復弟子若參師時，至彼師所，若不見師，應持土塊、或木、或草，以為記驗。若當見師在房室內，是時學者應起至心，遶房三匝，向師頂禮爾乃方還。若不見師，眾務皆止，不得為也，除大小便。
「又復弟子於其師所不得麁言，師所呵責，不應反報。師坐臥床，應先敷拭，令無塵污、虫蟻之屬。若師坐臥乃至師起，應修誦業。時彼學者至日東方便到師所，善知時已，數往師邊，諮問所須，我作何事。當白師言：『入聚落不？』若師欲得入聚落時，師所袈裟當須前奉，先應洗手。若洗手訖，應持己衣，還拭己手。至彼師所，身心安住，兩手捧衣，長跪而授，如法敬奉，處所安住。然後奉水，令洗手面，先奉內衣，著身體者，爾乃更當奉餘衣服常所用者，向於師所應作如是恭敬之心。
「又復弟子在於師前不得涕唾，若行寺內恭敬師故，勿以袈裟覆於肩髆，不得籠頭。師經行處，應常掃拭。天時若熱，日別三時以扇扇師，三度授水，授令洗浴，又復三時應獻冷飲，應當知時，為師乞食。師所營事，應盡身力而營助之，取師應器，洗治令淨。若師與洗，先洗師器乃及己鉢。若與應洗，如不與者，不應再索。何以故？有因緣故。阿難！有諸比丘當作是念：『如來往昔鉢無人洗，彼等學佛應當自役。』雖然如來許彼，天若熱時，應具冷水；天若寒者，應備暖水；凡所須者，皆應盡備。親在師前，勿嚼楊枝；於他人處，勿說師過；若遙見師，尋起迎接。
「阿難！凡有師者，隨在誰邊學四句偈，或聽、或讀、或問、或諮一四句等，是即為師。時彼學者於其師所，常起恭敬尊重之心，若不如是，名不敬者，亦不名住正行之者。若於他邊說師過者，彼人不得取我為師。何以故？阿難！彼無敬心，不愛佛故；彼無行人，況愛法者；彼無敬人，當不愛法，彼大惡人亦不愛僧，不入僧數。何以故？彼愚癡人不行正行。阿難！佛所言說皆為行者。」
爾時長老阿難聞佛說已，悲泣流淚，以手捫拭，作是白言：「世尊！於將來世少有眾生住是行者。世尊！我等當行如是之行，我今當住如是之行。世尊！若有比丘於彼師所或和上邊不生敬心，道說長短，於將來世得何等報？」
佛告阿難：「若將來世有諸比丘，或於師所或和上邊，不起恭敬，說於師僧長短之者，彼人則非是須陀洹，亦非凡夫，彼愚癡人應如是治。何以故？阿難！師實有過尚不得說，況當無也！
「阿難！若有比丘於其師邊不恭敬者，我說別有一小地獄，名為椎撲，當墮是中。墮彼處已，一身四頭，身體俱然，狀如火聚，出大猛炎，熾然不息，然已復然。於彼獄處復有諸虫，名曰鉤𭪿，彼諸毒虫常噉舌根。時彼癡人從彼捨身，生畜生中，受野獸形，或野干身，或受狼身，彼諸人等見者大喚，或唱言狼，或唱野干。阿難！彼癡人輩，皆由往昔罵辱於師及與和上，是故見者皆悉不喜，以彼往昔舌根過故，恒食𡱁尿。捨彼身已，雖生人間，常生邊地。生邊地已，捨於一切功德之事，具足惡法，離眾善法，雖得人身，皮不似人，不能具足人之形色，不似父母，父母憎惡。得人身已，常被輕賤、誹謗、𣣋辱，離佛、世尊，恒無智慧。從彼死已，還速墜墮地獄之中。何以故？阿難！若有人等，於教授師所、施自在師所、教法行師所、教真行師所，起不恭敬，受是重殃。阿難！彼癡人輩，自餘更得無量無邊苦患之法。
「阿難！若從他聞一四句偈，或抄，或寫，書之竹帛所有名字，於若干劫取彼和上、阿闍梨等，荷檐肩上，或時背負，或以頂戴，常負行者，復將一切音樂之具，供養是師。阿難！作如是事，尚自不能具報師恩，亦復不名深敬於師，況敬法耶！作是敬者是名敬師。阿難！若有無量無邊供養之具，爾乃堪能供養師耶！
「阿難！當來之世多諸比丘得是經已，於師和上起不敬心，無有正行，於師和上恒說於過。阿難！我說彼等愚癡人輩極受多苦，於當來世必墮惡道。阿難！我向汝說，我向語汝，如來在世於汝等邊已為說訖，此是正道、此非正道；於當來世彼諸比丘隨行何行，還生是處，得是果報。是故阿難！我教汝等常行恭敬。
「阿難！若有善男子、善女人，能生恭敬尊重之心，當得如是勝上之法，所謂愛敬諸佛、世尊，敬重經法，深愛敬僧，當入是次。」
佛說是經已，長老阿難等及諸大眾，聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
善恭敬經