..續本文上一頁thought occurred to me: There are these problems unexplained, put aside and rejected by the Blessed One, Namely, (I) is the universe eternal or (2) is it not eternal, (3) is the universe finite or (4) is it infinite, (5) is soul the same as body or (6) is soul one thing and body another thing, (7) does the Tathāgata exist after death, or (8) does he not exist after death, or (9) does he both (at the same time) exist and not exist after death, or (10) does he both (at the same time) not exist and not not-exist. These problems the Blessed One does not explain to me. This (attitude) does not please me, I do not appreciate it. I will go to the Blessed One and ask him about this matter. If the Blessed One explains them to me, then I will continue to follow the holy life under him. If he does not explain them, I will leave the Order and go away. If the Blessed One knows that the universe is eternal, let him explain it to me so. If the Blessed One knows that the universe is not eternal, let him say so. If the Blessed One does not know whether the universe is eternal or not, etc., then for a person who does not know, it is straight forward to say “I do not know. I do not see”.”
“世尊！我正獨自靜坐，忽然起了一個念頭：有些問題世尊總不解釋，或將之擱置一邊，或予以摒斥。這些問題是：(一)宇宙是永恒的，還是(二)不永恒的？(叁)是有限的，還是(四)無限的？(五)身與心是同一物，還是(六)身是一物，心又是一物？(七)如來死後尚繼續存在，還是(八)不再繼續存在，還是(九)既存在亦(同時)不存在？還是(十)既不存在亦(同時)不不存在？這些問題，世尊從未爲我解釋。這(態度)我不喜歡，也不能領會。我要到世尊那裏去問個明白。如果世尊爲我解釋，我就繼續在他座下修習梵行。如果他不爲我解釋，我就要離開僧團他往。如果世尊知道宇宙是永恒的，就請照這樣給我解釋。如果世尊知道宇宙是不是永恒的，也請明白說。如果世尊不知道到底宇宙是永恒不永恒等等，那末，不知道這些事情的人，應當直說“我不知道，我不明白。””
The Buddha”s reply to Mālunkyaputta should do good to many millions in the world today who are wasting valuable time on such metaphysical questions and unnecessarily disturbing their peace of mind:
佛給鬘童子的回答，對于今日數以百萬計，將寶貴的時間浪費在形上問題上，而毫無必要地自行擾亂其心境的甯靜的人，當大有裨益。
”Did I ever tell you, Mālunkyaputta, “Come, Mālunkyaputta, lead the holy life under me. I will explain these questions to you
”
“鬘童子，我曆來有沒有對你說過：“來！鬘童子，到我座下來學習梵行，我爲你解答這些問題。”？”
”No, Sir.”
“從來沒有，世尊。”
”Then, Mālunkyaputta, even you, did you tell me: “Sir, I will lead the holy life under the Blessed One, and the Blessed One will explain these questions to me”
”
“那末，鬘童子，就說你自己，你曾否告訴我：“世尊，我在世尊座下修習梵行，世尊要爲我解答這些問題。”？”
”No, Sir.”
“也沒有，世尊。”
”Even now, Mālunkyaputta, I do not tell you: “Come and lead the holy life under me, I will explain these questions to you”. And you do not tell me either: “Sir, I will lead the holy life under the Blessed One, and he will explain these questions to me”. Under these circumstances, you foolish one, who refuses whom
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“就拿現在來說，鬘童子，我也沒有告訴你“來我座下修習梵行，我爲你解釋這些問題”而你也沒告訴我“世尊，我在世尊座下修習梵行，世尊要爲我解答這些問題”。既然是這樣，你這愚蠢的人呀！是誰摒棄了誰呢？﹝注叁十五﹞
Mālunkyaputta, if anyone says: “I will not lead the holy life under the Blessed One until he explains these questions,” he may die with these questions unanswered by the Tathāgata. Suppose Mālunkyaputta, a man is wounded by a poisoned arrow, and his friends and relatives bring him to a surgeon. Suppose the man should then say: “I will not let this arrow be taken out until I know who shot me; whether he is a Ksattiya (of the warrior caste) or a Brāhmana (of the priestly caste) or a Vaiśya (of the trading and agricultural caste) or a Sūdra (of the low caste); what his name and family may be; whether he is tall, short, or of medium stature; whether his complexion is black, brown, or golden: from which village, town or city he comes. I will not let this arrow be taken out until I know the kind of bow with which I was shot; the kind of bowstring used; the type of arrow; what sort of feather was used on the arrow and with what kind of material the point of the arrow was made.” Mālunkyaputta, that man would die without knowing any of these things. Even so, Mālunkyaputta, if anyone says: “I will not follow the holy…
《佛陀的啓示 第一章 佛教的宗教態度 Chapter I· The Buddhist Attitude of Mind》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…