The Sayings of the Buddha in Forty-Two Sections

　　by Kasyapa Matanga and Gobharana

　　Introduction:

　　This text was said to be the first official Buddhist literature which was composed for the Chinese by two early Indian missionaries, Kashyapa Matanga and Gobharana, during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Later Han Dynasty. The translators extracted all the passages from different Buddhism scriptures which they brought along for their missionary purposes. It was complied after the fashion of the Confucian Analects to suit the Chinese and therefore each section begins with "The Buddha said" which corresponds to the Confucian "Confucius said". It was therefore specially prepared for the Chinese Buddhists and it contains a good collection of moral and religious sayings of the Buddha.

　　The main text:

　　When the World-Honoured One had become Enlightened, he reflected thus, "To be free from the passions and to be calm, this is the most excellent Way." He was absorbed in Great Meditation, subdued all evil ones and later in the Deer Park caused to turn the Wheel of Dharma, which consisted of the Four Noble Truths:

　　1. Life is Suffering.

　　2. Ignorance is the cause of Suffering.

　　3. The Cessation of Suffering which is the goal of life as it transcends pains and pleasure.

　　4. The Way to Cessation of Suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path which consists of:

　　(1) Right Understanding

　　(2) Right Thoughts

　　(3) Right Speech

　　(4) Right Action

　　(5) Right Livelihood

　　(6) Right Effort

　　(7) Right Mindfulness

　　(8) Right Concentration.

　　He converted the five bhikshus, Kaudinya and the others, inducing them to attain Enlightenment.

　　Again, there were other bhikshus who implored the Buddha to remove their doubts which they had concerning his doctrine. The World-Honoured One illuminated all their minds through his authoritative teachings. The bhikshus, joining their hands reverentially prostrating, following his sacred instructions.

　　1. The Buddha said, "Those who, taking leave of their families and adopting the life of renunciation, understand the mind, reach the source, and comprehend the immaterial, are called Sramanas.

　　Those who observe the two hundred and fifty precepts of morality, who are pure and spotless in their behaviours, and who exert themselves for the attainment of the stages of progress, are called Arhats. The Arhat is able to fly through space and assume different forms; his life is eternal, and there are times when he causes heaven and earth to quake.

　　Below them is the Anagamin who, at the end of a long life, ascend in spirit to the nineteenth heaven and obtains Arhatship.

　　Next come the Skridagamin who ascends to the heavens (after his death), comes back to the earth once more, and then attains Arhatship.

　　Then come the Srotaapanna who cannot become Arhat until he has passed seven more rounds of birth and death. By the severance of the passions is meant that like the limbs severed they are never again made use of."

　　2. The Buddha said, "The renunciate Sramana cuts off the passions, frees himself of attachments, understands the source of his own mind, penetrates the deepest doctrine of Buddha, and comprehends the Dharma which is immaterial. He has no prejudice in his heart, he has nothing to hanker after. He is not hampered by the thought of the Way, nor is he entangled in karma. No prejudice, no compulsion, so discipline, no enlightenment, and no going up through the grades, and yet in possession of all honours in itself - this is what is meant by the Way."

　　3. The Buddha said, "Those who shaving their heads and faces and becomes Sramanas and have accepted the Doctrine of the Way, should surrender all worldly possessions and be contented with whatever they obtain by begging. Only one meal a day and loding under a …

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