..續本文上一頁ous. Because they throw themselves into a swamp and drown, they are known as ordinary people. Pass through the gateway! Get out of the defilement and become an Arhat! "

　　Section 24

　　Sexual Desire Obstructs the Way

　　The Buddha said, "f all longings and desires, there is none as strong as sex. Sexual desire has no equal. Fortunately, it is one of a kind. If there were something else like it, no one in the entire world would be able to cultivate the Way. "

　　Section 25

　　The Fire of Desire Burns

　　The Buddha said, "Person with love and desire is like one who carries a torch while walking against the wind: he is certain to burn his hand. "

　　.

　　Section 26

　　Demons from the Heavens Try to Tempt the Buddha

　　The heaven spirit offered beautiful maidens to the Buddha, hoping to destroy his resolve. The Buddha said, What have you skin-bags full of filth come here for

　　 Go away, I”ve got no use for you. "

　　Then the heaven spirit became very respectful and asked about the meaning of the Way. The Buddha explained it for him, and he immediately attained the fruition of Srotaapanna.

　　Section 27

　　One Attains the Way after Letting Go of Attachments

　　The Buddha said, "Person who follows the Way is like a floating piece of wood that courses along with the current. If it does not touch either shore; if people do not pluck it out; if ghosts and spirits do not intercept it; if it is not trapped in whirlpools; and if it does not rot, I guarantee that the piece of wood will reach the sea. If students of the Way are not deluded by emotion and desire, and if they are not caught up in the many crooked views, but are vigorous in their cultivation of the unconditioned, I guarantee that they will certainly attain the Way. "

　　Section 28

　　Don Indulge the Wild Mind

　　The Buddha said, "Be careful not to believe your own mind; your mind is not to be believed. Be careful not to get involved with sex; involvement with sex leads to disaster. After you have attained Arhatship, you can believe your own mind. "

　　Section 29

　　Proper Contemplation Counteracts Sexual Desire

　　The Buddha said, "Be careful not to look at women, and do not talk with them. If you must speak with them, be properly mindful and think, am a Shramana living in a turbid world. I should be like the lotus flower, which is not stained by the mud. ” Think of elderly women as your mothers, of those who are older than you as your elder sisters, of those who are younger as your younger sisters, and of very young girls as your daughters. Bring forth thoughts to rescue them, and put an end to bad thoughts."

　　Section 30

　　Stay Far Away from the Fire of Desire

　　The Buddha said, "People who cultivate the Way are like dry grass: it is essential to keep it away from an oncoming fire. People who cultivate the Way look upon desire as something they must stay far away from."

　　Section 31

　　When the Mind Is Still, Desire Is Dispelled

　　The Buddha said, "There was once someone who was plagued by ceaseless sexual desire and wished to castrate himself. The Buddha said to him," o cut off your sexual organ would not be as good as to cut off your mind. Your mind is like a supervisor: if the supervisor stops, his employees will also quit. If the deviant mind is not stopped, what good does it do to cut off the organ

　　 ”"

　　The Buddha spoke a verse for him:

　　Desire is born from your intentions.

　　Intentions are born from thoughts.

　　When both aspects of the mind are still,

　　There is neither form nor activity.

　　The Buddha said, his verse was spoken by the Buddha Kashyapa. "

　　Section 32

　　Emptying out the Self Quells Fear

　　The Buddha said, "People worry because of love and desire. That worry then leads to fear. If you transcend love, what worries will there be

　　 What will be left to fear

　　 "

　　Sect…

《四十二章經 Sutra in Forty-Two Sections translated by the Buddhist Text Translation》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…