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　　Wisdom and Clarity Defeat the Demons

　　The Buddha said, "People who cultivate the Way are like a soldier who goes into battle alone against ten thousand enemies. He dons his armor and goes out the gate. He may prove to be a coward; he may get halfway to the battlefield and retreat; he may be killed in combat; or he may return victorious. Shramanas who study the Way must make their minds resolute and be vigorous, courageous, and valiant. Not fearing what lies ahead, they should defeat the hordes of demons and obtain the fruition of the Way. "

　　Section 34

　　By Staying in the Middle, One Attains the Way

　　One evening a Shramana was reciting the Sutra of the Teaching Bequeathed by the Buddha Kashyapa. The sound of his voice was mournful as he reflected remorsefully on his wish to retreat in cultivation. The Buddha asked him, "In the past when you were a householder, what did you do

　　 " He replied, "I was fond of playing the lute. " The Buddha said, "What happened when the strings were slack

　　 " He replied, "They didn”t sound. " What happened when they were too tight

　　 " He replied, "The sounds were cut short. " What happened when they were tuned just right between slack and tight

　　 " He replied, "The sounds carried. " The Buddha said, "It is the same with a Shramana who studies the Way. If his mind is harmonious, he can attain the Way. If he is impetuous about the Way, his impetuousness will tire out his body; and if his body is tired, his mind will become afflicted. If his mind becomes afflicted, then he will retreat from his practice. If he retreats from his practice, his offenses will certainly increase. You need only be pure, peaceful, and happy, and you will not lose the Way. "

　　Section 35

　　When One Is Purified of Defilements, the Brilliance Remains

　　The Buddha said,"People smelt metal by burning the dross out of it in order to make high quality implements. It is the same with people who study the Way: first they must get rid of the defilements in their minds; then their practice becomes pure. "

　　Section 36

　　The Sequence that Leads to Success

　　The Buddha said, "It is difficult for one to leave the evil destinies and become a human being.

　　Even if one does become a human being, it is still difficult to become a man rather than a woman.

　　Even if one does become a man, it is still difficult to have the six sense organs complete and perfect.

　　Even if the six sense organs are complete and perfect, it is still difficult for one to be born in a central country.

　　Even if one is born in a central country, it is still difficult to be born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world.

　　Even if one is born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world, it is still difficult to encounter the Way.

　　Even if one does encounter the Way, it is still difficult to bring forth faith.

　　Even if one brings forth faith, it is still difficult to resolve one mind on Bodhi.

　　Even if one does resolve one mind on Bodhi, it is still difficult to be beyond cultivation and attainment. "

　　Section 37

　　Staying Mindful of Moral Precepts Brings Us Close to the Way

　　The Buddha said, "My disciples may be several thousand miles away from me, but if they remember my moral precepts, they will certainly attain the fruition of the Way. If those who are by my side do not follow my moral precepts, they may see me constantly, but in the end they will not attain the Way. "

　　Section 38

　　Birth Leads to Death

　　The Buddha asked a Shramana, "How long is the human life span

　　 " He replied, few days. " The Buddha said, "You have not yet understood the Way. "

　　He asked another Shramana, "How long is the human life span

　　 " The reply was, he space of a meal. " The Buddha said, "You have not yet understood the Way. "

　　He asked another Shramana, "How long is the human life span

　　 " He replied, he length of a single breath. " The Buddha said, "Excellent. You have understood the Way. "

　　Section 39

　　The Buddha Instructions Are Not Biased

　　The Buddha said, "Students of the Buddha Way should believe in and accord with everything that the Buddha teaches. When you eat honey, it is sweet on the surface and sweet in the center; it is the same with my sutras. "

　　Section 40

　　The Way Is Practiced in the Mind

　　The Buddha said, "Shramana who practices the Way should not be like an ox turning a millstone. Such a one walks the Way with his body, but his mind is not on the Way. If the mind is concentrated on the Way, what further need is there to practice

　　 "

　　Section 41

　　A Straight Mind Gets Rid of Desire

　　The Buddha said, "One who practices the Way is like an ox pulling a heavy load through deep mud. The ox is so extremely exhausted that it dares not glance to the left or right. Only when it gets out of the mud can it rest. The Shramana should regard emotion and desire as being worse than deep mud; and with an undeviating mind, he should be mindful of the Way. Then he can avoid suffering. "

　　Section 42

　　Understanding that the World Is Illusory

　　The Buddha said, "Look upon royalty and high positions as upon the dust that floats through a crack. I look

　　upon treasures of gold and jade as upon broken tiles. I look upon fine silk clothing as upon cheap cotton. I

　　look upon a great thousand-world universe as upon a small nut kernel. I look upon the waters of the

　　Anavatapta Lake as upon oil used to anoint the feet. "

《四十二章經 Sutra in Forty-Two Sections translated by the Buddhist Text Translation》全文閱讀結束。