Back to the library

Milidaṭīkā(Milinda Commentary)(English | 中文 | བོད་ཡིག)

English

Sindhu, Sarasvati, Vetravati, Vitatha, Candabhaga— this is the ten rivers. Cold, heat, hunger, thirst, excrement, urine, sloth and torpor, old age, sickness, death— this is the ten things pertaining to the body. One has reverence for the Buddha, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Sangha, reverence for one's fellow practitioners. One strives in learning and questioning, one is diligent in listening, even though of broken morality, one establishes an appearance of virtue, out of fear of blame, one's bodily and verbal actions are well-guarded, one's mind is inclined toward exertion, even while doing evil, one acts in secret— this is the ten qualities exceeding the immoral layman. One who wears invulnerable armor, one who wears the marks of an ascetic, one who attends Sangha gatherings, one who has gone for refuge to the Triple Gem, one who dwells in secluded places for meditation, one who seeks wealth in the Dispensation of the Conqueror... For the sake of teaching the Dhamma, for being devoted to the lamp of Dhamma, the highest Buddha. By firmly holding to the one-sided view, by undertaking the Uposatha, one purifies the offering. By firmly holding to the one-sided view, by undertaking the Uposatha, one purifies the offering. By firmly holding to the one-sided view, by undertaking the Uposatha, one purifies the offering. This is called the decade on the basis of offerings. Non-attachment, non-reliance, speech, abandonment, non-returning, subtlety, greatness, difficulty to understand, rarity, incomparability, of the Buddha's Dhamma. This is called the decade of qualities of a Bodhisatta. Giving of intoxicants, giving of gatherings, giving of women, giving of improper things, giving of paintings, giving of poison, giving of weapons, giving of chains, giving of chickens and pigs, giving of false weights and measures. This is called giving that is considered non-giving in the world. Mother is a bond, father is a bond, wife is a bond, children are a bond, relatives are a bond, friends are a bond, wealth is a bond, gain and honor are a bond, power is a bond, the five strands of sense pleasure are a bond. This is called the decade of bonds. A widowed woman, a weak person, a person who is an unfriendly relative, a glutton, one who lives in a family without good conduct, a bad friend, one who is without wealth, one who is without a teacher, one who is without work, a person who is without effort. This is called the decade of persons to be despised. In taming, in calming, in patience, in restraint, in self-control, in regulation, in non-anger, in non-violence, in truth, in purity, in these ten places the mind constantly dwells. This is called the decade of qualities of Vessantara. Eleven decades have been spoken. 11. The eleven qualities of space have entered into Nibbana? It is not born, it does not decay, it does not die, it does not pass away, it does not arise, it is difficult to overcome, it cannot be stolen by thieves, it is unattached, it is the path of birds, it is unobstructed, it is infinite. This is called the eleven qualities of space. The wall of morality …pe… the path of mindfulness. This is called the elevenfold entourage of the city of Dhamma. Two elevens have been spoken. 12. One who is passionate does not accumulate demerit through passion, one who is angry through anger, one who is deluded through delusion, one who is arrogant … Because of laziness, without virtues, without distinction, Stubborn because of excess, inferior because of inferiority, Obedient because of lack of independence, evil because of stinginess, Afflicted because of being afflicted, greedy because of lust, Striving for gain, not accumulating merit: This is called the twelve types of non-accumulators of merit, just one. 13. The practice of wearing rag robes, the practice of wearing three robes, the practice of eating alms food, the practice of going on alms round in order, the practice of eating only one meal, the practice of eating from the bowl only, the practice of refusing subsequent invitations, the practice of dwelling in the forest, the practice of dwelling at the foot of a tree, the practice of dwelling in the open air, the practice of dwelling in a cemetery, the practice of dwelling wherever one finds oneself, the practice of always sitting: This is called the thirteen ascetic practices, just one. 14. The fourteen Buddha knowledges should be understood as fourteen. 16. Attachment to ornaments, attachment to adornment, attachment to oiling, attachment to coloring, attachment to garlands, attachment to fragrance, attachment to scents, attachment to myrobalan, attachment to emblic myrobalan, attachment to dyes, attachment to binding, attachment to a comb, attachment to a barber, attachment to untangling, attachment to lice, grieving, wearying, lamenting, beating the breast, crying out, falling into delusion when the hairs are being cut: This is the sixteen attachments to hair. An animal, a ghost, one with wrong view, a cheat, a mother-killer, a father-killer, an arahant-killer, one who sheds blood of a Buddha, one who causes dissension in the Sangha, one who has gone over to another sect, one who lives in secret with a thief, one who defiles a nun, one who has committed any of the thirteen serious offenses and has not been rehabilitated, a eunuch, a hermaphrodite, one who is less than seven years old: This is the sixteen types of persons incapable of attaining the Dhamma. These two sets of sixteen have been spoken. 17. Mindfulness arises to one who recognizes, to one who is sharp, From gross consciousness, from beneficial consciousness, from unbeneficial consciousness, From similar signs, from dissimilar signs, from knowledge of conversation, From characteristics, from recollection, from seals, from counting, From retention, from cultivation, from writing in books, From laying aside, from experiencing: This is the seventeen ways in which mindfulness arises, just one. 18. Eighteen According to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is known as eighteen. 19. Listening, good memory, calculation, logic, law, special knowledge, arithmetic, music, medicine, the four Vedas, ancient lore, history, astrology, illusion, reasoning, incantations, warfare, and the six limbs of the Buddha's word, these nineteen things are what a king should learn, these are the nineteen qualities. 22. Respect, restraint, excellence, regulation, generosity, dwelling, self-control, restraint, patience, gentleness, solitary conduct, delight in solitude, seclusion, shame, fear of blame, energy, diligence, precepts, instruction, questioning, delight in virtue, absence of attachment, and fulfillment of the precepts, these twenty-two qualities make one a monk. The wearing of the robe and the carrying of the bowl, these two signs are added, thus these are the twenty-two qualities that are the reason for speaking. 25. Protection, service, being heedful and unheedful, likewise a sleeping place, medicine, food, and what is allowable, and understanding the distinction, sharing food received in the bowl, giving encouragement, and providing care, wandering in the village and monastery, conversation should be done, forgiving when seeing a fault, acting respectfully and without interruption, knowing two secrets, doing two things without remainder, generating a begetting mind, increasing the developed mind, establishing him in the strength of training, cultivating a mind of loving-kindness. Not abandoning him in misfortune, and being zealous in what should be done, taking hold of the bridle in the Dhamma. Thus, these twenty-five qualities are revealed by the combination of virtues, these are the twenty-five qualities done by the teacher for the pupil. Anger, resentment, contempt, domineering, envy, stinginess, deceit, trickery, stubbornness, impetuosity, conceit, arrogance, intoxication, negligence, sloth and torpor, craving, laziness, bad friendship, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, hunger, thirst, discontent, these twenty-five things weaken the mind, these are the twenty-five qualities. 28. Seclusion protects the person who is secluded. It increases life, increases strength, hides faults, removes disgrace, bestows fame, removes discontent, bestows delight, removes fear, creates confidence, removes laziness, generates energy. He dispels lust, he dispels hatred, he dispels delusion, he destroys pride, he shatters thoughts, he makes the mind one-pointed, he endears the heart, he generates laughter, he makes one weighty, he generates respect, he makes one worthy of reverence, he brings joy, he creates gladness, he shows the nature of formations, he uncovers rebirth, he gives all blessings; this is the twenty-eight qualities in seclusion. Mahosadha, the great king, is brave, modest, conscientious, with allies, endowed with friends, patient, virtuous, truthful, endowed with purity, not angry, not arrogant, not envious, energetic, striving, inclusive, sharing, gentle, humble in conduct, not deceitful, not fraudulent, endowed with wisdom, famous, endowed with knowledge, seeking the welfare of those who depend on him, handsome, pleasing to behold, renowned by all people, wealthy, glorious; this is the twenty-eight qualities of Mahosadha, thus two sets of twenty-eight have been spoken. 30. By these thirteen ascetic qualities, previously cultivated, frequented, practiced, thoroughly practiced, lived, fully perfected, being the cause, the noble disciple in this life is endowed with thirty excellent qualities, with which thirty excellent qualities? He is of gentle, soft, tender, loving mind, he has destroyed, slain, eradicated defilements, he has slain, destroyed pride and arrogance, he is of unwavering, firm, steadfast, unshakeable faith, fully complete, delighted.