English
English version: The deceased, their souls may fall into the sea and become dragons, or be transformed into powerful great deities, etc., all of whom know their past lives, and harbor anger due to past grievances. Thus, they create fog and dew, and spew out poisonous gases, raining them down upon that country. At that time, the people, some die from poisoning, others merely fall ill, and some infect each other. All of this is caused by the actions of the people themselves. Because people are unkind and kill other living beings, they retaliate against each other. Those who kill with their own hands die immediately from poisoning; those who assist them in their evil deeds suffer even more from illness; those who infect each other, and those who do not infect each other, are all due to eating meat, some sharing it together, and some not sharing it together. Those who are keen of hearing and wise should realize that the sins of killing will relentlessly pursue them. Measure others by your own feelings, and you will see that they are all the same. If you can practice in this way, you are propagating the Buddha's teachings, practicing the four immeasurable minds, namely loving-kindness (慈, ci), compassion (悲, bei), sympathetic joy (喜, xi), and equanimity (舍, she), and blessings will naturally return to you. If those families who make a living by killing offer you meat, be careful not to eat it. Those who do not eat meat, even if they are in an evil world, amidst rampant thieves, frequent disasters, and pervasive poisonous gases, even if they are in the midst of it, will not be contaminated. The emperors and people should be wealthy, with granaries full. For those lonely and helpless elderly, orphans, and widows, if they lack clothing and food, and are afflicted with illnesses, unable to help themselves, they should be given medicine and provided with congee and other food, so that they can recover and not die prematurely. It should be understood that these people committed evil deeds in their past lives, do not believe in the Three Jewels (三尊, san zun) - Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, turn away from the truth and pursue falsehood, and are caused by stinginess and greed. The retribution of sin and blessings is clear, so be careful not to do evil. You should also use compassion, and use the teachings of the Buddhist scriptures to teach the ignorant, so that they can recite and uphold the scriptures. If you can save one person, heal their illness, show them the path of goodness, and enable them to uphold the Five Precepts (五戒, wu jie), maintaining purity throughout their lives, the merit is equal to serving the Buddha. These are the so-called three things. In the world, there are noble and virtuous, pure and desireless Shramanas (沙门, sha men, wandering ascetics) and Brahmanas (梵志, fan zhi, priests), who embrace the scriptures, and whose words are in accordance with the law. Emperors, ministers, and people should be respectful in their hearts, and go to them to seek guidance on the law and practice. The words spoken by these noble scholars are all the scriptures left behind by the Buddhas, which can enable people to abandon evil and embrace goodness. Their kindness is more than a hundred times greater than that of parents, enabling people not to fall into the three evil realms (三涂, san tu) - hell, hungry ghosts, and animals after the end of their lives. You should always treat them with compassion and respect. Rather than having molten copper poured into your mouth, or having your tongue cut off with a sharp knife, never slander these pure people; rather than cutting off your own hand, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
莫加之痛；宁自剖腹，出心烧之，无怒此人。设使愚者见佛经道，明知去就，由远顽闇之群，驰就贤者之众，讲受圣典，以成高德。 “沙门梵志，无以贸买求利为身秽垢，心清行净，犹明月珠；护持应器，劳身乞食，供口即止。不畜遗余，或居寺舍，或处山泽树下冢间，皆知宿命，分别真伪制作经籍，为世桥梁，慈心多愍，坐起咒愿，帝王臣民，令国平夷。如此高士，德训诸天龙鬼恻心，不务世俗故，不为情欲之失所见叹述耳。国王臣民，若有智者，当寻求之，供所当得衣食床卧疾病医药，使其安隐，得讲经戒，敷演训导，坐禅念定，或从得道，或死得上天；衣食一国秽浊之人，不如尽心供养清净道士一人，其福弘大，如佛在时供养佛身，正等无异，此谓四事也。 “帝王臣民，视此辈人，天龙、鬼神，无不拥护助之欢喜者也。” 佛告阿难：“吾前世时，行此四事，展转受福，自致得佛，吾以是故，重说四事。阿难！汝当广为诸天帝王臣民说之，所作善行，自得其福，终不唐捐。吾将灭度，四事累汝。” 阿难闻经，且悲且喜，前以头面，为佛作礼。 佛说阿难四事经 现代汉语译本： 莫迦的痛苦，宁愿自己剖开肚子，取出心脏烧掉，也不要对这个人发怒。假设愚笨的人见到佛经的道理，明明知道该如何选择，远离愚昧黑暗的群体，奔向贤能的人群，讲习接受圣典，以成就高尚的德行。 ‘沙门（Śrāmaṇa，出家修道者）和梵志（Brāhmaṇa，婆罗门修行者），不应该以贸易买卖来追求利益，以此作为自身的污垢。内心清净，行为纯洁，就像明亮的月亮和宝珠一样。护持着应器（钵），辛勤地乞食，仅仅为了维持生计。不积蓄剩余的物品，或者居住在寺庙里，或者处在山林、树下、坟墓之间，都知道自己的宿命，能够分辨真伪，制作经书，成为世间的桥梁，以慈悲之心怜悯众生，坐立起卧都在咒愿，希望帝王臣民，国家能够太平安宁。像这样高尚的人士，他们的德行能够训诫诸天、龙、鬼神，使他们心生敬畏。他们不追求世俗的事务，所以不会因为情欲的过失而被世俗之人赞叹。国王臣民，如果有智慧的人，应当去寻求他们，供给他们应得的衣食、床铺、卧具、疾病医药，使他们能够安稳，能够讲解经书戒律，敷衍训导，坐禅念定，或者从中得道，或者死后能够升上天界。供养一个国家的污浊之人，不如尽心供养一位清净的道士，他的福报非常广大，就像佛陀在世时供养佛身一样，完全相同，没有差别，这就是所谓的四事。’ ‘帝王臣民，看待这些修行之人，天龙、鬼神，没有不拥护帮助他们，并为此感到欢喜的。’ 佛陀告诉阿难（Ānanda，佛陀的十大弟子之一）: ‘我前世的时候，奉行这四事，辗转获得福报，最终成就了佛陀。我因此缘故，再次宣说这四事。阿难！你应该广泛地为诸天、帝王、臣民宣说这四事，所做的善行，自己会得到福报，终究不会白费。我将要灭度，这四件事就托付给你了。’ 阿难听闻佛经，既悲伤又欢喜，上前以头面，为佛陀作礼。 佛说阿难四事经
English
English version: The pain of Moga; rather cut open one's own belly, take out the heart and burn it, than be angry at this person. Suppose a foolish person sees the teachings of the Buddha's scriptures, clearly knowing which way to go, departing from the crowd of ignorant darkness, and rushing to the assembly of the virtuous, lecturing and receiving the holy scriptures, so as to achieve high virtue. 'Śrāmaṇas (ascetics) and Brāhmaṇas (Brahmin ascetics) should not use trade and commerce to seek profit, taking this as the filth of their bodies. With pure hearts and pure conduct, they are like bright moons and jewels. Upholding their alms bowls, they laboriously beg for food, just to sustain their lives. They do not accumulate leftovers, or reside in temples, or dwell in mountains, forests, under trees, or among tombs. They all know their past lives, can distinguish truth from falsehood, create scriptures, and become bridges for the world. With compassionate hearts, they pity all beings, and in their sitting, standing, and lying down, they chant blessings, hoping that emperors, ministers, and the people, and the country can be peaceful and tranquil. Such noble people, their virtue can instruct the devas (gods), nāgas (dragons), and ghosts, causing them to feel awe. They do not pursue worldly affairs, so they are not praised by worldly people for the faults of their desires. Kings, ministers, and the people, if they are wise, should seek them out, providing them with the clothing, food, bedding, and medicine they deserve, so that they can be at peace, able to explain the scriptures and precepts, expound and instruct, practice meditation and concentration, or attain enlightenment from it, or ascend to heaven after death. Feeding a country of impure people is not as good as wholeheartedly supporting one pure ascetic; their merit is very great, just like offering to the Buddha's body when the Buddha was alive, exactly the same, without any difference. This is what is called the Four Requisites.' 'Emperors, ministers, and the people, when they look upon these practitioners, the devas (gods), nāgas (dragons), and ghosts, all protect and help them, and rejoice in it.' The Buddha told Ānanda (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples): 'In my past lives, I practiced these Four Requisites, and gradually received blessings, and finally attained Buddhahood. For this reason, I again proclaim these Four Requisites. Ānanda! You should widely proclaim these Four Requisites to the devas (gods), emperors, ministers, and the people. The good deeds you do, you will receive blessings yourself, and it will never be in vain. I am about to pass into parinirvana (final nirvana), and I entrust these Four Requisites to you.' Ānanda, hearing the sutra, was both sad and joyful, and came forward to prostrate before the Buddha with his head and face. The Sutra on the Four Requisites Spoken by the Buddha to Ānanda --------------------------------------------------------------------------------