English
English version: Far away, faintly appearing. My two eyes, extremely emaciated and deep-set, seem to see something, yet it is also like that! It is also like a bitter gourd, green and unripe, which is picked by people, and its branches and leaves wither and fall, gradually becoming withered and weak, and finally dry and closed. My body, from head to toe, is also like this! It begins to be haggard at first, gradually becomes weak, and later becomes extremely thin, with muscles and bones close together. Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! My initial body, barely supported, clung to thorns as a support, lacking strength, wanting to get up and sit down again, the limbs and joints were scattered, the head and neck were drooping, and I could hardly speak, like a dumb sheep. Although I was like this, I was still firm, inwardly restrained, outwardly spurred my body, and carefully regulated my breath, and wanted to lift my body again, but was stained by dust, because of the accumulation of dust and dirt, the hair on my body was worn away. Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! At that time, the surrounding cities and villages, whether men or women, ran over, vying to watch, and all said: 'Suffering, suffering! Śākyamuni (the title of Śākyamuni Buddha when he became a monk)! The body is emaciated, and also blue-black, the former appearance, beautiful, upright and dignified, also has majestic light, why is it hidden now? Such hard practice, the appearance has become like this!' Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! Even if you practice like this, you cannot get even a small part of the superior Dharma among people, let alone the wisdom and insight of the saints, the most supreme realization? Broadly speaking, even to cut off the cycle of birth and death, and no longer be born again. 'Again, Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! There is a class of Brahmins (the priestly class in ancient Indian society) in the world who only eat rice, thinking that this is pure, and they say: 'If you only eat rice, and practice like this, you can get purity.' After they take the rice, they either grind it into powder; or wash it clean; or treat it in various ways and eat it, in order to nourish the body. Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! I know this, and I have done the same as them. What is it that I take rice to eat? Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! I only take one grain of rice to eat, and I don't add a second grain. Later, at other times, because of eating rice, the body limbs became fat, or became moist, and I did not have the idea of taking more than this amount.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
米食之，亦唯一粒，无复加二，舍利子！我当如是修苦行。时有诸人民，来作是言：‘昔日形貌，妙善端严，亦有威光，今何隐没？苦切修练，容质若斯！’舍利子！虽如是行，求之少分人中上法尚不能得，况圣知见最胜所证？广说乃至，尽生死道，后不复生。 “又舍利子！世有一类婆罗门者，但食其麻，计为清净，作如是言：‘若但食麻，如是修行，而得清净。’彼取麻已，或碎其末；或[泳-永+陶]其水；或以多种治事而食，为其资养。舍利子！我知是事，亦同彼行。何等是我取麻为食？舍利子！我唯取其一粒而食，无复加二。后于异时，由食麻故，身支肥重，或复滋泽，我亦不起是念，复过其量，取麻食之，亦唯一粒，无复加二，我当如是修苦行。时有诸人民，来作是言：‘昔日形貌，妙善端严，亦有威光，今何隐没？苦切修练，容质若斯！’舍利子！虽如是行，求之少分人中上法尚不能得，况圣知见最胜所证？广说乃至，尽生死道，后不复生。 “又舍利子！世有一类婆罗门者，不食一切，计为清净，作如是言：‘若于一切所食之物，悉不食者，如是修行，而得清净。’舍利子！我知是事，亦同彼行，我于一切所食之物，悉不食之，由不食故，身极羸瘦，如是广说，苦行修行。乃至人众，来 现代汉语译本 ‘吃米饭时，也只吃一粒，不再多吃第二粒。舍利子 (Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称)！我应当这样修行苦行。’当时有一些人来，这样说：‘以前的形貌，美妙善良端正庄严，也有威严的光芒，现在为何隐没不见了？如此刻苦地修炼，容貌变得这样！’舍利子 (Śāriputra)！即使这样修行，想要获得人中上等的法尚且不能得到少分，更何况是圣者的知见，最殊胜的证悟？广泛地说，乃至断尽生死轮回的道路，之后不再受生。 ‘还有，舍利子 (Śāriputra)！世上有一类婆罗门 (Brāhmaṇa，古印度社会中的祭司阶层) ，只吃麻，认为这样是清净的，他们这样说：‘如果只吃麻，这样修行，就能得到清净。’他们取了麻之后，或者磨成粉末；或者淘洗它的水；或者用多种方法处理后食用，用它来滋养身体。舍利子 (Śāriputra)！我知道这件事，也和他们一样修行。什么是我取麻来吃呢？舍利子 (Śāriputra)！我只取一粒麻来吃，不再多吃第二粒。后来在其他时候，因为吃麻的缘故，身体变得肥胖沉重，或者变得滋润有光泽，我也不会因此生起这样的念头，超过原定的量，多吃麻，也只吃一粒，不再多吃第二粒，我应当这样修行苦行。’当时有一些人来，这样说：‘以前的形貌，美妙善良端正庄严，也有威严的光芒，现在为何隐没不见了？如此刻苦地修炼，容貌变得这样！’舍利子 (Śāriputra)！即使这样修行，想要获得人中上等的法尚且不能得到少分，更何况是圣者的知见，最殊胜的证悟？广泛地说，乃至断尽生死轮回的道路，之后不再受生。 ‘还有，舍利子 (Śāriputra)！世上有一类婆罗门 (Brāhmaṇa) ，不吃一切食物，认为这样是清净的，他们这样说：‘如果对于一切可以食用的东西，都不吃，这样修行，就能得到清净。’舍利子 (Śāriputra)！我知道这件事，也和他们一样修行，我对于一切可以食用的东西，都不吃，因为不吃东西的缘故，身体极其羸弱消瘦，像这样广泛地说，苦行修行。乃至人们来……’
English
English version ‘When eating rice, I would eat only one grain, never adding a second. Śāriputra (Śāriputra, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! I should practice such asceticism.’ At that time, some people came and said: ‘Your former appearance was beautiful, virtuous, upright, and dignified, and you also had majestic light. Why is it now hidden? Practicing such rigorous cultivation, your appearance has become like this!’ Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! Even practicing in this way, one cannot obtain even a small portion of the supreme Dharma among humans, let alone the knowledge and insight of the sages, the most excellent realization? Broadly speaking, even to the point of exhausting the path of birth and death, and not being born again. ‘Furthermore, Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! There is a type of Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa, the priestly class in ancient Indian society) in the world who only eats sesame seeds, considering it pure, and they say: ‘If one only eats sesame seeds, practicing in this way, one can attain purity.’ After taking the sesame seeds, they either grind them into powder; or wash them in water; or prepare them in various ways and eat them, using them for nourishment. Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! I know this matter, and I also practiced like them. What is it that I took sesame seeds to eat? Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! I only took one grain of sesame seed to eat, never adding a second. Later, at other times, because of eating sesame seeds, my body became fat and heavy, or became moist and lustrous, but I would not give rise to the thought of exceeding the original amount, eating more sesame seeds, but would only eat one grain, never adding a second. I should practice such asceticism.’ At that time, some people came and said: ‘Your former appearance was beautiful, virtuous, upright, and dignified, and you also had majestic light. Why is it now hidden? Practicing such rigorous cultivation, your appearance has become like this!’ Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! Even practicing in this way, one cannot obtain even a small portion of the supreme Dharma among humans, let alone the knowledge and insight of the sages, the most excellent realization? Broadly speaking, even to the point of exhausting the path of birth and death, and not being born again. ‘Furthermore, Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! There is a type of Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa) in the world who does not eat anything, considering it pure, and they say: ‘If one does not eat any food that can be eaten, practicing in this way, one can attain purity.’ Śāriputra (Śāriputra)! I know this matter, and I also practiced like them. I did not eat any food that could be eaten, and because of not eating, my body became extremely weak and emaciated, like this, broadly speaking, practicing asceticism. Until the people came...’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
作是言：‘苦哉苦哉！沙门瞿昙！仪容疙瘦，如莽虞鸟，昔日形貌，妙善端严，亦有威光，今何隐没？苦切修练，容质若斯！’舍利子！我于尔时，窃作是念：‘世诸沙门、婆罗门等，历诸极苦，加复残毁，逼迫其身，皆为己行，以求清净。我于是中，亦随所行，正使碎身，如其尘末，都无胜利。乃至过去未来世中，及今现在一切沙门、婆罗门等，历诸极苦，加复残毁，逼迫其身，皆为己行，以求清净。我于是中，悉随所行，正使碎身，如其尘末，都无胜利。我今不复如是苦切，逼迫其身。彼求人中少分上法尚不能得，况圣知见最胜所证？故知此道非正觉道，我不复修。’ “舍利子！我时又念：‘初出家后，我往释种园中阎浮树下，安详而坐，日影不转荫覆清凉。我于尔时，离诸欲染不善之法，有寻有伺，离生喜乐，证初禅定，此为正道。如实觉了，我于处处，勤历诸道，此正道外，无复余道，而为真实。是故我今宁假如是一切不食，身体羸瘦，加复疲倦，而自残毁，以取其道？我今应可随以所食而用食之。’作是念时，有一外道，所奉苦行仙圣，知我之念，来诣我所，而相谓言：‘圣者瞿昙！汝之苦行，勿宜退转。我于身毛孔中，当出威光，助佐于汝，令汝身支自然滋益。’舍利子！我时复作是念：‘我所 现代汉语译本：他们这样说：‘真苦啊，真苦啊！沙门瞿昙（Śākyamuni，释迦牟尼佛）！仪容如此消瘦，像一只莽虞鸟。昔日的容貌，多么美好端庄，也充满威严的光芒，如今为何隐没不见了？如此刻苦地修行，容貌变得如此憔悴！’舍利子（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）！我当时暗自思忖：‘世间的沙门（Śrāmaṇa，出家修道者）、婆罗门（Brāhmaṇa，印度教祭司）等，经历各种极端的苦行，更加以残害身体，逼迫自己，都是为了自己的修行，以求得清净。我在这其中，也跟随他们所行，即使粉身碎骨，像尘土一样，也毫无胜利可言。乃至过去、未来世中，以及现在的一切沙门、婆罗门等，经历各种极端的苦行，更加以残害身体，逼迫自己，都是为了自己的修行，以求得清净。我在这其中，完全跟随他们所行，即使粉身碎骨，像尘土一样，也毫无胜利可言。我现在不再像这样苦切地逼迫自己的身体了。他们想在人群中求得少许上乘的佛法尚且不能得到，更何况是圣者的智慧见解，最殊胜的证悟呢？所以知道这条道路不是通往正觉（saṃbodhi，完全觉悟）的道路，我不再修习了。’ 舍利子！我当时又想到：‘刚出家后，我前往释迦族（Śākya）的园林中，在阎浮树（Jambudvīpa，一种树木）下，安详地坐着，阳光照射不到，非常清凉。我当时，远离各种欲望的污染和不善的念头，有寻（vitarka，粗略的思考）有伺（vicāra，细致的观察），由远离（viveka）而生出喜悦和快乐，证得了初禅（dhyāna，禅定），这才是正道。如实地觉悟到，我在各个地方，勤奋地经历各种道路，除了这条正道之外，没有其他的道路是真实的。所以我现在宁可像这样什么都不吃，身体变得羸弱消瘦，更加疲惫，而自我残害，来求得真道吗？我现在应该可以随意地用食物来滋养身体。’当这样想的时候，有一位外道（Tīrthika，佛教以外的修行者），所信奉的是苦行仙圣，他知道我的想法，来到我这里，对我说：‘圣者瞿昙！你的苦行，不要轻易退转。我将从你的毛孔中，发出威光，帮助你，让你的身体自然地滋养增长。’舍利子！我当时又想到：‘我所’
English
English version: They said, 'How painful, how painful! Śākyamuni (Śākyamuni, the Buddha)! His appearance is so emaciated, like a Manggura bird. His former appearance was so beautiful and dignified, and full of majestic light, why is it now hidden? Such arduous practice has made his appearance so haggard!' Śāriputra (Śāriputra, one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his wisdom)! At that time, I secretly thought: 'The Śrāmaṇas (Śrāmaṇa, wandering ascetics), Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa, Hindu priests), and others in the world, who undergo various extreme austerities, further damaging and oppressing their bodies, are all doing it for their own practice, in order to seek purity. I, among them, also followed their practices, even if I were to be crushed to dust, there would be no victory to be gained. Even in the past and future lives, and in the present, all the Śrāmaṇas, Brāhmaṇas, and others, who undergo various extreme austerities, further damaging and oppressing their bodies, are all doing it for their own practice, in order to seek purity. I, among them, completely followed their practices, even if I were to be crushed to dust, there would be no victory to be gained. I will no longer oppress my body so harshly. They seek to obtain even a small portion of the superior Dharma (Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha) among the people, yet they cannot obtain it, let alone the wisdom and insight of the saints, the most supreme realization? Therefore, I know that this path is not the path to saṃbodhi (saṃbodhi, complete enlightenment), and I will no longer practice it.' Śāriputra! I then thought: 'After I first left home, I went to the Śākya (Śākya, the clan of the Buddha) garden, under the Jambudvīpa (Jambudvīpa, a type of tree) tree, and sat peacefully, the sunlight did not penetrate, and it was very cool. At that time, I was free from the defilements of various desires and unwholesome thoughts, with vitarka (vitarka, initial application of thought) and vicāra (vicāra, sustained application of thought), joy and happiness arose from viveka (viveka, detachment), and I attained the first dhyāna (dhyāna, meditation), this is the right path. Having truly realized that, in various places, I diligently experienced various paths, and there is no other path that is true besides this right path. So, should I now rather not eat anything, become weak and emaciated, even more tired, and harm myself, in order to seek the true path? I should now be able to freely nourish my body with food.' When I thought this, there was a Tīrthika (Tīrthika, non-Buddhist ascetic), who worshipped the ascetic saints, he knew my thoughts, came to me, and said to me: 'Holy Gautama! Do not easily retreat from your ascetic practices. I will emit a majestic light from your pores, to help you, so that your body will naturally be nourished and grow.' Śāriputra! I then thought: 'What I' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------