Dhammapada verse # 87 ~ 89

應捨棄黑法，智者修白法，從家來無家，喜獨處不易。

Abandoning the dhammas dark
the wise should cultivate the bright,
having from home to homeless gone
in solitude unsettling.


當求是（法）樂。捨欲無所有，智者須清淨，自心諸垢穢。

Let them desire that rare delight
renouncing pleasures, owing nought,
those wise ones should cleanse themselves
from all defilements of the mind.


彼於諸覺支，正心而修習。遠離諸固執，樂捨諸愛著，漏盡而光耀，此世證涅槃。

Those who come to Wakening
with mind full-cultivated,
delight, no longer clinging,
in relinquishing attachment:
they, without pollution, radiant,
in this world have reach Nibbana.

☆☆☆

【第87~89偈的故事】

在憍薩羅國結夏安居後，一群比丘向佛陀請教禪修的事宜。佛陀就告誡他們要放棄欲樂和對世間的執著，如此才能趣向涅槃。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke these verses, with reference to five hundred visiting monks.

Fifty monks who had passed the rainy season in the kingdom of Kōsala came to Jētavana at the close of the rainy season for the purpose of seeing the Buddha; and having paid obeisance to the Buddha, sat down respectfully on one side. The Buddha, after listening to the story of their experiences, instructed them in the Dhamma by reciting the stanzas.

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English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #85 ~ 86

於此人群中，達彼岸者少。其餘諸人等，徘徊於此岸。

Among folk they are few
who go to the Further Shore,
most among humanity
scurry on this hither shore.


善能說法者，及依正法行，彼能達彼岸，度難度魔境。

But they who practise Dhamma
according to Dhamma well-told,
from Death’s Domain hard to leave
they’ll cross to the Further Shore.

☆☆☆

【第85, 86偈的故事】

有一次，舍衛城有一群人集體供養眾多比丘，並安排其中一些比丘們徹夜說法。但聽法的觀眾中有些人無法熬夜，早早就走了，有些人雖然整夜坐著聽法，但大部份的時間，卻無法集中精神，只是半醒半睡的度過。只有少數的人專心聞法。

第二天，比丘們告訴佛陀昨天的事，佛陀說：「大多數的人都執著世間，只有少數的人能到達彼岸（證得涅槃）。」

佛陀接著提醒比丘們要時時警覺，正念現前，只有自覺精進學佛法的人才能究竟解脫煩惱，證入究竟喜悅的涅槃。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke these verses, with reference to a congregation of people who had come to listen to a religious discourse in Sàvatthi.

On one occasion, a group of people from Sàvatthi made special offerings to the monks collectively and they arranged for some monks to deliver discourses throughout the night, in their locality. Many in the audience could not sit up the whole night and they returned to their homes early; some sat through the night, but most of the time they were drowsy and half-asleep.

There were only a few who listened attentively to the discourse. At dawn, when the monks told the Buddha about what happened the previous night, he replied, “Most people are attached to this world; only a very few reach the other shore (nibbàna).”

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English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #84

不因自因他，（智者作諸惡），不求子求財、及謀國（作惡）。
不欲以非法，求自己繁榮。彼實具戒行，智慧正法者。

Neither for one’s own, nor for another’s sake
one should wish for children, wealth, estate,
nor success desire by means unjust,
thus virtuous, and wise, righteous one would be.

☆☆☆

【第84偈的故事】

曇彌夫婦住在舍衛城。有一天，他告訴懷孕的妻子說，他想出家修行，他妻子請他等孩子出生後再出家。孩子誕生後，他又向妻子重提這件事。她又要他等孩子會走路時再出家。他自忖道：「要求妻子同意我出家是無益的，我應該自己努力，解脫輪迴的苦痛。」心意已定後，他就逕自出家為比丘，並且依佛陀給他的觀想題目精進修行，不久就證得阿羅漢果。

幾年後，他回到裡，向妻子和孩子傳授佛法。他的孩子也因此出家並且證得阿羅漢果。這時候他太太心想：「既然我丈夫和孩子都出家，我最好也出家修行。」就這樣，她也出家修行，同樣證得阿羅漢果。

有一次，在比丘聚集的場合，有人告訴佛陀關於曇彌出家修行並引導全家人修行也證果的事。佛陀說：「比丘們！智者不會為了追求自己或別人的利益，而造作惡業以獲取財富與成功。相反的，智者只知理解、奉行佛法而自行從輪迴中解脫出來。人只能自己努力，解脫生死輪迴，而無法依賴別人。」

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Dhammika.

Dhammika lived in Sàvatthi with his wife. One day, he told his pregnant wife that he wished to become a monk; his wife pleaded with him to wait until after the birth of their child. When the child was born, he again requested his wife to let him go; again, she pleaded with him to wait until the child could walk. Then Dhammika thought to himself, “It will be useless for me to ask my wife for her approval to join the Sangha; I shall work for my own liberation.” Having made a firm decision, he left his house to become a monk. He took a meditation topic from the Buddha and practiced meditation ardently and diligently and soon became an arahat.

Some years later, he visited his house in order to teach the Dhamma to his son and his wife. His son entered the Sangha and he too attained arahatship. The wife then thought, “Now that both my husband and my son have left the house, I had better leave it, too.” With this thought she left the house and became a nun; eventually, she too attained arahatship.

At the congregation of the monks, the Buddha was told how Dhammika became a monk and attained arahatship, and how through him his son and his wife also attained arahatship. To them the Buddha said, “Monks, a wise man does not wish for wealth and prosperity by doing evil, whether it is for his own sake or for the sake of others. He only works for his own liberation from the round of rebirths (saüsàra) by comprehending the teachings and living according to the dhamma.”

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English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #83

善人離諸（欲），不論諸欲事。苦樂所不動，智者無喜憂。

Everything the good renounce,
the peaceful chatter not of fond delights,
and whether touched by pleasure or pain
nor joy or woe in the wise is seen.

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【第83偈的故事】

有一年，佛陀和眾多比丘在某一婆羅門的邀請下，到鞞蘭若結夏安居。當他們到達時，這婆羅門受魔波旬的影響，卻不護持佛陀等人。當時又是饑荒，鞞蘭若的百姓只能在佛陀及眾弟子外出化緣時供養極少數的食物。面對這種困境，大目犍連懇求佛陀允許他運用神通前往別人無法到達的地方去帶食物回來，但為佛陀所拒絕。儘管情況如此困難，所有的比丘並不頹喪，仍然滿足於馬商每天供養的少許穀物。

結夏安居結束後，佛陀等人在通知該婆羅門之後，就打道回祇樹給孤獨園。舍衛城的人喜悅地歡迎佛陀和眾多比丘回來，並供養他們。

這時候，有一群人由於比丘們的慈悲，而留在精舍裡。這群人每次貪心地吃完比丘剩下的所有食物後，就只知道睡覺，一旦醒來時，又只知道到河邊去跳呀叫呀、打打鬧鬧地嬉戲。不管在那裡，他們都行為不檢，無所事事。

有一天，比丘們互相討論這群人難以駕馴的行為：「在鞞蘭若時，由於飢荒，他們還相當恭敬有禮，舉止也合乎規矩。現在食物充足，他們就行為不檢了。」

這時候，佛陀聽見眾人議論的話題，就說：「愚癡的人在諸事不順遂時，滿心哀愁，神情沮喪，一旦事事如意時，則又雀躍不已。這就是愚癡人的特性；智者則不因生命中的得失而動搖心志。」

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a group of monks.

At the request of a Bràhmin from Vēra¤jà, the Buddha was, on one occasions, staying at Vēra¤jà with a group of monks. While they were at Vēra¤jà, the bràhmin failed to look after them. The people of Vēra¤jà, who were then facing a famine, could offer very little to the monks when they went on their alms-round. In spite of all these hardships, the monks were not disheartened; they were quite contented with the small amount of shrivelled grain which the horse-traders offered them daily. At the end of the vassa (rainy season), after informing the bràhmin from Vēra¤jà, the Buddha returned to the Jētavana Monastery, accompanied by the monks. The people of Sàvatthi welcomed them back with choice food of all kinds.

A group of people living with the monks, eating whatever was left over by the monks, ate greedily like true gluttons and went to sleep after their meals. On waking up, they were shouting, singing and dancing, thus making themselves a great nuisance. When the Buddha came in the evening to the congregation of monks, they reported to him about the behaviour of those unruly persons, and said, “These people living on the left-overs were quite decent and well-behaved when all of us were facing hardship and famine in Vēra¤jà. Now that they have enough good food they are going about shouting, singing and dancing, and thus make themselves a great nuisance. The monks, however, behave themselves here just as they were in Vēra¤jà”.

To them the Buddha replied, “It is in the nature of the foolish to be full of sorrow and feel depressed when things go wrong, and to be full of gladness and feel elated when things go well. The wise, however, can withstand the ups and downs of life.”

☆☆☆

English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #82

亦如一深池，清明而澄淨，智者聞法已，如是心清淨。

Even as a fathomless lake,
a lake so calm and clear,
so dhammas having heard
serene the wise become.

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【第82偈的故事】

瑪她是一位虔誠的女信徒。她的女兒坎南嫁到別的村子去。有一次，由於坎南回娘家已經有一段日子了，她丈夫就差信來要她回去。坎南的母親因為要做糕餅給女婿，就要她過幾天再回去。

第二天，瑪她做了幾個糕餅，但有四個比丘來化緣，她就把所做的糕餅全部供養他們，坎南只好再留下一天，但連著三天瑪她都把糕餅供養比丘。因為這緣故，坎南的丈夫就另行再娶。坎南從此痛恨所有的比丘，認為比丘毀了她的婚姻。每次遇見比丘，就予以辱罵、譭謗。後來，所有的比丘就遠離她家。

佛陀知道這件事後，就到坎南家去，並問她：
「比丘是否只取供養的食物，還是拿走不是供養的食物？」

坎南回答說，比丘只取供養的東西，並且說：「比丘們沒有錯，錯在我自己。」她承認自己的錯誤，請求佛陀的寬恕，並進一步頂禮。佛陀就向她說法，坎南聞法之後證得初果。

回精舍的路上，佛陀碰見波斯匿王，就把坎南的事告訴國王，國王問佛陀，她是不是已經知道自己錯了，並且明白佛法。佛陀回答道：「我已經教導她佛法，她也因此法喜充滿。」

國王向佛陀保證，會讓坎南今生衣食富足。國王回去後，就叫坎南來，並宣稱：「誰能妥善照顧我女兒－－坎南的人，可以收養她。」這時候一位大臣就認她為螟蛉女。這大臣告訴她：「你要供養多少，就供養多少！」從此以後，坎南每天供養所有到她家化緣的比丘。

佛陀知道坎南慷慨布施時，說道：「比丘們！坎南紛擾雜亂的心在聞法後已經變得清澄、祥和了。」

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to the mother of Kàna (Kànamàtà).

Kànamàtà was a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha. Her daughter Kàna was married to a man from another village. As Kàna had been on a visit to her mother for some time, her husband sent a message for her to come home. Her mother told her to wait for one more day as she wanted her to take some sweetmeats for her husband. The next day, Kànamàtà made some sweet-meats, but when four monks stood at her door for alms she offered some to them. The four monks told other monks about the sweetmeats from Kànamàtà’s house and they also came to stand at her door. Kànamàtà, as a devotee of the Buddha and his disciples, offered her sweetmeats to the monks as they came in, one after another. The result was that in the end there was none left for Kàna and she did not go home on that day. The same thing happened on the next two days; her mother made some sweetmeats, the monks stood at her door, she offered her sweetmeats to the monks, there was nothing left for her daughter to take home, and her daughter did not go home. On the third day, for the third time, her husband sent her a message, which was also an ultimatum stating that if she failed to come home the next day, he would take another wife. But on the next day also, Kàna was unable to go home because her mother offered all her sweetmeats to the monks. Kàna’s husband then took another wife and Kàna became very bitter towards the monks. She used to abuse all monks so much so that the monks kept away from the house of Kànamàtà.

The Buddha heard about Kàna and went to the house of Kànamàtà; there she offered him some rice gruel. After the meal, the Buddha sent for Kàna and asked her, “Did my monks take what was given them or what was not given them?” Kàna answered that the monks had taken only what was given them, and then added, “They were not in the wrong; only I was in the wrong.” Thus, she owned up her fault and she also paid homage to the Buddha. The Buddha then gave a discourse. At the end of the discourse, Kàna attained sōtàpatti fruition.

On the way back to the monastery, the Buddha met King Pasãnadi of Kōsala. On being told about Kàna and her bitter attitude towards the monks, King Pasēnadi asked the Buddha whether he had been able to teach her the dhamma and make her see the truth (dhamma). The Buddha replied, “Yes, I have taught her the dhamma, and I have also made her rich in her next existence.” Then the king promised the Buddha that he would make Kàna rich even in this existence. The king then sent his men with a palanquin to fetch Kàna. When she arrived, the king announced to his ministers, “Whoever can keep my daughter Kàna in comfort may take her.” One of the ministers volunteered to adopt Kàna as his daughter, gave her all his wealth, and said to her, “You may give in charity as much as you like.” Every day, Kàna made offerings to the monks at the four city-gates. When told about Kàna giving generously in charity, the Buddha said, “Monks, the mind of Kàna which was muddled was made clear and calm by my words.”

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English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #81

猶如堅固巖，不為風所搖，毀謗與讚譽，智者不為動。

Just as a mighty boulder
stirs not with the wind,
so the wise are never moved
either by praise or blame.

☆☆☆

【第81偈的故事】

跋提是祇樹給孤獨園的一位比丘。由於個頭矮小，大家就以「矮個兒跋提」稱呼他。甚至有些年輕比丘經常拉他的鼻子、耳朵或拍他的頭而嘲笑他：
「大叔，你好嗎？快樂嗎？比丘的生活你煩不煩啊？」

但跋提心地非常善良從不生氣、也不回嘴。事實上，他的內心和神情都十分寧靜安祥。

佛陀知道跋提的耐心時，就說：
「阿羅漢永不發脾氣，不苛責別人，也不瞋恨他人。阿羅漢就像一座山，山不為風所動，阿羅漢也不為毀辱所動！」

這時候，其他的比丘才知道跋提已經證得阿羅漢果。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Bhaddiya.

Bhaddiya was one of the monks staying at the Jētavana Monastery. Because of his short stature he was known as Lakunñaka (the dwarf) to other monks. Lakunñaka Bhaddiya was very good natured; even young monks would often tease him by pulling his nose or his ear, or by patting him on his head. Very often they would jokingly say, “Uncle, how are you? Are you happy or are you bored with your life here as a monk?”

Lakunñaka Bhaddiya never retaliated in anger, or abused them; in fact, even in his heart he did not get angry with them. When told about the patience of Lakunñaka Bhaddiya, the Buddha said, “An arahat never loses his temper, he has no desire to speak harshly or to think ill of others. He is like a mountain of solid rock; as a solid rock is unshaken, so also, an arahat is unperturbed by scorn or by praise.”

☆☆☆

English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯

Dhammapada verse #80

灌溉者引水，箭匠之矯箭，木匠之繩木，智者自調御。

Irrigators govern waters,
fletchers fashion shafts,
as joiners shape their timber
those who are wise tame themselves.

☆☆☆

【第80偈的故事】

磐踶它是舍衛城一位著名人物的兒子。他在非常年輕時，就出家為沙彌。出家後的的第八天，他與舍利弗一齊去化緣，在半路上看見農人引水入農田，他問舍利弗：
「尊者！沒有心識的水，能夠隨人意地被導引到任何地方嗎？」
「是啊！水可以被導引至任何地方。」舍利弗說。

然後他們繼續上路。後來，磐踶它又看見製作弓箭的人用火鍛燒弓箭，使其筆直。他也看見木匠切割、鉋平樹木，用來做車輪。這時候，磐踶它內心如是思惟：「如果沒有心識的水可以任人導引至任何地方；沒有心識且彎曲的竹子可以撫直；沒有心識的木材也可以做成有用的東西。那麼，擁有心識的我，為什麼無法控制我的內心，修行清淨止觀呢？」

經過這番思考後，他當下向舍利弗請求回精舍自己的房間，並深刻觀身。諸天神也使精舍和周遭環境保持寧靜，協助他禪修。不久，就證得三果。

就在這時候，舍利弗正朝磐踶它的房間走去。佛陀透過神通知道磐踶它已證得三果，只要繼續禪修下去，馬上就可證得阿羅漢果，所以佛陀決定要阻止舍利弗進入磐踶它的房間。佛陀就走到磐踶它的房門口，詢問舍利弗一些問題，使他無法進入房間。磐踶它才能證得阿羅漢果，這天正是他出家的第八天。

佛佗說：「當一個人精進修行時，甚至天神們都會來護持，我個人就親自在門口阻止舍利弗進入磐踶它的房間，如此，磐踶它才能證得阿羅漢果。」

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to the novice monk Paõóita.

Paõóita was a young son of a rich man of Sàvatthi. He became a novice monk at the age of seven. On the eighth day after becoming a novice monk, as he was following Venerable Sàriputta on an alms-round, he saw some farmers channeling water into their fields and asked the Venerable, “Can water which has no consciousness be guided to wherever one wishes?” The Venerable replied, “Yes, it can be guided to wherever one wishes.” As they continued on their way, the novice monk next saw some fletchers heating their arrows with fire and straightening them. Further on, he came across some carpenters cutting, sawing and planing timber to make it into things like cart-wheels. Then he pondered, “If water which is without consciousness can be guided to wherever one desires, if a crooked bamboo which is without consciousness can be straightened, and if timber which is without consciousness can be made into useful things, why should I, having consciousness, be unable to tame my mind and practice tranquility and insight meditation?”

Then and there he asked permission from the Venerable and returned to his own room in the monastery. There he ardently and diligently practiced meditation, contemplating the body. Sakka and the dēvas also helped him in his meditation by keeping the monastery and its precincts very quiet and still. Before the noon meal novice monk Paõóita attained anàgàmi fruition. At that time Venerable Sàriputta was bringing food to the novice monk. The Buddha saw with his supernormal power that novice monk Paõóita had attained anàgàmi fruition and also that if he continued to practice meditation he would soon attain arahatship. So the Buddha decided to stop Sàriputta from entering the room, where the novice monk was. The Buddha went to the door and kept Sàriputta engaged by putting some questions to him. While the conversation was taking place, the novice monk attained arahatship. Thus, the novice monk attained arahatship on the eighth day after becoming a novice. In this connection, the Buddha said to the monks of the monastery. “When one is earnestly practicing the Dhamma, even Sakka and the dēvas give protection and keep guard; I myself have kept Venerable Sàriputta engaged at the door so that novice monk Pandita should not be disturbed. The novice monk, having seen the farmers irrigating their fields, the fletchers straightening their arrows, and carpenters making cart-wheels and other things, tames his mind and practises the Dhamma; he has now become an arahat.”

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English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯