Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was residing in Savatthi at Jeta's Grove in Anathapindika's monastery. The Buddha said, "O, monastics!"
"Yes, lord," the monastics replied.
"Monastics, speech endowed with four characteristics is well spoken, not poorly spoken — faultless and not to be faulted by the wise. What four?
"Yes, lord," the monastics replied.
"Monastics, speech endowed with four characteristics is well spoken, not poorly spoken — faultless and not to be faulted by the wise. What four?
"In one case, a monastic says only what is well spoken, not what is poorly spoken. In a second case, only what is just, not what is unjust. In a third case, only what is endearing, not what is unendearing. In a fourth case, only what is true, not what is untrue.
"Speech endowed with these four characteristics is well spoken, not poorly spoken — faultless and not to be faulted by the wise."
The Buddha went on to summarize:
The calm declare words well spoken are best
And encourage one to say
What is just, not unjust
What is endearing, not unendearing
What is true, not untrue.
And encourage one to say
What is just, not unjust
What is endearing, not unendearing
What is true, not untrue.
The monk Vangisa arose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over his left shoulder, turned toward the Buddha, and with joined hands said, "I am inspired, Bhagwan! I am inspired, Tathagata!" [These are two honorific titles referring to the Buddha.]
"What inspiration, Vangisa?" the Blessed One asked.
Vangisa then praised the Buddha in verse:
"What inspiration, Vangisa?" the Blessed One asked.
Vangisa then praised the Buddha in verse:
Utter speech
That neither torments one
Nor harms another --
For that speech is indeed well spoken!
Utter only endearing speech,
Speech which is welcome --
For speech that brings no harm
Is indeed pleasing!
Truth, indeed, is deathless speech:
This is an ancient principle.
Nirvana and the Dharma
-- So say the calm --
Are firmly established in truth!
What speech the Blessed One utters
For attaining the goal
That neither torments one
Nor harms another --
For that speech is indeed well spoken!
Utter only endearing speech,
Speech which is welcome --
For speech that brings no harm
Is indeed pleasing!
Truth, indeed, is deathless speech:
This is an ancient principle.
Nirvana and the Dharma
-- So say the calm --
Are firmly established in truth!
What speech the Blessed One utters
For attaining the goal
And for making an end
To this entire mass of suffering --
Is, indeed, unexcelled speech!
To this entire mass of suffering --
Is, indeed, unexcelled speech!
No comments:
Post a Comment