人生在世,難免會遭遇到一些無理的待遇,譬如去商店消費時受到店員粗魯的對待;店家遇到奧客;向公務機關申請或諮詢案件時遇到官員的官腔或索賄;或者辦公職場裡的爛主管或小人同事;又或者惡鄰居的無理取鬧;小孩的頂撞忤逆;父母親的不講理;夫妻間的爭吵……..等等。

其實以上總總都是生活中的瑣事,但若遇上了可真是秀才遇上兵、有理說不清,的確夠讓人生氣或心煩。本經是被佛陀譽為布施第一的女居士毘舍佉,遇到城門守衛「藉勢藉端」向其索賄,毘舍佉雖早已證初果,但離徹底斷除貪、瞋、痴的目標還有一大段路要走,所以遇到這種惡質的官員也難免動怒。佛陀教導毘舍佉「放下」(Let it be./Let it go.),不要被外在不順的環境影響自己的心情,好好善加控管及保護自己的情緒。簡言之,就是不要「心隨境轉」,而應「以心轉境」。

選譯自巴利語《自說經》之《毘舍佉經》

譚尼沙羅尊者英譯於西元2012

喬正一白話譯於西元2015/7/18八關齋戒日

    我是這樣聽聞的:

    有一次,佛陀住在古印度舍衛城東部的鹿子母講堂。當時,毘舍佉帶一些珍貴的禮物到古印度的鴦伽國,準備送給她的親戚。沒想到她一到城門時,城門的守衛見她有錢,竟獅子大開口向她強索一筆高額的關稅。

    這件事令毘舍佉非常的生氣,因為她與波斯匿王有交情,於是她向波斯匿王檢舉,但不巧波斯匿王因有重要的政務要處理而未予處理。

    毘舍佉很想平息心中的憤怒,於是她在中午去拜見佛陀,尋求佛陀的心靈開導。

    當她見到佛陀,跪地頂禮,然後起身坐在一旁。

    佛陀問:「毘舍佉,妳在中午這個時候是打哪裡來的?

    毘舍佉回答:「就在剛剛,我有事情請波斯匿王幫忙處理,可是他沒有按照我的意思處置。」

    佛陀得知經過以後只簡單的說了以下的偈語:

心隨境轉皆是苦,

心能轉境才是樂。

世人皆被俗事煩,

甚難逃脫此束縛。

    上開偈語的大意是說:我們應該要學習不要被外境所影響,任何惡毒的言語或無禮的舉動都傷不了我們,除非是自己心中的憤怒才會真正傷到自己。一般凡夫俗子很容易被日常生活的瑣事搞得心煩意亂,很難逃脫對外境的依戀與執著。如果我們的情緒被外在的環境牽著走,那就是苦;只要我們擺脫對外境的依戀與執著,才能獲得平安與喜樂。

Ud 2.9

PTS: Ud 18

Visākhā Sutta: Visākhā

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

© 2012

Alternate format:

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī at the Eastern Monastery, the palace of Migāra's mother.[1] And on that occasion, Visākhā, Migāra's mother, had some dealings with King Pasenadi Kosala that he did not settle as she had wished. So in the middle of the day she went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As she was sitting there the Blessed One said to her, "Well now, Visākhā, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?"

"Just now, lord, I had some dealings with King Pasenadi Kosala that he did not settle as I had wished."

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

All subjection to others is painful.

All independence is bliss.

What is held in common brings suffering, for duties are hard to overcome.

巴利原文/

19. Evam me sutam-- Ekam samayam Bhagava Savatthiyam viharati Pubbarame Migaramatupasade.  Tena kho pana samayena Visakhaya migaramatuya kocideva attho rabbe Pasenadimhi Kosale patibaddho § hoti.  Tam raja Pasenadi Kosalo na yathadhippayam tireti

 Atha kho Visakha migaramata diva divassa § yena Bhagava tenupasavkami; upasavkamitva Bhagavantam abhivadetva ekamantam nisidi.  Ekamantam nisinnam kho Visakham migaramataram Bhagava etadavoca-- “handa kuto nu tvam, Visakhe, agacchasi diva divassa”ti?   “Idha me, bhante, kocideva attho rabbe Pasenadimhi Kosale patibaddho; tam raja Pasenadi Kosalo na yathadhippayam tireti”ti. 

 Atha (CS:pg.98) kho Bhagava etamattham viditva tayam velayam imam udanam udanesi--

   “Sabbam paravasam dukkham, sabbam issariyam sukham;

       Sadharane vihabbanti, yoga hi duratikkama”ti.  Navamam.