| Tipiṭaka / Tipiṭaka (English) / Aṅguttara Nikāya, English translation |
अङ्गुत्तर निकाय ८।२९
Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.29
Numbered Discourses 8.29
३। गहपतिवग्ग
3. Gahapativagga
3. Householders
अक्खणसुत्त
Akkhaṇasutta
Lost Opportunities
“‘खणकिच्चो लोको, खणकिच्चो लोकोऽति, भिक्खवे, अस्सुतवा पुथुज्जनो भासति, नो च खो सो जानाति खणं वा अक्खणं वा। अट्ठिमे, भिक्खवे, अक्खणा असमया ब्रह्मचरियवासाय। कतमे अट्ठ?
“‘Khaṇakicco loko, khaṇakicco loko’ti, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano bhāsati, no ca kho so jānāti khaṇaṁ vā akkhaṇaṁ vā. Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, akkhaṇā asamayā brahmacariyavāsāya. Katame aṭṭha?
“‘Now is the time! Now is the time!’ So says an unlearned ordinary person. But they don’t know whether it’s time or not. Bhikkhus, there are eight lost opportunities for spiritual practice. What eight?
इध, भिक्खवे, तथागतो च लोके उप्पन्नो होति अरहं सम्मासम्बुद्धो विज्जाचरणसम्पन्नो सुगतो लोकविदू अनुत्तरो पुरिसदम्मसारथि सत्था देवमनुस्सानं बुद्धो भगवा, धम्मो च देसियति ओपसमिको परिनिब्बानिको सम्बोधगामी सुगतप्पवेदितो; अयञ्च पुग्गलो निरयं उपपन्नो होति। अयं, भिक्खवे, पठमो अक्खणो असमयो ब्रह्मचरियवासाय।
Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato ca loke uppanno hoti arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā, dhammo ca desiyati opasamiko parinibbāniko sambodhagāmī sugatappavedito; ayañca puggalo nirayaṁ upapanno hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo akkhaṇo asamayo brahmacariyavāsāya.
Firstly, a Realized One has arisen in the world—perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He teaches the Dhamma leading to peace, Nibbana, awakening, as proclaimed by the Holy One. But a person has been reborn in hell. This is the first lost opportunity for spiritual practice.
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे, तथागतो च लोके उप्पन्नो होति …पे… सत्था देवमनुस्सानं बुद्धो भगवा, धम्मो च देसियति ओपसमिको परिनिब्बानिको सम्बोधगामी सुगतप्पवेदितो; अयञ्च पुग्गलो तिरच्छानयोनिं उपपन्नो होति …पे…।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato ca loke uppanno hoti …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā, dhammo ca desiyati opasamiko parinibbāniko sambodhagāmī sugatappavedito; ayañca puggalo tiracchānayoniṁ upapanno hoti …pe….
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. But a person has been reborn in the animal realm. This is the second lost opportunity.
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे …पे… अयञ्च पुग्गलो पेत्तिविसयं उपपन्नो होति …पे…।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… ayañca puggalo pettivisayaṁ upapanno hoti …pe….
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. But a person has been reborn in the ghost realm. This is the third lost opportunity.
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे …पे… अयञ्च पुग्गलो अञ्ञतरं दीघायुकं देवनिकायं उपपन्नो होति …पे…।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… ayañca puggalo aññataraṁ dīghāyukaṁ devanikāyaṁ upapanno hoti …pe….
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. But a person has been reborn in one of the long-lived orders of gods. This is the fourth lost opportunity.
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे …पे… अयञ्च पुग्गलो पच्चन्तिमेसु जनपदेसु पच्चाजातो होति, सो च होति अविञ्ञातारेसु मिलक्खेसु, यत्थ नत्थि गति भिक्खूनं भिक्खुनीनं उपासकानं उपासिकानं …पे…।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… ayañca puggalo paccantimesu janapadesu paccājāto hoti, so ca hoti aviññātāresu milakkhesu, yattha natthi gati bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānaṁ …pe….
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. But a person has been reborn in the borderlands, among strange barbarian tribes, where monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen do not go. This is the fifth lost opportunity …
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे …पे… अयञ्च पुग्गलो मज्झिमेसु जनपदेसु पच्चाजातो होति, सो च होति मिच्छादिट्ठिको विपरीतदस्सनो: ‘नत्थि दिन्नं, नत्थि यिट्ठं, नत्थि हुतं, नत्थि सुकतदुक्कटानं कम्मानं फलं विपाको, नत्थि अयं लोको, नत्थि परो लोको, नत्थि माता, नत्थि पिता, नत्थि सत्ता ओपपातिका, नत्थि लोके समणब्राह्मणा सम्मग्गता सम्मा पटिपन्ना ये इमञ्च लोकं परञ्च लोकं सयं अभिञ्ञा सच्छिकत्वा पवेदेन्तीऽति …पे…।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… ayañca puggalo majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāto hoti, so ca hoti micchādiṭṭhiko viparītadassano: ‘natthi dinnaṁ, natthi yiṭṭhaṁ, natthi hutaṁ, natthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, natthi ayaṁ loko, natthi paro loko, natthi mātā, natthi pitā, natthi sattā opapātikā, natthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammā paṭipannā ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti …pe….
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. And a person is reborn in a central country. But they have wrong view and distorted perspective: ‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is well attained and practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’ This is the sixth lost opportunity …
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे …पे… अयञ्च पुग्गलो मज्झिमेसु जनपदेसु पच्चाजातो होति, सो च होति दुप्पञ्ञो जळो एळमूगो अप्पटिबलो सुभासितदुब्भासितस्स अत्थमञ्ञातुं। अयं, भिक्खवे, सत्तमो अक्खणो असमयो ब्रह्मचरियवासाय।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… ayañca puggalo majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāto hoti, so ca hoti duppañño jaḷo eḷamūgo appaṭibalo subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo akkhaṇo asamayo brahmacariyavāsāya.
Furthermore, a Realized One has arisen in the world. And a person is reborn in a central country. But they’re witless, dull, stupid, and unable to distinguish what is well said from what is poorly said. This is the seventh lost opportunity …
पुन चपरं, भिक्खवे, तथागतो च लोके अनुप्पन्नो होति अरहं सम्मासम्बुद्धो …पे… सत्था देवमनुस्सानं बुद्धो भगवा। धम्मो च न देसियति ओपसमिको परिनिब्बानिको सम्बोधगामी सुगतप्पवेदितो। अयञ्च पुग्गलो मज्झिमेसु जनपदेसु पच्चाजातो होति, सो च होति पञ्ञवा अजळो अनेळमूगो पटिबलो सुभासितदुब्भासितस्स अत्थमञ्ञातुं। अयं, भिक्खवे, अट्ठमो अक्खणो असमयो ब्रह्मचरियवासाय।
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato ca loke anuppanno hoti arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. Dhammo ca na desiyati opasamiko parinibbāniko sambodhagāmī sugatappavedito. Ayañca puggalo majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāto hoti, so ca hoti paññavā ajaḷo aneḷamūgo paṭibalo subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo akkhaṇo asamayo brahmacariyavāsāya.
Furthermore, a Realized One has not arisen in the world … So he doesn’t teach the Dhamma leading to peace, Nibbana, awakening, as proclaimed by the Holy One. And a person is reborn in a central country. And they’re wise, bright, clever, and able to distinguish what is well said from what is poorly said. This is the eighth lost opportunity …
इमे खो, भिक्खवे, अट्ठ अक्खणा असमया ब्रह्मचरियवासाय।
Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha akkhaṇā asamayā brahmacariyavāsāya.
There are these eight lost opportunities for spiritual practice.
एकोव खो, भिक्खवे, खणो च समयो च ब्रह्मचरियवासाय। कतमो एको? इध, भिक्खवे, तथागतो च लोके उप्पन्नो होति अरहं सम्मासम्बुद्धो विज्जाचरणसम्पन्नो सुगतो लोकविदू अनुत्तरो पुरिसदम्मसारथि सत्था देवमनुस्सानं बुद्धो भगवा। धम्मो च देसियति ओपसमिको परिनिब्बानिको सम्बोधगामी सुगतप्पवेदितो। अयञ्च पुग्गलो मज्झिमेसु जनपदेसु पच्चाजातो होति, सो च होति पञ्ञवा अजळो अनेळमूगो पटिबलो सुभासितदुब्भासितस्स अत्थमञ्ञातुं। अयं, भिक्खवे, एकोव खणो च समयो च ब्रह्मचरियवासायाति।
Ekova kho, bhikkhave, khaṇo ca samayo ca brahmacariyavāsāya. Katamo eko? Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato ca loke uppanno hoti arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. Dhammo ca desiyati opasamiko parinibbāniko sambodhagāmī sugatappavedito. Ayañca puggalo majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāto hoti, so ca hoti paññavā ajaḷo aneḷamūgo paṭibalo subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, ekova khaṇo ca samayo ca brahmacariyavāsāyāti.
Bhikkhus, there is just one opportunity for spiritual practice. What is that one? It’s when a Realized One has arisen in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He teaches the Dhamma leading to peace, Nibbana, awakening, as proclaimed by the Holy One. And a person is reborn in a central country. And they’re wise, bright, clever, and able to distinguish what is well said from what is poorly said. This is the one opportunity for spiritual practice.
मनुस्सलाभं लद्धान, सद्धम्मे सुप्पवेदिते; ये खणं नाधिगच्छन्ति, अतिनामेन्ति ते खणं।
Manussalābhaṁ1 laddhāna, saddhamme suppavedite; Ye khaṇaṁ nādhigacchanti, atināmenti te khaṇaṁ.
When you’ve gained the human state, and the true teaching has been so well proclaimed, if you don’t seize the moment it’ll pass you by.
बहू हि अक्खणा वुत्ता, मग्गस्स अन्तरायिका; कदाचि करहचि लोके, उप्पज्जन्ति तथागता।
Bahū hi akkhaṇā vuttā, maggassa antarāyikā; Kadāci karahaci loke, uppajjanti tathāgatā.
For many wrong times are spoken of, which obstruct the path. Only on rare occasions do Realized Ones arise.
तयिदं सम्मुखीभूतं, यं लोकस्मिं सुदुल्लभं; मनुस्सपटिलाभो च, सद्धम्मस्स च देसना; अलं वायमितुं तत्थ, अत्तकामेन जन्तुना।
Tayidaṁ2 sammukhībhūtaṁ, yaṁ lokasmiṁ sudullabhaṁ; Manussapaṭilābho ca, saddhammassa ca desanā; Alaṁ vāyamituṁ tattha, attakāmena3 jantunā.
If you find yourself in their presence, so hard to find in the world, and if you’ve gained a human birth, and the teaching of the Dhamma; that’s enough to make an effort, for a person who loves themselves.
कथं विजञ्ञा सद्धम्मं, खणो वे मा उपच्चगा; खणातीता हि सोचन्ति, निरयम्हि समप्पिता।
Kathaṁ vijaññā saddhammaṁ, khaṇo ve4 mā upaccagā; Khaṇātītā hi socanti, nirayamhi samappitā.
How is the true teaching to be understood so that the moment doesn’t pass you by? For if you miss your moment you’ll grieve when sent to hell.
इध चे नं विराधेति, सद्धम्मस्स नियामतं; वाणिजोव अतीतत्थो, चिरत्तं अनुतपिस्सति।
Idha ce naṁ virādheti, saddhammassa niyāmataṁ; Vāṇijova atītattho, cirattaṁ5 anutapissati.
If you fail to achieve certainty regarding the true teaching you’ll regret it for a long time, like a trader who loses a profit.
अविज्जानिवुतो पोसो, सद्धम्मं अपराधिको; जातिमरणसंसारं, चिरं पच्चनुभोस्सति।
Avijjānivuto poso, saddhammaṁ aparādhiko; Jātimaraṇasaṁsāraṁ, ciraṁ paccanubhossati.
A man shrouded by ignorance, a failure in the true teaching, will long undergo transmigration through birth and death.
ये च लद्धा मनुस्सत्तं, सद्धम्मे सुप्पवेदिते; अकंसु सत्थु वचनं, करिस्सन्ति करोन्ति वा।
Ye ca laddhā manussattaṁ, saddhamme suppavedite; Akaṁsu satthu vacanaṁ, karissanti karonti vā.
Those who’ve gained the human state when the true teaching has been so well proclaimed, and have completed what the Teacher taught—or will do so, or are doing so now—
खणं पच्चविदुं लोके, ब्रह्मचरियं अनुत्तरं; ये मग्गं पटिपज्जिंसु, तथागतप्पवेदितं।
Khaṇaṁ paccaviduṁ loke, brahmacariyaṁ anuttaraṁ; Ye maggaṁ paṭipajjiṁsu, tathāgatappaveditaṁ.
have realized the right time in the world for the supreme spiritual life. You should live guarded, ever mindful, not soaked with defilements,
ये संवरा चक्खुमता, देसितादिच्चबन्धुना; तेसु गुत्तो सदा सतो, विहरे अनवस्सुतो।
Ye saṁvarā cakkhumatā, desitādiccabandhunā; Tesu6 gutto sadā sato, vihare anavassuto.
among those restrained ones who have practiced the path proclaimed by the Realized One, the Clear-eyed One, and taught by the kinsman of the Sun.
सब्बे अनुसये छेत्वा, मारधेय्यपरानुगे; ते वे पारङ्गता लोके, ये पत्ता आसवक्खयन्”ति।
Sabbe anusaye chetvā, māradheyyaparānuge; Te ve pāraṅgatā7 loke, ye pattā āsavakkhayan”ti.
Having cut off all underlying tendencies that follow those drifting in Māra’s dominion, they’re the ones in this world
नवमं।
Navamaṁ.
The authoritative text of the Aṅguttara Nikāya is the Pāli text. The English translation is provided as an aid to the study of the original Pāli text. [CREDITS »]
Footnotes:
