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人心不足

有一次，佛陀在憍薩羅國首都舍衛城遊化，住在城南的祇樹給孤獨園。

尊者阿難在一次的禪思中，體悟到：世間人的欲望是很少能滿足的，也很少有人帶著對欲望厭患之心而去世。能知足，能對欲望厭患而去世的人，那是太難得了。

傍晚，尊者阿難結束禪修後，就去禮見佛陀，將他在禪思中的體悟，向佛陀報告。 佛陀告訴尊者阿難說： 「是啊！是啊！正是這樣。

阿難！過去，有一位名叫『頂生』的聰明轉輪王，他擁有大軍，也擁有輪寶、象寶、馬寶、寶物、女寶、居士寶、主兵臣寶等七寶，又有著上千位勇猛的兒子，自在地統治著一大片延伸到大海的廣大領土，而且懂得以王政而不以武力酷罰治國，百姓生活得十分富裕安樂。

阿難！過了很久，有一天，頂生王心想：我目前擁有閻浮洲這片廣大的領土，人民眾多而且富裕，也有七寶與千子，我還想要整個王宮有積到膝蓋的寶物財富。

當頂生王擁有整座王宮積到膝蓋的寶物後，過了很久，有一天，他又想要統領西方另一片叫瞿陀尼洲的富裕地方。

當頂生王統領了西方瞿陀尼洲後，過了很久，有一天，他又想要統領東方另一片叫弗婆鞞陀提洲的富裕地方。

當頂生王統領了東方弗婆鞞陀提洲後，過了很久，有一天，他又想要統領北方另一片叫鬱單曰洲的富裕地方。

當頂生王統領了北方另一片叫鬱單曰洲後，過了很久，有一天，他又想：傳說天界有一個叫三十三天的地方，現在，我已統領了人間的四大洲，我想要到三十三天去看看。

頂生王以神通力到了三十三天，見識到那裡殊勝的環境。隨後，頂生王進入了三十三天的集會堂。三十三天的領袖『天帝釋』，尊重他是一位有威德的轉輪王，連忙起來禮讓他半座，讓頂生王坐在他的旁邊。此時，頂生王的外貌，除了眼睛之外，變得和天帝釋完全一樣。

過了很久，頂生王心想：我有七寶、千子、寶物，統治著人間的四大洲，現在來到三十三天，又得到天帝釋的半座，而且，除了眼睛外，我的外貌也和天帝釋一樣殊勝，我何不將天帝釋趕走，奪取另外的半座，這樣一來，我就成了天上人間自由自在的統治者了。

阿難！當頂生王這樣想時，不知不覺地掉回原來人間的閻浮洲，失去了上三十三天的神通力，而且還得了重病。 臨死前，有大臣來問：

『大王！如果有人來問我，頂生王臨終時交代了些什麼，我該怎麼回答？』

『你應該這樣答：頂生王得到了閻浮洲，還感到不滿足而去世；有了七寶，還感到不滿足而去世；有了千子，還感到不滿足而去世；有了大量的寶物，還感到不滿足而去世；得到了瞿陀尼洲，還感到不滿足而去世；得到了弗婆鞞陀提洲，還感到不滿足而去世；得到了鬱單曰洲，還感到不滿足而去世；能見識到諸天集會，還感到不滿足而去世；頂生王具足五欲享樂，還感到不滿足而去世。如果有人問，你就這樣回答好了。』」

接著，佛陀說： 「即使珍寶如雨般的下，欲望仍然無法滿足； 欲只帶來苦而沒有樂，有智慧者當如是知。 即使得到無量的黃金，猶如大雪山一般高； 也不能一一得到滿足，有智慧者當如是想。 即使有天的殊勝五欲，也不以這五欲為樂； 這樣斷貪不著欲的人，是圓滿覺者的弟子。」
The Greedy Mind

On one occasion, the Buddha was in Sravasti, capital of Kosala for traveling and teaching. He was living in Jeta’s Grove of Anathapindada’s Park, south of the city.

The Venerable Ananda realized during one of his meditative contemplations: Few desires possessed by people in the secular world can be satisfied; most people still attach to desires when they die. It is extremely rare for someone who is contented and has an aversion toward desires when departing this life.

In the evening, the Venerable Ananda completed his meditation practice, went to see the Buddha and reported to the Buddha what he realized during meditative contemplation.

The Buddha told the Venerable Ananda:

“Certainly! Certainly! That is right.

Ananda! In the past, there was a smart Wheel-turning king whose name was “Mrdhagata” he possessed strong army, possessed the seven jewels of wheel, elephants, horses, valuables, female servants, householders and generals; also possessed approximately one thousand brave and strong sons, he governed at ease a vast territories extending to the ocean. He ruled by virtue instead of force and harsh punishment. All the people are rich and living in harmony.

Aanada! A long time passed. One day, King Mrdhagata thought: I currently possess the vast continent of Jambuvipa, with large a population consisting of rich people. I also possess the seven jewels and one thousand sons. I like to possess jewels and wealth that would pile up to knee-height in the palace.

After King Mrdhagata possessed the treasures piled up to knee-height in the palace, a long time passed. One day, he would like to conquer the rich continent of Awragodaniya located in west of the country.

After King Mrdhagata conquered the rich continent of Awragodaniya located in west of the country; a long time passed. One day, he would like to conquer the rich continent of Puravideha located in east of the country.

After King Mrdhagata conquered the rich continent of Puravideha located in east of the country, a long time passed. One day, he would like to conquer the rich continent of Uttarakura located in north of the country.

After King Mrdhagata conquered the rich continent of Uttarakura located in north of the country, a long time passed. One day, he contemplated: Popular legend indicates that there is a thirty-three heaven located in the Heavenly Realm, since I conquered the four continents in the Human Realm, I would like to take a look in the thirty-three heaven.

Utilizing his supernatural power, King Mrdhagata arrived in the thirty-three heaven, gained knowledge of the especially exclusive environment. Afterward, King Mrdhagata entered into the thirty-three heaven assembly hall. Respecting him as a prestige Wheel-turning king, leader of the thirty-three heaven Sakra Devanam-indra quickly rose and politely offered him half of his seat and let King Mrdhagata sit next to him. At that time, with the exception of the eyes, the appearance of King Mrdhagata became identical with that of Sakra Devanam-indra.

A long time passed, King Mrdhagata contemplated: I have seven jewels, thousand sons, ruling the four continents in the Human Realm, now I am in thirty-three heaven, gained half seat of Sakra Devanam-indra, with the exception of eyes, my appearance is just like the especially excellent appearance of Sakra Devanam-indra, why not expel Sakra Devanam-indra, seize the other half of the seat, as such, I’ll become the free and unrestrained ruler of the Heavenly Realm as well as the Human Realm.

Ananda! As King Mrdhagata was contemplating, before he knew it, he fell back to the continent of Jambuvipa in the Human Realm, lost his supernatural power of ascending to thirty-three heaven and became gravely ill.

Before his death, a senior official came and asked:

“Great king! How should I answer if someone asked me what were King Mrdhagata’s last words before he died?”

“You should answer as following: King Mrdhagata possessed the continent of Jambuvipa, he died without satisfaction; possessed seven jewels, he died without satisfaction; had one thousand sons, he died without satisfaction; possessed great amount of jewels, he died without satisfaction; obtained the continent of Awragodaniya, he died without satisfaction; gained the continent of Uttarakura, he died without satisfaction; experienced in assembly of the heavenly beings, he died without satisfaction; King Mrdhagata completed enjoyment of five senses, he died without satisfaction. Should someone ask, you can answer as such.”

Continuing, the Buddha said:

“Even the jewels poring down as shower, cannot satisfy the desires;
desires bring only suffering and no joy, one with wisdom should know as such;
even obtained immeasurable amount of gold, as high as a big snow mountain;
the desires cannot be satisfied one by one, one with wisdom should think as such;
even possess the especially excellent five sensual pleasure of the heavenly being,
one would not take these five sensual pleasure as joy;
such a person who severs greed and detach from desire, is the disciple of the complete enlightened.”

按語：

一、本則故事取材自《中阿含第六○四洲經》、《增壹阿含第一七品第七經》。

二、頂生王臨終之言，其言也善，道出自己不知足的反省。其實，不知足的，豈只是頂生王而已！凡人不都是這樣嗎？正如俗話所說的：人心不足，蛇吞象 

Notes:

1.  This story was derived from Madhyamaga 60th Sutra; Ekottarikagama 7th Surtra, Chapter 17.

2. The last words of King Mrdhagata were virtuous, expressed his introspection of discontent. In fact, those with discontent are not limited to King Mrdhagata! Does everyone behave just like that? As the proverb goes: One with a greedy mind is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.
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