有一次，佛陀在舍衛城南郊的祇樹給孤獨園對比丘們說：

「比丘們！尚在修學而無他心神通的比丘，如何透過觀察驗證，知道那已經全然正覺的如來呢？」

「世尊！您的教導，是我們瞭解法的根源，請為我們說吧！我們當會記住不忘。」

「比丘們！你們可以從眼睛看、耳朵聽兩方面來觀察驗證。因為，全然正覺者的言行，

必然無任何污穢；

必然不會時而明淨，時而雜染的間雜情形；

必然是一向潔淨，而非暫時的潔淨； 必然無自滿傲慢之類的過失顯露，不論是出了名之前或之後；

必然是自然流露正行，而不是因為顧忌、害怕什麼才自制；

必然因內心全然斷除欲貪而展現離五欲，不論是與僧團共住或獨住；

必然不會鄙視嫌棄任何他所教導的學生，不論他修的好不好。

除了眼見、耳聞的觀察驗證之外，還要再進一步當面詢問，以確認以上諸點。一位全然正覺的如來，面對以上諸點的當面詢問，必然會一一予以肯定的回答，因為這些都已經成為如來的風範與特質，雖然如來並不會特別地去展露它。

比丘們！學生應親近能這樣說法的老師：

對法以層層深入來教導；

跟他學習的學生會越來越受人尊敬；

能以善惡對比呈現的完整方式教導；

使學生得以從明確的教導中，生起對正法的現證慧，達成證果，乃至於解脫──如來教導的目標。

這樣，學生就能對全然正覺的如來，對如來善巧教導的正法，對僧伽修行的正道生起淨信。這樣的淨信，對別人有關佛、法、僧伽是否究竟的質疑，能很有自信地給予肯定的回答。

比丘們！任何人只要能根據以上所講的各點來觀察驗證，就能堅固地建立對如來的淨信，不為其他沙門、婆羅門、天、魔、梵等任何人所動搖。

比丘們！這就是根據法的觀察驗證，知道他已經是全然正覺的如來

On one occasion, The Buddha was living at the Southern suburb of Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapinkike’s Park. There he addressed the bhikkhus:

“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who is an inquirer, not knowing how to gauge another’s mind, should make an investigation of the Tathagata in order to find out whether or not he is fully enlightened.”

“The World Honored One, your teaching is the root of our understanding of the Dharma, please tell us! We will remember what you say.”

“Bhikkhus, you can investigate and verify with respect to two kinds of states, states cognizable through the eye and through the ear. Because the words and deeds of a fully enlightened:

Must be free from any states of defilement;

Must be free from any mixed states of occasionally pure and occasionally defiled;

Must be constantly, instead of temporary cleansed;

Must be free from exhibition the faults of complacent and arrogant, regardless before or after acquisition of renown and attained fame;

Must be exhibiting right deeds naturally rather than the constrain is out of scruples or fear;

Must manifest absent of Five Desires that arise from the five sense organs through completely annihilated from desires and cravings wholeheartedly, regardless his dwelling in the Sangha community or alone;

Must be free from looking down upon and dislike any of his students, regardless their achievements in practicing the Dharma

In addition to investigation and verification through the eye and the ear, one should inquire face to face to confirm the points listed above. Facing such inquiry, a fully enlightened the Tathagata ought to answer affirmatively one by one, because these are the character and exemplary of the Tathagata, although the Tathagata would not specifically exhibit them.

Bhikkhus! A student should get close to such teacher who is able to teach the Dharma in such way;

Teach deep into the Dharma layer by layer;

The student study under him would gain respect more and more;

Using the method of holistic teaching by displaying juxtaposition the wholesome and unwholesome deeds;

Enable the student learning from the clear instructions to develop presently verified wisdom, to achieve verification of Fruition and achieve Liberation—the objective of the Tathagata’s teaching.

Thus, student could develop Pure Faith towards the fully enlightened the Tathagata, towards the Right Dharma skillfully taught by the Tathagata, and towards the Right Path practiced by the Sangha. Such Pure Faith would enable the student answer affirmatively with confidence when facing inquires about whether the Buddha is fully enlightened, the Dharma is well proclaimed by the Buddha and the Sangha is practicing the good way.

Bhikkhus! So long as basing upon the above points to observe and verify, anyone could firmly establish Pure Faith in the Tathagata. It is invincible by any ascetic or Brahmin, Deity or Mara or Brahma or by anyone in the world.

Bhikkhus! That is the observation and verification of the Tathagata in accordance with the Dharma, and that is how the Tathagata is being identified as fully enlightened.

一、本則故事取材自《中部第四七思察經》、《中阿含第一八六求解經》。

二、有人認為，只有解脫者才能辨別解脫者，只有佛陀才能知道佛陀。但從這個故事來看，並非是這樣的，反而要沒有他心神通的人，根據佛陀的風範與特質，透過眼睛與耳朵的觀察、驗證、辨別確認出來。

三、透過跟隨佛陀學習，從親自體證法而證得果位（初果以上），為檢證佛陀是否究竟的條件之一。但對尚未能證得果位的一般人來說，依照故事中佛陀所舉各點的精神，並以經教中對初果以上聖者所描述的風範與特質來檢證，還是有機會分辨出聖者的。

1. This story was derived from Majjhima Nikaya Vimamsaka Sutra, Madhyamagama 186th Sutra.

2. Someone believes that only the Liberated is able to identify the Liberated, only the Buddha is able to know the Buddha. However, based upon this story, it is not necessary so, instead, it takes one not knowing how to gauge another’s mind to identify and verify, through the eye and ear, by means of the character and exemplary of the Buddha to observe, verify, identify and confirm the Buddha.

3. One of the terms of investigating whether the Buddha is fully enlightened is through studying under the Buddha and personally verified the Dharma and attained Fruition (First Fruition and above). However, for ordinary people who has yet to attain Fruition, based upon the spirit of the points raised by the Buddha, adding the exemplary and character of the saints who attained First Fruition and above described in the canon, there is opportunity to identify a saint.