9月11日

善知識品
晉 瞿曇僧伽提婆 譯 ( 生平年不詳 )

世尊告諸比丘:「教二人作善不可得報恩。
云何為二？所謂父母也。

若復比丘！有人以父著左肩上，以母著右肩上，
至千萬歲，衣被飲食、床蓐臥具、病瘦醫藥，
即於肩上放於屎溺，猶不能得報恩。

比丘當知：父母恩重，抱之育之，隨時將護，
不失時節，得見日月，以此方便，知此恩難報。
是故，諸比丘！當供養父母，常當孝順，不失時節。」

──選自《增一阿含經》

September 11

Chapter on the Virtuous One
Translated into Chinese by Gautama Samghadeva (Years unknown, Jin Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

The World-Honored One said to the bhiksus,
"There are two types of people whose acts of virtue are not
possible to repay. Who are these two? They are your father and mother.

"O bhiksus! If there were one who carried his father on his
left shoulder, and his mother on his right for tens of thousands
of years, providing them with clothing, bedding, drinks, and
medicine, and even to the extent of allowing them to defecate
and urinate on his shoulders, it still would not be enough for
him to repay his parents' kindness.

"Bhiksus, you must know that the kindness of one's parents
is tremendous. They cradle you, raise you, protect you at all
times, across the seasons, so that you are able to see the sun and
moon. By these expedient means, one should know that this
kindness is difficult to repay. For this reason, O bhiksus! One
shall provide for his parents, constantly be filial and dutiful at
all times."

── from Ekottara Agama (Gradual Discourses of the Buddha)