天親菩薩造

譯文／南梁．真諦（499～569）

欲脫諸苦惱，當觀知足。

知足之法，即是富樂安隱處。

知足之人，雖臥地上，猶為安樂；

不知足者，雖處天堂，亦不稱意。

不知足者，雖富而貧；

知足之人，雖貧而富。

不知足者，常為五欲所牽；

為知足者，之所憐愍。

──選自《遺教經論》

Knowing Satisfaction

Vasubandhu

Translated into Chinese by Paramartha

(499 - 569, Southern Liang Dynasty)

English translation: Ven. Zhi Yue

Those who wish to be liberated from all afflictions should contemplate on contentment. The way of contentment is where fortune, happiness, and peace reside.

Those with contentment are happy and at peace even if they are sleeping on the ground, while those without contentment are unsatisfied even if they are in paradise.

Those with contentment are wealthy even if they are poor, while those without contentment are bound by the five desires* and pitied by those with contentment.

— from Yijiao Jing Lun

(Treatise on the Teachings Bequeathed

by the Buddha Sutra)

*The five desires arise from attachment to the objects of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body.