Fu Shuo Ba Da Ren Jue Jing (佛說八大人覺經)

後漢安息國三藏安世高譯

Translated by the Tripitaka Master An Shigao of Parthia (An-xi, an ancient Central Asian state, roughly northeastern Iran today) during the Later Han dynasty. "Tripitaka" refers to a master versed in the three collections of scripture: sutras, vinaya, and treatises.

為佛弟子，常於晝夜，至心誦念，八大人覺：

As disciples of the Buddha, you should recite and reflect upon these eight realizations of the great beings, day and night, without pause and with earnest heart. "Great beings" means Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and these eight are the truths they have awakened to.

第一覺悟：世間無常，國土危脆；四大苦空，五陰無我；生滅變異，虛偽無主；心是惡源，形為罪藪。如是觀察，漸離生死。

The first thing to realize: everything in the world is in flux and nothing is permanent; even mountains, rivers and lands are fragile and prone to ruin. The four great elements (earth, water, fire and wind) that make up the body are, in essence, suffering and empty; and within the five aggregates (the five skandhas: form, feeling, perception, volition and consciousness) no permanent, unchanging self can be found. All things arise, perish, drift and change; they are false and unreal, with no one in control. The mind is the wellspring of every evil thought, and the body is the gathering place of karmic offenses. Observing in this way, as things truly are, you can step by step leave the cycle of birth and death.

第二覺知：多欲為苦，生死疲勞，從貪欲起；少欲無為，身心自在。

The second thing to realize: much desire is itself suffering. All the weariness of the cycle of birth and death arises from craving. With few desires, and without contriving or grasping, body and mind are naturally at ease and free.

第三覺知：心無厭足，唯得多求，增長罪惡；菩薩不爾，常念知足，安貧守道，唯慧是業。

The third thing to realize: when the mind is greedy and never satisfied, always wanting more, it only keeps increasing evil. Bodhisattvas are not like this: they always keep contentment in mind, are at peace in poverty while holding to the right path, and take the cultivation of wisdom as their one and only undertaking.

第四覺知：懈怠墜落；常行精進，破煩惱惡，摧伏四魔，出陰界獄。

The fourth thing to realize: laziness leads to decline. You should always be diligent and tireless, break through the evils of affliction, subdue the four maras (the mara of afflictions, the mara of the five aggregates, the mara of death and the mara of the heavens), and escape the prison of the five aggregates and the eighteen realms.

第五覺悟：愚痴生死。菩薩常念，廣學多聞，增長智慧，成就辯才，教化一切，悉以大樂。

The fifth thing to realize: the root of the cycle of birth and death lies in ignorance. Bodhisattvas therefore always think of learning widely and hearing much, increasing their wisdom and perfecting the eloquence to teach the Dharma well, using it to guide all beings so that they all attain great peace and joy.

第六覺知：貧苦多怨，橫結惡緣。菩薩佈施，等念冤親，不念舊惡，不憎惡人。

The sixth thing to realize: people in poverty and hardship easily give rise to resentment and so create bad ties for no reason. When Bodhisattvas practice giving, they treat enemies and loved ones alike, do not dwell on old grudges, and do not hate those who do wrong.

第七覺悟：五欲過患。雖為俗人，不染世樂；常念三衣，瓦缽法器；志願出家，守道清白；梵行高遠，慈悲一切。

The seventh thing to realize: the five desires (the five sensory attachments to form, sound, smell, taste and touch; by another account, wealth, sex, fame, food and sleep) bring all manner of harm. Even as a householder, one is not stained by worldly pleasures; in the heart one always yearns for the simple tools of the renunciant, the three robes and the one bowl, resolves to leave home and practice, keeps to the right path and stays pure; one makes pure conduct lofty and outstanding, and holds compassion toward all beings.

第八覺知：生死熾然，苦惱無量。發大乘心，普濟一切；願代眾生，受無量苦；令諸眾生，畢竟大樂。

The eighth thing to realize: the cycle of birth and death blazes on like a raging fire, and its torments are endless. So one must awaken the Mahayana mind, save all beings universally, and vow to take upon oneself the immeasurable suffering of beings, so that they all finally attain the ultimate great peace and joy.

如此八事，乃是諸佛菩薩大人之所覺悟。精進行道，慈悲修慧，乘法身船，至涅槃岸；復還生死，度脫眾生。以前八事，開導一切，令諸眾生，覺生死苦，捨離五欲，修心聖道。

These eight are exactly what the great beings, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, have awakened to. They practice diligently, cultivate wisdom with compassion, ride the boat of the Dharma body across to the far shore of nirvana (the state where afflictions cease and one no longer drifts through birth and death), and having reached it, return again into birth and death to liberate beings. With these eight they instruct everyone, so that beings realize the suffering of birth and death, abandon the five desires, and practice the noble path leading to liberation.

若佛弟子，誦此八事，於念念中，滅無量罪；進趣菩提，速登正覺；永斷生死，常住快樂。

If a disciple of the Buddha recites these eight, then in every single thought they will wipe out immeasurable karmic offenses; advancing toward bodhi (awakening), they will swiftly ascend to the rank of perfect enlightenment, forever cut off the cycle of birth and death, and dwell always in peace and joy.