“Why everyone should fear deceit, Part 5” \u8a50\u6016\u7e01\u7b2c\u4e94 from \u8af8\u7d93\u8981\u96c6 (T2123, 0149b29), a non-canon collection of Buddhist admonitions and anecdotes from the Tang dynasty.<\/p>\n
I translated this without punctuation because it’s funnier that way.<\/p>\n
It is written in the Mah\u0101praj\u00f1\u0101p\u0101ramit\u0101 Sutra: all composite things, every one is deceit. Sentient beings are foolish, unaware of close and distant. Hate, harsh speech, harm, up to taking a life. It creates these great crimes. So falling into three hells, we create innumerable sufferings. For example, in the mountains there was a little stupa. In the stupa there was a monks’ quarters. In the quarters was an oni. It brought fear and vexed the monks. There were many monks, all abandoned monks\u2019 quarters. A traveling monk came. Rector showed him to empty quarters. And said these words. Within these quarters is an oni, spirits rejoice, vexing men. If you can live within here, go ahead! The guest monk himself had become very strong by observing precepts. Said: Little oni, what of it? I can subdue him. Saying so, he entered the monks\u2019 quarters. Another visitor monk came seeking an abode. Rector also sent him to the monks’ quarters. Again said there is an oni men fear. This man again said, Little oni, what of it? I should subdue him. The first monk had closed door and wait for oni. At nighttime the second monk hit door, seek to enter. The first monk said, here is the oni! Not allow open door. The one who came later hit door quite strong. The monk within using strength prevented this. The one outside succeeded to enter door. The first monk hit the second, the second hit the first. At last dawn came. Really they were old fellow students. Already knew each other; they bowed in shame. Many people gathered around laughing, what strange ones! All beings are like this. Five skandhas are all void. No self, no person. Arguing over external forms creates poison and harms. Free yourself from earthly things. We are only bones and meat. No person, no self. Therefore, bodhisattvas say to all beings. You will not reach heavens by arguing. Human body desires unobtainable. How much more so for Buddha.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nHere is a little summary I made of the non-canon texts in the Taisho Tripitaka:<\/p>\n2123: 20 volumes of non-sacred Buddhist texts. 7th century. Excerpted here.<\/p>\n
2124: A memorization guide to various Buddhist numbers (five skandhas etc.). A sort of cheat sheet.<\/p>\n
2125: Yijing’s journey to the West.<\/p>\n
2126: Biographies of Song period monks.<\/p>\n
2127: Name explanations.<\/p>\n
2128-2129: How to read Buddhist names, in 100 volumes; supplement, 10 volumes.<\/p>\n
2130: Sanskrit dictionary.<\/p>\n
2131: Etymological dictionary of Pali names.<\/p>\n
2132: Siddham dictionary.<\/p>\n
2133-2136: Sanskrit dictionaries.<\/p>\n
2137 \u91d1\u4e03\u5341\u8ad6: S\u0101\u1e43khya philosophy. 6th century translation of an otherwise unknown text called Suvarnasaptatisastra.<\/p>\n
2138 \u52dd\u5b97\u5341\u53e5\u7fa9\u8ad6: Vai\u015be\u1e63ika philosophy. Translation of an otherwise unknown text called Dasapadartha-sastra.<\/p>\n
2139 \u8001\u5b50\u5316\u80e1\u7d93: Huahujing<\/a>. An amusing work where Laozi appears to be the teacher of Buddha. Partial translation<\/a><\/p>\n
2140: A Manichaean text; from the British Library.<\/p>\n
2141a: “Compendium of the doctrines and styles of the teaching of Mani, the Buddha of light.”<\/p>\n
2141b: A Nestorian Christian text.<\/p>\n
2142: Sutra of Hearing the Messiah<\/a>, Nestorian<\/p>\n
2143: A Nestorian Christian text.<\/p>\n