嘗味之前 Flavours Not Tasted Before

Flavours Not Tasted Before

嘗味之前

The Buddha posed the next question for Mālukyaputta.

佛陀向摩羅迦子提出下一個問題。

「What do you think, Mālukyaputta? There are certain flavours that you have never tasted-before, do not taste now, and do not hope to taste in the future. Could such flavours arouse desire, lust, or affection in you?」

「摩羅迦子，你如何認為？對于你此前從未嘗到的、現在沒有嘗到的、在未來不可能會嘗到的味，這樣的味會導致你生起欲念、貪愛、喜愛嗎？」

Let me refer in passing to the human weakness for the pleasures of taste. Those who have never tasted fruits and cakes from other countries have no desire to for them, since they have never enjoyed them, but people who have tasted them, develop a craving for them. In the scriptures there are instances of people losing their lives to satisfy their palates. Defilements can be dispelled if one meditates on tasting, noting the instant when taste occurs.

我來談談擊中人類弱點的味道的快樂。那些從沒品嘗過其他國家的水果或蛋糕的人，對它們就沒有欲念，因為他們從來沒有享受過它們。但是，品嘗過它們的人就發展出對它們的貪愛。在經文中記載有某些人為滿足他們的味覺而丟掉生命的例子。如果在嘗時禪修，注意嘗發生時的瞬間，煩惱就能夠被清除掉。