Sounds Not Heard Before

闻声之前

Now I will deal with the second question posed by the Buddha for Mālukyaputta to answer.

现在我来谈佛陀给摩罗迦子提出的第二个问题。

“What do you think, Mālukyaputta? There are certain sounds that you have never heard before, do not hear now, and do not hope to hear in the future. Could such objects arouse desire, lust, or affection in you?”

“摩罗迦子，你如何认为？对于你此前从未闻到的、现在没有闻到的、在未来不可能会闻到的声，这样的声会导致你生起欲念、贪爱、喜爱吗？”

Mālukyaputta replied that no desire, lust, or affection could possible arise from sounds or voices that one had never heard before, did not hear now, nor imagined. This answer is right. On hearing a pleasant voice and cognising the individual making it, the hearer develops affection or attachment for the owner of the voice. As attachment is developed, defilements are brought into play and the consequences of suffering follow. If one meditates on hearing, defilements will be kept away. Remember what I said previously regarding the phenomenon of seeing.

摩罗迦子回答道，欲念、贪爱、喜爱不可能会由于此前从未、现在没有、未来不会听到甚至想象到的声而生起。这个回答是正确的。听到可意的声音以及认知了发出声音的个人后，听者发展出对发出声音者的爱慕或者执着。执着发展后，烦恼产生并运作，随后便是苦的结果。如果观照听到，就能防范烦恼。记得先前所说关于看到的现象。