Za ahan jing 雜阿含經

Za ahan jing 雜阿含經 "Sutra of Sermons of Mixed [Length]", the Chinese version of the Saṃyuktāgama-sūtra, is a fundamental scripture of the Buddhist canon (see Tripitaka), and one of the four Āgamas (Chinese transcription [Ct.] ahan 阿含) or "collections of discourses". The title derives from the fact that the collection contains sutras of different lengths.

The book was first translated during the Liu-Song period 劉宋 (420-479) by Guṇabhadra (Ct. Qiunabatuoluo 求那跋陀羅, 394-468), spanning 50 juan. Two chapters were added later, which derive from the biographies of King Aśoka (Ct. Ayun Wang 阿育王, 303-232 BCE). Another translation was produced during the Tang period 唐 (618-907) by Xuanzang 玄奘 (602-664), with the title Xiangying ajimo 相應阿笈摩. According to the book catalogue Jingke da zangjing mulu 精刻大藏經目錄 (1945), there are 39 different Chinese translations produced across successive dynasties that survive today. The majority of them are selective or abridged translations extracted from a larger corpus. Most of these variant translations were made from recensions circulating in Central Asia or North India. The specific Buddhist schools to which these recensions belonged remain undetermined.

It is generally believed that this scripture belongs to a recension transmitted by the Mahīśāsaka School (Ch. Huadi bu 化地部). TThe original Sanskrit text no longer exists. In modern times, however, Sanskrit fragments were discovered in Xinjiang.

The collection comprises 1,362 sutras or sermons. It generally aligns with the Saṃyutta-nikāya of the Pali Canon, although the latter is more systematic in both doctrinal organisation and textual arrangement. Some scholars believe that the Saṃyuktāgama bears traces of influence from Mahāyāna thought. The "Preface to the Dīrghāgama" (Chang ahan jing xu 長阿含經序) notes that the Saṃyuktāgama originally consisted of four divisions and ten recitation groups. However, none of the existing printed editions includes a complete table of contents, and the text contains many repetitions, indicating that it was not systematically edited after translation.

In fascicle 85 of the Mahā-prajñā-pāramitā-śāstra (Da zhidu lun 大智度論), the four divisions of the Za ahan jing are described as "Teachings spoken by disciples and by the Buddha" (Dizi suo shuo Fo suo shuo 弟子所說佛所說), "Correspondences concerning the five aggregates, six sense bases, and dependent origination" (Wuquyun liuchu yinyuan xiangying 五取蘊六處因緣相應), "Factors of the Path" (Daopin 道品), and "Compilation (or Council)" (Jieji 結集). This structure largely matches that of the received editions, although the sequence differs slightly.

The modern Buddhist scholar Lü Cheng 呂澂 (1896-1989), based on the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra (Yujia shidi lun 瑜伽師地論), produced "Critical notes on the Za ahan jing" (Za ahan kanding ji 雜阿含刊定記), reorganising the four divisions and ten recitation groups as follows: "Correspondences on the five aggregates, six sense bases, and causation" (Wuquyun liuchu yinyuan xiangying fen 五取蘊六處因緣相應分), "Teachings spoken by disciples and by the Buddha" (Fo dizi suo shuo Fo suo shuo fen 佛弟子所說佛所說分), "Factors of the Path" (Daopin fen 道品分), and "Compilation" (Jieji fen 結集分).

The scripture advocates "careful restraint of the sense faculties" (shan she zhu gen 善攝諸根), "inner stillness of mind, and truthful observation of reality as it is" (nei ji qi xin, ru shi guancha 內寂其心，如實觀察).The text elucidates proper meditative contemplation and criticises the meditative practices of non-Buddhist traditions. It details the stages, methods, precautions, and intended outcomes of meditation practice. For this reason, some scholars believe that this sutra focuses primarily on explaining the principles of śamatha and vipaśyanā (zhi guan 止觀, calming and insight), and that it was meant as a specialised text for meditation practitioners. The text provides detailed explanations of the Five Aggregates (wuyun 五蘊), six sense bases (liuchu 六處), dependent origination (yuanqi 緣起), and the twelve links of dependent origination (shi'er yinyuan 十二因緣), thereby clarifying the doctrines of anitya or impermanence (wuchang 無常), suffering (ku 苦), emptiness (kong 空), and anātman or non-self (wuwo 無我). In addition, it expounds teachings such as the Four Noble Truths (sidi 四諦), the four kinds of food (sishi 四食), the Noble Eightfold Path (bazheng dao 八正道), the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (sinian chu 四念處), the Seven Factors of Awakening (qi jue fen 七覺分), the Four Meditative Absorptions (sichan 四禪), the eighteen elements (shiba jie 十八界), and the doctrines of karma and retribution (yinguo baoying 因果報應). The sutra promotes the Buddhist teaching among male and female lay devotees, encouraging them to place faith in Buddhism, take refuge in the Three Jewels (sanbao 三寶), and diligently cultivate wholesome actions.

The Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, section on the "Collection of Matters" (Sheshi fen 攝事分), cites the Za ahan jing benmu 雜阿含經本母. The "Stage of knowledge acquired through Reflection" (Si suo cheng di 思所成地) cites the Za ahan jing jiaguo jiu jie 雜阿含經伽陀舊解. These two works are the most comprehensive commentarial sources for explaining this sutra. In contrast, the section on the "Analysis of divergent categories" (She yi men fen 攝異門分) in the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra is a work specifically dedicated to interpreting the doctrinal categories and variant classifications (yimen faxiang 異門法相).