Visuddhimagga XVI-56

 Icchitālābho

[(xi) NOT TO GET WHAT ONE WANTS]

551. Yampicchaṃ na labhatīti ettha ‘‘aho vata mayaṃ na jātidhammā assāmā’’tiādīsu (dī. ni. 2.398; vibha. 201) alabbhaneyyavatthūsu icchāva yampicchaṃ na labhati, tampi dukkhanti vuttā. Sā alabbhaneyyavatthuicchanalakkhaṇā, tappariyesanarasā, tesaṃ appattipaccupaṭṭhānā. Dukkhā pana dukkhavatthuto. Tenetaṃ vuccati –

（11）「求不得」，如说：「呀！如果我们不生多么好啊」！像于此等的事物中欲求而不能得，故说「求不得苦」。对于不能得的事物而希求是它的特相，有遍求的作用，不得其所求是它的现状。因为它是苦的所依故为苦。所以这样说：

Ñ(XVI,56): Not to get what one wants: the want itself of some unobtainable object [expressed] in such passages as 'Oh, that we were not subject to birth!' (Vbh. 101) is called suffering since one does not get what is wanted. Its characteristic is the wanting of an unobtainable object. Its function is to seek that. It is manifested as disappointment. It is suffering because it is a basis for suffering. Hence this is said:

‘‘Taṃ taṃ patthayamānānaṃ, tassa tassa alābhato;

Yaṃ vighātamayaṃ dukkhaṃ, sattānaṃ idha jāyati.

‘‘Alabbhaneyyavatthūnaṃ, patthanā tassa kāraṇaṃ;

Yasmā tasmā jino dukkhaṃ, icchitālābhamabravī’’ti.

因为希求那些而不得的缘故，

有情生起了烦扰的痛苦。

对那不得的事物的希求是苦之因，

所以胜者说此所求而不得是苦。

Ñ: When beings here expect to gain

Something they build their hopes upon

Which fails them, they are woebegone

With disappointment's numbing pain.

Thereof the cause is hope they wed

To something they cannot obtain:

'Not to get what one wants is pain'

The Conqueror has therefore said.

Ayaṃ icchitālābhe vinicchayo.

──这是求不得的决定说──

Ñ: This is the exposition of not to get what one wants.