百喻經

66. Drowning to Death

Long ago, there was a wealthy man who took many people out to sea in search of treasure. This wealthy man had read many books explaining how to sail across the ocean. He remembered them very well and boasted to everyone:

– I know all the conditions that may arise at sea. For example, if we strike a submerged reef or encounter a contrary current, when the danger is certainly extreme, one need only hold the ship’s rudder firmly, carefully observe the direction, and turn it in time. One must always remain calm and composed at heart, neither frightened nor confused, and then all will be safe and there will be nothing to fear. Those methods are clearly recorded in the books, and now I know them all by heart, without forgetting the slightest detail.

After hearing this, everyone placed great confidence in him.

Their ship weighed anchor and sailed out to sea. There had always been an experienced captain aboard to command the vessel, but unfortunately, while they were at sea, he suddenly fell ill and died. The wealthy man then personally took charge of everything.

As the ship drifted upon the open sea, a great wind suddenly arose and the waves surged, tossing and spinning the vessel amid the violent billows so that it could make no headway. Everyone heard the wealthy man muttering: “Hold the oars firmly; change direction; remain calm.” Yet in reality he did not know precisely what to do, nor did he know how to steer the ship out of the storm. In the end, after the vessel had spun about and struggled against the wind and waves for some time, it gradually sank to the bottom of the sea, and everyone aboard drowned.

** This story is an analogy: Some people understand only a little of written words, names, and characteristics, yet have no certain and lucid comprehension of their meanings and of the true Dharma. Having understood only a little, they rely upon their own cleverness, regard themselves as persons of profound and extensive knowledge, and then obstinately use words from books to instruct others in a confused manner. As a result, they not only mislead themselves but also do considerable harm to everyone.

Therefore, in the Buddha-Dharma, it is essential to begin with “literary prajnaparamita” and undertake the practice of “contemplative prajnaparamita.” At every point, one must apply the meanings expressed in the words of the Buddha-Dharma to one’s own actual experience and understanding, assimilate and realize them until they become one’s own knowledge, and then earnestly apply them in cultivation. Only then can there be genuine benefit.

Some Buddhists and certain scholars today employ a few vague and useless phrases; they likewise belong to this class of mistaken views.

67. The Wager

Long ago, there was a married couple. One day they made three cakes. Each ate one, leaving one cake remaining. The two made a wager with each other: whoever wished to eat that cake must not utter a word; whoever spoke first would lose the wager and would not be allowed to eat the remaining cake. Thus, throughout the entire day, husband and wife remained silent without saying a word.

Suddenly, a thief entered their house, gathered up all their money and possessions, and prepared to leave. Because the couple feared losing the wager and the cake, they merely stared fixedly at the thief as he plundered their household belongings, and neither spoke a word. Seeing this, the thief grew even bolder, going so far as to attempt to violate the wife’s chastity, while the husband still stood watching without saying anything. In her alarm, the wife cried out loudly:

– You truly are a fool! For the sake of one cake, you let this thief outrage me so grievously, without opening your mouth to say a single word!

The husband immediately clapped his hands and laughed aloud:

– Ha, ha! You opened your mouth and spoke first, so you have lost to me. The cake is mine to eat. How wonderful!

** This story is an analogy: Because worldly people cling greedily to a little worldly fame and gain, they often forfeit the vast benefits of wholesome Dharma and the Buddha-Dharma. Seeing this, the wise regard them as pitiable fools, no different from that foolish husband.

68. Seeking to Harm Another, One Harms Oneself

Long ago, there was a man who was an enemy of another person. Unable to think of any way to take revenge, he remained resentful at heart and was never happy. Someone asked him:

– Why are you so resentful and sorrowful?

He replied:

– There is a man who often maligns me most viciously. I am exceedingly angry and constantly think of a way to avenge this bitter enmity, but no matter how much I think, I cannot devise one. Therefore, my anger and anguish are boundless.

The other man said:

– You need only recite a secret spell called Vetala, and you can cause that man to die instantly. But invoking this spell entails a dangerous consequence: after the rite is completed, you yourself must die first. I think it would be better for you not to recite it, lest your enemy remain unharmed while you yourself are harmed first.

Hearing this, the man gave it no consideration or reflection, but was exceedingly delighted:

– Please be so kind as to teach me that spell. My desire for revenge is extremely fierce. So long as my enemy can die, I am willing to die first.

** This story is an analogy: Anger creates grudges and enmity and causes no small harm. Those who wish to harm others often harm themselves before the other person has suffered any injury. Some people, driven by anger, pitifully destroy themselves. Led by their anger, they vainly cast themselves onto the exceedingly tragic path of harming both themselves and others, sinking through endless kalpas without respite! They need only awaken and swiftly employ the pure and peaceful Dharma of loving-kindness and compassion to reform and govern body and mind, enabling both themselves and others to attain peace and happiness. Only then will they accord with the path of liberation and true permanence.

69. The Ancestral Custom of Eating Quickly

Long ago, there was a man living in southern India whose family had originally come from northern India. Having lived there for a long time, he married a woman of the South. One day, his wife set a meal upon the table. Paying no heed to the steaming-hot rice and soup, he opened his mouth wide and gulped the food down very quickly, just like a starving man near death who had obtained food. His wife found this exceedingly strange and asked:

– No one is competing with you for the food, nor is there anything urgent. Why do you not eat slowly, but instead eat so quickly?

He replied:

– It is a great secret! I will not tell you.

Upon hearing this, his wife thought there must surely be some very special reason, so she earnestly pleaded with him to reveal it.

At first he refused to tell her, but after she persistently importuned him, he finally said:

– For many generations, my ancestors all ate this way. Therefore, now that it has come down to my generation, I must do likewise and dare not alter it.

** This story is an analogy: Some conservative people are often unwilling to distinguish good from evil or benefit from harm. They merely cling stubbornly and one-sidedly to deluded and perverse customs. Smugly self-satisfied, they do not recognize their own faults, feel no shame, and do not know how to correct themselves by abandoning what is wrong. If anyone offers sound advice or admonishes them, not only do they refuse to heed what is right, but they reply that it is a fine tradition which must be preserved.

70. Tasting the Tinduka Fruit

Long ago, a man wished to eat tinduka fruit, so he sent a servant to the orchard to buy some for him, instructing him:

– Taste them, and if they are sweet, buy them; if they are not sweet, do not buy them!

The servant took the money and went to the fruit orchard to make the purchase.

The orchard keeper said:

– Every one of my tinduka fruits is sweet; not one is bad. Please taste one and you will know.

He said:

– I have tasted only one fruit; how can I know what the others are like? I wish to taste each fruit, and I shall buy whichever fruit I taste. That would be more certain.

Having said this, he personally picked the bimba fruits, biting into each one he picked to taste it. The orchard keeper saw this but said nothing. Indeed, every fruit was sweet, without exception; so the man bought them and brought them home to his master. When the master saw that every fruit had been bitten into, not only did he lose all desire to eat them, but he also found them utterly disgusting and felt nauseated. Thus, he could not eat a single fruit, and all the bimba fruits were thrown away.

** This story is an analogy: A person hears that through generosity and observance of the precepts one will attain wealth and honor, that one’s mind will always be peaceful and secure, and that one will be free from misfortune and calamity. Yet he refuses to believe this to be true and insists on personally verifying it beyond doubt. As a result, he loses his opportunity.

One should understand that all things in the world arise as effects brought about by causes from past lives. Such people refuse to follow the principle of cause and effect and examine it clearly, so that they may comprehend all matters, infer many things from a single instance, clearly understand the truth of cause and effect, advance in the study and practice of the Buddha-Dharma, and cultivate the wholesome roots of merit and wisdom.

Instead, they stubbornly insist: “I will believe only when I have personally experienced each matter for myself.” They simply allow time to pass. One day, when death draws near, everything will be cast aside and shattered; then regret will come too late!

71. The Man Who Lost His Sight

Long ago, there was a man who married two wives, and the three of them shared one bed. The husband often found it very difficult to be intimate with the wives lying on either side of him: whenever he drew close to one, the other became consumed with jealousy and could not bear it. Because of this, he suffered greatly. Finally, he made a decision: he would lie between his two wives and remain in the middle, never turning toward either side.

One day it rained. The roof was leaky and dilapidated, and muddy water splashed everywhere and fell into both his eyes. Yet he steadfastly adhered to his decision and refused to turn his head to either side to avoid it. He lay still, turning toward neither side, hoping instead that the two wives beside him would shield him. Tragically, he lost the sight in both eyes!

** This story is an analogy: Some people associate with corrupt companions and imitate them in committing unlawful deeds. They must then fall into the three evil destinies and cannot save themselves. It is often because of corrupt companions and evil teachings that they lose the eye of wisdom.

72. The Swollen Lips

Long ago, a man went with his wife to the home of his father-in-law, just as the household was pounding rice. When his wife went inside to pay respects to her parents, he secretly stole a large handful of rice and put it into his mouth. Just then, he saw his wife come out to find him and chat with him. Because his mouth was full of rice, he could not answer, and he was also afraid that his wife would discover what he had done. He was exceedingly ashamed! He therefore kept his mouth tightly shut and did not utter a word. His wife found this very strange: Why did he not speak? Wishing to understand the reason, she felt both sides of her husband’s face with her hands and noticed that his mouth was swollen and protruding. She then went to tell her father:

– Father, my husband has just arrived at our home, but he has suddenly developed an illness that has swollen his lips and left him unable to speak.

When her father heard this, he hurriedly summoned a skilled physician. After examining the man, the physician said:

– This illness is very serious. An incision must be made before it can be cured.

The skilled physician then took a knife and cut open his cheek, causing the rice held in his mouth to spill out. Thus, everyone learned what had happened.

** This story is an analogy: A person who has committed a fault must acknowledge it and reform; only then can one turn away from error and return to what is right. If, after violating the precepts and committing evil, one continues to conceal it, refuses to disclose it, and refuses to utter words of repentance, then the weight of one’s offense increases day by day, and one will certainly fall into an evil destiny. When others finally discover and expose it, regret will come too late. Moreover, whatever secret there may be in this world, a day will eventually come when it is revealed. A proverb says: “If you do not want others to know, then do not do it yourself.” Why should we foolishly fear a little embarrassment, only to become an object of ridicule to onlookers?

73. The Black Horse with a White Tail

Long ago, a man mounted a black horse and led a troop of soldiers in pursuit of thieves. But he was extremely cowardly and dared not advance to fight. He devised what he thought was an excellent plan: he smeared blood on his face and lay among the corpses, pretending to be dead. His horse was led away by the thieves. After the battle had ended, before returning home, he cut off the tail of a dead horse from the victorious side and took it with him. When his family saw him return, they asked:

– Why did you not ride your horse home?

He replied:

– My horse was killed in battle. Look! I have brought back its tail as a keepsake.

His family said:

– Your horse had a black coat. Why has its tail turned white?

Realizing that his deception had been exposed, he remained utterly silent and did not utter a word.

** This story is an analogy: One who deceives others will one day be exposed. Some people constantly harbor cruel and evil intentions in their hearts while outwardly displaying a benevolent appearance. Their purpose is to deceive others and boast of their own clever schemes; yet truth always prevails over eloquence. In the end, deception cannot escape being completely exposed.

74. Carrying a Bathing Tub

Long ago, a king decided to promulgate a law requiring the Brahmins to bathe and keep their bodies clean; otherwise, they would be punished with arduous and heavy labor. After this law was enacted, the Brahmins carried bathing tubs wherever they went, causing everyone who saw them to assume that they bathed frequently. If someone poured a little water into their tubs, they would go to a deserted place and secretly pour it away. They acted in this manner because they wished to deceive the king and avoid arduous labor. In truth, their bodies did not become clean merely because they always carried bathing tubs with them.

** This story is an analogy: If there is only an outward display without any inner reality, the result is merely deception of oneself and others, without the slightest virtue. Members of the Sangha shave their heads and leave the household life within the Buddha-Dharma, but if they possess only the outward appearance and lack genuine virtue within, failing to cultivate morality, concentration, and wisdom, then they are no different from the Brahmins carrying bathing tubs described above.

75. Killing the Camel

Long ago, a man kept a camel. One day, he poured grain into a jar for it to eat. After the camel thrust its head into the grain jar, it ate its fill but could not pull its head out. The camel then became exceedingly frightened, and the man was also greatly distressed. An old man saw this and said:

– Come now! Do not grieve any longer. I have a method by which its head can be removed, but you must follow my instructions.

The man asked:

– Venerable sir, what is this method?

The old man replied:

– Exert yourself and cut off the camel’s head. Would that not easily remove the camel’s head from the jar?

After hearing this, the man followed the old man’s instructions. Sure enough, the camel’s head was severed; at the same time, the camel’s struggling caused the grain jar to shatter as well. In the end, although the camel’s head was removed, the camel was dead, and a jar had also been broken. The man thus suffered a grievous loss.

** This story illustrates: Practitioners of the Buddha-Dharma who sincerely seek the path to bodhi must uphold the pure precepts. How could they become infatuated with the foul bait of the five desires and thereby violate those pure precepts? In the end, both the foundation of the pure precepts and the fruits of the Three Vehicles are lost, leaving only karmic hindrances, degeneration, and ruin!

76. The Farmer Who Longed for the Princess

Long ago, a young farmer went sightseeing in the capital and happened to see a beautiful princess who could truly be called a peerless beauty. After returning home, he thought of her day and night but could devise no way to speak with her. As the days passed, his face grew haggard and his body became emaciated. Lovesick, he remained confined to bed, and his illness grew more serious each day. His parents and friends became extremely worried and asked:

– Why have you fallen gravely ill like this?

He replied:

The other day, I saw an extraordinarily beautiful princess. I dearly wish to speak with her, but I cannot fulfill my desire. Therefore, I think of her day and night, and grief and sorrow have made me ill. If I cannot meet and converse with her, I will not be able to live.

His friends and relatives comforted him, saying:

– We will find a way for you to converse with the princess. Be at ease and cheerful; do not grieve.

Hearing this, he rejoiced, and his illness gradually abated. Two days later, he had completely recovered. His friends and relatives then lied to him, saying:

– We have devised that method for you, but the princess has not yet replied.

Upon hearing this, he happily laughed aloud and said to himself:

– She will certainly reply, sooner or later. If I call her, perhaps she will come at once.

** This story illustrates: There are many foolish people in the world who do not understand the cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, nor do they understand the slightest thing about changes in the seasons. At an unsuitable time for sowing, they willfully sow seeds in fertile soil, hoping to harvest grain, but the result is complete and grievous failure. Worldly people and followers of non-Buddhist paths practice improper conduct yet aspire to the fruit of perfect awakening; or, having cultivated only a little merit and wisdom, they immediately consider it sufficient to attain bodhi. Those who hold such views are as pitiably mistaken as the farmer who longed for the princess.

77. Searching for Milk

Long ago, some people living in a remote border region had never known what a donkey was like and could not recognize one even if they encountered it face-to-face. They heard people say that donkey's milk was exceptionally delicious, but none of them knew what a donkey was or how to obtain its milk. They then split up to search and eventually found a male donkey. They all crowded around it, each wanting to drink the milk first. One person bit the donkey's head, another sucked its ear, another sucked its tail, and another lifted one of its legs, believing that milk would flow from those places. But they were all disappointed and could not drink even a drop of donkey's milk.

** This story illustrates: A group of followers of non-Buddhist paths heard that whoever practiced spiritual cultivation would attain its fruit. They then blindly engaged, in bustling places unsuited to practice, in deviant practices of their own imagining: fasting, leaping into fire, going naked, and undertaking various useless forms of asceticism. In the end, they merely brought suffering and affliction upon themselves.

78. Going Without Knowing the Destination

Long ago, a man told his son during the night:

– Rise very early tomorrow, and the two of us will go to the market to buy necessities.

The son heard this and firmly kept it in mind. The next morning, he rose very early and, without asking his father, went alone to the market. When he arrived, he did not know why he had come. He wandered to and fro until his body was utterly exhausted. He did not have so much as a single coin, his stomach gnawed with hunger, and he had no money to buy food or drink. He had no choice but to return home. As soon as his father saw him, he scolded him:

– You truly are a foolish and ignorant wretch! Why did you not wait for me to go with you? You went off alone without knowing your destination, accomplished nothing, and merely brought hardship and exhaustion upon yourself. When did I ever tell you to do that?

** This story illustrates: Those who cultivate the Buddha-Dharma must rely upon and remain close to a good teacher or virtuous spiritual friends. They should not presume themselves clever and knowledgeable and then practice blindly on their own. Those who refuse to remain close to a good teacher or virtuous friends are like the man above who went without knowing his destination.

79. Carrying Chairs for the King

Long ago, a king sat in his inner palace and felt somewhat bored. Wishing to visit the Garden of Sorrowlessness for recreation, he told an attendant official:

– Take a chair and place it in the garden. I wish to go there to enjoy the water and admire the flowers.

Upon hearing the command, the official realized that he would have to carry the chair on his back. Considering this deeply humiliating, he addressed the king:

– I cannot carry it on my back; I only wish to bear it on a shoulder pole.

Hearing this, the king immediately ordered that thirty-six chairs be brought and arranged as a load on a shoulder pole, which was then placed upon the official's shoulders for him to carry into the garden. He could not bear the load, yet he still exerted all his strength to carry it. Merely because he feared a slight loss of face, he brought upon himself suffering a hundredfold greater.

** This story illustrates: Those who study Buddhism must learn the practice of patience and strive to transform their arrogance and habitual obstinacy. If, for example, they remain attached to the beauty of their faces and refuse to shave their heads and renounce the household life, they will ultimately endure much suffering.

80. Drinking the Enema Medicine

Long ago, a man suffered from pain in his large intestine. After examining him, a physician said that his bowels had to be flushed before he could be cured. After mixing the medicinal liquid for the enema, the physician went to fetch a basin to hold it. Before the physician returned, the man drank all of the liquid. After drinking it, he developed severe abdominal pain. Just then, the physician returned and, finding the situation strange, asked him:

– What has happened to you?

The man then recounted how he had drunk the enema medicine.

The physician was astonished:

– You are foolish beyond words! That medicinal liquid was only for flushing the bowels; how could it be drunk?

He then hurriedly prepared an antidote for the man to drink, causing him to vomit up all the enema liquid he had just consumed. Only then was the danger to his life averted.

** This story illustrates: Whatever one does, one should not do it in a reversed or confused manner. Those who cultivate the Buddha-Dharma must choose a suitable Dharma method for practice and should not practice haphazardly as they please. For example, in cultivating meditative contemplation, if one is afflicted by lust and must first practice contemplation of impurity, then one should practice contemplation of impurity. If one arbitrarily practices mindfulness of breathing or some other contemplation instead, it will not only bring no benefit but may cause further harm. If one refuses to consult a good teacher and instead confusedly practices various methods of meditative contemplation on one's own, it will be impossible to avoid pitiable danger.

81. One Should Not Falsely Accuse the Virtuous

Long ago, a father and son went together to a vast field. Leaving his father standing there, the son ran alone straight into a dense forest, where he was bitten by a tiger. The wound was very deep, and the tiger's sharp claws also tore and lacerated his entire body. In intense pain and terror, he hurried through the forest and ran back to where his father stood.

Seeing him in such a condition, the father anxiously asked:

– What kind of beast bit you and left your body in such a state?

The son answered with a grimace:

– I do not know what kind of creature it was. Its body was covered all over with hair, and it came and bit me, injuring me like this.

The father flew into a rage, seized his bow and arrows, and ran straight into the dense forest. There he saw a religious practitioner with very long hair and beard, as well as a tuft of downy whiskers. Thinking that this was precisely the beast in disguise that had bitten his son, he immediately drew his bow to shoot. Someone who saw this hurriedly stopped him, saying:

– This practitioner did not harm your son. You should not falsely accuse a virtuous man.

** This story is an analogy: Some people do not examine matters carefully but rely upon their subjective judgment and assume themselves to be right, sometimes thereby falsely accusing virtuous people. In this world, many people see one or two persons among the Sangha who have gone forth but lack moral conduct and behave objectionably, or see certain monks who lack proper deportment and whose words and deeds toward others are unbecoming. Without carefully investigating, they then assume that every monk is the same. They are always ready to despise and disparage other monks. Such people, like the man in this story, are rash and ignorant.

82. Sowing Rice

Long ago, there was a man who lived in the capital and wished to return to the countryside to take up farming as his livelihood. One day, he went to inspect the fields and saw an extensive rice field flourishing extraordinarily well. He therefore asked the farmer there what method he had used to grow such fine rice.

The farmer replied:

– The method is very simple. You need only plow the soil until it is loose, level it, apply good fertilizer, and let water into the field. Then the rice will grow this well.

After hearing this, the man followed that method of preparing the field and sowing the seed. He plowed the soil until it was loose, leveled it, fertilized it, and let in the water. Everything was properly prepared, and all that remained was to sow the seed. But he thought that if his feet stepped into the field while he sowed, they might tread upon the soil and compact it, preventing the rice from growing well.

He then devised a method:

– I should sit upon a bed and have people carry me into the field. If I sow while seated on the bed, I can avoid trampling and compacting the soil with my feet.

He then hired four people, each of whom held one leg of the bed, to carry him into the field to sow the seed. Had he gone alone, there would have been only two feet, but now there were eight feet trampling the field, in addition to the weight of the bed. Consequently, the soil in the field became even more densely compacted.

** This story is an analogy: Within the Buddha-Dharma, one must carefully safeguard the field of observing the precepts so that the sprouts of wholesome Dharma may arise. Yet many practitioners initially observe the precepts very carefully and do not violate even a minor precept; but gradually, later on, they transgress even the grave precepts, without the slightest caution or fear. How, then, could the sprouts of bodhi fail to wither and perish?

83. The Beaten Monkey

Long ago, there was a monkey that was brutally beaten by a very strong man. Its suffering was so intense that it could no longer endure it. Later, it passed through a crowded place, where a small child ran across in front of it. The monkey flew into a rage, rushed forward, seized the child, and tried to beat him, declaring to everyone that what it was doing was entirely justified.

** This story is an analogy: All dharmas lie within the cycle of change, dissolution, and continuous flow. What has passed away in the past is followed by what arises afterward, which is not the same as what came before. This is an inevitable law. Yet people in the world frequently fail to recognize it and deludedly cling to erroneous views, no differently from that monkey.

84. The Lunar Eclipse

The ancients had a legend: Long ago, an asura king saw that the moon was exceedingly bright, so he covered it with his hand. This account was passed from person to person and became the explanation of the “lunar eclipse.” According to this legend, a lunar eclipse has absolutely nothing to do with dogs. Yet for some unknown reason, whenever a lunar eclipse occurs, everyone believes that the moon has been swallowed by a dog, and whenever they see a dog running past, they want to beat it.

From the dog's standpoint, this is an extreme injustice.

** This story is an analogy: When people in the world seek to explain the origins of right and wrong, deceit and integrity, suffering and happiness, they must not rely upon subjective imagination and fabricate confused and meaningless notions.

85. Sore Eyes

Long ago, there was a young woman suffering from a severe eye disease. She was in excruciating pain and moaned throughout the day and night. Another young woman saw this and became extremely frightened. She said to herself, “That woman's eye disease causes her terrible pain. If that illness should befall me, I would certainly have to endure it! Although nothing is presently wrong with my eyes, how can I be sure that one day I will not contract the same illness as she has? To prevent myself from suffering from this disease in the future, it would be best if I gouged out my eyeballs beforehand.”

Someone who heard her say this advised her:

– Your eyes are your most precious organs. Whether or not they will hurt in the future is uncertain. But if you gouge out your eyeballs, you will never be able to see again and will have to endure suffering for the rest of your life. Do you understand?

** This story is an analogy: It is utterly unreasonable for someone to give up eating merely because food once became lodged in his throat. A small number of people believe that wealth and honor are the root of decline and ruin. Therefore, they do not wish to seek the karmic reward of peace and happiness and consequently do not practice generosity. Those who hold this mistaken view are like the young woman who wanted to gouge out and discard her eyes for fear that they might someday hurt. They are all pitifully deluded people.

86. Killing His Son for the Sake of Property

Long ago, a father and son were traveling together to another place on some business. Midway along the road, they encountered a band of robbers who intended to seize all their property. The son was wearing a pair of gold earrings. Fearing that the robbers would snatch them away, the father tore at his son's ears, intending to remove and hide the gold earrings. But because he was in such haste, he could not tear them free. He therefore used a knife to cut off his son's head.

Afterward, the robbers fled. When the panic had passed, the father picked up the severed head and tried to fit it back onto the neck of his unfortunate son. Alas! How could it possibly be reattached?

** This story is an analogy: To abandon what is important for the sake of something trivial may lead to a grievous and irreparable loss. Likewise, there are some people in the world who, for the sake of a little fame and profit, recklessly establish heretical religions and false doctrines, deceiving the world and usurping a reputation. In doing so, they create exceedingly grave offenses and bring about immeasurable calamity.

87. The Robbers Divide Their Plunder

Long ago, a band of robbers jointly seized a great deal of property and money. According to each person's ability and rank, they divided everything evenly, giving each man one share. Among the goods was a very heavy garment woven from hair. Because this item was of poorer quality and less attractive than the others, they assigned this inferior share to the robber of the lowest rank. That robber was deeply distressed and exceedingly resentful. He shouted loudly:

– Why is my share so meager?

Afterward, he had no choice but to accept it, and he took the garment into the city to sell. An official was willing to purchase it for a very high price. The money he received from its sale was many times greater than the amount received by all the other robbers from their shares.

He then danced for joy and said:

– I am a man whose opportunity has come.

** This story illustrates: Even though we encounter many failures, we should not become disappointed or lose heart. We should simply strive to sow good seeds, and one day we shall harvest countless strings of golden beads. For example, when people practice giving, they may not know whether giving will bring any favorable karmic result. When good results eventually come, they are overjoyed. Only then do they realize that doing good and practicing generosity are exceedingly noble deeds, and they regret having done so little good!

88. The Monkey That Lost a Bean

Long ago, a monkey was holding a handful of beans when it carelessly dropped one. In a panic, it let go of the entire handful and ran off to look for the bean that had fallen, but no matter how long it searched, it could not find it. It then hurried back to the place where it had dropped the handful of beans, but alas! The birds had already eaten them all.

** This story is an analogy: A person who cultivates according to the Buddhadharma initially violates one precept but refuses to repent and confess so that the offense may be purified. Afterward, that person becomes even more heedless and violates many prohibitory precepts, thereby destroying all the merit and wholesome qualities previously accumulated.

89. The Golden Rat and the Venomous Snake

Long ago, a traveler caught a golden rat. Overjoyed, he clasped it to his breast and continued on his way. When he reached a riverbank and wished to remove his clothing so that he could wade across more easily, the golden rat held against his breast suddenly turned into a venomous snake. At first, he was terrified, but then he thought to himself:

– I would rather let this venomous snake bite me to death than cast it away.

He then held the venomous snake and waded across the river without the slightest fear. The snake suddenly transformed into an extraordinarily large mass of precious gold.

Another man saw this and concluded that venomous snakes could turn into gold. He imitated the traveler by catching a venomous snake and holding it against his breast, whereupon the snake immediately bit him to death.

** This story is an analogy: There is a class of people who do not genuinely believe in the Buddhadharma. Seeing others gain immediate benefits through sincere cultivation and study, they profess adherence to the true Dharma because they seek offerings and material gain. In the end, however, they not only obtain nothing good but instead bring harm upon themselves.

90. Finding Money

Long ago, a poor man traveling along a road suddenly found a bag of gold coins, and his joy was boundless.

He sat down beside the road, took the coins from the bag, and began counting them. Before he had finished, the owner of the bag arrived, and he had to return it.

He was deeply grieved and regretted his actions, but it was too late. He thought:

– If I had counted quickly and departed at once, would I not have avoided being found by the owner of the bag and obtained a considerable sum of money?

** This story is an analogy: Having encountered the Three Jewels, one must promptly and diligently cultivate wholesome karma in order to attain liberation as soon as possible. If one allows worldly affairs to entangle and distract one, letting the days and months gradually pass and wasting precious time in vain, then when impermanence suddenly arrives, regret will come too late.

91. The Poor Man

Long ago, there was a poor man who worked laboriously and managed to save a little money. Upon seeing another man who was wealthy, he thought:

– I would need a great deal more money before I could compare with that rich man. If our wealth were compared, mine would fall far short.

He therefore became dejected and disappointed and wanted to throw the small amount of money he possessed into the river.

Those around him saw this and dissuaded him, saying:

– Although your money is very little, it can sustain you for many days. If you throw it all into the water, will you not be left without even a single coin?

** This story is an analogy: Among the ordained Sangha, some see that great virtuous monks and senior elders receive abundant offerings while they themselves receive little, their material support not equaling that of those great virtuous ones. Not only do they refuse to strive diligently in cultivation and study, but because their ability, virtue, and offerings do not equal those of others, they wish to abandon the path and cease cultivating. Such conduct is truly perverse.

92. The Child Who Received Sugar

Long ago, a woman carrying her young child became extremely tired while traveling. She sat down by the roadside to rest and, without realizing it, gradually dozed off.

A man then approached, holding a lump of sugar in his hand, and gave it to the child to eat.

Having received the sugar, the child cared only about eating its sweetness, while the man stripped away all the child's golden necklaces, golden bracelets, and other precious ornaments and carried them off.

** This story is an analogy: Among the ordained Sangha, some crave small worldly gains, delight in dwelling amid noise and commotion, and neglect diligent cultivation of the Buddhadharma. As a result, the treasures of merit and pure precepts are all seized and carried away by the thieves of the afflictions.

93. The Old Woman Who Fought a Tiger

An old woman was sleeping beneath a tree when a tiger suddenly came and sought to devour her. She hurriedly scrambled to her feet and ran around the tree to avoid being pounced upon by the tiger. After she had run around it many times, the tiger clutched the tree trunk with several paws and reached for the old woman with another.

In terror, the old woman lunged forward and embraced the tree trunk, pinning two of the tiger's legs tightly against the tree so that the tiger could no longer move them. But now the old woman could not release her grip.

At this critical moment, another man appeared before her. The old woman said to him:

– What good fortune! Please come here and help me kill this tiger, and we shall divide its meat between us.

The man believed the old woman's words and immediately ran over to fight the tiger.

The old woman released the tiger and fled headlong without stopping.

Only then did the man clearly understand the old woman's scheme, but his regret came too late. He had no choice but to summon all the strength of his life and struggle against the tiger. After resisting for a long time, his strength gradually became exhausted, and there was no way for him to escape. Before long, he lost his life.

** This story is an analogy: There are ordinary people who are not persons of lofty wisdom, yet delight in composing treatises and establishing doctrines. The words and meanings they formulate are generally commonplace and contain nothing excellent or worthy of attention. Most of them, however, die before completing their work. Their disciples gather their unfinished manuscripts and, failing to understand the original intention of the deceased, rely solely upon conjecture and speculation to continue and complete them, adding further explanations. The more they write, the more erroneous works they produce.

94. A Misunderstanding

Long ago, a man had an adulterous affair with another man's wife. One night, while her husband was away, he stayed in his lover's room. Suddenly, her husband returned. Discovering another man in his wife's room, the husband became furious and stood outside the door, waiting for his rival to emerge so that he could kill the adulterer and put an end to him.

When the wife realized what had happened, she said to her lover:

– My husband has discovered us, so you must quickly flee to save yourself; but you can get out only by means of “mani.”

In India, the word “mani” had several meanings: 1) a water channel, and 2) a precious jewel. What she meant was that her lover should escape by following the water channel.

After hearing her, however, he mistakenly understood that he had to obtain the mani jewel before he could leave. He continued running about within that terrifying encirclement, desperately hoping to find the mani jewel, and firmly declared:

– If I cannot find the mani jewel, I am determined not to leave.

Alas! In less than fifteen minutes, he fell beneath the wrathful blade of his rival.

** This story is an analogy: The Buddhadharma explains that by cultivating in accordance with the principle of the Middle Way, free from the two extremes of annihilationism and eternalism, one can attain liberation life after life.

Some people mistakenly interpret the two words “the two extremes” as the world’s “extreme of existence” and “extreme of nonexistence.” Because of this misunderstanding, they are unable to contemplate and perceive the principle of the Middle Way. As the days gradually pass, they are slain by the death-demon of impermanence. This analogy illustrates that, because people misunderstand the Buddha-Dharma, they are unable to establish and cultivate practice and, in the end, are harmed by birth and death.

95. The Two Cranes

There were once two cranes, a male and a female, living together in a nest in a tree. When autumn came, all kinds of fruit ripened and turned red. The cranes gathered a great many fruits and filled their nest with them. Because the weather was hot and dry, after several days the fruits all shriveled and contracted until only half the nest remained full. The male crane reproached the female crane, saying:

– We both worked diligently and laboriously to gather these fruits, yet now you have secretly eaten them by yourself. Look! Only half the fruit remains.

The female crane replied:

– I have never secretly eaten any of it. The fruit shrank by itself.

The male crane did not believe her. He immediately flew into a rage and shouted:

– If you did not secretly eat it, why has half the fruit disappeared?

Having said this, the male crane used his sharp beak to peck the female crane, killing her instantly.

Several days later, heavy rain fell. Owing to the moisture and cool air, the fruits swelled until they were as plentiful as before.

When the male crane saw this, he realized that he had previously misunderstood and was filled with boundless remorse. It was now clear that the female crane had not eaten a single fruit, yet he had mistakenly killed her unjustly. He was overcome with grief, crying out miserably and calling for the female crane through his sobs:

– My dear! Where have you gone? Where are you?

** This story is an analogy for those who insatiably crave fame and profit, who cannot distinguish right from wrong, whose resolve is unstable, and whose actions are rash and agitated. As a result, they often suffer grievous failure and may even fall into wrongdoing, after which repentance comes too late.

96. Feigning Blindness

Long ago, many craftsmen were conscripted by a king for extremely arduous forced labor. They were also treated with utmost cruelty. Their suffering was unbearable, and some even died unjustly because of it.

Among them was a man who devised a method: he pretended to be blind so that he would be exempted from the king’s arduous labor. Indeed, he was released and returned home. The other craftsmen who remained in his place all wanted to gouge out their own eyes and blind themselves in order to avoid the arduous labor.

Just as they were about to gouge out their eyes, one among them dissuaded them, saying:

– Friends! If we become blind and unable to see, we shall suffer for the rest of our lives. There are many other ways for us to deceive the king and escape this arduous labor. Why undertake such a dangerous act?

** This story is an analogy for people in the world who, for the sake of a little fame and profit, freely engage in deception and brazen falsehood, even to the point of violating the pure precepts and thereby creating suffering that endures for ages.

97. The Robbery of the Sheepskin Garment

Two men were traveling along a road across a vast and boundless plain when they encountered a band of brigands. One man swiftly fled and hid beneath a thicket, where the brigands did not see him. The other man was unable to escape in time, and a brigand snatched away the sheepskin garment he was wearing. The victim of the robbery had hidden several gold coins in the collar of the sheepskin garment, so he said to the brigand:

– I would like to exchange a pile of gold coins for that sheepskin garment.

The brigand asked:

– Where is your gold?

The man immediately took the coins from the collar of the garment, showed them to the brigand, and said:

– These truly are gold coins. If you do not believe what I say, there is a goldsmith in that thicket. Go over there and ask him.

When the brigand heard that someone was in the thicket, he immediately dragged out the man hiding there and stripped him of all his clothing.

** This story is an analogy for practitioners who have accumulated a small measure of merit but are often unable to withstand the brigands of habitual tendencies and afflictions. Consequently, they lose their wholesome qualities and ruin all their pure merit. This not only deprives them of their own benefit but also causes many others to regress in their aspiration for the Way.

98. The Child Who Caught a Turtle

Long ago, a child was running and playing in an open field when he caught an unusual turtle. He wanted to kill it immediately but did not know how. Someone advised him:

– You should put it into the water, and it will drown.

Upon hearing this, the child believed him, seized the turtle, and put it into the water.

Once the turtle reached the water, it freely swam about and roamed wherever it pleased.

This story is an analogy for someone whose cultivation and observance of the Buddha-Dharma proceed very smoothly, but who later listens to the beguiling words of non-Buddhist teachers and allows himself to be swept away again by worldly life, ultimately destroying his roots of goodness.