昔有一人头上无毛,冬则大寒夏则患热,兼为蚊虻之所唼食,昼夜受恼,甚以为苦。
In the past, there was a person, with his head above without hair, in winter then with great cold, and in summer then suffering from heat, together by mosquitoes and house flies as that bitten, in day and night receiving afflictions, with this as extreme suffering.
有一医师多诸方术,时彼秃人往至其所,语其医言:「唯愿大师为我治之。」
There was a doctor with many medical skills. Then, that bald person went to and arrived at his place, spoke to this doctor, saying, ‘I only wish the great doctor can for me cure this.’
时彼医师亦复头秃,即便脱帽示之而语之言:「我亦患之以为痛苦,若令我治能得差者,应先自治以除其患。」
Then, that doctor, likewise with his head bald, immediately took off his hat to show it, then spoke to him, saying, ‘As I also suffer from this, with this having pain and suffering, if I can cause myself to be cured, to be able to get recovery, I should first personally cure myself, with this eliminating that suffering.’
世间之人亦复如是,为生老病死之所侵恼,欲求长生不死之处,闻有沙门婆罗门等世之良医善疗众患,便往其所而语之言:「唯愿为我除此无常生死之患,常处安乐长存不变。」
People of the world are likewise thus, by birth, ageing, sickness and death as those encroached and afflicted, desiring to seek that place with long life without death, hearing there are Śramaṇas, Brahmins and others, those worldly good doctors, who are good at healing many illnesses, then go to their places and speak to them, saying, ‘I only wish you can for me, eliminate this suffering of impermanence from birth, ageing, sickness and death, to constantly dwell in peace and bliss, to long exist and not change.’
时婆罗门等即便报言:「我亦患此无常生老病死,种种求觅长存之处终不能得。今我若能使汝得者,我亦应先自得,令汝亦得。」如彼患秃之人,徒自疲劳不能得差。
Then, the Brahmins and others immediately replied, saying, ‘I also suffer from this impermanence from birth, ageing, sickness and death, with all kinds of methods seeking that place to long exist, in the end not able to attain it. Now, if I am able to cause you to attain that, I also should first personally attain it, then cause you to also attain it.’ Like that person suffering from baldness, in vain fatigued, they are not able to get recovery.
[Note: One who cannot spiritually cure oneself cannot cure others. However, with Right Views (正见), one can point to actual cures in the Buddha’s teachings, to be practised personally for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. For example, even if one has yet to reach Pure Land, one can still guide others to reach it, and they might do so before one, due to earlier departure from this life. Upon reaching the Pure Land, there will be immeasurable life (无量寿) without death, with constant peace and bliss, as they progress towards unchanging Buddhahood.]
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
https://purelanders.com/baiyu