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Excerpts

[41] The Parable Of Piśāca Ghosts From The Sūtra Of A Hundred Parables《百喻经》之毗舍闍鬼喻

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昔有二毗舍闍鬼,共有一箧一杖一屐,二鬼共诤各各欲得,二鬼纷纭竟日不能使平。

In the past, there were two piśāca ghosts, together having one trunk, one cane and one pair of clogs. With the two ghosts together disputing, with each one desiring to get them, the two ghosts had many confusions, to the end of the day, not able to have equal division.

[Note 1: Piśāca ghosts (毗舍闍鬼) are flesh-eating and shape-shifting demons.]

时有一人来见之已而问之言:「此箧杖屐有何奇异?汝等共诤瞋忿乃尔。」

Then, there was a person, coming and seeing them already, then asking them, saying, ‘This trunk, cane and clogs have what that is unusual, for you together, to be disputing like this?’

二鬼答言:「我此箧者,能出一切衣服饮食床褥卧具资生之物,尽从中出。执此杖者,怨敌归服无敢与诤。着此屐者,能令人飞行无罣礙。」

The two ghosts replied, saying, ‘Our this trunk, is that able to produce all objects of clothing, drinks, food, mattresses and bedding, completely from within producing them. Those holding this cane, will have enemies surrendering and paying allegiance, without those daring to be with them disputing. Those wearing these clogs, are able to cause these persons to fly without hindrances.’

此人闻已即语鬼言:「汝等小远,我当为尔平等分之。」

This person, hearing this already, immediately said to the ghosts, saying, ‘If you stand a slight distance away, I will for thus equally divide them.’

鬼闻其语,寻即远避。此人即时抱箧捉杖蹑屐而飞,二鬼愕然竟无所得。

The ghosts, hearing his words, immediately kept far away. This person immediately embraced the trunk, clutched the cane, treaded onto the clogs and flew, with the two ghosts stunned completely, without that gotten.

人语鬼言:「尔等所诤我已得去,今使尔等更无所诤。」

The person said to the ghosts, saying, ‘Of those you disputed over, I have already taken away, now causing you to again be without that to dispute.’

毗舍闍者喻于众魔及以外道。

Those piśācas are analogous to many demons and external paths.

布施如箧,人天五道资用之具皆从中出。

Generosity is like the trunk, with instruments of the human, heavenly and the five paths available for use, all from within produced.

[Note 2: The five paths (五道) are essentially the same as the six paths (六道) of rebirth, with the (i) hell path (地狱道), (ii) hungry ghost path (饿鬼道), (iii) animal path (畜生道), (iv) human path (人道), (v) asura path (阿修罗道) and (vi) heavenly path (天道), but without (v), as this path can also arise within any of the other five paths (五道).]

禅定如杖,消伏魔怨烦恼之贼。

Meditative concentration is like the cane, for eliminating and subduing the thieves of Māra’s afflictions.

[Note 3: Māra (魔怨/魔罗) is the Desire Realm’s (欲界) Sixth Heaven’s (第六天) lord, the embodiment of death (死亡) and greedy desires (贪欲) that distract from liberation (解脱) from rebirth (轮回). He is the outer Māra, while the inner Māra (i.e. inner or mental demon/s [心魔]) refers to one’s Three Poisons (三毒) of greed (贪), anger (嗔) and delusion (痴), from which afflictions (烦恼) arise. One who has conquered one’s inner Māra is equivalent to one who has conquered all outer Māras.]

持戒如屐,必升人天。

Upholding of precepts is like the clogs, definitely able to ascend to human and heavenly rebirths.

诸魔外道诤箧者,喻于有漏中强求果报,空无所得。

All those demons and external paths disputing over the trunk, are analogous to those from what having outflows within forcibly seeking fruits of rewards, empty without that attained.

[Note 4: What having outflows (有漏) refers to impure practices, thus still with the Three Poisons (三毒) flowing outwards from their practitioners, to defile their experiences and the worlds dwelled in.]

若能修行善行及以布施持戒禅定,便得离苦获得道果。

If able to cultivate practice with good actions, and have generosity, upholding precepts and meditative concentration, this then attains departure from suffering, to obtain the path’s fruit.

全百喻
All Hundred Parables:

https://purelanders.com/baiyu

Please Be Mindful Of Your Speech, Namo Amituofo!

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