譬如伎儿，王前作乐，王许千钱。
For example, when a musician, before the King made music, the King promised him a thousand coins.
后从王索，王不与之，王语之言：「汝向作乐空乐我耳，我与汝钱亦乐汝耳。」
Later, from the King asking for them, the King did not give them to him. The King spoke to him, saying, ‘As you previously made music to bring empty joy to my ears, I “gave” you coins, also for the joy of your ears.’
世间果报亦复如是，人中天上虽受少乐亦无有实，无常败灭不得久住，如彼空乐。
The world’s fruits of rewards are likewise thus, of humans within and those in the heavens above, although receiving a little joy, this is also without that true. Impermanent and declining to be eliminated, they cannot long abide, like that empty music.
[Note: With worldly phenomena being empty of permanence and substance, why should we create that empty, while expecting empty joys and empty rewards?
We should strive towards attaining lasting and substantial world-transcending bliss instead. The swiftest and most skilful means for doing so is through reaching of Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土), for expediting and perfecting Dharma learning, practice and realisation.]
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
https://purelanders.com/baiyu
