《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（二四）种熬胡麻子喻
(24) Parable [Of] Planting Roasted Sesame Seeds
昔有愚人，生食胡麻子以为不美，熬而食之为美，便生念言：「不如熬而种之，后得美者。」
[In the] past, [there] was [a] foolish person, [with] raw eating [of] sesame seeds, with [them] as not delicious, [and with] roasting then eating them as delicious. [He] then gave rise [to the] thought, saying, ‘It would be better [to] roast and plant them, [to] later get those [that are] delicious.’
便熬而种，永无生理。
Then roasting and planting [them, they are] forever without growth’s principle.
世人亦尔，以菩萨旷劫修行，因难行苦行以为不乐，便作念言：「不如作阿罗汉，速断生死，其功甚易。」
[The] world’s people [are] likewise thus, with [the] Bodhisattva [path for] distant kalpas cultivating practices, because [of the] difficulties practising ascetic practices, assuming [this is] unhappiness, then having [the] thought, saying, ‘It would be better [to] become Arhats, [to] quickly sever [from the cycle of] birth [and] death, [as] its merits [are] extremely easy [to attain].’
后欲求佛果终不可得，如彼燋种无复生理，世间愚人亦复如是。
Later desiring [to] seek [the] Buddha fruit, [with it] in the end unattainable, like those roasted seeds [being] without regeneration’s principle, [the] world’s foolish people [are] likewise thus.
[Note: We should not, with shortsighted haste, decrease or ‘destroy’ our motivation for Buddhahood, as it is with this attained through Bodhisattva practices (菩萨行), that True Happiness for one and all is realised.
The otherwise ‘long and tedious’ Bodhisattva path (菩萨道) can be made most swift and smooth with birth in the Pure Land (净土) Of Ultimate Bliss (极乐世界).
If the Bodhi Mind (菩提心) or aspiration for Buddhahood is ‘extinguished’ in this defiled land (秽土), it will be challenging to ‘revive’ here. In contrast, upon reaching the Pure Land, with the most skilful means (方便) there, the complete and perfect Bodhi Mind (圆满菩提心) will most easily arise, and never retrogress (不退转).]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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Previous Parable:
贼偷锦绣用裹氀褐喻
[23] The Parable Of The Thief Stealing Brocade To Use For Wrapping Felt And Coarse Hemp Cloth
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/05/23-the-parable-of-the-thief-stealing-brocade-to-use-for-wrapping-felt-and-coarse-hemp-cloth-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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Next Parable:
水火喻
[25] The Parable Of Water And Fire
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/07/25-the-parable-of-water-and-fire-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
https://purelanders.com/baiyu
