《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（二五）水火喻
(25) Parable [Of] Water [And] Fire
昔有一人事须火用及以冷水，即便宿火以澡灌盛水置于火上，后欲取火而火都灭，欲取冷水而水复热，火及冷水二事俱失。
[In the] past, [there] was a person, [for] work needing fire [to be] used, as well as cold water. Immediately [with the] previous night’s [yet to be] extinguished fire, [and] with [a] wash [basin, he] poured into [it to] fill [it with] water, [and] placed [it] on [the] fire above. Later desiring [to] get fire, then [with the] fire all extinguished, desiring [to] get cold water, then [with the] water again hot, [with] fire and cold water, [these] two things together lost.
世间之人亦复如是，入佛法中出家求道，既得出家还复念其妻子眷属、世间之事五欲之乐。
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, [for] entering within [the] Buddha’s Dharma [teachings], leaving [the] household [life to] seek [the] path, [having] already attained leaving [of the] household [life], again thinking [about] their wives, children, [other] family members, matters of [the] world [and] joys of [the] five desires.
由是之故，失其功德之火、持戒之水，念欲之人亦复如是。
Because of this thus, losing their ‘fires’ of meritorious virtues, [and] ‘waters’ of upholding precepts, of people thinking [of] desires, [they are] likewise thus.
[Note: With inverted thinking, the foolish yearn for liberation when trapped in the cycle of birth and death, but when on the path towards liberation, yearn for matters of the cycle of birth and death. Ambivalently alternating between these two kinds of motivations, they thus lose both of what they yearn for.
There should be reasonable fulfilling of worldly (世间) responsibilities, before focusing on world-transcending (出世间) Dharma learning and practice. Even if not able to focus on the latter full time, there should be mindful switching between the duo in everyday life, to focus properly on each when dealing with each, without distracting oneself by thinking of the other then.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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种熬胡麻子喻
[24] The Parable Of Planting Roasted Sesame Seeds
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/07/24-the-parable-of-planting-roasted-sesame-seeds-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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人效王眼瞤喻
[26] The Parable Of The Person Imitating A King’s Eye-Twitching
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/10/26-the-parable-of-the-person-imitating-a-kings-eye-twitching-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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