《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（二九）贫人烧粗褐衣喻
(29) Parable [Of The] Poor Person Burning Coarse Hemp Clothes
昔有一人贫穷困乏，与他客作，得粗褐衣而被着之。
[In the] past, [there] was a person poor [with] difficulties [of that] lacking, for another [as a] servant working, [who] got coarse hemp clothes and wore them.
有人见之而语之言：「汝种姓端正贵人之子，云何着此粗弊衣褐？我今教汝，当使汝得上妙衣服，当随我语终不欺汝。」
[There] was [a] person, seeing this, then speaking [to] him, saying, ‘[As] you [are the] son of [an] upright [and] noble caste’s person, why [are you] wearing these coarse hemp clothes? [As] I [will] now teach you, [and] will cause you [to] get [the] most wonderful clothes, [you] should follow my words. After all, [I will] not cheat you.’
贫人欢喜敬从其言，其人即便在前然火，语贫人言：「今可脱此粗褐衣着于火中，于此烧处，当使汝得上妙钦服。」
[The] poor person [with] joyful respect followed those words, [as] that person immediately before [a] burning fire, said [to the] poor person, saying, ‘Now, [you] can take off these coarse hemp clothes [and] burn [them] within [the] fire. From this burning place, [I] will cause you [to] get [the] most wonderful [and] admirable clothes.’
贫人即便脱着火中，既烧之后，于此火处求觅钦服都无所得。
[The] poor person immediately took [them] off [and] burnt [them] within [the] fire. Already burning [them] after, from this fire’s place seeking admirable clothes, all without those gotten.
世间之人亦复如是，从过去身修诸善法得此人身，应当保护进德修业，乃为外道邪恶妖女之所欺诳：「汝今当信我语修诸苦行，投岩赴火舍是身已，当生梵天长受快乐。」
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, from past bodies’ cultivation [of] many good Dharma [teachings] attaining these human bodies, [they] should protect [them and] progress virtuously [by] cultivating [their] karmas. Then by external paths’ evil [and] beautiful women, [by] those cheated [and] deceived, ‘You now should believe my words [to] cultivate all ascetic practices. [After] throwing [yourself off] cliffs, [and] rushing [into] fires [to] relinquish this body already, [you] will [be] born [in] Brahma’s heaven [to] long receive happiness [and] bliss.’
便用其语即舍身命，身死之后堕于地狱备受诸苦，既失人身空无所获，如彼贫人亦复如是。
Then using their words, immediately relinquishing [their] bodies [and] lives, [with their] bodies’ deaths after, falling into [the] hells [to] fully receive all [kinds of] suffering, both losing [their] human bodies, [also] empty without that obtained, like that poor person, [they are] likewise thus.
[Note: With whatever little or many blessings we have now, having worked our way to attain them, we should treasure them, and only use them to further cultivate good (善业) and pure karmas (净业), so as to advance towards Buddhahood (佛果).
If without this clear direction, we might be tempted and deceived to practise pointless extreme asceticism and other wrong practices that do not lead to the ‘heavenly’ promised, much less Buddhahood. Practices that lead to suicide can lead to a hellish rebirth instead due to taking of a human life. Such are useless sacrifices.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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为妇贸鼻喻
[28] The Parable Of For The Wife Changing Her Nose
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/11/28-the-parable-of-for-the-wife-changing-her-nose-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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牧羊人喻
[30] The Parable Of The Person Tending Sheep
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/12/30-the-parable-of-the-person-tending-sheep-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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All Hundred Parables:
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