《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（三〇）牧羊人喻
(30) Parable [Of The] Person Tending Sheep
昔有一人，巧于牧羊，其羊滋多乃有千万，极大悭贪不肯外用。
[In the] past, [there] was a person, skilful in tending sheep, [with] his sheep increasing [in] number, thus having ten million [of them. With] extremely great greed, [he was] not willing [to be with them for] external use.
时有一人善于巧诈，便作方便往共亲友，而语之言：「我今共汝极成亲爱，便为一体更无有异。我知彼家有一好女，当为汝求可用为妇。」
Then, [there] was a person good at [being] deceitful, then creating ‘skilful’ means, going together [to be with his] family [and] friends, then speaking [to] him, saying, ‘I now together [with] you [have] become extremely close [and] beloved, then as one body, also without having differences. I know that family [which] has a good woman, [and] will [for] you seek [her, whom you] can [be] with as [your] wife.’
牧羊之人闻之欢喜，便大与羊及诸财物。
[The] person tending sheep, hearing this, [was] joyful, then greatly gave [him] sheep, much wealth [and] goods.
其人复言：「汝妇今日已生一子。」
That person again said, ‘Your wife today, already gave birth [to] a son.’
牧羊之人未见于妇，闻其已生心大欢喜，重与彼物。
[The] person tending sheep, yet [to be with] seeing of [his] wife, hearing she already gave birth, [was with his] mind greatly joyful, [and] again gave that [person] goods.
其人后复而语之言：「汝儿生已今死矣。」
That person later again then said [to] him, saying, ‘Your son, born already, [is] now dead.’
牧羊之人闻此人语，便大啼泣歔欷不已。
[The] person tending sheep, hearing this person’s words, then greatly wept aloud endlessly.
世间之人亦复如是，既修多闻，为其名利秘惜其法，不肯为人教化演说，为此漏身之所诳惑妄期世乐。
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, already [having] cultivated much hearing [of the Dharma], for their fame [and] benefits, [are] secretly begrudging [with] those Dharma [teachings], not willing [to be] for people teaching, transforming [and] expounding [them], for this body [with] outflows, [by] that deceived [and] confused, [with] false hope [for] worldly joys.
如己妻息为其所欺，丧失善法，后失身命并及财物，便大悲泣生其忧苦，如彼牧羊之人亦复如是。
Like [with] one’s wife’s news by that cheated, losing good Dharma [teachings], later losing [their] bodies [and] lives, and also wealth [and] goods, then [with] great grief crying, giving rise [to] their worries [and] suffering, [they are] like that person tending sheep, likewise thus.
[Note: There should be careful acceptance of information (including news), especially in terms of spiritual teachings, which might or might not be true. There must be mindful investigation and enquiry to know if that heard is valid or not. If not, not only might we be cheated spiritually, we might be cheated materially too, repeatedly. Upon discovery of being cheated later, there will be grief for having given (or ‘donated’) for nothing true, getting nothing real in turn too.
Having much good resources (that are not against the precepts) is useless if they are not shared or given generously to benefit more. If already knowing the precious Right Dharma (正法), it should be shared selflessly, as giving of the Dharma (法施), with no sense of miserliness, not for personal gain. If there is reluctance to do so, we might not truly know the Right Dharma after all, much less practising it. If there is spiritual stinginess, there is usually physical greed for material (but fleeting) pleasures too.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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贫人烧粗褐衣喻
[29] The Parable Of The Poor Person Burning Coarse Hemp Clothes
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/11/29-the-parable-of-the-poor-person-burning-coarse-hemp-clothes-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
下个喻
Next Parable:
雇借瓦师喻
[31] The Parable Of Hiring An Earthenware Master
https://purelanders.com/2023/08/23/31-the-parable-of-hiring-an-earthenware-master-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
https://purelanders.com/baiyu
