《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
(三一)雇借瓦师喻
(31) Parable [Of] Hiring [An] Earthenware Master
昔有婆罗门师欲作大会,语弟子言:「我须瓦器以供会用,汝可为我雇借瓦师诣市觅之。」
[In the] past, [there] was [a] Brahmin teacher, desiring [to] have [a] great assembly, [who] spoke [to his] disciple, saying, ‘[As] I need earthenwares, with [them for an] offering assembly [to be] used, you can for me hire [a] earthenware master, [by] going [to the] market [to] search [for] him.’
时彼弟子往瓦师家。时有一人,驴负瓦器至市欲卖,须臾之间驴尽破之,还来家中啼哭懊恼,弟子见已而问之言:「何以悲叹懊恼如是?」
Then, his disciple went [to an] earthenware master’s house. Then, [there] was a person, [with a] donkey carrying earthenware, [who] arrived [at the] market, desiring [to] sell [them], within a moment, [with the] donkey completely breaking them. [He] returned [to the] house, weeping aloud [and] upset within. [The] disciple seeing [this] already, then asked him, saying, ‘Why [are you] sorrowfully sighing [and] upset thus?’
其人答言:「我为方便勤苦积年始得成器,诣市欲卖,此弊恶驴,须臾之顷尽破我器,是故懊恼。」
That person replied, saying, ‘[As] I, being skilful [with] diligence [and] suffering over many years, then getting [my] accomplished wares, arrived [at the] market, desired [to] sell [them, but] this evil donkey, [in the] short while [of] a moment completely broke my earthenware, therefore [am I] upset.’
尔时弟子见闻是已欢喜而言:「此驴乃是佳物,久时所作须臾能破,我今当买此驴。」
At that time, [the] disciple seeing [and] hearing this already, [was] joyful, then saying, ‘[As] this donkey [is an] excellent animal, [with] that [in a] long time made, [in] a moment able [to] break [them], I will today buy this donkey.’
瓦师欢喜即便卖与。
[The] earthenware master [was] joyful, immediately selling [and] giving [it to him].
乘来归家,师问之言:「汝何以不得瓦师将来,用是驴为?」
Riding [it and] returning home, [the] teacher asked him, saying, ‘Why [did] you not get [the] earthenware master fetched? [Of what] use is [this] donkey for?’
弟子答言:「此驴胜于瓦师,瓦师久时所作瓦器,少时能破。」
[The] disciple replied, saying, ‘This donkey [is] superior to [the] earthenware master, [as the] earthenware master [takes a] long time [for] that making [of] earthenware, [while it in a] little time [is] able [to] break [them].’
时师语言:「汝大愚痴无有智慧!此驴今者适可能破,假使百年不能成一。」
Then, [the] teacher said, ‘You [have] great ignorance, without having [any] wisdom! This donkey now [is] that just able [to] break, [but] if [in a] hundred years, [is] not able [to] accomplish one [ware].’
世间之人亦复如是,虽千百年受人供养都无报偿,常为损害终不为益,背恩之人亦复如是。
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, although [for a] hundred thousand years, accepting persons’ making [of] offerings, all [are] without repayment, constantly because of [them] harmed, [in the] end not because of [them] benefitted, of persons betraying kindness, [they are] likewise thus.
[Note: Those who keep accepting offerings without repaying by truly benefitting their donors also harm them by wasting their efforts and resources. There is much ado for nothing fruitful on both sides, while betraying donors’ kindness also creates much evil karma quickly.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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