《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（三五）宝箧镜喻
(35) Parable [Of The] Treasure Trunk’s Mirror
昔有一人，贫穷困乏，多负人债无以可偿，即便逃避至空旷处。
[In the] past, [there] was a person, poor, [with] difficulties [and] lacking, owing many people debts. Without [that which] can [be] used [for] repayment, [he] immediately escaped [and] arrived [at an] empty [and] wide place.
值箧，满中珍宝，有一明镜着珍宝上以盖覆之。
Encountering [a] trunk, full [with] precious treasures within, [there] was a bright mirror attached [to the] precious treasures above, with [it as a] lid covering them.
贫人见已，心大欢喜，即便发之，见镜中人便生惊怖，叉手语言：「我谓空箧都无所有，不知有君在此箧中，莫见瞋也。」
[The] poor person, seeing [this] already, [with his] mind [having] great joy, immediately gave rise [to] it. Seeing [the] person within [the] mirror, [he] then gave rise [to] surprise [and] fear, cupped [his] hands [and] said, ‘I thought [this is an] empty trunk, not having [anything at] all, not knowing you are within this trunk, [please do] not look angry.’
凡夫之人亦复如是，为无量烦恼之所穷困，而为生死魔王债主之所缠着，欲避生死入佛法中，修行善法作诸功德。
Of ordinary beings’ people, [they are] likewise thus, by immeasurable afflictions as those poor [and with] difficulties, and by [the cycle of] birth [and] death, [its] demon king [and their] creditors, as those bound [and] attached, desiring [to] avoid [the cycle of] birth [and] death, enter [the] Buddha’s Dharma teachings within, [to] cultivate practices [of] good Dharma teachings, [and] create all meritorious virtues.
如值宝箧，为身见镜之所惑乱，妄见有我，即便封着，谓是真实，于是堕落失诸功德，禅定道品无漏诸善三乘道果一切都失。如彼愚人弃于宝箧，着我见者亦复如是。
Like encountering [of the] treasure trunk, by self’s view’s mirror as those confused, falsely seeing [there] is [a] self, immediately attached, thinking [it] is true, thereupon falling [and] losing all meritorious virtues, meditative concentrations, path factors without outflows, all good [Dharma teachings and the] Three Vehicles’ paths’ fruits [i.e. of Arhathood (阿罗汉果), Pratyekabuddhahood (辟支佛果) and Bodhisattvahood (菩萨果)], [with them] all lost. Like that foolish person’s abandoning of [the] treasure trunk, those attached [to] self’s view [are] likewise thus.
[Note: Strong attachment to the illusion of having a permanent and substantial self is the key obstacle that prevents us from attaining the immeasurable Dharma treasures (法宝) that the Buddha freely offers, that will solve our spiritual and physical problems. It is thus our fundamental existential delusion, that we ironically cling to, in this life and from life to life.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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