《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
(四〇)治秃喻
(40) Parable [Of] Curing Baldness
昔有一人头上无毛,冬则大寒夏则患热,兼为蚊虻之所唼食,昼夜受恼,甚以为苦。
[In the] past, [there] was a person, [with his] head above without hair, [in] winter then [with] great cold, [and in] summer then suffering [from] heat, together by mosquitoes [and] house flies as that bitten, [in] day [and] night receiving afflictions, with [this] as extreme suffering.
有一医师多诸方术,时彼秃人往至其所,语其医言:「唯愿大师为我治之。」
[There] was a doctor [with] many medical skills. Then, that bald person went to [and] arrived [at] his place, spoke [to] this doctor, saying, ‘[I] only wish [the] great doctor [can] for me cure this.’
时彼医师亦复头秃,即便脱帽示之而语之言:「我亦患之以为痛苦,若令我治能得差者,应先自治以除其患。」
Then, that doctor, likewise [with his] head bald, immediately took off [his] hat [to] show it, then spoke [to] him, saying, ‘[As] I also suffer [from] this, with [this having] pain [and] suffering, if [I can] cause myself [to be] cured, [to be] able [to] get recovery, [I] should first personally cure [myself], with [this] eliminating that suffering.’
世间之人亦复如是,为生老病死之所侵恼,欲求长生不死之处,闻有沙门婆罗门等世之良医善疗众患,便往其所而语之言:「唯愿为我除此无常生死之患,常处安乐长存不变。」
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, by birth, ageing, sickness [and] death as those encroached [and] afflicted, desiring [to] seek that place [with] long life without death, hearing [there] are Śramaṇas, Brahmins [and] others, those worldly good doctors, [who are] good [at] healing many illnesses, then go [to] their places and speak [to] them, saying, ‘[I] only wish [you can] for me, eliminate this suffering of impermanence [from] birth, ageing, sickness [and] death, [to] constantly dwell [in] peace [and] bliss, [to] long exist [and] not change.’
时婆罗门等即便报言:「我亦患此无常生老病死,种种求觅长存之处终不能得。今我若能使汝得者,我亦应先自得,令汝亦得。」
Then, [the] Brahmins [and] others immediately replied, saying, ‘I also suffer [from] this impermanence [from] birth, ageing, sickness [and] death, [with] all kinds [of methods] seeking that place [to] long exist, [in the] end not able [to] attain [it]. Now, if I [am] able [to] cause you [to] attain that, I also should first personally attain [it, then] cause you [to] also attain [it].’
如彼患秃之人,徒自疲劳不能得差。
Like that person suffering [from] baldness, in vain fatigued, [they are] not able [to] get recovery.
[Note: One who cannot spiritually cure oneself cannot cure others. However, with Right Views (正见), one can point to actual cures in the Buddha’s teachings, to be practised personally for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. For example, even if one has yet to reach Pure Land, one can still guide others to reach it, and they might do so before one, due to earlier departure from this life. Upon reaching the Pure Land, there will be immeasurable life (无量寿) without death, with constant peace and bliss, as they progress towards unchanging Buddhahood.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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https://purelanders.com/2023/08/30/39-the-parable-of-seeing-another-person-applying-on-his-house-from-the-sutra-of-a-hundred-parables
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