《百喻经》
[The] Sūtra [Of A] Hundred Parables
（四四）欲食半饼喻
(44) Parable [Of] Desiring [To] Eat Half [A] Pancake
譬如有人，因其饥故食七枚煎饼，食六枚半已便得饱满，其人恚悔，以手自打而作是言：「我今饱足由此半饼，然前六饼唐自捐弃，设知半饼能充足者，应先食之。」
For example, there [is a] person, because [of] his hunger thus, eating seven pieces [of] pancakes. [After] eating six [and a] half pieces already, then getting [to be] full, this person [was] angry [and] regretful. With [his] hands hitting himself, [he] then made this statement, ‘[As] I now [am] full due [to] this half [a] pancake, thus [were the] earlier six pancakes in vain wasted. If knowing that half [a] pancake [is] able [to be] filling, [I] should [have] first eaten it.’
世间之人亦复如是，从本以来常无有乐，然其痴倒横生乐想。
People of [the] world [are] likewise thus, from originally since, constantly without [that] having joy, however, their delusions invertedly [and] chaotically give rise [to] joy’s thoughts.
如彼痴人于半番饼生于饱想，世人无知以富贵为乐。
Like that deluded person with half [a] pancake giving rise to fullness’ thought, [the] world’s people [who are] ignorant [are] with wealth [and] honour as joy.
夫富贵者，求时甚苦，既获得已守护亦苦，后还失之忧念复苦，于三时中都无有乐。
Those [for] that [of] wealth [and] honour, when seeking [them, are with] extreme suffering. Thereupon, [having] obtained [them] already, guarding [and] protecting [them is] also [with] suffering. Later also losing them, worried [and] again [with] suffering. Within [the] three periods, all [are] without [those] having joy.
[Note 1: The Three Periods (三世) are the (i) past period (过去世), (ii) present period (现在世) and (iii) future period (未来世).]
犹如衣食遮故名乐，于辛苦中横生乐想，诸佛说言：「三界无安，皆是大苦，凡夫倒惑，横生乐想。」
Similar to clothing [and] food covering [the body and dispelling hunger, with] thus named [as] joy, within hardship [and] suffering chaotically giving rise [to] joy’s thoughts, all Buddhas say, ‘[The] three realms [are] without peace, [and] all are [with] great suffering, [with] ordinary beings inverted [and] confused, chaotically giving rise [to] joy’s thoughts.’
[Note 2: There is no substantial and lasting joy in the first place for ordinary beings, even if with much wealth and honour, clothing and food. This is so as these false ‘refuges’ are neither substantial nor lasting, while the unenlightened are still subject to to the Eight Sufferings (see Note 3). Thus, seeking, protecting and missing these ‘refuges’ is ultimately pointless.]
[Note 3: The Eight Sufferings (八苦) are the Physical Sufferings (身苦) of (i) birth (生), (ii) ageing (老), (iii) sickness (病) and (iv) death (死), and the Mental Sufferings (心苦) of (v) separation from the beloved (爱别离), (vi) meeting the hated (怨憎会), (vii) not attaining the sought (求不得) and (viii) blazing of the Five Aggregates (五蕴炽盛) (of forms [色], feelings [受], perceptions [想], mental formations [行] and consciousness [识]).]
[Note 4: As the three realms (三界) of the (i) Desire Realm (欲界), (ii) Form Realm (色界) and (iii) Formless Realm (无色界) arise from the three poisons (三毒) of (i) greed (贪), (ii) anger (嗔) and (iii) delusion (痴), which also give rise to the Eight Sufferings, the three realms are without peace. To seek substantial and lasting joy within is thus inverted and confused.]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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