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(42) THE TRADER AND THE DEAD CAMEL
Once there was a trader who was traveling on business. It so happened that the camel suddenly died on the way. The animal was loaded with valuable things such as jewels, clothes, carpet of first quality and sundries. The trader then skinned the camel. He went away leaving it to his two apprentices and said, "Watch the camel's skin. Don't let it get damp."
Later, when it started to rain, the two dull men covered the skin with all the fine carpet, which became entirely ruined. Obviously the skin and carpet differed much in price. They put the carpet to cover the skin out of ignorance.
So are the people at large.
Abstaining from killing refers to the fine carpet, the camel's skin, and wealth. To let the carpet get damp when it is raining means to undermine recklessly good merits.
The abstention from killing is the supreme motive to attain Buddhahood. Unfortunately, people do not effectively practice it. They merely adhere to build pagodas or temples and give alms to support monks. This is giving up the essential and pursuing the non-essential. In other words, people are not conscious of seeking the fundamental. Unable to go out of the vicious cycle, they lead their lives, through the Five Ways of existence. Therefore, the commandment of the abstention from killing should be earnestly observed by the followers.
(43) TO GRIND A BIG STONE
Once there was a man who ground a big stone with great effort. He made a small toy bull out of it after days and months of labor. The effort being made was strenuous, yet the gain expected was trivial.
So are the people from all walks of life.
Grinding a stone refers to learning seriously and diligently.
To make a small toy bull applies 'to the illusive fame and the inducement of the mutual criticism.
A scholar should endeavor himself to serious studying to get wide and extensive knowledge. Furthermore, he has to put his learning into practice so as to obtain some fulfillment. The goal must not be the illusive fame, complacence and arrogance, which breed only sins and calamities.
(44) EATING HALF A PANCAKE
Once there was a man who felt hungry and longed to eat seven pancakes. He was already full when he had eaten six pancakes and a half. He was so sorry for having ordered seven of them that he slapped his own face and said, "Half a pancake has filled me up. The other six are wasted. If only I had known that, I should have ordered only half a cake."
So are the people at large.
There is actually no pleasure in life. There are only illusions, just like the stupid man getting full illusion with half a cake.
Being ignorant, people view wealth and honor as pleasure. It is sometimes a painful process to get them. It is also sometimes hard to keep them. It is all the more painful when they have lost them. Therefore, they give no pleasure to people at all times.
It is just like people taken in by clothes and food as pleasure. They also bear illusions of the word "pleasure" when they are toiling and moiling. All Buddhas have it that the Three Worlds1 has no peace but great suffering. Ignorant man with wrong views still clings desperately to illusions.
(45) THE SLAVE GUARDS THE DOOR
Once there was a man who was about to take a long trip. He gave orders to his slave and said, "Keep a close watch over the door as well as the donkey and the rope".
After his departure, the neighbor was playing music with drew attention of the slave. He put the rope and the door on the ass' back and went to the neighbor to listen to the music. The house was then ransacked by a thief after he had left it. On his return, the master asked the alive what had happened to his house.
The slave replied, "You told me to take care of the door, the ass and the rope. I know nothing about the rest."
Again the master said, "The whole idea of watching the door is for you to watch the house. Now that the house has been robbed, what's the use in having the door?"
Stupid men in the world cling to birth and death (or transmigration) by their lust for life like the slave to the door.
Buddha preaches to control the six sense organs (the door) without attaching to the six objective fields. In addition, he advises to keep watch on human folly (the ass) as well as all desires (the rope). However, most monks do not follow the teachings of Buddhism seeking enviously material offerings from others. Even when practicing meditation, they give an appearance to being pure and clean. But their minds are still unsettled by their attachment to the five desires and deluded by sight, sound, smell, taste etc. When ignorance takes over the mind and attachment to desires comes into being, all lost will be the right thought, the enlightened mind and the monastic grades (Just as the robbed house of the told story).
(46) TO STEAL THE YAK
Once there was a village whose people jointly participated in stealing a yak for food. The man who lost the yak followed their trail to the village. He called out to the villagers, "Do you all live in this village?"
The villagers replied, "We live in no village."
Again the man asked, "There is a pond in your village. Have you eaten the yak together on the side of the pond?"
Replied the people: "We know of no pond."
Again he asked, "Is there any tree near the pond?"
They answered, "We know of no tree."
Again he asked, "Were you on the east side of your village when you stole my yak?"
They answered, "We know of no east direction."
Again he asked, "Wasn't it at noon when you stole my yak?"
They answered, "We know of no noon time."
Again he asked, "Although it is possibly true of your first three answers, how can you say there is no direction and no time in all the world. Now I know you are lying. So I don't believe you at all. Sure enough, you have stolen my yak. Haven't you?"
Thereupon, the stealer could not but admit it.
So are those who break commandments. People who hide their sins are reluctant to disclose them. They will, however, go to hell after their death. Since Devas and good gods possess supernatural eyes, people should not even try to deceive them just like the villagers should not refuse to admit stealing a yak for food
(47) THE POOR MAN CROWS LIKE A DUCK
It happened once that a foreign country was celebrating its Religious Day for festivities. All women wore blue lotus flowers as ornament in their hair.
To her husband, a woman said, "If you can get blue lotus flowers for me, I shall remain as your wife. Otherwise. I'll walk out on you."
Her husband was capable of crowing like a duck. He then entered the king's pond to steal blue lotus flowers. He crowed when he was caught by the palace guard. The guard asked: "Who are you?"
With a slip of the tongue, the poor man replied: "I'm a duck."
He was arrested and was taken to the king. On the way, he crowed again. Thereupon, the guard said, "You didn't crow properly before, what's the use of doing so now?"
So are the stupid in the world.
One who in his lifetime does all kinds of evil deeds to the others, is reluctant to repent and subdue his mind. Only at the time of his demise, he says, "From now on, I shall start to do good deeds."
The guard will nevertheless send him to the King of Hell. It is too late for him to want to do good deeds, just as the stupid man who could crow like duck.
(48) THE FOX WAS HIT BY A SNAP TO TWIG
Once a fox who stood under a tree was hit by a twig fallen on his back. He then closed his eyes for he did not like to see the tree. Soon after, he went to an open space. He would not return even when night fell.
Later, however, when he saw the branches and the leaves of a big tree wavering up and down in the wind, he said to himself, "The tree must be calling me." He then went back under the tree where he had got hit earlier.
So is a stupid disciple.
In his attempt of becoming a monk, he has chances to approach a tutor from who he runs away at his first slight rebuke. Afterwards, he gets into a lot of trouble when he meets friends who have adverse influence over him. Only then does he begin to think of returning to his tutor. It is indeed stupid of him to go and come like that.
(49) BOYS' ARGUMENT ON THE SUBJECT OF HAIR
There were once two boys who dived in a river where they found at its bottom a bundle of feathers. One said that it was the beard of some spirit, whereas the other said it was the bear's hair. They argued without a right answer. A supernatural being nearby was then approached by the two and was asked to settle the argument. He put rice and sesame seeds into his mouth and chewed for a while, then he spat them into his hand and said, "What I have got here seems to me a peacock's excrement."
It is known his answer was beyond the question, which was put to him. So are the stupid in the world.
During the time of preaching, those who facetiously discuss the teachings of Buddhism do not give the answer to the right doctrine, just like the supernatural being not answering the question. People from all walks of life are made a laughing stock. So is the frivolous and empty gossip.
(50) TO CURE A HUNCHBACK
Once there was a man who suddenly became a hunchback. He went to a physician who treated him first with ointment smeared on his back, and who then squeezed the hunchback between two pieces of woodblock. The doctor pressed the woodblock so hard that the hunchback's eyes popped out.
So are the stupid in the world.
In seeking for wealth, people try their hands in every possible trade. What they don't realize is that even if they commit crimes most furtively, they will make more injuries than profits, just like the doctor made the hunchback's eyes popped. They will one day go to Hell.
(51) A MAID AND HER FIVE MASTERS
Once there were five men who together bought a maid to whom one of them said, "Get my clothes washed."
Another man also told her to do the same thing. But the maid said he would wash for whoever gave her clothes first. Angrily the second man said, "Since I have bought you with others, how can you wash only for the first one who gave the elder?"
Then he beat her ten strokes with a whip. Thus she was whipped as much by each of the five masters.
So are the five components of human bodies, which are the sources of annoyances. They whip the sentient beings with birth giving, old age, sickness, death and numerous other miseries.
(52) THE MUSICIAN
Once a musician played in the presence of the king who had promised him a thousand coins. Later, he asked the king for the money. The king refused to give it to him and said, "The music you played doesn't make me merry for a long time. Therefore, the money that I intent to give you is also to please you just for a while."
So is the wordy retribution.
While there is little pleasure in human lives and in Heaven, there is also little substance in them. Owing to impermanence and destruction, the pleasure does not last for long just like the music giving only a transient rejoicing.
(53) THE MASTER'S ACHING LEGS
Once a master told two of his disciples to take care of his aching legs. Each one had to massage continuously each of his two legs. The two disciples bear strong dislike of each other. When one left for a break, the other broke with a stone the leg that the first one had massaged out of spite. The first one, angry at his doings, broke the other leg that the second one had massaged.
So are the Buddhist disciples. The scholars of Mahayana criticize the Hinayana, and vice-versa. Therefore, these two schools' scriptures of the Great Saint, run the risk to be both vanishing.
(54) THE SNAKE'S ARGUMENT
Once there was a snake whose tail told its head, "I should lead the way."
And the head said, "I'm used to leading, why do you want to change positions so suddenly?"
When the head led the way, the tail knotted himself around a tree and was unwilling to move. And when the tail led, the snake fell into a burning pit and was burnt to its death.
This is also true with teachers and disciples.
The disciples have a fancy that the young should lead the way, as they think teachers are too old to lead. Due to their youthful immaturity, they often break commandments without being aware of it. They end up dragging each other down to Hell.
(55) TO BE A KING'S BARBER
Once upon a time, a king's personal attendant risked his life to save the king at the battlefield. The king was so grateful that he gave his lifesaver whatever he wanted. The king asked, "What do you want? Your wishes shall be granted."
The man replied, "Allow me to shave you when you need a shave."
The king said, "If that is what you wish to do, I'll grant it to you."
Such a stupid man is laughed at by the people at large. It would be so much better for the barber to ask for half a country or to become prime minister or minister of State rather than to practice the mean profession. Only a stupid man would do so.
To attain Buddhadhood, all Buddhas cultivate themselves with hardship during a long and painful period of time. What people do not realize is that Buddha Sakyamuni's bequeathed teachings are scarce to be heard and our human bodies are hard to be acquired as well. It is like a blind turtle's trouble in finding a log hole floating at the surface of the water.
Fortunately enough, once these two difficulties are overcome, people are self-complacent with their shallow mind and few commandments are observed without any ambition of ever attaining Nirvana, the perfect Enlightenment. They find themselves contented with no further improvement and instead end up doing evil deeds.
(56) TO ASK NOTHING
Once upon a time, two men walking together saw another fellow trying in vain to pull a chariot loaded with sesame out of a hole on the road.
To the two men, the fellow said, "Please give me a hand."
The two men replied, "What are our, rewards?"
The fellow said, "Nothing."
In spite of the answer, the two men helped to get the chariot out of the hole. They demanded, "Now give us something."
The fellow replied, "I'll give you nothing!"
Again the men said, "Give us "Nothing" then!"
Half smiling, one of them said, "He doesn't want to give us anything. No use getting upset."
The other one replied, "He said he'd give us 'nothing'. We'll settle for that 'nothing'."
When one of them says 'nothing', that 'nothing' is composed of two words, which constitute an unreal name. If the vulgar and common people cling to 'nothing', they will be born is Space World of Formlessness.
Whereas the other says 'nothing' to signify no form, no vows and no Karma.
(57) TREADING ON THE ELLDERS MOUTH
Once upon a time there was an extremely wealthy elder whose attendants were eager to please him by paying him all due deference. When he spat, the attendants rubbed it with their feet. Among them J was this stupid man who said to himself, "When he spits on the ground, others rub it with their feet, Now I'm going to be the first one to render the service of rubbing it when he spits next time."
So when the Elder was about to cough and spit out, the man kicked up his foot and trod on the elder's mouth. He broke the old man's lips and teeth. To the stupid man, the elderly man said, "What did you do that for?"
The stupid man replied, "Though I would like to serve you, I have always fallen behind others. So I thought by kicking up my foot when you were about to spit out from your mouth, I would be the first to please you."
People have to pick the right time to do the right thing. They will get into trouble otherwise, even using every possible means to achieve a purpose. Therefore, they should know when it is right or wrong time.
(58) THE TWO BROTHERS AND THEIR INHERITANCE
Once upon a time, there was a Ksatriya of the Makara Kingdom who fell seriously ill, and was aware of the fatal hour. To his two sons he ordered, "After my death, divide between the two of you evenly my effects and money."
After his death, the two sons followed their father's will. But the elder brother complained against the younger of unfairness in their shares. An old man nearby said, "Let me teach you how to divide equally your father's fortune."
"How!" they asked.
The old man replied, "Cut all the valuable garments into two parts. Then break everything else into two equal parts, such as tray, bottle, bowl, dish, money and so forth."
People laughed at his suggestion. Such folly is just like those heretics who use one-sided method of separate answer to all questions.
There are four ways to answer questions as follows:
1. Affirmative answer.
For instance: All human beings are mortal
2. Separate answer
For instance: The dead will be reborn.
This should be answered separately. Those who have no desires at all will not be reborn. Those who have desires will be reborn.
3. Reversal question and answer.
For example, someone asks: Are all human beings supreme ones?" This can be questioned reversely as follows: "Are you referring to the Three Paths of Transmigration or to the host of Devas?
If you are referring to the former, I should say human beings are supreme. If the latter, I should say human beings are not equals to Devas.
4. No answers to questions
If you ask the fourteen difficult questions, such as whether the world has limit or whether human beings have any beginnings or ends.
Pretending to be wise, the ignorant heretics divide the four ways of answering questions by only using the separate answer, just like the stupid man giving advice to the two sons to divide all effects and money into two parts.
(59) WATCHING URN MAKING
Once two men went to a potter's field where they watched a tread-wheel making earns. They were delighted at seeing the work without satiety. One then left for the great assembly where he was well received with excellent food and got precious teachings as well. The other stayed on at the plant and said, "I'll get a good look at how urns are made."
Thus he stayed till the sun set without realizing how hungry he really was or how chilly it had gotten.
So are the stupid who engage themselves in their housework without being aware that all things are subject to change.
People are inclined to be very fickle nowadays.
Apparition of Buddhas and Great Dragons thunders all over the world.
The rain of Buddhist teachings fertilizes all beings, except for those who stick to trifles.
Being unconscious of death that could come any time, people miss the opportunity to attend to Buddhist assemblies.
They are unable to be inspired by the precious teachings as a treasure and always remain in misery.
Those who are abandoning the right doctrine and looking endlessly at the trifles of urn making lose the benefit of learning and will never get deliverance.
(60) SEEING THE SHADOW OF GOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF A POND
Once upon a time, there was a man who went to a large pond where he thought he had seen the shadow of pure gold at the bottom of water. He gave a cry of joy and jumped into the water to feel about the mud and search for it.
A few moments later, he began to feel very tired. He could not find any gold and he then got out of the pond. But as soon as he was out of the water that became clear in no time, the golden shadow turned up again. Then he dived once again to do more searching. Still he found nothing. At this point, his father came looking for him. Seeing the state he was in, his father asked, "What have you been doing to get so tired?"
The son replied, "There is pure gold under water. I searched for it, but could find nothing."
The father could also see the shadow of pure gold in the water. But he soon realized that it was in the trees. So he knew what was in the water was mere reflection. Then he told his son that it was held by the bird's beak and brought it in the trees. Following his father's instructions, the son immediately got the gold from the trees.
So are the ignorant in the world. They hold on to tile thought of ego in the shadow of non-ego, just like the stupid man looking desperately for the gold without success.
(61) BRAHMA'S DISCIPLE CAN CREATE ALL THINGS
Brahmans say that the Great Brahma was both father of the world and creator of all things. One of the Great Brahma's disciples once said he also had the power to create things. He was too stupid to be wise.
To the great Brahma, he said, "I can create everything."
The Great Brahrna replied, "Don't talk like that. You can't. Since you don't listen to me, I wonder how you do it."
After seeing what his disciple had creased, the Great Brahma said, "The man's head that you have made is too big and the neck too thin. The hands are too long and the arms too bony. The feet are too small and the legs too fat. It looks like a Pisacah devil."
Through the Great Brahma's words, we should realize that human beings are created by their own deeds resulting from Karma and not by the power of the Great Brahma.
Buddha's preaching is not ambiguous. As they preach the Eightfold Noble Path, they cling neither to the view of total annihilation nor that of permanence. On the contrary, the heretics do cling to the view of annihilation and permanence. They cheat the world by performing ceremonies and creating images. What they preach really is not Buddhism.
(62) THE PATIENT EATS THE PHEASANT MEAT
Once upon a time, there was a man who was seriously ill. A skillful physician prescribed that he could be cured by eating some pheasant meat. After he finished eating one, the patient did not eat it again. Afterwards, the doctor came to him and asked, "How do you feel now?"
The patient replied, "You have told me to eat some pheasants. Now that I have eaten it, I dare not eat it again."
The physician said, "But why not? How can you expect to be cured with only one pheasant?"
This is also true with all the heretics. They should understand what the mind means on hearing such wise and skillful doctors as Buddha's and Bodhisattva's preaching. However, they cling to the view of permanence thinking that there is only one mind from the past, present through future, which does not undergo any change. This is just like the patient eating only one pheasant that his illness of ignorance and worries cannot be cured.
All Omniscient Buddhas teach the heretics to abandon their prejudiced view of permanence. For all phenomena are subject to change at the time of thought. How can the mind remain unchanged! This is just like the physician's telling the patient to eat more pheasants.
So is Sakyamuni Buddha's preaching to all men to understand all his teachings. Sakyamuni has it that things which can be ruined or destroyed are called impenitence.
Things which can be lasted are called continuity.
Once the context is understood, people will eradicate the wrong view of permanence.
(63) AN ACTOR WEARING A DEMON'S GARMENT
Once upon a time, there was a troupe of actors from Cadhara Kingdom, rambling in different parts of the country giving performances due to a famine. They passed the Pala New Mountain where evil demons and men-eater Raksas had been found. The troupe had to lodge in the mountain where it was windy and cold. They slept with the fire on. One of them who were chilly wore Raksa demon's costume and sat near the fire when another actor awoke and saw him. He ran away without looking closely at him. In general panic, the whole troupe got up and ran away. The one who wore the Raksa garment, not realizing what was happening, followed them.
Seeing he was behind them, all the actors got more frightened to do them harm. They crossed rivers and mountains, and jumped into ditches and gullies. All got wounded in addition to the great fear they suffered. They did not realize that he was not a demon until daybreak. So are all the common people. Those who happen to be in the midst of the misfortune of famine, do not spare themselves trouble to go far away to seek for the sublime teaching of the Four Transcendental Realities of Nirvana, namely eternity, bliss, personality and purity. However, they cling to their egos which are nothing more than five components of a human being. Because of this, they are flowing back again and again through transmigration. Pursued by temptation, they are out of sorts in falling into the ditch of the Three Evil Paths. Only when the night of transmigration is ended, does the wisdom appear once again. Also only at this moment can one perceive the five components of a human being have no real ego.
(64) AN EVIL DEMON IN THE OLD HOUSE
Once upon a time, there was an old house where the rumors had it that an evil demon often appeared. People were so frightened that no one would dare to be in it. A man claiming himself dauntless said: "I would like to spend a night in this house." So he did.
Upon hearing from the bystander that the house was frequently haunted by an evil demon, another man also wanted to do the same proving himself to be more intrepid than the first one. He tried to enter by pushing the door.
The one who had got into the house first thought the second one to be the demon and blocked the door to his entrance. The second, unable to open the door, thought the first one to be the demon. They first argued and then began to fight until dawn. When finally coming face to face, they realized that they were both mistaken.
So are the people at large.
Our ego is subject to the law of impermanence and cause-effect, and therefore there is no mastering power in our body. Considering and analyzing all in all, one can only ask who the ego is. However, human beings indulge in ill-natured gossip everywhere, and fight each other like those men in this told story.
(65) FIVE HUNDRED HAPPY PILLS
Once upon a time, there was a woman who led a promiscuous life. She hated her husband when she was burning with lascivious desires. However, there was no opportunity for her to carry out any of her schemes to kill him. It so happened that her husband was sent on an official mission to a neighboring state, the woman secretly prepared some poisonous pills. To the husband she said with a faked tenderness, "Now that you have been sent far away on this official mission, I have prepared for you five hundred pills both as food supplies and as something to cheer you up. You will take them when you are hungry, when you reach the border."
The husband did not take them when he crossed the frontier. It was dark then and he decided to rest in the forest. Afraid of wild animals, he climbed up a tree to spend the night. He left his pills under the tree.
On that same night, a group of five hundred thieves stopped at the same spot with five hundred horses and precious things stolen from their king. They were all hungry and thirsty from their narrow escape. Finding those pills under the tree, the thieves took them and, on account of the strong poisonous effect, died one after another in no time.
At daybreak, the man hiding in the tree saw the dead thieves. Then he deceitfully made as if he slew and shot the corpses with swords and arrows. Afterward, he got all the horses as well as the stolen goods together and rode towards the foreign country.
Meanwhile, the king was on his way with his guards trying to apprehend the thieves. They carne across the man and asked, "Who are you? Where did you get these horses?"
The man replied, "I have come on a special mission. On the way, 1 encountered this band of thieves. I fought them and killed them all. Their corpses are under a tree over there. That's how 1 got these horses and precious things. If your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can inspect the casualties on the spot where we fought."
Immediately, the king sent his guards to inspect the spot. They found out what he had said was true. The king was overwhelmed with admiration for his unusual bravery. Later, when the man was sent back to his own country, the king bestowed him both a knighthood and treasures as well as a piece of land.
The king's old officials said with jealousy, "Why does your Majesty bestow him such rewards to a but stranger? Besides, the grant of his title of honors goes above the old officials."
Hearing those words the stranger said, "Who is intrepid enough to challenge me? Let's have a duel."
The old officials were startled and none would venture to accept the challenge. At the time, there was a ferocious lion in the wilderness of the country, which often disturbed the royal passages. The lion killed many travelers. The old officials conferred on the matter.
"The way this stranger brags so much about his fighting spirit, it will be wonderful if he is made to kill the lion for the sake of the country."
They then asked the king to give him a sword and spear, and sent him off to kill the lion. The lion attacked him with a roar as soon as it saw him. In great fear, the man climbed up the tree. The lion lifted its head towards him and roared. The man got so frightened that he dropped his sword right into the lion's mouth. The king of the forest died instantaneously.
The stranger, delirious with happiness over his new conquest, came to report the news to the king who, in turn, multiplied his rewards. Furthermore, he got respect and praises from the whole court as well as the country.
In view of this story:
" The pills are referred to as an unclean almsgiving;
" The king's guards are referred to as good friends;
" The arrival at a foreign country is referred to as all Devas;
" Killing the band of thieves is referred to as obtaining the Sotapanna's degree resolving to cut the Five Desires together with other worries;
" Meeting the king is referred to as coming across the Sage and Saint;
" Other officials jealousy is referred to as the heretics who utter slander against the wise by saying there is no way that the wise are capable to cut off the Five Desires and other worries;
" The stranger's bragging is referred to as the heretics who can not resist him;
" Killing the lion is referred to as destroying all evil demons and thus obtaining the title of honors for the unattached way of Nirvana;
" The man's fear is referred to as the weak bringing the strong into Subjection.
People should earnestly do almsgiving out of kindness or compassion. They would gain so much more in reward considering how the man in this story gained out of an ill almsgiving, which later on turned into a good one, thanks to the good friends he met.