百喻經 55 願為王剃須喻 The King』s Barber

55 The King』s Barber

55願為王剃須喻

Once there was a king』s close attendant who risked his life to save the king at the battlefront. Delighted the king promised the man anything he wanted. He asked him, 「What would you like? All of your wishes will be granted.」

The attendant said, 「Please let me shave your head when you need a shave.」 「If this agrees with you, I』ll grant you your wish.」

That foolish man became the laughing stock of the world. He could have asked for half the kingdom or the position of a minister or premier, but instead he opted for an inferior profession. Stupid people are this way, too. Until they became Buddhas, all Buddhas cultivated ascetic practices that were extremely difficult. It is very rare that we can encounter the Buddha or the bequest of his Dharma and attain a human body. It is as difficult as a blind turtle trying to find a hole in a log floating in the water.

Now that we have overcome both those difficulties, with inferior resolve we are content with holding just a few precepts and think it』s enough. We do not seek the supreme wonderful Dharma of Nirvana. With no thought of making further progress, we are content with doing deviant deeds.

譯文

從前有位國王，有一個親信在兩軍對陣交戰中冒著生命危險救了他，使他毫毛未損。國王很是歡喜，要滿足他的願望，就問他：「你有什麼要求，隨你提出來，都滿足你。」這位親信就答道：「大王要剃須時，希望讓我剃。」國王說：「這事若是能滿足你的意願，好的。」如此愚人，世人都嗤笑。統治半個天下，做大臣宰相，都是可以得到的，卻求這種賤業。

愚人也是這樣。諸佛過去時長期專就困難之處做苦行之事，自己達到了成佛的境地。若是能碰上佛出世、聽聞佛的遺教以及獲得人身，都是至難的事，就如盲龜百年浮出一次海面，恰好鑽入了浮木的孔中一般。佛法難聞今已聞，人身難得今也得，然而愚人的意願下劣，稍稍奉持一點兒戒律，就以為足夠了，並不求涅槃這一勝妙之法。無心提出進一步的要求，自願做些卑賤的事情，就以為很滿足了。

原典

昔者有王，有一親信，于軍陣中，歿命救王，使得安全。王大歡喜，與其所願。即便問言：「汝何所求，恣汝所欲。」臣便答言：「王剃須時，願聽我剃。」王言：「此事若適汝意，聽汝所願。」如此愚人，世人所笑。半國之治，大臣輔相，悉皆可得，乃求賤業。

愚人亦爾。諸佛于無量劫難行苦行，自致成佛。若得遇佛及值遺法，人身難得，譬如盲龜值浮木孔①。此二難值，今已遭遇，然其意劣，奉持少戒，便以為足，不求涅槃勝妙法也。無心進求，自行邪事，便以為足。

注釋

①盲龜值浮木孔：《雜阿含經》卷十六：告諸比丘，如大海中有一盲龜，壽無量劫，百年一遇出頭，復有浮木，正有一孔，漂流海浪，隨風東西。盲龜百年一出，得遇此孔。至海東，浮木或至海西，圍繞亦爾。雖復差違，或復相得。凡夫漂流五趣之海，還復人身，甚難于此。(《大正藏》第五十三冊第二五七頁，現存《雜阿含經》卷十六無此段)