百喻經 43 磨大石喻 Grinding a Large Stone

43 Grinding a Large Stone

43磨大石喻

One time a man carved a large stone with great effort. After chipping away at it for days and months, he succeeded in making a small toy cow from the stone. When compared to the strenuous effort that was put into it, the result was trivial.

People of the world are like this, too. Carving the large stone is analogous to diligently pursuing learning. Making the small toy cow is analogous to people mutually deprecating each other because of their wish for fame and recognition. A scholar should intently investigate his learning so that he acquires subtle and all-encompassing knowledge. Furthermore, he should put his learning into practice in order to seek a sublime result. He should not seek fame and in the process become arrogant and haughty. This will only increase his faults and offenses.

譯文

譬如有人磨治一塊大石頭，花費許多氣力，歷經漫長歲月，磨成一只玩具小牛。用去的功夫極大，期望的目標輕微。

世上的人也是這樣。磨治大石塊，譬喻做學問精勤勞苦；做成小牛，譬喻為了名望，互相攻擊。做學問麼，研究思索精微的玄理，廣泛通曉種種知識，理應步步實踐，去求得那遙遠但究竟圓滿的殊勝之果。一旦為了求名譽，驕傲自大，就會增長過患。

原典

譬如有人，磨一大石，勤加功力，經歷日月，作小戲牛。用功既重，所期甚輕。

世間之人亦復如是。磨大石者，喻于學問，精勤勞苦；作小牛者，喻于名聞，互相是非。夫為學者，研思精微，博通多識，宜應履行，遠求勝果。方求名譽，憍慢貢高，增長過患。