百喻經 41 毘舍闍鬼喻 Pishacha Ghosts

41 Pishacha Ghosts

41毘舍闍鬼喻

Once there were two pishacha ghosts who jointly owned a suitcase, a cane, and a pair of wooden shoes. The two ghosts fought over these items, each wishing to claim them for his own. They quarreled all day long without ever reaching any kind of settlement. One day an onlooker came by and asked them, 「What』s so special about this suitcase, cane, and wooden shoes that causes the two of your to fight over them so bitterly?」

The two ghosts replied, 「This suitcase of ours is able to bring forth all manner of provisions such as clothing, food and drink, bedding and mats. This cane is able to subdue all enemies so they don』t dare resist. One who puts on these wooden shoes will be able to fly anywhere without hindrance.」

The man immediately said to the ghosts, 「Stand further back, and I will divide these things equally between the two of you.」

The two ghosts moved away. The man quickly snatched the suitcase and the cane, put on the shoes, and flew off. The two ghosts were shocked, and they ended up with nothing. The man said, 「I have what you were fighting over. Now there』s no more reason for the two of you to argue.」

The pishacha ghosts are an analogy for demons and heretics. The suitcase is an analogy for giving, for providing all the necessities of life for humans and gods in the five paths of rebirth.

The cane is an analogy for Chan Samadhi, able to vanquish demonic enemies and the thieves of afflictions. The wooden slippers are an analogy for holding precepts, which enable one to ascend to the realm of humans and gods. Demons and heretics fighting over the suitcase is an analogy for those who pursue the rewards of liberation while laboring in the midst of outflows—they will obtain nothing. However, if one is able to practice wholesome deeds, giving, holding precepts, and Chan Samadhi, one will be able to leave suffering and attain the fruit of the Way.

譯文

從前有兩個餓鬼，共有著一只小箱、一根棍杖、一雙木屐。兩個鬼爭執起來，都想各自擁有這三樣東西。吵嚷了整整一天，無法平分。這時有一個人走來，見了這般情形，便問道：「這篋、杖、屐有什麼奇異，你們爭執得這般怒氣沖沖?」二鬼答道：「我這篋麼，能產生一切東西，衣服、飲食、牀褥、臥具之類生活用品，都可從里面得到；執了這根杖麼，怨敵就降服，不敢再對抗了：穿上這屐麼，能令人自在飛行，毫無阻礙。」這人聽罷，便對鬼說道：「你們稍稍退後一點，我會為你們平分的。」鬼聽了這話，便即刻遠遠地避開了。這人說時遲那時快，抱篋，捉杖，躡屐，飛騰而去。二鬼愕然，竟然一無所得。人對鬼說道：「你倆所爭的東西，我拿去了。如今讓你們再沒有什麼好爭的了。」

餓鬼譬喻眾魔及外道：布施就好比是篋，人、天等五道眾生的生活用具都可從這里面產生：禪定則好比是杖，可以消滅降伏邪魔、煩惱之類的怨賊：持戒就如屐，穿上它，必可以升在人、天之類善道。眾魔及外道爭這個篋，譬喻在煩惱垢染中強求果報，空無所得。若是能修行善行、布施、持戒、禪定，便可以出離苦境，獲得道果。

原典

昔有二毘舍闍鬼①，共有一篋、一杖、一屐。二鬼共諍，各各欲得。二鬼紛紜竟日，不能使平。時有一人來見之已，而問之言：「此篋、杖，屐有何奇異，汝等共諍，瞋恚乃爾?」二鬼答言：「我此篋者，能出一切，衣服、飲食、牀褥，臥具資生之物盡從中出；執此杖者，怨敵歸服，無敢與諍；著此屐者，能令人飛行無罣礙。」此人聞已，即語鬼言：「汝等小遠，我當為爾平等分之。」鬼聞其語，尋即遠避。此人即時抱篋、捉杖、躡屐而飛。二鬼愕然，競無所得。人語鬼言：「爾等所諍，我已得去。今使爾等更無所諍。」

毘舍闍者，喻于眾魔及以外道；布施如篋，人天五道資用之具皆從中出；禪定如杖，消伏魔怨煩惱之賊：持戒如屐，必升人天；諸魔外道諍篋者，喻于有漏中強求果報，空無所得。若能修行善行及以布施、持戒、禪定，便得離苦，獲得道果。

注釋

①毘舍闍鬼：梵文Pisaca，即餓鬼，又叫做噉精鬼，吸噉人以及五谷的精氣。也譯做顛狂鬼。