百喻經 25 水火喻 Water and Fire

25 Water and Fire

25水火喻

There was a man who needed fire and cold water to carry out his household chores. He built a fire in his room, filled a kettle with water, and put it on top of the fire. Afterwards the fire burned out, and the water was hot. He ended up getting neither the fire nor the cold water.

Many people make a similar mistake. They enter the Buddhadharma and leave the home-life, they still pine for their wives, children, and relatives, as well as the pleasures of the five desires. From this they lost the fire of meritorious virtues, also the pure water from holding the precepts. This is what happens to those mindful of desires.

譯文

往昔有一人做事，需用火和冷水，就取來了火，以澡盥盛水，放在火上。後來想取火用，而火都滅了：要取冷水用，而水又燒熱了。火及冷水，兩樣東西都失卻了。

世上的人也是這般，歸依了佛法，出家求道，既已出家了，又回首懷念妻子兒女父母眷屬，以及俗世的情事、財色名食睡這五欲的恰樂，因此而失卻了他原有的功德精進的火苗、持受戒律的清淨之水。念戀情欲的人，兩樣都失，也是這般。

原典

昔有一人，事須火用，及以冷水，即便宿①火，以澡盥盛水，置于火上。後欲取火，而火都滅；欲取冷水，而水復熱。火及冷水，二事俱失。

世間之人，亦復如是。入佛法中，出家求道。既得出家，還複念其妻子眷屬世間之事五欲之樂。由是之故，失其功德之火、持戒之水。念欲之人，亦復如是。

注釋

①宿：同縮，取。

解說

進不得邯鄲之步，退又失壽陵之義，俱是兩失之境。