法句譬喻經 3.56

3.56

Formerly, there was a man who had no brothers. When he was a young child, his parents loved him dearly; with sincere and devoted hearts, they wished for him to become accomplished, so they took him to teachers and friends, encouraging him to study writing. The child was arrogant and lazy, never applying his mind; receiving instruction in the morning, he discarded it by evening, never reciting or practicing. Year after year passed in this way, and he gained no knowledge.
His parents called him back to manage the family estate, but the child was boastful and irresponsible, having no thought of diligent exertion. The family wealth subsequently ran out, and all affairs were neglected and ruined. The child gave himself up to dissipation without restraint; he sold off the family property to indulge his desires, had disheveled hair, went barefoot in soiled clothes, was stingy and pushy, and shrank from no disgrace or shame. Foolish and self-opinionated, he was hated and despised by people; all the people of the state detested him, calling him vicious and bad, and when he walked abroad, none would speak with him.
Not knowing his own wickedness, he instead blamed everyone else: first resenting his parents, next reproaching his teachers and friends, and then complaining that the spirits of his ancestors refused to assist him, causing him to be thus frustrated and down on his luck. [He thought,] 'It would be better to serve the Buddha so that I may obtain his blessings.'
He immediately went to the Buddha's place, paid homage to the Buddha, stepped forward, and said to the Buddha, 'The Buddha's Way is vast and magnanimous, containing everything. I wish to become your disciple; I beg to be granted permission.'
The Buddha told this man, 'One who wishes to seek the Way must practice pure conduct. You carry the defilements of the world into my Way; what benefit could there be in your coming and going in vain? You had better return home, serve your parents with filial piety, recite and practice the instructions of your teachers without forgetting them till the end of your life, diligently manage your family livelihood, and enjoy wealth and happiness free from worry. Conduct yourself with propriety without committing unseemly acts, bathe and wash your clothes, be cautious in speech and conduct, hold fast to your mind and guard oneness, accomplish what you undertake, and act briskly and practice purely so that people admire you. Only conduct such as this can be called practicing the Way.'"