妙法蓮華經 2.20

2.20

“Although their father in his concern has given them the proper advice, the children are immersed in their play and do not accept it; they are neither alarmed nor afraid and have no intention of leaving [the burning house]. Moreover, they do not even know what a fire is, the condition of the house, or what they may lose. They merely run about, back and forth, looking at their father.

“Thereupon the affluent man thought:

This house is already engulfed in flames. If my children and I do not

get out, we shall perish in the fire. I will now use skillful means to help

my children escape from this disaster.

“Since the father already knew that his children were attached to various rare toys and unusual things that each of them liked, he said to them:

The toys you are fond of are rare and hard to obtain. If you do not take

them you will certainly regret it later. Right now, outside the house,

there are three kinds of carts. One is yoked to a sheep, one to a deer,

and one to an ox. Go play with them. Children! Run out of this burn-

ing house immediately and I will give you whatever you want!

“The children, hearing what their father had said about the rare toys, became excited and, in their eagerness to get to them they pushed each other out of the way in a mad rush out of the burning house.

“Then the affluent man saw that his children had got out safely and were sitting unharmed in an open area at a crossroad. He was relieved, happy, and joyful. The children said to their father:

Father, please give us the toys you promised: those [three] carts, one

yoked to a sheep, one to a deer, and one to an ox!

“O Śāriputra, the affluent man then gave each child the same kind of large cart. These carts were tall and spacious, adorned with various jewels, and encircled with railings full of hanging bells. On the tops of the carts were canopies also decorated with various kinds of jewels. These carts were draped

with jeweled cords and hung with flower garlands. They were thickly piled

with fabrics, and red pillows had been placed about. These carts were each

yoked to an ox with a spotlessly white hide. These oxen had beautiful bod-

ies with powerful muscles, even gaits, and were as swift as the wind; and

there were many attendants guarding them. Why did the affluent man give

these carts? Because the man had great and immeasurable wealth and his

abundant storehouses were full. He thus thought further:

Since my treasure has no limit, I should not give my children inferior

carts. These are my children and I love them all equally. I have an

immeasurable number of large carts such as these, decorated with the

seven treasures. I should equally distribute them to each child without

discrimination. Why is this? Even if I gave carts like these to every-

one in the country, their number would not be exhausted. Why should

I not give them to my own children?