大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 63.34

63.34

On the commentary's "like the tightness or looseness of lute strings": this is the Tathāgata instructing Śroṇa. He was the son of an extremely wealthy householder whose feet never touched the ground. After leaving the household life, he cultivated the Path with diligent vigor until his soles bled. The Buddha asked: "Did you ever play the lute?" He answered: "I played it." "When the strings were loose, how was it?" He answered: "It made no sound." "When the strings were tight, how was it?" He answered: "They snapped." "How should they be?" He answered: "Neither loose nor tight." The Buddha instructed him, saying: "Cultivating the Path is just like that."