眾經撰雜譬喻 1.16

1.16

Those who observe the precepts would rather lose their lives than violate the Buddha's teachings. For example, in the past, merchants boarded a ship and entered the sea. At that time, two persons wished to go to another country and took passage alongside them. When they reached midstream, they met with a violent wind that broke the ship apart. The merchants seized whatever they could rely on to save themselves. At that time, a junior renunciant obtained a wooden plank. The senior said to him: “The Buddha taught that one should respect seniors. Give me that plank; do you not fear violating the precepts?” Having heard these words, the junior renunciant reflected: “Which is heavier? Protecting the precepts is heavier.” Having reflected thus, [he thought]: “I would rather carefully protect the Buddha's teachings and die.” He immediately offered the wooden plank to the senior, and the junior sank into the seawater. The water deity saw that the renunciant observed the precepts in this way, not violating the Buddha's teachings, and brought this renunciant to the shore. Because this renunciant observed the precepts with utmost sincerity, the merchants of the entire ship all avoided death. The water deity praised the renunciant, saying: “You are truly a person who observes the precepts!” By this evidence, one would rather observe the precepts and die than violate the precepts and live. Therefore, the virtue of the precepts can be relied upon; it can rescue one from the suffering of saṃsāra.