眾經撰雜譬喻 1.4

1.4

The wise reflect that wealth and possessions cannot be preserved for long, just like a house on fire. A clever person clearly recognizes the fury of the fire, and before the fire arrives, he hurriedly brings out his property; though the house is burnt to the ground, his wealth and treasures are completely intact, and he can build another house and broadly expand his profitable enterprises. The wise person planting merit and diligently practicing dāna is also like this: knowing that the body is fragile and wealth is anitya, upon encountering a field of merit he practices dāna in a timely manner. This is just like that person carrying out possessions from the fire: in future lives he will enjoy bliss, just as that person rebuilds his household enterprise and consoles himself with fortune and profit. The foolish and deluded only know to hoard and begrudge; scrambling in panic to save it, their wits deranged and their wisdom lost, they fail to gauge the fury of the fire, where fierce winds and cut-off flames scorch earth and stones alike. In an instant everything is completely wiped out and extinguished. The house is not saved and the wealth is lost; shivering in cold and starved by hunger, he suffers grief and misery to the end of his days. The stingy and begrudging person is also like this: not knowing that body and life are anitya and cannot be preserved for a moment, he simply amasses, guards, and covets them. When death comes without appointment and he suddenly perishes, his form becomes like earth and wood, and his wealth and possessions are all abandoned, just as the foolish person suffers grief and misery having miscalculated. Only clear-sighted and wise people are able to awaken: knowing that the body is like an illusion and wealth cannot be preserved, that all things are anitya and only merit can be relied upon, it will lead one out of suffering and allow one to attain the Way.