經律異相 29.22

29.22

Formerly, there was a king who enjoyed drinking wine and shooting games. Upon returning, he would immediately light lamps, burn incense, bow his head to the ground, and pay homage. An attendant beside him said: "The king drinks wine and shoots games, yet on returning bows to the ground. What merit can there be in that?" Hearing this, the king had someone heat a large cauldron. The broth boiled. He dropped a vase of gold inside, and the broth surged and bubbled. He then called the attendant beside him to reach in and retrieve the gold. The attendant said: "The broth is scalding hot; it cannot be approached." The king said: "You must use a skillful means to retrieve it. Why should you not be able to?" The attendant said: "I do not know what skillful means could obtain it." The king said: "Remove the fire from below and add water to the broth." The attendant followed the king's order and was able to reach in and retrieve the gold. The king said: "When I drink wine and hunt, it is like the boiling broth. When I bow to the ground and pay homage, it is like removing the fire and adding water to the broth. For what reason should I not obtain merit?" (Extracted from the Miscellaneous Parables Sūtra)