法苑珠林 66.28

66.28

何謂所求不得苦。家內錢財散用追求。大官吏民望得富貴。勤苦求之不止會遇得之。而作邊境令長。未經幾時貪取民物。為人告言。一朝有事檻車載去。欲殺之時憂苦無量。不知死活何日。此是苦不。答言。實是大苦。

"What is meant by the suffering of not getting what one seeks? One disperses and spends the household wealth pursuing ambitions, and high officials, lesser clerks, and commoners all hope to attain wealth and honor. Diligently and painfully seeking it without ceasing, by chance one obtains it and becomes the magistrate or governor of a border region. Before much time passes, he covetously seizes the people's possessions, and is denounced by others. In a single morning trouble strikes; he is loaded into a caged cart and hauled away. Facing impending execution, his grief and suffering are boundless, not knowing on which day he will live or die. Is this suffering or not?"
He answered, saying: "Truly, it is great suffering."