法苑珠林 45.37

45.37

Furthermore, the Sūtra of a Hundred Parables says: In the past there were two piśāca demons who shared a chest, a staff, and a pair of clogs. The two demons fought with each other, each wishing to obtain two of them. The two demons squabbled all day long without being able to settle the matter. At that time, a man came, saw this, and asked them, 'What is so extraordinary about this chest, staff, and clogs that you quarrel and become so enraged with each other?' The two demons replied, 'This chest of ours can produce all clothing, food and drink, beddings, mattresses, and articles for sustaining life; they all come forth from it. As for the one who holds this staff, his enemies submit to him and none dare quarrel with him. As for the one who wears these clogs, they enable a person to fly through the air without hindrance.' Having heard this, the man said to the demons, 'Step back a little, and I will divide them equally for you.' The demons, hearing his words, immediately withdrew to a distance. The man then took the chest in his arms, grasped the staff, stepped into the clogs, and flew away. The two demons were stunned and in the end obtained nothing. The man said to the demons, 'That over which you quarrelled I have already taken away; now I have caused you to have nothing more to quarrel about.' The piśācas are a metaphor for the hosts of Māra and non-Buddhists. Giving is like the chest: the articles for the use of humans and devas in the five destinies all come forth from it. Meditation is like the staff: it subdues the enemies of Māra and the thieves of defilement. Upholding the precepts is like the clogs: one will surely ascend to the realms of humans and devas. The demons and non-Buddhists quarrelling over the chest is a metaphor for stubbornly seeking retributions within the realm of outflows, ending up empty-handed and obtaining nothing. If one can practice good deeds, giving, upholding precepts, and meditation, one will leave suffering behind and obtain the fruit of the Way.