法苑珠林 7.51

7.51

Now, blocking a current is not as good as damming its source; skimming boiling water is not as good as extinguishing its fire. Why? The source produces the water; if the source is not dammed, the water will never cease. The fire boils the water; if the fire is not extinguished, how can the boiling stop? Therefore, one who dams the source has no need to block the current, and it naturally dries up; a guest who extinguishes the fire has no need to skim the boiling water, and it naturally subsides. Discussing by analogy with this, the matter can be fully understood. Disliking the fruit is not as good as cutting off its cause; fearing suffering—how could that compare to restraining evil? The cause fosters the fruit; if the cause is not cut off, the fruit will never end. Suffering arises from evil; if evil is not restrained, how can suffering cease? Therefore, a person who cuts off the cause does not dislike the fruit, and it naturally disappears; a worthy person who restrains evil does not fear suffering, and naturally leaves it behind. May all gentlemen write this down as an admonition!