法苑珠林 83.15

83.15

Furthermore, the Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on the Simile of the Eight Faults of a Horse Compared to Humans says: The Buddha told the monks, "Horses have eight vicious faults. What are the eight? The first fault is that when its halter and reins are loosened, it pulls against the chariot and wants to bolt. The second fault is that when the chariot is harnessed, it leaps about and wants to bite people. The third fault is that it raises its two forelegs, pulls against the chariot, and bolts. The fourth fault is that it kicks the sides of the chariot. The fifth fault is that it rears up on its hind legs while the driver holds the yoke, rubs its body against the chariot, presses against it, and backs up. The sixth fault is that it walks sideways and veers off course. The seventh fault is that it pulls the chariot into a run, but upon reaching muddy quagmires, stops and will not go on. The eighth fault is that when a feed-bag is hung up to feed it, it stares fixedly at it and will not eat; yet when its master leads it away intending to harness it, it suddenly gulps, chews, and snaps at the food, but can no longer eat it. The Buddha said: Humans also have eight vicious faults. What are the eight? The first fault is that when hearing the exposition of a scripture, one bolts away and takes no pleasure in listening, just like the horse that bolts and pulls against the chariot when its halter and reins are loosened. The second fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, without understanding the meaning and without knowing the direction of the words, one becomes angry, leaps about, and has no desire to listen, just like the horse that leaps about and wants to bite people when harnessed to a chariot. The third fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one immediately rebels and refuses to accept it, just like the horse that raises its two forelegs, pulls against the chariot, and bolts. The fourth fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one begins to curse, just like the horse that kicks the sides of the chariot. The fifth fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one gets up and leaves, just like the horse that rears up while the driver holds the yoke, rubs against the chariot, presses back, and retreats. The sixth fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one refuses to listen, tilts one's head, looks sideways, and whispers into others' ears, just like the horse that walks sideways and veers off course. The seventh fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one seeks to exhaust it with difficult questions, and when unable to receive a corresponding answer, stubbornly resists and speaks falsely, just like the horse that stops and goes no further upon reaching muddy quagmires. The eighth fault is that upon hearing the exposition of a scripture, one refuses to listen, turning instead to lustful desires and excessive acquisitiveness, unwilling to hear and receive it; only when dying and entering the evil destinies does one hastily wish to study, inquire, and practice the Way, but can no longer practice the Way, just like the horse that stares fixedly and refuses to eat when the feed-bag is hung up, yet when its master leads it away intending to harness it, hastily gulps and chews, but cannot eat it." The Buddha said, "I have spoken of the eight evil faults of horses; humans also have eight evil faults." The monks rejoiced upon hearing the scripture, bowed in homage, and departed.