法苑珠林 92.12

92.12

Furthermore, the Sūtra of a Hundred Parables states: In the past there was a man whose wife was handsome except that her nose was ugly. The husband went out and saw another woman whose face was handsome and whose nose was very beautiful. He then cut off her nose and brought it home. Hurriedly calling to his wife, he said, 'Come out quickly! I will give you a fine nose.' He then cut off her nose and attached the other's nose to her face. As it did not adhere, she also lost her own nose, causing his wife to suffer great agony in vain. The foolish people of the world are also like this: hearing that a senior, experienced śramaṇa has great fame and virtue, is revered by people, and receives great gain and offerings, they make false claims, lying that they possess virtue. Not only do they lose that gain, but afterward they damage their own conduct—just as cutting off another's nose only harms oneself. The foolish people of the world are also like this.