諸經要集 16.8

16.8

As the Zabaozang jing says: All that is crafty, sycophantic, hypocritical, and deceptive outwardly appears upright but inwardly harbors treachery and selfish motives. For this reason, the wise should scrutinize the true and the false. For example, in the past there was a brāhmaṇa who was already advanced in years and indulgently took a young woman as his wife. The wife resented her husband's old age and engaged incessantly in illicit affairs on the side. She urged her husband to arrange a gathering and invite young and vigorous brāhmaṇas. The husband suspected illicit misconduct and was unwilling to invite them. The son of the former wife fell into the fire; at that time, the young wife looked on with her own eyes and did not catch him. The brāhmaṇa said: 'My child has now fallen into the fire; why did you not catch him?' The wife replied: 'Since my youth, I have only come near my own husband and never come near any other male. How could you have me touch this male?' When the old husband heard this, he thought it was just as she said; he then arranged a great gathering and assembled the brāhmaṇas. At that time, the young wife engaged in intercourse with them. When the old husband saw this, his mind harbored resentment and wrath; he took his precious belongings, abandoned his wife, and departed. Along the road, he saw a brāhmaṇa and went together with him as a companion. When evening came, they lodged together, and the next morning they walked ahead. [The companion] said to the old brāhmaṇa: 'At the place we lodged last night, a blade of grass adhered to my clothes. Since my youth, I have never encroached upon worldly property; I wish to return the blade of grass to that host. Please wait a moment for my going and returning.' The old brāhmaṇa deeply trusted his words, and his love and respect doubled; he agreed to stay and wait. [The companion] pretended to hold the blade of grass, entered a ditch, and lay down; only after a long time did he return, saying that the leaf had been returned. Because the old brāhmaṇa had to relieve himself, he entrusted his precious goods to him. Immediately afterward, this man ran away taking the treasures with him. Seeing that his own goods had been stolen, the old brāhmaṇa lamented over him unceasingly. Walking ahead a short distance, he rested under a tree and saw a stork holding a blade of grass in its beak, saying to the other birds: 'We should take pity on one another, gather in one place, and dwell together.' At that time, all the birds believed its words and came to gather. Then, as soon as the birds flew away, this stork went to their nests, pecked at their eggs, and ate them. When the birds were about to return, it again held a blade of grass in its beak. The birds discovered its deceit, and all abandoned it and left. Under this tree, a little while later, he saw an ordained non-Buddhist practitioner. His body was clad in a patched robe, walking calmly and unhurriedly, saying with his mouth: 'Begone, begone, sentient beings!' The old brāhmaṇa asked him, saying: 'Why do you walk while chanting "Begone, begone"?' The non-Buddhist replied, saying: 'I am a renunciant; I take pity on all and fear harming bugs and ants; therefore it is so.' At that time, the brāhmaṇa, seeing these words of his, gave rise to deep faith. He followed him to his house and lodged there for the night. Hearing only sounds of singing and dancing, he went out to see, and behold, in the dwelling room of the ordained non-Buddhist there was a hole in the ground, from which women emerged, enjoying intercourse with him, playing the zither, dancing, and making merry. Having seen this, the old brāhmaṇa reflected: 'Among all things under heaven, not a single one can be trusted.' Therefore he spoke a verse: