諸經要集 18.5

18.5

Now, damming the stream is not as good as stopping up the source; scooping up boiling broth is not as good as extinguishing the fire. Why is this? The source issues into water; if the source is not stopped up, the water will never end. Fire makes the broth boil; if the fire is not extinguished, how can the broth subside? Therefore, a traveler who stops up the source sees it dry up on its own without damming the stream; a guest who extinguishes the fire sees it cease on its own without scooping up the broth. Speaking by analogy with this, the matter can be fully understood. If one detests the fruit, it is not as good as withdrawing the cause; if one dreads the suffering, how could it compare to chastising the evil? The cause fosters the fruit; if the cause is not severed, the fruit will never end. Evil generates suffering; if evil is not chastised, how can the suffering subside? Therefore, a person who severs the cause sees it perish on its own without detesting the fruit; a worthy one who chastises evil separates from it on its own without dreading the suffering. May all gentlemen write down this admonition!