諸經要集 2.35

2.35

As the Baiyu jing says: In the past there was a settlement located five yojanas from the royal city. In the village there was fine, delicious water. The king ordered the villagers to constantly send this delicious water every day. The villagers grew weary and distressed, and all wished to flee far away from this village. At that time, the village head said to the people: "Do not leave. I will speak to the king on your behalf to change five yojanas into three yojanas, so that it will be near for you and you will not grow weary traveling back and forth." He then went and spoke to the king, and the king changed it for them to three yojanas. The crowd, upon hearing this, was overjoyed. Someone said to them: "This is still the original five yojanas; there is no difference at all." Although they heard these words, because they trusted the king's words, in the end they were unwilling to abandon it. Worldly people are also like this: cultivating the true Dharma, crossing over the five destinies toward the city of nirvāṇa, their minds grow weary and they wish to cast it off, halted amidst saṃsāra, unable to advance further. The Tathāgata, the King of Dharma, possesses great skillful means: within the One Vehicle Dharma, he discriminates and preaches three. People of the Small Vehicle hear this and rejoice, considering it easy to practice; they cultivate goodness and advance in virtue, seeking to cross over saṃsāra. Later, hearing someone say that there are no three vehicles, that it is still just the One Vehicle, because they trust the Buddha's words they are ultimately unwilling to abandon it. Like those villagers, it is just like this.