55 The King’s Barber

55愿为王剃须喻

Once there was a king’s close attendant who risked his life to save the king at the battlefront. Delighted the king promised the man anything he wanted. He asked him, “What would you like? All of your wishes will be granted.”

The attendant said, “Please let me shave your head when you need a shave.” “If this agrees with you, I’ll grant you your wish.”

That foolish man became the laughing stock of the world. He could have asked for half the kingdom or the position of a minister or premier, but instead he opted for an inferior profession. Stupid people are this way, too. Until they became Buddhas, all Buddhas cultivated ascetic practices that were extremely difficult. It is very rare that we can encounter the Buddha or the bequest of his Dharma and attain a human body. It is as difficult as a blind turtle trying to find a hole in a log floating in the water.

Now that we have overcome both those difficulties, with inferior resolve we are content with holding just a few precepts and think it’s enough. We do not seek the supreme wonderful Dharma of Nirvana. With no thought of making further progress, we are content with doing deviant deeds.

译文

从前有位国王，有一个亲信在两军对阵交战中冒着生命危险救了他，使他毫毛未损。国王很是欢喜，要满足他的愿望，就问他：「你有什么要求，随你提出来，都满足你。」这位亲信就答道：「大王要剃须时，希望让我剃。」国王说：「这事若是能满足你的意愿，好的。」如此愚人，世人都嗤笑。统治半个天下，做大臣宰相，都是可以得到的，却求这种贱业。

愚人也是这样。诸佛过去时长期专就困难之处做苦行之事，自己达到了成佛的境地。若是能碰上佛出世、听闻佛的遗教以及获得人身，都是至难的事，就如盲龟百年浮出一次海面，恰好钻入了浮木的孔中一般。佛法难闻今已闻，人身难得今也得，然而愚人的意愿下劣，稍稍奉持一点儿戒律，就以为足够了，并不求涅槃这一胜妙之法。无心提出进一步的要求，自愿做些卑贱的事情，就以为很满足了。

原典

昔者有王，有一亲信，于军阵中，殁命救王，使得安全。王大欢喜，与其所愿。即便问言：「汝何所求，恣汝所欲。」臣便答言：「王剃须时，愿听我剃。」王言：「此事若适汝意，听汝所愿。」如此愚人，世人所笑。半国之治，大臣辅相，悉皆可得，乃求贱业。

愚人亦尔。诸佛于无量劫难行苦行，自致成佛。若得遇佛及值遗法，人身难得，譬如盲龟值浮木孔①。此二难值，今已遭遇，然其意劣，奉持少戒，便以为足，不求涅槃胜妙法也。无心进求，自行邪事，便以为足。

注释

①盲龟值浮木孔：《杂阿含经》卷十六：告诸比丘，如大海中有一盲龟，寿无量劫，百年一遇出头，复有浮木，正有一孔，漂流海浪，随风东西。盲龟百年一出，得遇此孔。至海东，浮木或至海西，围绕亦尔。虽复差违，或复相得。凡夫漂流五趣之海，还复人身，甚难于此。(《大正藏》第五十三册第二五七页，现存《杂阿含经》卷十六无此段)