48 The Jackal Hit by a Snapped Twig

48野干为折树枝所打喻

Once a jackal stood beneath a tree. When the wind blew, a twig fell and hit the jackal’s back. He then closed his eyes, not wishing to see the tree. Afterwards he went to an open place and would not return even when nighttime fell. From afar he could see the wind blowing the large tree until its branches were moving up and down. Then he said, “That must be the tree calling out to me.”

Ignorant disciples are this way, too. Having set forth from the home-life they are able to draw near a teacher, but they run away at the slightest remonstration. Afterwards they encounter evil friends who get them into a lot of trouble. Only then do they begin to think of returning to their teacher. It is stupid of them to come and go like this.

译文

譬如野干在树下，风吹来，树枝折断了，堕落在它的脊背上。它就生气地闭上眼睛，不想看树了，离开了这块地方，到露天底下去了，乃至日暮了，也不肯回去。远远看见大树的枝柯被风吹得上下摇动，便以为那声音是在叫唤他呢?随即回到了树下。

愚痴的弟子也是这样，出家了，得以亲近师长，由于小小的呵责，便逃走了。后来又遇到坏朋友，心中恼乱不已，方回到师父那儿。这般来来去去，就是愚惑的行为。

原典

譬如野干①，在于树下。风吹枝折，堕其脊上。即便闭目，不欲看树，舍弃而走，到于露地，乃至日暮，亦不肯来。遥见风吹大树，枝柯动摇上下，便言唤我，寻②来树下。

愚痴弟子亦复如是，已得出家，得近师长，以小呵责，即便逃走。复于后时遇恶知识，恼乱不已，方还师所。如是去来，是为愚惑。

注释

①野干：似狐而小，形色青黄，如狗一般结群而行，夜鸣如狼。

②寻：寻而、随即。