43 Grinding a Large Stone

43磨大石喻

One time a man carved a large stone with great effort. After chipping away at it for days and months, he succeeded in making a small toy cow from the stone. When compared to the strenuous effort that was put into it, the result was trivial.

People of the world are like this, too. Carving the large stone is analogous to diligently pursuing learning. Making the small toy cow is analogous to people mutually deprecating each other because of their wish for fame and recognition. A scholar should intently investigate his learning so that he acquires subtle and all-encompassing knowledge. Furthermore, he should put his learning into practice in order to seek a sublime result. He should not seek fame and in the process become arrogant and haughty. This will only increase his faults and offenses.

译文

譬如有人磨治一块大石头，花费许多气力，历经漫长岁月，磨成一只玩具小牛。用去的功夫极大，期望的目标轻微。

世上的人也是这样。磨治大石块，譬喻做学问精勤劳苦；做成小牛，譬喻为了名望，互相攻击。做学问么，研究思索精微的玄理，广泛通晓种种知识，理应步步实践，去求得那遥远但究竟圆满的殊胜之果。一旦为了求名誉，骄傲自大，就会增长过患。

原典

譬如有人，磨一大石，勤加功力，经历日月，作小戏牛。用功既重，所期甚轻。

世间之人亦复如是。磨大石者，喻于学问，精勤劳苦；作小牛者，喻于名闻，互相是非。夫为学者，研思精微，博通多识，宜应履行，远求胜果。方求名誉，憍慢贡高，增长过患。