41 Pishacha Ghosts

41毘舍闍鬼喻

Once there were two pishacha ghosts who jointly owned a suitcase, a cane, and a pair of wooden shoes. The two ghosts fought over these items, each wishing to claim them for his own. They quarreled all day long without ever reaching any kind of settlement. One day an onlooker came by and asked them, “What’s so special about this suitcase, cane, and wooden shoes that causes the two of your to fight over them so bitterly?”

The two ghosts replied, “This suitcase of ours is able to bring forth all manner of provisions such as clothing, food and drink, bedding and mats. This cane is able to subdue all enemies so they don’t dare resist. One who puts on these wooden shoes will be able to fly anywhere without hindrance.”

The man immediately said to the ghosts, “Stand further back, and I will divide these things equally between the two of you.”

The two ghosts moved away. The man quickly snatched the suitcase and the cane, put on the shoes, and flew off. The two ghosts were shocked, and they ended up with nothing. The man said, “I have what you were fighting over. Now there’s no more reason for the two of you to argue.”

The pishacha ghosts are an analogy for demons and heretics. The suitcase is an analogy for giving, for providing all the necessities of life for humans and gods in the five paths of rebirth.

The cane is an analogy for Chan Samadhi, able to vanquish demonic enemies and the thieves of afflictions. The wooden slippers are an analogy for holding precepts, which enable one to ascend to the realm of humans and gods. Demons and heretics fighting over the suitcase is an analogy for those who pursue the rewards of liberation while laboring in the midst of outflows—they will obtain nothing. However, if one is able to practice wholesome deeds, giving, holding precepts, and Chan Samadhi, one will be able to leave suffering and attain the fruit of the Way.

译文

从前有两个饿鬼，共有着一只小箱、一根棍杖、一双木屐。两个鬼争执起来，都想各自拥有这三样东西。吵嚷了整整一天，无法平分。这时有一个人走来，见了这般情形，便问道：「这箧、杖、屐有什么奇异，你们争执得这般怒气冲冲?」二鬼答道：「我这箧么，能产生一切东西，衣服、饮食、牀褥、卧具之类生活用品，都可从里面得到；执了这根杖么，怨敌就降服，不敢再对抗了：穿上这屐么，能令人自在飞行，毫无阻碍。」这人听罢，便对鬼说道：「你们稍稍退后一点，我会为你们平分的。」鬼听了这话，便即刻远远地避开了。这人说时迟那时快，抱箧，捉杖，蹑屐，飞腾而去。二鬼愕然，竟然一无所得。人对鬼说道：「你俩所争的东西，我拿去了。如今让你们再没有什么好争的了。」

饿鬼譬喻众魔及外道：布施就好比是箧，人、天等五道众生的生活用具都可从这里面产生：禅定则好比是杖，可以消灭降伏邪魔、烦恼之类的怨贼：持戒就如屐，穿上它，必可以升在人、天之类善道。众魔及外道争这个箧，譬喻在烦恼垢染中强求果报，空无所得。若是能修行善行、布施、持戒、禅定，便可以出离苦境，获得道果。

原典

昔有二毘舍闍鬼①，共有一箧、一杖、一屐。二鬼共诤，各各欲得。二鬼纷纭竟日，不能使平。时有一人来见之已，而问之言：「此箧、杖，屐有何奇异，汝等共诤，瞋恚乃尔?」二鬼答言：「我此箧者，能出一切，衣服、饮食、牀褥，卧具资生之物尽从中出；执此杖者，怨敌归服，无敢与诤；着此屐者，能令人飞行无罣碍。」此人闻已，即语鬼言：「汝等小远，我当为尔平等分之。」鬼闻其语，寻即远避。此人即时抱箧、捉杖、蹑屐而飞。二鬼愕然，竞无所得。人语鬼言：「尔等所诤，我已得去。今使尔等更无所诤。」

毘舍闍者，喻于众魔及以外道；布施如箧，人天五道资用之具皆从中出；禅定如杖，消伏魔怨烦恼之贼：持戒如屐，必升人天；诸魔外道诤箧者，喻于有漏中强求果报，空无所得。若能修行善行及以布施、持戒、禅定，便得离苦，获得道果。

注释

①毘舍闍鬼：梵文Pisaca，即饿鬼，又叫做噉精鬼，吸噉人以及五谷的精气。也译做颠狂鬼。