25 Water and Fire

25水火喻

There was a man who needed fire and cold water to carry out his household chores. He built a fire in his room, filled a kettle with water, and put it on top of the fire. Afterwards the fire burned out, and the water was hot. He ended up getting neither the fire nor the cold water.

Many people make a similar mistake. They enter the Buddhadharma and leave the home-life, they still pine for their wives, children, and relatives, as well as the pleasures of the five desires. From this they lost the fire of meritorious virtues, also the pure water from holding the precepts. This is what happens to those mindful of desires.

译文

往昔有一人做事，需用火和冷水，就取来了火，以澡盥盛水，放在火上。后来想取火用，而火都灭了：要取冷水用，而水又烧热了。火及冷水，两样东西都失却了。

世上的人也是这般，归依了佛法，出家求道，既已出家了，又回首怀念妻子儿女父母眷属，以及俗世的情事、财色名食睡这五欲的恰乐，因此而失却了他原有的功德精进的火苗、持受戒律的清净之水。念恋情欲的人，两样都失，也是这般。

原典

昔有一人，事须火用，及以冷水，即便宿①火，以澡盥盛水，置于火上。后欲取火，而火都灭；欲取冷水，而水复热。火及冷水，二事俱失。

世间之人，亦复如是。入佛法中，出家求道。既得出家，还复念其妻子眷属世间之事五欲之乐。由是之故，失其功德之火、持戒之水。念欲之人，亦复如是。

注释

①宿：同缩，取。

解说

进不得邯郸之步，退又失寿陵之义，俱是两失之境。