23 The Thief Who Stole Embroidered Satin To Wrap His Rags In

23 贼偷锦绣用裹氀褐喻

Once, a thief entered the house of a rich family and stole a piece of embroidered satin. Then he used it to wrap up his old rags and sundry effects. He was scoffed at by the wise.

Stupid people of the world are like this, too. Although they bring forth faith in Buddhism and cultivate wholesome dharmas and meritorious acts; nonetheless, due to their greed for profit, they break the pure precepts and lose their merit. They will also be laughed at by those of the world.

译文

从前有一个小偷，潜入富人的家里行窃。他偷了许多精美的丝绸制品，就用来包裹他那些破烂的毛织衣服。明智人都讥笑他的行为。

世上愚昧的人，也同样是这样。既有信心听从佛陀的教导，修行利他利世的教义以及读经、信佛、布施，却又由于贪图世俗的利益不能割舍，破除了远离欲望和烦恼的戒律及条例，最终受到人们的嘲笑，也是同样的道理。

原典

昔有贼人，入富家舍，偷得锦绣，即持用裹故弊氀褐种种财物，为智人所笑。

世间愚人，亦复如是。既有信心，入佛法中修行善法，及诸功德，以贪利故，破于清净戒及诸功德，为世所笑，亦复如是。