14 Offering The Guide Up As Sacrifice To God

14杀商主祀天喻

Once upon a time there was a group of merchants who wanted to go to the sea. A guide was required. They set out in quest of such a man. After finding such a man, they started the trip and saw a temple when they reached a land of wilderness. A man had to be immolated to cross it.

After consultation, the group of merchants said that they could not choose anyone in the company to be killed, for they were all related. The only one fit to be sacrificed was the guide. So they killed him. After performing the rites, they soon lost their way and knew not which direction to go. They then died one after another. So are the people in general.

Those who seek to fish for treasure in the sea of Dharma should keep the commandments of doing good deeds as their guide. If they break them, they will end their lives in the wilderness and can never be rescued. Furthermore, they will have to go through the Three Evil Paths of Transmigration and suffer forever and ever.

Such men are just like the group of merchants who killed the guide and died in a body as a result.

译文

过去，有一群商人，想入大海去采宝。入大海的首要条件，是需要一个向导，然后方可去。于是就纷纷觅求，找到了一位向导。既已得了向导，便一起出发，至一处旷野中，前有一座天祠，须用活人作祭祀，然后才能通过。这群商人便聚在一起商量起来：「我们这班伙伴，大家都是亲属，如何可杀?只有这位向导，可用来祭祀天神。」于是杀了向导，用以祭祀。祀天完毕之后，却迷失了道路，不知往哪儿走，穷途末路，都困死了。

世上人也是这样，想入佛法的大海中去采取珍宝，便应当把修善法行作为向导。倘若毁坏了善行，那么，就陷入在生死轮回的旷远之路中了，永远没有摆脱出来的希望，就会经历入地狱受猛火烧、成畜生而互相噉食、做饿鬼遭刀剑逼迫这样的三涂，长远地受苦，就如那班商人将入大海而杀了向导，便迷失了津路，终致困死。

原典

昔有贾客，欲入大海。入大海之法，要须导师，然后可去。即共求觅，得一导师。既得之已，相将发引，至旷野中，有一天祠，当须人祀，然后得过。于是众贾共思量言：「我等伴党，尽是亲属，如何可杀?唯此导师，中用祀天。」即杀导师，以用祭祀。祀天已竟，迷失道路，不知所趣，穷困死尽。

一切世人，亦复如是，欲入法海，取其珍宝，当修善法行①以为导师。毁破善行，生死旷路，永无出期。经历三涂，受苦长远。如彼商贾，将入大海，杀其导者，迷失津济，终致困死。

注释

①善法行：是修习利他的十行之一。指四无碍陀罗尼门等法，成就种种化他之善法，以守护正法，令佛种不断。