16.4 （四）驴

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "I will now explain the characteristics of people who are like donkeys and like oxen. Listen carefully and keep it in mind."

The bhikṣus replied, "Yes, World-Honored One!" At that time, the bhikṣus received the Buddha's instruction.

The World-Honored One said, "What kind of person is like a donkey? If someone shaves their beard and hair, puts on the three Dharma robes, and leaves home to study the path with firm faith, but their faculties are unstable. When their eyes see forms, they give rise to various thoughts and run in a thousand directions. At that time, the eye faculty is not pure, giving rise to various confused thoughts, unable to control them, and all evils come forth. They are also unable to protect the eye faculty. When they hear sounds with the ears, smell fragrances with the nose, taste flavors with the tongue, feel textures with the body, and know dharmas with the mind, they give rise to various illnesses of consciousness and run in a thousand directions. At that time, the mind faculty is not pure, giving rise to various confused thoughts, unable to control them, and all evils come forth. They are also unable to protect the mind faculty. They lack proper deportment and etiquette. In their walking, standing, bending, stretching, bowing, and raising, holding their robes and alms bowl, they go against the precepts. They are criticized by those who practice the holy life: 'Oh, this foolish person is like a śramaṇa!' They are then reprimanded: 'If you are a śramaṇa, you should not act like this!' They say, 'I am also a bhikṣu! I am also a bhikṣu!' It is like a donkey entering a herd of cattle and calling itself 'I am also a cow! I am also a cow!' But when you look at its two ears, it does not resemble a cow, its horns do not resemble, its tail does not resemble, and its voice is different. At that time, the herd of cattle may butt it with their horns, trample it with their feet, or bite it with their mouths. This bhikṣu is also like this. His faculties are unstable. When his eyes see forms, he gives rise to various thoughts and runs in a thousand directions. At that time, the eye faculty is not pure, giving rise to various confused thoughts, unable to control them, and all evils come forth. He is also unable to protect the eye faculty. When he hears sounds with the ears, smells fragrances with the nose, tastes flavors with the tongue, feels textures with the body, and knows dharmas with the mind, he gives rise to various illnesses of consciousness and runs in a thousand directions. At that time, the mind faculty is not pure, giving rise to various confused thoughts, unable to control them, and all evils come forth. He is also unable to protect the mind faculty. He lacks proper deportment and etiquette. In his walking, standing, bending, stretching, bowing, and raising, holding his robes and alms bowl, he goes against the precepts. He is criticized by those who practice the holy life:

"What kind of person is like an ox? If someone shaves their beard and hair, puts on the three Dharma robes, and leaves home to study the path with firm faith, but their faculties are tranquil and stable. They know moderation in eating and drinking, and spend the whole day walking, never leaving the mind wandering in the thirty-seven factors of the path. When their eyes see forms, they do not give rise to various thoughts or run in a thousand directions. At that time, the eye faculty is pure, giving rise to various good thoughts, able to control them, and all evils do not come forth. They always protect the eye faculty. When they hear sounds with the ears, smell fragrances with the nose, taste flavors with the tongue, feel textures with the body, and know dharmas with the mind, they do not give rise to various illnesses of consciousness. At that time, the mind faculty is pure. That person then goes to those who practice the holy life. Those who practice the holy life see him coming from afar and each raise their voices, 'Welcome, fellow student!' They make timely offerings without any shortage, like a good ox entering a herd of cattle and calling itself 'I am now a cow!' But its fur, tail, ears, horns, and voice are all like a cow. When the cattle see it, they each come to lick its body. This is also like that. They shave their beard and hair, put on the three Dharma robes, and leave home to study the path with firm faith. At that time, their faculties are tranquil and stable. They know moderation in eating and drinking, and spend the whole day walking, never leaving the mind wandering in the thirty-seven factors of the path. When their eyes see forms, they do not give rise to various thoughts or run in a thousand directions. At that time, the eye faculty is pure, giving rise to various good thoughts, able to control them, and all evils do not come forth. They always protect the eye faculty. When they hear sounds with the ears, smell fragrances with the nose, taste flavors with the tongue, feel textures with the body, and know dharmas with the mind, they do not give rise to various illnesses of consciousness. At that time, the mind faculty is complete. This is called a person who is like an ox. Thus, bhikṣus! You should study to be like an ox, not like a donkey. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and received it respectfully.