§90 地得金钱喻

(90) PICKING UP MONEY

    昔有贫人在路而行，道中偶得一囊金钱，心中大喜跃，即便数之。数未能周，金主忽至，尽还夺钱。其人当时悔不急去，懊恼之情，甚为极苦。

Once upon a time, there was a poor man who picked up a sack of money in the streets. He was overwhelmed with happiness. Then he began to count the money. Suddenly, the real owner of the money showed up. He had to give back the whole sack. He regretted for not having gone off to a far away place sooner. He felt great pain for his loss.

    遇佛法者，亦复如是。虽得值遇三宝福田，不勤方便，修行善业，忽尔命终，堕三恶道。如彼愚人，还为其主夺钱而去。如偈所说：

This is also held to be true with people who come into contact with Buddhism. Although people have the opportunity to meet the Three Precious One's Blessings, if they are not going earnestly good work's in time, they will fall into the Three Evil Paths of Transmigration after their deaths. His is just like that stupid man who gave back the money that he had found. As the Stanza has it:

    今日营此事，明日造彼事。
    乐著不观苦，不觉死贼至。
    匆匆营众务，凡人无不尔。
    如彼数钱者，其事亦如此。

People, who are managing this business today, will plan another tomorrow.

Only thinking of enjoyment without contemplation sorrow.

Can make a man unaware of the impermanence of death.

However, busily occupied in their worldly affairs.

The common people always retard to get deliverance like that man counting the money.

白话：

　　曾有一个穷人，在路上走着，路途中偶然拾得一囊金钱，心中大喜，随即一一点数起来。还没能数完，失主忽然寻找过来，把钱全都夺了回去。这人当时后悔没有快快离去，懊恼的心情，使他十分痛苦，不堪承受。

　　值遇上佛法的人也是这样，虽是遇见了三宝福田，然而不精勤方便修行善业的话，有朝一日忽然命终了，便堕入于三恶道中，就像那个愚人一样，还被失主夺了钱去。如偈所说：

　　今日造这个业，明日做那桩事，

　　执着于快乐不思索一下苦，不知不觉死贼来抢了命去。

　　急匆匆做这做那，凡夫众生人人这样，

　　就像那愚人埋头数金钱，空欢喜一场，所得到的金钱转眼间又失去了。