(54) THE SNAKE'S ARGUMENT

Once there was a snake whose tail told its head, "I should lead the way."
And the head said, "I'm used to leading, why do you want to change positions so suddenly?"
When the head led the way, the tail knotted himself around a tree and was unwilling to move. And when the tail led, the snake fell into a burning pit and was burnt to its death.
This is also true with teachers and disciples.
The disciples have a fancy that the young should lead the way, as they think teachers are too old to lead. Due to their youthful immaturity, they often break commandments without being aware of it. They end up dragging each other down to Hell.

54蛇頭尾共爭在前喻
譬如有蛇，尾語頭言：「我應在前。」頭語尾言：「我恒在前，何以卒爾？」頭果在前，其尾纏樹不能得去，放尾在前，即墮火坑燒爛而死。師徒弟子亦復如是，言師耆老每恒在前，我諸年少應為導首。如是年少不閑戒律多有所犯，因即相牽入於地獄。

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