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(55) TO BE A KING'S BARBER


Once upon a time, a king's personal attendant risked his life to save the king at the battlefield. The king was so grateful that he gave his lifesaver whatever he wanted. The king asked, "What do you want? Your wishes shall be granted."
The man replied, "Allow me to shave you when you need a shave."
The king said, "If that is what you wish to do, I'll grant it to you."
Such a stupid man is laughed at by the people at large. It would be so much better for the barber to ask for half a country or to become prime minister or minister of State rather than to practice the mean profession. Only a stupid man would do so.
To attain Buddhahood, all Buddhas cultivate themselves with hardship during a long and painful period of time. What people do not realize is that Buddha Shakyamuni’s bequeathed teachings are scarce to be heard and our human bodies are hard to be acquired as well. It is like a blind turtle's trouble in finding a log hole floating at the surface of the water.
Fortunately enough, once these two difficulties are overcome, people are self-complacent with their shallow mind and few commandments are observed without any ambition of ever attaining Nirvana, the perfect Enlightenment. They find themselves contented with no further improvement and instead end up doing evil deeds.

55願為王剃鬚喻
昔者有王有一親信，於軍陣中沒命救王使得安全，王大歡喜與其所願，即便問言：「汝何所求？恣汝所欲。」臣便答言：「王剃鬚時，願聽我剃。」王言：「此事若適汝意，聽汝所願。」
如此愚人世人所笑，半國之治、大臣輔相悉皆可得，乃求賤業。愚人亦爾，諸佛於無量劫，難行苦行自致成佛，若得遇佛及值遺法，人身難得譬如盲龜值浮木孔，此二難值今已遭遇，然其意劣，奉持少戒便以為足，不求涅槃勝妙法也，無心進求，自行邪事，便以為足。

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