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(71) THE MAN WHO TURNED BLIND

Once upon a time, there was a man who had two wives. Whenever he was with one of them, the other got very angry. Faced with such a dilemma, he decided one night to lie flat on the back between the two. It happened that it was raining so heavily that their house began to have a leak. Water and mud fell into his eyes, but he dared not get up and run away, due to the decision he had taken before. Finally he became completely blind.

This is also held to be true with the common people of the world.

By keeping bad company and doing unlawful deeds, people create Karmas and fall into the Three Evil Paths of Transmigration. Not only will they remain in the round of existences forever, but also lose their eyes of wisdom, just like the stupid man who turned blind.

71為二婦故喪其兩目喻

昔有一人娉取二婦,若近其一,為一所瞋。不能裁斷,便在二婦中間正身仰臥。值天大雨屋舍霖漏,水土俱下墮其眼中,以先有要不敢起避,遂令二目俱失其明。世間凡夫亦復如是,親近邪友習行非法,造作結業墮三惡道,長處生死喪智慧眼,如彼愚夫為其二婦故二眼俱失。

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