(13) COMMENTING ON SOMEONE'S QUICK TEMPER

Once a group of people sat in a house commenting on someone as being of good virtue except for two faults:

First, he was quick- tempered. Second, he was impulsive.

At the time, this man happened to pass by the door and heard the comment. He entered the house, grabbed the man who had criticized him, and started to beat him.

Thereupon one bystander asked why he beat the man.

He replied, "When did I ever lose my temper or act impulsively? This man said that I often did so. That's why I have beaten him."

The bystander pointed out, "Your action at once demonstrates that you have often lost your temper and acted impulsively. Why do you still want to conceal your character from others?"

This man who resents to having his faults exposed, often leads people to lay all the blame for the stupidity and foolishness on him.

People, who are addicted to drinking and other debaucheries, when scolded by others, strongly hate their critics in turn. Moreover, they try desperately to justify themselves by bringing forward all sorts of excuses. Those men are just like that stupid man who disliked hearing about his faults discussed.

13说人喜瞋喻

过去有人，共多人众坐于屋中，叹一外人德行极好，唯有二过：一者喜瞋，二者作事仓卒。尔时此人过在门外，闻作是语，更生瞋恚，即入其屋，擒彼道己过恶之人，以手打扑。傍人问言：「何故打也?」其人答言：「我曾何时喜瞋、仓卒？而此人者，道我恒喜瞋恚、作事仓卒，是故打之。」傍人语言：「汝今喜瞋、仓卒之相即时现验，云何讳之?」人说过恶，而起怨责，深为众人怪其愚惑。

譬如世间饮酒之夫，耽荒沈酒，作诸放逸，见人呵责，反生尤嫉，苦引证佐，用自明白。若此愚人，讳闻己过，见他道说，反欲打扑之。

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