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(41) PISACAH DEVILS


Once upon a time, there were two Pisacah devils who conjointly owned a suitcase, a stick and a pair of wooden shoes about which they fought for their monopoly. They were quarrelling all day long without reaching a settlement.
An onlooker came over and asked, "What are the particularities of those three things that you have been fighting for so angrily?"
The two devils replied, "This suitcase of ours turns out all sorts of things such as clothes, food, bed articles used on a bed, and other living necessities. One who takes the stick can conquer his hateful enemies without encountering resistance. One who puts on these shoes will be able to fly without a hitch."
Upon hearing it, the onlooker said to the devils, "Would you please stand further away! Let me equally apportion them to you both."
The two devils moved away. Immediately the onlooker flew off snatching their suitcase and stick with the shoes on. The two devils were startled at the loss of their share. To them he said, "I got what you have been fighting for. Now you need not are any more."
Here Pisacah refers to devils and heretics.
Almsgiving applies to the suitcase that turns out all the essential things to the needs of the Five Ways of Existence such as human beings, Devas, etc.
Meditation symbolizes the stick, which can disperse or submit devils, enemies and afflictions as thieves.
Commandments observing is like the shoes that ensure rebirth in the world of Devas and men.
As for the devils and heretics, coveting the suitcase, it signifies that they labour themselves to the seeking for the reward of Enlightenment in the imperfect way, which result in nothing to be obtained.
If one can perform acts of merit together with almsgiving, commandments observing and meditation practice, he will be rid of all suffering and in turn obtain Nirvana.

41毘舍闍鬼喻
昔有二毘舍闍鬼，共有一篋一杖一屐，二鬼共諍各各欲得，二鬼紛紜竟日不能使平。時有一人來見之已而問之言：「此篋杖屐有何奇異？汝等共諍瞋忿乃爾。」二鬼答言：「我此篋者，能出一切衣服飲食床褥臥具資生之物，盡從中出。執此杖者，怨敵歸服無敢與諍。著此屐者，能令人飛行無罣礙。」此人聞已即語鬼言：「汝等小遠，我當為爾平等分之。」鬼聞其語，尋即遠避。此人即時抱篋捉杖躡屐而飛，二鬼愕然竟無所得。人語鬼言：「爾等所諍我已得去，今使爾等更無所諍。」
毘舍闍者喻於眾魔及以外道。布施如篋，人天五道資用之具皆從中出。禪定如杖，消伏魔怨煩惱之賊。持戒如屐，必昇人天。諸魔外道諍篋者，喻於有漏中強求果報，空無所得。若能修行善行及以布施持戒禪定，便得離苦獲得道果。

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