Once there was a trader who was traveling on business. It so happened that the camel suddenly died on the way. The animal was loaded with valuable things such as jewels, clothes, carpet of first quality and sundries. The trader then skinned the camel. He went away leaving it to his two apprentices and said, "Watch the camel's skin. Don't let it get damp."
Later, when it started to rain, the two dull men covered the skin with all the fine carpet, which became entirely ruined. Obviously the skin and carpet differed much in price. They put the carpet to cover the skin out of ignorance.
So are the people at large.
Abstaining from killing refers to the fine carpet, the camel's skin, and wealth. To let the carpet get damp when it is raining means to undermine recklessly good merits.
The abstention from killing is the supreme motive to attain Buddhahood. Unfortunately, people do not effectively practice it. They merely adhere to build pagodas or temples and give alms to support monks. This is giving up the essential and pursuing the non-essential. In other words, people are not conscious of seeking the fundamental. Unable to go out of the vicious cycle, they lead their lives, through the Five Ways of existence. Therefore, the commandment of the abstention from killing should be earnestly observed by the followers.
42估客駝死喻
譬如估客遊行商賈，會於路中而駝卒死，駝上所載多有珍寶，細軟上氊種種雜物。駝既死已即剝其皮，商主捨行坐二弟子而語之言：「好看駝皮莫使濕爛。」其後天雨，二人頑嚚盡以好氊覆此皮上，氊盡爛壞，皮氊之價理自懸殊，以愚癡故以氊覆皮。世間之人亦復如是，其不殺者喻於白氊，其駝皮者即喻財貨，天雨濕爛喻於放逸敗壞善行。不殺戒者即佛法身最上妙因，然不能修，但以財貨造諸塔廟供養眾僧，捨根取末不求其本，漂浪五道莫能自出，是故行者應當精心持不殺戒。
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