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(46) TO STEAL THE YAK


Once there was a village whose people jointly participated in stealing a yak for food. The man who lost the yak followed their trail to the village. He called out to the villagers, "Do you all live in this village?"
The villagers replied, "We live in no village."
Again the man asked, "There is a pond in your village. Have you eaten the yak together on the side of the pond?"
Replied the people: "We know of no pond."
Again he asked, "Is there any tree near the pond?"
They answered, "We know of no tree."
Again he asked, "Were you on the east side of your village when you stole my yak?"
They answered, "We know of no east direction."
Again he asked, "Wasn't it at noon when you stole my yak?"
They answered, "We know of no noon time."
Again he asked, "Although it is possibly true of your first three answers, how can you say there is no direction and no time in all the world. Now I know you are lying. So I don't believe you at all. Sure enough, you have stolen my yak. Haven't you?"
Thereupon, the stealer could not but admit it.
So are those who break commandments. People who hide their sins are reluctant to disclose them. They will, however, go to hell after their death. Since Devas and good gods possess supernatural eyes, people should not even try to deceive them just like the villagers should not refuse to admit stealing a yak for food.

46偷犛牛喻
譬如一村共偷犛牛而共食之。其失牛者逐跡至村，喚此村人問其由狀，而語之言：「爾在此村。」不偷者對曰：「我實無村。」又問：「爾村中有池，在此池邊共食牛不？」答言：「無池。」又問：「池傍有樹不？」對言：「無樹。」又問：「偷牛之時在爾村東不？」對曰：「無東。」又問：「當爾偷牛非日中時耶？」對曰：「無中。」又問：「縱可無村及以無樹，何有天下無東無時？知爾妄語都不可信，爾偷牛食不？」對言：「實食。」
破戒之人亦復如是，覆藏罪過不肯發露，死入地獄，諸天善神以天眼觀不得覆藏，如彼食牛不得欺拒。

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