(49) BOYS' ARGUMENT ON THE SUBJECT OF HAIR

There were once two boys who dived in a river where they found at its bottom a bundle of feathers. One said that it was the beard of some spirit, whereas the other said it was the bear's hair. They argued without a right answer. A supernatural being nearby was then approached by the two and was asked to settle the argument. He put rice and sesame seeds into his mouth and chewed for a while, then he spat them into his hand and said, "What I have got here seems to me a peacock's excrement."
It is known his answer was beyond the question, which was put to him. So are the stupid in the world.
During the time of preaching, those who facetiously discuss the teachings of Buddhism do not give the answer to the right doctrine, just like the supernatural being not answering the question. People from all walks of life are made a laughing stock. So is the frivolous and empty gossip.

49小兒爭分別毛喻
譬如昔日有二小兒入河遨戲，於此水底得一把毛，一小兒言：「此是仙鬚。」一小兒言：「此是羆毛。」爾時河邊有一仙人，此二小兒諍之不已，詣彼仙所決其所疑。而彼仙人尋即取米及胡麻子，口中含嚼吐著掌中，語小兒言：「我掌中者似孔雀屎。」而此仙人不答他問，人皆知之。
世間愚人亦復如是，說法之時戲論諸法不答正理，如彼仙人不答所問，為一切人之所嗤笑，浮漫虛說亦復如是。

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