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(76) THE FARMER LONGED FOR THE PRINCESS

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who went to the city and saw the princess who was very graceful. He found she was quite a rare beauty. Afterwards he thought of nothing else but the princess day and night. Since he could not find a way to have a talk with her, he became yellow and fell very ill from his love-sickness. His parents and relatives asked him what had happened to him. He replied, "Yesterday I saw the graceful princess with whom I would like to get acquainted. But I've been unable to think of a way. This is why I have fallen ill. I'll die soon!"

The parents and relatives said, "We'll find a way. Don't be so upset."

Two days later, they said to him, "We have found a way. Unfortunately, she didn't like it at all."
Upon hearing these words the farmer got very happy and said with a big smile to other people that she would come to him if he sent for her.

This is also held to be true with the stupid men of the world.

A stupid man knows of no seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. He sows the land with seeds in winter hoping that they will grow. He gains nothing except wasting his energy in vain. All are lost as buds, stalks, branches, and leaves.

Getting a little merit, the stupid of the world are satisfied with what they think are the attainment of Enlightenment, like the farmer who longed for the princess.

76田夫思王女喻

昔有田夫遊行城邑，見國王女顏貌端正世所希有，晝夜想念情不能已，思與交通無由可遂，顏色瘀黃即成重病。諸所親見，便問其人：「何故如是？」答親里言：「我昨見王女，顏貌端正，思與交通不能得故，是以病耳。我若不得，必死無疑。」諸親語言：「我當為汝作好方便，使汝得之，勿得愁也。」後日見之便語之言：「我等為汝便為是得，唯王女不欲。」田夫聞之欣然而笑，謂呼必得。世間愚人亦復如是，不別時節春秋冬夏，便於冬時擲種土中望得果實，徒喪其功空無所獲，芽莖枝葉一切都失。世間愚人修習少福謂為具足，便謂菩提已可證得，如彼田夫悕望王女。

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