§91 贫人欲与富者等财物喻

(91) the poor want to have as much as the rich

昔有一贫人，有少财物。见大富者，意欲共等。不能等故，虽有少财，欲弃水中。傍人语言：“此物虽尠，可得延君性命数日，何故舍弃掷著水中？”

once upon a time, there was a poor man who had but few possessions. after meeting some rich men, he wanted to be like one of them. unable to do so, he was about to throw the little he had into the water. some bystander said, "what you possess may be little, but you can live on it for a while. why do you want to throw it into the water?"

世间愚人，亦复如是。虽复出家。少得利养，心有希望，常怀不足，不能得与高德者，等获其利养。见他宿旧有德之人，素有多闻，多众供养，意欲等之。不能等故，心怀忧苦，便欲罢道。

this is similar to what is done by the stupid of the world. people who happen to be ordained men get offerings, which come way below their expectations. what they have cannot equal that received by the high and virtuous ones. they see that those old and virtuous ordained men are supported by the mass of famous people. they want to be on an equal footing with them. unable to get equality, they feel sorrowful and painful to such a degree as to break their faith.

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