§54 蛇头尾共争在前喻

(54) the snake's argument

譬如有蛇，尾与头言：“我应在前。”

once there was a snake whose tail told its head, "i should lead the way."

头语尾言：“我恒在前，何以卒尔？”

and the head said, "i'm used to leading, why do you want to change positions so suddenly?"

头果在前，其尾缠树，不能得去。放尾在前，即堕火坑，烧烂而死。

when the head led the way, the tail knotted himself around a tree and was unwilling to move. and when the tail led, the snake fell into a burning pit and was burnt to its death.

师徒弟子，亦复如是。言师耆老，每恒在前；我诸年少，应为导首。如是年少，不闲戒律，多有所犯。因即相牵，入於地狱。

this is also true with teachers and disciples. the disciples have a fancy that the young should lead the way, as they think teachers are too old to lead. due to their youthful immaturity, they often break commandments without being aware of it. they end up dragging each other down to hell.

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