15 The Physician Prescribes A Drug For The Princess

15医与王女药令卒长大喻

Once there was a king who had a newborn daughter. He called in a physician and said, “Can you prescribe some drug for the baby so she can grow up immediately?”

The physician said, “Yes, I can administer a fine drug which will make her grow up instantly, but I don’t have the formula right now. I will have to go search for it. However, during the period of search, Your Majesty must not lay eyes on your daughter. After I give her the drug, then I will bring her before Your Majesty.”

Then the physician went to a faraway place to look for the drug. After twelve years had passed he found the drug. He administered it to the princess and brought her before the King. The King took a look at his daughter and was overjoyed. He thought to himself, “What a fine physician! He gave my daughter a drug and caused her to grow up immediately!” Then the King ordered his attendants to reward the physician with treasures and gems.

People laughed at the king for his lack of wisdom. It never occurred to him to add up the number of months and years that had passed since his daughter’s date of birth. On seeing her grown up, he attributed her maturity to be power of the drug.

People of the world are like this king. They come to a Good Knowing Advisor and say, “I wish to seek the Way. I wish to meet someone who can teach me to gain transcendent wisdom in meditation.” The teacher uses skill-in-means to instruct his followers to sit in meditation and contemplate the twelve causes and conditions, and to accumulate myriad myriad virtues, until they eventually realize the fruit of Arhatship. At that point, the people are doubly pleased. They exclaim, “How fast this has been! This great teacher has quickly led us to the certification to the most wonderful Dharma!”

译文

从前有位国王，生了一个女儿，便唤来医生，道：「替我弄药给她，立刻使她长大。」医生答道：「我给她一种好药，能使她即刻长大。可是如今仓促之间无法觅得，须去求索才行。在得了药之前，请陛下莫要见您女儿，等给了她药之后，才让陛下见她。」于是便即刻前往远方采药去了。过了十二年，采得了药回来了，给公主服了药，把她带到国王面前。国王见了，心里想道：确实是良医，给我女儿服了药，能令她猝然长大。便命令左右赏赐珍宝给他。当时众人都笑国王无知，不晓得算算出生以来的年月，见她长大了，以为是药力的作用。

世上人也是如此，到能引入菩提之途的人那儿启求道：「我想求道，望您传授一下，使我立刻得道。」能引入菩提之途的导师出于权巧方便的原由，教他坐禅，专注地观察一切有生命之物流转于过去现在未来三世的十二种条件。这人的种种德行渐渐积聚了起来，终于修得了阿罗汉果，便异常地欢喜，心情踊跃，道：「真快啊!大师能使我迅速证得阿罗汉果这最妙法。」

原典

昔有国王，产生一女，唤医语言：「为我与药，立使长大。」医师答言：「我与良药，能使即大。但今卒无，方须求索。比①得药顷，王要莫看。待与药已，然后示王。」于是即便远方取药。经十二年，得药来还，与女令服，将示于王。王见欢喜，即自念言：实是良医，与我女药，即令卒长。便勅左右，赐以珍宝。时诸人等笑王无智，不晓筹量生来年月，见其长大，谓是药方。

世人亦尔，诣善知识②，而启之言：「我欲求道，愿见教授，使我立得。」善知识师以方便故，教令坐禅，观十二缘起③，渐积众德，获阿罗汉位④，踊跃欢喜，而作是言：「快战!大师速能令我证最妙法。」

注释

①比：及、到。

②善知识：指正直而有德行，能引人入菩提正道之人。

③十二缘起：有生命之物在过去、现在、未来三世生存变化的十二个条件，就是：无明、行、识、名色、六入、触、受、爱、取、有、生、老死。

④「位」，《丽藏》作「倍」，形似有讹，今据宋藏改。