10 The Three-Storied House

In the old days, there was a rich man who was stupid and ignorant. One day he went to another rich man’s home. The house was a three-stored structure. Being struck with admiration of the imposing, spacious, and well-lit building, he said to himself, “I am no less rich than he. Why don’t I immediately build a house like this one?”

Thereupon he sent for a carpenter and said, “Can you construct a house as imposing as that one?”

The carpenter replied, ”I built that one!”

The rich man said, “Now you may build a house like that for me.”

The carpenter first began to level the ground. Afterwards he began to lay foundation stones and then drive piles for walls. When the carpenter was laying the stones and building the wall supports, the stupid man asked, “What are you doing now?”

The carpenter replied, “I’m building a three-storied house.”

The stupid man went on, “I don’t want the two lower floors. Build me the third floor first.”

The carpenter answered, “There is no such thing. If I don’t start with the first floor, how can I build the second? If I don’t build the second, how can I build the third?”

The stupid man insisted, “I don’t need the two lower floors; build only the top floor.”

Hearing those words, people laughed sardonically. They all said, “How can one not build the lower floors, yet build the top floor?”

This is like some of the Buddha’s disciples who, being unable to practice earnestly or to revere the Triple Jewel, are lazy and lax in seeking the fruits of the Way and say, “We don’t seek the first three stages below, but seek only the fruit of Arhatship.” They become objects of ridicule just like that stupid man.

10三重楼喻

译文

过去有一个富愚人，不通事理。他到别的富人家去，见及一座三层楼，高畅广大，端严华丽，轩阁清敞疏朗，心内很是羡仰，想道：我的钱财并不亚于他，为何从前不造一座这样的楼屋呢?即便唤来木匠，问道：「你会造那家一般的好看楼屋吗?」木匠答道：「那就是我造的。」富愚人即便说道：「如今可替我造一幢那样的楼屋。」

这时，木匠就开始丈量地面，砌垒砖坯，造起楼屋来。愚人见他垒坯砌砖，造作楼舍，心内怀着疑惑，不甚明白，便问道：「你想作什么?」木匠答道：「作三层楼。」愚人道：「我不想作下面二层，先可为我作最上层。」木匠道：「哪有这等事！哪有不作最下层屋，而能造那第二层的？不造第二层，怎能造第三层。」愚人固执地说：「我如今不要下二层屋，定要替我造最上层。」当时人听了，都不免笑他，异口同声地说：「哪有不造下面第一层而能造二层、三层的？」

就譬如佛的四众弟子，有些不能精勤地修持、恭敬佛法僧三宝，懒惰懈怠，却想求得道果，说：「我如今不要须陀洹、斯陀含、阿那含这三果，唯求修得阿罗汉最上果。」也被当时的人所嗤笑，与那愚人一模一样。

原典

往昔之世，有富愚人，痴无所知。到余富家，见三重楼，高广严丽，轩敞疏朗，心生渴仰，即作是念：我有财钱，不灭于彼，云何顷来而不造作如是之楼？即唤木匠而问其曰：「解作彼家端正舍不?」木匠答言：「是我所作。」即便语言：「今可为我造楼如彼。」

是时，木匠即便经①地垒墼②作楼。愚人见其垒墼作舍，犹怀疑惑，不能了知，而问之言：「欲作何等?」木匠答言：「作三重屋。」愚人复言：「我不欲作下二重之屋，先可为我作最上屋。」木匠答言：「无有是事!何有不作最下重屋，而得造彼第二之屋?不造第二，云何得造第三重屋?」愚人固言：「我今不用下二重屋，必可为我作最上者。」时人闻已，便生怪笑，咸作此言：「何有不造下第一屋而得上者?

譬如世尊四辈弟子③，不能精勤修敬三宝，懒惰懈怠，欲求道果，而作是言：「我今不用余下三果，唯求得彼阿罗汉果。」亦为时人之所嗤笑，如彼愚者，等无有异。

注释

①经：量。

②墼：音几，砖坯。

③四辈弟子：指构成佛教教团之四种弟子众，即比丘、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷四众弟子。或指出家的比丘、比丘尼、沙弥、沙弥尼等四众弟子。

源流

《菩萨善戒经》载：譬如重楼四级次第，不由初级至二级者，无有是处，不由二级至于三级，不由三级至四级者，亦无是处。(《大正藏》第三十册第一O一三至一O一四页)

解说

大抵有基方筑室，未闻无址忽成岑。

此则可与第四十四则<欲食半饼喻>比看。