（八）
(8)
為無常家說譬喻。有一大樹，其果如二升瓶，其果垂熟，有烏飛來住樹枝上方住，果落烏頭殺。樹神見此，而作偈言：
I'll tell a parable for those living without permanence. There was a great tree bearing fruit the size of two-liter jars. When the fruit was ripe and hanging, a crow flew over and perched on a branch. Just as it settled, a fruit fell and struck the crow on the head, killing it. Seeing this, the tree spirit spoke these verses:
「烏來不求死， 果墮不為烏，
果熟烏應死， 因緣會使爾。」
"A crow doesn't seek its death, But when a fruit falls, it's not for the crow's sake. When the fruit is ripe, the crow may die— Thus causes and conditions bring things to pass."
人在世間罪福會遲速合，無有前却，黠人得罪不怨、得福不喜，爾乃為諦信佛言受持不離。三界之中有九十六種道，世人各奉其所事，冀神有益，此諸小道未曉為福，豈能執德？所以爾者，不識三尊之上明，不執五戒之清真，無有八正之深見，豈能祐濟於人乎？是以名之薄田耳。
In this world, people experience both sin and blessing at different times—some come quickly, others slowly, but none come ahead of schedule or fall behind. A wise person, when faced with misfortune, does not complain; when blessed, does not become overly elated. This is what it means to truly trust the Buddha's words, to accept and uphold them without wavering.
Within the three realms, there are ninety-six kinds of paths or teachings. People in the world each follow their own chosen tradition, hoping that spirits or deities will bring them benefit. But these lesser paths do not fully understand how to cultivate true merit—how could they possibly uphold virtue? Why is this? Because they do not recognize the supreme wisdom of the Three Jewels, do not uphold the purity of the Five Precepts, and lack the profound insight of the Eightfold Path. How could such paths truly offer help or salvation to others? Therefore, they are called "shallow fields"—unable to yield a rich harvest.