（一一）
(1)
昔者兄弟二人居，大勢富貴資財無量，父母終亡無所依仰。雖為兄弟志念各異，兄好道誼；弟愛家業官爵俸祿，貪世榮色。居近波利弗雞鳴精舍，去之不遠。兄專行學諮受經道，不預家計，其弟見兄不親家事恒嫌恨之：「共為兄弟，父母早終，勤苦念生活，反棄家業追逐沙門聽受佛經。沙門豈能與汝衣財寶耶？家轉貧狹財物日耗，人所蚩笑，謂之懈廢門戶絕滅。凡為人子當立功效，繼續父母功勳不廢，乃為孝子耳。」兄報之曰：「五戒、十善、供養三寶、行六度、坐禪念定，以道化親，乃為孝耳。道俗相反自然之數，道之所樂俗之所惡，俗之所珍道之所賤。智愚不同謀，猶明冥不可共處。是故，慧人去冥就明以致道真。卿今所樂，苦惱之我。一切空無虛偽不真，迷謬計有，豈知苦辛？」其弟含恚䫌頭不信，兄見如是便謂曰：「卿貪家事以財為貴，吾好經道以慧為珍。今欲捨家歸命福田，計命寄世忽若飛塵，無常卒至為罪所纏，是故捨世避危就安。」弟見兄意志趣道誼，寂然無報。兄則去家行作沙門，夙夜精進誦經念道，一心坐禪分別思惟，未曾休息懈怠，即具根、力三十七品，行合經法成道果證。往到弟所勸令奉法：「五戒十善生天之本，布施學問道慧之基。」弟聞此言瞋恚更盛，即答兄曰：「卿自應廢，不親家業毀壞門戶，可獨為此勿復教我，疾出門去莫預我事。」兄便捨去。弟貪家業汲汲不休，未曾以法而住其心，然後壽終墮牛中，肥盛甚大。賈客買取載鹽販之，往返有數，牛遂羸頓不能復前，上坂困頓躃臥不起，賈人策撾搖頭纔動。時兄遊行飛在虛空，遙見如是，即時思惟：「知從何來？」觀見其本，本是其弟，便謂之曰：「弟！汝所居舍宅田地，汲汲所樂今為所在？而自投身墮牛畜中。」即以威神照示本命，即自識知，淚出自責：「本行不善慳貪嫉妬，不信佛法輕慢聖眾，快心恣意不信兄語，違戾聖教抵突自用，故墮牛中疲頓困劣，悔當何逮？」兄知心念愴然哀傷，即為牛主說其本末事狀如是：「本是我弟，不信三尊背真向偽，慳妬自恣貪求不施，墮牛中，羸瘦困劣甚可愍傷，今已老極疲不中用，幸以惠我濟其殘命。」賈人聞之便以施與，即將牛去還至寺中，使念三寶飯食隨時，其命終盡得生忉利。時眾賈客各自念言：「我等勤勞治生無厭，不能施與又不奉法、不識道誼，死亦恐然不免此類。」便共出舍，捐其妻子棄所珍翫，行作沙門精進不懈，皆亦得道。由是觀之，世間財寶不益於人，奉敬三尊修身學慧，博聞行道世世獲安。
Long ago, two brothers lived together. They were wealthy beyond measure, with vast riches and resources. Their parents had passed away, leaving them without support. Although they were brothers, their aspirations were completely different. The elder brother loved the path of truth, while the younger brother was attached to family affairs, official rank, and worldly pleasures, greedily chasing fame and sensual delights.
They lived near the Polifēi Chicken Coop Monastery, not far from it. The elder brother devoted himself solely to studying and learning the Buddhist scriptures, never involving himself in household matters. His younger brother, seeing this, constantly resented him: "We are brothers! Our parents died young, and we have to work hard just to survive. Yet you abandon our family business to chase after monks and listen to Buddhist teachings. Can those monks give you clothes or jewels? Our household is shrinking, our wealth is dwindling day by day, and people laugh at us, saying we are lazy and will bring ruin to our family line. As sons, we should build achievements and continue our parents' legacy undiminished—that is what it means to be a filial child!"
The elder brother replied, "Keeping the five precepts, practicing the ten virtues, making offerings to the Three Jewels, cultivating the six perfections, sitting in meditation to calm the mind, and using the Dharma to transform our family—that is true filial piety. The worldly path and the spiritual path are naturally opposites. What the path delights in, the world despises; what the world treasures, the path disdains. The wise and the foolish cannot plan together, just as light and darkness cannot coexist. Therefore, the wise person leaves darkness for light and attains the true path. What you now enjoy is the seed of suffering. All worldly things are empty, false, and unreal. You are deluded into thinking they are real—how could you ever understand the true pain?"
The younger brother, filled with anger, shook his head in disbelief. Seeing this, the elder brother said, "You are greedy for household affairs and value wealth. I love the path of the Dharma and treasure wisdom. I now want to leave the home life and take refuge in the field of merit. Life in this world is brief, like a speck of dust. Death comes suddenly, and we are bound by our misdeeds. Therefore, I leave this world to avoid danger and seek peace."
When the younger brother saw that his older brother's resolve was firm in pursuing the path of truth, he remained silent without a word. The elder brother then left home to become a monk. Day and night, he diligently recited scriptures and meditated on the Dharma. With a focused mind, he sat in contemplation, reflecting deeply without ever resting or being negligent. Thus, he perfected the five faculties, the five powers, and the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment. His practice aligned with the Dharma, and he attained the fruition of the path.
He then went to visit his younger brother and encouraged him to follow the Dharma, saying, "The five precepts and the ten virtues are the foundation for rebirth in heaven. Giving and studying the Dharma are the roots of wisdom." Hearing this, the younger brother grew even angrier and replied, "You have ruined yourself, neglecting the family and destroying our household! You can do this alone, but do not try to teach me. Get out of here! Do not meddle in my affairs."
The elder brother left. The younger brother, consumed by greed for family affairs, toiled endlessly, never letting the Dharma dwell in his heart. Eventually, he died and was reborn as an ox—large and robust. A merchant bought him to carry salt for trade. Over many trips, the ox became emaciated and could no longer go on. Struggling uphill, collapsing from exhaustion and unable to rise, the merchant beat him, and the ox barely managed to shake his head and move.
At that time, the elder brother, traveling through the sky, saw this from afar. He immediately contemplated: "Where did this being come from?" Observing his origin, he recognized him as his former younger brother. He then said to him, "Brother! The house and fields you once cherished so eagerly—where are they now? Instead, you have thrown yourself into the life of an ox." Through his spiritual power, he revealed to the ox his past life. Recognizing himself, the ox wept and reproached himself: "In my past life, I did evil—stingy, jealous, not believing in the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Sangha. I was arrogant, disregarding the holy community. I did as I pleased, refused to listen to my brother's words, and defied the sacred teachings. That is why I am now an ox, too weak and miserable to move. Regret is useless now!"
The elder brother knew what the ox was thinking and felt deep compassion. He then explained the situation to the ox's owner: "This ox was once my brother. He did not believe in the Three Jewels, turned his back on truth for falsehood, and was greedy and jealous. Because of his stinginess and refusal to give, he was reborn as an ox. Now he is emaciated, exhausted, and pitiful. Since he is too old and weak to be of any use, please give him to me, so that I may help him end his suffering." Hearing this, the merchant gave the ox to him.
The elder brother took the ox to the monastery and had him pay homage to the Three Jewels, providing him with food and care. When the ox died, he was reborn in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.
When the other merchants saw this, they each thought: "We work hard and tirelessly seek wealth, never satisfied. We give nothing and do not follow the Dharma. We do not understand the path of truth. When we die, we will surely suffer the same fate." So they left their homes, abandoned their wives and children, and gave up their precious possessions to become monks. Practicing diligently without laziness, they all attained enlightenment.
From this, we can see: worldly wealth and treasure do not benefit a person. But revering the Three Jewels, cultivating wisdom and learning the path, listening widely and practicing the Dharma, brings peace and happiness in every life.