佛說馬有八態譬人經(出雜阿含別譯)
The Buddha’s Discourse on the Eight Behaviors of a Horse as a Parable for People(Selected from the Miscellaneous Agama Scriptures)
後漢西域三藏支曜譯
Translated by Zhi Yao, a Tripitaka Master from the Western Regions, Later Han Dynasty
聞如是：
Thus have I heard:
一時，佛在舍衛國行在祇樹給孤獨園，多比丘僧俱。佛告諸比丘：「馬有弊惡態八。何等八？一態者解羈韁時便掣車欲走；二態者駕車跳𨄈欲嚙人；三態者便舉前兩脚掣車走；四態者便蹹車軨；五態者便人立持軛摩挱車却行；六態者便傍行邪走；七態者便掣車馳走，得濁泥抵止住不復行；八態者懸篼餧之熟視不肯食，其主牽去欲駕之，遽唅噏噬欲食不能得食。」
Once, the Buddha was staying in the country of Shravasti, at the Jeta Grove in Anathapindika’s Park, together with a large community of monks. The Buddha said to the monks:
“A horse has eight bad, stubborn habits. What are the eight? First, when the reins are loosened, it pulls the chariot and tries to bolt. Second, while being harnessed, it kicks and tries to bite. Third, it rears up on its front legs and drags the chariot away. Fourth, it stomps on the chariot’s railing. Fifth, when someone stands holding the yoke and strokes it, it backs the chariot up. Sixth, it veers sideways and runs off course. Seventh, it races the chariot forward but stops dead when it reaches muddy ground and refuses to move. Eighth, when hay is hung up for it to eat, it stares but won’t eat; then when its owner tries to lead it away to harness it, it hastily snatches and gulps, not able to get the food it wants.”
佛言：「人亦有弊惡態八。何等為八？一態者聞說經便走不欲聽，如馬解羈韁掣車走時；二態者聞說經意不解，不知語所趣向，便瞋跳𨄈不欲聞，如馬駕車時跳𨄈欲嚙人時；三態者聞說經便逆不受，如馬舉前兩脚掣車走時；四態者聞說經便罵，如馬蹹車軨時；五態者聞說經便起去，如馬人立持軛摩挱車却行時；六態者聞說經不肯聽，䫌頭邪視耳語，如馬傍行邪走時；七態者聞說經便欲窮難，問之不能相應答，便死抵妄語，如馬得濁泥便止不復行時；八態者聞說經不肯聽，反念婬泆多求不欲聽受，死入惡道時，乃遽欲學問行道，亦不能復得行道，如馬懸篼餧之熟視不肯食，其主牽去欲駕之，乃遽唅噏噬亦不得食。」
The Buddha said: "People also have eight kinds of bad and ugly habits. What are these eight?
- The first habit: When someone hears the teaching being spoken, they run away and don't want to listen. This is like a horse that breaks its reins and bolts, dragging the cart away. - The second habit: When someone hears the teaching but doesn't understand its meaning, they get angry and jump around, refusing to listen. This is like a horse that rears up and tries to bite when yoked to a cart. - The third habit: When someone hears the teaching, they reject it outright. This is like a horse that lifts its front legs and drags the cart away. - The fourth habit: When someone hears the teaching, they curse and insult it. This is like a horse that kicks the cart's wheel spokes. - The fifth habit: When someone hears the teaching, they get up and leave. This is like a horse that rears up on its hind legs, pressing against the yoke, rubbing the harness, and backing the cart away. - The sixth habit: When someone hears the teaching, they refuse to pay attention, turning their head away, looking sideways, and whispering to others. This is like a horse that walks diagonally or runs sideways. - The seventh habit: When someone hears the teaching, they want to attack it with difficult questions, but when asked themselves, they can't answer and stubbornly tell lies. This is like a horse that stops and won't move when it steps into muddy water. - The eighth habit: When someone hears the teaching, they refuse to listen, and instead dwell on lustful, greedy thoughts, wanting more and not wanting to accept the teaching. By the time they die and fall into an evil destiny, they suddenly want to learn and practice the Way, but it's too late. They can no longer attain it. This is like a horse that is offered hay right in front of it, but looks at it blankly and refuses to eat. Only when its owner leads it away to harness it does it suddenly want to bite and chew the hay—but by then it can't get any."
佛言：「我說馬八態，惡人亦有八惡態如是。」
The Buddha said: "I have spoken of the eight postures of a horse. Wicked people likewise have eight wicked postures, just like this."
諸比丘聞經歡喜，作禮而去。
When the monks heard this teaching, they were filled with joy. They bowed in respect and departed.
佛說馬有八態譬人經
The Buddha Speaks of the Sutra of the Eight Manners of a Horse Compared to People