愚者の特徴
Characteristics of a Fool
2024-05-23 18:00:00
"In this world, only the wise find the path, gradually accumulate merit, gain wisdom, and ultimately reach Nirvana."
This is the entirety of the Buddhist path.
Therefore, the Buddhist path is referred to as "the path of the wise."
In fact, we can see the following principle in the original scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha:
371 If a wise man, endowed with faith and knowledge, sees the path that leads to the highest goal, if he does not cling to his companions, if he is free from greed, aversion, and anger, he will wander rightly through the world. (The Words of the Buddha, Sutta Nipata, Chapter 2: The Lesser Section, 13: The Proper Wayfarer, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
4 If a wise person takes faith in the venerable True Ones as their wealth and desires to hear the teachings that lead to peace, they will eventually gain clear wisdom about many things.
5 Through faith, one crosses over the rapids; through diligence, one crosses over the ocean. Through diligence, one abandons suffering; through clear wisdom, one becomes completely pure. (The Inspired Utterances, Udanavarga, Chapter 10: Faith, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
On the other hand, it is taught that fools will never attain enlightenment.
2 Even if knowledge arises for a fool, it ultimately becomes a disadvantage for them. It will destroy the fool's good fortune and crush their head. (The Inspired Utterances, Udanavarga, Chapter 13: Respect, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
64 Even if a fool serves a wise man all his life, he will not know the truth, just as a spoon cannot taste the flavor of soup.
65 Superficial fools behave towards themselves as if they were their own enemies. By doing evil deeds, they bear bitter fruit. (The Words of Truth, Dhammapada, Chapter 5: The Fool, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
It is also taught that fools can become wise.
63 If a fool considers himself a fool, he is indeed wise. But the fool who thinks he is wise is truly called a fool.
And it is taught that if a fool becomes wise, he can come to know the truth.
65 A wise person, even if he serves a wise man for only a moment, immediately knows the truth—just as the tongue immediately knows the taste of soup. (The Words of Truth, Dhammapada, Chapter 5: The Fool, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
However, there are fools who end their lives without ever becoming wise.
Why didn't they realize their own foolishness?
It would be because they engaged in actions that undermined the roots of their own merit.
In relation to this, you can see the following principle:
36 However, fools, while engaging in evil deeds, remain unaware. Shallow fools are tormented by their own actions—as if burned by fire. (The Words of Truth, Dhammapada, Chapter 10: Violence, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
3 Those who consider the untrue as true, and the true as untrue, are ensnared by mistaken thoughts and ultimately do not reach the truth. (The Inspired Utterances, Udanavarga, Chapter 29: One by One, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami Bunko)
In essence, a true fool, regardless of intellect, is so foolish that they cannot perceive their own foolishness, and all efforts to understand their truth only serve to reinforce their folly.
Therefore, all the Tathagatas preach what attitudes practitioners should adopt and encourage people to approach the truth through various expedient means.
Those who realize this are already not far from Nirvana; it would not be an exaggeration to say so.
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