The Sūtra on the Eight States of a Horse as a Parable for People

Taishō no. 115

Translated (c. 185) by the Trepiṭaka Zhī Yào of the Western Regions in the Latter Han (25–220)

Translated into English by Shaku Shingan (23.12.2023)

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was sojourning in the country of Śrāvastī, at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, accompanied by many bhikṣus. The Buddha said to the bhikṣus: 

A horse has eight flawed states. What are these eight? The first state is when it frees itself from the bridle and immediately pulls the cart, wishing to run; the second state is when it jumps and kicks, wanting to bite people while being driven in a cart; the third state is when it lifts its front two legs and pulls the cart to run; the fourth state is when it kicks the wheels of the cart; the fifth state is when it stands still while a person holds the yoke and then comes closer to the cart, walking backwards; the sixth state is when it walks beside the path in a crooked manner; the seventh state is when it pulls the cart and runs, but stops in muddy water and does not continue walking; the eighth state is when it is hungry, and hung with a basket of food and looks at it but refuses to eat, and when its master pulls it away wanting to drive it, it suddenly neighs and snorts, wanting to eat but unable to do so.

The Buddha said:

People also have eight flawed states. What are these eight? The first state is when they hear the sutras and immediately run away, not wanting to listen, like the horse that runs when it frees itself from the bridle; the second state is when they hear the sutras and do not understand the meaning, not knowing the direction of the words, and then become angry and jump and kick, not wanting to listen, like the horse that jumps and kicks, wanting to bite people when being driven in a cart; the third state is when they hear the sutras and immediately resist, not accepting them, like the horse that lifts its front two legs and pulls the cart to run; the fourth state is when they hear the sutras and immediately curse, like the horse that kicks the wheels of the cart; the fifth state is when they hear the sutras and immediately get up and leave, like the horse that stands still while a person holds the yoke and then comes closer to the cart, walking backwards; the sixth state is when they hear the sutras and refuse to listen, shaking their heads and looking sideways while whispering, like the horse that walks beside the path in a crooked manner; the seventh state is when they hear the sutras and immediately want to interrogate it with difficulties, and when asked themselves, they cannot respond appropriately and instead lie, like the horse that stops in muddy water and does not continue walking; the eighth state is when they hear the sutras and refuse to listen, instead thinking of lust and excess, not wanting to accept them, and when they fall into an evil realm they suddenly want to learn and practice the Path, but they also cannot return to practice the Path, like the horse that is hung with a basket of food and looks at it but refuses to eat, and when its master pulls it away wanting to drive it, it suddenly neighs and snorts, but also cannot eat.

The Buddha said: 

I speak of the eight states of a horse, and evil people also have these eight evil states.

The bhikṣus, having heard the sutra, rejoiced, paid their respects, and departed.