The Parable Of The Robber Kih
: THE NATURE OF MANChwang Tsz (So-shi) remarks in a humorous way to the following
effect: The followers of the great robber and murderer Kih asked him
saying: 'Has the robber also any moral principles in his
proceedings?' He replied: 'What profession is there which has not
its principles? That the robber comes to the conclusion without
mistake that there are valuable deposits in an apartment shows his
wisdom; that he is the
makes an equal division of the plunder shows his justice; that he
never betrays the fellow-robbers shows his faithfulness; and that he
is generous to the followers shows his benevolence. Without all
these five qualities no one in the world has ever attained to become
a great robber.' The parable clearly shows us Buddha-nature of the
robber and murderer expresses itself as wisdom, bravery, justice,
faithfulness, and benevolence in his society, and that if he did the
same outside it, he would not be a great robber but a great sage.
[FN#167] The parable is told for the purpose of undervaluing
Confucian doctrine, but the author thereby accidentally touches human
nature. We do not quote it here with the same purpose as the
author's.
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