The Parable Of Me & Mine

Some children were playing beside a river. They made castles of sand, and each child defended his castle and said, “This one is mine.” They kept their castles separate and would not allow any mistakes about which is whose.

When the castles were all finished, one child kicked over someone else’s castle and completely destroyed it. The owner of the castle flew into a rage, pulled the other child’s hair, struck him with his fist and bawled out, “He spoilt my castle! Come along all of you and help me to punish him as he deserves.” The others all came to his help. They beat the child with a stick and then stamped on him as he lay on the ground… Then they went on playing in their sandcastles, each saying, “This is mine; no one else may have it. Keep away! Don’t touch my castle!”

But evening came; it was getting dark and they all thought they ought to be going home. No one now cared what became of his castle. One child stamped on his, another pushed his over with both his hands. Then they turned away and went back, each to his home.

Yogācāra Bhūmi Sutra (Ch. IV. Trsl. in 284A.D. Takakusu XV, 211)

Buddhist Texts Through The Ages

Translated & Edited By Edward Conze, I.B. Horner, David Snellgrove & Arthur Waley