The Burning House Parable

"One day, a fire broke out in the house of a wealthy man who had many children. The wealthy man shouted at his children inside the burning house to flee. But the children were absorbed in their games and did not heed his warning, though the house was being consumed by flames. Then, the wealthy man devised a practical way to lure the children from the burning house. Knowing that the children were fond of interesting playthings, he called out to them, "Listen! Outside the gate are the carts that you have always wanted: carts pulled by goats, carts pulled by deer, and carts pulled by oxen. Why don't you come out and play with them?" The wealthy man knew that these things would be irresistible to his children. The children, eager to play with the promised toys, ran out of the house... the father is Buddha, and the children are sentient beings (having emotion).