Building a Three-storied House

1. There was a silly rich man.
2. One day he paid his friend a visit.
3. He saw strucked with admiration by imposing spacious, airy and well-lighted building.
4. I’m no less wealthy than he. Why don’t I have the same house built as this one?
5. Can you build an imposing house exactly like that one?
   Sure, I built that house myself.
6. Very good. Now you may built a similar house for me.
7. What kind of house are you going to build for me?
   A three-storey house.
8. I don’t want the two floors below. You had better start building from the third floor for me.
9. It’s impossible. If I don’t begin with the ground floor, how can I build the second? If I don’t build the two below, how can I build the third floor?
10. But I don’t need the two floors below, only the top, Understand?
11. How can you have the top floor without the lower floors?

Explanation:

There are people among the four groups of disciples of the Buddha; they wish to attain the wisdom (paññā), but ignore the practice of morality (sīla) and concentration (samādhi).

The Buddha’s teachings are organized according to the ‘gradual training’ (anupubbi-kathā). According to this kind of scheme, the early stages of the practice of the path are more concerned with establishing good conduct on the basis of the ethical precepts; these provide the firm foundation for the development of concentration, which in turn prepares for the perfection of understanding and wisdom.