[Buddha-l] What is the source of this story?

[Richard Hayes]

For years I have been repeating various versions of a story I read several 
decades ago. I cannot now find the source, although I have a vague 
recollection that it came from a Chinese or Japanese Buddhist text. Can 
anyone help me locate it?

\begin{approximation to story}
A minister went to the king of his country and said "Your Majesty, I'm afraid 
I have some very bad news. Our spies report that there are citizens who are 
saying negative things about you."

The king said "Are these negative things the people are saying true?"

"No, Your Majesty. They are false."

"Well, then," said the king, "There is no cause for worry. People are always 
talking. If people are saying positive things that are true, that is no cause 
for worry, for they are offering deserved praise. If they are saying negative 
things that are true, then that is no cause for worry, for they are offering 
helpful advice. If they are saying negative things that are false, that is no 
worry, for they are simply mistaken. The only thing that would be a cause for 
worry would be if they were saying positive things that are false, for then 
one would be receiving undeserved praise."
\end{approximation to story}

-- 
Richard P. Hayes
Department of Philosophy
University of New Mexico
http://www.unm.edu/~rhayes