Inspriration from all walks of life
一四七 矛 盾
「我應該怎麼做才能獲得天主？」
「如果你想獲得天主，你必須知道兩個秘訣：第一卽是深知所有獲得天主的方法根本無效。」
「第二個秘訣呢？」
「你必須忘掉第一個秘訣，照常努力不懈。」
CONTRADICTION
“What action shall I perform to attain God?”
“If you wish to attain God there are two things you must know. The first is that all
efforts to attain him are of no avail.”
“And the second?”
“You must act as if you did not know the first.”
一四六 適 中
大師深恐弟子對他的倚賴心，妨礙了他們深入自己內心的追尋，故常作冷漠，令他們掃興。
別人常聽大師說：「世界上有三種東西，近之則有害，遠之則無用，最好是與它保持一段適中的距離。那就是火、政府，以及師父。」
MODERATION
Again and again the Master would be seen to discourage his disciples from depending
on him, for this would prevent them from contacting the inner Source.
He was often heard to say, “Three things there are that when too close are harmful,
when too far are useless, and are best kept at middle distance: from the government and
the guru.”
一四五 修 練
弟子很想知道大師每天早上在花園中究竟在修練何種默觀法門。大師說：「若我仔細地瞧，我會看到叢叢玫瑰的綻放。」
「為什麼非要仔細瞧，才能看見玫瑰呢？」他們問道。
「以免我所看到的，不是叢叢玫瑰，而是腦子裏存有的印象而已。」大師說。
DISCIPLINE
To the disciples who wanted to know what sort of meditation he practised each
morning in the garden the Master said, “When I look carefully I see the rose bush in full
bloom.”
“Why would one have to look carefully to see the rose bush?” they asked.
Alt of them knew.
Then he said. “Put it into words.”
“Lest one see, not the rose bush.” said the Master, “But one’s preconception of it.”
All of them were silent.
一四四 文 字
弟子們都在熱烈地討論老子的名言：
「知者不言，
言者不知。」
這時大師進來了，弟子們請教他此言的涵意。
大師說：「你們之中有誰知道玫瑰的芬芳？」
所有的人都知道。
他接着說：「用文字表達出來。」
大夥兒都沉默下來。
WORDS
The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao Tzu’s dictum:
“Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know.”
When the Master entered they asked him exactly what the words meant.
Said the Master, “Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?”
一四三 本來具足
弟子們渴求明心見性，却捉摸不到它的門路。
大師說：「沒有人能獲得它，更無法掌握它。」
大師見弟子一副垂頭喪氣模樣，便說：「放心吧！你也不會失去它的。」
這一整天，弟子們都在探索這無法獲得，也無法失去之寶。
SOVEREIGNTY
The disciples sought Enlightenment but did not kn ow what it was or how it was
attainable.
Said the Master, “It cannot be attained. You cannot get hold of it.”
Seeing the disciples downcast look the Master said, “Don‘t be distressed. You cannot
lose it either,”
And to this day the disciples are in search of that which can neither be lost nor taken
hold of.
一四二 自甘貧賤
大師向一位來自遙遠異鄉的弟子問道：「你究竟在尋找什麼？」
「明心見性。」
「你自家已擁有一座寶庫，為什麼却跑到外地尋寶？」
「我的寶庫在哪兒？」
「就是這自你心內揚起的渴求之心。」
這位弟子當下卽開悟了。在往後的歲月裏，他常向朋友說：「開啟你自己的寶庫，享用你的寶藏。」
IMPOVERISHMENT
When a disciple came from a far-away country, the Master asked, “What are you
seeking?”
“Enlightenment.”
“You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?”
“Where is my treasure house?”
“This seeking that has come upon you.”
At that moment the disciple was enlightened. Years later he would say to his friends,
“Open your own treasure house and enjoy your treasures.”
一四一 自 縛
一位惴惴不安的宗教家來訪，大師說：「你為什麼這麼緊張？」
「我怕失去救恩。」
「救恩到底是什麼？」
「是超脫，是自由。」
大師禁不住大笑道：「那麼你是被迫自由？不能不超脫？」
自那一刻起，這位宗教信徒頓時輕鬆下來，永不畏懼。
BONDAGE
To a fearful religious visitor the Master said, “Why are you so anxious?”
“Lest I fail to attain Salvation.” “And what is Salvation?” “Moksha. Liberation.
Freedom.”
The Master roared with laughter and said, “So you are forced to be free? You are
bound to be liberated?”
At that minute the visitor relaxed and lost his fear forever.
一四０ 開 放
一對夫婦焦慮不已，因為他們的孩子已經背離了家族的宗教傳統，並且自稱為自由主義者。
大師說：「不必擔心，如果這小伙子真能忠於自己的思考，天地之正氣必然升起，護送他至嚮往之境。」
OPENNESS
An anxious couple complained to the Master that their son had abandoned the
religious traditions of the family and proclaimed himself a freethi nk er.
Said the Master, “Not to worry If the lad is really thinking for himself, the Mighty
Wind is bound to arise that will carry him to the place where he belongs.”
一三九 昇 華
一位婦人遭喪子之痛，前來大師前尋求寬慰。
大師耐心地聆聽她傾訴喪子的經過及內心的悲痛。
然後，他和藹地說：「孩子，我無法為你逝去眼淚，我只能教你如何聖化這些眼淚。」
AFFIRMATION
A woman in great distress over the death of her son came to the Master for comfort.
He listened to her patiently while she poured out her tale of woe.
Then he said softly. “I cannot wipe away your tears, my dear. I can only teach you
how to make them holy.”
一三八 友 善
「我該如何學習『愛鄰人』？」
「不再恨自己。」
這位弟子反覆認真的囘味此話，然後囘來稟告大師：「但是我發覺我過於愛護自己，因為我相當自私，且自我意識甚強。我該如何除去這些缺點？」
「對自己友善一點。當自我感到舒暢時，你就能自在地去『愛鄰人』了。」
FRIENDLINESS
“What shall I do to love my neighbour?” “Stop hating yourself.”
The disciple pondered those words long and seriously and came back to say, “But I
love myself too much, for I am selfish and self-centred. How do I get rid of that?”
“Be friendly to yourself and your self will be contented and it will set you free to love
your neighbour.”