Inspriration from all walks of life
一四七 矛 盾
「我应该怎么做才能获得天主？」
「如果你想获得天主，你必须知道两个秘诀：第一即是深知所有获得天主的方法根本无效。」
「第二个秘诀呢？」
「你必须忘掉第一个秘诀，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 适 中
大师深恐弟子对他的倚赖心，妨碍了他们深入自己内心的追寻，故常作冷漠，令他们扫兴。
别人常听大师说：「世界上有三种东西，近之则有害，远之则无用，最好是与它保持一段适中的距离。那就是火、政府，以及师父。」
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 练
弟子很想知道大师每天早上在花园中究竟在修练何种默观法门。大师说：「若我仔细地瞧，我会看到丛丛玫瑰的绽放。」
「为什么非要仔细瞧，才能看见玫瑰呢？」他们问道。
「以免我所看到的，不是丛丛玫瑰，而是脑子里存有的印象而已。」大师说。
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
弟子们都在热烈地讨论老子的名言：
「知者不言，
言者不知。」
这时大师进来了，弟子们请教他此言的涵意。
大师说：「你们之中有谁知道玫瑰的芬芳？」
所有的人都知道。
他接着说：「用文字表达出来。」
大伙儿都沉默下来。
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 本来具足
弟子们渴求明心见性，却捉摸不到它的门路。
大师说：「没有人能获得它，更无法掌握它。」
大师见弟子一副垂头丧气模样，便说：「放心吧！你也不会失去它的。」
这一整天，弟子们都在探索这无法获得，也无法失去之宝。
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 自甘贫贱
大师向一位来自遥远异乡的弟子问道：「你究竟在寻找什么？」
「明心见性。」
「你自家已拥有一座宝库，为什么却跑到外地寻宝？」
「我的宝库在哪儿？」
「就是这自你心内扬起的渴求之心。」
这位弟子当下即开悟了。在往后的岁月里，他常向朋友说：「开启你自己的宝库，享用你的宝藏。」
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 缚
一位惴惴不安的宗教家来访，大师说：「你为什么这么紧张？」
「我怕失去救恩。」
「救恩到底是什么？」
「是超脱，是自由。」
大师禁不住大笑道：「那么你是被迫自由？不能不超脱？」
自那一刻起，这位宗教信徒顿时轻松下来，永不畏惧。
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 开 放
一对夫妇焦虑不已，因为他们的孩子已经背离了家族的宗教传统，并且自称为自由主义者。
大师说：「不必担心，如果这小伙子真能忠于自己的思考，天地之正气必然升起，护送他至向往之境。」
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 升 华
一位妇人遭丧子之痛，前来大师前寻求宽慰。
大师耐心地聆听她倾诉丧子的经过及内心的悲痛。
然后，他和蔼地说：「孩子，我无法为你逝去眼泪，我只能教你如何圣化这些眼泪。」
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
「我该如何学习『爱邻人』？」
「不再恨自己。」
这位弟子反复认真的囘味此话，然后囘来禀告大师：「但是我发觉我过于爱护自己，因为我相当自私，且自我意识甚强。我该如何除去这些缺点？」
「对自己友善一点。当自我感到舒畅时，你就能自在地去『爱邻人』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.”