知足的人，
心量開闊，
對人對事就不會計較。
---
2009年3月20日星期五
杀掉不如改掉
一只公鸡早晨起来报晓. 天刚亮, 被主人捉出来杀了.
又一只公鸡早晨起来报晓. 天刚亮, 被主人捉出来杀了.
又一只公鸡早晨起来报晓. 天刚亮, 还是被主人捉出来杀了.
邻居不解, 问: “这些公鸡每天报晓都挺准时的, 你杀他们干甚么?”
那人说: “早晨我有晚起的习惯, 他们却叫得很早.”
邻居说: “这不是他们的过错, 报晓是公鸡的天职.”
那人说: “这个我不管, 我需要的是和母鸡交配的公鸡, 而不是报晓的公鸡.”
邻居说: “可是公鸡是不能不报晓的, 你难道不能用另一种模式来解决问题吗?”
“这个很难, ” 那人说, “我曾想割掉他们的嗓子, 后来又想扎上他们的嘴, 可是这样太麻烦, 而杀他们却很省事.”
“那你为甚么不改变一下睡觉的习惯呢? ” 邻居疑惑地问.
“改变我的生活习惯, 这怎么可能呢!” 那人说, “我有这个习惯已几十年了, 怎么会为几只公鸡而去改变呢? 再说我是主人, 他们应该符合我的需求, 他们的行为与我发生矛盾时, 受损失的只能是他们, 怎么会是我呢?”
于是那人一直保持着杀鸡的习惯.
注: 乍听之下, 这好似则笑话. 但是仔细想想, 我们是不是也曾说过, “我就是这样, 你们不能接受我的性格我也没办法!” 或者, “我是老板 (或上司), 当然他们得符合我的需求, 怎么可能我迁就他们呢?” 我们都希望环境顺着我们的意思, 而没能及时检讨自己的缺点, 这不也如同杀鸡来配合自己的习惯吗? 积习并非难改, 只是我们害怕改变现状而已!
又一只公鸡早晨起来报晓. 天刚亮, 被主人捉出来杀了.
又一只公鸡早晨起来报晓. 天刚亮, 还是被主人捉出来杀了.
邻居不解, 问: “这些公鸡每天报晓都挺准时的, 你杀他们干甚么?”
那人说: “早晨我有晚起的习惯, 他们却叫得很早.”
邻居说: “这不是他们的过错, 报晓是公鸡的天职.”
那人说: “这个我不管, 我需要的是和母鸡交配的公鸡, 而不是报晓的公鸡.”
邻居说: “可是公鸡是不能不报晓的, 你难道不能用另一种模式来解决问题吗?”
“这个很难, ” 那人说, “我曾想割掉他们的嗓子, 后来又想扎上他们的嘴, 可是这样太麻烦, 而杀他们却很省事.”
“那你为甚么不改变一下睡觉的习惯呢? ” 邻居疑惑地问.
“改变我的生活习惯, 这怎么可能呢!” 那人说, “我有这个习惯已几十年了, 怎么会为几只公鸡而去改变呢? 再说我是主人, 他们应该符合我的需求, 他们的行为与我发生矛盾时, 受损失的只能是他们, 怎么会是我呢?”
于是那人一直保持着杀鸡的习惯.
注: 乍听之下, 这好似则笑话. 但是仔细想想, 我们是不是也曾说过, “我就是这样, 你们不能接受我的性格我也没办法!” 或者, “我是老板 (或上司), 当然他们得符合我的需求, 怎么可能我迁就他们呢?” 我们都希望环境顺着我们的意思, 而没能及时检讨自己的缺点, 这不也如同杀鸡来配合自己的习惯吗? 积习并非难改, 只是我们害怕改变现状而已!
Change ourselves, not the environments!
At dawn, a rooster crowed and it was killed by the owner.
The next day at dawn, another rooster crowed and it was also killed.
Next dawn, the third crowed and was killed, too.
His neighbor was confused and asked the owner, “These roosters crowed on time every dawn, why did you kill them?”
The owner replied, “I wake up late in the morning, but they crowed very early in the morning.”
The neighbor said, “That is not their fault, it is their nature to crow early in the morning.”
The owner was very angry, “I don’t care. I only need roosters which can mate with hens, not roosters that break the mornings.”
The neighbor said, “But there is no rooster that doesn’t crow. Can’t you find another way to solve this problem?”
“This is difficult,” said the owner, “I thought of cutting off their voice box. I also thought of tying up their beaks. But all these methods are too troublesome; killing them is much easier.”
“Why don’t you consider changing your sleeping habit?” The neighbor felt puzzled
“Change my habit? How could that be possible?” The owner said, “This habit is in me for decades. How could I change it just because of a few roosters? Moreover, I am the owner, they should accommodate to my demands. If their behaviors conflict with mine, it is they that should comply with my rules. Why on earth should I comply with theirs?” Therefore, the owner continued his act of slaughtering the roosters.
Notes: This may sound like a joke to many. However, when we think twice, haven’t we said before, “That’s what I am, and what I used to be, there’s nothing I can do if you cannot accept me.” Or, “Since I am the boss (or superior), you must pleased me, how can I pleased you?” We wish the environments could suit our needs, but we often fail to reflect on our own weaknesses. It seems we are killing the roosters to accommodate to our habits. Old habits don’t die hard; it’s we that are afraid of changing what we are!
The next day at dawn, another rooster crowed and it was also killed.
Next dawn, the third crowed and was killed, too.
His neighbor was confused and asked the owner, “These roosters crowed on time every dawn, why did you kill them?”
The owner replied, “I wake up late in the morning, but they crowed very early in the morning.”
The neighbor said, “That is not their fault, it is their nature to crow early in the morning.”
The owner was very angry, “I don’t care. I only need roosters which can mate with hens, not roosters that break the mornings.”
The neighbor said, “But there is no rooster that doesn’t crow. Can’t you find another way to solve this problem?”
“This is difficult,” said the owner, “I thought of cutting off their voice box. I also thought of tying up their beaks. But all these methods are too troublesome; killing them is much easier.”
“Why don’t you consider changing your sleeping habit?” The neighbor felt puzzled
“Change my habit? How could that be possible?” The owner said, “This habit is in me for decades. How could I change it just because of a few roosters? Moreover, I am the owner, they should accommodate to my demands. If their behaviors conflict with mine, it is they that should comply with my rules. Why on earth should I comply with theirs?” Therefore, the owner continued his act of slaughtering the roosters.
Notes: This may sound like a joke to many. However, when we think twice, haven’t we said before, “That’s what I am, and what I used to be, there’s nothing I can do if you cannot accept me.” Or, “Since I am the boss (or superior), you must pleased me, how can I pleased you?” We wish the environments could suit our needs, but we often fail to reflect on our own weaknesses. It seems we are killing the roosters to accommodate to our habits. Old habits don’t die hard; it’s we that are afraid of changing what we are!
2009年3月19日星期四
That's LIFE
Laugh about your mistakes,
But, learn from them.
Joke over your troubles,
But, gather strength from them.
Have fun with your difficulties,
But, overcome them.
That's the way to live LIFE.
---
2009年3月15日星期日
聖嚴生前的一席話
聖嚴生前的一席話 亂世中身心安頓的力量
人生都會遇到各種困境，我在十三歲時出家，但國民黨自大陸撤退時，我卻還俗從軍，為什麼呢？因為我覺得中共信仰唯物論，在中共統治下，宗教是沒有任何空間的，如果留在大陸，我一定會被迫還俗，再也沒有接觸佛教的機會；如果暫時還俗，跟隨國民黨軍隊來台灣，我知道，有一天一定可以再回到佛教的懷抱，因此，我還俗時，心裡很踏實。
在軍中遇到各種困境，我都以出家人的修持去面對它。雖然我是入世當一個軍人，但我是以出世的心態處世，在軍中我都不掩飾我是出家人，與大家相處也很融洽。
我在日本留學寫博士論文時，剛好遇到日本要與台灣斷交的變局，由於中華民國的護照將得不到日本承認，當時的留學生都惶惶不安，放下學業到處打聽各種消息，小道消息越多，人心反而更慌亂。火還沒燒到你，不要怕，燒到了，再避火還來得及！
在混亂中，我反而安安穩穩的準備我的論文，上圖書館查資料。我的想法很簡單，等到要將我強迫遣返時，我就走人，否則我還是做我應做的事，心不亂才能做事，我就向同學說：「火還沒燒到你，不要怕，燒到了，再避火還來得及！」但是大家都聽不進去。
亂了近半年，局勢明朗了，台灣同學的學業沒有任何進展，但是我的博士論文卻已完成了大半。 從軍十年後，我在三十歲時退伍，再度重新出家。當時台灣的出家僧人大都替人唸經、超渡亡靈，這樣做僅能餬口，沒有未來性。因此我選擇往高雄山中去閉關修行，當時根本沒有錢買生活用品，沒有牙膏、牙刷，就用樹枝刷牙；沒有洗衣粉，就將樹枝燒成灰，一樣具有洗衣的功效；沒有吃的，就吃野菜一樣可以度日。
當時的心靈反而很豐富、很安頓，我就這樣在山中修行了六年，當地人都把我當怪物，我卻過得很快樂。當物質的條件越差時，精神的層次反而可以超越環境向上提升。人不應該總是往物質方面想，只想吃好的、住好的、用好的，重要的是應該想想你生命的目標在哪裡。
成功可以分為三種，一是金錢上的成功，二是權勢上的成功，第三是人格的成功，前面二者皆是虛幻的，台灣企業家都很有自信，認為能賺大錢都是憑自己的能力及努力得到的，其實能夠賺錢，有三分之二是靠大環境的，三分之一才是靠自己，錢就像水一樣，如果不下雨，台灣會有水嗎？
權勢更是虛幻，現在政局變動快速，有人前一天還是院長、部長，睡一覺起來就不是了，像是一場泡影，一生工於計算，但卻從來沒有算到自己的遭遇。 因此人格的成長才是個人真正的資產，個人的存在對社會有貢獻，對世界有好的影響，才是一個人的成功。
一般人都汲汲營營於前面二者，很少去重視第三者，如果一般人開始重視第三者，對於一時的起落、得失都不會放在心上。 經濟的變化就如季節的變化，自有一定的調整規律。台灣人現在的問題，在於想要過更好的物質生活，開習慣了賓士、凱迪拉克，要他回去騎機車，是寧願死也不願過以前的苦日子。
其實，台灣人應該想一想，從騎腳踏車、機車到開轎車，最後開名車，這期間只有十幾二十年的時間，以前可以那樣過活，現在為何不可以？ 從貧賤到富貴，人心是最感到快樂的，但是從富貴降到貧賤，人心就往往無法適應。
紅樓夢描寫富貴世家，家道中落的過程，書中的人物是痛苦。面對經濟的衰退，台灣現在就像是紅樓夢的縮影，但是台灣現在的經濟並非一蹶不振，只是成長慢下來而已。 花無百日紅，台灣的成長不可能永無止境。天天晴天，草木都要枯死，經濟的變化就如季節的變化，自有一定的調整規律，人們應該學習調整自己面對它。
經濟不好，就節省一點，節制一點物質的慾望，現在人的痛苦就是想要的太多，實際需要的並不多。 現在很多人對未來惶惑不安，我認為，把握當下很重要，再怎麼擔憂未來也沒有用，最重要是腳踏實地。人們應該肯定、接受事實。
什麼是事實？無常、變化就是事實，不只環境的變化是無常的，就連我們自身也是無常的，例如健康；面對、接受無常，就能對內外的變化有所準備。 因此我常說，面對生活「要有最好的準備，最壞的打算」，無常是生命的變數，無法加以控制，只有做好心理準備才能在心理上有較好的適應，接受任何的打擊。所以，面對變局，首先就是不要自亂陣腳，堅持走自己應走的路。
收入少一點就少花一點，房子換小一點，車子不要開了，調整一下就能適應，只要觀念稍微調整一下，日子一樣可以過下去。
--
2009年3月11日星期三
A Story
A Story to live by
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated
everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always
there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see
the world, I will marry you.'
有一位瞎女很討厭自己因為眼睛瞎了。她也討厭每個人，唯一不討厭的是她的男朋
友，因為他都常守在她身旁。於是她對她的男朋友說：「如 果能讓我看到這個世
界，我愿意嫁給你！」
One day,
someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend.
有一天，有人捐了一對眼精給她。當紗布解開時，她能夠看到一 切，包括她的男朋
友。
He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The
girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected
that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.
男朋友問她：「現在你可以看到這世界，你愿意嫁給我嗎？」那女 孩看了男朋友是
個瞎子，他那對蓋上眼皮的眼睛嚇到了她，這是她無法想像。她想：要我嫁給他而一
生對�羲�這個樣子，我無法接受。
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'
於是，她的男朋友很傷心的離開她，幾天後寫了字條給她：「親愛 的，請你好好照
顧你的眼睛，因為它不是屬於你的之前，它是屬於我的。」
This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.
這也是人的腦會如何做當情況有所變動。只有少許人會記得他或她 之前的生活及誰
會在身旁當他或她處在困境的時候
Life Is a Gift
生命是一份禮物
Today
before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
今天，當你要講一句不善之言－－請想想那些無法講話的人
Before
you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone
who has nothing to eat.
當你要埋怨食物的味道時－－請想想那些沒有食物吃的人
Before
you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
當你要埋怨你的先生或太太時－－請想想那些在向上天哭訴要一個伴侶的人
Today
before you complain about life - Think of someone who died
too early on this earth.
今天，當你要埋怨生活時－－請想想那些太早離開人世間的人
Before
you complain about your children - Think of someone who
desires children but they're barren.
當你要埋怨小孩時－－請想想那些渴望小孩而無能生育的人
Before
you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or
sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
當你要爭論沒有人清理屋子時－－請想想那些住在街邊的人
Before
whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.
當你在哀訴駕駛的路程－－請想想那些同樣的路程以代步的人
And when
you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your
job.
當你很疲備而埋怨工作時－－請想想那些無工作，殘疾的，及那些 多麼希望擁有你
這份工作的人
But
before you think of pointing the finger or condemning
another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.
當你想要指著人或互相譴責時－－請記得沒有一個人是無罪
And when
depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still
around.
當壓抑的念頭讓你無法振作時－－請你笑一笑想想：你還活著存在世間！
==========================
I PRAY
THIS MOVES AROUND
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE...
我祈禱這訊息能夠繼續傳至全人類..............
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated
everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always
there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see
the world, I will marry you.'
有一位瞎女很討厭自己因為眼睛瞎了。她也討厭每個人，唯一不討厭的是她的男朋
友，因為他都常守在她身旁。於是她對她的男朋友說：「如 果能讓我看到這個世
界，我愿意嫁給你！」
One day,
someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend.
有一天，有人捐了一對眼精給她。當紗布解開時，她能夠看到一 切，包括她的男朋
友。
He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The
girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected
that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.
男朋友問她：「現在你可以看到這世界，你愿意嫁給我嗎？」那女 孩看了男朋友是
個瞎子，他那對蓋上眼皮的眼睛嚇到了她，這是她無法想像。她想：要我嫁給他而一
生對�羲�這個樣子，我無法接受。
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'
於是，她的男朋友很傷心的離開她，幾天後寫了字條給她：「親愛 的，請你好好照
顧你的眼睛，因為它不是屬於你的之前，它是屬於我的。」
This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.
這也是人的腦會如何做當情況有所變動。只有少許人會記得他或她 之前的生活及誰
會在身旁當他或她處在困境的時候
Life Is a Gift
生命是一份禮物
Today
before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
今天，當你要講一句不善之言－－請想想那些無法講話的人
Before
you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone
who has nothing to eat.
當你要埋怨食物的味道時－－請想想那些沒有食物吃的人
Before
you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
當你要埋怨你的先生或太太時－－請想想那些在向上天哭訴要一個伴侶的人
Today
before you complain about life - Think of someone who died
too early on this earth.
今天，當你要埋怨生活時－－請想想那些太早離開人世間的人
Before
you complain about your children - Think of someone who
desires children but they're barren.
當你要埋怨小孩時－－請想想那些渴望小孩而無能生育的人
Before
you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or
sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
當你要爭論沒有人清理屋子時－－請想想那些住在街邊的人
Before
whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.
當你在哀訴駕駛的路程－－請想想那些同樣的路程以代步的人
And when
you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your
job.
當你很疲備而埋怨工作時－－請想想那些無工作，殘疾的，及那些 多麼希望擁有你
這份工作的人
But
before you think of pointing the finger or condemning
another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.
當你想要指著人或互相譴責時－－請記得沒有一個人是無罪
And when
depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still
around.
當壓抑的念頭讓你無法振作時－－請你笑一笑想想：你還活著存在世間！
==========================
I PRAY
THIS MOVES AROUND
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE...
我祈禱這訊息能夠繼續傳至全人類..............
2009年3月10日星期二
2009年3月7日星期六
溫柔對待親愛的人 聖嚴法師
無事忙中老，空裡有哭笑，本來沒有我，生死皆可拋。
對待家人，我們習慣成自然地不懂禮貌，不會溫柔，不是大呼小叫，就是懶得搭理。因為太過熟悉了，而不知珍惜。
「你快點行不行！？大男人這麼會磨蹭，像個老婆子！」
便利商店內櫃檯前，婦人對抱著兒子選購飲料的丈夫吼叫，轉過身卻軟了嗓：「先生，請幫我挑三個茶葉蛋，要入味一點的喔！」類似的情景應該常看見。
比如，丈夫在外活躍又健談，被公司的女同事們封為幽默高手，回到家，卻成了自閉症患者，不是盯著電視，就是看著報紙，對妻子的說話充耳不聞，或斥喝閉嘴。
觀察發現，這樣「裡外不一」的情形在多數人身上、多數家庭裡頭都會發生，或是慣性，或屬偶發，並且被「公然」接受。就像你遇見在爭吵的夫妻，丈夫或妻子轉過臉望見你時，會露出招呼的笑臉，回過頭又繼續爭吵，那麼般地自然。
對待家人，我們卻習慣成自然地不懂禮貌，不會溫柔，不是大呼小叫，就是懶得搭理。因為太過熟悉了，而不知珍惜，這實在是極為錯誤的心態。
對同事和氣，可以增進工作場所的融洽；對朋友體貼，可以擴展自己的人際；對上司尊重，可以利益自己前程。
卻不細想：對家人和氣，可以增進家庭的融洽；對家人體貼，可以讓關係更親密；對家人尊重，可以使生活充滿歡喜。
與家人的關係，是這世上最該珍惜的情感！許多人卻忽略了。
一名死刑犯臨死前說了：「我很敬愛我老爸！可是我從沒對他這樣說，我總是不理他的教訓，在他指責我時瞪著他，跟他耍流氓！我其實很愛他，很感謝他從來沒放棄我，但我這一生，自懂事以來，只在他快要病死的時候抱過他一次，就只那一次，我沒惹他生氣！」
你呢？總是對老媽嘟嚷肚子餓啦？襪子找不到啦？總是對老爸呼喊機車壞了？沒零用錢了？總是對兒女教訓沒個好樣？別給我丟臉？
錯了！趕快，換個口氣、態度表達看看！絕對會有好的感受與獲得，你的生活將因此更美好；要自知苦惱，才不會拒苦事；要自知薄福，才會惜福種福；要自知不會修行，才會虛心學習。
「你快點行不行！？大男人這麼會磨蹭，像個老婆子！」
便利商店內櫃檯前，婦人對抱著兒子選購飲料的丈夫吼叫，轉過身卻軟了嗓：「先生，請幫我挑三個茶葉蛋，要入味一點的喔！」類似的情景應該常看見。
比如，丈夫在外活躍又健談，被公司的女同事們封為幽默高手，回到家，卻成了自閉症患者，不是盯著電視，就是看著報紙，對妻子的說話充耳不聞，或斥喝閉嘴。
觀察發現，這樣「裡外不一」的情形在多數人身上、多數家庭裡頭都會發生，或是慣性，或屬偶發，並且被「公然」接受。就像你遇見在爭吵的夫妻，丈夫或妻子轉過臉望見你時，會露出招呼的笑臉，回過頭又繼續爭吵，那麼般地自然。
對待家人，我們卻習慣成自然地不懂禮貌，不會溫柔，不是大呼小叫，就是懶得搭理。因為太過熟悉了，而不知珍惜，這實在是極為錯誤的心態。
對同事和氣，可以增進工作場所的融洽；對朋友體貼，可以擴展自己的人際；對上司尊重，可以利益自己前程。
卻不細想：對家人和氣，可以增進家庭的融洽；對家人體貼，可以讓關係更親密；對家人尊重，可以使生活充滿歡喜。
與家人的關係，是這世上最該珍惜的情感！許多人卻忽略了。
一名死刑犯臨死前說了：「我很敬愛我老爸！可是我從沒對他這樣說，我總是不理他的教訓，在他指責我時瞪著他，跟他耍流氓！我其實很愛他，很感謝他從來沒放棄我，但我這一生，自懂事以來，只在他快要病死的時候抱過他一次，就只那一次，我沒惹他生氣！」
你呢？總是對老媽嘟嚷肚子餓啦？襪子找不到啦？總是對老爸呼喊機車壞了？沒零用錢了？總是對兒女教訓沒個好樣？別給我丟臉？
錯了！趕快，換個口氣、態度表達看看！絕對會有好的感受與獲得，你的生活將因此更美好；要自知苦惱，才不會拒苦事；要自知薄福，才會惜福種福；要自知不會修行，才會虛心學習。
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