第二辑 直抵心灵的真相 Volume 2: Truth That Touches Your Heart
摘自《莲花智慧1》
Excerpt from Lotus Wisdom 1
一个后生从家里到一座禅院去，在路上他看到了一件有趣的事，他想以此考验禅院里的老禅者。来到禅院，他与老禅者一边品茗，一边闲扯，冷不防问了一句：“什么是团团转？”
A young man traveled from his home to a Zen monastery. On the way, he witnessed something interesting and wanted to test the wisdom of the elder Zen master at the monastery. Upon arriving, while enjoying tea together, they engaged in casual conversation. Unexpectedly, the young man asked, "What is the meaning of 'turning and turning?'"
“皆因绳未断。”老禅者随口答道。
后生听到老禅者这样回答，顿时目瞪口呆。
老禅者见状，问道：“什么使你如此惊讶？”
“不，老师父，我惊讶的是，你怎么知道的呢？”后生说，
“It's all because the rope is not cut", the old Zen master replied casually.
Upon hearing this response from the old Zen master, the young man was taken aback.
Observing the surprise on the young man's face, the old Zen master asked, "What makes you so astonished?"
"Oh, Master, what surprises me is how you knew," The young man replied,
“我今天在来的路上，看到一头牛被绳子穿了鼻子，拴在树上，这头牛想离开这棵树，到草地上去吃草，谁知它转过来转过去都不得脱身，我以为师父既然没看见，肯定答不出来，哪知师父出口就答对了。”
"I saw a buffalo on my way here today, with a rope threaded through its nose and tied to a tree.
The buffalo wanted to leave the tree and go to the grassland to eat grass, but no matter how it turned and struggled, it couldn't break free. I thought since you didn't seem to notice it, you wouldn't be able to answer the question. But to my surprise, you answered it correctly right away."
老禅者微笑着说：“你问的是事，我答的是理。你问的是牛被绳缚而不得解脱，我答的是心被俗务纠缠而不得超脱，一理通百事啊。”
You asked about the situation, and I answered about the truth. You asked about the buffalo being bound by the rope and unable to break free, and I answered about the mind being entangled by worldly affairs and unable to transcend. One truth can explain countless situations.
后生大悟！
因为一根绳子，水牛失去了草原；
因为一根绳子，风筝失去了天空；
因为一根绳子，大象失去了自由；
因为一根绳子，骏马失去了驰骋。
那么我们的人生，又常常被什么牵住了呢？
The young man had a great realization!
Because of a single rope, the buffalo lost the grassland;
Because of a single rope, the kite lost the sky;
Because of a single rope, the elephant lost its freedom;
Because of a single rope, a horse lost its gallop.
So what is it that often holds us back in our lives?
一块图章常常让我们坐想行思；
一个职称常常让我们辗转反侧；
一回输赢常常让我们殚精竭虑；
一次得失，常常让我们痛心疾首；
一段情缘，常常让我们愁肠百结；
一份高薪，常常让我们蹙眉千度。
A stamp often leads us to ponder and reflect;
A job title often keeps us turning and tossing restlessly;
A single victory or defeat often exhausts our efforts;
A gain or loss can often leave us deeply distressed;
A romantic relationship often ties our hearts in knots;
A high salary can often furrow our brows countless times.
为了钱，我们东西南北团团转；
为了权，我们上下左右转团团；
为了欲，我们上上下下奔窜；
为了名，我们日日夜夜窜奔。
For money, we run around in all directions;
For power, we spin around up and down;
For desires, we rush up and down tirelessly;
For fame, we dart and dash day and night.
快乐哪去了？幸福哪去了?
当年活泼可爱的童年，已恍若隔世；
当年蹦蹦跳跳的少年，已无法记起。
往事如烟，现在是怎样的满面愁云惨淡！
Where has the joy gone? Where has the happiness gone?
The lively and lovely childhood in those days now feels like a distant memory;
The bounding and exuberant youth of the past is no longer within recollection.
The bygone days are like fleeting smoke, and the present is filled with a gloomy and desolate countenance!
为什么都挣不脱？为什么都拔不出？皆因绳未断啊！人生三千烦恼丝，你有勇气斩断几根！？你有智慧挣脱几根！？
Why can't we break free? Why can't we pull ourselves free? It's all because the rope is not yet cut off! Life is entangled with three thousand threads of afflictions. How many of them do you have the courage to cut off? How many of them do you have the wisdom to break free from?
禅者说：“众生就像那头牛一样，被生老病死之绳缠缚着，在六道中头出头没而不得解脱。”
The Zen master said, "All beings are like that buffalo, bound by the rope of birth, aging, illness, and death, drifting with the currents in the six realms without liberation."
易明之光 Mini读书@2023