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禅师劳坎应邀去嫂子家，说教她的儿子。 “他从不干活，在疯狂的舞会上挥霍他父亲的金钱，对家业不闻不问。”她抱怨道，"如果他不改的话，就会被毁掉的。” 劳坎去了哥哥的家，见到了侄子。侄子见到他很高兴。在劳坎皈依禅宗，进入修道院之前，他俩曾在一起玩得很开心。年轻人知道自己的叔叔为何而来，已经做好准备，因为他知道自己肯定要挨训。但是，一整天，劳坎一句责怪的话也没说。第二天早上，老坎要离开了，他穿上衣服，然后对侄子说："你能帮我把鞋带系上吗？我的手发抖系不上。” 侄子很乐意帮忙。 "谢谢。"劳坎说，"人一天天会变老，变弱。你还记得我过去是多么健壮有力吧?” “我记得。”侄子若有所思地说，"我的确记得你过去的样子 就在这一刻,他感悟到了真理。他突然意识到自己的母亲还有其他照顾过他的人都已经变老。现在轮到他来照顾这些人，来承担家庭和社会的责任了。 他以后再也没有过放荡不羁的生活。 When Truth Dawned Ryokan，the Zen teacher, was requested by his sister-in-law to come to her house and talk to her son. “He does no work, squanders his father’s money in wild parties and is neglecting the estate,” she complained. “If he does not reform, we will be ruined. ” Ryokan went to his brother’s house and met his nephew who was genuinely pleased to see him. The two of them had spent many happy hours together before Ryokan had turned to Zen and entered the monastery. The young man knew why his uncle had come and braced himself for the scolding he was sure he would receive. But Ryokan said not a word in rebuke, the whole day. The next morning, when it was time for him to go, he put on his garments and then said to his nephew, “will you help me tie the thongs of my san¬dals? My hands shake and I cannot do it. ” His nephew helped him willingly. “Thank you.” said Ryokan. “A man becomes older and feebler day by day. You re¬member how strong and robust I used to be?” “I do.” said his nephew, thoughtfully. “I do indeed remember how you used to be.” It was the moment of truth for him. He suddenly realized that his mother and all those who had looked after him had become old and that it was now his turn to look after them and to take on the responsibilities of the household and the community. |
