《先知》(The Prophet)施與

Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

施與

一位富人接下來說，請為我們講施與。

他答道：

當你們拿出自己的財產時，你們的施與微不足道。

你們奉獻自己時，才是真正的施與。

因為你們的財產不就是一些你們擔心明天可能需要才占有、才保護的東西嗎?

而明天，明天又能給那謹小慎微追隨朝圣者，而又把骨頭埋藏在荒沙里的狗帶來什么?

除了需要本身，你們還需要什么呢?

當井水滿溢，你對干渴的恐懼豈不就是一種無法解脫的干渴?

有些人只捐棄自己財產中的一點一些，----他們是為得到認可而施與，而他們隱藏的欲望使他們的饋贈不成為美。

也有一些人，他們擁有甚少，卻全部付出。

他們相信生命和生命的贈禮，他們的儲柜從不空虛。

有些人快樂地施與，這快樂就是他們的回報。

有些人痛苦地施與，這痛苦就是他們的洗禮。

還有一些人，給予時并不覺得痛苦，也不是為了尋求快樂，或布善施德;

他們施與，就像山谷那邊的桃金娘散發(fā)芳香。

上帝通過這些人之手施教，透過他們的雙眸向大地微笑。

被祈求時施與固然很好，但更高的境界是通過體察，在別人開口前相贈。

對于慷慨的人，能找到樂于接受饋贈的人較之施與本身是更深的快樂。

你有什么不能舍棄的呢?

總有一天，你所有的一切都將留與他人;

所以現(xiàn)在就饋贈吧，把奉獻的時機留給你自己，而不是你的繼承人。

你們常說："我會解囊，但只為值得的人。"

你們果園中的樹木不會這樣說，你們草地上的羊群也不會這樣說。

因為奉獻，它們才會生存，而拒絕只會帶來滅亡。

一個配得到自己白晝與黑夜的人，無疑配從你們這里獲得其他一切。

一個配從生命之海中取飲的人，也配從你們的小溪里汲滿水杯。

什么樣的美德能超過接受的勇氣、信任、甚至慈悲?

你是誰，值得人們撕開胸膛、摘下自尊的面紗，讓你看到他們赤裸的價值和他們無愧的尊嚴?

先審視一下自己是否配作一個饋贈者，一件施與的工具。

因為一切都是生命對生命的饋贈----而你，將自己視為施主的你，不過是一個見證。

至于你們這些受惠者----你們的確都是受惠者一毋須背負感恩戴德的重擔，以免給自己以至施與者套上枷鎖。

不如與施與者憑借饋贈，如同憑借一對翅膀，一起飛翔，

因為耿耿于欠負，就是懷疑那以樂善好施的大地為母，以上帝為父的施與者的慷慨了。