第57則 本末

 

五七 本 末

據說,天主派遣天使告知大師:「不論你祈求百萬年或千萬年的壽命,天主都會賞賜給你。你希望活多久呢?」

「八十歲。」大師毫不猶豫地囘答。

弟子們有些失望:「但是,師父,如果您能活到百萬年,想想,有多少世代的人能蒙受您的智慧之恩?」

「如果我真能活上百萬年,那麼人們就會擱下智慧之道,而全心致力於延壽之術了。」

57. PRIORITIES

According to legend God sent an Angel to the Master with this message, “Ask for a million years of life and they will be given you. Or a million-million. How long do you wish to live?”

“Eighty years,” said the Master without the slightest hesitation.

The disciples were dismayed. “But, Master, if you lived for a million years, think how many generations would profit by your wisdom.”

“If I lived for a million years, people would be more intent on lengthening their lives than on cultivating wisdom.”