The Peaceful Orchids 禪師與蘭花
金代禪師很喜歡蘭花，他種了許多名貴品種的蘭花，細心呵護，視之如命。有一天他要外出，囑咐徒弟們要好好照顧蘭花。不料，有一次在澆水時，其中一個徒弟不小心絆倒了蘭花架，霎時，如大珠小珠落地，瓦破花碎，一片狼藉。闖禍的徒弟，手足無措，不知如何是好！
金代禪師回來時，這個徒弟趕快跪在師父的面前懺悔：「師父，我把您心愛的蘭花摔得支離破碎，我願意接受任何的處罰，請求師父慈悲，不要生氣！」
金代禪師聽完徒弟的話，淡然地回答：「我種蘭花，一是為了供養佛祖，二是為了美化環境，我不是為了生氣來種蘭花的。」
我們來到世間，不是為生氣而來， 也不是為了煩惱來的。就像夫妻的因緣， 兒女的教養，朋友的交往，同事的關係， 能以金代禪師「我不是為了生氣來種蘭花」為鑑，彼此就沒有誤會和爭執。
心中有歡喜的人，處處是賞心悅目的景色；心中有禪味的人，耳聞是八萬四千的詩偈，心中有佛的人， 見人見事都是善人共聚。
「不是為了生氣來到人間」，這句話為我們趕走黑暗的情緒，開啟心靈歡喜、無憂、安樂、和平的寶盒。
Once upon a time, there lived a Chan Master named Jin Dai. He loved orchids and planted all sorts of different types. When his time was not occupied1 by giving Buddhist talks, he would spend time taking care of his flowers, because they were as important to him as his own life.
One day, he had to make a trip out of town for a Dharma Service2 and would not be back for a few days. He worried that while he was gone, his orchids would be left unattended3. And so, he specifically asked one of his disciples to take good care of his orchids. After giving instructions4 to this Disciple, he left the monastery to attend the Dharma Service.
As instructed by his Master, the Disciple watered the orchids every day. On a particular day, as the Disciple was watering the orchids, he found there were bees in the orchids. And he panicked5 and jumped backward, which caused him to knock down a whole row of orchid pots. The pots fell to the ground,shattering6 into pieces.
The Disciple felt so terrible, and did not know what else to do but to wait until his Master returned and owned up to his mistake.
The next day, when the Chan Master returned from his trip, the Disciple went to him and confessed7, "Master, I am so sorry that I have ruined your beloved orchids. Please punish me, and I will willingly accept. I beg for your compassion and please don't be furious8 with me!"
The Chan Master, upon hearing his disciple's plea9, remained tranquil10 and calm. He responded, "Indeed, the orchids are beautiful and I love them very much. However, I planted them for two reasons: One is to make offerings to the Buddhas, and two is to make our surroundings more beautiful. I most certainly did not plant these orchids in order to get angry."
This story highlights an important message, that is, we have not come into this world to get angry, nor have we come to this world to accumulate11 worries. This is a good reminder. If we can remember the Chan Master's attitude of "I have not planted the orchids just to get angry." Then we can avoid misunderstandings and conflicts12 in our interpersonal13 relationships, such as with our parents, friends, colleagues, and family.
If we have joy in our hearts, everywhere we go is pleasant. If we have Chan in our hearts, every sound we hear is poetic. If we have the Buddha in our hearts, every person and situation we meet is with kindness.
"We have not come into this world just to get angry." This can be useful to change our perspectives14 when we are feeling down, as it can open us to spiritual15 joy, peace, and happiness.
In Buddhist practices, offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are typically with objects such as a lit candle, burning incense, flowers, food, fruit, water, and many more.
Flowers are used as offerings because they are the most beautiful things in the world. When we offer flowers to the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha, we do so with utmost sincerity16. And when the flowers fade, it is also a reminder that all things in this world also fade in time. This is a teaching of "whatever is of the nature to arise is also of the nature to cease17," this is also known as the law of impermanence18.
VOCABULARY
1. occupied (adj.) 被占有的；忙於
2. Dharma Service (n.) 法會
3. unattended (adj.) 無人照料的
4. instructions (n.) 操作說明
5. panicked (v.) 驚慌
6. shattering (v.) 打碎；粉碎
7. confessed (v.) 承認；懺悔
8. furious (adj.) 氣憤的
9. plea (n.) 懇求
10. tranquil (adj.) 平靜的
11.accumulate (v.) 積累
12.conflicts (n.) 衝突；爭執
13.interpersonal (adj.) 人際的
14.perspectives (n.) 觀點；想法
15.spiritual (adj.) 精神上的
16.sincerity (n.) 誠心誠意
17.cease (v.) 止息
18.impermanence (n.) 無常
星雲大師法語
Dharma Words by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
花的美麗，要將美麗的善心散滿人間。
花的芬芳，要將芬芳的愛心傳播社會。
花的清淨，要將清淨的真心供養十方。
花的彩色，要將彩色的好心與人結緣。
.....
金代禪師很喜歡蘭花，他種了許多名貴品種的蘭花，細心呵護，視之如命。有一天他要外出，囑咐徒弟們要好好照顧蘭花。不料，有一次在澆水時，其中一個徒弟不小心絆倒了蘭花架，霎時，如大珠小珠落地，瓦破花碎，一片狼藉。闖禍的徒弟，手足無措，不知如何是好！
金代禪師回來時，這個徒弟趕快跪在師父的面前懺悔：「師父，我把您心愛的蘭花摔得支離破碎，我願意接受任何的處罰，請求師父慈悲，不要生氣！」
金代禪師聽完徒弟的話，淡然地回答：「我種蘭花，一是為了供養佛祖，二是為了美化環境，我不是為了生氣來種蘭花的。」
我們來到世間，不是為生氣而來， 也不是為了煩惱來的。就像夫妻的因緣， 兒女的教養，朋友的交往，同事的關係， 能以金代禪師「我不是為了生氣來種蘭花」為鑑，彼此就沒有誤會和爭執。
心中有歡喜的人，處處是賞心悅目的景色；心中有禪味的人，耳聞是八萬四千的詩偈，心中有佛的人， 見人見事都是善人共聚。
「不是為了生氣來到人間」，這句話為我們趕走黑暗的情緒，開啟心靈歡喜、無憂、安樂、和平的寶盒。
Once upon a time, there lived a Chan Master named Jin Dai. He loved orchids and planted all sorts of different types. When his time was not occupied1 by giving Buddhist talks, he would spend time taking care of his flowers, because they were as important to him as his own life.
One day, he had to make a trip out of town for a Dharma Service2 and would not be back for a few days. He worried that while he was gone, his orchids would be left unattended3. And so, he specifically asked one of his disciples to take good care of his orchids. After giving instructions4 to this Disciple, he left the monastery to attend the Dharma Service.
As instructed by his Master, the Disciple watered the orchids every day. On a particular day, as the Disciple was watering the orchids, he found there were bees in the orchids. And he panicked5 and jumped backward, which caused him to knock down a whole row of orchid pots. The pots fell to the ground,shattering6 into pieces.
The Disciple felt so terrible, and did not know what else to do but to wait until his Master returned and owned up to his mistake.
The next day, when the Chan Master returned from his trip, the Disciple went to him and confessed7, "Master, I am so sorry that I have ruined your beloved orchids. Please punish me, and I will willingly accept. I beg for your compassion and please don't be furious8 with me!"
The Chan Master, upon hearing his disciple's plea9, remained tranquil10 and calm. He responded, "Indeed, the orchids are beautiful and I love them very much. However, I planted them for two reasons: One is to make offerings to the Buddhas, and two is to make our surroundings more beautiful. I most certainly did not plant these orchids in order to get angry."
This story highlights an important message, that is, we have not come into this world to get angry, nor have we come to this world to accumulate11 worries. This is a good reminder. If we can remember the Chan Master's attitude of "I have not planted the orchids just to get angry." Then we can avoid misunderstandings and conflicts12 in our interpersonal13 relationships, such as with our parents, friends, colleagues, and family.
If we have joy in our hearts, everywhere we go is pleasant. If we have Chan in our hearts, every sound we hear is poetic. If we have the Buddha in our hearts, every person and situation we meet is with kindness.
"We have not come into this world just to get angry." This can be useful to change our perspectives14 when we are feeling down, as it can open us to spiritual15 joy, peace, and happiness.
In Buddhist practices, offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are typically with objects such as a lit candle, burning incense, flowers, food, fruit, water, and many more.
Flowers are used as offerings because they are the most beautiful things in the world. When we offer flowers to the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha, we do so with utmost sincerity16. And when the flowers fade, it is also a reminder that all things in this world also fade in time. This is a teaching of "whatever is of the nature to arise is also of the nature to cease17," this is also known as the law of impermanence18.
VOCABULARY
1. occupied (adj.) 被占有的；忙於
2. Dharma Service (n.) 法會
3. unattended (adj.) 無人照料的
4. instructions (n.) 操作說明
5. panicked (v.) 驚慌
6. shattering (v.) 打碎；粉碎
7. confessed (v.) 承認；懺悔
8. furious (adj.) 氣憤的
9. plea (n.) 懇求
10. tranquil (adj.) 平靜的
11.accumulate (v.) 積累
12.conflicts (n.) 衝突；爭執
13.interpersonal (adj.) 人際的
14.perspectives (n.) 觀點；想法
15.spiritual (adj.) 精神上的
16.sincerity (n.) 誠心誠意
17.cease (v.) 止息
18.impermanence (n.) 無常
星雲大師法語
Dharma Words by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
花的美麗，要將美麗的善心散滿人間。
花的芬芳，要將芬芳的愛心傳播社會。
花的清淨，要將清淨的真心供養十方。
花的彩色，要將彩色的好心與人結緣。
.....
