..續本文上一頁ll right away, just as you only noticed this black dot. Therefore, we”d better not do things wrong."
老師停了一停，繼續問﹕「萬一犯了過錯，怎麼辦呢？」有幾個學生回答﹕「改過！」「好！你們再看這個！」老師拿起筆，很快地在那黑點上加了幾筆，畫成一只蜜蜂，再問﹕「這是什麼？」有的學生就說是一只蜜蜂，有的遲疑著說﹕「是一幅畫吧？」老師就問﹕「這比原來的一張白紙好看嗎？」學生都毫不遲疑地又齊聲回答﹕「好看！」老師拿了另一張點了個黑點的白紙，用白粉塗掉，然後再剪一小塊白紙貼上，又問﹕「好看嗎？」學生都笑起來﹕「好醜怪喔！」老師便說﹕「當我們犯了錯，企圖粉飾，別人還是看得出白紙上的痕迹，只覺得更醜更作怪；可是如果從錯誤中學到教訓，而切實改過了，便是把有黑點的白紙，提升成爲一張漂亮的畫了！」
The teacher paused, and then continued, "If you do make a mistake, what should you do
" Several students answered, "Correct it!" "OK! Watch this!" The teacher picked up a pen and quickly added a few more strokes to the black dot, turning it into a bee. Then she asked, "What”s this
" A few students said it was a bee. Others asked, "Is that a picture
” The teacher asked, "Is this prettier than the blank white pa- per
" The students replied together, "Yes!" The teacher then took another sheet of white paper that had a black dot on it, covered it with white powder, then cut out a small piece of white paper and pasted it over the area. Then she asked, "Does this look nice
" The students all laughed and said, "That”s ugly!" The teacher said, "When we do something wrong and try to cover it up, other people can still see the marks on the white paper and think it”s very ugly and strange. However, if you can learn from your mistakes and sincerely reform, it is like transforming the black dot on the paper into a beautiful picture." .
《孟子》上也有一段類似的描述和比方﹕「古之君子，其過也，如日月之食，民皆見之；及其更也，民皆仰之。」這裏的「食」就是現在的「蝕」字。日蝕和月蝕，本是一種自然的天象，古時候的人卻以爲是不祥的征兆，都爭先恐後地出來看，又求神問蔔的；等到日月恢複光明了，大家才松下一口氣，歌舞慶祝。這是用光明的日月，來比方有道德的君子，他的一言一行，都是人們所仰望的；日蝕和月蝕，比喻君子的德行有了汙點。但君子並不企圖掩飾汙點，只是努力改過，使自己重現光明。
Mencius used a similar analogy when he said, "The errors of the ancient worthies were like eclipses of the sun or moon； all the people could see them. When they corrected their faults, the entire populace looked up to them." Solar and lunar eclipses are natural phenomena. However, people in ancient times considered them bad omens and would rush to inquire about their meaning from oracles and deities. When the sun and moon regained their full radiance, everyone would sigh in relief and sing and dance in celebration. The shining sun and moon are analogies for a virtuous person whose every word and deed is admired by the people. A solar or lunar eclipse represents the staining of a worthy man”s virtue. However, a worthy person would not try to cover up those stains; he would simply diligently reform so that he could be radiant again.
人們對于日月重光，只有更欣喜，更感激；對君子的改過，也是只有更仰慕，更佩服。本來嘛，「人非聖賢，孰能無過？」但我們卻不可以因循苟且，拿這兩句話當借口；要緊的是「過則勿憚改」，不要怕改過。人爲什麼怕改過？因爲犯了過錯，不但英名掃地，引來別人的讪笑辱罵，就改過的過程中，也有許多身心的磨難。若能不怕這一切，努力克服自己內心的障礙，這才是大勇。所以說﹕「過而能改，善莫大焉。」若是「過而不改」呢？那可是「不祥莫大焉」了！
When the radiance of the sun or moon reappears, people feel only joy and gratitude. When a worthy person reforms, people only admire and look up to him more. Basically, "People are not sages; who can be without faults
" However, that doesn”t mean we can use this statement as an excuse to be careless. The important thing to remember is, "If you have faults, don”t be afraid to change." Why are people afraid to change their faults
Because once your mistakes are known, your reputation is ruined and people may make fun of you or scold you. The process of reforming can be full of ordeals. To not fear anything and diligently overcome the obstructions in your mind is to be truly courageous. And so it”s said, "There is no greater good than being able to change your faults." What if you have faults but do not change
There is "no greater misfortune" than that!.
佛雲「萬法唯心造」，若把心譬之于水，水能載舟，亦能覆舟；心能造罪，亦能滅罪。佛門的「忏悔偈」說得很切當：
罪從心起將心忏，
心若滅時罪亦亡。
心亡罪滅兩俱空，
是則名爲真忏悔。
The Buddha said, "The ten thousand dharmas are made from the mind alone." We can compare the mind to water. Boats can travel in water…
《弟子規淺釋 Standards for Students 第五章﹕信 Chapter Five: LEARNING TO BE TRUSTWORTHY - 8》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…