..續本文上一頁alace to perform. Someone asked him, "What do you think of Wang Mang”s physiognomy
" The hawker said, "He has the eyes of a horned owl, the mouth of a tiger, and the voice of a jackal. Not only will he eat men, he will be murdered in the end!" As it turned out, after Wang Mang killed the Han Emperor and usurped the throne, he was eventually defeated by Emperor Guangwu, who established what became the Eastern Han Dynasty.
從這兩個例子來看，人的聲音，真的就是性情的反射。但是天生的性情，是可以用後天的教化和陶冶來改變的；只要性情改變，聲音也自然隨之而變，以後的命運也就不同了。所以從講話的態度和聲調來約束訓練孩子，實在是不容忽視的造命之學，不要認爲那沒有什麼關系。
These two examples show that a person”s voice is a true reflection of his disposition. However, one”s inborn disposition may be altered by education and training. One”s voice will naturally change along with one”s disposition, and one”s fate will also be different! Therefore, we must not overlook the method of changing fate through training children in their manner of speech and tone of voice and think that it is not important.
美國華盛頓總統年輕時抄錄的「國民應對手則」中，還有一條說﹕「不要好奇地探聽他人的事，也不要接近在私下交談的人。」這意思就是教人不要好管閑事，不要做「包打聽」，以免惹出更多是非，甚至招來殺身之禍。別人的閑話尚且不應當聽，更別提說人閑話了！
When U.S. President George Washington was a youth, one of the rules he copied from "Rules of Civility in Conversation Amongst Men" was, "Don”t listen to other people”s affairs out of curiosity; don”t approach people who are engaged in private conversation." In other words, don”t mind other people”s business. Don”t be an eavesdropper, or you might stir up more gossip and even put your life in danger. You shouldn”t listen to gossip, much less utter it.
「國民應對手則」中又說﹕「不要背後說人閑話，因爲這是不公正的。」不知真相究竟，就說東說西，豈止是對當事者不公正而已，對自己的人格更是一大傷害！孔子當年遊周，看見太廟前有金人銅像的口，被繩索繞了叁圈封起來，後面又刻著﹕「這是古代言語謹慎的人。」不由贊歎不已；從此「叁緘其口」，就成了慎言的成語了。所以明智的人總是惜話如金，這是很有道理的。
The "Rules of Civility in Conversation Amongst Men" also says, "Don”t gossip about others behind their backs, because that”s unfair." If you don”t know the truth of the matter and you speak recklessly, not only are you being unfair to those involved, you are also degrading yourself. In his travels, Confucius once came upon a bronze statue in front of a temple. The statue”s mouth had been gagged three times around with rope, and on its back were carved these words: "This is a man from ancient times who was cautious in speech." Confucius praised this sight endlessly, and from that incident came the expression, "to be gagged thrice," meaning to be scrupulous in speech. Wise people guard their words like gold, which is a very sensible way to act.
孝事父母，當願衆生，
善事于佛，護養一切。
《大方廣佛華嚴經‧淨行品》
When I serve my parents in filial piety,
I vow that living beings.
Will serve the Buddhas skillfully.
And protect and nourish everything.
--Pure Conduct Chapter, Flower Adornment Sutra
中國有一部《孝經》，經上說﹕「夫孝，天之經也，地之義也，民之行也。」孝道是中國傳統的美德，是個人立身處世的根本，也是執政者治理天下的准則。古代聖明的帝王是怎樣教化人民，使天下人順從的呢？不是用嚴刑峻法，也不是用堅兵厚利，而是以德行和道理，使人民自然相親相愛，尊卑長幼都沒有怨恨。所以孔子說孝道，是所有德行的根本，也是一切教化産生的根源。
In China there is a Classic of Filial Piety, which says, "As for filial piety, it is the heavenly mandate, the earthly morality, and the practice of the people." Filial piety is an excellent virtue that has traditionally been honored in China. It is the basis for our life and our relationship with the world, as well as a guideline and standard for governing the nation and world. How did the sage emperors of old influence the people and win their loyalty
It wasn”t through the use of harsh punishments or laws, nor through the use of a strong army or generous rewards; rather, it was by means of virtue and reason that they caused the people naturally to be kind and affectionate, so that there was no resentment between the superior and the subordinate, or between the older and younger generations. Hence Confucius said, "Filial piety is the basis of all virtuous deeds; it is also the source from which all t…
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