阿姨

　　An Auntie

　　爲了放生，今天去了爐霍。本打算利用放生之余，抽空耍耍壩子，可惜天公不作美，一直淅淅瀝瀝地下著雨，看來我們的帳篷、飲料、食品算是白帶了。

　　We went to Luhuo today to release live beings and were hoping to take some time to hold a little fair. But our plans were thwarted by the weather; the rain fell continuously. It seemed we had wasted effort in bringing tents, drinks, and food with us.

　　聽說一位我小時候對我很好的阿姨病了，我連忙去看看她。

　　One of my aunts who had been very kind to me when I was little is ill. Upon hearing the news, I hastened to pay her a visit.

　　她住在一間簡陋得難以想象的屋子裏，屋裏除了一床肮髒破舊的被子、一把黑糊糊的茶壺，幾乎找不到一件像樣的家什。

　　She is living in an unthinkably shabby place; other than a dirty blanket on the bed and a blackened teapot, there is hardly any other furniture in the room.

　　記得在我上小學的時候，她家顯得比較殷實。常常在課間，我會偷跑到離學校不遠的她家，因爲在那裏我總是能找到糌粑、酥油之類的食物，以填充我那仿佛永遠也填不滿的胃。她總是那麼大方地拿出最好的東西，從無悭吝之心。

　　I recall her house was not too far from the elementary school I attended. At that time her family was relatively well off and I would often sneak out in between classes to her house. There I could always find the best food, like tsampa and butter, to fill my ever-hungry stomach, and she had always been generous to offer me her best, never acting stingy.

　　如今，91歲的她雖然住在簡陋的破屋裏，由五十多歲的兒子照料，但心情仍是那麼開朗，滔滔不絕地向我講述她從各處聽來的逸聞趣事，逗得我們開懷大笑。最後，她說：“不知我前世造了什麼惡業，得了這樣的病，看來只有好好祈禱叁寶，才能減輕我的罪業。”

　　Now at 91, she has as her caretaker her son, who is in his 50s. Although her dwelling is dilapidated and miserable, she still maintains a cheerful disposition. She spouted funny tales she had heard from different sources and we could not stop laughing. Lastly, she said: “I must have committed some evil deeds in my past lives that I suffer this illness now. I can only pray to the Three Jewels faithfully to lighten my karmic retributions.”

　　一聽她的話，我就知道她之所以心情開朗的原因，由于誠信因果，在遭遇病痛艱難時，就不會怨天尤人，只會一心一意祈禱叁寶，忏悔業障，才會感得如此心境。

　　Hearing her remarks, I saw clearly the reason for her cheerful mindset. Her belief in the effects of positive and negative actions is firm enough that even when stricken with severe illness she bears no grudges toward fate nor toward others. Instead she prays to the Three Jewels wholeheartedly and performs the purification practice sincerely. No wonder she is able to remain composed.

　　如果每個人都能誠信因果，那麼，即使他身處困境，都能保持愉悅的心情。

　　Indeed, anyone who has confidence in the principle of cause and effect will always maintain a sunny outlook, even amidst the most difficult circumstances.

　　壬午年六月初八　　

　　2002年7月17日

　　8th of June, Year of RenWu

　　July 17, 2002