..續本文上一頁tiness, which has compassion as its very essence. This teaching was once related by a lay practitioner to his parents, which aroused in them great faith in the Dharma and consequently they took refuge in Buddhism.

　　但藏族有一句話：“母心如水，子心如石。”母親的心如水一般柔軟，兒子的心卻如石頭一般堅硬。當很多人意識到父母的艱難，想孝敬時，父母已撒手人寰。

　　A proverb in Tibet goes: “As flowing water is the mother”s heart; as a rocky stone is her son”s.” A mother”s heart is as tender as water, while her son”s is as hard as a rock. When people at last appreciate their parents” hardships and want to pay them back and look after them, the parents have already left this world.

　　“樹欲靜而風不止，子欲養而親不待。”

　　To be calm and still is the tree”s wish, yet the wind keeps on blowing.

　　To offer respect and care is the son”s wish, but his parents have already gone.

　　所以，趁著父母還健在，應該好好地孝敬老人。

　　Therefore, we should pay due respect and attention to our parents while they are still living.

　　“慈母手中線，遊子身上衣，臨行密密縫，意恐遲遲歸，誰言寸草心，報得叁春晖。”

　　A thread moves in a mother”s loving hand,

　　Making a garment for her traveling son.

　　With all of her affection she is sewing and sewing,

　　For fear he”ll ever be roving and roving.

　　Who says the little soul of grass waving

　　Could ever repay the warmth of the generous sun

　　其實，對母親最大的報答莫過于令其學佛，誠信叁寶。令我安慰的是，母親虔信佛法，並已出家，這也算是我略盡的孝道吧。

　　In fact, there is no greater way to repay a mother”s kindness than to lead her to embrace Buddhism and arouse in her faith in the Three Jewels. It”s a consolation to me that my mother is a devout Buddhist and she has taken monastic ordination. Perhaps these could be counted as my little accomplishments in my filial duties.

　　母親，不要牽挂您這個不孝之子。您好好念佛，祈禱叁寶，我病好了會盡快回來的。

　　Mom, please do not worry too much about this undutiful son of yours. Just concentrate on your recitation of Buddha”s name and praying to the Three Jewels. I”ll be back home as soon as I recover from my illness.

　　壬午年二月初四　　

　　2002年3月18日

　　4th of February, Year of RenWu

　　March 18, 2002

《母親 My Mother》全文閱讀結束。