荷花
Lotus Flower
背井離鄉來到這座南方城市，孑然一身、舉目無親之感時常湧上心頭。
Here I am in this southern city, far away from my hometown. All by myself in a strange land, I am often engulfed by a feeling of loneliness, having no friend or kin to turn to.
只有每日獨對門前的一泓荷塘，眼見荷葉從才露尖尖角，到如今已是滿眼碧綠。荷花袅袅娜娜地開著，紫紅、粉紅、乳白……豔麗的色彩猝然躍入視野，令人陶醉、令人癡迷。正當我沈醉于這如詩如畫的景致當中時，忽然發現角落有一朵荷花低著頭，顯得那麼憔悴而憂傷，仿佛滿眼的春光都與它毫無關聯。
Only the lotus pond facing the front door greets me every day. No sooner have I seen the lotus leaves as barely pointed buds than they become a full panel of lush green. Lotus flowers of a riot of color—deep red, pink, creamy white—all blossom gracefully and shapely, utterly enchanting and mesmerizing to the eyes. As I was feasting on this poetic and picturesque scenery, I suddenly noticed a lotus flower at one corner. Its head drooped low as if overladen by sorrow and weariness, the spectacular spring affected her not even a dint.
“小荷花，你爲什麼傷心啊？”
“Little lotus flower, why are you so sad
”
“昨天有一顆露珠，與我十分投緣，我非常珍愛它，但它卻被今天的陽光搶走了。一想起我們在一起的幸福時光，將從此一去不複返，就使我陷入痛苦深淵而難以自拔。我多麼地憎恨陽光啊！他爲什麼搶走我的小露珠？”
“There was a dew drop yesterday, we got along so well and I cherished it very much, but today, the sun snatched my dew drop away. Thinking the blissful occasions we had together are gone forever, I am immediately flung into a pit of suffering and have no way to extricate myself. Oh how I hate the sun! Why should he plunder my little dew drop
”
聽了小荷花的傾訴，我不知能做點什麼。也許麥彭仁波切能給它一些加持吧。
So the little lotus flower bared her soul to me, I was at a loss as to what to offer. Perhaps she could use some of Mipham Rinpoche”s blessings.
我給小荷花念誦並講解了我最喜歡的麥彭仁波切教言中的一段文字：“愚者認爲諸苦樂，皆從他緣而産生，恒時散于取舍境，貪嗔浪濤雜念中。智者了知諸苦樂，悉皆來源于自身，恒時向內觀自心，審視自己不放逸。”
Finding my most favorite passage from Mipham Rinpoche”s teachings, I read it and explained the meaning to the little lotus flower: “The fools, thinking that all happiness and suffering are caused by external factors, are forever distracted in wanting and rejecting. Disturbing waves of craving and aversion carry them away. The wise, knowing that the source of all happiness and suffering is the self, always reflect inward and guard against indolence.”
聽完我的講解，小荷花終于釋然。放下了對露珠的貪心，對陽光也不再起嗔念，並且皈依佛門。看著小荷花一天天成熟起來，雖然日見枯萎，即將凋零，卻充實而自信。我看在眼裏，喜在心頭。叁寶的加持真是不可思議啊！
After listening to my explanations, the little lotus flower finally felt better. She relinquished her clinging to the dewdrop and no longer held a bitter grudge against the sun. What”s more, she took refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism and grew inwardly day-by-day. Even though she was drooping and withering, she felt confident and enriched. Witnessing her transformation, I was filled with joy. How inconceivable are the blessings of the Three Jewels!
一天，就在我即將離去之時，小荷花斬釘截鐵地告訴我：“我一定好好修持佛法！”
On the day when I was ready to leave, the little flower declared to me with a firm resolution: “I will definitely study and practice to my best the Buddha”s teachings!”
其實，小荷花就是每天給我打針的何醫生，小露珠是她的男朋友，而陽光是她的姐姐。
In reality, the little lotus flower is Dr. He, who gives me injections every day, the dew drop her boyfriend, and the sun her sister.
從這個故事裏，人們能否找到自己的影子呢？
Can people find their own images in this story
壬午年正月二十八日
2002年3月11日
于廈門174醫院
28th of January, Year of RenWu
March 11, 2002
At the Xiamen 174 Hospital