精進

　　Be Diligent

　　杯裏的茉莉花茶發出沁人心脾的清香，陽光越過高大喬木的枝葉，暖暖地灑了下來。

　　Delicate fragrance wafted from the jasmine tea; the sun, through the leaves of the tall arbor tree, beamed down warm shafts of light.

　　坐在陽臺上，手捧《大圓滿心性休息大車疏》，卻難以入神。

　　Sitting on the balcony in this refreshing scent and with the book A Treatise on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind in hand, somehow I found it hard to concentrate.

　　旁邊是廈門中學，今天開學了。穿著整齊校服的學生湧進美麗的校園，打破了往日的甯靜。也使我這顆易爲外境所轉的心開始活躍起來。

　　The neighboring Xiamen Middle School started its new term today. Students wearing smart uniforms poured onto the beautiful campus. Gone was the serenity of this place; my mind, which is easily distracted by surroundings, also started rushing around.

　　這是一所現代化設施齊全的中學，有嶄新整齊的教學樓，廣闊平坦的操場，五彩缤紛的花園，和藹親切的師長。集合做操時是那麼的統一和諧；自由娛樂時又是那麼的天真活潑。使我不由自主地想到了我在宗塔中學度過的美好時光。

　　This middle school is well equipped with modern facilities. It has brand new buildings; big open sports fields, colorful gardens, as well as kind and capable teachers. Students conduct group physical exercises in harmonious unison, while during recess they play actively and cheerfully. Unknowingly, my mind drifted back to my beloved days at the Zong Ta Middle School.

　　那時雖然沒有如此優越的條件，衣服也是破舊不堪，但心情卻是一樣的快樂。然而，事過境遷，當時同寢室的7位好友中，華澤、澤比、單比3位都相繼離開人世。雖然我時常在夢中又回到年輕時代，與他們共享青春的恩賜。但一覺醒來後，我不得不清醒地認識到，往日的良辰美景早已煙消雲散。如今也不知他們轉生于何道，但不論如何，我都真誠地希望他們能獲得安樂，“嗡嘛呢巴美吽舍”！

　　Even though such nice facilities were nonexistent at that time and we wore only ragged clothes, we were happy all the same. Alas, things have changed! Three out of my seven roommates and dear friends from those days—Huaze, Zebi, and Danbi—have already passed away in succession. In my dreams, I often revisit those tender years, enjoying our blissful youth together. But upon waking up I have to face the reality that that enchanted time and place are all gone. I have no idea into which realms my friends were reborn. Regardless, how I wish they could have happiness and peacefulness. “Om Mani Padme Hum Hri!”

　　如今我也是上40的人了，即使能活到60歲，也只有20個冬夏。“人生自有命，但恨生日稀。”英國戲劇家莎士比亞曾說過：“時間無聲的腳步，不會因爲你有很多的事要處理而稍停片刻。”時間給勤奮的人留下智慧和力量；給懶惰的人只會留下懊悔和空虛。

　　I am now a man of 40, even if I can live into my 60s, there are only 20 rounds of seasons left. “Our life comes with an expiration date; sadly the number of days is scarce.” The English playwright Shakespeare mentioned that time moves on with silent steps, it will not pause even for a moment just because you have many things to tend to. To a diligent person, the passage of time brings wisdom and strength; to the indolent, only regrets and aching void.

　　今日不精進，更待何時？

　　If it is not today, when is the time to be diligent

　　壬午年正月十叁日 　

　　2002年2月25日

　　13th of January, Year of RenWu

　　February 25, 2002