..续本文上一页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.
从这两个例子来看，人的声音，真的就是性情的反射。但是天生的性情，是可以用后天的教化和陶冶来改变的；只要性情改变，声音也自然随之而变，以后的命运也就不同了。所以从讲话的态度和声调来约束训练孩子，实在是不容忽视的造命之学，不要认为那没有什么关系。
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.
美国华盛顿总统年轻时抄录的「国民应对手则」中，还有一条说﹕「不要好奇地探听他人的事，也不要接近在私下交谈的人。」这意思就是教人不要好管闲事，不要做「包打听」，以免惹出更多是非，甚至招来杀身之祸。别人的闲话尚且不应当听，更别提说人闲话了！
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.
「国民应对手则」中又说﹕「不要背后说人闲话，因为这是不公正的。」不知真相究竟，就说东说西，岂止是对当事者不公正而已，对自己的人格更是一大伤害！孔子当年游周，看见太庙前有金人铜像的口，被绳索绕了三圈封起来，后面又刻着﹕「这是古代言语谨慎的人。」不由赞叹不已；从此「三缄其口」，就成了慎言的成语了。所以明智的人总是惜话如金，这是很有道理的。
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，当愿众生，
善事于佛，护养一切。
《大方广佛华严经‧净行品》
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
中国有一部《孝经》，经上说﹕「夫孝，天之经也，地之义也，民之行也。」孝道是中国传统的美德，是个人立身处世的根本，也是执政者治理天下的准则。古代圣明的帝王是怎样教化人民，使天下人顺从的呢？不是用严刑峻法，也不是用坚兵厚利，而是以德行和道理，使人民自然相亲相爱，尊卑长幼都没有怨恨。所以孔子说孝道，是所有德行的根本，也是一切教化产生的根源。
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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