..续本文上一页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.

　　但藏族有一句话：“母心如水，子心如石。”母亲的心如水一般柔软，儿子的心却如石头一般坚硬。当很多人意识到父母的艰难，想孝敬时，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.

　　“树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待。”

　　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，趁着父母还健在，应该好好地孝敬老人。

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

　　“慈母手中线，游子身上衣，临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归，谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。”

　　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

　　其实，对母亲最大的报答莫过于令其学佛，诚信三宝。令我安慰的是，母亲虔信佛法，并已出家，这也算是我略尽的孝道吧。

　　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.

　　母亲，不要牵挂您这个不孝之子。您好好念佛，祈祷三宝，我病好了会尽快回来的。

　　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

《母亲 My Mother》全文阅读结束。