Acquire Wisdom

[Acquire Wisdom]

 There was a simpleton who was very poor but fortunate in his dealings. Once during a rainstorm, a wall collapsed and by chance he dug up a pot of gold hidden under the collapsed wall.

 The simpleton became an extremely wealthy man overnight. In spite of that, he was still rather dim-witted and well aware of his shortcoming.

 Consequently, he complained to a Zen master and was then advised, “You have money while others possess intelligence and insight. Why not use your money to purchase someone else’s wisdom?”

Hence, the simpleton travelled to the city where he chanced upon a monk and asked, “Can you sell me your wisdom?” The monk replied, “My wisdom is expensive, a phrase cost a thousand ounces of silver.”

The simpleton then uttered, “As long as I am able to buy wisdom, I am willing to fork out any amount for it.”

Thereupon the monk imparted, “There is no need to rush or panic when you encounter any difficulty; take three steps forwards, then three steps back, repeating this movement three times and you will acquire wisdom.”

Is wisdom obtained so simply? The simpleton felt skeptical and was afraid that the monk was out to cheat him of his money. Looking into his eyes, the monk was able to read the simpleton’s mind and thus informed him, “Take your leave, and don’t come back if you feel that my wisdom is not worth the money. However, should you feel differently then return and deliver the silver to me.”

That night upon returning home, he found his wife sharing their bed with another person in the darkness. Enraged, he hastily grabbed a kitchen knife, ready to commit murder.

 Unexpectedly, he recalled the wisdom that was purchased in the morning. Thereafter, thrice he repeated the movements of stepping three times forwards and then three times back.

 As he was pacing forwards and back, the person who was asleep next to his wife suddenly awoke and inquired, “Son, what are you doing? And in the middle of the night!”

Hearing the voice of his own mother, the simpleton was stunned… Good grief! If not for the wisdom that I purchased this morning, I might have murdered my own mother!

 The next day, he left first thing in the morning and dutifully delivered the silver to the monk.

 [Wisdom]: Look before you leap.

 Source: http://wuming.xuefo.net/nr/17/165032.html

 Image Credit: www.pixabay.com

[買智慧]

有一個傻子，雖然很窮，可是他的運氣好。一次下雨的時候，圍牆被雨沖倒了，他居然從倒了的牆裡挖出了一壇金子，因此他一夜暴富。可是他依然很笨，他也知道自己的缺點。於是就向一位禪師訴苦，禪師告訴他說一：“你有錢，別人有智慧，為什麼不用你的錢去買別人的智慧呢？”

於是這個愚人就來到了城裡，見到一個僧人，就問道：“你能把你的智慧賣給我嗎？”僧人答道：“我的智慧很貴，一句話1000兩銀子。”
那個愚人說：“只要能買到智慧，多少錢我都願意出！”

於是那個僧人對他說道：“遇到困難不要著急處理，向前走三步，然後再向後退三步，往返三次，你就能得到智慧了。”

“智慧”這麼簡單嗎？那人聽了將信將疑，生怕僧人騙他的錢。
僧人從他的眼睛中看出他的心思了，於是對他說：“你先回去吧，如果覺得我的智慧不值這些錢，那你就不要來了；如果覺得值，就回來給我送錢來。”

當夜回家，他昏暗中發現妻子居然和另外一個人睡在炕上，頓時怒從心生，拿起菜刀準備將那個人殺掉。突然想到白天買來的智慧，於是前進三步，後退三步，各三次。正走著呢，那個與妻子同眠者驚醒過來，問道：“兒啊，你在幹什麼呢？深更半夜的！”

愚人聽出是自己的母親，心裡暗驚：“若不是白天我買來的智慧，今天就錯殺母親了！”

第二天，他早早地就給那個僧人送銀子去了。

【智慧】：凡事要三思而後行。

 文: http://wuming.xuefo.net/nr/17/165032.html
图片来源:  www.pixabay.com

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