The Power of Softness

中文原著：隆門圓通法師
英文翻譯：張惠平
Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong
Translated by Huei Ping Chang
 
一個人身心柔軟，生命中才有可能生起智慧。我們若有柔軟心，對一件事情的成敗、是非、苦痛，所帶來的煩惱，能給與調合和包容，就可以生起智慧。這對修學佛法的大德，是非常重要的。
心柔軟如水
水放在任何形狀的容器中，皆平順、皆可以相融。 水是沒有固定模式、形狀，是自由的。水從涓涓細流，無論匯入小溪、大河，最後流向大海，皆可融入，無有障礙。水也可以切開最堅硬的石頭，它是最有力量的，卻又柔不能握。水至柔也至剛，沒有任何剛強東西可阻擋得住大洪水的肆虐。

大德們：今生的此身、是如此的脆弱無常，心常被俗務糾纏，被許多煩惱與慾念纏綁著，無法解脫！如果我們肯發菩提心，萬緣放下，努力修行。身心行以清淨、真誠、慈悲、尊敬來做事。

謂：慈悲與智慧相應，智慧與性德相應，令見聞者生起景仰之心。學佛修行，是要真實行，不要流於空談，否則無法受益。柔軟能讓生命轉彎、無限寬、廣結善緣。

祥和喜悅
104、 11、 25日吉祥
資料來源：心靈甘露(一)，隆門圓通法師著。

Only when one is soft physically and mentally can he give rise to wisdom. With a soft mind, one can mediate and accept the affliction brought about by failure, quarrel and pain. Then wisdom can arise. This is of great importance for the virtuous practitioners of Buddhism.

The Mind Should Be As Soft As Water
When put in containers of any kind, water is always smooth and compatible. Water doesn’t have a fixed mode or shape, and is free. Trickles of water

are always compatible without hindrance whether they flow into the stream, the river, or the sea. Water can cut open the hardest stone. Water is the most powerful, but it is too soft to hold.

Virtuous ones! Our body is so fragile and impermanent. Our mind is often troubled by worldly affairs and is bound by a lot of afflictions and desires and cannot be liberated. So we should make up a Bodhi mind, let go of everything, and diligently practice. We also should handle matters with purity, sincerity, compassion and respect.

If compassion can correspond to wisdom, and wisdom correspond to virtue, then the hearer’s admiration will be brought about. Studying Buddhism and cultivation have to be realistic rather than chitchatting. Otherwise, you can’t benefit from it. Softness can change your life, make it infinitely wide, and help you make good affinities with people.

Peace and joy to you all.

Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. I), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong.