11月8日

醒世詩
明 羅念菴 ( 1504~1564 )

有有無無且耐煩，勞勞碌碌幾時閑？
人心曲曲彎彎水，世事重重疊疊山。
古古今今多改變，貧貧富富有循環；
將將就就隨時過，苦苦甜甜命一般。
急急忙忙苦追求，寒寒暖暖度春秋；
朝朝暮暮營家計，昧昧昏昏白了頭。
是是非非何日了，煩煩惱惱幾時休；
明明白白一條路，萬萬千千不肯修。

──選自《念菴羅先生傳》

November 8

Awakening the World
Luo Nian'an (1504 - 1564, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

When dealing with comings and goings,
    patience is indispensable.
Always toiling and laboring,
    when will there ever be free time?
Twisting and turning like a river,
    the mind works in this manner.
Layered and overlapping,
    mundane affairs pile into mountains.
In the past and present,
    changes are always manifold.
The days of poverty and wealth
    come and go in a cycle.
Be content with what we already have,
    as it will help us get through life.
Sweet and bitter tastes of life,
    will leave the same feeling in the end.
In hurry and in haste,
    our painstaking pursuits continue,
Through warm and cold,
    springs and autumns come and go.
Day and night,
    we manage household affairs.
Ignorant and confused,
    we are suddenly old.
All these quarrels over right and wrong,
    when will they ever stop?
So much worries and afflictions,
    when will they ever cease?
Clearly and consciously,
    we tread our chosen path.
Giving hundreds and thousands of reasons,
    we refuse to cultivate.

── from Nian'an Luo Xiansheng Zhuan (Complete Works of Mister Luo Nian'an)