醒世歌
明‧憨山德清大師 （1546~1623）

紅塵白浪兩茫茫，忍辱柔和是妙方。
到處隨緣延歲月，終身安份度時光。
休將自己心田昧，莫把他人過失揚。
謹慎應酬無懊惱，耐煩作事好商量。
從來硬弩弦先斷，每見鋼刀口易傷。
惹禍都因閒口舌，招愆多為狠心腸。
是非不必爭人我，彼此何須論短長。
世事由來多缺陷，幻軀焉得免無常？
吃些虧處原無碍，退讓三分也不妨。
春日才看楊柳綠，秋風又見菊花黃。
榮華終是三更夢，富貴還同九月霜。
老病死生誰替得，酸甜苦辣自承當。
人從巧計誇伶俐，天自從容定主張。
諂曲貪瞋墮地獄，公平正直即天堂。
麝因香重身先死，蠶為多絲命早亡。
一劑養神平胃散，兩種和氣二陳湯。
生前枉費心千萬，死後空留手一雙。
悲歡離合朝朝鬧，壽夭窮通日日忙。
休得爭強來鬥勝，百年渾是戲文場；
頃刻一聲鑼鼓息，不知何處是家鄉。

Awakening
Hanshan Deqing (1546-1623, Ming Dynasty)
Translation by: John Balcom

Red dust and white waves, vast and boundless;
Patience and gentleness are good ways.
Everywhere, following conditions as the years and months go on;
The time of one's whole life spent in contentment.

Do not let the mind be ignorant,
Never making the faults of others known.
Be prudent in dealing with others and do not regret;
Work patiently and be flexible.

The string of a rigid bow will always break first,
Every glance at a steel blade portends a wound.
A wagging tongue courts disaster,
A vicious heart is the cause of wrongdoing.

It is not necessary to argue if you or I are right or wrong,
Of what need is there to debate pro and con?
Since long ago, the world has had many shortcomings;
How can this illusory body be free of impermanence?

Losing once in a while will not hinder you,
There's no harm in giving in a little.
Only in spring are the willows green,
In the autumn breeze the chrysanthemums are yellow.

In the end, fame and glory are but a midnight dream,
Wealth and honor are just as autumn frost.
Old, sick, dead, born─who will take your place?
Everyone bears his sour, sweet, bitter, and hot.

Scheming people praise cleverness,
But heaven takes its time in its decisions.
Flattery, greed, and anger all lead to hell;
To be fair and upright is heaven.

The musk deer is killed because its musk is fragrant,
The more silk a silkworm spins the earlier it meets its end.
One dose of spiritual cultivation acts to settle the stomach;
Cups of peace and harmony are the two varieties of soup.

In life, the mind is vainly wasted on countless matters,
After death both hands are empty.
Joy and sorrow, parting and meeting happen every day;
Diligently pursue wealth and honor. Every day is busy.

Do not fight with others to prove your strength,
A hundred years is but a stage play.
The moment the drums and gongs go silent
You no longer know where your hometown is.