10月20日

反省與感謝
藍蔭鼎 ( 1903~1979 )

人類的眼睛就像從窗內向外看的單向窗，鏡頭所
向，從天文到地理，大千世界的芸芸眾生，都攝取
殆盡，就是遺漏了一個「我」。自己日常的行為自
己無法明察秋毫，所以我們似乎需要一個嚮導，引
導我們行路的方向。那麼這個嚮導是誰呢？他在哪裡？

我以為有兩個：其中一個常以溫柔委婉的語氣忠
告我們、提醒我們，他的名字叫朋友；另一個則以
疾言厲色譏諷我們、打擊我們，他的名字叫敵人！
沒有別人的指責，就沒有警惕，更沒有進步。
批評使我們不得不步步為營，做事不敢輕易逾矩，
以防不慎落入萬丈深淵，我們倘能擁有這樣一位益
友，是我們的福氣，為什麼不感激呢?

日本已故大文豪川端康成，一生信奉兩個字，
就是「感謝」，我們若時常使用這兩個字，相信敵
人終將消聲匿跡，或是改頭換面，以朋友的姿態出現了。

──選自《鼎廬小語》

October 20

Reflection and Being Grateful
Lan Yinding (1903 - 1979)
English translation: Zhi Yue

The human eye can be likened to looking out a one-way
mirror from the inside. Whatever the lenses are focused
upon, from astronomy to geography, it apprehends the
multitude of sentient beings in the entire cosmos, but yet
it omits the “self.” We are unable to clearly perceive our
own daily actions, so we appear to need a guide to instruct
us which direction to go in. Who and where then, is this guide?

I believe there are two. One of them always advises and
reminds us with gentleness and tact: they are called friends.
In contrast, those who use belittling and harsh language to
ridicule and attack us: they are called enemies!

Without the guidance of others, we will neither have
reminders nor progress. Criticism forces us to advance
every step of the way, while warning us of the bottomless
abyss into which we can fall. Having such a helpful friend
is truly our good fortune, so why not be grateful?

A contemporary eminent writer in Japan, Kawabata
Yasunari, has believed in two words his entire life:
“be grateful.” If we can often make use of these two words,
I believe that our enemies will eventually dissipate and go
into hiding, or will change their stance and attitude into
one of friendship.

── from Dinglu Xiaoyu (Dinglu's Musings)