10月5日

蘭亭集序
東晉 王羲之 ( 303~361 )

仰觀宇宙之大，俯察品類之盛；所以遊目騁懷，
足以極視聽之娛，信可樂也。夫人之相與，俯仰
一世，或取諸懷抱，晤言一室之內；或因寄所託，
放浪形骸之外。雖趣舍萬殊，靜躁不同；當其欣
於所遇，暫得於己，快然自足，不知老之將至。

及其所之既倦，情隨事遷，感慨系之矣。向之
所欣，俛仰之間已為陳跡，猶不能不以之興懷；
況修短隨化，終期於盡。古人云：「死生亦大矣。」
豈不痛哉！

──選自《晉書 ‧ 王羲之傳》

【案】生死是再自然不過的事，即使是佛陀，也要「有
緣佛出世，無緣佛入滅；來為眾生來，去為眾生去！」
人生世緣已了，隨著自然而去；重重無盡的未來，也
會隨著因緣而來。能把生死看成是如如不二，生又有
何喜？死又何足為悲呢？

October 5

Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection
Wang Xizhi (303 - 361, Eastern Jin Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

We gaze upon the formidable universe and overlook an immensely
diverse earth. Thus, we are able to broaden our views, and expand
our horizons, which suffices to be a luxury that pleases the eyes
and ears. In associating with others throughout life, some gather
under a roof to share their ambitions, while some, overwhelmed by
emotion, enter a trance of freedom from the restrictions of reality.
Though in─between them lie a range of varied interests, differing
in temperaments of serenity and excitability, the moment they take
pleasure in what they encounter, satisfied and content, they remain
unaware of approaching old age. When they become fed up with
their preoccupations, emotions change along with that of the world,
and remorse takes the place of contentment. That which had satisfied
them, in the blink of an eye, has become that of the past, and all that
is left is but a choice to not lament over it. Moreover, though the
human lifespan changes according to one's acts, eventually, all must
die. Just as those in the past had once said, "life and death are also
important moments." Does not this cause even greater sorrow!

── from Jin Shu-Wang Xizhi Zhuan (Book of Jin: A Biography of Wang Xizhi)