12月7日

《菜根譚》選 ─ 水滴石穿
明 洪應明 ( 生卒年不詳 )

繩鋸木斷，水滴石穿，學道者須加力索；
水到渠成，瓜熟蒂落，得道者一任天機。

──選自《菜根譚》

December 7

Selections from Tending the Roots of Wisdom - Dripping Water Wears Away the Stone
Hong Yingming (Years unknown, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: John Balcom

Little strokes fell great oaks,
Constant dripping wears away a stone,
One who is learning the Way
    needs to exert extra effort.

Where water flows, a canal is formed,
Fruits fall off when ripe,
One who obtains the Way
    understands mysteries only known to Heaven.

── from Cai Gen Tan (Tending the Roots of Wisdom)