涟漪的启示在采取行动前要不断求证，因为一旦你的行动产生“涟漪”，就无法抚平。 一天，大师在田野中行走，这时，一个满面愁容的年轻人向他走来。 “天气这么好，神情一直保持这么严肃一定不容易。”大师说道。 “是吗？我没注意到。”年轻人一边回答，一边转身环顾四周。他的目光从周遭的景物上扫过，只是却似乎无所触动。大师把这一切都看在眼中，继续向前方走去。 “如果你愿意，就和我一起走走吧。”大师走到一湾平静的池水旁。池塘边长了一圈西克莫无花果树，树叶已经变成金黄色，即将脱落。 “请坐。”大师用手拍了拍身旁的地面，招呼着年轻人。年轻人坐下前仔细地看了看，掸了掸地面，为自己清出一块地方。 “现在，请找一块小石头来。”大师吩咐道。“什么？”“一块石头，请找块小石头并把它投进池塘里。” 年轻人在身旁四处搜寻，抓了块鹅卵石使劲向远处投进了池塘。“告诉我你看到了什么。”大师询问道。 年轻人睁大了眼睛目不转睛地盯着水面，唯恐错过一丝细节。“我看到一圈圈涟漪。”“这些涟漪从何而来呢？”“是我投入池中的石子激起的，大师。”“请把手伸到水里，止住那些涟漪。”大师说。 虽然不明白大师的想法，但当涟漪接近池边时，年轻人仍把手探入水中，却只激起了更多的涟漪。年轻人现在已经完全陷入困惑之中。事情会怎样发展下去呢？来找大师是否本身就是个错误？毕竟他不是大师的弟子，或许无法获得大师的帮助？年轻人在困惑中等待着。 “你刚才用手将涟漪平息了吗？”大师问。“没有，当然没有。”“那你能够将它们平息吗？”“不能，大师。我已经对您说了，我仅仅是激起了更多的涟漪。” “如果你一开始没有把鹅卵石抛进水中，会怎样呢？”大师粲然一笑，年轻人看上去并没因此而感到不快。 “今后你在生活中遇到不快时，在‘石头’入‘水’前就要去阻止它。不要费时试图去补救已经做过的事，而要在行动之前改变自己原本的打算。”大师慈祥地看着年轻人。 “可是大师，我怎么能在采取行动之前就知道自己将要做什么呢？” “对你自己的生活负起责任来。如果你和医生一起工作治病救人，那就让医生帮你了解病因。不要只医治泛起的‘涟漪’。要不断提出问题。”年轻人沉默了一会儿，觉得有些糊涂。 “但我来找您是为了从您这儿得到答案。您的意思是说我自己知道答案吗？”“你可能现在并不知道答案，但是如果提了正确的问题，你就会找到答案。”“可什么才是正确的问题呢，大师？” “没有不正确的问题，只有未被提出的问题。我们必须提出问题，因为不提出问题，我们就无法得到答案。但是问题要由你自己去提，别人不能代替你做这件事。” The Master was walking through the fields one day when a young man, a troubled look upon his face, approached him. “On such a beautiful day, it must be difficult to stay so serious,” the Master said. “Is it？ I hadn’t noticed,” the young man said, turning to look around and notice his surroundings. His eyes scanned the landscape, but nothing seemed to register; his mind elsewhere. Watching intently, the Master continued to walk. “Join me if you like.” The Master walked to the edge of a still pond, framed by sycamore trees, their leaves golden orange and about to fall. “Please sit down,” the Master invited, patting the ground next to him. Looking carefully before sitting, the young man brushed the ground to clear a space for himself. “Now, find a small stone, please,” the Master instructed. “What？” “A stone. Please find a small stone and throw it in the pond.” Searching around him. the young man grabbed a pebble and threw it as far as he could. “Tell me what you see,” the Master instructed. Straining his eyes to not miss a single detail, the man looked at the water’s surface. “I see ripples.” “Where did the ripples come from？” “Form the pebble I threw in the pond, Master.” “Please reach your hand into the water and stop the ripples,” the Master asked. Not understanding, the young man stuck his hand in the water as a ripple neared, only to cause more ripples. The young man was now completely baffled. Where was this going？ Had he made a mistake in seeking out the Master？ After all he was not a student; perhaps he could not be helped？ Puzzled, the young man waited. “Were you able to stop the ripples with your hands？” the Master asked. “No, of course not.” “Could you have stopped the ripples, then？” “No, Master. I told you I only caused more ripples.” “What if you had stopped the pebble from entering the water to begin with？ ” The Master smiled such a beautiful smile; the young man could not be upset. “Next time you are unhappy with your life, catch the stone before it hits the water. Do not spend time trying to undo what you have done. Rather, change what you are going to do before you do it.” The Master looked kindly upon the young man. “But Master, how will I know what I am going to do before I do it？” “Take the responsibility for living your own life. If you’re working with a doctor to treat an illness, ask the doctor to help you understand what caused the illness. Do not just treat the ripples. Keep asking questions.” The young man stopped, his mind reeling. “But I came to you to ask you for answers. Are you saying that I know the answers？” “You may not know the answers right now, but if you ask the right questions, then you shall discover the answers.” “But what are the right questions, Master？” “There are no wrong questions, only unasked ones. We must ask, for without asking, we cannot receive answers. But it is your responsibility to ask. No one else can do that for you.” （摘自2010年4月《新东方英语中学版》） |
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