法师的考验(英汉对照)附：改写版
法师的考验（改写版）
很久很久以前，在印度有一座寺院。由于地处偏僻，寺院供养匮乏，光景凄凉。年轻的僧侣渐渐生出许多怨言。寺中的主持是一位充满智慧的年高德劭的老僧，他想，现在正该考验考验弟子们的佛性。
一日晚课之后，主持把众僧召集到佛堂。老僧满脸忧虑，眼神中流露着悲戚，他扫视了一眼众人，缓缓地说道：“大家知道，本寺向来香火不盛，近来更是举日为艰，实难以为继。况且，我的年纪越来越大，眼睛模糊，肩不能挑，手不能提，足不能行。老僧已无力供给庙里所需。我也知道，我佛弟子向来潜心修佛，不懂得赚钱生财之术。到现在，只有一个办法能把我们的寺院维持下去。”
众僧个个瞪大了眼睛，屏息静气地听着。
“山下有座小城，家家富足殷实，商店生意兴隆。明天一早，你们一起下山，到城里去偷些我们寺院的所需。只有这样，寺院才能维持下去。”
众僧一听主持的话，个个露出惊恐之色，纷纷向主持投来疑惑的目光。一位年轻的僧人忍不住，结结巴巴地说道：“可是，法师，佛有五戒，不准偷窃。”
“不错。不过，我佛慈悲，盗亦有道。”老僧微眯着眼睛说道。“切不可偷窃自己根本不需要的东西。你们只须去取我们庙中的急需，佛是不会降罪于你们的。另外，要切记，千万不能被人看见！如果被人发现，不要回到庙里，更不可把偷的东西带回来。那样会玷污我佛，必遭惩罚，也毁坏了我寺的声誉。明白吗？”
弟子们面面相觑，然后又不约而同地朝主持投来探询的目光。老僧双眼如炬，坚定而平静地望着众人，众弟子无可奈何地摇了摇头。法师说：“好吧。天亮之前就动身吧！切记：千万不能被人看见！”
弟子们低头焉脑，慢吞吞离开了佛堂。
第二天一早，法师来到众僧的寝房，发现还有一名年轻的僧人仍在酣睡，其他的弟子都早已打点行装下山去了。法师将他唤醒，厉声责问道：“你为什么还不下山去？难道你不愿意让我们的寺庙维持下去吗？”
“师傅，我愿意。”弟子平静地答道。“可师傅，您说过，我们偷东西的时候一定不要让人看见。而我知道，世界上没有一个地方不会被人发现，因为，我无时无刻都在监视着我自己。”
法师双手合十，朗声说道：“我佛慈悲，法力无边，你已经悟出了这个道理。世上本没有不被人看见的地方。你也赶快下山去吧，把你的师兄找回来！”
法师的考验（翻译版）
很久很久以前，在一个大城市的郊区有一座古庙，法师想要教给这些年轻的弟子一个道理。法师说道：“弟子们，”他望着他的弟子，眼中充满了悲戚。“你们都知道，我的年纪越来越大。我的眼睛已经模糊，羸弱的身体也不允许我走远道。我老了，再也无力供给庙里的所需。我知道，我以前没有教过你们如何去挣钱，那现在，要维持我们的寺庙就只有一个办法了。”弟子们个个瞪大眼睛听着。
“你们知道，附近这个城市里都是富人，城里的商店也生意兴隆。我需要你们每周去城里待几天，到商店里去偷我们所需要的东西。这样的话，我们的寺庙还能维持下去。”
弟子们疑惑地望着他们的法师。一名年轻的弟子结结巴巴地说道：“可是，法师，你曾经教导我们说，偷窃是不对的！”
“不错，我是这样教导过你们。”老人回答。“你如果是偷那些自己根本不需要的东西，那自然是不对的。你们必须只拿我们的所需。这样的话，谁也不会受到惩罚。另外，还有一件事情。你们千万不能被人看见！如果有任何人发现你们，千万不要把偷的东西带回来，你自己也不要回到庙里。那样会毁坏我们的声誉。明白了吗？”
弟子们面面相觑，然后又一起凝望着师傅，可法师用坚定的目光看着他们。众弟子摇了摇头。法师说道：“好吧！现在就进城去吧，把我写在单子上的东西弄来。可要记得：千万不能被人看见！”
弟子们低头焉脑，拿了师傅开列的单子，慢吞吞走出了寺庙。法师傅慢慢走到门口，望着弟子们走出了庙门。他一回转身，发现还有一名弟子静静地站在屋子的一角。
“为什么你不和他们一起去呢？”老人问道。“难道你不愿意让我们的寺庙维持下去吗？”“师傅，我愿意。”那弟子平静地说道。“可师傅，您说过，我们偷东西的时候一定不要让人看见。而我知道，世界上没有一个不会被人看见的地方，因为，我无时无刻不在监视着我自己。”
“啊！”法师兴奋地叫了出来。“这正是我要教给你们道理，只有你一个人悟了出来。快跑去告诉你的朋友，让他们回来吧，以免给我们惹麻烦。”
那弟子跑出庙去叫回了他的朋友。等他们都回到了庙里，法师把那位弟子的话告诉了大家，这样，大家都明白了这个道理。
Once upon a time, in an old temple on the outskirts① of a big city, a Buddhist Master decided to teach his young students a lesson. “My dears,” he said looking at them through sad eyes. “As you can see, I am getting on in years②. My eyes are dim, and this old back does not allow me to walk far. The time has come where I can no longer provide for all of the needs of our temple. I know that I have not taught you to work for money, and so there is only one thing that I can think of that can keep our school together③.” The students listened with wide eyes.
“As you know, the nearby city is full of wealthy people, and shops that do a good business. I need you to go into the city several days a week, and to steal the things that we need from the shops. That way we can keep our school together.”
The students looked at their master in disbelief④. “But Master. You have taught us that is wrong to steal!” One young boy stammered.
“Indeed I have,” the old man replied, “And it would be wrong to steal if it was not absolutely necessary. You must only take what we need. That way no one will suffer. And there is one more thing. You must not be seen! If anyone sees you, you must not bring the stolen object, or yourself back to the temple. It would ruin our reputation. Do you understand?”
The students looked nervously from one to the other, and then at their Master whose eyes shone back with intensity⑤ of purpose. They shook their heads. “Good”, he said. “Now go into the city and get the things that I have written on these lists. Just remember, you must not be seen!”
The students took the lists with lowered heads, and began to shuffle⑥ out of the temple. The old master walked slowly to the door and watched them go out of the gate. When he turned back inside, there was one student still standing quietly in the corner of the room.
“Why did you not go with the others?” The old man asked. “Don't you want our school to continue?” “I do, Master.” The boy said quietly. “But you said, that we had to steal without being seen, and I know that there is no place on earth that I would not be seen, for I would always see myself.”
“Aha!” cried the Master in delight⑦. “That was the lesson that I wanted to teach, and only you have seen it. Run and tell your friends to return to the temple before they get us into trouble⑧.”
The boy ran and got his friends. When students returned, the Master told them of the words the boy had spoken, and they all understood the lesson.
① outskirt n. 边界,郊外,外区
② get on in years vi. 上年纪(老起来)
③ keep sth. together (使)团结一致，(使)结合在一起
④ disbelief n. 不相信
⑤ intensity n. 激烈,强度,强烈,剧烈
⑥ shuffle v. 拖曳,慢吞吞地走
⑦ in delight 高兴地
⑧ get sb. into trouble v. 使某人陷入困境
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huangshao804 发表于 2008-04-28 11:56
#1
- 英文版也看了，那小和尚很有悟性。
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