有些人在想：“我长得很丑。”或者：“我个子很矮，反正也没人喜欢我的长相，我也就不必保护这个身体了。”是吗？不对的！刘禹锡曾经作了一首〈陋室铭〉：
Some people think, “I’m ugly.” Or, “I’m short. No one likes the way I look anyway, so there’s no point in my taking care of my body.” Is that so?
Wrong! Liu Yuxi wrote a poem called “Inscription for a Humble House,” which goes like this:
山不在高，有仙则名；水不在深，有龙则灵。
斯是陋室，唯吾德馨。苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。
谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。
可以调素琴，阅金经。无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。
南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭。孔子云:“何陋之有！”
A mountain is famous not for its height,
but for its immortals.
A lake is magical not because of its depth,
but because of its dragons.
This house may be humble,
but it is fragrant with my virtue.
The steps are covered with green moss;
the window screens reflect the verdant grass.
I laugh and chat with learned gentlemen;
there are no illiterates among my visitors.
I can play the harp and read the Vajra Sutra.
There is no noise of string and wind instruments to disturb my ears,
nor any documents to tire me out.
Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched hut
in Nanyang;
Yang Ziyun dwelt in a tiny shack
in western Shu.
Confucius said, “How can that be
considered humble?”
“山不在高，有仙则名；水不在深，有龙则灵”：同样的道理，人也不贵长得高大英俊、漂亮，最重要的是培养良好的人格。你有这个佛性，那可就是“灵”了。
A mountain is famous not for its height, but for its immortals. A lake is magical not because of its depth, but because of its dragons. By the same token, men don’t have to be tall and handsome. The most important thing is to nurture and cultivate good character. You have a Buddha nature, which is what makes you “magical.”
“斯是陋室，唯吾德馨”：陋室，就是一间简陋的小房子。虽然我的身体长得不漂亮，可是我有德行，也就是每个人原来具备的良知良能。你能珍惜运用它，那就够了。
This house may be humble, but it is fragrant with my virtue. This may be a simple house, small and plain. Although I may not be good-looking, I have virtue, that is, I have the good conscience that is found in everyone. If you can cherish it and use it well, then that is enough.
“苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青”：这是形容这间陋室质朴无华，但它有一股脱俗幽清的风貌。石阶上长满了青苔，窗帘也映照着周围绿草的鲜润颜色，这完全是大自然的风景。
The steps are covered with green moss; the window screens reflect the verdant grass. This describes the small house, which is plain and unadorned, yet possesses an uncommon and serene air. Green moss grows over the stone steps, and the lush green color of the grass is reflected in the window screens. It’s a natural scene.
“谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁”：鸿儒就是读书人，我的朋友都是有知识、伟大的人物，我从不与粗鲁或只字不识的白丁来往。所以，虽然我的房子很简陋，但我的朋友皆是非凡人物，大家共同切磋学问及做人的道理，不亦乐乎？
I laugh and chat with learned gentlemen; there are no illiterates among my visitors. My friends are all educated and important people. I never associate with coarse or illiterate fellows. Though my house is humble, my friends are not common people. We all get together to exchange knowledge and look into the meaning of life. Isn’t this joyful?
“可以调素琴，阅金经。无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形”：闲时就弹琴自娱，静时就细阅《金刚经》，这种境界多么潇洒，一点俗气都没有。无丝竹之乱耳，古时的乐器有些用弦丝或竹皮造成。这些人所听的音乐都很清雅、很高尚，不像现在的摇滚乐，把人吵得头昏脑涨。也不用每天赶着上班，坐在办公室里忙忙碌碌，受疲劳轰炸，这叫案牍之劳形。他没有那种紧张的生活，而是很优闲自在的。
I can play the harp and read the Vajra Sutra. There is no noise of string and wind instruments to disturb my ears, nor any documents to tire me out. In my leisure time, I play the harp to amuse myself; and when all is quiet, I read the Vajra Sutra. How carefree and transcendent this state is; it’s not the least bit worldly. In ancient times, some musical instruments were made of strings or bamboo. The music those people listened to was very elegant and lofty, not like the rock-n-roll music of today, which makes people dazed and confused. They didn’t have to rush to work, sit in the office, and get bombarded with work every day. That’s what’s meant by “being tired out by documents.” He didn’t lead that kind of hectic life, but one that was very leisurely and comfortable.
“南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭。孔子曰：‘何陋之有！’”：在南阳，诸葛亮曾隐居在草庐；在西蜀，扬子云也曾住在一所简朴的小亭。这是举出过去两位高士、隐士，他们不贪慕世间浮华，而隐遁于陋室里头。孔子曾说：“何陋之有！”有什么丑陋呢？这不是很好吗？
Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched hut in Nanyang; Yang Ziyun dwelt in a tiny shack in western Shu. Confucius said, “How can that be considered humble?” In Nanyang, Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched hut as a hermit; and in western Shu [Sichuan Province], Yang Ziyun lived in a small and simple shack. These were a lofty gentleman and a hermit of the past, who didn’t admire the superficial splendor of the world, but secluded themselves in humble dwellings. Confucius commented, “How can that be considered humble?” What’s vulgar about that? Isn’t it a fine thing?
从这一首“陋室铭”看来，我们人也应该不贪求外表的华丽。只要你珍惜自己身体的能源，好好运用你的见闻觉知，才不辜负你本身的智能佛性。大家要立好目标，勇往直前！
From this poem, “Inscription for a Humble House,” we should learn not to crave superficial beauty. Rather, we should cherish our own energy and use our sense faculties in a good way. Then we won’t be wasting the wisdom of our Buddha nature. Each of us should set our goal and march towards it!
一九八四年一月五日开示
A talk given on January 6, 1984
