「文章轉錄」來去摘櫻桃 張國立 《時報週刊》總編輯
我總是喜歡用一種方式來計算生命，並為自己的吃喝玩樂尋找藉口：
你在二十歲以前的人生是有記憶的嗎？
有，你記得你老爸揍你，因為你在做功課時偷偷看漫畫。有，你記得老媽在你沒考上大學時，擠著明明是苦笑的微笑說，明年再來嘛。 有，你去喝了兩杯啤酒，被警察逮進派出所，你老爸老媽慌張的趕來為你求情。
對，我的意思是，二十歲以前你幾乎是在不知不覺，或為了老爸老媽而活的。當然，也許你是天才，從三歲時就為自己做好人生規畫，天才不在我的敘述範圍之列。
那麼六十歲以後呢？你有了積蓄、有了子女、也開始逐漸有了時間，但你卻沒有太多的體力和理想，因為理想的基礎是夢想，你已經沒有做夢的力氣呀。
好，你的人生扣除二十歲之前和六十歲之後，你還有四十年，這是黃金歲月，可是，老天，你在黃金磚塊裡做了些什麼？你很忙，沒空研究這種數學問題，我的數學很爛，但還是好心的幫你算算：
你睡覺睡掉了三分之一，折合成明確的數字是十三點三三三年。根據統計，平均每個台灣人每天花在電視或電腦網路（無關工作）是三小時，等於每天的八分之一，也就是五年。
上班則以每周五天每天八小時（真有人只工作八小時嗎），這又去掉了十年。換句話說，扣除例行的活動，你的黃金四十年已經不知不覺被幹掉了二十八點三三三年。我還沒算你罵兒子、叫老婆、洗屁股、和鄰居為了停車位吵架的時間。
老兄，我講的是良心話，你的一生真正落到你手裡的，大約不到五年，而你休假的時候居然還跑去租ＤＶＤ，躲在家裡的沙發上過日子，喂，這真是當初你想要的人生？
好吧，再用另一種方式來計算人生。早上起床後，無論擠公車、坐捷運、開汽車，你的路線是不是都一樣？下班時只不過重覆一番罷了，至於中午休息，你是不是都吃便當，或者公司附近的幾家餐廳，你會花個半小時去找一家聽說很好卻相當遠的小飯館嗎？
我們都是螞蟻，每天在同樣的幾條線上行動、和同樣的幾張面孔聊天、為同樣的問題爭吵。
對，我也完全同意人生便是在平凡裡尋找樂趣，問題是，你有樂趣嗎？
你又要罵我好高鶩遠，不這樣又要怎樣？二十五歲起有汽車貸款，三十歲有房屋貸款，三十五歲起煩惱子女未來的教育經費，四十歲擔心老爸老媽退休後的生活，四十五歲則恍然發現要每年去做健康檢查。能夠在六十歲前還清房屋貸款、把兒女送進大學、除了身高外其他的數字，像是血壓、膽固醇，都慢慢的升高，然後你坐在電視機前看同樣的廣告，忽然發現你好像該做些什麼不一樣的事，卻又嘆口氣，這些事該在四十歲時候做的啊。
這樣你全明白了吧，業績是老闆的、存款是兒女的、身體是醫生的、夢想是日記上的，剩下來的雖然不多，那才是你自己的，所以做人得快樂。
我最喜歡的一個故事是日本禪宗的「老虎」，也許你聽過，也許沒，反正你已經習慣看同樣的廣告，不如將就的再聽一遍這個故事吧：
有個人走在山裡，突然樹林中衝出來一頭老虎，看起來它很飢餓，對你直追，你拚命的跑，跑到一處懸崖，你想，完啦，後有老虎，前有斷崖，唯一能活的方法就是往下跳，說不定還能撿回命。當你正要往下跳，卻看到崖下也有一頭餓虎，正抬起頭朝你狂吼。
好了，你跳下去不死也會變成老虎的生魚片。這時你看到有根樹藤從你腳邊往下垂。好，你可以攀著藤掛在半空中，這樣下面的老虎和上面的老虎都咬不到你。你興奮地攀著樹藤下去，當你正慶幸可以垂掛在兩隻老虎中間時，老天，你看到兩隻螞蟻在咬樹藤，而且顯然很快樹藤就要被咬斷了。
一切的努力都白費，你萬念俱灰時，忽然看見山壁上有顆櫻桃，紅紅亮亮的，你不禁伸手去摘下那顆櫻桃放進嘴裡。嗯，好甜的櫻桃呀。故事便結束在好甜的櫻桃。
究竟這個故事有什麼含意呢？禪宗的東西都有很多含意，每個人有不同的解讀方式。
我的解讀很簡單，要保握住現在，就像那顆櫻桃；你不可能在樹藤上晃來晃去地晃到六十歲才去摘，你得馬上就摘了送進嘴裡。
同樣的，別老安慰自己說，現在拚命努力，等到退休時就可以享受。相信我，任何享受都應該隨時進行，千萬別等到退休，那時你可能早忘了怎麼享受了。
工作時要給自己找樂趣，工作之後更要找樂趣，這樣你才可以無時無刻不在享受你的人生。當然，你會罵我只會說不會做。在此我先接受你送來的三字經，真的，我也是在四十歲的時候才體會出這個道理，而且即使到現在仍只能努力去做若干的實踐罷了，不過至少我已經開始在做，你呢？
別老是抱怨個沒完，再怎麼抱怨也無濟於事，找找看你的釣竿、你的護照、你當學生時的吉他，然後，我們一起去吃櫻桃。
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
The Story of 4 Boyfriends
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and
treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the
best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off
to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave
her for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always
kind,considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem,
she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult
times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great
contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not
love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took
notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of
her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but
when I die, I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with
the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,
will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without
another
word..
His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now
that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No!', replied the 3rd boyfrien d. 'Life is too good! When you die,
I'm
going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and
you've always been there for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd
boyfriend.
'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was
devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no
matter where
you go..'
The girl looked up, and there was his first boyfriend. He was very skinny
as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of
you when I had the chance!'
In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:
Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you
lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it
will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have
been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth,
power and pleasures of the world.
However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you
go.Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you
that will follow you and continue with you throughout Eternity.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and
treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the
best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off
to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave
her for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always
kind,considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem,
she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult
times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great
contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not
love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took
notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of
her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but
when I die, I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with
the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,
will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without
another
word..
His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now
that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No!', replied the 3rd boyfrien d. 'Life is too good! When you die,
I'm
going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and
you've always been there for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd
boyfriend.
'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was
devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no
matter where
you go..'
The girl looked up, and there was his first boyfriend. He was very skinny
as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of
you when I had the chance!'
In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:
Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you
lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it
will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have
been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth,
power and pleasures of the world.
However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you
go.Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you
that will follow you and continue with you throughout Eternity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)