觸動心靈的寓言故事

小時候，故事書經常是陪伴我們長大的忠實良伴，在成長的過程中引領著我們。好的故事會觸動心靈，並且啟發我們要讓自己和周遭的世界變得更好。故事，也會形塑我們的價值觀，而我們最終成為什麼樣的人將取決於這些價值觀。

星雲大師著《星雲說喻 中英對照版》一共六冊，讓讀者透過閱讀生動有趣的故事，探索並領悟佛陀深奧的教法和人間佛教理念。故事圍繞著佛教的「六度波羅蜜」開展，也就是菩薩道的「六度」精神：布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定和般若。每篇故事以一則智慧法語作為總結，引導讀者省思個中寓意。這些故事如同一面明鏡，帶著我們檢視生活，思維如何將那永恆不朽的佛法應用在生活。
第二冊收錄十五篇以六度波羅蜜中的「持戒」為主題的短篇故事。這是一套適合所有年齡層讀者的故事選集，本套書亦提供中英詞彙表，雙語讀者能更好理解每則故事的精髓。

期許《星雲說喻 中英對照版》能帶領讀者探索故事中無窮的慈悲、智慧與布施精神，照亮生命的道路。

Since our earliest days, stories have been faithful companions, guiding us through life’s journey. The power of a good story lies in its ability to touch our hearts, inspiring us to grow and bring positive change to ourselves and the world around us. Stories shape our perspective, and in turn, our perspective shapes who we become.

Introducing Bodhi Light Tales by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, a monumental 6-volume set available in both English and Chinese. This enchanting collection invites readers to explore the profound teachings of the Buddha and the principles of Humanistic Buddhism. Stories centered around the Six Paramitas, also known as the Six Perfections: Generosity, Precept, Patience, Diligence, Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom. Each tale in this collection is accompanied by words of wisdom, offering profound insights that encourage reflection upon the moral lessons conveyed. These stories provide a mirror through which we can examine our own lives and contemplate how these timeless teachings can be applied to our daily existence.
In this second volume, you will immerse yourself in the realm of Precept through a treasury of 15 short stories. Designed to captivate readers of all ages, this book also includes vocabulary lists to assist bilingual readers in fully understanding the essence of each tale.

May Bodhi Light Tales illuminate your path as you explore the boundless possibilities of compassion, understanding, and generosity. 

編者序
《星雲說喻 中英對照版》，是一套引人入勝的六冊選集，共收編了一百二十篇由敬愛的星雲大師講說、以六度波羅蜜為主題的故事。這些故事最初收錄在《星雲說喻》，大師喜歡在演講中穿插生動有趣的故事，以傳遞人間佛教思想與實踐的精髓。

2019年，我們首次將《星雲說喻》的內容翻譯成有聲故事書，並於Anchor及各大播客平台推出「菩提心燈」系列故事 (Bodhi Light Tales Podcast) 。這些年，我們一直期待著將這些故事結集成冊，如今因緣條件具足，並以中英雙語圖書的形式呈現。為了讓來自各年齡層、宗教、信仰，以及文化的讀者皆能與故事產生共鳴，我們在精簡扼要的原文基礎上發揮想像，增添了一些原文故事沒有的情節。也就是說，這套故事書中的英文故事是經過編譯的創作，非中文的直譯對照。編譯的幾項原則要點說明如下：

首先是對故事人物的背景資訊加以補充，如：名字、所從事行業，及個性等。我們蒐集文獻和查證史料，以確保人物的歷史背景正確無誤。希望藉由建構鮮明的人物特性，能帶給讀者更多親和力，也鼓勵讀者進一步探索喜愛的角色。
第二，調整文化差異的部分。例如，有一篇以「筷子」為特寫的故事，在編譯成英文時，我們將它改成「叉子」；再如，古代用來收納貴重物品的「錦囊」，在英文故事中則改以「信封」來呈現。以上改編目的，是為了加強故事元素與西方讀者日常生活之間的經驗連結。
第三，提綱挈領出每篇故事的主旨和寓意，讓讀者更容易把握住故事所要傳達的信息，引導省思。同時，也探討人們在現當代可能面臨的挑戰，幫助讀者連結所學，實際應用在日常生活之中。
故事結束，為每篇故事搭配一則精選「星雲大師法語」，作為總結故事核心寓意的智慧錦囊。「星雲大師法語」原是大師依據自己的人生經歷寫下的鼓勵和箴言，期望藉此帶給大家正念，在人生迷茫處作一盞指引方向的明燈。
學佛與否，佛性本自具足。無論是兒童還是成人，我們都有能力讓自己和周遭的世界變得更好、更正向。希望這套故事書能啟迪心性，讓各個年齡層的讀者在邁向自我覺醒的生命旅程中，充滿能量、勇氣和慈悲。

Bodhi Light Tales is a captivating 6-volume collection of stories focused on the Six Paramitas, narrated by the revered Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Originally published in Chinese as Xingyun shuoyu (星雲說喻), these Buddhist Tales by Venerable Master Hsing Yun emerged from his enlightening talks and lectures on Humanistic Buddhism. In 2019, we took the initiative to adapt these stories into English as an ongoing audiobook series for the Bodhi Light Tales Anchor Podcast channel. However, our ultimate vision has always been to present them in a book format. As the original stories were concise and lacked additional details, the English adaptations were intentionally modified from the Chinese. In essence, the English tales are not direct translations of their original Chinese counterparts. To ensure that readers of all ages, faiths, beliefs, and cultures can connect with these stories, we employed several key approaches during the transition from Chinese to English, which we will elaborate on below.
To make the main characters more relatable, we added background information such as their names, occupations, and personalities. Thorough research was conducted to maintain historical and factual accuracy. We hope this additional information will help readers delve deeper into their favorite characters and even encourage further exploration.
Furthermore, we made certain adaptations to account for cultural differences. For instance, in one of the stories, using chopsticks was originally featured, but we replaced it with forks in the English version to resonate with English-speaking readers. Similarly, silk brocade bags known as “jin nang” (錦囊) in the original tales were transformed into envelopes. These adjustments were made to ensure that the stories remain relatable to English readers.

Each tale concludes with a summary of its morals, providing readers with a clear understanding of the story’s meaning and key lessons. These summaries highlight challenges people face in today’s world and offer practical applications for daily life.
Additionally, we included Dharma Words from Venerable Master Hsing Yun at the end of each story, offering readers a final nugget of wisdom to take away. These quotes were carefully selected based on their relevance to the moral of each story. Venerable Master Hsing Yun originally shared these words of encouragement and advice based on his life experiences, aiming to inspire mindfulness and guide individuals in times of uncertainty.
Remember, Buddha-nature resides within all of us, regardless of whether we practice Buddhism or not. Both children and adults have the power to better themselves and positively impact the world around them. Our sincere hope is that these stories will inspire people of all ages, instilling in them a sense of inspiration, courage, and compassion. May this collection serve as a source of inspiration as you navigate through life’s journey toward self-awakening!

精彩試閱
Follow the Rules 遊戲規則

有一戶人家，父母親準備帶領小兒小女到海邊戲水。出發前一天晚上，父親召集大家講說隔天要到海邊遊玩的注意事項，以及工作分配。只見兒子嘟著嘴說： 「爸爸，好討厭！一天到晚訂什麼規則，連到海邊玩水，也要來這一套！」女兒也表示抗議：「爸爸，輕鬆一點嘛！老是要分配我們做什麼事，好不容易有這麼一個假日，何必弄得那麼嚴肅呢？」最後，這場家庭會議就在不歡喜的氣氛中草草結束。

第二天，一家人來到海邊。望著沙灘的美好，海水的平靜， 不少人在那裡游泳，兒子也想跟著他們一起下水游泳，但是翻遍了行李箱，卻怎麼也找不到泳衣， 不禁抱怨起來：「爸爸，您怎麼沒有交代我們要帶泳衣出門呢？害得我們不能盡情地玩水。」

這時候，爸爸就說了：「兒子呀！昨天晚上的會議，原本就是要和大家商量這些事的，但是你們都不要我訂注意事項，不願意我分配工作，當然今天出門也就沒有人想起要帶泳衣了。」由於不講究分工，不重視規則，最後事情落得不能圓滿，大家也沒有玩興，提早就結束行程，回到了家裡。

回到家中不久，吃飯時間一到，兒女們紛紛來到飯桌前，只是奇怪地，飯桌上竟然空無一物，於是他們就問：「媽媽，我們的飯菜呢？」這時候，媽媽說：「沒有規定飯菜一定要由媽媽煮呀！你們自己想辦法吧！」這回，兒女們終於明白父母平日訂定規則的苦心。

一般人都不喜歡規則， 覺得受到約束，但是在這個世間上，所謂「不依規矩， 不能成方圓」，在眾人集合的社會裡，就是需要有這麼一個約定俗成的法則，大家分工合作、合作分工，才有秩序。所以，現代的年輕人，所謂「新新人類」，有些人標新立異，高喊著爭取自由，不要規則。事實上，如果自由漫無目的，那是很危險的，就像一部沒有煞車裝備的車，當你享受著飆車的快感時，也處處潛藏著危機。

因此，我們的社會、我們的家園、我們的人生， 還是要有一個規則，大家共同遵循，才能幸福快樂。
 

Once upon a time, there was a young family with both children in elementary school. Due to their busy work schedules1, the parents were unable to take their children out for short trips. However, as the children had been begging2 about going to the beach, the parents finally decided to take them out there.

The night before, the dad gathered everyone in the living room and announced3, “Seeing as you both have been very well-behaved4, mom and I have decided to take you to the beach! But before we leave tomorrow, we need to have a quick meeting, so you both can keep a few things in mind.”
Slightly frustrated5, the son, Daniel, began yelling, “Dad…why?! I thought we’re going to the beach for fun! Why do you always have to set rules on us?! This is pointless, we just want to have fun and play around!”
The daughter Rosie, also shouted, “Yeah dad! Stop being so serious! We’re finally going on holiday, can’t we just enjoy ourselves?!”
Listening to his children, the dad was extremely disappointed and the meeting ended abruptly6, leaving everyone gloomy7 for the remainder of the evening.

The next day, as the family arrived at the beach, they were drawn to the beautiful sights of the golden sand and the calmness of the deep blue sea. Many people were in the water, splashing8 each other and letting the waves wash over them. Others were building sandcastles or surfing. Seeing how much fun everyone was having, Daniel was eager9 to get into the water. He began opening the bags they had brought with them. After searching for a while, he could not find his swimsuit. Frustrated, he complained to his dad and said, “Where is my swimsuit?”
His dad shrugged10 and replied, “I don’t know.”

Daniel whined, “Why didn’t you remind us to bring our swimsuits? Going to the beach is pointless if we can’t swim!”
His dad said, “Son, last night I gathered11 you all to discuss what we needed to prepare and bring for our trip. But, you didn’t want to listen, thinking that it would mean more responsibility12 and rules for you. So in the end, of course, no one remembered to pack swimsuits.”
Listening in, the mum added, “This is what happens when you don’t listen to your dad and Me. In the end, you are the ones that suffer the consequences13.”

As the children could not see the importance of following rules and obeying14 their parents, the family had a disappointing time at the beach. As a result, they ended their trip early and returned home.
Soon after returning home, it was almost dinner time. Daniel and Rosie came to the dining table. However, to their surprise15, nothing was prepared. They asked, “Mom, where is our dinner?” Their mother replied, “There is no rule that says I have to cook every meal for you! You can both find a way to feed yourselves.”

At that moment, Daniel and Rosie finally realized why their parents had always set rules for the family.
This story highlights that many of us do not like rules, as we feel constrained16 by them. There is a Chinese saying, “Without following rules, not even a square or a circle is possible.” This means that there needs to be a set of rules or standards, otherwise, we cannot make a square or circle.

In this world, we exist and live in a society surrounded by people. Whether it be in public spaces, workplaces, or even social gatherings, we need certain conventional rules in order for everyone to work and live together cohesively17. Working in an orderly manner requires delegation18 and cooperation in order to achieve common goals. However, young people today strive to be innovative19 and different, quite often calling out for freedom without rules. They perceive these rules as confinement20, thinking it dictates21 the way they should live and work. In reality, if our freedom is aimless and without boundaries22, it can be very dangerous. Just like driving a car without brakes. As you enjoy the feeling of the speeding car, at the same time, disaster could strike any moment when you lose control of your vehicle.

Therefore, there need to be rules for everyone to follow within society, our homes, and in life, so that we can live in harmony and happiness.
In Buddhism, we are encouraged23 to observe the Five Precepts, which are to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. Many people think that upholding these Five Precepts, it is like imposing24 restrictions25on themselves. However, the purpose of these Precepts is to help guard26 our actions, so that we do not cause harm to others and ourselves. As a result, we can enjoy true freedom from the joys of living in peace and harmony with one another.
 

VOCABULARY
1.schedules (n.) 日程表
2.begging (v.) 請求；懇求
3.announced (v.) 宣布
4.well-behaved (adj.) 行為端正的
5.frustrated (adj.) 沮喪的
6.abruptly (adv.) 突然地
7. gloomy (adj.) 憂悶的
8. splashing (v.) 潑
9. eager (adj.) 渴望的
10. shrugged (v.) 聳肩
11. gathered (v.) 集合
12. responsibility (n.) 責任
13. consequences (n.) 後果
14. obeying (v.) 遵從；順從
15. surprise (n.) 驚訝
16. constrained (adj.) 受約束的
17. cohesively (adv.) 凝聚力地
18. delegation (n.) 委派
19. innovative (adj.) 創新的
20. confinement (n.) 禁閉；監禁
21. dictates (v.) 命令；規定
22. boundaries (n.) 界線
23. encouraged (v.) 鼓勵
24. imposing (v.) 強制實行；把……強加於
25. restrictions (n.) 限制
26. guard (v.) 保護；看守

星雲大師法語
Dharma Words by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
守持戒法如瓔珞，可以莊嚴身心。
守持戒法如明燈，可以照破痴暗。
守持戒法如甘霖，可以解除乾旱。
守持戒法如城池，可以抵擋魔外。
Precepts are the jewels that adorn the body and mind.
Precepts are light breaking through the darkness.
Precepts are the rain after a drought.
Precepts are a moated castle holding off the enemy.