At the Turning Point of Life - Beautiful English (English-Chinese Collection Edition)

Author: Ikō
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features:
In the city of Kahlil Gibran, an old man said, "Please tell us about good and evil." He replied, "I can speak of the good within you, but I cannot speak of evil. Is not evil the good tormented by its own hunger and thirst? In fact, when good is hungry, it even seeks sustenance in dark caves. When it is thirsty, it even drinks the water of death. When your minds are united, you are good. But when they are divided, you are not thereby evil. For a house set apart is not a den of thieves; it is simply a house set apart. A ship without a rudder merely drifts uncertainly along the edge of perilous islands, it does not sink to the bottom. When you strive to give yourself, you are good. But when you run after your own desires, you are not thereby evil. For when you run after your own desires, you are merely roots tightly entwined with the earth, drawing its milk. Of course, the fruit will not say to the roots, 'Be like me, ripe and full, and willing to give of your abundance.' For contribution is necessary for the fruit, just as absorption is necessary for the roots. When you speak with absolute clarity in conversation, you are good. But when you speak incoherently in your dreams, you are not thereby evil. Even stammering speech strengthens the frail tongue. When you stride firmly toward your goal, you are good. But when you stumble, you are not thereby evil. For the stumbling person has not retreated. Yet, strong and agile people, do not think that stumbling before the lame is good. Your goodness manifests in many ways, and when you are not good, you are not thereby evil; you are merely lazy and slothful. It is a pity that a deer cannot make a turtle swift. When you yearn for your 'higher self,' your goodness already exists, and each of you has this yearning. But some of your yearnings are like surging rivers, carrying the secrets of mountains and the melodies of forests. While others are like gentle streams, losing themselves in twists and turns or dead ends before reaching the shore. Those who yearn much should not say to those who desire little, 'Why are you so dull?' For the true good person will not ask a naked person, 'Where are your clothes?' nor ask a homeless person, 'How is your house?'