回歸純真的本性 Reclaim the purity of inner mind
晉朝時，有一位名叫毛寶的小男孩，家境十分貧困。有一年冬天，他到溪邊玩耍時，看到一名漁夫抓起一隻小白龜說：「這隻珍貴、少見的小白龜，一定很值錢！」小男孩看到小白龜，起了一分憐憫心，便請求漁夫把牠放了；但漁夫認為難得抓到這麼珍貴的小白龜，無論如何都不願將牠放生。
During the Jin dynasty, a boy, called Mao Bao, was born into an impoverished family. One winter day, Mao Bao was playing near a river bank. when a fisherman saw a small white turtle being caught in his net and said: “This small white turtle is very scarce, it must be very precious!”. Seeing the small white turtle being caught, compassion arose in the boy’s mind. He begged the fisherman to release the turtle but as it was rare to catch a white turtle, the fisherman refused his request.

小男孩注視著小白龜，小白龜也抬頭望著小男孩，眼神充滿了求救的意味。於是，小男孩脫下身上的外衣，跪在地上請求漁夫放走小白龜，他願意以衣服作賠償。漁夫看到小男孩這麼有善心，在如此寒冷的天氣裡，竟願意以身上唯一較厚暖的衣服來換取小白龜。
When the boy looked again at the turtle, it raised its head and stared at the boy, with an anxious expression. Without hesitation, the boy took off his coat, knelt down to the fisherman offering him his coat for the freedom of the turtle. The fisherman was touched by the kindness shown by the boy who was willing to exchange his only coat in such harsh cold winter for a small white turtle.

於是，漁夫將小白龜給了男孩，說：「這件衣服比不上小白龜的價值，但是你的善心令我很感動，只好跟你換了。」小男孩高興地把小白龜抱在懷裡，對牠說：「你得救了！雖然我受到寒風刺骨的苦，但能換取你的生命也是值得的。」小白龜好像聽得懂似地，眼角竟流出淚水來，並向小男孩點點頭。小男孩隨即很小心地把牠抱到江邊放生。
He handed the turtle to the boy saying:” This coat is of no value compared to the small white turtle, however, your wholesome thought is so touching that I am willing to make the exchange with you.” Happily the boy held the small white turtle and said to it: “So you are rescued! Although the wind was bone chilling to me, it’s worth to have your life saved.” As if it understood what the boy said, the small white turtle shed tears and nodded to the boy. Carefully, the boy released the turtle back into the river.  

二十年後，這位小男孩在朝廷為官，身為將軍，經常在戰場上獲得大功勳。有一次他領兵出征，對方的兵力很強，將他們團團圍住。在九死一生之際，他帶著倖存的士卒逃到揚子江邊。由於江邊只有一艘船，但所搭載的人數十分有限，他讓士卒們先上船，自己則縱身跳入江中。
Twenty years passed by, the boy grew up to become a General in the imperial court. He received many rewards for his meritorious contribution in the battle field. Finally, he was assigned to lead a battalion in a battle but was defeated and the army was trapped by the opposition. He managed to retreat with the surviving troops to the bank of Yang Tze River. When they reached the bank, however, they found only one boat to take them across. Sacrificing himself, he let the troops on board while he, himself, jumped into the water to try to swim across.   

他在湍急的江中掙扎著，正當危急萬分時，有一樣東西把他從水裡托起來，之後他便因體力不支而昏了過去。等到清醒時，他看到眼前有一隻大白龜，才恍然大悟，認出牠就是二十年前的那隻小白龜，是牠救了自己。
As he struggled across in the rushing water, he became very exhausted and was about to faint,. when at the very crucial moment, something came and held him afloat, When he came around, he saw a big white turtle in front of him, and realised that it was the small white turtle of twenty years ago which had saved his life. 
  
大白龜如同二十年前一樣，流著淚望著他。過了一會兒，大白龜才依依不捨地往河裡爬去。牠一面向前游去，一面不斷地回頭看他、向他點點頭，似乎在感念他的恩德一樣。將軍感到非常欣慰，覺得人與物類都可以有相親相愛的情感，為什麼人們不能彼此互愛呢？於是他看開了人生，捨官隱居修行。
Like twenty years ago, the big white turtle looked at him with tearful eyes. After a while, it crawled unwillingly back into the river. As it swam away, it looked back at the General and nodded at him, as if thanking him for his benevolence in the past. The General felt relieved and wondered why couldn’t men love each other when even beings could have loving affection? With this realization, he quit his position and exiled himself for cultivation.    

一般人常以是非之心待人，對人品頭論足，卻不知道反省自己。修行， 必定要回歸純真的本性 ，以寬闊心胸對待所有的人。凡事縮小自己，關懷別人。世間萬事萬物，無不是我們效法、學習的對象。
People are always judgemental towards others, lashing criticism without reflecting on themselves. To cultivate ourselves is to reclaim the purity of our inner minds and to treat others with a big heart. We have to humble ourselves and care for others. All matters in this universe are objects for us to learn and practise.  

Translated by Adam Jin.  Edited by Ray Lee, Sydney, Australia