《先知》(The Prophet)痛苦

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain."

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

痛苦

一位妇人说，请给我们讲讲痛苦。

他说道：

你们的痛苦乃是包着你们悟性的外壳的破裂。

然而正如果核必定破裂暴露于阳光下，你们也必定经历痛苦。

每天，你们的心灵惊叹于生命的奇迹，你们的痛苦仿佛与你们的快乐一样奇妙;

你们将习惯心灵的季节变化，就像习惯接受来去于田野的季节变化。

于是，你们能够以宁静的心情看待你们悲凉的冬季。

你们的痛苦多是你们自己的选择。

它是你们体内的医生治疗你们病躯的苦药。因此请信任这医师，宁静地饮下他的药剂：

因为他的手，尽管沉重而坚硬，却由一只藏而不露的温柔的手在指引。

他端上的杯子，尽管烧灼你的双唇，却是由陶工用自己神圣的泪水打湿陶土而制成。