公平分配財產
There is an interesting story from the Sutra of One Hundred Parables. An elderly and sick father was worried about dividing his wealth fairly between his two sons. He said from his deathbed: “I would like my two sons to share my assets equally after my death”. But, how should they satisfy this wish? The father said: “Go and get the oldest elder in our clan to be the judge.” Upon conveying the message, he passed away.
他的兒子想，父親交代過財產要好好公平分配，必須趕快請長輩來做公證人，看如何能公平分配。老人來了就說：「要把任何事都處理得很公平，唯有一個方法，就是把每樣財產（物品）都分成兩半。」這聽起來似乎很有道理。於是就請人來幫忙，把每樣東西都分兩半──衣服撕成一半一半的，碗、盤也都切分成兩半，傢俱也分兩半，一切都分成兩半。
To carry out the father’s wishes, the sons sought to have an elder to be the judge to help with dividing the father’s assets. An elder came and said: “The only way to fulfil your father’s wishes is to divide everything into two halves.” It sounded reasonable. Therefore, the sons had people to help them cut everything into two halves, be it clothes, bowls, dishes, and furniture. Everything was divided into two equal halves.
這雖是一則短文，但是意義深遠。世間物究竟要怎麼才能分毫不差而且完整又公平呢？實在是不可得啊！世上無法做到這樣的程度，若一定要如此，那一切都要被破壞，不得完整啊！人與人之間多方計較，有什麼能保持完整呢？
Although this is a short story, its meaning is profound. How could things be precisely and equally divided? It is unachievable! Should it be done to such a requirement, then everything will be destroyed. If people are unable to compromise, nothing useful can be kept.
心能知足，一切就會公平；心能知足，會覺得一切都很富有，所以一切唯心啊！學佛就是要學這一點──心中覺得一切都很富有、很滿足，不管是增或減，都應該很歡喜地接受。
Everything seems fair to a person with a contented mind. He feels rich simply by being contented. Therefore, everything depends on the mind! Learning Buddhism is to learn this way – feel rich and be satisfied, always grateful to accept any circumstances in life.
今生能聚在一起，是累積過去生的那份緣與情，未來還有很長的路要走，所以，大家要很珍惜現在的這份緣，彼此之間要互相關懷、互相敬愛，常常自我警惕！不要計較，計較就是吃虧，愈是計較，所得的愈不完整，計較到後來，什麼都得不到！
We meet each other in this life due to accumulated karma and affinities created over past lives. We may still have a long way to go in the future. Therefore, cherish the affinities we have now by caring and respecting each other. Don’t be too hard and demanding as it will lead to losing one’s respect. The harder a person is, the less respect he will get. In the end, he loses everything.
Translated by Liz Chen, Edited by Ray Lee, Sydney,Australia