文／梁實秋（1903～1987）

有道之士，對於塵勞煩惱早已不放在心上，自然更能欣賞沉默的境界。這種沉默，不是話到嘴邊再咽下去，是根本沒話可說，所謂「知者不言，言者不知。」世尊在靈山會上，拈華示眾，眾皆寂然，惟迦葉破顏微笑，這會心微笑勝似千言萬語。

─選自《雅舍小品續集》

Silence

Liang Shih-chiu (1903 - 1987)

English translation: Rosalyna Huang

Those who have attained the Way have long stopped clinging onto defilements and worries; they are naturally able to appreciate better the state of silence. By silence it does not mean biting one's lips but having absolutely nothing to say from the beginning. Just as the saying goes, “The knower does not speak, and the speaker does not know.” When the Buddha held up a flower at the assembly on Vulture Peak, the entire congregation remained silent. It was only Mahakasyapa who broke into a smile. Such meeting of minds beats a thousand of words.

── from Yashe Xiaopin Xuji

（Sequel of Sketches of a Cottager）