文／佛光星雲（1927~）

一等婆媳：如母女般的親密；

二等婆媳：如朋友般的尊重；

三等婆媳：如君臣般的嚴肅；

劣等婆媳：如冤家般的相聚。

一等丈夫：幽默說笑，助理家務；

二等丈夫：喝茶看報，讚美太太；

三等丈夫：氣勢凌人，嫌東嫌西；

劣等丈夫：在外交際，遊蕩不歸。

一等太太：治家整潔，賢慧有德；

二等太太：慰問丈夫，讚美辛勞；

三等太太：嘮叨不休，嫌怪家事；

劣等太太：搬是弄非，製造事端。

一等朋友：規過勸善，教以正道 ;

二等朋友：患難與共，砌磋互勉 ;

三等朋友：趨炎附勢，以勢利交 ;

劣等朋友：吃喝玩樂，朋比為奸。

──選自《佛光菜根譚》

Relationship Ratings I

Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - )

English translation: Ven. Man Ho

First-rate relationships between

mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws are like

the intimate relationship between mother and daughter.

Second-rate relationships between

mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws are like

the respectful relationship between friends.

Third-rate relationships between

mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws are like

the imperious relationship of queen to subject.

Fourth-rate relationships between

mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws are like

the spiteful relationship of two enemies.

First-rate husbands

have a sense of humor and help with chores.

Second-rate husbands

enjoy tea with their newspaper,

and praise their wives constantly.

Third-rate husbands

are bullies and complainers.

The fourth-rate husband

revel with friends and return home late.

First-rate wives

are virtuous and keep neat homes.

The second-rate wives

comfort and praise their husbands.

Third-rate wives

are nags and complainers.

Fourth-rate wives

gossip and make trouble.

First-rate friends

help correct your mistakes by

showing you the right path.

Second-rate friends

encourage you and stay with you in adversity.

Third-rate friends

hang on influential people and are snobs to all the rest.

Fourth-rate friends

are dissolute, and lead the rest astray.

── from The Everlasting Light