Some devotees with a successful career1 often say to me that they would like to volunteer to serve the multitude when they retire. To be a volunteer, you don't have to wait until tomorrow. Right here and now you can carry out the spirit of a volunteer, the way of the Bodhisattva, to benefit sentient beings with four embracing2 virtues and six perfections.3 If you are willing to serve, you don't have to wait until you retire. You can do it now, and be a Bodhisattva of non-regressing4
and non-rest. It is a rare thing to be born human, but it is hard to seize this rare chance to have good causes and conditions. We must grasp5 every minute, every second, to make good affinity6 with others, to make our lives matter.（End）

　一些事業有成的信徒常對我說：等到將來退休以後，要來佛光山當義工，服務大眾。其實做「義工」不必寄望於未來，此時此刻，就可以實踐菩薩道的「義工」精神，以四攝六度利樂有情。有心服務大眾，更不必等到退休，眼前就能自我期許，作個不「退」轉菩薩、不「休」息菩薩。人身難得，勝緣難再，把握當下每一分每一秒，在世間廣結善緣，人生豈不更有意義？
（全文完）

編按
本專欄自新年度起，將推出活潑有趣的「故事愛說笑」單元，敬請期待。

【Vocabulary 字彙】

1. career﹝?婑?瑆?婄?寀?埩r﹞n.：成功，發跡
2. embrace﹝?埩m?婄br?婍?屙﹞n.：（主義等的）採納，接受，信奉
3. perfection﹝p?櫹?婄f?瑎?婑?瓿?瑆n﹞n.：完美，完成，極至
4. non-regressing
﹝n?瑂n ?婄r?婩gr?瑎s?埩?痯 ﹞n.：不退轉
5. grasp﹝gr?紓?屙p﹞v.：抓住，握緊
6. affinity﹝?瑆?婄f?埩n?瑆t?埩﹞n.：親切感，共鳴，好感