每一個生命，都有生存的權利和空間，應該受到保護與尊重，我們應當學習美國總統林肯慈悲的觀世音菩薩精神，不管老少、貧富、賢愚，乃至於一些小動物，都能尊重對方的生存權利和空間，期勉人人都能做個烽火觀音。──慈惠法師

中文／慈惠法師

英文／佛光山人間佛教研究院

Translated into English by: FGS Institute of Humanistic Buddhism

This story happened during the Civil War in America. One night, President Lincoln visited the frontline military camp. He heard kittens crying, coming from outside. "How could there be kittens around here ? " President Lincoln asked the soldier beside him.

"There are four kittens crying of hunger because no one feeds them. Their mother died in a fire," answered the soldier.

When the President heard this, he felt deeply sorry. "Hurry! Prepare some milk for them," said President Lincoln before stepping out of the camp. He walked towards the kittens and carefully held them in his arms. "Little kittens, don't cry, don't cry. There are a lot of mothers who are crying too during this time because their children had been unfortunate and died in the war. However, you are fortunate, and we should thank God, because you don't know what war is."

All those who witnessed the scene were deeply moved. From this, they saw the compassionate heart of President Lincoln and how he fought for human rights. In his mind, all lives are equal and precious, regardless of one's skin color. His spirit of compassion and kindness made him capable of leading the fight for freedom and to end inequality.

翻 譯

這故事發生在美國南北戰爭時，有天晚上，林肯總統到了前線的軍營裡巡視，過程中他聽到營舍外有一陣陣小貓的叫聲，心中覺得很納悶，就問身邊的傳令兵說：「這裡怎麼會有小貓呢？」

傳令兵回答：「外面有四隻小貓，因為母貓在戰火中死了，小貓大概是飢餓沒有奶吃了，所以不停的『喵喵』叫。」

聽到傳令兵這麼說，林肯總統心裡十分難過，於是就對傳令兵說：「趕快，去準備一些牛奶給牠們吃。」隨後，他踏出營舍，慢慢的走到小貓身旁，將牠們輕輕抱起，摟在懷裡說：「小貓咪，不要哭，不要哭，這個時候也有很多母親在流淚，因為她們的孩子在戰爭中不幸去世了。不過你們是幸福的，要感謝神，因為你們不知道什麼是戰爭。」

林肯總統的這些動作，一旁的副官從頭到尾看在眼裡，心中十分感動。從這個細微的地方，就可以看出林肯為黑人爭取平等自由的慈悲心，在他的心中，無論白人、黑人，甚至連小動物，所有的生命都是平等，都一樣尊貴。也由於林肯具有這種大慈大悲的無畏精神，以及悲天憫人的柔軟心腸，才有資格來領導這一場戰爭，為黑人爭取自由、謀取福利，直到最後贏得勝利。

對 話

At the Animal Shelter

Alice：Oh！What a beautiful cat.

What do you think？

Nick：I think I’d rather get a dog.

Dogs are more loyal than cats.

Alice：Yes, but they’re so much work！

Would you be willing to walk the dog

every single day？ And clean up

after it？

Nick：Hmm. Good point.

What about a bird Or a fish？

Alice：We’d have to invest a lot of money

in a cage or a fish tank.

And I really don’t know how to take

care of a bird or a fish！

Nick：Well, we’re obviously not ready to

get a pet yet.

Alice：Yeah, you’re right.

Let’s go grab some coffee

and talk about it.

在動物收容所

愛麗絲：哦！多麼美麗的貓。

你覺得怎麼樣？

尼克：我想我寧願養狗，狗比貓忠心。

愛麗絲：是的，但照顧狗有很多事要做，你願意每天遛狗、清理牠的便便？

尼克：嗯，有道理。那麼鳥怎麼樣？

或者養魚？

愛麗絲：鳥籠或魚缸又要花一筆錢，而且我真的不知道該怎麼養鳥或養魚！

尼克：那麼，我們顯然是還沒準備好養寵物。

愛麗絲：是啊，你說得對。

讓我們去喝點咖啡，談論一下。

WOW!原來如此

Step Out

「Step Out」 除了單純「跨出去」的動作，也引申為「嘗試新鮮事」。

例如電影《白日夢冒險王（The Secret Life of Walter Mitty）》的主題曲〈Step Out〉，歌曲配樂振奮精神，似在激勵人們：「別放棄追尋夢想的初衷」以下節錄部分歌詞：

Time to step outside, time to step outside

House on fire, leave it all behind you.

Dark as night, let the lightning guide you.

Living life, feeding appetites.

Stayed through every hard stop, every go......

（跨出去吧，是時候了！將房子拋在身後，即使它著了火，讓閃電引領著你，即使漆黑如夜，過著生活，填飽肚子，每一步都堅持下去……）