文╱明．方孝孺（1357~1402）

總監修／星雲大師

莫驅屋上烏，烏有反哺誠。

莫烹池上鴈，鴈行如弟兄。

流觀飛走倫，轉見天地情。

人生處骨肉，胡不心自平？

田家一聚散，草木為枯榮。

我願三春日，垂光照紫荊，

同根而並蒂，藹藹共生成。

──選自《遜志齋集》

Encouragement for Learning

Fang Xiaoru (1357 - 1402, Ming Dynasty)

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

Chase away not those crows on the roof,

For they will return to feed their parents.

Cook not those wild geese on the lakes,

In flight, they are like brothers.

Witnessing the relations

between birds and beasts,

Subsequently reveals the sentiments of nature.

Life itself is tied with family bondage,

How can you not have empathy?

Every union and farewell

at the farmer’s house,

Grass and trees thrive and wilt over such.

I vow for three days in spring,

To shed light on an orchid tree;

Along with the same root and same stalk,

To grow and flourish as one.

── from Sunzhi Zhai Ji

(Collection of Works from Xunzhi’s Study)

*According to legend, crows are filial pious.