有一則故事──在歐洲冬天非常冷，常常下著大雪。在一個大雪天裡，一位年輕人開著電視、聽著音樂，他父親走到他的身邊，拍拍他的肩膀，說：「孩子，這音樂你覺得好聽嗎？」
There is a story that took place once upon a time in Europe. The European winters are very cold with frequent heavy snows. On one snowy day, a young man was watching TV and listening to music at home. His father walked to his side, gently patted his shoulder and said, “Son, do you like this music?”
他說：「好聽！」父親就說：「聽了音樂之後，你能記得多久？」孩子聽了愣了一下！父親接著說：「你要不要做一件能夠永生難忘的事，而且一生都會很快樂？」孩子就說：「什麼事啊？能如此特別。」
The young man replied, “Yes I do!” So the father said, “After listening to the music, how long would it last for you to remember the tune?” The young man was stunned and found himself at a loss of words. The father continued and said, “Do you want to do something unforgettable, something that will make you happy for the rest of your life?” The son then asked, “What is it that is so special?”
父親就伸手往隔壁的方向一指，說：「昨晚下了很大的雪，隔壁那位獨居老太太，好像幾天都沒有出門買東西了。你能不能拿支掃把，幫老太太屋前的雪掃一掃？」孩子就說：「只是掃掃地上的雪，有什麼困難。」就拿了掃把去清掃。
The father pointed to the neighbouring house and said: “It snowed heavily last night, and the old lady living by herself next door seems to have not gone grocery shopping for a few days. Could you take a broom to sweep the snow in front of her house for her?” The son replied, “Not a problem, it’s just sweeping away some snow.” So off he went with a broom to sweep the snow.
當他掃好地、進屋不久，就看到那位老太太打開了房門，看到她探出頭來看一看，屋外的路上沒有雪了，她露出了很開心的笑容，隨後便提個籃子，小心地走出門去了。這位父親就站在孩子的身邊，問他：「你看到了嗎？老太太出門了。」孩子回過頭來，很高興地擁抱著父親，說：「爸爸，感謝你！讓我知道幫助別人是這麼快樂。」
Soon after he got back home, the young man saw the old lady opened her front door. He saw her peeking out to see that the snow has been removed from the driveway of her house. She flashed a very happy smile, and soon afterwards she carefully left the house carrying a basket in her hand. The father was standing right next to his son and asked, “Did you see that? The old lady just left the house.” The son turned to face his father and gave him a cheerful hug and said, “Thank you father, for letting me know how joyful it is to help others!”
二十年後，這個年輕人也有了孩子，就把這個故事講給他的兒子聽。當年父親教他的這件事，讓他永生難忘，現在回想起來，那位老婆婆看到屋前的積雪都掃乾淨時的神情，讓他永遠記得 ─幫助別人，看到別人滿足會心的微笑，那是世界上最美的臉孔。
20 years later, the young man had his own son, and he retold the story to his son. What his father taught him 20 years ago remained imprinted in his heart, and to think back, he had never forgotten the expression on the old lady’s face when she saw that all the snow in front of her house has been cleared. The ability to help others and see the genuine satisfied smile on their faces is the most beautiful expression in the world.
其實，不論修行或是行善，都是在日常生活最平常的事物中，只要時時刻刻保持一分善心，凡事盡本分，懂得把握時間，內心就會輕安自在，生命也會更加充實美好。
Whether we are cultivating or doing good deeds, as long as we hold a virtuous thought at each and every moment, with the aim to fulfil our own responsibility and cherish the time we have, we will be carefree and contented, and we’ll live a fuller and better life.