"Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. ”
很有些禅意。

8.

Joy and Sorrow
Gibran

欢乐与痛苦
纪伯伦
云天 译

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."
一个妇人接着说，“给我们讲讲欢乐和忧愁吧。”

And he answered:
他回答道：

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
你的欢乐是未蒙面具的痛苦。

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
自同一口井，溢出你的笑声，也时常盛满你的泪水。

And how else can it be?
它还会怎样呢？

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
痛苦刻入你身体愈深，你所获欢乐就愈多。

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
你斟满酒的杯子，不正是曾在陶匠炉中烘烤的那只吗？

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
抚慰你灵魂的笛管，不正是用刀掏空的那块木头吗？

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
当你快乐时，凝视内心深处，你将发现，那引起你痛苦的正赋你以欢乐。

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
当你忧伤时，再次凝视你心，你将看见，事实上，你正为曾经的欣喜而哭泣。

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
你们有些人说，“欢乐胜过忧伤，”而其它人说，“不，忧伤甚于欢乐。”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
但我要告诉你们，它们密不可分。

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
他们一同来临，当一个与你独坐桌旁时，记住，另一个正在你榻上酣眠。

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
的确，象天平一样，你被悬挂在痛苦与欢乐之间。

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
仅仅当你空无一物时，你才静止平衡。

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
当财物看管者拿你称他的金子和银子时，你的欢乐或痛苦必会起起落落。

Joy and Sorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYERNy_OPh0