中英对照:
There was a certain king who wanted to choose a successor from his three exceptional sons.
有一个国王他有三个优秀的儿子,他要从这三个王子中选择一个接任他的王位。
So one day he called them all together, and he gave them each the same amount of money and told them that before nightfall,he wanted each of them to go buy something that would fill an entire room.
所以,有一天他把三个儿子都叫来,给每个儿子同样的一笔钱,叫他们天黑之前要去买一些东西,来装满整个房间。
The oldest son thought for a long time and he used his money to buy sugarcane leaves. But the sugarcane leaves only filled half the room.
第一个儿子想了老半天,然后用他的钱去买了甘蔗叶。不过这些甘蔗叶只装满房间的一半。
The second son used his money to buy hay which was cheaper,but the hay only filled two thirds of the room.
第二个儿子去买了更便宜的东西——稻草,不过稻草只把房间装满三分之二。
The third son was the last to return, and he seemed to be empty handed.
最后回来的就是老三,而且好像是空手回来了。
They asked him what he had bought.
他们问他买了什么东西。
He said, "I met an orphan on the road selling candles. I gave most of my money to her and bought a few candles."
他说他在路上遇到一个卖蜡烛的小孤儿,他把大部分的钱给了这个孤儿,只拿回来几根蜡烛。
But when he lit these few candles, the wholeroom was filled with light.
不过当他点燃这些蜡烛后,蜡烛所发出来的光芒照亮了整个房间。
小故事·大启示:
我们每一次帮助别人,得到最大收获的就是我们自己。
行善不是为了得到报酬,不过善果常常会绕一个大圈子回到我们自己身上。