16. 救助蚂蚁的沙弥

THE NOVICE MONK WHO RESCUED THE ANTS

小和尚还不到受戒年龄，就叫做"沙弥"。　　

　　A little monk who is not old enough to get ordained is called a novice monk.

从前有个小沙弥，他跟着一个极有智慧的师父学习佛教。他是一个好学生，恭敬、诚恳、听话，而且学得很快。

　　Once there was a novice monk who studied Buddhism with a very wise Teacher. He was a very good student. He was respectful, sincere, and obedient. He learned very quickly.

这个师父很有智慧，能够预知未来。从一开始他就知道他的小徒弟活不了多久。有一天，他掐算出自己的徒儿只有七天的寿命了，就感到非常难过。　　

　　The Teacher was so wise that he could foretell the future. The Teacher knew from the beginning that his little student could not live very long. One day he counted and realized that the little student had only seven days left to live. He felt very sad.

师父把小沙弥叫来说，"小沙弥啊，你已经很久没见到你妈妈了。我想你需要时间回家看看你妈妈。八天后再回来吧。"他这么做是让小沙弥至少可以死在自己家里。　　

　　The Teacher called the novice monk to him. He said, " Hey, little novice monk, you haven't seen your mother for a long time. I think you need a vacation. You run on home and visit your mother, and come back eight days from now." He did this so at least the little sami could die in his own parents' home.

小沙弥离开以后，师父想到自己再也不能见到小徒弟了，觉得非常悲伤。　　

　　When the little novice monk left, the Teacher was very sorry. He thought he would never see his little student again.

八天后，小沙弥回来了！他的师父十分欢喜，但是也很疑惑，他的徒弟看起来气色很好，一点也不像一个曾濒临死亡的人。　　

　　Eight day later, who should show up but the little novice monk! His Teacher was delighted, but he was also puzzled, because the little student looked wonderful. He didn't look like someone who had been about to die.

最后，师父决定弄个明白。他对小沙弥说："孩子，我曾经多次预测未来，从未有误。我让你回家是因为你注定要在七天里死去，但是七天已经过去了。你不但活着，而且看起来很好。死亡的影像已经远离了你。这是怎么回事呢？"　　

　　Finally, the Teacher decided to find out what had happened. He told the boy, "Son, I have foretold the future many times, and I have never been wrong! Let you home because you were doomed to die within seven days, but the seven days have already passed. Not only are you still alive, but you look great. The image of death has left you. How did you do it?"

小沙弥听了以后非常震惊，他不知道如何回答。于是他的师父入定察看，很快就了解了事情的经过。　　

　　The little novice monk was thunderstruck. He didn't have any idea how to answer his Teacher, so the Teacher entered the settled state of meditation. Before long, he understood.

"孩子，在你回家的路上，你救了一些蚂蚁，对吗？"　　

　　"Son, on the way home, did you save some ants?"

"是，师父。回家的路上，我看到了一群蚂蚁被水困住了，很快就会被淹死。所以我拿来一小块木头，把它们救了起来。"　　

　　"Yes, Teacher, on the way home I saw a whole bunch of ants trapped by some water. They were about to drown, so I got a piece of wood and rescued them."

"这就对了。你的善心给你带来了长寿的果报。圣人们常说'救一命，胜造七级浮屠'。你救了好几百条性命，所以你将会长寿。"

"That's it, then. Your kind heart has earned you a long life. The wise men of old said, 'Saving one life earns more merit than building a pagoda of seven stories.' You have saved hundreds of lives， so you will live a very long time now."

"你赢得了一个大好前程，但是你还需继续救助生命。你要宣讲佛教，教导人们要慈悲，不要杀生，让所有生物都能宁静地生活。"　　

　　"You have earned a good future, but you still have to keep working to save living creatures. You must spread the message of the Buddha. Teach all people to be merciful. Tell everyone not to kill living creatures. Let animals live in peace."

小沙弥牢牢记住师父的教诲。他精进修持，成为一个了不起的僧人。他的寿命很长。　　

　　The little novice monk never forgot his Teacher's words. He worked very hard and became a great monk. He lived for a long, long time.