于是一个富人说，请给我们谈施与。

他回答说：

你把你的产业给人，那只算给了一点。

当你以身布施的时候，那才是真正的施与。

因为你的财产，岂不是你保留着的恐怕明日或许需要它们的东西么？

但是明日，那只过虑的犬，随着香客上圣城去，却把骨头埋在无痕迹的沙土里，明日能把什么给他呢？

除了需要的本身之外，需要还忧惧什么呢？

当你在井泉充溢的时候愁渴，那你的渴不是更难解么？

有人有许多财产，却只把一小部分给人——他们为求名而施与，那潜藏的欲念，使他们的礼物不完美。

有人只有一点财产，却全部都给人。

这些人相信生命和生命的丰富，他们的宝柜总不空虚。

有人喜乐地施与，那喜乐就是他们的酬报。

有人痛苦地施与，那痛苦就是他们的洗礼。

也有人施与了，而不觉出施与的痛苦，也不寻求快乐，也不有心为善；他们的施与，如同那边山谷里的桂花，香气在空际浮动。

从这些人的手中，上帝在说话；在他们的眼后，上帝在俯对大地微笑。

为有请求而施与的，固然是好；而未受请求，只因着默喻而施与的，是更好了。对于乐善好施的人，去寻求需要他帮助的人的快乐，比施与的快乐还大。

有什么东西你必须保留的呢？

必有一天，你的一切都要交付出来；

趁现在施与罢，这施与的时机是你自己的，而不是你的后人的。

你常说：“我要施与，却只要舍给那些配受施与者。”

你果园里的树木，和牧场上的羊群，却不这样说。

他们为要生存而施与，因为保留就是毁灭。

凡是配接受白日和黑夜的人们，都配接受你施与的一切。

凡配在生命的海洋里啜饮的，都配在你的小泉里舀满他的杯。

还有什么德行比接受的勇气、信心和善意还大呢？

有谁能使人把他们的心怀敞露，把他们的狷傲揭开，使你能看出他们赤裸的价值和无惭的骄傲？

先省察你自己是否配做一个施与者，是否配做一个施与的器皿。

因为实在说，那只是生命给予生命——你以为自己是施主，其实也不过是一个证人。

你接受的人们——你们都是接受者——不要掮起报恩的重担，恐怕你要把轭加在你自己和施者的身上。

不如和施者在礼物上一齐展翅飞腾；

因为过于思量你们的欠负，就是怀疑了那以慈悲的大地为母、以上帝为父的人的仁心。

05

on giving

then said a rich man, "speak to us of giving."

and he answered:

you give but little when you give of your possessions.

it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

for what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

and tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

and what is fear of need but need itself?

is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

there are those who give little of the much which they have-and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

and there are those who have little and give it all.

these are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

there are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

and there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

and there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

they give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

through the hands of such as these god speaks, and from behind their eyes he smiles upon the earth.

it is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

and is there aught you would withhold?

all you have shall some day be given;

therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

you often say, "i would give, but only to the deserving."

the trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

they give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

and he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

and what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

and who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

see first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

for in truth it is life that gives unto life-while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

and you receivers-and you are all receivers-assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

for to be over mindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and god for father.