精美英文欣赏:欲速则不达

编者按:

欲速则不达的一种解释是，当你执着于结果，你就不能把所有的精力都放在开头上，放在过程中，而正是开头和过程中的努力才能结出最后的硕果。也许，当你不再执着于结果时，结果就来敲你的门了。

Time to Learn

A young but earned Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Zen Master:

"If I work very hard and diligently¹ how long will it take for me to find Zen?"

The Master thought about this, then replied,"Ten years."

The student then said,"But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast---How long then?"

Replied the Master,"Well, twenty years."

"But, if I really, really work at it. How long then?" asked the student.

"Thirty years," replied the Master.

"But, I do not understand," said the disappointed² student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?"

Replied the Master, "When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."

欲速则不达

一位年轻而诚挚的禅宗弟子走近他的老师，向禅学大师问道：

“如果我非常刻苦勤奋地学习，要多长时间才能悟透禅的真义呢？”

大师思考了片刻，然后回答：“10年。”

弟子又问：“但如果我非常、非常刻苦地投入学习以早成正果呢----那需要多长时间？”

大师答道：“20年。”

“可是，如果我真的非常、非常努力地学习，需要多长时间呢？”

“30年。”大师回答。

“这，我就有些不懂了。”有些失望的弟子说，“每次我都说更加努力，而你却说需要更多的时间。这是为何呢？”

大师答道：“如果你把一半的精力都倾注在结果上，那么你在过程中也只能付出一半的精力。”

1 diligently   

ad.industriously;carefully

参考例句：

• He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
• He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。

2 disappointed   

adj.失望的，不满意的，不如意的

参考例句：

• He seemed disappointed when the man refused his request.当那个人拒绝了他的要求时他看起来很失望。
• He was disappointed so often that he became hopeless.他屡次失望，以致变为了绝望。