9．陷阱　Traps

梭羅：「靈魂的必需品是不用錢就能買得。」

　　在東南亞的獵人使用一種非常輕易就能捕捉到猴子的陷阱。

　　這個陷阱只不過是用一個裝滿美味水果的木箱子，並在箱子上開一個小洞。這個小洞的大小剛好夠猴子的手伸進去。

　　如果猴子抓了水果，手就抽不出來。除非猴子把手中的水果放下。

　　但大部分的猴子都不願意鬆開手放下水果，因此當獵人前來的時候，輕而易舉就可以捉住猴子。

　　我們是否對自己擁有的「捨」不得、「放」不下，甚至因為不想鬆開緊握著的手，而像落入陷阱中的猴子一樣最後被獵人抓進籠子，失去更重要的東西，甚至失去性命。

　　梭羅：「多餘的財富只能換取奢靡者的生活，而心靈的必需品是無需用錢購買的。」

　　唯有在我們懂得「捨」的那一刻，才是「得」的開始。學習放下的功課，我們才能感受到心靈的自由。

Thoreau: The necessities of the soul can be bought without money.

　　Hunters in Southeast Asia use a trap that can easily catch monkeys.

　　The trap is nothing more than a wooden chest filled with delicious fruit and a small hole in the box. The hole was just the size of the monkey's hand.

　　If the monkey grabs the fruit, the hand cannot pull it out. Unless the monkey puts down the fruit in his hand.

　　But most monkeys are reluctant to let go of their hands and put down the fruit, so when the hunter comes, it is easy to catch the monkey.

　　Do we not "give up" what we have, can't "let go", or even because we don't want to let go of our clenched hands, and end up being caught in a cage by hunters like monkeys in a trap? Lose something more important, even lose your life.

Thoreau: "Excess wealth can only be exchanged for the life of the extravagant, and the necessities of the soul do not need to be bought with money."

　　

　　Only the moment when we understand "renunciation" is the beginning of "gain." Only by learning the lessons of letting go can we feel the freedom of the heart.

Soul Whisper Series ✍Little Giver