年輕了

「這些小葉子要挑到什麼時候才能結束啊？」

「算了，我決定先處理大葉子！」

天還未亮，一群人彎著腰，專心挑著手中的小白菜。比起細緻麻煩的小葉子，大葉子的處理顯得簡單俐落，幾分鐘內就能整理出滿滿一籃漂亮的成品。然而，小葉的挑選則需要更多的耐心與細心，輕輕展開，才能發現藏在裡面的小蟲。同樣的時間裡，能夠處理完幾片小葉子就要偷笑了，投資報酬率完全無法相比。看著手中皺巴巴、沾滿了土的小葉，我心裡有些動搖。

這時，腦海裡想起師父的話：「我今年快七十歲，我說年輕了。我不是說笑話，因為我感覺到我條件太差，你們好的人高高在上享受，我小的事情我來做，為什麼？我要集聚資糧。這是真的，你越是到那時候，你越會感覺到我們資糧不夠，盡我們的力量，我能做的地方就我該我做。到底做什麼？我不一定一定是我要做什麼才算，那裡欠缺什麼我就做什麼，這樣。總是對整個的學習、對佛法，能夠產生最有效的這個最好，從這個上面來講。」

想到農耕組的法師，每天在田裡辛苦播種、澆水、除草。某次齋後去田裡幫忙，目睹法師們心疼地注視著被雜草覆蓋的小菜苗，低聲說道如果真的太麻煩，就把它翻回田裡吧！也想到典座法師再辛苦，也努力守護這份珍貴的發心，畢竟每片小菜葉都是出家人用汗水換來的，這正是師父惜福習勞、慈悲愛護大地的宗風。

如果這件事在師父眼裡是該做的，無論別人做不做，我可不想錯過這難得的資糧啊！

於是，我默默拿起桌上的小葉子繼續刷蟲。旁邊的同行瞪大眼睛問道：「你真的要把小葉子都刷完嗎？」「對啊。」我笑著回答，心中的無奈被喜悅和感動充盈，隨即想起師父在教師營彎下腰撿大頭針，以及他年過七十依舊掃地、倒垃圾，甚至在機場幫法師們看行李的身影。

我們常認為大事更值得關注，但師父以身作則，卻透過這些微不足道的小事，教導弟子們如何觀照三業，淨化業障，集聚資糧。在全心投入每片小葉子的當下，我真正體會到所謂「年輕了」的意義，是全力以赴地珍惜生命中的每個瞬間。這份踏實與充實，不是任何轟轟烈烈的大事能帶來的感動和啓發。

Embracing Your Younger Self

“When will we ever finish picking these tiny leaves?”

“Forget it, I’m starting with the big ones first!”

Before dawn, a group of nuns were busy going through some cabbage leaves. The larger outer leaves were easy to handle, filling a basket quickly. The smaller inner leaves required much patience; only by unfolding the leaves gently would you find the hidden insects within. The time spent on these inner leaves was hardly worth it. Holding the shrivelled, dirt-filled leaves in my hands, I too started to hesitate.

Then I remembered Late Master’s words: “I’m almost seventy, but I feel young. I take on the smaller tasks because I need merit. It’s true. The more we do, the more we realize we need merit. We’ll do what’s best for everyone and whatever we can, not just what we want”

I thought of the nuns who grew our vegetables, and their struggle as weeds grew taller than the vegetables. From time to time, they considered putting it back into the fields. I also thought of the nuns in the kitchen who tried to save as much as they can, as every vegetable leaf came by not so easily. Their actions remind me of Late Master’s compassion for the earth.

If this is something that should be done, I don’t want to miss this chance to gain merit!

So, I quietly resumed with the small leaves in my hands. The nun sitting across the table asked with her eyes wide, “Are you really going to finish all the small leaves?” “Yes,” I replied with a smile, feeling joy despite the challenge. I thought of Late Master who, even at seventy, bent over to pick up a thumbtack on the floor, or swept floors, took out trash, and even helped watch everyone’s luggage at the airport.

We often think big tasks matter more, but Late Master showed us through these small things how to gather merits. By focusing on each small leaf, I understood what it means to be “younger”—cherishing every moment of life. This sense of fulfillment isn’t something grand events can bring.