于是一个妇人说，请给我们讲欢乐与悲哀。

他回答说：

你的欢乐，就是你去了面具的悲哀。

连你那涌溢欢乐的井泉，也常是充满了你的眼泪。

不然又怎样呢？

悲哀的创痕在你身上刻得越深，你越能容受更多的欢乐。

你的盛酒的杯，不就是那曾在陶工的窑中燃烧的坯子么？

那感悦你的心神的笛子，不就是曾受尖刀挖刻的木管么？

当你欢乐的时候，深深地内顾你的心中，你就知道只不过是曾使你悲哀的，又在使你欢乐。

当你悲哀的时候，再内顾你的心中，你就看出实在是那曾使你喜悦的，又在使你哭泣。

你们有些人说：“欢乐大于悲哀。”也有人说：“不，悲哀是更大的。”我却要对你们说，它们是不能分开的。

它们一同来到，当这一个和你同席的时候，要记得那一个正在你床上酣眠。真的，你是天平般悬在悲哀与欢乐之间。

只有在盘空的时候，你才能静止，持平。

当守库者把你提起来称他的金银的时候，你的哀乐就必需升降了。

08

on joy & sorrow

then a woman said, "speak to us of joy and sorrow."

and he answered:

your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

and the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

and how else can it be?

the deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

and is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

when you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

when you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

some of you say, "joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "nay, sorrow is the greater."

but i say unto you, they are inseparable.

together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

when the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.