你布施给他钱,是你得的利益大,还是他得的利益大?你给他一块钱,那他就得了一块钱,买一个大饼就没了,但是你起的这一念好心,天知地知,头上三尺神明都知道,你的良心也知道,你这一念善心得益更大。
像我小时候,也贪便宜哦。我去买东西,给了他两元钱,这个营业员大概在开小差,他以为是五块的,东西给我了,然后又多找给我四块几毛钱。哇,我高兴坏了,小孩这个心也会喜欢占便宜哦。我就把这个钱也揣到兜里,东西拿回去,等于白吃还多给我钱啊。但是后来慢慢我长大了之后,虽然钱早就花掉了,但是心里的阴影一直都在。不能为了钱违背自己的良心。良心是无价的。所以亏什么都行,不能亏心。古人说,白天不做亏心事,晚上不怕鬼敲门,就是这样啊。所以说你占个小便宜,请问占便宜是不是吃亏?占便宜是吃大亏啊。
When you give money to a beggar, who do you think has gained more, you or they? If they were given a pound, it may only buy a simple sandwich. However, your good intention is something that Heaven knows, the Earth knows, the gods know and your integrity knows – you have therefore benefited more from your kindness.
When I was young, I used to take advantage of others. Once when I paid a cashier she gave me more change than she was supposed to. I was so happy since I not only got my shopping for free but also gained money! I took the change and my shopping and left. However, as I grew up, a shadow persisted in my heart even though the money had been spent a long time ago. We should never go against our integrity in pursuit of money; integrity is invaluable. We can afford to lose anything but integrity. As the saying goes, ‘by doing nothing that jeopardises our integrity, we have no fear of having ghosts knocking at our door during the night’. When you take advantage of others, don’t you think you lose something?
——摘自《钵水明镜》传喜法师开示录
爱出者爱返,福往者福来。随喜转载,功德无量。