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Zen and the Art of Burglary
禪宗與盜竊藝術
If people ask me what Zen is like, I will say that it is like learning the art of burglary.
如果有人問我禪宗是什么，我會告訴他禪宗就像是盜竊藝術。
The son of a burglar saw his father growing older and thought, "If he is unable to carry on his profession, who will be the breadwinner of the family, except myself?
竊賊的兒子看著他的父親一天天變老，心想，“要是父親不能繼續他的行當，除了我之外還有誰能承擔起養家糊口的重任呢？
I must learn the trade." He intimated the idea to his father, who approved of it.
我要學會這門手藝。”他把自己的這個想法給父親說了，父親同意了。
One night the father took the son to a big house, broke through the fence, entered the house, and, opening one of the large chests, told the son to go in and pick out the clothing, as soon as the son get into it, the father dropped the lid and securely applied the lock.
一天晚上，父親把兒子帶到了一座大房子，鉆過籬笆進入了房子。父親打開一個大柜子，吩咐兒子進去偷些衣服出來。
The father now came out to the courtyard and loudly knocked at the door, waking up the whole family; then he quietly slipped away by the hole in the fence.
兒子剛進去，父親就蓋上了柜子的蓋子，并牢牢地鎖上了柜子。他來到院子里，大聲地敲門，把這家人全給吵醒了。接著，父親悄悄地從籬笆的洞里鉆了出去。
The residents got excited and lighted candles, but they found that the burglar had already gone.
驚慌失措的這家人點亮了蠟燭，卻發現竊賊已經跑掉了。
The son, who remained all the time securely confined in the chest, thought of his cruel father.
兒子一直被牢牢地鎖在柜子里，想著他那無情的父親。
He was greatly mortified, then a fine idea flashed upon him.
他感到受了屈辱。突然一個點子閃現在他的腦海中。
He made a noise like the gnawing of a rat.
他發出了老鼠咬柜子的聲音，
The family told the maid to take a candle and examine the chest.
這家人就吩咐女仆拿著蠟燭去查看柜子。
When the lid was unlocked, out came the prisoner, who blew out the light, pushed away the maid, and fled.
女仆一打開柜子的蓋子，里面的躲著的人就跳了出來，吹滅蠟燭，推開女仆，逃走了。
The people ran after him. Noticing a well by the road, he picked up a large stone and threw it into the water.
人們在后面追趕。他看到路邊有一口井，搬起一塊大石頭，丟到了井里。
The pursuers all gathered around the well trying to find the burglars drowning himself in the dark hole.
追趕者都聚集在井邊，想看看竊賊是不是掉進黑洞洞的井里淹死了。
In the meantime he went safely back to his father's house.
這時候，他安全地回到了他父親的房子。
He blamed his father deeply for this narrow escape.
他斥責他父親說他差點沒能活著回來。
Said the father, "be not offended my son.
父親說，“兒呀，別生氣，
Just tell me how you got out of it." When the son told him all about his adventures, the father remarked, "There you are, you have learned the art."
告訴我你怎么逃出來的。” 聽完兒子講述了歷險經歷，父親說，“現在好了，你已經學會了盜竊這門藝術。”
