Goodness and Happiness

愛、生活、人生系列

Goodness and Happiness
積善之家，必有餘慶。The family that accumulates goodness is sure to have superabundant happiness. A family of good deeds must have supplementary good fortune.
累積善行的人家，必有多餘的吉慶，留給後代。常常做好事的人家，一定會福澤深厚。善人之家，造善固然享福，餘蔭到下一代，還是很好的。一個人多做好事，多積陰德，就算有些不順利的事情，也會逢凶化吉，慢慢好起來。不僅如此，善德還會留給後世子孫，帶來很多吉慶。善行帶來福報，福報是一種能量，有大德行、大胸襟的人，才能承載這種福報，即厚德載物。人都是互相的，只有尊重別人，才會受到別人的尊重。厚德是福，做人厚道，即使粗茶淡飯，吃的簡單、用的樸素，也真有好處。每個人天生都是善良的，而有德行之人，不忘善良的初心，才能有大福報。我們要多行善，要有寬容心、包容心，及敬愛心，善待萬事萬物。
在《了凡四訓》書中，袁了凡以堅韌的毅力，日行一善，長期的，無怨無悔的付出，最終得到回報，他的善行功德，改變了先天的命運，是行善積德最好的榜樣。行善積德，就是做好事、善事、與人為善，一切以慈悲為懷。對於世間萬物，有錢出錢，無錢出力，在生活中存好心，說好話，做好事，做好人。心的潛能是無限的，天地無私，唯德是親，點滴德善，福應無窮。日行一善，積善積德，耐心行善，盡心布施，清心等待，寬心受苦受辱，持之以恆，厚德載物，恩澤後代。
　 我們從生到死，真正憑自己的智慧、知識、體能、技能而能培福的並不多，但是，我們從環境中得到的各種恩惠，卻多不勝數。付出的少，得到的多，就是享福。所以我們要惜福，福報不要享盡，務必珍惜。「施比受更為有福 (Giving is better than receiving. It is better to give than to receive.)」是出於基督教義的至理名言，施的人，有福了。有福的人，總會施福。“Less is more, more or less.” 看似少於他人，其實其所有，又多於他人。如能多多施捨，我們每個人都能享受莫大的福分，何樂之不為呢？行善表示有餘，才能行善，有餘的人，有福了。有餘就是多，多就是豐富、豐餘、富足，所以有餘的人，是最幸福的。
Money may not buy us love, but it might buy us happiness if we spend it in the right way. It’s better to give than to receive. In other words, spending money on others or giving it to charity puts a bigger smile on our faces than buying things for ourselves. In fact, money isn’t that important in terms of happiness. The things that are important are things to do with relationships, with other people, and with promoting meanings and purposes in life. When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. The act of giving elicits positive feelings and emotions for both the giver and the receiver. When we give from this place within ourselves, we never feel like our cups are empty. It becomes a freeing and energizing experience, and it enable us to focus on what we authentically have to offer others. It strengthens our relationships and opens us up to wholesome new ones.
Besides, on the contrary, receiving is also necessary and important. While giving feels wonderful, it only works when there is a receiver. Allowing ourselves to be gracious receivers is a humbling experience, and is truly an act of love because it offers a chance for others to give. Receiving is not about expecting others to give to us because we are more important or deserving. It is about receiving a gift without guilt or neediness, and without feeling obliged to give back. To receive in a good way requires us to do away with the negative thoughts, and instead, pause and reflect on the exchange and what it means: friendship, support, love, etc. This fuels a great deal of happiness in both the giver and receiver.
“The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.” --Deepak Chopra (狄巴克•喬布拉醫學博士) Nature actually provides perfect examples of this dynamic exchange of giving and receiving that is necessary for the flow of life. We receive the gift of oxygen from trees, and we give them carbon dioxide. Insects receive nectar from flowers, and they give the gift of pollination. Symbiotic relationships are abundant in nature, and are needed for the ecosystem to continue to thrive. Since we are also part of nature, we too need to both give and receive to stay happy and healthy. Giving and receiving are both aspects of the same flow of energy in the universe. It’s therefore important to be both a good giver and a good receiver. Giving can inspire great positive change and healing in a world. It has the power to immediately shift one into a state of grace. Giving is often accompanied by feelings of peace and joy. Giving also comes naturally to humans because it taps into that innate part of ourselves that gravitates toward connection. Here are some small ways we can strengthen the flow of giving in our life:
Compliment a stranger.
Send a message of appreciation.
Give a hug.
Say “thank you.”
If we really find ourselves lucky enough to be on the receiving of any gifts, we would take a moment to pause and certainly accept it with a sense of gratitude, honor, and appreciation. We know that both we and the givers, surely, reap the benefits and are truly blessed in the universe.

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