親愛的朋友，請放鬆您的身心。 讓我們一同沉浸在這段故事與反思中，尋找內心的平靜與智慧。
Dear friend, please relax your body and mind. Let us immerse ourselves together in this story and reflection, seeking inner peace and wisdom.
有一次我在禪七期間， 的傍晚空閒，獨自沿著山邊的小排水溝，避開山芒，緩緩走入森林。
Once, during a meditation retreat, in the evening free time, I walked alone along a small drainage ditch by the mountain, carefully avoiding the mountain reeds, and slowly entered the forest.
到了盡頭，天色漸暗，只能往回走。
Reaching the end, as dusk gathered, I had no choice but to turn back.
十步左右，讓我感到驚奇的是，一條翠綠的小蛇，橫躺在水泥溝上，頭依著一根小草。
About ten steps later, to my surprise, a small emerald green snake lay across the cement ditch, its head resting against a blade of grass.
看牠滿足的笑容，顯然已經熟睡多時，深怕打擾到牠，只好硬著頭皮，非常輕緩的從牠身上小心跨過。
Seeing its contented "smile," it was clear it had been sound asleep for a long time. Fearing to disturb it, I had no choice but to brace myself and very gently, carefully step over it.
回到寺中禮拜觀音菩薩像時，我感覺十分慚愧，回想剛才進入森林時並沒有發現到有蛇。那是因為沒有充分的保持正念。
Upon returning to the temple to bow before the Guanyin Bodhisattva statue, I felt deep shame, realizing I hadn't noticed the snake when I first entered the forest.That was because I hadn't fully maintained mindfulness.
如果我不幸踩傷了牠，牠可能就因此懷恨而死。那麼我是造了重大惡業。
If I had unfortunately stepped on and injured it, it might have died holding a grudge.In that case, I would have created a significant negative karma.
或是自己被咬而中毒喪命。而這些惡業，都是因為脫離正道，及失去正念所致。
Or I myself might have been bitten and died from the venom. And these negative karmas would all have resulted from deviating from the right path and losing mindfulness.
這不是做為一位修行者，所當為。
This is not how a practitioner should act.
我們處處小心。恭敬、尊重他人，並不表示低人一等，也不是想要得到什麼利益，而主要是為了，防止他的自尊心及人格受到傷害。
We should be careful in every situation.Showing reverence and respect to others does not mean you are inferior, nor is it to gain any benefit, but primarily to prevent their self-esteem and personality from being harmed.
只在乎自己，不禮賢下士，並無過失。但是如果我們經常傲氣凌人，有意無意的傷人自尊，那就等同於，失去正念的道人了。
To only care about oneself and not show respect to worthy individuals is not necessarily a fault. However, if we frequently act arrogantly, intentionally or unintentionally hurting others' self-esteem, that is equivalent to a practitioner who has lost mindfulness.
在此感恩您，祈願您一切，幸福與圓滿！
Hereby, I express my gratitude to you, wishing you all happiness and fulfillment!