纵欲毁前程

有个很出名的画家，他想画佛和魔鬼，但是在现实中找不到他们的原形，他的脑子里怎么也想像不出他们的样子，所以很著急。一个偶然的机会，他去寺院朝拜，无意中发现了一个和尚，他身上的那种气质深深地吸引了画家，于是他就去找那个和尚，向他许诺重金，条件是他给画家作一回模特。

后来，画家的作品完成以后，轰动了当地，画家说：“那是我画过的最满意的一幅画，因为给我作模特的那个人让人看了一定认为他就是佛，他身上的那种清明安详的气质可以感动每一个人。”画家最后给了那位和尚很多钱，实现了他的诺言。

就因为这幅画，人们不再称他为画家，而是称他为“画圣”。

过了一段时间，他准备著手画魔鬼了，但这又成了他的一个难题，到哪里去找魔鬼的原形呢?他探访过很多地方，找了很多外貌凶狠的人，但没有一个满意的。最后，他终于在监狱中找到了。画家高兴极了，因为在现实中找一个像魔鬼的人实在是太难了!当他面对那个犯人的时候，那个犯人突然在他面前失声痛哭。

画家奇怪极了，就问那个犯人是怎么回事。那个犯人说：“为什么你上次画佛的时候找的是我，现在画魔鬼的时候找的还是我!”

画家大吃一惊，于量又仔细看了看那个犯人一眼说：“怎么可能呢?我画佛找的那个人气质非凡，而你看起来就是一具纯粹的魔鬼形象，怎么会是同一个人呢?这太奇怪了，简直让人无法理解。”

那个人悲痛地说：“就是你把我从佛变成了魔鬼。”

画家说：“你为什么要这么说，我并没有对你做什么呀。”

那个人说：“自从我得到你给我的那笔钱以后，就去花天酒地地去寻欢作乐，纵情地挥霍。到后来，钱花光了，而我却习惯了那样的生活，欲望已经一发而不可收拾，于是我就抢别人的钱，还杀了人，只要能得到钱，什么样的坏事我都能做，结果就成了今天这个样子。”

画家听了他的话，感慨万分，他惊叹人性在欲望面前转变得如此之快，人是如此脆弱。于是他将画笔负疚地扔了，从此以后再也不作画了。

Greed Can Ruin a Person’s Destiny

There is a legend about a once-famous painter. He wanted to make the Buddha and demons the subjects of his paintings, but since he did not know what they looked like and could he imagine what they looked like, he became very anxious.

One day, he met a monk by chance. The monk’s character and personality deeply moved the artist. The painter, therefore, promised the monk a lot of money if he would be a model for his painting.

Not long thereafter, the painter completed his painting of the Buddha. It became a sensation in the local community. The painter exclaimed: “This is the most satisfying painting that I have ever done. The person who was the model for the picture has a clear and serene look that can touch the feelings of people making them think that he is a Buddha.”

The painter kept his promise and paid the monk a lot of money.

After some time, the painter wanted to paint a picture of a demon. This again became a problem. Where could he find the original form of a demon to take as his model? He found a lot of fierce-looking people, but none of them suited the criteria. It was really difficult to find a person in real life with the appearance of a demon. Eventually, he found one in prison. The painter was very happy.

When he was face to face with the prisoner, the prisoner suddenly burst into tears in front of him. The prisoner said: “Why did you look for me when you wanted to paint the picture of a Buddha and now when you want to paint the picture of a demon, you come to look for me again?”

The painter was taken aback and took a closer look at the prisoner. He then said: “How could it be possible? The person whom I painted as the Buddha had an extraordinary personality, but you look like a pure demon. How can you be the same person?”

The prisoner sadly said: “It was you who changed me from a Buddha to a demon! Since I got so much money from you, I spent a lot of time having fun and indulging in immoral deeds. After I spent all the money, I could no longer control my desires, so I robbed and killed people. For money, I committed all kinds of bad deeds and the result is what I am today.”

The painter was filled with grief after listening to the prisoner’s misfortune. He marveled at how human nature can change so fast due to desires and how humans can be so fragile. Feeling remorse, he threw away his paints and brushes. From that day on, he never painted again.

Translated by Chua BC and edited by Michael Segarty

转自《看中国》