快樂源于"簡單生活"。名、利、權、財乃外在的榮光，真正的快樂來自于真實獨特的自我，也就是堅持自己的生活原則，保持心靈的那份寧靜，過自己想過的生活，你定會找到快樂！不在乎別人認為我該做什么，而在乎我認為自己該去做些什么。這就么簡單！

    In a small village there lived a man who was always happy, kind, and well disposed to everyone he met. People knew they could count on him, and regarded him as a great friend. 

    在一個小村莊，有一個人總是快樂而熱情，和每個人和諧相處。人們知道他可以信任，把他當成好朋友。

    One of the villagers was curious to know what his secret was, how could he be always so kind and helpful? How is it that he held no grudge towards anyone and was always happy? 

    一個村民對他充滿好奇，想知道他的秘密所在。他怎么會一直如此熱情、助人為樂？為什么他和每個人都毫無怨尤，始終快樂？

    Once, upon meeting him in the street he asked him: "Most people are selfish and unsatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do; neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?"
    
    一天，那個村民在街上遇到了那個人，他問道：“大多數人自私自利，貪得無厭。他們不像你一樣經常面帶微笑，也不像你一樣樂于助人。這該如何解釋呢？

    "When you make peace with yourself, then you can be in peace with the rest of the world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well disposed to all. If your thoughts are under your control you become strong and firm."

    “當你和自己和平相處時，你就能和世界和平相處。如果你認可了自己的心境，你就能認可別人的心境。然后你就會順其自然，熱情而且和諧與人相處。當你的思想被你控制時，你就會變得強大而且堅定。

    "But a lot of work is necessary. The work is difficult and endless. There are many walls that need to be climbed. It is not an easy task." Lamented the villager. 
    
    “可是很多事兒必須得做。工作很難而且做也做不完。很多困難需要克服，這可不是件容易事兒。”村民哀嘆道。

    "Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise that's what you will see and experience. Just quieten your feelings and thoughts and try to stay in this peace. All the abilities and powers awaken spontaneously."

    “不要考慮那些困難，否則你要看到和即將經歷的都會是困難。使自己的情感和想法冷靜下來，并盡量保持這種狀態，自然會喚起所有的能力和力量。”

    "Is that all?" Asked the villager. 

    “就這些嗎？”村民問道。

    "Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love." 

    “努力關注你的想法，看它們是如何變來變去的。當你的想法趨于平靜時，保持這種狀態。一開始，也許只是片刻的平靜，隨著時間的推移，平靜的時間會越來越長。這種平靜也是力量、動力、熱情和愛。”

    "I will try to remember your words," said the villager and continued, "There is another thing that I am curious about. You do not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word to everyone and are helpful. Yet people do not exploit your goodness, and they treat you well." 

    “我會盡力記住你的話，"村民說道，他接著問："還有一件我感到好奇的事兒。你好象并不受環境影響。你對每個人都熱情，樂于助人。但是人們并不利用你的善良，他們對你也很好。”

    "Goodness and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good you can also be strong. People sense your strength and do not impose on you. You then act from strength and not from weakness. Goodness can also go with power and strength, it is not a sign of weakness as some people erroneously think."

    “善良和熱情并非必然與軟弱相關。當你仁慈時，你也很堅強。人們感覺到你的力量，不會欺騙你。這樣你的行為源自堅定，而不是軟弱。善良也和動力與力量相伴，而不像有些人誤認為的那樣是軟弱的標志。”

    "Thank you very much for your advice", said the villager and went away happy and satisfied.

    謝謝你的建議，”村民說道，心滿意足地走了。

    注釋： 

    1. disposed adj.有某種健康狀態的，有…傾向的

    2. count on 依靠，指望

    3. grudge n.忌恨，怨恨

    4. selfish adj.自私的

    5. unsatisfied adj.不滿意的，未得到滿足的

    6. make peace with 講和，休戰，言歸于好

    7. under control 被控制住，在控制中

    8. lament v.悲嘆，哀嘆

    9. quieten v.使安靜或變得安靜

    10. spontaneously adv.自然地，本能地

    11. influence vt.影響，改變

    12. exploit vt.利用，自私地或不道德地利用

    13. impose vi.占（人）便宜，利用

    14. erroneously adv.錯誤地，不正確地