88.HAPPY CRABS

　　Liang Tuian was a doctor who really wanted to relieve suffering, not only among human beings, but among all living creatures as well. He was a vegetarian,of course.

　　One fall, his friend Chi Feite sent him two baskets of crabs, "to be washed down with liquor." Gourmets know that autumn crabs and liquor are an unbeatable combination. But Liang did a strange thing. He didn't take the crabs to the kitchen, he took them to the shore and let them go in the little stream near his house.

　　Another guest, who had come from Huzhou, said, "You are really a nice man.You remind me of Zhang Fengweng, from my humble hometown. For generations, he and his family have been vegetarians, and never killed anything.

　　"In reward for their kindness, many of the family have won high positions in the government, with power and fame.

　　"I predict that as a result of your kindness, one day in the future your esteemed son will reach a lofty position in the imperial service, just as the sons of the Zhang family have."

　　Liang smiled and said, "Good deeds are something we're supposed to do, they are not something we do hoping for rewards. If I have ever done any good, it has not been with the hopes of gaining some rewards for myself or my family. Don't you think those crabs look happier there in the stream than they would boiling in a pot? That's reward enough for me."

　　When Liang's son, Zhiqing, grew up, he passed the imperial examinations with flying colors, and was appointed to govern Gaozhou. When he was sent to govern Min county, he was pleased to meet again his best friend, the scholar Zhang, who was serving in the county government there. It turns out that this scholar was the son of Zhang Fengweng, and was also a vegetarian.

　　Zhang stayed at the Liang's for a month. He was delighted to see that no animal products were ever served at family meals. At formal dinners, almost all of the dishes were vegetarian. At most there might be some dried duck, but Zhang noticed that his friend Liang Zhiqing never ate any of it.

　　Liang was also impressed with his friend Zhang. Zhang was honest and hard working. He lived simply and ate simply, too. He ate a light breakfast and got to the office early to begin his day. He never got to the office late, like some important officials did, and he never procrastinated on any official duties.

　　Think about that. If everybody were a vegetarian; if everybody ate simple foods; if everybody did his duty faithfully, without fuss, pomp, or corruption; if everybody were fair and honest: wouldn't that be a wonderful world to live in?

　　If you want to live in such a wonderful world, start building it yourself! You can't ask others to be kind and honest if you aren't first.

88.快乐的螃蟹

　　梁退安是一个大夫，他非常想帮助众生解除痛苦，不光是人，还有其他一切生物。当然，他是一个吃素的人。

　　一年秋天，他的朋友迟非特送给他两筐螃蟹，叫他用来下酒吃 。美食家都知道，秋蟹配黄酒，再好也没有。但是梁退安的做法却让大家很惊奇。他并没有把螃蟹送到厨房，他来到了附近的小溪边，然 后把螃蟹放生了。

　　另一位来自湖州的朋友对梁退安说，“你真是一个好人。你让我想起了一个人，张奉翁，他是鄙人的同乡。他全家都吃素，从来不杀生。

　　“善有善报，他家有许多人都在朝中做大官，权高名重。

　　“像你这样的好人一定有好报的，我猜想贵公子总有一天也会像张家的孩子一样在朝中做大官的。”

　　梁退安微笑着说道，“这些善事都是应该做的，我们并不期望回报。我做好事从来就不指望给我或家人带来任何好处。难道你不觉得，那些螃蟹在河里要比在锅里更快乐吗？这对我来说就是很好的回报。”

　　后来他的儿子梁至清长大了，他在科举考试中名列前茅，被委任到皋州做官。当梁至清来到岷县上任时，他很高兴地又遇见了他最好的朋友张秀才。他也在县衙里做事。后来梁至清才知道，张秀才正是张奉翁的儿子，并且也吃素。
 
　　张秀才在梁家住了一个月。他欣喜地发现，平时的一日三餐当中从来没有荤腥。而正式的宴席中，大多数也是素菜。最多会有一些熏鸭，不过张秀才注意到，他的朋友梁至清一点也不吃。

　　而张秀才也给梁至清留下了深刻的印象。他为人厚道，做事勤快。他的生活和饮食也非常简朴。他早饭总是吃得很简单，然后就早早地来到府衙开始一天的工作。他从来就不像一些大官那样迟到，更不会延误公务。

　　想想看，如果每个人都吃素，每个人都衣食简朴，每个人都尽忠职守，从不懈怠、虚夸和腐败，每个人都公正诚实，那么这个世界该会多么美好？

　　如果你想生活在这样一个美妙的世界里，那么就开始塑造新的自我吧！如果你不对别人友善、真诚，那你又怎能让别人这样对你呢？