故事 . 天堂地獄的筷子

視頻：One Human Family, Food for All

圖片取自《https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/commissions/allegory-long-spoons-cartoon/》

圖片取自《https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/commissions/allegory-long-spoons-cartoon/》

~ 以下故事抄錄自《星雲說喻 天堂地獄的筷子》~

文／星雲大師

有一個人經常聽人說做壞事要墮地獄受苦，做善事能生天堂享福，但是天堂、地獄是什麼樣子，他並不知道。一個偶然的因緣，他遇到一個修道人。修道人對他說：「我可以帶你到天堂和地獄去參觀！」聽聞此話，這個人很高興地就答應了。

首先，他隨著修道人來到地獄。初來乍到，他發現地獄和人間的生活差不多，一樣要穿衣、吃飯、睡覺，只有一點不同，就是地獄裡的人吃飯，所使用的筷子有三尺長，每當有人夾起菜餚要往嘴裡送的時候，從左邊送，就被左邊的人給搶去；從右邊送，就被右邊的人給搶去，自己永遠都吃不到。也因此，彼此都在怨怪：「你偷吃了我的菜！」「他搶去了我的菜！」爭吵不休，不得安寧。

接著，修道人又帶他到天堂裡。天堂和人間的生活也是一樣，要穿衣、吃飯、工作，甚至吃飯用的筷子和地獄相同，也是三尺長，唯一不同的是，他們夾了菜，不是朝自己的嘴裡送，而是給你吃、給他吃。如此一來，彼此都在互道感謝，相處非常和樂。

從這一段譬喻就可以知道，什麼是天堂？能把歡喜給人、把福利給人，大家互相讚美、尊重，就是天堂。什麼是地獄？不重視大眾，不顧念他人，不為別人設想，自私自利，就是地獄。

因此，天堂、地獄不在他方，就在我們自己的心中。可以說，每一個人一天當中，在天堂、地獄裡來回好多次，一念善心起，就是天堂，一念惡心起，地獄即現前。自己不妨可以想一想，我究竟是上天堂多呢？還是下地獄多呢？

~ 以下英文版天堂地獄的筷子抄錄自《La Salle Academy Ruminations - In Heaven We Feed Each Other》~

There is an ancient Chinese parable about an old man who knew he would soon die. He wanted to know what Heaven and hell were like. So, he visited a wise man in his village to ask “Can you tell me what Heaven and hell are like?” The wise man led him down a strange path, deep into the countryside. Finally, they came upon a large house with many rooms and went inside. Inside they found lots of people and many enormous tables with an incredible array of food, all sorts of meats and fish, piles of rice, fruits and vegetables, and wonderful desserts. Then the old man noticed a strange thing, the people, all thin and hungry, were holding chopsticks 3 feet long. They tried to feed themselves, but of course could not get the food to their mouths with such long chopsticks.

The old man then said to the wise man “Now I know what hell looks like, will you please show me what Heaven looks like?” The wise man led him down the same path a little further until they came upon another large house similar to the first. They went inside and saw almost the same scene: bountiful food and people with chopsticks 3 feet long.  However, in this house the many people were well fed and happy, despite the long chopsticks. This puzzled the old man and he asked, “I see all of these people have 3 foot chopsticks too, yet they are well fed and happy, please explain this to me.” The wise man replied, “In Heaven we feed each other.”

In Heaven we feed each other. 

If we want to experience the joy of heaven here on earth we must do likewise—reaching out to assist those in need—a kind word to a classmate who seems to be feeling down and out of sorts, a visit to an elderly relative who is homebound, an e-mail to a friend who is out of school sick, a favor for a parent or a teacher or a student.  Yes, Heaven is as simple as reaching out to another with love and compassion and care.

And Hell–Hell is as simple as living as self-absorbed, self-centered persons whose eyes are fixed only on the rich food and the 3 foot long chopsticks, lost in their own frustration, blinded to what can bring them relief.