A Presentation of a meaningful Buddhist story that teaches good Dhamma / Life lessons. The texts are in English and Chinese. For the Video with audio narration and explanation in Hokkien, please go to the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRnS8OBQe5Y

1. 1
五和尚 ~ 一个反思的佛教故事

2. 2
Once upon a time a monk who was working in a far away small monastery
in a village wrote a letter to the chief monk of the main monastery in the city.
In the letter he wrote, “Dear Bhante, please send one more monk to this
village monastery. We need him here to help serve the spiritual needs of the
village people.”
The chief monk called all his disciples and read that letter in front of them.
Then he said, “I would like to send five of you to the village monastery.”
从前有个和尚在一个很远的小寺院工作在一个村庄写了一封信给城里主要
寺院的首席僧侣。他在信中写道：“亲爱的 Bhante，请再派一位僧人到这
个村庄的寺院。 我们需要他来帮助满足村民的精神需求。”和尚把所有的
弟子都叫来，当着他们的面宣读那封信。然后他说：“我想派你们五个人
去村里的寺院。”

3. 3
One of the disciple monks asked, “But why five monks when he has asked
only for one?”
The chief monk replied, “You will know later. If I send five monks, it is not
certain that even one of you will reach the village. It is a long way and
distractions are very many.”
The disciples laughed as they thought it was stupid to send five monks
when what was asked was for only one monk.
However, the chief monk insisted and selected five monks.
一位弟子比丘问道：“他只求一个比丘，为什么要五位比丘呢？””和尚道：“你以后
就知道了。 如果我派出五个和尚，你们一个也不一定能到村里。 这条路很长，分
心的事情很多。”弟子们都笑了，他们认为只请一位僧人，派五位僧人来是愚蠢的。
然而，首席僧侣坚持并选择了五名僧侣。

4. 4
The next morning, the five monks started on their long journey.
After a couple of hours of walking, when they were passing by a village, a messenger
came running to them and said, “Our priest has died and we need a priest. A good
salary and accommodation will be provided by us.”
The village looked quite rich and prosperous, so one of them said, “I would like to stay
here because this is true Buddha's work. ( Actually the thought of a luxurious life in the
rich village filled his mind.) I am going to stay here; you four will be enough as only
one is needed in the monastery.” So one monk dropped out of the group to stay at the
rich village.
第二天一早，五位和尚就踏上了漫长的旅程。走了几个小时后，当他们经过一个村
庄时，一个使者跑来对他们说：“我们的牧师死了，我们需要一个牧师。 我们将提
供丰厚的薪水和住宿。”村里看起来很富足，其中一个说：“我愿意留在这里，因
为这是真正的佛陀的作品。 （其实他满脑子都是富人村的奢侈生活。） 我要留在这
里； 你们四个就够了，寺院只需要一个。” 于是，有一个僧人退群，留在了富人村。

5. 5
The next day as the four monks were passing by the outskirt of the kingdom, the king
who was passing by them on horse saw the four monks. He stopped near the monks.
One of the monks was young and he looked healthy and radiant. The king said to him,
“Wait Monk. I am looking for a young man for my daughter to get married. I have been
looking for a groom and you seem to be exactly the right man.”
The king continued, “Are you ready to marry my daughter? I have only one daughter and
after the marriage my whole kingdom will be yours.”
次日，四位僧人路过国境，骑马路过的国王看到了四位僧人。 他在僧侣们附近停了
下来。其中一位和尚年纪轻轻，看上去身体健康，容光焕发。国王对他说：“等等和
尚。 我正在为我的女儿寻找一个年轻人结婚。 我一直在找新郎，看来你就是合适的
人选。”国王继续说：“你准备好娶我的女儿了吗？ 我只有一个女儿，婚后我的整
个王国都是你的。”

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The young monk was excited. He thought this was a good opportunity to settle down
and be happy. All thoughts of the spiritual mission to serve in the poor village vanished.
He agreed to the king’s request. After saying goodbye to his fellow brother monks, he
left with the king.
Now the three monks who were left thought that the chief monk was right. Distractions
are many. They told one another they had to be careful but deep down in the hearts,
desires and jealousies were stirring.
小和尚兴奋起来。 他认为这是一个安定下来快乐的好机会。 去贫困村服务的精神使
命的所有想法都消失了。 他同意了国王的请求。 告别了他的同胞兄弟僧侣后，他和
国王一起离开了。现在剩下的三位僧人，都觉得首席僧人说的对。 分心的事情很多。
他们告诉彼此他们必须小心，但在内心深处，欲望和嫉妒正在搅动，

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On the third night the three monks lost their way. After walking for some time,
they saw a lighted lamp at a distance and they walked towards that direction.
They soon came upon a house. When they knocked on the door, a young girl
came out. She greeted and welcomed them and said, “You are sent by god
because I was alone and waiting for my mother and father to return but they
are not back. I am afraid to be alone.
Please stay with me until my parents return.”
第三天晚上，三个和尚迷了路。 走了没多久，他们看到远处有一盏点着的
灯，便朝那个方向走去。他们很快就找到了一所房子。 他们敲了敲门，一
个年轻的女孩走了出来。 她打招呼欢迎他们说：“你们是上帝派来的，因
为我一个人在等我的父母回来，但他们没有回来。 我害怕一个人。在我父
母回来之前，请留在我身边。”

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On the fourth morning the three monks had to leave but one of them had fallen in love
with that young girl. He said, “The girl’s parents haven't returned yet. I can't leave until
her parents are back.”
The other two tried hard to convince him but he refused to listen. The two monks who
were left carried on with their journey. They passed the night in a forest.
On the fifth day, when they were passing by a small town, they got surrounded by a
crowd of people who had no religion. The people challenged the two monks to answer
questions about Buddha’s teachings. They told the monks that if any monk could show
his knowledge, he would be an honored leader and the people would follow him.
第四天早上，三个和尚不得不离开，但其中一个已经爱上了那个年轻女孩。 他说：“女孩的父
母还没有回来。 在她父母回来之前我不能离开。” 另外两个人极力劝说他，但他就是不听。
剩下的两个和尚继续他们的旅程。 他们在森林里过夜。第五天，当他们经过一个小镇时，被一
群没有宗教信仰的人包围了。 人们要求这两位僧人回答有关佛陀教义的问题。 他们告诉比丘
们，如果有比丘能显示他的知识，他将是一个光荣的领导者，人们会追随他。

9. 9
One of the two monks , with thoughts of becoming famous and powerful, decided to
stay in the town and engage the people in intellectual question and answer.
The other monk reminded him that time was running out and they had to go on their
mission to the small poor village.
But Ego overwhelmed the intellectual monk and he was adamant in wanting to stay at
the town.
So in the end, only one dedicated simple monk reached the destination – to fulfill his
religious duties.
两位僧人中的一位，怀着出名和权势的念头，决定留在镇上，和人们进行知识问答。
另一个和尚提醒他，时间不多了，他们必须继续他们的任务到那个贫穷的小村庄。
但是自我压倒了这位知识渊博的僧侣，他坚持要留在镇上。 所以最后，只有一位虔
诚的朴僧到达了目的地——履行他的宗教职责。

10. 10
“If we reflect on our lives, we will find that many people set goals for themselves.
Then they try to move towards their goals
but only a few of them are able to achieve their goals.
This is because most of the people get deviated from their way
due to the distractions that come in their way.
Therefore if you want to be successful in your life
and want to achieve your goals, then never get distracted
by the obstacles and temptations that come your way.
Only then you will be able to achieve your goals.”
“如果我们反思自己的生活，就会发现很多人都为自己设定了目标。然后他们努力
朝着自己的目标前进但他们中只有少数人能够实现他们的目标。这是因为大多数人
由于他们的方式分心而偏离了他们的方式。因此，如果你想在生活中取得成功并实
现你的目标，那么永远不要分心遇到你遇到的障碍和诱惑。只有这样，
你才能实现你的目标。”

11. 11
对佛法的反思
Unwholesome desires and the Ego
lead us astray from our Goal for
Enlightenment.
不善的欲望和自我使我们偏离我们的
启蒙目标。
Beware of the temptations of the
worldly sensual delights that
distract us in our spiritual quest.
当心世俗感官享受的诱惑，它们会分
散我们对精神追求的注意力。
Sensual desires, Ill will,
Restlessness, Sloth &
Torpor and Doubts hinder
our Dhamma progress.
感官欲望，恶意，掉举，
怠惰、迟钝和疑惑阻碍了
我们正法的进步
Determination, Diligence
and Discipline are needed
for spiritual success, for
Enlightenment.
决心、勤奋和纪律需要
精神上的成功，
启蒙运动。
With Metta,
Bro.
Oh Teik Bin
The End
(结束)