一天，哲学家率领诸弟子走在街市上，整个街市车水马龙，叫卖声不绝于耳，一派繁荣兴旺的景象。
走出一程后，哲学家问弟子：“刚才看到的商贩中，哪个面带喜悦之色呢？”一个弟子回答道：“我经过那个鱼肆，买鱼的人很多，主人应接不暇，脸上一直漾着笑容。”弟子的话还没说完，哲学家便摇了摇头，说：“为利欲的心虽喜，却不能持久。”
哲学家率众弟子继续往前走，前面是一片农舍，鸡鸣桑树，犬叫深巷，三三两两的人穿梭忙碌着。哲学家打发众弟子四散而去。过了一段时间之后，哲学家又问弟子：“刚才见到的村民中，哪个看起来更充实呢？”
一个弟子上前一步，答道：“村东有个黑脸的村民，家里养着鸡鸭牛马，坡上有几十亩地，他忙完家里的事情，又到坡上侍弄田地，一刻也不闲着，始终汗流浃背，这个村民应该是充实的。”哲学家略微沉吟一阵子，说：“源于琐碎的充实，最后终归要迷失在琐碎当中，也不是最充实的。”
一行人继续往前走，前面是一座山坡，坡上是云彩般的羊群。一块巨石上，坐着一位形容枯槁的老者，怀里抱着一根鞭子，正在往远方眺望。哲学家随即止住众弟子的脚步，说：“这位老者游目骋怀，是生活的主人。”众弟子面面相觑，心想，一个放羊的老头，可能孤独无依，衣食无着，怎么会是生活的主人呢？哲学家看了看迷惑不解的弟子，朗声道：“难道你们看不到他的心灵在快乐地散步吗？”
（文/马德）
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译文:
to Be the Master of Life
One day, a philosopher was walking with his students on the street which was full of people and scream of peddlers and hawkers,and which shows a flourish scene .
After walking for a distance, he asked his students:"Who is happy among the venders that you've just seen?" One student answered:"The one who sells fish is always smiling because many buy his fish when we pass ."Without the student finishing his words, he shook his head and said :"Happiness because of money can't last for long ."
They continuously walked ahead. There were farmhouses in front with the crowing of cocks in mulberry trees and the barking of dogs in the deep lanes and small knots of people walking fast to be busy.The philosopher asked them to take action individually . After a while,he raised one more question :"Whose life seems to be richest among the villagers you 've met?"
A student walked forward for a step and answered:"There is a villager with black faces living in the east .He raises chickens , ducks,cows and horses at home .Additionally, on the hillside there are fields in a total size of dozens of acres. After finishing the work at home ,he goes on working in the fields.He is always working and wet with sweat.His life should be rich."The philosopher thought for a while and said :"The one who devotes himself to trifles must get lost in the trifles. He can't be the richest."
The group kept on going ,In front there was a hillside dotted with sheep just like clouds. On a huge stone sat a gaunt and haggard old man with a whip in his arms,looking faraway.The philosopher stopped his students at once and said :"The old man who lets his eyes travel over the great scenes and lets fancy free is the master of life ." The students looked at one another with great puzzle and thought the old man herding sheep might be lonely and hungry and how he could be the master of life.Seeing their puzzled expressions,he said in a clear and loud voice:"Can't you see his mind is taking a happy walk?"
（by Ma De）
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