这是在苏族印第安部落中流传的一个古老的故事 ……
My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm when I was about seven, and he told me to throw a stone into the water. He told me to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked me to think of myself as that stone person.
在我七岁那年，祖父把我带到农场的鱼塘。他让我捡一颗石头扔到水中，并嘱咐我仔细观察石头所溅起的水花。然后，他叫我把自己想象成这颗石头。
"You may create lots of splashes in your life, but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said, "Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles.
" 无论表达与否，我们心中的感觉和思绪，都无时不在向外界释放。我们内心激起的所有水花，都会溅向这个世界，并与他人的生命水花一起，构成嘈杂，抑或美丽。 “在生命的水面上，你可以溅起许多水花，而这些水花的波纹也会干扰到你周围众生的宁静。”祖父对我说，“记住，你需要对你所激起的波纹负责，因为它们会碰触到别人的波纹。”
"You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both."
“你应当努力通过自己的波纹将平静传播给他人。而那些带着愤怒或嫉妒的水花，也会将坏的情绪传递。两种情况，根源都在于你！”
That was the first time I realized that each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger.
这是我第一次明白，每个人心中的平静或不安，都会传播给整个世界。如果我们的内心沉迷于矛盾、仇恨、怀疑甚至愤怒之中，自然就不能带给世界以安宁。
We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.
无论是否说出来，我们心中的感觉和思绪，都无时不在向外界释放。我们内心激起的所有水花，都会溅向这个世界，并与他人的生命水花一起，形成嘈杂，抑或美丽。