我在东北家乡，曾遇见一位孝子，他姓尤，名智惠。以前是大盗，打家劫舍，绑票勒索，无恶不作。有一天，他身受重伤，从死里逃生，遂良心发现，生大惭愧，于是决定革面洗心，重新做人，发愿说：“如果不死，一定到父母坟前守孝。”不久伤愈，便回到家中，在父母墓旁，建一间茅棚，在那里住了几年。

In my home town in Manchuria, I met a filial son by the name of You Zhihui. He had been an outlaw involved in plundering, looting, kidnapping, extortion, and every sort of evil. One day he was badly injured. He was on the verge of death, but he then recovered. Thereupon he discovered his conscience and became greatly ashamed. He decided to change himself and reform, to become a totally new person. He also vowed, “If I don’t die, I’m determined to practice filial piety by staying by my parents’ grave in mourning.” Not long afterwards, his wound healed. He returned home, built a hut by his parents’ grave, and lived there for some years.

有一年夏天，天降大雨，泛滥成灾。他发心祷告上天，如果三天内雨停天晴，我愿割肉祭天。他又一想，等天晴再祭天，那是贿赂的行为，应该现在就割肉祭天，来表示至诚之心。于是摆上香案，祈祷上天，保佑这地方的老百姓，令他们秋天丰收。遂举刀将乳下之肉割下，因流血过多，昏倒于地，人事不知。

One summer, the area was flooded by torrential rain. He resolved his mind and prayed to heaven, “If it stops raining within three days, I will cut my flesh as a sacrifice to heaven.” Then he thought that waiting until it stopped raining to worship heaven would be a case of bribing; to show his utmost sincerity he should do it straightaway. So he prepared an incense altar and prayed for heaven to protect the people of that area and let them have a good harvest. Then he took a knife and cut some of his flesh from his chest. Due to profuse bleeding, he passed out on the ground.

彼愚诚之心，感动天地，奇迹出现，立刻雨过天青！家人来送饭，发现他卧在血地上。把他唤醒，替他疗伤。约有半个月，伤口痊愈。

在这半个月之间，有只可爱的小鸟，天天飞到他的床前，来安慰他，唱歌：“多作德！多作德！作德多好！”与他成为好朋友。半个月以后，小鸟不知飞向何处去了。愚诚所至，霪雨即停，神鸟为伴，这种境界不可思议。

His sincerity moved heaven and earth. A miracle happened: the rain stopped right away. When his family brought food over and found him lying unconscious in a pool of blood, they woke him up and tended to his wound. Half a month later the wound healed. During that half month, a delightful little bird flew to his bedside every day to comfort him, singing, “Do more merit! Do more merit! How wonderful it is to do merit!” and became a good friend to him. Half a month later, the bird was gone. His utmost sincerity stopped the pouring rain and brought the company of a divine bird. It was an inconceivable state.

有一年，我们两人相见，对坐一小时，一句话没有说。为什么？因为没有什么可说的，一切尽在不言中。他知道我，我知道他，心照不宣，只可意会，不可言传。

One year we met. We sat face to face for an hour without speaking a word. Why? Because there was nothing to be said. Everything was in the unspoken. He understood me and I understood him. We had a tacit agreement. It could only be comprehended, not expressed by words.

我到台湾去弘法，遇到水果和尚（广钦老法师）也是这样的情形，相对无语，可是心中有无限的欣悦，这是心灵感应作用。所谓“心心相印”，彼此通达，无所障碍。

When I went to Taiwan to propagate the Buddhadharma and met the Fruit Monk (Elder Dharma Master Guangqin), the same thing happened. We sat face to face without speaking, but there was boundless joy in our hearts; such was the wonderful functioning of responding minds. It was what’s known as “the mind certifying the mind” in unhindered communication.