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前 言
很多人學中國字，都說：「又難寫，又難懂」；學中國文化，也抱怨：「每一樣道理都老掉牙了，不合時代潮流。」其實，中國字和它的文化一樣，不但不難寫、不難懂，甚至還非常地有意思。怎麼叫有意思呢？就是既藝術化又趣味化，而且還很條理化。怎麼證明？請看下面分解。
本欄名為「舊說新語」，旨在把一些一般人習焉不察的字、詞、成語，或者視如陳腔濫調的倫理道德拿出來，用最新科技與調味料，加以熱炒；務期這種「古今文解」，能老少鹹宜，讓更多的人來同享這歷久彌新的精神食糧。
一、背著老子的兒子－孝順篇
「土匪來了！」每一個人都驚惶地邊跑邊叫。張三在田裡工作，鋤頭一扔，也拔腿就跑。才跑幾步，他馬上想到老爹，連忙趕回家去，背起了老爹就走。張老爹太老了，走不動，眼睛又不好，平常出門，都得靠張三背著。張三背了老爹，躲到一個山腳的岩洞裡頭。
岩洞裡沒什麼可吃的，跑得太匆忙了！幸好隨身還有一包做午餐的乾糧。張三打開了包包，恭恭敬敬地一口一口餵老爹吃。老爹吃完，口乾了，生氣說：「你想噎死我嗎？」張三不敢分辨，在黑暗的岩洞裡摸索著。忽然聽見了上面有「滴答」的聲音，原來是外面的溪流，有水自岩縫中一滴一滴地滲下來。
張三小心翼翼地爬著岩壁，然後貼著岩壁，在凸出的地方站穩了，再耐心地，用一片撿到破瓦片去接水滴。接滿了水，又戰戰兢兢地下來，生怕一不小心摔下或滑了跤。受傷疼痛事小，損了父母所生之身，又因此讓老爹擔憂受驚事大。倘若摔得缺胳膊斷腿的，甚至摔死了，又叫誰來奉養老爹？
老爹喝了水，又說累了、睏了！可是地上又冷又硬，張三只好斜斜坐著，好讓老爹可以靠在他身上睡。張三生怕吵擾了老爹，一動也不敢動；一會兒，他就腿也麻了，身子也僵了！老爹卻還在嘀咕抱怨著不舒服，張三好委屈哦！可是他記起了母親臨終時的吩咐，要他努力工作，好好照顧父親。這是母親的遺言，他怎能違背，而讓母親在九泉之下也不能安心呢？再說，老爹老了，理當做兒子的來孝順他。對了！「兒子背老子」不就是「孝」字嗎？張三這一想，不由精神起來，「孝」字可不是兒子的「子」上面背了一個「老」字？（注：「孝」字是合「老」在「子」上，但為字形美觀故，把「老」字裡的「匕」省掉了。）可見兒子背老子，奉養老子，是天經地義的。想我小的時候，還不會走路，不也是爸爸、媽媽抱我、背我的嗎？爸爸、媽媽抱我、背我，又餵我吃東西，他們的臉色是多麼慈愛和悅啊！我現在背他們，養他們，臉色當然也要恭敬和順，要不然豈不大大傷了父母的心，也辜負了父母養育之恩？
張三想到這裡，看了看睡得很不安穩的老爹，臉上猶帶著怒容。他難過地想：「雖然這不是我的錯，可是我還是要逆來順受。」他記起來，去世的母親曾說過：他要出生時，起初不像一般胎兒，頭下腳上的出來，差點要了媽媽的命；幸好隔壁李大媽有豐富的接生經驗，總算讓他頭先出來，順產了！他每次想到這個，內心就更難受，就暗暗發誓：「一定要順承父母，不再叫父母擔憂受苦，即使是無理的責備，也要和順接受，不讓父母生氣。」想那嬰兒，總是頭先出來才叫順產，就像水總是由高而下，才叫順流。（注：「順」字，會合川流的「川」與「頁」兩個象形字而成文。「川」畫水流下的樣子，「頁」則畫個頭的形狀，這兩樣都是因應自然情勢，就叫「順」。）那麼做孩子的我，順著父母的心意，不也是因應自然？如果做兒女的，光知道養父母的口體，卻不懂得恭敬父母、順從父母，這和養一隻狗、一隻貓，又有什麼分別呢？
想到這裡，張三覺得心平氣和，不但不再感覺任何委屈，還認為自己做得還不夠周到。這時外面一片喧嘩，原來土匪已走了，大家都各自回了家。張三高高興興地背起了老爹，堅定地一步一步往家裡走去。
從這個故事，我們至少可以得到一些概念：孝順父母，是人與生俱來的天性，只要順應這種天性，每個人都可以成為一個孝子，讓父母安享晚年。所以，孝順父母，至少必須包括以下幾項：
一、生活上的奉養—讓父母得依靠。
二、態度上的恭敬—讓父母覺安慰。
三、意志上的承順—讓父母無掛礙。
四、健康上的保重—讓父母免憂慮。
五、德行上的策勵—讓父母有光采。
你說對不對？
作者簡介：
孫果秀居士，畢業於臺灣高雄師範學院中文系。1991年到萬佛聖城，目前擔任聖城義務教師，在育良小學、培德中學教中文課，法界佛教大學教論語課。孫居士關心年輕人，熱心於教育，對於教學教材的選擇、課程的設計及目標的設定，她都投注了最大的心力。 |
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Introduction
In learning Chinese characters, many people say, "They are hard to write and also hard to understand." When studying Chinese culture, they complain that the principles are obsolete and outdated. Actually, not only are Chinese writing and culture not difficult to learn and understand, they are are in fact very interesting. They are artistic, amusing, and very methodical. What evidence is there for this? Please read on.
This feature is called Modern Interpretations of Ancient Expressions. It aims to take commonplace Chinese characters, idioms and principles and cook them up in the more appetizing sauce of modern language. These contemporary interpretations of the Chinese classics will appeal to the palates of both the elderly and the young, allowing more people to savor this refreshing food for the spirit.
I. The Son Carries his Old Papa
-- A Story of Filiality
"The bandits are coming!" Everyone was running and shouting in panic. Working in the field, John threw down his hoe and ran off as well. After a few steps, he immediately thought of Papa. Rushing home, he lifted Papa onto his shoulder and went out. The old man was too old to walk. His eyesight was poor so John always had to carry him wherever he wanted to go. Now John carried him to hide in a cave at the foot of a hill.
They had been in such a hurry to escape, and now they could find nothing to eat in the cave. Fortunately, John still had his packed lunch with him. He opened it up, and with utmost respect offered Papa one bite after another. After finishing it, Papa was thirsty and scolded, "Are you trying choke me?" Not daring to argue, John felt around in the dark. Suddenly he heard the "Drip, drip, drip" of water coming from above. It was leaking in through a crack from the stream outside. Carefully, John climbed onto a rocky ledge, sticking closely to the wall, and stood firm at a protruding spot. Patiently, he collected the drops of water in a piece of broken tile that he had picked up. When the tile was filled with water, he descended again, being careful not to slip. The pain of getting hurt is no big deal, but it would be a serious matter to harm the body his parents had given him and cause them worry. If he broke an arm or leg, or killed himself, who would take care of Old Papa?
After drinking the water, Papa said he was tired. Since the ground was cold and hard, John had to sit leaning to one side so Papa could rest against his body. Afraid of disturbing his father, he hardly moved. Soon his legs grew numb and his body became stiff. As Papa kept complaining about how uncomfortable everything was, John started feeling really frustrated! However, he recalled his mother on her deathbed, telling him to work hard and take good care of his father. If he went against her wish, how could she rest in peace underground? Besides, Papa is old, and it is fitting for the son to be filial to his father. By the way, isn't "a son carrying his old papa" the meaning of filiality? Thinking about this, John became very excited. Isn't the word "filiality" (孝) made up of the word "son" (子) with the word "elder" (老) above it? (Note: For the sake of appearance, the lower part of the word "elder" (老) is omitted in the word "filiality.") Thus we know it is the most natural thing for a son to serve his father. "When I was little, before I could walk, didn't my parents hold me all the time? They patted me, carried me and fed me, and their faces looked so loving and happy! Now it's my turn to carry them and nurture them, and I should be also respectful and compliant. Otherwise, wouldn't I seriously hurt their feelings and fail to repay their kindness of raising me?"
Thinking about this and looking at his father who slept restlessly with an angry look on his face, John thought sadly, "Although it was not my fault, I should be resigned to what happened." His deceased mother once said that when he was delivered, he did not come out head-first as normal kids do and that almost killed her. Fortunately, experienced Aunt Lily was there to help her have a successful delivery! He felt pain every time he reflected on this, and resolved, "I must comply with my parents and not cause them any more worry and suffering. I'll accept their scolding even if it is unreasonable, as long as they do not become upset. If a baby emerges head first, it is called a smooth delivery, just as water flows smoothly from high to low places.
The word 'smooth' or 'compliant' (順) is a pictograph composed of the words for 'river' (川) and 'page' (頁). The word 'river' looks like flowing water and the word 'page' resembles a head. These two things comply with what is natural. As a child, isn't it natural for me to comply with my parents' wishes? If children only know to feed their parents, and do not know to respect and comply with them, how is it different from feeding a dog or cat?"
John felt calm now, and his frustrations were gone. He reflected that he ought to be more considerate. Just then, there was an uproar outside. The bandits had gone and everyone was returning to their homes. John happily carried his father on his back and with firm resolve walked back to his house.
From the story, we learn that it is part of human nature for us to treat our parents with filial compliance. Following this nature, we can all be filial children and let our parents enjoy the latter part of their lives in peace. Being filial includes at least:
1. supporting their lives, so our parents can depend on us.
2. having a respectful attitude, so our parents feel comfort.
3. complying with their wishes, so our parents do not feel obstructed.
4. caring for their health, so our parents are free of worry.
5. exhorting ourselves to be virtuous, so our parents enjoy honor.
Don't you agree?
About the Author:
Upasaka Sun Gwo-syou graduated from the Chinese Department of the Teachers' （Normal） College in Gau-syung, Taiwan. She came to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in 1991, and is currently working as a volunteer teacher. She teaches a Chinese class in Instilling Virtue Elementary School and Developing Virtue High School, and a course on the Confucian Analects at Dharma Realm Buddhist University. Upasaka Sun is concerned about young people, and teaches with enthusiasm. She devotes great attention to selecting teaching materials and designing the content and goals of the curriculum.
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