The only problem unconsciously assumed by all Chinese philosophers to be of any importance is: How shall we enjoy life， and who can best enjoy life?

中國所有的哲學(xué)家在不知不覺中認(rèn)為唯一重要的問題是：我們要怎樣享受人生？誰最會(huì)享受人生？

No perfectionism， no straining after the unattainable， no postulating of he unknowable; but taking poor， mortal human nature as it is， how shall we organize our life so that we can work peacefully， endure nobly and live happily?

我們不追求十全十美的理想，我們不尋找那些得不到的東西，我們不要求知道那些不得而知的東西；我們只認(rèn)識不完美的、終有一死的人的本性，我們要怎樣調(diào)整我們的人生，使我們可以平靜地工作著，曠達(dá)地忍耐著，幸福地生活著呢?

Who are we? That is first question. It is a question almost impossible to answer. But we all agree with the busy self occupied in our daily activities is not quite the real self.

我們是誰呢？這是第一個(gè)問題。這個(gè)問題幾乎是無法回答的?？墒俏覀兌汲姓J(rèn)在我們?nèi)粘；顒?dòng)中那么忙碌的自我，并不完全是真正的自我。

We are quite sure we have lost something in the mere pursuit of living. When we watch a person running about looking for something in a field， the wise man can set a puzzle for all the spectator to solve: what has that person lost? Some one thinks it is a watch; another thinks it is a diamond brooch; and others will essay other guesses. After all the guesses have failed， the wise man who really doesn’t know what the person is seeking after， tells the company:“I’ll tell you. He has lost some breath.” And no one can deny that he is right.

我們確信我們在患得患失的追求中已經(jīng)失掉了一些東西。當(dāng)我們看見一個(gè)人在一片田野上跑來跑去尋找東西時(shí)，智者可以編出一個(gè)難題給一切旁觀者去解答：那個(gè)人丟掉了什么呢？有的猜是一只表，有的猜是一枚鉆石胸針，其他的人則作其他的猜測。智者委實(shí)也不知道那個(gè)人在尋找什么東西，可是當(dāng)大家都猜不中的時(shí)候，他會(huì)對大家說：“我告訴你們吧， 他有點(diǎn)喘不過氣來了。” 沒有人會(huì)否認(rèn)他的話是對的。

So we often forget our true self in the pursuit of living， like a bird forgetting its own danger in pursuit of a mantis which again forgets its own danger in pursuit of another.

所以我們在人生的追求中常常忘掉了真正的自我，就像莊子在一個(gè)美妙的譬喻里所講的那樣，螳螂正要捕蟬，卻不知道黃雀正在后面想吃它呢。

（陳劍雯 摘）