恭敬长辈就是在积累福德，人生也会增上吉祥
尊敬长辈，连动物也懂
Even animals show respect to elders
对年轻人来说，恭敬长辈就是在积累福德，凌辱长辈就是在损耗福德。
To respect elders is to accumulate merit; to disrespect elders is to deplete merit.
久远之前，在一个森林中生活着羊角鸟、山兔、猴子、大象，它们和睦相处，过着快乐的生活。
A long time ago, in a forest lived a bird, a hare, a monkey and an elephant. The four of them got along well and lived happily together.
一天，四只动物商议：“我们应该恭敬最年长者。”
One day they decided, “Among us, we should pay respect to the eldest one.”
为了分出谁长谁幼，它们便以一棵树为参照进行比较。
In order to find out the rank by age, they picked a tall tree as a reference point.
大象首先发言：“我小时候就见过这棵树，当时它和我现在一样高。”
The elephant spoke first, “I’ve seen this tree since I was little; at that time it was the same height as I am now.”
猴子紧接着说：“当我小的时候，这棵树就和我现在的身体同样高。”
The monkey followed immediately, “When I was little, this tree was as tall as I am now.”
山兔接过话说：“我小时候，这棵树只有两片嫩叶，我还舔过这叶子上的露水。”
Next, the hare said, ”When I was little, this tree was just a sprout with two tiny leaves. I even licked dew off them.”
羊角鸟最后说：“我以前吃过一棵树的种子，在这里撒下不净粪，后来树就从中长了出来。”
Finally the bird said, “I once ate the fruit of another tree, and right here I left droppings containing its seeds, which then gave rise to this tree.”
四只动物遂排出了长幼顺序：最小的是大象，之后是猴子，再后是山兔，年龄最大的是羊角鸟。
Thus, an age sequence among the four was decided: The youngest one was the elephant, then came the monkey, followed by the hare. The bird, as it turned out, was the most senior one among them.
自此以后，四只动物无论做什么事，都按照长幼顺序次第相偕。
From then on, the four animals did everything according to age seniority.
每当途经艰险难行之处，大象身上蹲立猴子，猴子肩扛山兔，山兔头顶羊角鸟。
When they came upon a rugged path, the monkey would get on the elephant’s back, and the hare stood on the monkey’s shoulder, and the bird rested on the hare’s head.
后来，四只动物又发誓共同持戒行善，
The four animals later took ethic vows together to observe precepts and practice virtue.
在它们的带动下，森林中的动物、乃至整个国家的人，也都开始持戒行善。
Following their example, all the other animals in the forest—even people across the whole country—started to uphold precepts and practice virtue.
这四只动物就是“和气四瑞”。
These four animals are known as “The Four Harmonious Ones.”
《和气四瑞》图
当时的羊角鸟就是后来的释迦牟尼佛，山兔是舍利子，猴子是目犍连，大象是阿难。
The bird later became Buddha Shakyamuni; the hare, Shariputra; the monkey, Maudgalyayana; and the elephant, Ananada.
所以，有智慧的人应当尊敬长辈。
Hence, a wise person should respect elders.
与年轻人相比，老年人具有许多功德，
They possess many good qualities not found in younger generations.
若能对其恭敬承事，虚心听取他们的意见，自己便可避免走很多弯路，人生也会增上吉祥。
If we respect the elders, serve their needs and humbly listen to their advice, we will be saved from drifting onto devious paths and will enjoy many favorable circumstances in life.
索达吉堪布《做，才是得到》
Khenpo Sodargye《Achieve by Doing》
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