Fruitful Tree or Leafless Tree

Once there was a teacher, who brought his two students up to mountain hill. They came to a spot where they could see two trees standing in front of them. One was fruitful and fully occupied by leaves, whereas the another was leafless. The great teacher asked his two students, if you were to choose the tree that you like to have, which will you choose?

从前有一位老师，他带着两个学生上山去。来到一个地点，他们看到有两棵站在他们面前。一棵是充满果子和叶子的，而另一棵一根叶子都没有。这位老师便问他两个学生，如果你们有选择可以得到其中一棵树，你会选择哪一棵呢?

Which will you choose?

你会选择哪一棵呢?

Without hesitation, the first student said 'the fruitful one'. Teacher agreed and he further conveyed that, this tree provides good shade and fruit. One could simply enjoy happiness of life under benefits of this tree.

很快的，第一个学生说“那充满果子的”。老师其实也这样认为，他再说，这棵树可以给我们趁凉的地方和可吃的食物。我们可以它身上享受并且获得许多益处。

Which will you choose?

你会选择哪一棵呢?

The second student said 'the leafless'. Teacher was astonished. 'Why?' he asked. The student replied. This tree needs tender and care. If I can just realise what I could do to help, to water and to fertilize, it would one day turned as fruitful as the another one.

第二个学生说‘无叶子的树’。老师非常惊讶，“为什么?”。学生却回答。这棵树需要人栽培。如果我能帮助它，浇灌，施肥，总有一天它会像另一课树那么的茂盛，有许多果子。


Certainly in our life, everyone is seeking for happiness. People may think that the second student is a fool for what he needs to suffer, he could just be like the first student. However, true happiness is not when we enjoy benefits but when we see the result of our deeds. The first student might live his life happily ever after with his tree since the very beginning, but the second student can enjoy the moment of witnessing the tree grows and recovers because of what he had done.

事实上每一个人的生命当中，都在寻找快乐。世人的眼光会觉得第二位学生蛮愚昧，他应该像那第一位学生的选择然后不必在受苦。但是，真正的喜乐不因为我们领受而是我们看到所我们施舍的成绩。第一位学生或许开始就得到快乐，但第二位却可以享受树成长的时刻因着他的付出。

Obviously, one was happy because he received, and one was happy because he gave. This story is not simply a story. It tells us our personality. We approached because we want benefits? Or we approached because we want to help?

明显，一个是‘得’而开心，一个是‘施’而喜乐。这故事不单只是故事。它告诉我们自己的性格。我们靠近因为要‘益处’?还是我们靠近因为要‘帮助’?

Which will you choose?

你会选择哪一棵?

Be honest and you'll know your personality and your friend's. You'll see...

打开眼睛，你将会看到真正的自己并身边的人。你会知道...

[PS: I'm writing this post in both English and Chinese just to enhance my writing skill...]