禍不單行/莊峻華

禍不單行/莊峻華

睡過半夜醒來，原來是牙疼，蛀牙襲擊牙神經，連忙準備煮綠豆湯

，此為我家秘方，鹹綠豆湯退火，可以暫時止痛，久而久之，牙神

經死亡，蛀牙根死，再做假牙處理，我剛好在左眼手術復原中，眼

醫提醒開始注意眼睛血管中之血糖，這是我之多年糖尿病故，眼疾

，蛀牙，和糖尿病，是我老年後，三大健康問題，我稱之為禍，年

老之禍，其實應該是佛門之苦，生老病死，是禍不單行，前一句是

福無雙至。

我有牙周病，三十年來，作過多次手術，仍舊無法阻止落牙，所以

約是兩年前，回台北，安裝假牙，上下五顆，從此相安無事，一直

到最近幾天，我又開始要安排，回台灣整牙，美國整牙，花費驚人。

昨日眼睛檢查，左眼內小氣泡仍在，只是減小，眼醫生很滿意，要

我兩週後，氣泡消逝，再請原任眼醫，拆掉他縫之針線，我對左眼

，非常滿意，但是我也和護士和醫生，提到左右眼，視力之稍微差異

，遠處左眼視力和顏色，不若右眼，兩人均聽而未答，晚上，我就收

到一眼醫公司廣告，說明影響眼視力之原因，包括眼睛結構，白內障

是第一項，糖尿病是第五項，一共是六大項，我常自作多情，我以為

是兩人討論過我之問題，然後就送我一張說明，要我自行研究，這廣

告是專門常識，我一讀就了解，老化後之身體，無法返老還童，科學

技術，仍未達該項境界。

我把韓文公之，髮白蒼蒼，齒牙動搖，比喻為老境，當然不是，甘之

如飴，此為我需，面對之苦，老年之挑戰，不能老是在此打轉，我需

要將注意力，轉移到其它，生活課題，問題要一一面對，一一解決，

不能解決之問題，要有心理建設，要開始妥協，尋覓喜歡，沒有壓力

之活動，認識自己之能力，自己之範圍，如能舉出苦而為禍，天下已

經太平一半矣。

糖尿病者，血糖結晶，可以跑到眼睛，微血管末梢，糖尿病患，眼睛失

明，此為原因，所以老人保險，規定老人糖尿病人，需要定期看眼醫，

追蹤眼睛血糖程度。

While resting from left eye surgery/ Carlos Pueblo

While resting from left eye surgery/ Carlos Pueblo

While I am resting from my left eye cataract surgery, I have recited my

daily routine on my blog, morning walk to meet friends and pet dogs,

managing my pots tomato and cucumber, cooking my favorite soup

and consuming it, listening Japanese old movies and songs, and occasional

bank errand.

Fall comes to Houston early this year and the weather is quite comfortable

lately. I can put a jacket when I start the walk and may take off at the end

of walk. Other than greeting to friends and dogs, today, there are four of us

walking together and discussing Taiwanese politic which makes shorting of

the regular route. We don’t know anything about the local election in Houston

early next month and surprisingly I check on internet news from Taiwan almost

several times a in a day. We feel that Taiwanese voters will end Nationalist

Chinese rule in Taiwan on next election three months away.

While I am waiting for Amy’s preparation for the morning walk, I start making

The reversed osmosis pure water in order to gather some separated water to

water my plants. I can see the result after I place the horse manure on the

surface. The city water bill is also included how to save water by using some rinse

water for gardening.

I have been influenced by Confucius for his philosophy that a gentleman would

regret the lack of fame when he dies; therefore, I write diligently to express

myself on my blog and tumbler. Now, I have had about 2000 pieces on my collection.

 I found an old Japanese movie, the moon over a ruined castle kojo no tsuki, resolved

so much curiosity in my mind for decades. With a help from the movie, makes me look

into the Google search, a discussion with a fellow Taiwanese Japan expert, and finally

check into the castle name provided from the previous search. The ruined castle is Oka

Castle located in west of current Fukushima Prefecture. The poet is Tsuchii Bansui (1871-

1952) and the composer is Taki Rentaro (1879-1903.) Taki died of tuberculosis with about

4 songs left to the world, yet Tsuchii lived up to 75 with so many Japanese songs written

by him.

I called Mr. Lin at Sugarland for his information and lucky me he just returned from a trip

to the ruined Oka castle. He also briefs me some history of the battle which ruins and makes

the castle famous. The ruined castle has been rebuild for tourism and I make up my mind

to visit and I also remember the owner’s ancestor from the beginning of the third Tokugawa

Shogunate because I remembered that episode, the first owner was a brother to the 3^rd

Shogun with a different mother. The war was one of the hardest battle in 1868.

  

養病幾樂/莊峻華

養病幾樂/莊峻華

左眼白內障手術，在家養病，每日早晚點藥水，正常復原，最近開

始有人和我談起，白內障手術，我在養病中，曾經注意到，白內障

之原因，和手術之道理方法，醫生不同應變方法，堪稱一樂也，其

實在家養病，許多樂趣，平日不受珍重，像清晨散步，種番茄，作

文，看電影，聽歌，和變錢等，真是養病幾樂也。

秋日早到休市，清晨氣溫涼爽，散步需要夾克，每日除需招呼朋友愛

犬之外，今日又加入兩位鄰居同鄉，談論台灣政治現況，真是一樂也

，休市市長選舉，迫在眉間，我連候選人都不知，真是有趣，幾分鐘

就看台北政治快訊，真是厚彼薄此。

等愛美準備妥善中，我開始作純水，收取澆番茄苗水，連休市政府都

在宣導如何蓄水，例如控制漏水，控製水龍頭開關，利用排水澆花等

，我的儲蓄節約，連市政府，均有共識。番茄苗盆，已經分好十餘盆

，其中有六盆是小黃瓜，幾日前開車到馬場拾糞，補助貧脊盆內土壤

，我不喜歡花錢，購買沃土。

君子嫉末世而名不稱焉，所以我在清晨早起，勤寫作文，譜文上谷歌

部落格，和雅虎探不勒，部落格將近有兩千篇作文，最近開始增加英

文，就是一題兩版。

昨天看電影，看到荒城之月老影片，這是1938年作品，順便查谷歌字

典，解決我十餘年之好奇，原來荒城是指幕末戰爭中，會津籓之鶴之城

，先是東京音樂高師，替全國初中編音樂教材，請到土井晚翠教授，詩

詞荒城之月，全國徵曲，有位年輕音樂高校生，瀧廉太郎應徵錄取，時

年21，十餘年前學日文，剛好渡邊先生英譯此歌，鄉訊編者好意，登載

我之譯詩，同鄉陳春興老先生，告知晚翠先生，時任仙台二高教授，果

然晚翠先生，出身二高，東京帝大英文系，畢業後就在二高，東北帝大

任教到退休。有位認真之讀者，將廉太郎先生簡傳，英文寫出，先生生

於東京，讀東京音樂高校，鋼琴專長，在高校時，已經入選名曲，畢業

後，留學德國萊比錫音樂學校一年，因病輟學返國，電影上之描述，是

最終四個月，因肺結核過世，享年24。

我也看到愛染桂，老愛情影片，若尾文子之浮草，還有許多小時候，聽

聞之日本影片，真後悔日文未學好。

What Buddha says about Bodhisattva/Carlos Pueblo

What Buddha says about Bodhisattva/Carlos Pueblo

Buddhism has been mentioned a lot about what Buddha says about Bodhisattva,

and what is it? Current Buddha says and repeatedly in the diamond sutra for a

same token, in regard to a Bodhisattva, is no Bodhisattva; therefore, we call it

Bodhisattva. About 1365 years ago, there was a poor young Chinese listening to

a Buddhist  monk reciting diamond sutra on a small village street, suddenly, he

had an insight and decided to be a monk. Later, this monk became a famous

Zen Buddhist monk, the 6^th and the last patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism. What  

did make him his sudden insight? He did not mention it later on his book or lecture.

I have had an insight as well after I learn the story. I believe that is related to what

Buddha says about Bodhisattva.

In Buddhism, Bodhisattva is a devotee, devotes his life to help the other, of course,

he must help himself first, not depending on the other’s. Once his devoted heart

becomes a habit, according a certain way to enter Nirvana then he becomes  a

Buddha. Now, you may ask me what the Nirvana is, it is not a herbal tea to drink,

It is a paradise. In Buddhism, everyone can be a Buddha, including a pet dog. Therefore,

Buddha says, in regard to a Bodhisattva, there is no Bodhisattva, that is to say Bodhisattva.

I would furthermore modify his preaching, in regard to money, there is no money, that

Is to say money; in regard to pretty, there is no pretty, that is to say pretty, etc. in the

Sutra, Buddha repeats so many examples which, I guess, make that young man insight.

If you are a charming girl, yet you don’t have a good health, you cannot really enjoy your

outlook, you may be like no pretty at all; if you are rich in money, yet you don’t like to

spend money or you don’t have the opportunity to spend the money, you actually like

a poor man. Buddha wishes you to be happy where you are and utilize what you have.

This is also matched what the Chinese Taoism preaches, back to the natural way.

With is the same as without, Yo is Wu and Wu is Yo.

I find this philosophy suits me well especially when I am getting in years. It would for me

to avoid unnecessary stress in my life. I can certainly desire yet must be within my limit.

I must well prepare myself to face aging process in my life and be honest with myself

that there is not much I can change or create from now own.

佛曰所言菩薩者/莊峻華

佛曰所言菩薩者/莊峻華

幾天來散步，想起金剛經邏輯，佛曰所言菩薩者，剛好比照自己處境

，門診回家，眼疾恢復順利，但仍舊無法預估，何日得以外出旅行，

無法從心所欲，只能不踰矩，如此局促，只能仰仗佛學經典，佛曰所

言菩薩者，即無菩薩，故名菩薩，而且重複許多舉例，我說六祖慧能

，街頭頓悟，在於此道理。

我很喜歡旅行，剛好此刻，水道渠成，有一回程郵輪，從巴瑟隆那港

，穿過大西洋16日，道休市外港，價錢合理，於是我開始盤算，白內

障小手術後，迅速恢復，可以再到歐洲旅行，從德國坐火車到巴黎，再

南下到西班牙，不幸者，手術不順利，重做一次，復原期常，似乎遙遙

無期，如此考驗我對經典之認識，因為好事多磨，眼視力確實增進，但

旅行不能從心所欲，但卻有能省下一筆錢，年底交房地產稅，所以佛陀

之哲學，就是所言旅行者，即無旅行，故名旅行；所言有錢者，即無有

錢，故名有錢；所言漂亮者，即無漂亮，故名漂亮；所言參選者，即無

參選，故名參選；所言菩薩者，即無菩薩，故名菩薩，就是道家所謂，

順其自然也。

順其自然者，隨遇而安也，我也喜歡工作，我一直以為，年長者能上班

有收入，必是能者有用之才，十餘年來，我試多次，捲土重來，然歲不

我與，浪費有限資本，也糟踏身體，不如勤儉度日，儒家佛家和道家之

哲學，順然而至，如將道理想開，美國生活，如似天堂。 經過多少年之

磨練，我已經清楚，甚麼是可得？甚麼是不可得，老年生活，應該就是

在此範圍，有就是沒有，沒有也是有，所以名為有，詳述之，我以為到

歐洲旅行，是在我能力範圍之內，但因手術複雜，錯過機會，旅行計劃

變成沒有，短暫之沒有，我將準備之費用，拿來繳稅，需要準備繳稅之

錢，挪到明年四月，等待此船回歐洲，從沒有又變成有，就是順移，想

開之後，心境坦然，所言菩薩者，即無菩薩。

我讀過幾本，釋一行老和尚之書，受他之影響甚大，他說為人，需珍惜

每日，每日生活，應過有意義之生活，甚麼是有意義之生活？他並未列

舉，於是乎我開始體會，我的目標很小，就是幫助別人，幫助家人開始

，而且是心甘情願，更是舉手之勞，儒家孟子也提到過，為長者折枝，是

能和不能之問題，願和不願意之問題，都需要在範圍之內，因為沒有如此

多之長者，需人折枝幫忙，我到歐洲旅行，說不定逛到老和尚修行寺廟，

至少我在英國，有一泰國老和尚，可以參經解悟，這和尚我在牛津校園巧

遇，相約再會。

It has been a long way to regain vision/ Carlos Pueblo

It has been a long way to regain vision/ Carlos Pueblo

It has been several weeks for not seeing small dog Prisely and I wonder

If he is alright since he is getting old, deaf, and blind. I saw a couple far

away this morning and suspected that were him and his lady owner.

I kept on whistling till I reached them at the corner of a street. I proudly

presented my new pair of eyes, both with artificial lens and kindly asked

if I could see his cataract problem. She smiled and indicated that his

problems were not cataracts but some other type of eye disease. His

right eye has been blind first now with an artificial eye ball which I notice

and the left eye has been under a surgery without success and is also

blind. He is 14 years old. He can smell and show that he notices my present

by shaking his tail. American families are very kind to pets, keeping the rescue

dogs as their own children, of course, some are not by abandon them when time

is rough.

I read a postal on a wall of my surgeon saying that a traditional procedure is to

use a frozen equipment sake off the natural lens, cataract, and replace an artificial

lens. My problem at the first procedure is that the shake off is not complete and

leave cataract fragment  inside the eye. He, the first surgeon, sent me to the second

surgeon for the rescue. 4 days late, he went in again cleaning it up and also placed

a bubble in it for stabilizing the retina. I am waiting for the bubble to disappear. My

left eye vision is improving, may not completely get rid of near side yet I feel good

without prescribed glass. I think that my new pair of eyes is functioning better than

ever before. This is a good deeds. A Chinese old idiom says that a good deeds comes

from more grinding, means more tempering, when you desire a sharpen knife, you

must grind the knife more and more. It has been a long way to regain my vision.

I asked my surgeon if I could make a trip and come back to see him for examination.

He warned me that might cause blindness. I suspect that may be bad for the eye

pressure and might burst the small bubble inside my eye. I am waiting for the day of

complete heal of the surgery.

I have been driving twice to the nearby banks and am driving to visit my tennis friends

at the court. They are concerned with my recovery. I shall drive to Sugarland to gather

some horse manure for my tomato plants. I am going to pick persimmons in the autumn.

好事多磨/莊峻華

好事多磨/莊峻華

幾週來不見愛犬，普萊斯莉，昨日老遠看見，連忙追趕，轉彎角落不

遠，只見小犬東嗅西嗅，女主人笑曰，似聞口哨聲，我說我有一對新

眼睛，視野甚遠，於是我說，要親自觀看小犬白內障，她說不是白內

障，而是另外一種眼疾，小犬右眼，早已失明，可見眼珠異常，是人

工眼珠，左眼手術失敗，她說犬類白內障手術成功率，遠不及人類，

膚淺如我者，真想問她，小犬手術費，有口難言，美國家庭仁慈，收

養棄犬，待之如子女。

白內障手術，算是簡單眼經手術，傳統方法，使用冷凍低溫，將自然

眼鏡片震落，然後換上一，人工鏡片，於是乎恢護視野，半世紀近視

，幾乎一掃而去，這是件好事；然此小手術，也有不到1%之失敗率，

我就是那1%，醫生連忙送我，到另外一醫生處拯救，四日內進行二次

手術，醫生甚至使用雷射，手術前是每天檢查，觀察傷痕狀況，按照

首位眼醫說法，惟恐破碎鏡片，滲入眼球內部，所以必須迅速清理戰

場，這是多磨，手術後每週二，都由愛美開車，送到25哩外，醫學中

心，檢查眼睛，等後置放之小氣泡消失，如今已是五週過後，醫生判

斷，可能稍留近視，痊癒後，將配置近視眼鏡，其實我已經，非常滿

意。

有天，我試問醫生，是否能讓我到歐洲旅行？然後回來再檢查眼睛，醫

生嚴肅警告，眼睛必將失明，我猜測是眼壓，高空小氣泡，必將破裂，

不是自然癒合，我的越洋郵輪旅行，勢必延期，這就是我們佛家所謂，

得不到苦，好事多磨。

已經開車兩次，到附近銀行，今晨準備開車到網球場，拜望球友，還是

不適網球活動，三位球友，已經鬆下一口氣，手術癒合進步，醫生將告

訴我，何時可以恢復網球局。其實，秋日活動尚多，我可以準備採柿，製

作柿餅；可以到糖城拾馬糞施肥，很快就是年終。