［美］卡里.纪伯伦/Kahlil Gibran
一位富人接下来说，请你给我们讲讲施与吧。
于是，他回答：你们只是拿出自己的财产，那么你们的施与微不足道；若你们奉献自己，那才是真正的施与。
你们守护囤积的财产，只是因为明天可能会需要吗？而明天，如果一条狗在跟随着朝圣者前往圣城的途中，过度谨慎地将骨头埋在找不到回头路的沙子里，那么明天将会给它带来什么呢？
除了欲望本身，还有什么可惧怕的呢？当井水充盈时，你对干渴的畏惧还是无法摆脱的吗？
有些人只捐赠自己财产的九牛一毛——他们不过是为得到认可，然而他们隐藏的私欲使他们的礼物无益于身心；也有些人，拥有甚少，却全部捐献，他们相信生命本身就足够丰裕，他们的保险箱从不会空着。
有些人欢快地施与，这欢快便是他们的报酬；有些人痛苦地施与，这痛苦便是他们的洗礼。有些人，施与时并不觉得痛苦，也不是为了寻求快乐或凸显美德。他们施与，犹如山谷那边的桂花，在空气中散发出淡淡的馨香。
上帝借助这些人之手传道，借由他们之眸对大地微笑。
在他人要求时奉上施与的确不错，但在别人未开口时能体贴地施与，这就更好了。对于慷慨大方之人，倘能找到乐于接受者，要比施与本身更为快乐。
你还想保留什么呢？总有一天，你拥有的一切都将施与他人。所以现在就施与吧，把施与的机会留给自己，而不是你的后来人。
你们常说：“我只赠给值得赠的人。”你们果园中的树木和草地上的羊群就不会这样说。因为施与，它们才得以生存，而拒绝给予则会招致灭亡。
一个值得被神授予白日与黑夜的人，当然能够从你们这里获得其他一切；一个值得啜饮生命之泉的人，当然也能从你们的溪流里斟满杯盏。
有什么能超越接受的勇气、信心，甚至慈悲的美德吗？
你是谁？值得人们敞开胸怀，移开自尊的面纱，好让你看到他们赤裸裸的价值和他们无愧的尊严？先审视一下自己是否有资格成为一个施与者——一件施与的容器。
事实上，因为这是生命对生命的施与——至于你，自视为施与者，不过是一个见证人罢了。
至于你们这些受施者——你们全都是受施者——不要背上感激的重负，否则就是给自己和施与者套上枷锁。不如和施与者及其馈赠一同展翅飞翔，因为对债务耿耿于怀，就是怀疑那宽厚的以大地为母、以上帝为父的施与者的慷慨。
Then said a rich man，Speak to us of Giving.
And he answered：
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow？And tomorrow，what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city？
And what is fear of need but need itself？Is not dread of thirst when your well is full，the thirst that is unquenchable？
There are those who give little of the much which they have—and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.And there are those who have little and give it all.These are the believers in life and the bounty of life，and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy，and that joy is their reward.And there are those who give with pain，and that pain is their baptism.And there are those who give and know not pain in giving，nor do they seek joy，nor give with mindfulness of virtue；they give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks，and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked，but it is better to give unasked，through understanding；
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
And is there aught you would withhold？
All you have shall some day be given；therefore give now，that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.
You often say，“I would give，but only to the deserving.”The trees in yours orchard say not so，nor the flocks in your pasture.They give that they may live，for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence，nay the charity，of receiving？
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride，that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed？See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver，and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life—while you，who deem yourself a giver，are but a witness.
And you receivers—and you are all receivers—assume no weight of gratitude，lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings；for to be overmindful of your debt，is to doubt his generosity who has the freehearted earth for mother，and God for father.