於是一個婦人說，請給我們談苦痛。
他說：
你的苦痛是你那包裹知識的皮殼的破碎。
連果核也必須破碎，使果仁可以暴露在陽光中，所以你們也必須知道苦痛。
倘若你能使你的心時常讚歎日常生活的神妙，你的苦痛的神妙必不減於你的歡樂；
你要承受你心天的季候，如同你常常承受從田里予上度過的四時。
你要靜守，度過你心裡淒涼的冬日。
許多的苦痛是你自擇的。
那是你身中的醫士，醫治你病軀的苦藥。
所以你要信託這醫生，靜默安寧地吃他的藥：
因為他的手腕雖重而辣，卻是有冥冥的溫柔之手指導著。
他帶來的藥杯，雖會焚灼你的嘴唇，那陶土卻是陶工用他自己神聖的眼淚來潤濕調摶而成的。
16
On Pain
And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain."
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.
