於是一個老道人說，請給我們談宗教。
他說：
這一天中我曾談過別的麼？
宗教豈不是一切的功德，一切的反省。
以及那不是功德，也不是反省，只是在鑿石或織布時靈魂中永遠湧溢的一種歎異，一陣驚訝麼？
誰能把他的信心和行為分開，把他的信仰和事業分開呢？
誰能把時間展現在面前，說「這時間是為上帝的，那時間是為我自己的；這時間是為我靈魂的，那時間是為我肉體的」呢？
你的一切光陰都是那在太空中鼓動的翅翼，從自我飛到自我。
那穿上「道德」只如同穿上他的最美的衣服的人，還不如赤裸著，太陽和風不會把他的皮膚裂成洞孔。
把他的舉止范定在倫理之內，是把善鳴之鳥囚在籠裡。
最自由的歌聲，不是從竹木絃線上發出的。
那以禮拜為窗戶的人，開啟而又關上，他還沒有探訪到他心靈之宮，那裡的窗戶是天天開啟的。
你的日常生活，就是你的殿宇，你的宗教。
何時你進去，把你的一切都帶了去。
帶著犁耙和鐵爐，木槌和琵琶，這些你為著需要或怡情而製造的物件。
因為在夢幻中，你不能超升到比你的成就還高，也不至於墜落到比你的失敗還低。
你也要把一切的人都帶著：
因為在欽慕上，你不能飛躍得比他們的希望還高，也不能卑屈得比他們的失望還低。
假如你要認識上帝，就不要做一個解謎的人。
不如舉目四望，你將看見他同你的孩子們遊戲。
也觀望太空；你將看見他在雲中行走，在電中伸臂，在雨中降臨。
你將看見他在花中微笑，在樹中舉手揮動著。
26
On Religion
And an old priest said, "Speak to us of Religion."
And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else?
Is not religion all deeds and all reflection,
And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and a surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone or tend the loom?
Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?
Who can spread his hours before him, saying, "This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?"
All your hours are wings that beat through space from self to self.
He who wears his morality but as his best garment were better naked.
The wind and the sun will tear no holes in his skin.
And he who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.
The freest song comes not through bars and wires.
And lie to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn.
Your daily life is your temple and your religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.
Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute,
The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight.
For in revery you cannot rise above your achievements nor fall lower than your failures.
And take with you all men:
For in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair.
And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees.
