Please help me to correct this article in both Chinese and English. Regarding Chinese version, I have problem with writing language. My teacher said that I just use speaking language.
by the way, can anyone tell me the different between "再” and "又", I know that "zai" is for future. But when I tell a story (past tense), should I always use "you" ? Thanks a lot.
妈妈的故事
小时候，妈妈给我讲过一个故事。
有一天，一位老师在坐禅，突然他的徒弟跑进来，激动地说：《师傅，师傅。我刚听见一件很奇怪的事情，真没想到……》。那位老师气定神闲地说：《你慢着，我先问你三个问题，你回答好才讲。第一个问题是：你要讲的故事跟我们有密切的关系或影响吗？》。徒弟说：《没有，不过……》。老师没有让他解释，又问：《那个故事如果被讲出来，对我们或任何人有什么好处？》。《这个……没有》。徒弟开始觉得有点儿不对，想退下，老师却拦住他：《还有一个问题，你可不可以肯定那件事是真确的？》。徒弟不好意思地说：《我只是据说……》。那时候，老师对她说：《徒弟，你记住，任何听见或看见的事情，既然对我们没有关系，讲出来没有好处，也无法查明到底，就不用讲了。我也不用听了》。
张大时，我更认识那位老师的话很有道理。我们每天从同事、家人、邻居、报纸……接受各种消息，大部分对我们没有关系，没有好处，更没有办法分真假。比如听说那位女明星刚刚跟老公分手了，那个地方有一只二头狗，一个有名的运动员被怀疑用麻醉药，刚搬来的邻居怎么鬼鬼祟祟，好像不是好人啊等。我们随便听，然后又随口给别人讲，顺便加一点儿《香料》，一直转下去。
有人可以反对：《那样也不算大事吧。有空儿跟朋友聊聊一些闲事不会发生任何不好的吧？》我想，话一出口就不会收回，有时候可能伤害对象可我们却不知道。被糊涂的舆论必死的人还不够多吗?而且这个态度会抵消自己的观点与评估能力。到最后，我们有可能只会讲《据说》的话。
一个人如果要别人尊敬自己的话，他必得先对自己的话有责任。
我以后如果给孩子讲这个故事，一定要加一句话：《现在是信思时代，一个人每天接受几百条新闻，如果不要发疯，应该吧《没有达到上面三个条件》马上忘掉！
Once upon a time, a master was in deep meditation when one of his disciple came in and shouted out with excite: “Master, Master, I got a shaking news, it is unbelievable…”. The master calmly stopped this young man: “Wait a minute. Before you tell me that news, I have 3 questions for you. One: Does this news have close relation to or great impact on us?”. “No, master, but…”. The master interrupted him: “The second question is: If you speak it out, will it bring us or the others any benefit?”. “No, master…”.The disciple began to confuse and just wished to go, but the master stopped him again: “The last question is: Can you sure that the news is true?”. “Master, I just heard that…”. At that time, the master said: “My disciple, if there is anything which has no relation, no benefit to you or anyone else, and there is no way to confirm whether it is true or not, you should just keep it for yourself. I don’t want to hear it.”
When getting older, I have realized how wise the master was. Every day, we read or hear tons of news from colleagues, family, neighbors, newspapers…most of them has no impact on us, bring in no benefit and certainly, just God knows they are true or not. That actress just got a noisy divorce; a two-head dog was newly-born in ABC province; an XYZ athlete was suspected to use drug; our new neighbor looks suspicious, maybe he is not a good person…we just unintentionally “absorb” these news then tell the others with some “spices” to make them more attractive. They, in their turn, repeat what they have heard to their surroundings. And go on.
You may protest that such habit is harmless. What disaster may result from those chatting? I think we can never withdraw what we have said, which may unintentionally injure someone. There have been hundreds of well-known people forced to suicide due to unbearable public pressure. This habit will also gradually rust our own point of view and assessing ability. Just imagine a day when we can just say the It-is-said-that things.
If I have a chance to tell this story to my child, I will add one more sentence: In the age of information, it is a must that you have to immediately “delete” those “rubbish news” to prevent yourself from craziness!
