【玳瑚師父出差錄】 «傾家蕩產的人»
The man who lost his fortune (English version below)

賭，猶如一個人從海的淺處，游到海的深處，甚少有人會"急"時往身後的海岸望，又或者游回岸上。

吾在童年的時候，就已接觸賭。比如二十一點、阿十（福建話）、麻雀。。。慶幸的是，吾"沒有資格"成為賭徒。更不用說甚麼賭神、賭聖或賭鬼。賭是很迷人。但失了神迷上或染上，你，妳永遠也不用去算命了。為何？命定了啊！甚麼意思？歹命啦！為甚麼歹命呢？賭輸了錢，賭光了錢，心有不甘，四處向人借錢，欲碰碰運氣，看是否能連本帶利的贏回來。哪知，反而"要身一變"成了賭館及賭場的"恩主公"。

一個多星期前，就有一位中年男士向吾告白。原本賣了屋子，"身輕如燕"的他，卻將屋子所得之巨款，輕而易舉的投進賭海。搞到現在債務如山，老婆要離婚，等等。他當然有向吾請教，如何快捷速地的"雨過天晴"。吾依因緣，「精神統一」的觀察其面相、氣色、身型及其他，然後指點他應速速改善的方法。事後也耐心的告訴他，為何十個九個都"淪陷"於賭海。

與此同時，也告知所有"暗藏賭性"的你，妳。誠懇的祝福你，妳，不會將原有的家庭健康、信譽、財富等幸福，埋藏賭海裡。十個九個無法"瀟灑"從賭場走出來的原因之一是;全世界的賭場，由其是亞洲的，都是有佈局的。之二;賭場內有所謂的"高人"在"操控"。之三;賭場內是有"無形"在把守。在你，妳還沒進賭場前，"無形"早已將你，妳肩上的火給拍滅了。試問如何鴻運當頭？

舉凡人難免有"夢"。但這種夢，最易讓人賠了夫人又折兵。有固定的工作，固定的收入，領回家供養父母，給老婆，定期存款以備急時之需，供孩子讀書旅行增廣見聞、回饋社會、為自己積累更厚的福報，快樂、幸福而美滿。何苦要做「傾家蕩產」的人呢？

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Gambling is akin to a person walking from the shallow waters into the deep sea. Very few would turn back and return to shore in time.

I got to know gambling when I was still a child. Black Jack, Ah Chap, mahjong and all. Fortunately, I did not qualify as a gambler, not a inveterate one and definitely not the God of Gamblers! A lot of people are mesmerized by gambling but be warned that those who became addicted will never need to have their fortunes read. Why? You are destined to lead a woeful life.

Why a woeful life? Let me explain. When a person lost all his money, he would not take it lying down and would start borrowing from everyone in a bid to try his luck again and overcome his initial losses! Who knows, in a blink of an eye, he would become the big 'benefactor' of the casinos!

A week plus ago, a middle aged man made a confession to me. He was originally in a very comfortable financial position after having sold his house. He then freely gambled away the profits, and subsequently getting into mountains of debts and now faced threats of divorce from his wife. He sought my advice to solve his problem. With total focus, I observed his facial features, aura and body physique and taught him a way to quickly get out of his troubles. I then patiently explained to him why gambling is always a losing preposition for 9 out of 10 people.

This article is also meant for the secret gambler in you. I sincerely wish that you will not lose your family, your reputation and your wealth to your gambling addictions. Here are the reasons why 9 out of 10 will never walk out from the casinos with a swagger: First these big casinos, especially those in Asia, had their strategic geomancy placements set up firm and strong. Also, there are very powerful advisers who are key in controlling the entire proceedings. Lastly, there is a shroud of invisible beings guarding the casinos. Before you even step into the casino, they will have extinguish the 'fire' on your shoulders. How would you rate your winning chance then?

Everyone has their dreams, but such worldly dreams easily lead to throwing good money after bad. With a stable job and income, one can honour our parents and support the family. One can stash aside some money periodically for rainy days, use it for the children's education or spend it on travels to widen one's horizons. One can even contribute to the society and accumulate more merits. You can have a happy and blissful life. Why would you want to be the one to lose your fortune to the casinos?

。。。要活得無怨無悔：上了年紀的人，通常不會因做過的事後悔；卻常因在年輕時，未曾去做自己想做的事而遺憾，只有心懷悔恨的人，會恐懼死亡。。。。

其實這不是第一次看到類似的故事。但因為人太健忘。所以三不五時提醒一下。
有時候覺得遲疑是因為人有太多莫名的包袱。。。去吧！

（轉貼）《任何人都會變老，但不一定每個人都會長大》

開學第一天，教授自我介紹後，要每位同學主動去結交一位新朋友。
當我站起來環視四週時，有人輕輕拍我的肩膀。
我轉過頭，看見一位滿臉縐紋，個子矮小的老婦人對著我微笑，那笑容光亮璀燦。
她說：「嗨！帥哥，我叫蘿絲，今年87歲。我可以抱你一下嗎？」
我笑起來，熱切的答道：「當然可以」，她果真緊緊地將我抱個滿懷。

我開玩笑的問她：「你年紀這麼小，怎麼就來上大學了？」
她也調皮的回答道：「我準備來這釣個金龜婿，生幾個孩子，然後退休去雲遊四海。」
「此話當真？」我明知故問。

我很好奇，到底是何動機，促使她年屆古稀，還來上大學。
她告訴我說：

「我一直夢想要受大學教育，如今終於得償宿願。」
下課後，我們散步到學生聯合大樓，兩人分享了巧克力奶昔，從此我們成了摯友。
往後三個月的每一天，我們總是一起離開教室，天南地北的聊個沒完。
她像一部「時光機器」，將智慧和經驗與我分享，而我總是聽得津津有味。

一學年下來，蘿絲成了學校鼎鼎大名的人物。
不論走到那裡，她總能輕易的結交到新朋友。
她經常打扮得漂漂亮亮的，陶醉在同學們對她的關注之中。
學期結束時，蘿絲應邀到我們為足球隊舉辦的晚宴中演講。
我永難忘懷當晚她賜予我們的珍貴禮物。
主持人介紹她給聽眾之後，她碎步走向講台，正當要開始演講時，她手中的講稿不慎掉落地上。

有幾秒鐘時間她顯得有點懊惱和靦腆，不過立刻就幽默的對著麥克風淡淡的說：「抱歉，我最近老喜歡掉東西，剛剛我本想喝杯啤酒壯膽，卻喝了威士忌，沒想到那玩意兒簡直要我的命，看來我是記不得事先準備的東西了，那我就講最熟悉的事情吧。」

在大家的笑聲中，她清了一下喉嚨，然後開始說：『我們不是因為年老而停止玩樂，我們是因停止玩樂才會變老，只有一種秘訣能使人青春永駐，快樂成功。

就是你們必須經常笑口常開，幽默風趣；你們必須時時懷抱夢想，當你們失去夢想時，你們就形同死亡，我們的週圍有許多人像似行屍走肉，卻不自覺。』

『變老和長大之間有很大的差別，任何人都會變老，但不一定每個人都會長大。

長大的意思是，你必須不斷在蛻變中找尋成長的機會而善加利用。
要活得無怨無悔：上了年紀的人，通常不會因做過的事後悔；卻常因在年輕時，未曾去做自己想做的事而遺憾，只有心懷悔恨的人，會恐懼死亡。』

那年底，蘿絲終於完成她的大學學業。
畢業後一星期，她在睡夢中安祥去逝。
超過2千名同學參加她的葬禮。
我們聚在一起，向這位以身教教導我們：只要下定決心，不管年紀多大都可以實現夢想…

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.

I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.

She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet.

I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this

whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with

regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.