Once Is Enough!
When I was a boy, I was very fond of ice cream. Since our family was poor, we had few opportunities to eat it. Even when we were able to buy some, the amount which each child received was small. I often thought that it would be wonderful if I, just once, had a chance to eat as much ice cream as I wanted.
The chance came one summer on the occasion of a school picnic. Someone had donated a large amount of ice cream for the picnic and each of us was allowed to eat as much as he desired. The picnic was on the shore of a lake where boats were available for the use of the students. A friend and I took a large amount of ice cream, got into a boat and started to row to the middle of the lake. When we arrived there, we stopped the boat, and began to eat the little
boxes of ice cream.
The first few boxes were delicious. As we continued to eat, we began to feel strange. The very thought of eating more of it made us feel sick, so we stopped eating and sat there silently looking at each other.
This event took place many years ago, but I still remember it very well. From that time on, I realized how foolish it was to seek satisfaction in material things.
In the heart of each of us there are desires which have no limit. Only an Infinite Being is able to satisfy these desires of our hearts. That Infinite Being is God.
一度で充分
小さい頃、私はアイスクリームが大好物でしたが、家が貧しくそんなにたびたびアイスクリームを食べる機会はありませんでした。たまにあったとしても、家族一人ひとりが口にできるのはほんのわずかでした。それでいつも一度でいいから欲しいだけアイスクリームを食べられたらどんなに幸せかと思っていました。
ある夏の暑い日、学校から遠足に行った時、思いがけず私の望みが叶えられたのです。その日、学校に遠足用としてアイスクリームが大量に寄付され、私たち生徒は好きなだけ食べてよいことになりました。ピクニックは湖のそばであったので、ボートにも乗れ、私と友人は欲しいだけのアイスクリームをボートにのせ、湖の真中へ漕ぎ出し、真ん中まで行くと私たちはアイスクリームを食べ始めました。
最初の二つ三つは本当に美味しかったのですが、食べ続けていくうちにだんだんおかしな気分になってきたのです。そして、私たちはアイスクリームを見るのもいやになり、ボートを漕ぐ手を休め、ことばもなく、ただお互いにじっと見つめ合っていました。
これは私のほんの子供の頃の話ですが、今も強く印象に残っています。それ以来、物質的な満足を追求することは用心深くなりました。
人間の物質的な欲望は尽きることがありません。無限の存在だけが人間の欲望を満足させることができるのです。それは神樣なのです。
