“All under heaven bustle about in pursuit of profit; all under heaven jostle about in pursuit of profit.” – Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Merchants
“Fame and fortune are the things this fleeting world values most; how many throughout the ages have been able to cast them aside?” – Tang dynasty poem
During his tour of the south, the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty arrived at Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang. Accompanied by the head monk, Zen Master Faqing, he stood atop the hill admiring the scenery of the Yangtze River.
Seeing the bustling traffic of boats coming and going on the river, the Emperor asked Master Faqing, “How many boats pass along the Yangtze River in a single day?”
Master Faqing said, “Only two.”
Puzzled, the Emperor asked, “How can there be only two boats?”
Master Faqing replied, “One for fame, the other for profit.”
The Emperor was greatly impressed.
#22 只有两条船
“天下熙熙皆为利来，天下攘攘皆为利往。” – 《史记·货殖列传》
“名利本为浮世重，古今能有几人抛。” – 唐诗
清朝的乾隆皇帝下江南，到了镇江的金山寺，由住持法磬禅师作陪，站在山头上欣赏长江的风光。
乾隆看见江上船来船往，热闹异常，问法磬禅师：“长江上一天有多少船往来？”
法磬禅师说：“只有两条。”
乾隆不解地问：“怎么会只有两条船呢？”
法磬禅师说：“一条为名，另一条为利。”
乾隆听了大为赞叹。