坎坷的人生道路，

A hard and rough course of life

給予人的是知識和經驗；

May bring a person knowledge and experiences.

康莊的人生坦途，

On the other hand, an easy and smooth course of life

只是人的希望和理想；

May only give a person hopes and ideals.

少了知識和經驗的人生，

Life without knowledge and experiences

生命的史頁是一片空白；

Is like a book with only blank pages.

結果，一生的時間與精神，

In the end, all the time and energy of one’s life

全都消耗在希望和理想之中。

Are just entirely wasted in hopes and ideals.

人，可以為知識和經驗而勞碌度日；

One had better toil all through one’s life for the sake of gaining knowledge and life experiences

卻不可以一生在什麼都是貧乏中而養尊處優！

Rather than enjoy living in ease and comfort just to be in want of everything else.

道如逆水行舟，

Practicing Buddhism is like rowing a canoe upstream;

必須搖動精進的槳葉；

One must vigorously paddle forward incessantly.

不然舟倒退，

Otherwise, the canoe will be washed backward in a flash,

道愈遠；

And one will be farther away from the Buddhist way.

可是，精進之訣，

However, the key to making vigorous efforts is to strive steadily and interminably

如細水長流，

Just like the everlasting thin flow of streams.

不能像山洪暴發。

It should be cautioned not to rush forward at one stroke like an overwhelming flash flood.