Once upon a time, there was a carver. He wanted to pick the best stone from two stones to make a Buddha statue for a temple. However, after choosing the stone, and picking up his chisel, he had only just begun carving, when the stone cried out in pain. The carver told the stone, “If you are not carved, you will remain an ordinary rock. Can you bear the pain for a little while?”The stone replied, “I’m afraid of pain. Please stop!”

The carver had no choice but to use the other stone. This stone was not as good as the first one, but no matter how hard the carver hammered and chiseled, he bore the pain without making a sound. Soon after, the stone was transformed into a beautiful Buddha statue, and was worshipped in the temple every day.

As for the first stone who was afraid of pain, he was used to fill a hole in the ground. Every day, he had to endure the pain of being stepped upon, and having cart wheels run over him. He finally realized that if he could not bear the pain of being carved, not only couldn’t he become a Buddha statue that everyone worshipped, but he had to endure far greater pain!

　　很久以前，有位雕刻工人想從兩塊石頭中選出比較好的一塊，做成寺廟裡的佛像。可是，當他選好石頭後，拿起鑿子，才敲打幾下，石頭就忍不住疼痛而大叫。雕刻工人對石頭說：「沒有經過雕刻，你就只是一塊普通的石頭，忍耐一下，好嗎？」石頭回答：「我怕痛，還是求你趕快停止吧！」
　　雕刻工人只好放棄這塊石頭，在另一塊石頭上工作。雖然另一塊石頭比較差，但是不論雕刻工人怎麼敲打，它都忍痛撐了過去。不久之後，這塊石頭變成了一尊莊嚴的佛像，每天受到人們的膜拜。
　　至於原來那塊怕痛的石頭，就被人們拿去填補路上的坑洞。每天都要忍受被人踩過、被車輾過的痛苦。這時它才知道，如果忍受不了雕刻的痛苦，不但沒有辦法變成人人膜拜的佛像，還要忍受更大的痛苦啊！