mediocreadj.普通的; 中等的; 质量中等偏下的;

　　horizontal adj.水平的，卧式的; 地平线的;

　　oblique adj.斜，倾斜的;

　　clench vt.紧握，抓紧; 钉牢;

　　take a tumble<美俚>恍然大悟;

　　Our destiny is in our own hands, so we must take good care of it.

　　A man leading a mediocre life went to visit the Zen master with doubts about destiny

　　He asked the master, "can you tell me there really exists a destiny?

　　"Yes," answered the master

　　"Am i doomed to be poverty-stricken all my life?"he asked.

　　The master asked him to extend his left hand and pointing out to him said, "Do you see clearly this horizontal line is called

　　the love line. the oblique line is the Career Line and another line is the Life Line."

　　Then the master also asked him to make a gesture following him-to clench the hand slowly, and then, tightly.

　　The master asked, "Now tell me where are these lines?"

　　"In my hand!"said the man, puzzled

　　"Then your destiny?"

　　The man came to take a tumble.

　　命运掌握在我们自己的手中,我们一定要用心去呵护它。

　　一个过着庸庸碌碌生活的人带着对命运的疑问去拜访禅师。

　　他问禅师。“你说真的有命运吗?

　　"有的。"禅师回答。

　　"我是不是注定会穷困一生呢?”他问

　　禅师就让他伸出左手,指给他看说:“你看清楚了吗?这条横线叫爱情线,这条斜线叫事业线,另一条线就是生命线。"

　　然后禅师又让他跟自己做一个动作,把手慢慢地握起来,握得紧紧的。

　　禅师问:“你说这几根线在哪里?

　　那人迷惑地说“在我的手里啊！”

　　“命运呢?”

　　那人终于恍然大悟。