Imitation 效法

Imitation is an effective and natural way of learning since the ancient time. It was normal for students to follow a teacher and imitate him so that one day they could be like him. However, authentic imitation should include the ability to duplicate the external manifestation as well as to acquire the inner knowledge of the teacher.

There were a professor and his personal driver. The driver always accompanied the professor for presentation of academic speech. He was so used to the speech of the professor and had indeed memorised the professor’s academic speech in its entirety. One day he suggested to the professor to change their roles at a seminar that he would give the speech, whereas the professor was there to act as his driver. They came to consensus as it was fun to do so. Indeed, the driver was applauded for his excellent speech. Then, one of the hearers asked a question pertaining to the speech delivered. At that critical moment, the driver pointed at his professor and said, “This is a simple question that even my driver can answer, and I will have him to give the answer.”

In view of the above joke, the driver had imitated his professor only up to the level of reproducing the speech. But he did not have the inner knowledge of the professor to be able to answer the question of the audience.

As our world is getting superficial and people are rushing for performance, it is a high time that we need to recapture what it means the authentic imitation, which is vital for us to be steadily moving forward for the blessing of humanity.

“效法” 是始於古代有効及自然的一个学习方式。相当普遍的一群学生会跟随一位老师並效法他，以便有一天他们能够和他一样。然而真正的效法即包括了模仿他的表现及吸取他内在的知识。

曾经有一位教授和他的私人司机發生了趣事。司机常常陪判教授出去演讲，他巳经非常熟悉教授的讲词以致能够背诵如流。一天，他建议教授和他在一个研讨会中交换角色，即他扮演教授而真正的教授则作司机。他们同意了这趣味性的交换。事实司机在演讲後獲得熱烈掌声。接着有一位聽衆提出一个与讲座相关的问题，在此尖刻时候，司机指着教授说: “这个非常简单的问题我请我的司机给你们回答吧!”

回想上述的笑话，司机模仿了教授只是达到了重覆其演讲，但是却没有獲取教授的内在知识，所以不能回答聽衆的问题。

如今我们的世界变得肤浅，而人们又急于表现，我们实在需要重新捕捉到所谓真正的效法，以致我们能稳步向前造福人群。

The sea has its beauty and depth. We should not go for performance and neglect the profound truth.
海有其美丽及深度，我们不应只注意表现而忽略了深入的真理。