Once there was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of serenity. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked， and he had to choose between them.
　　One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for serene towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of serenity.
　　The other picture had mountains， too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky， from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look serene at all.
　　But when the king looked closely， he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There， in the midst of the rushing water， sat the mother bird on her nest—in perfect serenity.
　　Which picture do you think won the prize？The king chose the second picture. Do you know why？
　　“Because，” explained the king， “serenity does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise and trouble. Serenity means to be in the midst of all those things but still keep calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of serenity.”
　　從前有一个国王，他要悬赏一位能画出表现宁静这一主题的最好的画的画家。很多画家都一试身手，国王看了所有的画，但是只有两幅画他真的很喜欢，国王必须两者选其一。
　　其中一幅画的是一个平静的湖面，波平如镜，倒映着四周环绕的群山，头顶是一片飘着绒毛似的白云的蓝天。所有看过这幅画的人都认为它是一个表现平静的好作品。
　　另外一幅画也有高山。但是这些山崎岖不平，一片荒芜，上方是狂躁的天空，电闪雨泼，山脚下是一挂飞溅的瀑布，这看上去一点也不宁静。
　　但是当国王仔细一看时，他发现了瀑布后面有一小从灌木，长在岩石缝里。灌木丛中，鸟妈妈筑好了鸟窝——急流之间，鸟妈妈安祥地蹲在窝里。
　　你认为哪幅画会胜出呢？国王选择了第二幅，你知道为什么吗？
　　“因为，”国王解释道，“宁静并不意味一个没有喧嚣和繁琐的地方。宁静意味着即使你身处尘嚣仍然能心静如水，那才是宁静的真谛。”