Options

My friend TW mentioned to me recently that we can do trading of stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange by a local bank.

It sounds a good idea. To say the least it provides an alternative option of investment (which is very much needed when the interest rate is hell low). I have an account there for a long time. Naturally I visited their web site and downloaded some of the details.

But, on a second thought, I decided not to sign up.

Maybe I could explain by citing a scene in the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龍八部), when Jiu Mozhi (鳩摩智) offered an exchange in the archives of martial arts with monks in the Tenryu Temple (天龍寺):

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本因道：“師叔，明王遠來，其意甚誠。咱們該當如何應接，請師叔見示。”

枯榮大師道：“本因，咱們練功習藝，所為何來？”本因沒料到師叔竟會如此詢問，微微一愕，答道：“為的是弘法護國。”枯榮大師道：“外魔來時，若是吾等道淺，難用佛法點化，非得出手降魔不可，該用何種功夫？ ”本因道：“若不得已而出手，當用一陽指。 ”枯榮大師部道：“你在一陽指上的修為，已到了第幾品境界？ ”本因額頭出汗，答道：“弟子根鈍，又兼未能精進，只修得到第四品。 ”枯榮大師再問：“以你所見，大理段氏的一陽指與少林拈花指、多羅葉指、無相劫指三項指法相較，孰優孰劣？ ”本因道：“指法無優劣，功力有高下。 ”枯榮大師道：“不錯。咱們的一陽指若能練到第一品，那便如何？”本因道：“淵深難測，弟子不敢妄說。”枯榮道：“倘若你再活一百歲，能練到第幾品？”本因額上汗水涔涔而下，顫聲道：“弟子不知。”枯榮道：“能修到第一品麼？”本因道：“決計不能。”