6. 第四章
為你的生命挺身而出
• Still, the functions of the mind are truly mysterious, and it’s hard to determine
where the “thinking self” exists.
儘管如此,心的功能確實很神秘,很難確定「思考的自我」存在
於哪裡。
• Often, it appears that thoughts come from nowhere, yet they create the reality of the
world in which we live.
通常情況下,思想似乎是憑空而來,但它們創造了我們所生活的
世界的現實。
• Everything humanity has ever created began with a thought.
人類創造的一切都始於一個念頭。
• Our thoughts lead to our words and deeds, which create our karma.
我們的思想//念頭導致我們的言行,從而創造我們的業力。
7. • Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and philosopher, said, “The
happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
Marcus Aurelius, 羅馬皇帝和哲學家說:“你生活的幸福
取決於你思想//念頭的品質。
• Friends have pointed out to me that even when I talk with them about
some of the painful things that happened in my past, I do so with
humor.
朋友們向我指出,即使當我與他們談論我過去發生的一
些痛苦的事情時,我也會很幽默。
• I’m glad that I’ve gotten to a place where I can laugh about my life,
and about myself;
我很高興我已經到達了一個可以嘲笑我的生活和我自己
的地方;
• it lightens up my thoughts. 它照亮了我的思想//念頭。
8. • This is important, because our thoughts and the way we think direct
every area of our lives.
這很重要,因為我們的思想//念頭和思維方式指導著我們
生活的各個領域。
• When was the last time you considered how thoughts arise?
你上一次考慮念頭是如何產生的是什麼時候?
• When I had a stroke in late 2013, I was sharply reminded of the
importance of our brain functions, and the way we generate thoughts.
2013 年末,當我中風時,我敏銳地想起了大腦功能以及
我們產生思想//念頭的方式的重要性。
• As my incredible medical team worked on my recovery, I also went to
work to help myself heal.
當我令人難以置信的醫療團隊致力於我的康復時,我也
開始工作以幫助自己康復。
9. • I wanted to understand the functions of my brain so I could envision
my path back to wholeness.
我想了解我大腦的功能,這樣我就可以想像恢復完整的
路。
• Here’s what I discovered 這是我的發現:
• Science tells us there is a level of communication going on among the
neurons within our brains.
科學告訴我們,我們大腦內的神經元 [神經細胞] 之間正
在進行一定程度的溝通。
• Neurons are those lively, specialized nerve cells that transmit
information in our bodies and facilitate our ability to think.
神經元 [神經細胞] 是那些活躍的、專門的神經細胞,它
們在我們的體內傳遞訊息並促進我們的思考能力。
10. • In fact, the neurons in your brain are enabling you to absorb the
information I’m sharing with you here.
事實上,你大腦中的神經元 [神經細胞] 使你能夠吸收我
在這裡與你分享的訊息。
• Neurons communicate with one another through rapid electrical
impulses, which create brain waves.
神經元 [神經細胞] 透過快速電脈衝相互交流,產生腦電
波。
• Sensors can detect these waves 感測器可以偵測到這些波,
• revealing a continuous spectrum of consciousness that ranges from
slow-vibrating waves with low frequency to fast-vibrating waves with
high frequency.
揭示了意識的連續頻譜,從低頻的慢振動波到高頻的快
速振動波。
12. • When we’re in deep sleep, our brains produce waves with very low
frequency,
當我們處於深度睡眠時,我們的大腦會產生頻率非常低
的電波,
• and while we’re actively thinking, our brains produce waves with
much higher frequency.
當我們積極思考時,我們的大腦會產生頻率更高的電波。
• These brain waves are measured in hertz (Hz)—a unit of frequency
equal to one cycle per second.
這些腦電波以赫茲 (Hz) 為單位進行測量,這是一種等於
每秒一個週期的頻率單位。
• In sleep, the lowest ranges are under 4Hz, and for highly concentrated
thinking, the highest are at 40Hz or more.
在睡眠時,最低範圍低於 4Hz,而在高度集中思考時,
最高範圍為 40Hz 或更高。
14. • The brain is truly an amazing organic machine!
大腦確實是令人驚奇的有機機器!
• Studies have shown that rhythmic chanting can bring our brain waves
into a vibrational frequency between 7Hz and 8Hz.
研究表明,有節奏的念誦可以使我們的腦電波進入7Hz
至8Hz [赫茲] 之間的振動頻率。
• This is also the typical frequency of brain waves when we are
creatively visualizing, making music and art,
這也是我們創意想像、創作音樂和藝術時腦波的典型頻
率,
• and experiencing other calm, creative modes of thinking.
並體驗其他冷靜、創意的思考模式。
15. • I find it interesting that the vibration of our brain waves while we are
chanting also corresponds with what is known as Earth’s fundamental
frequency of 7.83Hz.
我發現有趣的是,我們念誦時腦電波的振動也與所謂的
地球基頻 7.83Hz [赫茲] 相對應。
• This is called the base Schumann resonance, after physicist Winfried
Schumann, who predicted it.
這被稱為基礎舒曼 Schumann 共振,以物理學家 Winfried
Schumann 的預測而得名。
• Perhaps such similarities are only a “coincidence.”
也許這樣的相似只是一個「巧合」。
16. • But since I don’t believe in coincidence, 但因為我不相信巧合,
• I expect that someday we will discover a meaningful significance
behind this vibrational alignment.
我希望有一天我們會發現這種振動排列背後的有意義的
意義。
• In the meantime, I’m delighted that there is already scientific evidence
of the physical and emotional benefits of chanting.
同時,我很高興已經有科學證據證明念誦對身體和情緒
的好處。
• Thousands of years ago, Buddhists began using the tool of chanting to
help with a variety of mental ailments.
幾千年前,佛教徒開始使用念誦的工具來幫助治療各種
精神疾病。
17. • Today in modern psychiatry, doctors are increasingly acknowledging
the positive effects of chanting on mental health challenges,
今天,在現代精神醫學中,醫生越來越認識到念誦對心
理健康挑戰的正面影響,
• including self-esteem issues, addiction rehabilitation, and post-
traumatic stress recovery.
包括自尊心問題、成癮復原和創傷後壓力復原。
18. • After experiencing the benefits of this practice for nearly five decades,
在體驗了這種做法近五十年的好處之後,
• I believe that there will be a time when Buddhism will be viewed as the
science of spirit,
我相信有一天佛教將被視為精神科學,
• and regarded as good medicine for both the mind and the body.
並被認為是心和身體的良藥。
19. • Over the past decade, as I faced so many obstacles with my health—
first the stroke, then intestinal cancer, kidney failure, and more—the
cumulative effect of many years of spiritual practice was invaluable.
在過去的十年裡,我的健康面臨著如此多的障礙——首
先是中風,然後是腸癌、腎衰竭等等——多年修行的累
積效果是無價的。
• I was never shaken, at least not for long, by any health issue.
我從未因任何健康問題而動搖過,至少沒有長期動搖。
• I mustered all my resilience.
我鼓起全身的韌性。
20. • And I know that my ability to smoothly navigate the healing process
came from my spiritual training.
我知道我順利完成治療過程的能力來自於我的心靈訓練。
• Throughout many hospital visits and multiple surgeries, I kept this
empowering message in mind from Nichiren:
在多次醫院就診和多次手術中,我牢記著日蓮 Nichiren
的這一充滿力量的信息:
• Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion.
南無妙法蓮華經就像獅子的吼聲。
21. • What illness can therefore be an obstacle?
那麼,什麼疾病會成為障礙呢?
• Remembering this call to courage, I summoned my inner lion and
roared.
想起這對勇氣的召喚,我召喚出內心的獅子並咆哮。
• I roared and roared, and kept on roaring until I overcame every health
challenge, just like I’d overcome every challenge that came before.
我咆哮在咆哮,繼續咆哮,直到我克服了每一個健康挑
戰,就像我克服了之前的每一個挑戰一樣。
• The challenges we face in life can come from outside ourselves, or
they can come from within.
我們在生活中面臨的挑戰可能來自外部,也可能來自內
部。
22. • I know from personal experience that there are sometimes negative
voices in your head, and they can be dangerous.
我從個人經驗中知道,你的頭腦中有時會出現負面的聲
音,它們可能是危險的。
• These voices may say you’re too old, too young, too gay, too straight,
too thin, too fat, too this, too that.
這些聲音可能會說你太老、太年輕、太同性戀、太直、
太瘦、太胖、太這個、太那個。
• The voices may tell you it’s too late for your dreams, or that no one
will love you.
這些聲音可能會告訴你,實現夢想已經太晚了,或者沒
有人會愛你。
23. • They may tell you all sorts of lies to keep you trapped in unhealthy
cycles of self-doubt.
他們可能會告訴你各種各樣的謊言,讓你陷入自我懷疑
的不健康循環。
• Maybe you’ve allowed your negative voices to undermine your self-
esteem, to hinder your work, or to keep you locked in unhealthy
relationships.
也許你已經讓負面的聲音損害了你的自尊,阻礙了你的
工作,或者讓你陷入了不健康的關係。
24. • If so, it’s time to tell those voices you’ve heard their propaganda, and
you’re not going to take it anymore.
如果是這樣,是時候告訴那些聲音你已經聽到了他們的
宣傳,你不會再忍受了。
• Dismiss them, and you will be the only one holding the pen as you
write the story of your life.
解僱他們,你將成為唯一一個拿著筆書寫你人生故事的
人。
• I know all about taking back power from negative voices.
我知道如何從負面聲音中奪回權力。
26. • When I was a child, my mind was imprinted with the sound of my
parents bickering.
當我還是個孩子的時候,我的腦海裡就烙印著父母爭吵
的聲音。
• That was replaced by the emotional abuse of my first marriage.
取而代之的是我第一次婚姻中的情緒虐待。
• There were many times in my life when negative voices reverberated
inside my head.
在我的一生中,有許多次負面的聲音在我的腦海中迴盪。
27. • I surrendered to these negative voices when I tried to kill myself during
my darkest days.
當我在最黑暗的日子裡試圖自殺時,我屈服於這些負面
的聲音。
• But the fact that I survived made me realize I had a purpose—a
mission.
但我倖存的事實讓我意識到我有一個目標——一個使命。
• I decided to stand up for my life and fight for my future.
我決定為我的生活挺身而出,為我的未來而奮鬥。
28. • Standing up meant that I had to start by sitting down and searching
within.
站起來意思是我必須先坐下來向內尋找。
• The most effective fight for my future had to begin inside my own
mind.
為我的未來而進行的最有效的鬥爭必須從我自己的內心
開始。
• I explored my subconscious mind and tapped into my Buddhahood.
我探索了我的潛意識並踏入了我的佛性。
29. • I flooded every level of my consciousness with the pure water of my
chanting prayers and, through my spiritual practice,
我用念誦祈禱的純淨水淹沒了我意識的各個層面,並透
過我的心靈練習,
• I slowly but surely quieted the negative voices until they were silenced.
我慢慢地但堅定地平息了負面的聲音,直到它們消失。
• After I learned about the nine consciousnesses, I came to see such
negative voices as karmic residue—
當我了解了九識之後,我開始看到業力殘留這種負面的
聲音——
• that sediment we were talking about before—
我們之前討論過的沉積物——
• rising up from the eighth level to torment my mind.
從第八層上升來折磨我的心靈。
30. • Another way to help resolve such voices is to think of them as ghosts
of past experiences that are appearing in the present.
幫助解決此類聲音的另一種方法是將它們視為現在出現
的過去經歷的幽靈。
• Perhaps you’ve heard negative voices echoing in your head from your
past.
也許你聽到過去的負面聲音在你的腦海中迴響。
• I think everyone deals with ghost voices at one time or another.
我想每個人都會或多或少與鬼聲打過交道。
• Dispel them once and for all.
一勞永逸地消除它們。
31. • It doesn’t really matter whether you know the exact origin of these
negative mental messages.
你是否知道這些負面心理訊息的確切來源並不重要。
• What matters is getting rid of them. 重要的是擺脫它們。
• When you allow them to linger, the toxic internal dialogue intensifies,
which creates fear—internalized fear—that sabotages your decision-
making.
當你允許它們徘徊時,有毒的內在對話就會加劇,從而
產生恐懼——內在的恐懼——從而破壞你的決策。
• When you make decisions based on fear, whether consciously or
subconsciously,
當你基於恐懼做出決定時,無論是有意識還是無意識,
• you end up attracting exactly what you were trying to avoid.
你最終會吸引到你想要避免的東西。
32. • This is why it is crucial to control your mind and allow your decisions
to flow from a place of authenticity based on your happiness rather
than on your fear.
這就是為什麼控制你的思想並讓你的決定基於你的快樂
而不是你的恐懼而真實地做出是至關重要的。
• I hope you never again hear negative voices in your head.
我希望你再也不會在腦海中聽到負面的聲音。
• If you do, however, here’s my simple advice to exorcise them: Stop
believing them.
然而,如果你這樣做了,我的簡單建議就是驅除它們:
停止相信它們。
34. • Silence the ghost voices and the negativity they spread by rejecting
their poisonous stories.
透過拒絕他們的有毒故事來壓制幽靈的聲音和他們傳播
的消極情緒。
• See them for what they truly are—remnants of the past, something that
doesn’t exist.
看看它們的真實面貌──過去的殘餘,一些不存在的東西。
• They are illusions and delusions. 它們是幻覺和妄想。
• If you fall into the trap of believing such voices, then you’re holding on
to the past. Internal negativity is always rooted in the past.
如果你陷入相信這些聲音的陷阱,那麼你就抓住了過去。
內在的負面情緒總是植根於過去。
35. • Cherished memories of good times you’ve had with loved ones, your
past accomplishments, victorious memories of overcoming adversity,
favorite songs and movies from yesteryear—
與親人共度的美好時光的珍貴回憶、過去的成就、克服
逆境的勝利記憶、過去最喜歡的歌曲和電影——
• these are examples of positive things that can add value to the present.
這些都是可以為現在增加價值的正面事物的例子。
• But that’s not the same as holding on to, or reliving, the past, which
can be very unhealthy, especially if you’re recycling unpleasant
experiences.
但這與緊抓過去或重溫過去不同,後者可能非常不健康,
尤其是當你重複不愉快的經歷時。
36. • One thing I know for sure: We must learn the lessons from any
unpleasant experiences we’ve had.
我確信一件事:我們必須從任何不愉快的經驗中學習。
• If we do not, they will continue to hold power over us, and we will feel
compelled to repeat them.
如果我們不這樣做,他們將繼續對我們擁有權力,我們
將不得不重複他們的做法。
• Holding on to the past also causes an inaccurate perception of the
present, which can cause suffering.
緊抓過去也會導致對現在的不準確認知,進而導致痛苦。
37. • Perceiving ourselves, others, and the world we occupy clearly, as they
really are, is the only path to happiness.
清楚認識自己、他人和我們所佔據的世界,了解它們的
本來面目,是通往幸福的唯一途徑。
• And clear perception is always grounded in the present.
清晰的感知總是紮根於當下。