4. Zikr

There is a question, if meditation is required to develop in silence, why is Zikr sometimes chanted and why are some practices said aloud? The answer is that there are certain purposes in each practice, and that the ordinary distinction between sound and silence does not hold true from the divine point of view.

有一個問題是：如果冥想需要在寂靜中發展，為什麼 Zikr 有時要吟唱，有些修持又要出聲進行？答案是，每一種修持都有其特定的目的，而從神聖的觀點來看，我們通常對聲音與寂靜所作的區分並不成立。

For instance, in Zikr one may become able to arrange the atoms in order and rhythm and harmony. When mureeds chant in groups, they often magnify the power of the atoms. Often this brings the same effect as the presence of the teacher, but generally Zikr awakens the soul so as to produce alertness or even ecstasy.

例如，在 Zikr 中，我們可能變得能夠使原子形成秩序、節奏與和諧。當門徒們一起吟唱時，往往會放大原子的力量。這常常會帶來如同老師臨在一般的作用，但一般而言，Zikr 會喚醒靈魂，產生清醒的覺知，甚至狂喜。

In Zikr, the thought is kept on all the syllables and sounds, making it difficult to think of anything else. If the Zikr becomes automatic and is recited without proper thought and feeling, it still is of value because of the intrinsic power of the atoms responding to sound. Besides that, it harmonizes one with the atmosphere and attunes one with all Zikr atmosphere, so one cannot continue the practice without developing out of it the necessary thought and feeling which will then carry one along.

在 Zikr 中，思想持續放在所有的音節與聲音上，因此很難再想到其他事物。如果 Zikr 變得自動化，在沒有適切思想與感受的情況下誦念，它仍然具有價值，因為原子回應聲音本身便具有內在的力量。除此之外，它使我們與周遭的氛圍和諧，也使我們與整個 Zikr 的氛圍相調；因此，一個人不可能持續這項修持，而不從中發展出必要的思想與感受，而這些思想與感受之後便會帶領著他。

When this is accomplished, one becomes attuned to the spiritual souls higher in evolution, becomes awakened to impressions, and may even arise to that state when the separateness between heart and heart disappears in the realization of Zikr.

當這一點達成時，我們便會與靈性演化更高的靈魂相調，開始對各種印象有所覺知，甚至可能提升到這樣的狀態：在對 Zikr 的證悟中，心與心之間的分離消失。

So Zikr may be called the finest thought expressed in the finest material form with the highest spiritual purpose. It becomes the perfection of the sounds uttered by the tongue.

因此，Zikr 可以說是最精微的思想，以最精微的物質形式表達，並具有最高的靈性目的。它成為舌頭所發之聲音的圓滿。

Zikr is best understood through its performance. In singing and chanting, one purifies one’s being, even one’s mind. Then one develops into a zakir, who is the embodiment of Zikr and the vehicle of the message of God. The zakir is the mureed perfected in Zikr.

Zikr 最好透過實際修持來理解。在歌唱與吟誦中，我們淨化自己的存在，甚至淨化自己的頭腦。然後，一個人逐漸成為持修 Zikr 者（zakir），也就是 Zikr 的化身，以及神之訊息的載體。Zikr 就是在 Zikr 中達到圓滿的門徒。

The moral of Zikr is humility, and in its performance the Nafs is absorbed like the shadow when light is turned on it. Zikr is important for those needing power and inspiration, while meditation is for those who seek God in all forms, and each is only of value when practiced; then each fulfills its own purpose better than any explanation can give.

Zikr 的倫理在於謙卑；在修持 Zikr 時，納夫斯會被吸收，就像光照上去時影子消失一般。對需要力量與靈感的人而言，Zikr 十分重要；而冥想則適合那些在一切形式中尋求神的人。兩者都只有在實際修持時才具有價值；如此一來，它們各自達成其目的的程度，遠勝於任何解釋所能給予的。

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