1. Guidance from the Heart
1. 來自心的引導

No one need ask, “What shall I gain by meditation? In what ways shall I benefit?” If one only knew, it is by means of meditation that all is gained; not only things are gained, not only attributes and qualities are gained, but even God is so gained.

沒有人需要問：「我能從冥想中得到什麼？我會在哪些方面受益？」我們若真正知道，就會明白，一切都是藉由冥想而獲得的；所獲得的不只是事物，不只是各種特質與品質，甚至連神也是如此獲得的。

It is God who would reveal Himself to us, but so long as we keep our minds on anything else but God, He may be speaking but we do not hear. When we hear His Voice, all knowledge, all direction, all guidance will be ours; everything that we need will be ours. With this understanding, one can breast the waves of life. To turn back the tide and to surmount obstacles will become possible.

是神要向我們顯現祂自己，但只要我們的頭腦仍放在神以外的任何事物上，祂或許正在說話，我們卻聽不見。當我們聽見祂的聲音，一切知識、一切方向、一切引導都將屬於我們；我們所需要的一切都將屬於我們。帶著這樣的理解，我們便能迎向生命的浪潮。逆轉潮勢、跨越障礙，也將成為可能。

Speaking of intuition is, of itself, of little value. The mystic does not speak, he uses the inner faculties in everyday life; and so insight becomes a means of sustaining and understanding realities. To every question there is an answer, and the key to the answer is in the question.

談論直覺本身並沒有多少價值。祕士不談論它，而是在日常生活中運用內在的能力；因此，洞見便成為支撐並理解實相的一種途徑。每一個問題都有答案，而答案的鑰匙就在問題之中。

One of the best means of finding the answer is to enter into meditation. Then the question may arise, “Should I meditate on this problem?” It is not wrong to meditate on any problem; it is always wise to seek divine guidance. Meditating in a prayerful attitude, knowing that God will help, relieves one from further concern, and there is nothing in life more valuable.

尋找答案最好的途徑之一，就是進入冥想。這時也許會生起一個問題：「我應該針對這個問題冥想嗎？」針對任何問題冥想都沒有錯；尋求神聖的引導總是明智的。以祈禱的態度冥想，知道神會幫助我們，便能使我們不再繼續憂慮，而生命中沒有什麼比這更有價值。

Sometimes the answer will come as a simple direction, easily understood. Sometimes a feeling will come which may not seem so clear or direct, but when one follows the guidance which comes from the heart, often one will find the obstacles in life disappear like a dissolving mist.

有時，答案會以一個簡單而容易明白的指引來到。有時，來到的是一種感受，看起來也許沒有那麼清楚或直接；然而，當我們跟隨來自心的引導時，往往會發現生命中的障礙如消散的霧一般消失。

Care and worry prevent a proper solution, while surrender of self always helps to clear the path from the perplexities of life, bringing calm and peace. The Sufi who does this knows that God is all-seeing, all-knowing.

掛慮與擔憂會阻礙適切的解決，而自我的臣服總能幫助我們清除生命道路上的困惑，帶來平靜與安寧。如此行持的蘇菲祕士知道，神看見一切、知曉一切。

For that reason, the Invocation is repeated over and over again, repeated at different times and bringing one each time closer to the reality which it expresses.

因此，祈請文一遍又一遍地反覆誦念，在不同時刻一再誦念，而每一次都使我們更加接近它所表達的實相。

All problems may be as tests in life.

所有的問題，都可能如同生命中的考驗。

In the ancient Egyptian mysteries, the Hierophant is reported to have said to the neophyte,

據說，在古埃及的神祕傳承中，大祭司曾對初入門者說：

“You have nothing to fear but yourself.”

「你除了自己之外，沒有什麼需要恐懼的。」

It was Jesus Christ who said,

耶穌基督曾說：

“My yoke is easy, my burden is light,” meaning, “Give up your problems, take them before God in loving surrender, and they will be solved and you will be healed.”

「我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。」意思是：「放下你的問題，在愛的臣服中把它們帶到神面前，它們便會得到解決，而你也將得到療癒。」

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