7. The Inner Life is not Separate from the Outer Life
7. 內在生命不與外在生命分離

The inner life is not separate from the outer life, but is a fuller and larger life. What is necessary is to put first things first. The mystic does more than quote scriptures; he not only says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,” his whole life is absorbed in the seeking. Therefore, some people have thought that through meditation everything can be gained and all their desires be fulfilled. From a certain point of view, this is true; but it does not take into account what is one’s desire.

內在生命並不與外在生命分離，而是一個更加完整、更為廣大的生命。所需要的是，把最重要的事放在首位。祕士所做的不只是引用經典；他不只是說：「你們要先求神的國」，他的整個生命都投入於這份尋求之中。因此，有些人以為，透過冥想可以得到一切，所有欲望也都能得到滿足。從某個觀點來看，這是真的；但這並沒有把一個人的欲望究竟是什麼考慮進去。

The outer life is full of change, and in all circumstances the desires are different. When a desire is granted, often it is no longer a desire, and more often it does not have the effect sought. In many cases, it is discovered that the thing or event brings a quite different and even a contrary result than the one expected.

外在生命充滿變化，而在不同情況中，欲望也各不相同。當一個欲望得到滿足時，它往往已經不再是欲望；更常見的是，它並沒有帶來原本所尋求的作用。在許多情況下，我們會發現，那件事或那個事件所帶來的結果，與原本期待的完全不同，甚至恰好相反。

The Sufi looks to God for all things, praying to the God of health for vigor and to the God of wealth for his sustenance, keeping steadily before him the idea and ideal that there is one God, from Whom all blessings flow. He does not consider it wrong to seek guidance from God concerning his daily affairs. Yet as the heart strengthens and insight increases, all becomes more and more clear, and at the same time life continually presents its puzzles. So, most necessary in life are seeking the will of God and performing it. These things are more important than anything else.

蘇菲祕士在一切事情上都仰望神，向健康之神祈求活力，向財富之神祈求生活所需，同時始終把這個思想與理想放在面前：只有一位神，一切祝福都從祂流出。蘇菲祕士並不認為，在日常事務上向神尋求引導有什麼不對。然而，隨著心變得更強，洞見逐漸增長，一切也會越來越清楚；而與此同時，生命仍不斷帶來它的難題。因此，生命中最需要的，是尋求神的旨意並實行它。這些比任何其他事情都更加重要。

So the Talib [student] makes God his continued need, and often his daily problems become clear to him. Then one learns also to understand the difficulties of others, to sympathize with them, and to help them. The difference between the ordinary person and the spiritual seeker is that the ordinary person is quick to praise and blame, enjoys being praised and seldom wants to be corrected. The seeker reserves his praise for God and is willing to take blame, striving to understand his critic and feeling sorry for his ignorance, which in the end only does the other one harm.

因此，求道者〔學生〕使神成為自己持續不斷的需要，而日常生活中的問題也常因此變得清楚。接著，我們也學會理解別人的困難，同情他們並幫助他們。一般人與靈性追尋者的差別在於，一般人很快就讚美或責怪別人，喜歡受到讚美，也很少願意被糾正。追尋者則把讚美留給神，並願意承受責難；努力理解批評自己的人，也為對方的無知感到遺憾，因為這種無知到最後只會傷害那個人自己。

Sufism has been called the Path of Blame (mal ma), of blame from and by the world. But Sufism is also the path of satisfaction, of satisfaction in and with God. In meditation, one rises above praise and blame, above good and evil, above wickedness and virtue, and attains wisdom. One sees the hand of God in all things and at all times, and praises Him every moment of his life. This is the true spiritual way of living, and is not connected with asceticism or needless discipline. It is a natural life, the most natural way of living.

蘇菲曾被稱為「責難之道」（mal ma），也就是承受來自世間、出於世間的責難。但蘇菲也是滿足之道，是在神之中、與神同在的滿足。在冥想中，我們超越讚美與責難，超越善與惡，超越邪惡與德行，並獲得智慧。我們在一切事物中、在一切時刻看見神的手，並在生命的每一刻讚美祂。這才是真正靈性的生活方式，與禁欲主義或不必要的自我約束無關。它是一種自然的生命，是最自然的生活方式。

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