33. From Limitation to Perfection (1)
33. 從限制到圓滿（1）

The rocks, the trees, the animals, and man all in their turn show an inclination to seek perfection. The tendency of rocks is to form into mountains reaching upward; and the waves are ever reaching upward as if they were trying to attain something which is beyond their reach. The tendency of birds is the same. Their joy is flying in the air and going upward. The tendency of many animals is to stand on their hind legs; and man, who is the culmination of creation, has this tendency from infancy to stand up. An infant who is not yet able to stand, moves his little hands and legs showing the desire to do so.

岩石、樹木、動物與人，都以各自的方式顯示出一種追求圓滿的傾向。岩石的傾向，是形成向上聳立的山岳；波浪也總是不斷向上湧起，彷彿想要觸及某個超出它所能達到之處的事物。鳥兒也有同樣的傾向；牠們的喜悅，在於飛翔於空中、不斷向上。許多動物的傾向，是用後腿站立；而作為造物之巔的人類，從嬰兒時期便有站起來的傾向。一個還不能站立的嬰兒，會揮動小小的手腳，顯示出想要站起來的渴望。

This all shows the desire for perfection. The law of gravitation is only half known to the world of science, which believes that the earth attracts all that belongs to it. It is true. But the spirit also attracts all that belongs to it, and that other side to the law of gravitation has always been known to the mystics. The law of gravitation is working from two sides: from the side of the earth which draws all that belongs to the earth, and from the side of the spirit which attracts the soul towards it. Even those who are unconscious of this law of gravitation are also striving for perfection, for the soul is being continually drawn towards the spirit. They are striving for perfection just the same. In the small things of everyday life a man is never satisfied with what he has; he always wants more and more, be it a higher rank, wealth, or fame. He is always striving for this.

這一切都顯示出對圓滿的渴望。科學界對重力法則只認識了一半，它相信大地吸引所有屬於大地的事物。這的確是真的。然而，靈也吸引一切屬於靈的事物，而重力法則的另一面，祕士一直都知道。重力法則從兩個方向運作：一方面，大地吸引所有屬於大地的事物；另一方面，靈則吸引靈魂朝向它。即使那些沒有覺察到這一重力法則的人，也同樣在追求圓滿，因為靈魂始終受到靈的吸引。他們同樣也在努力趨向圓滿。在日常生活的小事上，我們從來不會滿足於自己已經擁有的，總是想要更多、更高——無論是更高的地位、更多的財富，或更大的名聲。我們總是不斷為此追求。

This shows that the heart is like a magic bowl; however much you pour into it, it only becomes deeper; it is always found to be empty. The reason why man is never satisfied is that he is unconsciously striving for perfection; those however who strive consciously after perfection have a different way. Nevertheless, each atom of the universe is meant to struggle and strive in order to become perfect one day. In other words, if a seer happens to be in the mountains he will hear the mountains cry continually, “We are waiting for that day when something in us will awaken. There will come a day of awakening, of unfoldment; we are silently awaiting it.” If he went into the forest and saw the trees standing there they would tell him that they too were waiting patiently. One can feel it; the more one sits there the more one feels that the trees are waiting for the time when there will be an unfoldment. So it is with all beings; but man is so absorbed in his everyday actions and his greed that he seems to be unaware of that innate desire for unfoldment. It is his everyday tasks, his avariciousness, his cruelty to other beings, that keep him continually occupied, and that is why he cannot hear the continual cry of his own soul to awaken, to unfold, to reach upward, to expand, and to go towards perfection.

這顯示出，心就像一只神奇的碗；無論往裡面倒入多少東西，它只會變得更深，總是顯得空著。人之所以永遠不能滿足，是因為我們在無意識中追求著圓滿；然而，那些有意識地追求圓滿的人，走的是另一條路。儘管如此，宇宙中的每一個原子，都注定要經歷掙扎與努力，好使它有一天達至圓滿。換句話說，如果一位具有洞見的人置身山中，他會聽見群山不斷呼喊：「我們正在等待那一天，等待我們之中的某個東西醒來。覺醒與展開的那一天終會到來；我們正默默等待著。」如果他走進森林，看見一棵棵樹木佇立在那裡，它們也會告訴他，自己正在耐心等待。我們是可以感受到的；在那裡坐得越久，就越能感受到樹木正在等待那個展開的時刻。所有眾生都是如此；然而，人如此沉浸於日常的活動與貪求之中，以至於似乎察覺不到內在那股與生俱來、渴望展開的力量。日常事務、貪婪，以及對其他眾生的殘酷，使我們始終忙碌不休；因此，我們聽不見自己靈魂持續不斷的呼喊——要醒來，要展開，要向上，要擴展，要朝向圓滿。

It is the nature of God to wish to realize His own perfection. An artist wishes to bring out the best that is in him; therein lies his satisfaction. In every soul there is a longing to bring out, to bring to a culmination, what is waiting within. And as soon as it has realized this longing the purpose of that soul’s birth on earth has been fulfilled.

神的本性，就是要實現祂自身的圓滿。一位藝術家渴望把自己內在最美好的東西表現出來，他的滿足就在其中。每一個靈魂之中，都有一種渴望，要讓那等待於內在的事物顯現出來，並使它達到充分的實現。一旦靈魂實現了這份渴望，它降生於世的目的便得以成就。

As is the nature of the creatures, so is the nature of the Creator. His satisfaction also lies in the realization of perfection. It was to this end that everything was created; by going through this entire process His nature was perfected, wherein lies the fulfillment of His own desire.

受造物的本性如何，造物主的本性也是如此。祂的滿足，同樣在於圓滿的實現。一切事物都是為此而被創造；經歷這整個過程，祂的本性得以達至圓滿，而祂自身的渴望也在其中得到實現。

All that is in our nature is in the nature of God. The only difference is that God is great and we are small; we are limited and God is unlimited; we represent imperfection, God represents perfection. As we sleep God sleeps too; if we can be unconscious, there is also God’s unconsciousness. It is said in the Bible, that in God’s image was man created. If one wishes to study God, one must study man.

凡是在我們本性之中的，也都存在於神的本性之中。唯一的差別是，神是偉大的，而我們是渺小的；我們是受限的，神是無限的；我們代表不圓滿，神代表圓滿。當我們沉睡時，神也沉睡；如果我們能處於無意識之中，那麼神也有祂的無意識。《聖經》說，人是按照神的形象被創造的。因此，如果我們想要認識神，就必須研究人。

Is it possible for man to reach perfection? When one sees how limited man is one can never believe that he is entitled to perfection. There is no end to his limitations and he cannot even comprehend what perfection means. One becomes pessimistic when it is a question of perfection. Yet we read in the Bible the words of Christ, “Be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect”; this shows that there is indeed a possibility of it. All philosophies, all religious and sacred teachings, are intended to bring about that realization which is called perfection. Any philosophy or religion that does not show this path to perfection has been corrupted and fails; there is something missing in it. But if we look at religion as one and the same religion in all the ages, given by different masters of humanity yet inspired by one and the same Spirit of Guidance, one and the same light of wisdom, we see that they have all given the same truth. It is only when it is interpreted to suit people of different ages, periods, and races that it varies. In this way it differs. But the underlying truth of all religions is one and the same, and whenever a preacher teaches that perfection is not for man, he corrupts the teaching that is given in all the religions; he has not understood it. He professes a certain religion, but he does not understand it, for the main object of every religion is the striving toward perfection.

人有可能達至圓滿嗎？當我們看見人的限制如此之多，便很難相信人竟有資格達至圓滿。人的限制似乎沒有盡頭，甚至無法理解圓滿究竟意味著什麼。每當談到圓滿，我們很容易變得悲觀。然而，我們在《聖經》中讀到基督的話：「所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。」這顯示出，人確實有達至圓滿的可能。所有的哲學、所有宗教與神聖的教導，目的都是要使我們得到那稱為「圓滿」的體悟。任何不能指出這條通往圓滿之路的哲學或宗教，都已經受到了扭曲，因而失去了作用；其中缺少了某些根本的東西。然而，如果我們看見歷代的宗教本是一個相同的宗教，雖由不同的人類導師所傳授，卻受到同一個引導之靈、同一道智慧之光的啟發，那麼我們便會看見，它們所傳遞的都是同一個真理。只有當這真理為了適應不同時代、不同歷史時期與不同族群的人，而被加以詮釋時，才會呈現不同的形式。差異由此而生。然而，所有宗教底層的真理都是相同的；每當一位傳道者教導人們，圓滿並非人所能企及，他便扭曲了所有宗教所傳下的教導；他並沒有真正理解它。他宣稱自己信奉某一宗教，卻沒有理解這個宗教，因為每一個宗教最主要的目的，都是朝向圓滿而努力。

Many people seeking for knowledge say, “What we want in the world today is greater harmony, greater peace, better conditions. We don’t want spiritual perfection.” But Christ has said in the Bible, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” The tendency of every man is to seek everything else first and to keep the kingdom of God for the last. That which should be sought first is left to the last; that is why humanity is not evolving towards perfection.

許多追求知識的人說：「今天這個世界所需要的，是更多的和諧、更多的和平，以及更好的生活條件。我們不要靈性的圓滿。」然而，基督在《聖經》中說：「你們要先求神的國，這些東西都要加給你們了。」每個人的傾向，卻是先去追求其他一切，把神的國留到最後。原本應該最先追求的，反而被放到了最後；正因如此，人類並沒有朝向圓滿演進。

Occupations such as war and preparation for war cannot be called civilized occupations. It is a pity that in this period of civilization man should have wars; and yet we think that we are more civilized than the people of ancient times! Ages before Christ Buddha taught, “Ahimsa paramo dharma ha”—harmlessness is the essence of religion. And he taught people to be friendly even to the smallest insect; he taught them the brotherhood of all things. And we occupy ourselves with wars! Under the conditions existing today we can expect war anywhere in the world. Why is this so? It all comes from seeking perfection in the wrong way. Instead of seeking spiritual perfection earthly perfection is sought; but what the earth holds is limited, and when everyone struggles for earthly perfection the earth will not be able to answer the demands. Whether we get what we want or not, there will be a continuous struggle.

戰爭以及為戰爭所做的準備，不能稱為文明的活動。在這樣一個自稱文明的時代，人類竟然仍然發動戰爭，實在令人惋惜；然而，我們卻認為自己比古代的人更加文明！早在基督之前許多世紀，佛陀便教導：「Ahimsa paramo dharma ha」——不傷害是宗教的本質。他教導人們，即使對最微小的昆蟲也要友善；他教導萬物之間的手足情誼。而我們卻讓自己忙於戰爭！在今日的情勢之下，世界任何地方都可能發生戰爭。為什麼會如此？這一切都源於以錯誤的方式追求圓滿。人不去追求靈性的圓滿，反而追求世俗的圓滿；然而，大地所能提供的是有限的，當每個人都為了世俗的圓滿而爭奪，大地便無法滿足所有人的要求。無論我們最後是否得到自己想要的，都將陷入無止境的爭鬥。

The main way of seeking for perfection is through religion.

追求圓滿最主要的道路，是透過宗教。

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