The Practice of Peace

心靜如水

There are many areas in which peace needs to be accomplished，

許多方面需要做到心靜如水:

within ourselves, between ourselves and others,

我們的內心,我們和他人之間的關系,

and between ourselves and the divine.

以及我們和我們內心之間的關系。

When any part is out of balance,

當任何一方失去平衡,

a lasting peace cannot be maintained.

都不能維持一種持久的平靜心境。

A state of peace does not grow out of a false sense of safety,

一種平靜的心境并不來自于一種錯覺的安全感,

but out of understanding how to interact with the forces we are subjected to.

而是來自于對如何應對我們周遭事物的理解。

Rather than reacting automatically,

不要去機械地應對,

we must learn how to best respond.

相反,我們必須學著去以最好的方式應對事物。

Automatic, habitual reactions lead us and others into blind alleys.

機械的,習慣性的反應會將我們帶入一個狹窄的盲區。

Responding, on the other hand, includes response-ability,

而相反,理智的反應,包括反應能力,

the power to see things as they are,

卻是一種能看透事物本質的能力,

stay balanced and make an appropriate response.

保持各方面的平衡,并做出適當的反應。

This is the action of seeking peace.

這才是追求心境如水的本質行為。

Many may not be aware of the enormous power their choices and actions have upon their lives and the lives of others.

很多人可能并沒有意識到他們的選擇和行為對他們自己的生活以及他人生活的巨大影響力。

It has been said that even a small amount of real love has the power to dissolve mountains of hate.

人們曾說哪怕是一點點真愛都有著化解一座冰山的力量。

The wonder is why we are so mean with our good will,why we hold onto thoughts of hatred and revenge.

既然如此,那我們為什么還要如此吝嗇我們的善意,為什么還要緊緊抓住仇恨和復仇的思想不放手。

Seeing this is the first step.

認識到這一點是第一步,

Letting go comes next.

學會釋懷就是第二步。

Rather than pretending to be loving and peaceful,we must learn how to actively work with all that opposes peace.

不要假裝愛與平靜,相反,我們必須積極地學會應付各類對平靜的干擾。

We must learn how to work with our fear and anger when it arises.

我們必須學會當恐懼與憤怒滋長時如何去理智地應對。

Even in the midst of anger we can be peaceful,if we learn how to handle it properly.

如果我們學會如何適當地應對,即使在憤怒進行時,我們也可以平靜下來。

In this way we pursue and practice peace.

這樣,我們就能夠真正地做到心靜如水。