英語美文朗讀 第380期 The beautiful jewels of wisdom

Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.

 

內(nèi)心的安寧是智慧的寶藏，它來自于漫長的、耐心的自我控制。內(nèi)心的平靜是經(jīng)歷成熟的表現(xiàn)，也是對思想活動規(guī)律的更深入的了解。

 

A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect, he ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.

一個人能否心境平和，取決于他對自己的了解程度，因為如果他想了解別人，就必須先了解自己；當他對人對己有了更深入的了解，并越來越清晰地洞察到事物內(nèi)部息息相關的因果關系時，他就不會再驚訝、憤怒、焦慮或憂愁，而是以從容、鎮(zhèn)定、平和的態(tài)度去對待一切。

 

The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him.

鎮(zhèn)靜的人知道怎樣控制自己，也知道如何去適應與他人相處；反之，別人也會對他的人格魅力表示尊重，并會以他為榜樣，認為他是個可靠的人。

 

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Even the ordinary trader will find his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater self control and equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal with a man whose demeanor is strongly equable.

一個人越是處變不驚，他的成就、影響力和號召力就越大。即使是一個普通商人，如果他遇事能夠很好地自我控制并鎮(zhèn)定自若，那么他會發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的生意蒸蒸日上；因為人們總是更愿意與一個舉止從容、沉著冷靜的人打交道。

 

The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. "Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet tempered, balanced life?" It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character, which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold — yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money seeking looks in comparison with a serene life, a life that dwells in the ocean of truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the eternal calm!

堅強、冷靜的人總是會贏得人們的好感和敬意；他就像烈日下一棵濃蔭遮地的大樹，或是暴風雨中能夠遮風擋雨的巨巖。“誰不愛一顆安靜的心，一個溫和、平實的生命呢?”無論是狂風暴雨，還是紅曰當空，無論是天翻地覆，還是命運逆轉，一切都等閑視之，因為這樣的人永遠都是謙和、冷靜、沉著。那種我們稱之為泰然自若的平靜性格，是修養(yǎng)的最后一課，也是靈魂之花的碩果。它像智慧一樣寶貴，價值勝過黃金一是的，勝過足赤真金。與寧靜的生活相比，追逐名利的行為多么不值一提，那是一種在真理的海洋中的生活，在驚濤駭浪之下，遠離暴風雨的侵擾，永遠存在于寧靜之中。

 

"How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood! It is a question whether the great majority of people do not ruin their lives and mar their happiness by lack of self control. How few people we meet in life who are well balanced, who have that exquisite poise which is characteristic of the finished character!"

“我們認識的許多人都把自己的生活搞得一片狼藉，他們的怒火破壞了所有美好的事物，同時也摧毀了自己安靜的生活，并遺禍后代！現(xiàn)在的問題是，大多數(shù)人是否因為缺乏自我控制能力而破壞了自己的生活，損毀了原有的幸福呢？在生活中，我們很少遇到能夠做到沉著冷靜、擁有成熟的性格所特有的那種平靜的人。”

 

Yes, humanity surges with uncontrolled passion, is tumultuous with ungoverned grief, is blown about by anxiety and doubt. Only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.

是的，人性因為無法控制的激情而躁動不安，因為放任無度的悲傷而起伏波動，因為焦慮和猜疑而備受打擊。只有睿智的人，只有控制并凈化了思想的人，才能在心靈的世界里呼風喚雨。

 

Tempest tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under whatsoever conditions ye may live, know this in the o cean of life the isles of blessedness are smiling, and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought. In the bark of your soul reclines the commanding master; he does but sleep; wake him. Self control is strength; right thought is mastery; calmness is power. Say unto your heart, "Peace, be still!"

經(jīng)歷過暴風雨洗禮的人們，無論你們身在何方，無論你們處境如何，你們都要知道，在生活的海洋中，幸福的島嶼在對你微笑；照耀你理想的陽光就在前方。要牢牢握住思想之舵。在你的靈魂深處，有一個指引你方向的主宰者，他可能還在沉睡，喚醒他吧。自我控制是力量，正確的思想是優(yōu)勢，沉著冷靜是能量。要時常對你的心靈說：“平和，安靜！”