2015年3月13日晨，在美国就读高中的倪闻萱同学，为全校500名师生发表了一次主题演讲。这场演讲深深打动了全体师生，一位老师甚至落下了眼泪。为什么一场关于佛教的演说，会在西方引起如此强烈的反响？以下是英文演讲稿及其中文翻译，文后附部分老师和学生的感言。

 

演讲从一个故事开始：

 

A stormy nightin Hong Kong.

香港一个风雨交加的夜晚。

 

A young man who asked his girlfriend out on adate canceled the date and stayed at home because of the bad weather. Meanwhile, in the same apartment building, a pregnant lady who was lying in bed already, suddenly decided to drive out to grab some food. As she was driving back in the heavy rain, the lightning struck her building. And she saw the whole building collapsing in front of her in the storm.

公寓中的一名男孩，本已约了女友外出，出门时因风雨太大，就临时取消了约会而逗留家中。而公寓中另一位有孕在身、本已卧床休息的少妇，因想吃点东西而独自驾车外出。当她冒着风雨驾车返回时，发现整栋公寓竟然在风雨中倒塌了……

 

All the residents of that building, including the young man, lost their lives in that accident. Yet the pregnant lady survived.

包括那名男孩在内的公寓中其他居民都丧身在倒塌的公寓与山泥之中，而孕妇却幸免于难。

 

This is a story of fate by author, Kuang Ni from Hong Kong. Dead oralive, all depended on that one thought. Is this a made-up story, or a true reflection of our lives?

这是香港作家倪匡笔下一个耐人寻味的命运故事。一念之间，生死两重天。这到底只是作家的艺术创作，还是生活的真实写照？

 

You have probably also experienced how one decision potentially leads to adramatic and different result. So is it accidental, or inevitable? Does destiny exist? If so, how is it formed? Can it be changed? How do we change it?

你可能也经历过这种事情，因为一个决定而产生了截然不同的结果。那么，这是偶然还是必然？命运真的存在吗？如果存在，它又是怎样形成的？可以被改变吗？如何才能改变？

My dad published a book titled Enlightenment in 2012. It’s a book about Buddhism and its wisdom that may help you in life. I say “A life-changing book” here because first of all, it is what the Chinese characters on the cover mean; secondly it is my own father’s book and of course I want to sell it; but thirdly, it indeed is “Alife-changing book.”

我父亲于2012年出版了《觉悟》一书。这是一本关于用佛教智慧改变我们生命的书。我说“This is a life-changing book（一本足以改写你生命的书）”，因为首先，这本书的封面上的确写着这些中文字；其次，这是我父亲的书，我当然想推销它；（笑声）第三，这的确是一本足以改写你生命的书。

 

Ever since he published book, he has wanted me to translate his book when I grow more proficient in English. I doubt that I have the ability to translate his book yet, but I’d like to take this opportunity to share some bits and parts of his insights on Buddhism; especially those on Zen Buddhism that have helped me in my life. This speech will partially be a rough translation of the first chapter of his book, as he wishes, and partially my personal experience with Zen.

自从他出版这本书以后，我父亲就希望我能帮他翻译成英语。当然，我不觉得我现在的英语水平够去翻译这整本书，但是我希望借这个机会，能分享一些他对佛法的见解，尤其是在我成长的过程中对我有很大帮助的禅学。这次演讲的一部分内容会是《觉悟》一书部分章节的简单翻译（算是如我父亲所愿），还有一部分是我自己的修心、修行经历。

 

Since the day we’re born, we’ve stepped into a huge maze with only one exit. The exit leads to the tranquil middle path that Buddhism is looking for. And only by finding the right road can we exit the maze that is full of suffering. Different thing shappen to different people in our lives, but you should know that every hardship or impasse you face comes from the seeds of your past ignorance and presumptuous acts. There’s nothing we could do with things that already happened, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop searching for the way out. In fact, according to Buddhist teaching, if we wake up from the ignorance, we can definitely leave the maze.

从出生之日起，我们就像步入了一个只有唯一出口的巨大迷宫。佛教正是要帮助你找到这个给你带来解脱的唯一出口。唯有找到这个出口，我们才能从满是痛苦的迷宫中走出来。每个人在生命中都经历着不同的事情。但不管在你的生命中发生了什么，要知道，现在你所遇到的每一个障碍或绝境，都来自过去的无知和妄行埋下的种子。已经发生的结果，我们无力改变，但并不意味着我们必须停下探索的脚步。事实上，佛教认为，只要我们从无知中醒来，就一定能走出迷宫。

 

There is a kind of dandelion in Canada that cangrow out of the ground again even if it’s been pulled out by its roots. Some specialists latter found out that this kind of dandelion has roots that are eight meters down into the earth, and at the end of the roots, there’s a seed. Even if the roots are taken out, the dandelion can grow out again because of its seed.

加拿大有一种生命力特别旺盛的蒲公英，即便你将它连根拔起，不久它还会从地下长出新的来。后来，经过专家的深入研究发现，它的根须特别长，竟然顽强地扎入地下八米的深处，并且须根的尽头有一粒种子，就算须根断了，蒲公英也照样会因这粒种子而再次破土重生。

 

Deep down in our hearts, there’s aseed as well. Without us noticing, the seed has been developing roots, blooming flowers, and even bearing bitter fruits. Although we hate these bitter fruits, we have no idea where they come from. So after trying and failing every time,the fruits remain. They remain because we have only tried to solve the problems on the surface, like taking out the roots of the dandelion but not the seed.

在我们内心深处，也深埋着一颗种子。不知不觉间，这颗潜伏着的种子在不断地发芽开花，并结满了各式各样苦涩的果子。虽然我们讨厌那些苦涩的果子，但由于并不知道它们究竟来自何方，所以就算用尽了各种方法，却总是失望地发现无法根除它。因为，我们总是治标而不治本。就像人们只是铲除地上的蒲公英，或者虽然拔出了蒲公英的根须，却将那颗种子留在了地下一样。

 

 

The seed that is deep down in our hearts is called “ego,” – the source of all ofour troubles and pain. Our hearts should be spacious and open, capable of taking in anything. We are the universe, and the universe is us. We are allone. But when the “ego” starts to develop, we start to separate ourselves from the whole.

深埋于我们内心深处的那颗种子叫“自我”，它是我们人生一切烦恼和痛苦的源头。我们的心，本来应该像虚空一样，可以容纳一切。一切和我们没有对立，一切就是我们，我们就是一切。我们和整体没有分割。当我们有了自我，我们就开始分割和比较，“我”从整体中独立了出来。

 

Then based on our preferences and experience, our hearts start to have limited capacity. Our hearts are no longer big enough to accommodate everything.The more specific preferences we develop, the smaller our hearts become. After a certain time, we start to hang on to the ego and develop different feelings because of it. We experience love and happiness, but also pain and suffering.The ego is a doubled-edged-sword. Is there a way to use it only for good without any bad effects?

接着，因着我们的喜好、经验，心的大小容量就显露出来了，我们的心不再可以容纳一切了。随着我们分割的东西越来越多，心的容量也就随之变得越来越小。自我变成了一道过滤外界事物的屏障，将我们和整体分割了开来。 接着，我们就慢慢执著于这个自我，经过一定阶段的熏习和积累，因“我”而产生了爱和幸福，但也带来了相应的痛苦和烦恼。它是一把双刃剑。那么有没有办法把这把双刃剑用好，只使其发挥有益的作用而不产生负面作用呢？

 

The ultimate goal is to get rid of the separation between us and thewhole. And to do that, Buddhism divides the cultivation of this life style into three steps: Discipline, Meditation, and Wisdom. Our hearts are like candles, swaying in the breeze of desire. Discipline is like adding a glass jar around the candle, separating the breeze so it no longer affects the candle light. Meditation is the process the flame takes to stop swaying. And Wisdom is the growing light as the flame comes to stillness.

佛教的最终目的是助你回本归真。为此，佛教将修行分为“戒、定、慧”三个步骤。若把我们的心比喻成蜡烛，那么蜡烛会在风中摇曳（各种利益诱惑或逆境打击），很容易熄灭，如果给蜡烛加上个玻璃罩（就是“戒”），它就慢慢从摇曳中静下来（就是“定”）。于是烛光会越来越明亮（就是“慧”）。

I’ve been going to boarding schools since I was seven. Once after a stressful week, I went home with a grumpy look. Noticing my anxiousness, my dad asked me to take a walk with him. Along the narrow path were numerous streetlights; some were luminous and some were dusky. He pointed at one tha twas covered in dust and asked me, “Remember your happiest moments? Right now your brightness is covered by the dust of doubts and fears just like this streetlight. But the light is in you, you just need clear the dust off.” I realized that any situation is controllable with the right attitude.

七岁起，我就读住宿学校。有次周末回家时我满心烦恼。父亲注意到后要我和他出去散散步。那是一条满是路灯的小道，有的明亮而有的昏暗。父亲指着一盏满是灰尘的路灯问我：“记得你最开心的时候吗？现在你内心的光亮被忧虑和恐惧的灰尘遮盖住了，就像这盏灯一样。但是光就在你心中，你只需清除你心灯上的尘埃。”我意识到，只要保持正确的心态，我能战胜任何困难。

 

 

That led to my Emotional Flow Chart. The X-axisindicates the date of the week. The Y-axis has a scale of 1-5, one meaning extreme negative emotion and five meaning extreme positive emotion.

此后父亲为我设计了一张情绪记录表。X轴为日期，在Y轴上标上1-5分的分值（1分表示极其低落的情绪，5分表示非常兴奋的情绪）。

（上图为倪闻萱小时候的心情日记截图）

 

In the beginning, the lines are shaky like astock market graph. I noticed that I might have a day of 1 right after a day of5. But as I pay more attention to my feelings, the lines start to get flatter,and tend to settle at 3 and 4. I’m not saying that I’m totally incontrol of my emotion now, but this chart has definitely helped me to be more aware of myself, and thus remain more logical when facing any situation.

起初，这张表就像动荡的股票市场图。有时我会前一天是5分，第二天却仅得到1分。但当我开始观照起自己的情绪时，它就变得慢慢平稳下来，经常徘徊在3和4之间。我并不是说现在我能完全控制自己的情绪了，但是这张表对我的情绪控制起了很大的作用，面对问题时也变得更加理性。

 

An easier way to make yourself more aware of your emotional flow without this chart, is talking to yourself. When you’re lying in bed ready to go to sleep, instead of grabbing your phone, consider taking that half an hour, or even just five minutes, to have a conversation with yourself. Ask yourself, “How are you?” and let your subconscious talk to you.

还有一个更简单的，不用填写任何表格的方法——和自己对话。当你晚上躺在床上准备入睡前，试试放下手机，用那半小时，甚至仅仅五分钟，和自己对话。问问自己，“你感觉怎么样？”让你的潜意识和你说说话。

 

Let’s try this. Please close your eyes, and go through everything that happened to you yesterday. How was your day? Where would you mark your day on a scale of 1-5? Obviously the fluctuations of a day’s emotion will be like a heart beat. But try to average out thehighs and lows and mark your dot. Did something or someone make you really happy? Did you make someone else’s day better? Was there a time when you could have been more kind? Or was there a time you lost control? And what caused your emotional flows? What do you want your day to be like today? I hope this mini meditation helps you recollect yourself on the anxious last day of school before break.

让我们现在就试试。请闭上你的眼睛，想想昨天一天发生的所有事情。你昨天一天怎么样？（大家闭上了眼睛，在回忆）1-5分，你会给自己打几分？当然，你的一天不可能保持同样情绪。尝试把开心与不开心的时候平均一下，你会给自己打几分？（停顿了几秒）是什么事或什么人让你开心了？（停顿了几秒）有没有因为你的缘故让别人过得更好？（停顿了几秒）有没有某个瞬间，你的情绪失控了？（停顿了几秒）是什么造成了你的情绪波动？（停顿了几秒）你希望今天一天怎样度过？（停顿了几秒）我希望这个短短的自我对话，能帮助你在春假前的最后一天沉静下来。

 

 

Now I’ll leave you with a formula–

1 *(past) + 2* (now) = variable (future)

You could not change your past circumstances, but by adjusting your present mindset, you have the capacity to dramatically alter your future.

最后我想给你们一个公式——

1*（过去）+ 2*（现在）= 未知（未来）

你无法改变过去已经发生的事，但如果你能调整好你当下的状态，你就能收获一个意想不到的未来。

 

The End（完）

 

——————————————————

 

–Audience reaction –

以下摘录部分老师、学生的热烈反馈

 

Ms. C (Religion teacher): Wen, you nailed it! Your speech—the delivery, the message was flawless. Several teachers mentioned to me how fine they thought your speech and poised presentation was! I noticed it was super quiet in the theatre—that kind of quiet when people are really paying attention. You’re helping turn the wheel of dharma in Dobbs!

宗教老师Ms. C：太成功了！你的演讲及讲稿非常完美。好几位老师和我提到你的演讲有多泰然自若。我意识到你演讲的时候全场非常安静——那种全神贯注的安静。你为这个小镇转起了法轮！

 

Ms. R (Advisor): (tears streaming down her face) Wen, I just want to thank you for your speech. It reminded meth at the singing bowl in my house hasn’t chanted in so long. I’ll pick it up again. Thank you! You’re so special. Please tell your dad thanks for his wonderful work too.

Ms. R（顾问老师， 在我下台后拉住我，潸然落泪）：我想感谢你的演讲。你让我想起我家里的磬好久没被奏响过了。我会重新开始做早课的。谢谢你！你是如此特别。也请转告你父亲，感谢他的著作。

 

Mr. W (Administrator): Thank you for sharing! Please let me know when you have actually translated your dad’s book! I’ll definitely go buy it. Both my wife and I are pretty into Buddhism. My wife is actually going to a --- conference on Buddhism this weekend. Can you send me a copy of your speech? I want to share it with her.

校行政官Mr. W：感谢你的分享！如果你翻译好了你父亲的书请一定告诉我！我一定会去买的。我和我的妻子都很喜欢佛教思想。我的妻子这周末正准备去参加一个佛教峰会。你能给我发一份你的讲稿吗？我想与她分享。

 

Several students I don’t know: Thank you for sharing! Great Speech! Among all Matters of Spirit speeches, your speech was the one that I actually stayed awake for.

我的朋友包括几个我不认识的同学在我演讲后感谢我的分享，他们说：“可能是每周Matters of Spirit系列主题演讲中我唯一全程醒着的一次演讲。”

 

Student friend: That was amazing. I wish I had recorded it so I could see it again. But probably everyone was so transfixed that no one recorded anything... So proud of you!

同学：刚才你太棒了！真希望我刚才有录下来以便现在再看一遍。不过我觉得大家都太全神贯注了，没人想到要拿出手机拍照录像……为你骄傲！

 

Ms. N (Dean of Students): Thanks for sharing! You’ve definitely helped me to “clean the dustoff” of my mind. It’s very inspiring.

学生主任Ms. N：感谢分享！你帮助我“清除了心灯上的尘埃”。对我非常有启发的演讲！

 

Mr. N (Language teacher): I really like your speech! Is that your dad’s book? I love it. I love reading spiritual book, and I don’t know when this book will come out in English, but I really want to read it! Please do your best to translate it!

语言老师Mr. N：我非常喜欢你的演讲！这就是你父亲的书吗？我太喜欢了。我喜欢读精神教导方面的书。不知道这本书的英文版什么时候会出，但是我非常想读！请你一定好好翻译！也请转告你父亲感谢他的著作。

 

Mr. B (History teacher, formerlawyer) emailed me: I just wanted to take a moment to say how thoughtful your speech was this morning. I always enjoy learning something new or gaining new insight. I look forward to sharing some of what I learned with my daughter, whom I think will really appreciate it. And I look forward to buying your father's book when you translate it into English. Send me the Amazon link whenit's on the market!

历史老师Mr. B（曾是律师）给我发邮件：“我想感谢你今早那令人深思的演说。我一向喜欢学习新知识或是找到一种新的见解。我准备今晚将我从你的演讲里学到的东西分享给我的女儿（他的女儿正在就读大学），她一定会非常感激你的。等你翻译完你父亲的书请一定给我发一个亚马逊链接，我期待着买到这本书的时刻！”

 

Ms. G (English teacher) emailedme: I wanted to tell you how much I loved your presentation on Buddhism this morning. I found it very inspiring!

英语老师Ms. G给我发邮件道：“我想告诉你我多爱你早上关于佛教的演讲。非常令我深思！”

 

Dr. D (Class Dean of Seniors,Science teacher) emailed me: I just wanted to express my gratitude for sharing your Matters of Spirit talk this morning. Your thoughtful and mindful approach to your days is an example we all can learn from.

十二年级年级组主任Dr. D给我发邮件道：“我想告诉你我非常感谢你今早Matters of Spirit的演讲。你讲到的那种警醒、自知的生活方式是我们每个人都该学习的。”

 

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