雙語(yǔ)美文|起點(diǎn)

■ 起點(diǎn)

The Beginning

◎ Deng M. T.

In the beginning, all things are hopeful. We prepare ourselves to start a new. Though we may be intent on the magnificent journey ahead, all things are contained in the first moment: our optimism, our faith, our resolution, our innocence.

In order to start, we must make a decision. The decision is a commitment to daily self-cultivation. We must make a strong connection to our inner selves. Outside matters are superfluous[1] . Alone and naked, we negotiate all of life’s travails. Therefore, we alone must make something of ourselves, transforming ourselves into the instruments for experiencing the deepest spiritual essence of life.

Once we make our decision, all things will come to us. Auspicious[2] signs are not a superstition, but a confirmation. They are a response. It is said that if one chooses to pray to a rock with enough devotion, even that rock will come alive. In the same way, once we choose to commit ourselves to spiritual practice, even the mountains and valleys will reverberate[3] to the sound of our decision .

在起點(diǎn)，所有的一切都充滿(mǎn)希望。我們準(zhǔn)備重新開(kāi)始。雖然我們的目的是前方奇妙的旅程，但我們的一切希望——樂(lè)觀(guān)、信念、決心和純真，都包含在開(kāi)始的那一刻。

為了開(kāi)始，我們必須做好決定。這一決定是我們?nèi)粘Ｗ晕倚摒B(yǎng)的一種承諾。我們要將它與自己的內(nèi)心建立一種密切的關(guān)聯(lián)。除此之外的事都是多余的。我們終生勞碌，最終孤獨(dú)而赤裸地離去。因此，我們必須有所作為，那樣可以引導(dǎo)我們?nèi)ンw會(huì)生活中最深層的精神實(shí)質(zhì)。

一旦我們下定決心，所有的事情就會(huì)接連不斷地發(fā)生。吉兆并非迷信，而是對(duì)事情的肯定預(yù)測(cè)，是事物的反應(yīng)。據(jù)說(shuō)，若有人虔誠(chéng)地向巖石祈禱，巖石都會(huì)被賦予生命。同樣，若我們堅(jiān)定自己的精神之旅，即使高山和峽谷也會(huì)回應(yīng)我們堅(jiān)定的呼聲。