The Practice of Peace

心静如水

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

许多方面需要做到心静如水:

within ourselves, between ourselves and others,

我们的内心,我们和他人之间的关系,

and between ourselves and the divine.

以及我们和我们内心之间的关系。

When any part is out of balance,

当任何一方失去平衡,

a lasting peace cannot be maintained.

都不能维持一种持久的平静心境。

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

一种平静的心境并不来自于一种错觉的安全感,

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

而是来自于对如何应对我们周遭事物的理解。

Rather than reacting automatically,

不要去机械地应对,

we must learn how to best respond.

相反,我们必须学着去以最好的方式应对事物。

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

机械的,习惯性的反应会将我们带入一个狭窄的盲区。

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

而相反,理智的反应,包括反应能力,

the power to see things as they are,

却是一种能看透事物本质的能力,

stay balanced and make an appropriate response.

保持各方面的平衡,并做出适当的反应。

This is the action of seeking peace.

这才是追求心境如水的本质行为。

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

很多人可能并没有意识到他们的选择和行为对他们自己的生活以及他人生活的巨大影响力。

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

人们曾说哪怕是一点点真爱都有着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,那我们为什么还要如此吝啬我们的善意,为什么还要紧紧抓住仇恨和复仇的思想不放手。

Seeing this is the first step.

认识到这一点是第一步,

Letting go comes next.

学会释怀就是第二步。

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

不要假装爱与平静,相反,我们必须积极地学会应付各类对平静的干扰。

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

我们必须学会当恐惧与愤怒滋长时如何去理智地应对。

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

如果我们学会如何适当地应对,即使在愤怒进行时,我们也可以平静下来。

In this way we pursue and practice peace.

这样,我们就能够真正地做到心静如水。