英语听力：自然百科 走进西藏 tibet—16

 The full entourage of Tibetan monks¹ make the most of the occasion,with music, prayers, and blessings². Hundreds of fresh prayer flags are prepared and added to the pole. The head lama's sacred scarf adds the final touch to the proceedings³.

 

But the significance of Mount Kailash isn't confined to Buddhists⁴ alone.Other faiths venture to this remote place,many from far beyond the Himalayas.Threatening to upstage the Buddhists,the Hindus arrive,adding their own mix of colour and music.

 

When suitable respect has been paid,it's time for the newly dressed prayer pole to be raised.The pole must end up straight or it will be a bad omen⁵ for Tibet.

 

At last the pole stands true and the new prayers can be blown to the heavens.Around this point,the power of the Tibetan landscape and the beliefs of many cultures converge⁶.

 

More prayers, written on pieces of paper called windhorses,are thrown into the air and flutter upwards⁷ towards the peak of Kailash,where the gods of the different faiths are believed to reside. Here at the axis⁸ of the world,is a rare vision of harmony.

 

For a few,there is one final but essential task to perform. Buddhists believe in the concept of rebirth,and at Kailash the journey from one life to the next is marked with an ancient but outlandish ritual.Tibetans believe there's no need to keep or bury the bodies of their dead,since a departed life will already have kindled⁹ a new one elsewhere.

1 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 Buddhists   

n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒，用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后，并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句

5 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

6 converge   

vi.会合；聚集，集中；(思想、观点等)趋近

参考例句：

• The results converge towards this truth.其结果趋近于这个真理。
• Parallel lines converge at infinity.平行线永不相交。

7 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

8 axis   

n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线

参考例句：

• The earth's axis is the line between the North and South Poles.地轴是南北极之间的线。
• The axis of a circle is its diameter.圆的轴线是其直径。

9 kindled   

（使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光

参考例句：

• We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。
• The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。