纪录片《佛教世界的七大奇观》 美国洛杉矶西来寺（6）

Like so much in Buddhism¹, Nirvana clearly has to be experienced, not explained.

就像佛教中的许多概念，很明显涅槃是要修行，而非口头上的解释。

But for Buddhists³, the journey to get there, the path you take, seems to be as important as the arriving.

但对佛教徒而言，这条通往涅槃之路和到达目的地同等重要。

Buddhists will tell you that Nirvana has no fixed⁴ point in time or space.

佛教徒会告诉你，涅槃并非特定的时间或空间。

And that's actually a little ironic⁵, because one of the few accepted fixtures⁶ of the Buddhist² story is where the Buddha⁷ himself found enlightenment.

这有点讽刺，因为在少数被广泛接受而又非常确定的佛教故事中，其中一个就是佛陀开悟的地点。

We're told that that took place in Northern India under the spreading branches of a peepul tree.

我们知道那是在印度北部一棵枝繁叶茂的菩提树树荫下。

Which is where my quest had started, at Bodhgaya, at this spot where it's said Buddhist philosophy really began 2,500 years ago.

就是我这次旅程的起点，菩提伽耶。那里就是2500多年前佛教的发源地。

In this journey I have explored key facets⁸ of Buddhist belief and got a little closer to understanding something vital about the core of Buddhist philosophy, the Dharma.

在这趟旅程中，我探究了佛教信仰的主要方面，并近距离了解佛教哲学核心概念“法”的重要意义。

The Dharma is simply the way the world is.

法就是世界存在的方式。

And we can all best live our lives if we follow a path that allows us to deal with the world as passionately⁹, as compassionately¹⁰, as positively¹¹ and as wisely as possible.

如果遵循这条路，尽可能胸怀慈悲，并积极明智地生活，所有人都会得到最好的人生。

Now, whatever the permutations and interpretations¹² of Buddhism, that seems to me to be pretty simple and pretty enlightened.

现在，无论别人如何解释佛教，在我看来却是相当简单明了。

I've learnt about Karma, how mindful actions impact on our lives, about Samsara,

我了解到因果报应，铭记行为会如何影响自己的生活。

the cycle of life, birth and death, about meditation¹³, about Zen, and the final goal for all Buddhists, Nirvana.

了解到轮回，生命的循环，生生死死。了解到冥想和禅，以及所有佛教徒的终极目标——涅槃。

I have seen some of the most beautiful architecture inspired by Buddhist ideas.

我看到了受到佛教思想启发的优美建筑。

And how, after 25 centuries, Buddhism still attracts millions across the globe.

看到了在25个世纪之后佛教依然吸引着全球数以百万计的信众。

A philosophy that is rooted in its ancient past and yet gives character to the modern world.

看到了这门根植于古老过去的哲学，仍将其特质赋予现代社会。

How Buddhism places the responsibility to realise the truth on all of us.

看到了佛教是如何让我们所有人担荷起发现真理的重任。

As Buddhism travelled, it transformed the cultures it came into contact with, just as it too was transformed.

佛教在传播途中，改变了与之接触的文明同时，自身也发生了变化。

You wonder if Buddha could ever possibly have imagined the impact that his ideas would have on human history.

不知佛陀是否曾经想过他的思想对人类历史所产生的影响。

Particularly given the one thing he was certain about, was that impermanence and change were the only things that were definite in this world.

特别是他非常确定的那件事，无常变化，是这个世界唯一不变的东西。

Just listen to this - it's one of his most poetic¹⁴ epithets¹⁵.

来听听这段偈颂吧——非常有诗意。

So shall you think of all this fleeting¹⁶ world.

所以你认为所有这些短暂的世界。

A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream.

一切有为法，如梦幻泡影。

A flash of lightning in a summer cloud.

如露亦如电，应作如是观。

A flickering¹⁷ lamp, a phantom¹⁸, and a dream.

一个闪烁的灯,一个幽灵,一个梦想。

Well, the Buddha's dreams of 2,500 years ago are still with us.

佛陀在2500年前的梦想依然与我们同在。

And they've been made incarnate¹⁹ in one of the most tenacious²⁰ belief systems of all time and in some of the most iconic and beautiful monuments in the world.

它化身为历史上最为顽强的信仰体系之一，和一些世界上最具标志性的优美建筑。

1 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

2 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

3 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

4 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

5 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

6 fixtures   

（房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动

参考例句：

• The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
• The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了，钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

8 facets   

n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面

参考例句：

• The question had many facets. 这个问题是多方面的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fully cut brilliant diamond has 68 facets. 经过充分切刻的光彩夺目的钻石有68个小平面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

10 compassionately   

adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地

参考例句：

• The man at her feet looked up at Scarlett compassionately. 那个躺在思嘉脚边的人同情地仰望着她。 来自飘（部分）
• Then almost compassionately he said,"You should be greatly rewarded." 接着他几乎带些怜悯似地说：“你是应当得到重重酬报的。” 来自辞典例句

11 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

12 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

14 poetic   

adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的

参考例句：

• His poetic idiom is stamped with expressions describing group feeling and thought.他的诗中的措辞往往带有描写群体感情和思想的印记。
• His poetic novels have gone through three different historical stages.他的诗情小说创作经历了三个不同的历史阶段。

15 epithets   

n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He insulted me, using rude epithets. 他用粗话诅咒我。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He cursed me, using a lot of rude epithets. 他用上许多粗鲁的修饰词来诅咒我。 来自辞典例句

16 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

17 flickering   

adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的

参考例句：

• The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
• The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。

18 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

19 incarnate   

adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的

参考例句：

• She was happiness incarnate.她是幸福的化身。
• That enemy officer is a devil incarnate.那个敌军军官简直是魔鬼的化身。

20 tenacious   

adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的

参考例句：

• We must learn from the tenacious fighting spirit of Lu Xun.我们要学习鲁迅先生韧性的战斗精神。
• We should be tenacious of our rights.我们应坚决维护我们的权利。