The Splashes of Life 生命的波纹

一个人的情绪和行为能对他人造成影响，就像石子投入水中就能激起波纹。每个人都是他社会影响所推出的圈子的中心，被圈子的波纹所波及的就发生关系。要想得到和谐与宁静的社会，首先应该让自己平静。

　　There is a famous Sioux Indian story handed down from generation to generation:

　　The grandfather took his grandson to the fish pond on the farm when the boy was about seven, and he told the boy to throw a stone into the water. He told the boy to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked the boy to think of myself as that stone.

　　"You may create lots of splashes in your life, but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said.

　　"Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles."

　　"You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both." That was the first time the boy realized that each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world.

　　We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.


精美译文：
　　这是苏语系印第安人部落中流传的一个古老的故事…

　　在男孩七岁那年，他的祖父带他来到田边的一个池塘。他让男孩丢一颗石子到水中，并嘱咐男孩仔细观察石子所激起的水波纹。然后他叫男孩把自己想象成那颗石子。

　　他说：“在生命的水面上，你也许能激起许多波纹，而你所激起的波纹也会打破别人的平。”

　　“要谨记，对你所激起的波纹中所包含的东西负责，因为这些东西会接触、影响到别人的波纹。”

　　“你应当努力使自己波纹中的平和宁静传播给他人。当然，如果你的波纹中携带有愤怒、嫉妒，别人也会受到你的影响，因此，你要对它们负责。”这是男孩第一次了解到，每个人心中的平和抑或不和，都会传播给整个世界。

　　如果我们自己内心都被冲突、仇恨、疑虑或者愤怒所纠缠，自然就不能给世界带来平和宁静。 无论我们是否说出心中的感觉和思绪，我们都在向外界传播它们。无论我们内心激起的是何种波纹，它们都会被传向他人，与别人的生命波纹共同激起美丽，抑或是不和谐。


注释：
1. Sioux adj. 苏人的, 苏语的

2. hand down 世代相传

3.pond n. 池塘

4. splash n. 飞溅；溅落
5. discord v. 不协调

6. riddle v. 迷惑

7. conflict n.斗争, 冲突