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fuyonggu · 4 years ago

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Biography of Sima Jiong (Book of Jin 59)

齊武閔王冏，字景治，獻王攸之子也。少稱仁惠，好振施，有父風。初，攸有疾，武帝不信，遣太醫診候，皆言無病。及攸薨，帝往臨喪，冏號踴訴父病為醫所誣，詔即誅醫。由是見稱，遂得為嗣。元康中，拜散騎常侍，領左軍將軍、翊軍校尉。趙王倫密與相結，廢賈后，以功轉遊擊將軍。冏以位不滿意，有恨色。孫秀微覺之，且憚其在內��出為平東將軍、假節，鎮許昌。倫篡，遷鎮東大將軍、開府儀同三司，欲以寵安之。

Sima Jiong was styled Jingzhi; his posthumous title was Prince Wumin ("the Martial and Pitied") of Qi. He was the son of Prince Xian ("the Presented") of Qi, Sima You. Even as a child, Sima Jiong won acclaim for his kind and benevolent attitude and enjoyed being generous; he had the same spirit as his father.

Before Sima You's death, although he had become ill, Emperor Wu did not really believe that he was sick. So he sent the imperial doctors to examine and diagnose Sima You, and they declared that he was not ill. When Sima You then passed away and Emperor Wu went to attend the mourning service, Sima Jiong was in a fit of grief, declaring that the doctors had given false reports about Sima You's illness. Emperor Wu ordered the doctors put to death, and Sima Jiong won renown for this act and was permitted to inherit his father's title as Prince of Qi (although he was not the eldest son).

During the Yuankang reign era (291-300), Sima Jiong was appointed as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance, as acting General of the Left Army, and as Colonel Who Supports The Army. The Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, secretly formed ties with him.

For his role in helping to depose Jia Nanfeng (in 300), Sima Jiong was appointed as General of Roaming Assault. But Sima Jiong was not satisfied by this position, and he often looked resentful. When Sun Xiu realized this, he was afraid to keep Sima Jiong too close at hand, so he had him sent away as General Who Pacifies The East and Credential Holder and had him garrison Xuchang.

When Sima Lun usurped the throne (in 301), he appointed Sima Jiong as Grand General Who Guards The East and granted him the privilege of a Separate Office with equal ceremonial to the Three Excellencies, in order to mollify and appease him.

冏因眾心怨望，潛與離狐王盛、潁川王處穆謀起兵誅倫。倫遣腹心張烏覘之，烏反，曰：「齊無異志。」冏既有成謀未發，恐或泄，乃與軍司管襲殺處穆，送首於倫，以安其意。謀定，乃收襲殺之。遂與豫州刺史何勖、龍驤將軍董艾等起軍，遣使告成都、河間、常山、新野四王，移檄天下征鎮、州郡縣國，咸使聞知。揚州刺史郗隆承檄，猶豫未決，參軍王邃斬之，送首於冏。冏屯軍陽翟，倫遣其將閭和、張泓、孫輔出堮阪，與冏交戰。冏軍失利，堅壘自守。會成都軍破倫眾于黃橋，冏乃出軍攻和等，大破之。及王輿廢倫，惠帝反正，冏誅討賊党既畢，率眾入洛，頓軍通章署，甲士數十萬，旌旗器械之盛，震於京都。天子就拜大司馬，加九錫之命，備物典策，如宣、景、文、武輔魏故事。

Sima Jiong was planning to take advantage of the anger and resentment of the people against Sima Lun, and he secretly plotted with Wang Sheng of Lihu and Wang Chumu of Yingchuan to rise up with soldiers to overthrow Sima Lun. But at the same time, Sima Lun had sent one of his confidantes, Zhang Wu, to keep a close eye on Sima Jiong. When Zhang Wu returned to the capital, he reported, "The Prince of Qi has no ulterior motives against you." And since Sima Jiong's plans were not yet complete, he was afraid that the plot might leak out. So he joined with his Army-Marshal, Guan Xi, to kill Wang Chumu, then sent Wang Chumu head to Sima Lun in order to allay his concerns. However, once Sima Jiong's plan was complete, he arrested Guan Xi and killed him.

Then Sima Jiong raised an army, together with the Inspector of Yuzhou, He Xu, the Dragon-Soaring General, Dong Ai, and others. He sent word around to inform others of his plot: the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, and the Prince of Xinye, Sima Xin.

Sima Jiong sent out a proclamation of his intentions to every general or minister, to all the Generals Who Conquer, Generals Who Guard, Inspectors, Administrators, Prefects, and Interior Ministers, so that everyone might know what his designs were.

When the Inspector of Yanzhou, Chi Long, received Sima Jiong's proclamation, he was hesitant and could not decide whether to support him or not. But one of his Army Advisors, Wang Sui, beheaded Chi Long and sent his head to Sima Jiong.

Sima Jiong camped his army at Yangdi. Sima Lun sent his generals Zhang Hong, Lü He, and Sun Fu to march out through Eban, where they met Sima Jiong in battle. Sima Jiong had the worst of the fighting, so he withdrew into his defenses and fortified his ramparts. But in the meantime, Sima Ying's army routed Sima Lun's forces at Huangqiao. So Sima Jiong led his army out again and attacked Lü He and the others, this time greatly routing them.

Once the Princes had finished deposing Sima Lun and restoring Emperor Hui to the throne and Sima Jiong had completed his executions of Sima Lun's partisans in villainy, Sima Jiong led his troops into Luoyang, where he made arrangements for accommodating his troops. He had hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, with a full panoply of flags and banners and military gear, and the capital region trembled.

Emperor Hui appointed Sima Jiong as Grand Marshal and granted him the Nine Bestowments. He was granted regent authority to handle all canons and policies, just as Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, and Emperor Wu had once wielded such power on behalf of the government of Wei.

冏於是輔政，居攸故宮，置掾屬四十人。大築第館，北取五穀市，南開諸署，毀壞廬舍以百數，使大匠營制，與西宮等。鑿千秋門牆以通西閣，後房施鐘懸，前庭舞八佾，沈於酒色，不入朝見。坐拜百官，符敕三臺，選舉不均，惟寵親昵。以車騎將軍何勖領中領軍。封葛<方與>為牟平公，路秀小黃公，衛毅陰平公，劉真安鄉公，韓泰封丘公，號曰「五公」，委以心膂。殿中御史桓豹奏事，不先經冏府，即考竟之。於是朝廷側目，海內失望矣。南陽處士鄭方露版極諫，主簿王豹屢有箴規，冏並不能用，��奏豹殺之。有白頭公入大司馬府大呼，言有兵起，不出甲子旬。即收殺之。

Sima Jiong thus acted as regent over the government. He lived in Sima You's old palace, and selected forty assistants and subordinates for himself. He greatly expanded the rooms and buildings of his palace, extending the estate north to reach the Five Grains Market and south to connect with the various government offices. He demolished hundreds of homes and buildings in the process. He ordered the Grand Architect to lay out his palace to be on the same scale as Emperor Hui's residence at the Western Palace. He bored a hole through the Qianqiu Gate to make a direct path to the Western Pavilion, and he hung up bells in his rear chambers and arrayed dancers in eight rows (an imperial privilege) in his front hall. He indulged himself in wine and sensual pleasures, not bothering to attend court.

Sima Jiong appointed various ministers without any ceremony, just granting the appointments from where he sat, and he issued commands to the Three Bureaus of the government simply by a mark. And in his selections and promotions, he was not impartial, but only favored those who were close to him and familiar. He appointed the General of Chariots and Cavalry, He Xu, as General Who Leads The Army of the Center. He also appointed Ge Yu as Duke of Mouping, Lu Xiu as Duke of Xiaohuang, Wei Yi as Duke of Yinping, Liu Zhen as Duke of Anxiang, and Han Tai as Duke of Fengqiu; they came to be known as the "Five Dukes", and all of them were Sima Jiong's close companions.

The Secretary of the Central Hall, Huan Bao, submitted a petition without first sending it to Sima Jiong's office for review, for which he was submitted to interrogation. From then on, the court ministers all glanced about in fear, and everyone within the Seas lost hope in Sima Jiong.

A recluse of Nanyang, Zheng Fang, submitted an essay harshly remonstrating with Sima Jiong (his essay is listed below). And one of the Registrars, Wang Bao, often warned Sima Jiong against what he was doing (his essays and biography are in the Biographies of Loyal Ministers). But Sima Jiong did not follow either of their advice, and he even arranged to have Wang Bao killed.

A white-haired gentleman ran into the office of the Grand Marshal, exclaiming that there would be an uprising soon, before the next Jiazi year (in 304). He was arrested and killed.

冏驕恣日甚，終無悛志。前賊曹屬孫惠復上諫曰：惠聞天下五難，四不可，而明公皆以居之矣。捐宗廟之主，忽千乘之重，躬貫甲胄，犯冒鋒刃，此一難也。奮三百之卒，決全勝之策，集四方之眾，致英豪之士，此二難也。舍殿堂之尊，居單��之陋，安囂塵之慘，同將士之勞，此三難也。驅烏合之眾，當凶強之敵，任神武之略，無疑阻之懼，此四難也。檄六合之內，著盟信之誓，升幽宮之帝，復皇祚之業，此五難也。大名不可久荷，大功不可久任，大權不可久執，大威不可久居。未有行其五難而不以為難，遺其不可而謂之為可。惠竊所不安也。自永熙以來，十有一載，人不見德，惟戮是聞。公族構篡奪之禍，骨肉遭梟夷之刑，群王被囚檻之困，妃主有離絕之哀。曆觀前代，國家之禍，至親之亂，未有今日之甚者也。良史書過，後嗣何觀！天下所以不去于晉，符命長存於世者，主無嚴虐之暴，朝無酷烈之政，武帝餘恩，獻王遺愛，聖慈惠和，尚經人心。四海所系，實在於茲。今明公建不世之義，而未為不世之讓，天下惑之，思求所悟。長沙、成都，魯、衛之密，國之親親，與明公計功受賞，尚不自先。今公宜放桓、文之勳，邁臧、劄之風，芻狗萬物，不仁其化，崇親推近，功遂身退，委萬機于二王，命方岳於群後，燿義讓之旗，鳴思歸之鑾，宅大齊之墟，振泱泱之風，垂拱青、徐之域，高枕營丘之籓。金石不足以銘高，八音不足以讚美，姬文不得專聖於前，太伯不得獨賢於後。今明公忘亢極之悔，忽窮高之凶，棄五嶽之安，居累卵之危，外以權勢受疑，內以百揆損神。雖處高臺之上，逍遙重仞之墉，及其危亡之憂，過於潁、翟之慮。群下竦戰，莫之敢言。惠以衰亡之余，遭陽九之運，甘矢石之禍，赴大王之義，脫褐冠胄，從戎于許。契闊戰陣，功無可記，當隨風塵，待罪初服。屈原放斥，心存南郢；樂毅適趙，志戀北燕。況惠受恩，偏蒙識養，雖復暫違，情隆二臣，是以披露血誠，冒昧��迕。言入身戮，義讓功舉，退就鈇鑕，此惠之死賢於生也。冏不納，亦不加罪。

Sima Jiong only grew more arrogant by the day, and he never did reform his desires.

A former official from the office of Bandit Management, Sun Hui, also wrote a letter to Sima Jiong remonstrating with him. He wrote,

"I have heard that Your Highness has faced five hardships to reach your current position, and I am familiar with four truths about the impermanence of power. Yet Your Highness remains unconcerned about any of these things.

"To set aside your gravity as keeper of your family’s ancestral temple and lay down your majesty of being lord of a domain of a thousand chariots in favor of personally donning armor and helmet and braving risks and facing dangers was the first hardship Your Highness undertook. To muster a band of three hundred fellows, devise plans for decisive and total victory, assemble soldiers from every corner, and gather together brave heroes was the second. To abandon the hallowed halls of your palace and dwell in the wretched conditions of a soldier's tent, peacefully enduring the noise and filth of the camp and sharing the labor and toil of the generals and soldiers was the third. To organize a flock of conscripts, prepare them to resist the fearsome might of the enemy, devise for them genius plans of martial prowess, and temper them with courage and resolve was the fourth. And to send out proclamations in every direction, gain the trust of sworn allies, restore the deposed Emperor to the throne, and revive the imperial fortunes was the fifth.

"At the same time, I observe these truths: even a great reputation cannot ensure one's position, even great merits cannot secure one in office, even great influence cannot be wielded forever, and even great authority cannot be counted to last.

"Yet Your Highness does not recognize the extent of these five hardships you faced to get where you are, nor do you acknowledge these four truths. I cannot help but be concerned for you.

"In the eleven years since the start of the Yongxi era (in 290), there have been no instances of public virtue, but only reports of slaughter. The imperial clan has suffered the disasters of usurpations and struggles for power, and imperial relatives have inflicted punishments and executions against their own flesh and blood; princes have endured the indignities of jail cells and prison carts, and consorts have lamented their fates of being cut off and set aside. Indeed, in all of history, though we read of states that suffered disasters and close relatives that warred among themselves, never has there been a situation as dire as this one. If the historians be honest about our faults, how will our descendants ever bear to read about them?

"Why then has the realm not abandoned Jin, and why has the Mandate not passed from our dynasty? Only because the ruler has not exhibited tyranny and severity and the court has not governed with violence and cruelty, because of the enduring grace of Emperor Wu and the lasting love of Prince Xian (Sima You). It was their sage benevolence and their kindly magnanimity which bound the hearts of the people toward Jin. And these are the things which secure the support of all those within the Four Seas.

"Now although Your Highness displayed an unparalleled sense of righteousness when you led your uprising against the usurper, still you have failed to show an equivalent sense of peerless virtue by yielding your position afterwards. The realm wonders at the reasons for this, and they seek an answer. Furthermore, the Princes of Changsha (Sima Ai) and Chengdu (Sima Ying) have the same close bond to one another as the ancient lords of Lu and Wey, they are the immediate family members of the Emperor (as his younger brothers), and when one considers whom among the three of you accomplished the most during the recent campaign and deserved the greatest rewards, it is difficult to be certain that Your Highness has an undisputed claim to supremacy. By continuing what you are currently doing, Your Highness will be giving up the good achievements of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin when they selflessly rescued the royal family of Zhou from peril, and treading the same path as Zang and Zha instead. Straw dogs and all the beings of creation are not treated any differently out of any consideration of benevolence.

"Your Highness should honor your relatives and yield in favor of those near in stature to you, considering that your work is complete and withdrawing from the center. Entrust affairs to the two Princes, while you supervise the heirs of the various feudal lords. Display the banner of your righteous intention to yield power and sound the call of your wish to return to your noble fief, dwell within your domain as lord of the great Qi region, catch the spirit of the billowing wind, take the areas of Qingzhou and Xuzhou into your hands, and stand proud at your post at Yingqiu. If you do these things, then even gold will not be a good enough medium to record the greatness of your achievements and even the Eight Sounds will not be sufficient tunes to sing your praises; Ji Wen (King Wen of Zhou) would no longer have the sole claim for sagacity, nor Taibo for worthiness.

"But if you forget the dangers of the great precipice you are standing upon and heedlessly ascend towards the summit, you would be abandoning the security of the Five Peaks and making your position as precarious as a stack of eggs. Without, your power and authority would invite suspicion, and within, your reputation among the officials would suffer. Even if you were to venture to the top of a high terrace or seclude yourself behind rows of walls, I would still presume to fear for your safety, even more now than at the time of Yingchuan and Yangdi (during the uprising). Your subordinates quiver with fear for you, but none dare say a word.

"Now who am I, Sun Hui, to tell you these things? Nothing but a sad remnant in fact. But inviting the onset of calamity and welcoming the perils of the slings and arrows, I once rushed to Your Highness's righteous call; casting aside my common clothes and putting on my helmet, I followed your army to Xu (Xuchang). Of great and glorious deeds in the line of battle, I have none to claim. Yet I followed you through the wind and dust of those days, and I am prepared to receive punishment in addressing you now. Though Qu Yuan was exiled, his heart was always with Ying in the south; though Yue Yi fled to Zhao, his thoughts were always with Yan in the north. Can it be any different with me, who has received your grace and was blessed with your recognition and your care? Though it may seem that I go against your wishes, I am your man through and through; I am baring my flesh to show the sincerity of my blood, and it is thus that I offer you such unpalatable advice. Having presented my words, I am prepared for my punishment. If by writing these things I can convince you to righteously yield power and to secure your achievements, I go to the chopping block willingly, for it would be a worthy end to my life."

Though Sima Jiong did not accept Sun Hui's advice, neither did he punish him.

翊軍校尉李含奔于長安，詐云受密詔，使河間王顒誅冏，因導以利謀。顒從之，上表曰：王室多故，禍難罔已。大司馬冏雖唱義有興復皇位之功，而定都邑，克寧社稷，實成都王勳力也。而冏不能固守臣節，實協異望。在許昌營有東西掖門，官置治書侍御史，長史、司馬直立左右，如侍臣之儀。京城大清，篡逆誅夷，而率百萬之眾來繞洛城。阻兵經年，不一朝覲，百官拜伏，晏然南面。壞樂官市署，用自增廣。輒取武庫秘杖，嚴列不解。故東萊王蕤知其逆節，表陳事狀，而見誣陷，加罪黜徙。以樹私黨，僭立官屬。幸妻嬖妾，名號比之中宮。沈湎酒色，不恤群黎。董艾放縱，無所畏忌，中丞按奏，而取退免。張偉惚恫，擁停詔可，葛旟小豎，維持國命。操弄王爵，貨賂公行。群奸聚黨，擅斷殺生。密署腹心，實為貨謀。斥罪忠良，伺窺神器。臣受重任，蕃衛方嶽，見冏所行，實懷激憤。即日翊軍校尉李含乘驛密至，宣騰詔旨。臣伏讀感切，五情若灼。《春秋》之義，君親無將。冏擁強兵，樹置私黨，權官要職，莫非腹心。雖復重責之誅，恐不義服。今輒勒兵，精卒十萬，與州征並協忠義，共會洛陽。驃騎將軍長沙王乂，同奮忠誠，廢冏還第。有不順命，軍法從事。成都王穎明德茂親，功高勳重，往歲去就，允合眾望，宜為宰輔，代冏阿衡之任。

The Colonel of 翊軍, Li Han, fled from the capital to Chang'an, the base of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong. He lied and said he had received a secret edict from Emperor Hui, calling on Sima Yong to punish Sima Jiong, and that Li Han had been sent to Sima Yong to help facilitate the plot.

Sima Yong believed Li Han. He submitted a petition to the court: "The imperial family has suffered from many incidents of late, and disasters and difficulties continue to plague us. Although the Grand Marshal, Sima Jiong, may claim the credit of having called an uprising and restoring the Emperor to the throne, in truth it was thanks to the Prince of Chengdu's efforts that the capital region was pacified and the altars of state were secured. Yet Sima Jiong, not content to observe his proper duties as a minister and subject, has begun to harbor nefarious intentions.

"At Sima Jiong's army camp at Xuchang, he set up eastern and western Ye Gates like one sees at the Emperor's palace, and on his staff there, those whom he appointed as Secretaries of Recordskeeping, as Chief Clerks, or as Marshals all hovered about him with the same ceremony that residents of the palace would show towards the Son of Heaven. During the campaign, although the capital had already been entirely purged and the usurpers and traitors punished before his arrival, Sima Jiong still led an army of a million soldiers to infest the walls of Luoyang. He has kept his troops garrisoned there for an entire year by now. He never attends court, but makes the government ministers bow and perform obeisance before him, while he sits serenely facing south (in imitation of the Emperor). He has torn down buildings of the Music Bureau and the marketplace purely to expand and broaden his own estate. He has helped himself to the stored equipment of the Arsenal, and he has imposed martial law on the city without any sign of lifting restrictions. The former Prince of Donglai, Sima Ruí (Sima Jiong’s elder brother), recognized that Sima Jiong had betrayed his duties, and he presented a petition to the court listing Sima Jiong's offenses, but he was only met with slander and infamy, until he was charged with a crime and suffered demotion and exile. Sima Jiong has presumed to fill the government ministries with his own partisans and minions, and he grants his favored lovers and floozies titles comparable to those used in the Emperor's harem. He freely indulges himself in wine and in sensual pleasures, showing no regard for the common people. He allows his henchman Zong Ai to do whatever he pleases without any hesitation or suspicion, for though the government receives complaints about Zong Ai's behavior, he always gets let off from any charge. He permits a nobody like Zhang Wei to determine whether imperial edicts shall be allowed to go out or not, and he entrusts a miscreant like Ge Yu with control of the state. He hands out noble titles as he pleases, and bribes change hands freely and openly. He surrounds himself with a rogues' gallery, and he makes the call on who will live or who will die. His closest confidantes think only of how to enrich themselves. And he has slandered and punished good and worthy people, while gazing with longing towards the sacred instruments of power.

"I was assigned a serious charge and am responsible for protecting and defending a strategic area of the realm. But as I have witnessed Sima Jiong's actions, I have nursed a sense of righteous indignation. Then this very day, the Colonel of 翊軍, Li Han, secretly came to me by courier horse to present to me the imperial will and decree. When I bowed before him to hear the reading of this edict, which called upon me to raise my banners and turn against my own flesh and blood, my feelings were assailed and all my senses were aflame. And is it not a principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals that one may never war against their liege or their kinfolk? Yet Sima Jiong has a powerful army at his beck and call, he has placed his favorites into positions of power, and not a one of the important offices of state exists but is filled by one of his cronies. So though in turning my sword against Sima Jiong I would be committing a serious crime which deserved death, still I am afraid I could no longer in good conscience accept what he has done.

"Thus I am now marching at the head of a hundred thousand elite soldiers. May the provincial commanders join me in this loyal and righteous cause and combine their forces with mine at Luoyang. I ask that the General of Agile Cavalry and Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, likewise prove his loyalty and sincerity by removing Sima Jiong from power and sending him back to his estate. Anyone who refuses to heed the imperial order shall be dealt with by military law.

"The Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, is wise, virtuous, luxuriant, and friendly; his achievements are lofty and his deeds profound. When he departed the capital last year and yielded his power, he gained the hopes and admiration of all. He is suited to serve as regent over the government. Let him take up the role of A-Heng (Yi Yin) in Sima Jiong's stead."

顒表既至，冏大懼，會百僚曰：「昔孫秀作逆，篡逼帝王，社稷傾覆，莫能禦難。孤糾合義眾，掃除元惡，臣子之節，信著神明。二王今日聽信讒言，造構大難，當賴忠謀以和不協耳。」

When Sima Yong's petition arrived at Luoyang, Sima Jiong was terrified. He summoned the ministers and said to them, "When Sun Xiu plotted his treason before and usurped and oppressed the Emperor and the Princes, the very altar of state was nearly toppled, and no one else was able to stand against such difficulties. I was the one who gathered together soldiers to begin an uprising, and I was the one who swept away and purged the chief evil. I have maintained my duty as a subject and as a son, and the spirits can attest to my trustworthiness. Yet now these two Princes have returned my trust with slander and are causing great trouble. Gentlemen, I shall depend on your loyal advice for how to reconcile with these wayward foes."

司徒王戎、司空東海王越說冏委權崇讓。冏從事中郎葛旟怒曰：「趙庶人聽任孫秀，移天易日，當時喋喋，莫敢先唱。公蒙犯矢石，躬貫甲胄，攻圍陷陣，得濟今日。計功行封，事殷未遍。三臺納言，不恤王事，賞報稽緩，責不在府。讒言僭逆，當共誅討，虛承偽書，令公就第。漢、魏以來，王侯就第甯有得保妻子者乎！議者可斬。」於是百官震悚，無不失色。

The Minister Over The Masses, Wang Rong, and the Minister of Works and Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, advised Sima Jiong to resign his authority and honor the others by yielding his position.

But Sima Jiong's Attendant Officer of the Palace Gentlemen, Ge Yu, angrily told them, "The commoner of Zhao (Sima Lun) heeded and employed Sun Xiu, and he abused his authority; Heaven and Earth themselves changed based purely on his whims. Everyone talked and talked about doing something back then, but no one else dared to speak up first. It was our lord who braved the slings and arrows, personally wearing armor and helmet and attacking the enemy lines and breaking their formations, and who brought us to this happy day. Considering the rewards he has received for all that he has done on behalf of the state, one could argue that he has still not gotten all that he deserves.

"For members of the Three Bureaus to say such things shows how much you disregard the Prince's affairs. It is no fault of his that rewards for others have been slow in coming. Besides, those who speak slander and stir up chaos should all be put to death. How can you heed the empty orders of this presumptuous letter and command our lord to retire to his estate? And through all the time of Han and Wei, what prince or noble that retired to his estate has ever been able to protect his wife and children? Anyone who suggests such a thing out to be beheaded."

The ministers were greatly disturbed and trembling, and all of them turned pale.

長沙王乂徑入宮，發兵攻冏府。冏遣董艾陳兵宮西。乂又遣宋洪等放火燒諸觀閣及千秋、神武門。冏令黃門令王湖悉盜騶虞幡，唱云：「長沙王矯詔。」乂又稱：「大司馬謀反，助者誅五族。」是夕，城內大戰，飛矢雨集，火光屬天。帝幸上東門，矢集御前。群臣救火，死者相枕。明日，冏敗，乂擒冏至殿前，帝惻然，欲活之。乂叱左右促牽出，冏猶再顧，遂斬於閶闔門外，徇首六軍。諸黨屬皆夷三族。幽其子淮陵王超、樂安王冰、濟陽王英于金墉。暴冏屍於西明亭，三日而莫敢收斂。冏故掾屬荀闓等表乞殯葬，許之。

The Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, rushed into the palace, then raised troops to attack Sima Jiong's office. Sima Jiong sent Zong Ai to array troops west of the palace. Sima Ai also sent Song Hong and others to set fire to and burn down the various pavilions and the Qianqiu and Shenwu Gates.

Sima Jiong ordered the Prefect of the Yellow Gate, Wang Hu, to steal all the Zouyu Banners and display them (thus compelling all soldiers to cease fighting) while announcing, "The Prince of Changsha has forged an imperial decree."

But Sima Ai also spread the message, "The Grand Marshal has plotted rebellion, and anyone who helps him will have their families executed to the fifth degree."

That night, there was great fighting within the city; flying arrows poured down like rain, and the glow of the fires outshone the heavens. Emperor Hui was at the Shangdong Gate when a flurry of arrows came his way. His ministers were trying to put out the fires, and they fell down dead in heaps.

By the next day, Sima Jiong had been defeated. Sima Ai brought Sima Jiong to the Front Hall. Emperor Hui, feeling sad for him, wished to let him live, but Sima Ai ordered those around him to lead Sima Jiong away, even as Sima Jiong kept looking back. Sima Ai beheaded Sima Jiong outside the Changhe Gate, and displayed his head to the six armies (of the capital soldiers).

Those who were in league with Sima Jiong were executed with their families to the third degree. The Princes of Huailing, Le'an, and Qiyang, Sima Jiong's sons Sima Chao, Sima Bing, and Sima Yīng, were imprisoned at the Jinyong fortress.

Sima Jiong's body was left publicly exposed at Ximing Terrace, and for three days no one dared to claim the body for burial. Then Sima Jiong's former subordinates, Xun Kai and others, petitioned to be allowed to hold a mourning for Sima Jiong and to bury him, and their request was granted.

初，冏之盛也，有一婦人詣大司馬府求寄產。吏詰之，婦人曰：「我截齊便去耳。」識者聞而惡之。時又謠曰：「著布袙腹，為齊持服。」俄而冏誅。

Earlier, when Sima Jiong had been at his zenith, a woman had visited the Grand Marshal's office to ask for some supplies. When the officials had scolded her, she had said, "I'll just make things nice and tidy and then go." This disturbed some people, for they recognized that the term she had used, 截齊, could be interpreted as "cut down (the Prince of) Qi".

And there had also been a ditty going around: "Wrap the cloth 'round the middle bit, to make it all (or, Qi) nice and fit (or, to submit)." And indeed, it wasn't long before Sima Jiong was executed.

永興初，詔以冏輕陷重刑，前勳不宜堙��，乃赦其三子超、冰、英還第，封超為縣王，以繼冏祀，曆員外散騎常侍。光熙初，追冊冏曰：「咨故大司馬、齊王冏：王昔以宗籓穆胤紹世，緒于東國，作翰許京，允鎮靜我王室。涎率義徒，同盟觸澤，克成元勳，大濟潁東。朕用應嘉茂績，謂篤爾勞，俾式先典，以疇茲顯懿。廓士殊分，跨兼吳楚，崇禮備物，寵侔蕭、霍，庶憑翼戴之重，永隆邦家之望。而恭德不建，取侮二方，有司過舉，致王於戮。古人有言曰：'用其法，猶思其人。'況王功濟朕身，勳存社稷，追惟既往，有悼於厥心哉！今復王本封，命嗣子還紹厥緒，禮秩典度，一如舊制。使使持節、大鴻臚即墓賜策，祠乙太牢。魂而有靈，祗服朕命，肆寧爾心，嘉茲寵榮。」子超嗣爵。

At the beginning of the Yongxing reign era (305), an edict was issued declaring that Sima Jiong's offenses had not been serious enough to merit the harsh punishment that he had received, and that due to his earlier good deeds, his lineage should not be snuffed out. Thus his three sons Sima Chao, Sima Bing, and Sima Yīng were all pardoned and allowed to return to their estates, and Sima Chao was appointed as Prince of a county in order to continue Sima Jiong's lineage. Sima Chao eventually served as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance Without Assignment.

At the beginning of the Guangxi reign era (306), Sima Jiong was posthumously honored with a decree by Emperor Hui.

"I declare the following regarding the late Grand Marshal and Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong:

"The late Prince might have quietly and meekly inherited the fief which he was due. Yet rather than sequester himself in his eastern domain (at Qi), he sent forth his proclamation from Xujing (Xu or Xuchang), and fully acted to protect our royal family and quell the disturbance of the imperial household. Zealously leading forth his followers for a righteous cause and forging an alliance at Lake Chu, he achieved successes and performed the greatest of deeds, and was very accomplished at Yingdong (eastern Yingchuan?). I ought to have responded to these things with congratulations for his exceptional performance, thanking him for his loyal and faithful service, and honoring him according to the ancient standards, thereby ensuring and glorifying his legacy. He ought to have been granted a fief even grander than those once held by Han's Princes of Wu and Chu, and he ought to have been honored with such exceptional courtesy and respect that he would have rivaled the favor enjoyed by Xiao He or Huo Guang. The great assistance and protection which he provided us entitled him to the everlasting admiration of the royal clan and the state.

"Yet the Prince failed to practice virtue, he incurred the enmity of two of his peers, the officials pressed him for his faults, and in the end he was executed. The ancients had a saying: 'Enforce the law, but think of the accused.' How much less can I ignore this sentiment when it was thanks to the Prince's deeds that I remained safe and the fortunes of state were preserved? And how tragic, how heart-rending it seems that only posthumously may his achievements be recognized!

"I hereby restore the Prince to his former title as Prince of Qi, and command that his son and heir be permitted to return and to inherit this title. The salary and privileges, canons and systems associated with the title shall all be as they once were. And I hereby send the Commissioner Bearing Credentials and Grand Diplomat to convey my words to the tomb of the late Prince and to offer a Grand Sacrifice to his spirit. If the dead are still aware of what takes place in this world, then may they take note of my command; may the spirit of the late Prince feel peace in his heart and be joyful of this favor and honor."

Sima Jiong's son Sima Chao thus inherited his title as Prince of Qi.

永嘉中，懷帝下詔，重述冏唱義元勳，還贈大司馬，加侍中、假節，追諡。及洛陽傾覆，超兄弟皆沒于劉聰，冏遂無後。太元中，詔以故南頓王宗子柔之襲封齊王，紹攸、冏之祀，曆散騎常侍。元興初，會稽王道子將討桓玄，詔柔之兼侍中，以騶虞幡宣告江、荊二州，至姑孰，為玄前鋒所害。贈光祿勳。子建之立。宋受禪，國除。

During the Yongjia reign era (307-311), Emperor Huai also issued an edict which again praised Sima Jiong for having the chief accomplishment of having sounded the call to rise up against Sima Lun. Emperor Huai posthumously restored Sima Jiong's rank as Grand Marshal, and he also appointed him as a Palace Attendant and a Credential Bearer and gave him his posthumous name (Wumin).

When Luoyang fell (to Han-Zhao, in 311), Sima Chao and his brothers were all lost to Liu Cong, leaving Sima Jiong without any descendants.

During the Taiyuan reign era (376-396), Emperor Xiaowu issued an edict appointing Sima Rouzhi, the son of the late Prince of Nandun, Sima Zong, as Prince of Qi in order to continue Sima You's and Sima Jiong's lineage. Sima Rouzhi rose in office as high as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. At the beginning of the Yuanxing reign era (402), when the Prince of Kuaiji, Sima Daozi, was about to campaign against the rebel general Huan Xuan, an edict was issued appointing Sima Rouzhi as a Palace Attendant, and he was sent out with the Zouyu Banners to command the soldiers of Jiangzhou and Jingzhou (under Huan Xuan's command) to stand down. But when Sima Rouzhi came to Gushu, he was killed by Huan Xuan's vanguard. He was posthumously appointed as Superintendent of the Crown Prince's Household.

Sima Rouzhi's son Sima Jianzhi inherited the title Prince of Qi. But after Liu Yu accepted the abdication of the Jin dynasty and established the Song dynasty (in 420), Sima Jianzhi's fief was abolished.

鄭方者，字子回，慷慨有志節，博涉史傳，卓犖不常，鄉閭有識者歎��奇，而未能薦達。及冏輔政專恣，方發憤步詣洛陽，自稱荊楚逸民，獻書於冏曰：「方聞聖明輔世，夙夜祗懼，泰而不驕，所以長守貴也。今大王安不慮危，耽于酒色，燕樂過度，其失一也。大王檄命，當使天下穆如清風，宗室骨肉永無纖介，今則不然，其失二也。四夷交侵，邊境不靜，大王自以功業興隆，不以為念，其失三也。大王興義，群庶競赴，天下雖甯，人勞窮苦，不聞大王振救之令，其失四也。又與義兵歃血而盟，事定之後，賞不逾時，自清泰已來，論功未分，此則食言，其失五也。大王建非常之功，居宰相之任，謗聲盈塗，人懷忿怨，方以狂愚，冒死陳誠。」冏含忍答之云：「孤不能致五闕，若無子，則不聞其過矣。」未幾而敗焉。

Zheng Fang was styled Zihui. He was a passionate man with a sense of duty and ambition, and he waded through and absorbed all the Histories and Annals. He was exceptionally talented and zealous, and those in his district who knew him all sighed in admiration of how much he stood out. Yet he never held office, because there was no one able to recommend him.

When Sima Jiong held power over the government and abused his authority, Zheng Fang was so moved with indignation that he set out by foot to visit Luoyang. Styling himself a wanderer from Jing and Chu, he presented a letter to Sima Jiong.

"I have heard that when the sage and wise steer the affairs of the age, day and night they are always careful and cautious, nor do they get carried away in their joy. Thus do they preserve and defend their honor. Yet you, Great Prince, are currently relaxed and not thinking of any danger, sinking into the depravity of wine and sensual pleasures and overindulging yourself in feasting and music; this is your first fault. You ought to be as respectful to the realm as the pure wind, and there should not be the slightest distance between yourself and your kinfolk and your flesh and blood, yet there currently is; this is your second fault. The barbarians are pressing in from every side and the borders are unstable, yet you consider that you have already accomplished enough and you take no notice of these things; this is your third fault. When you launched your uprising, all the people rushed to your banner, yet although there is now peace in the realm, the people continue to suffer endlessly, and I have heard nothing of any orders from you on how their burdens might be lifted; this is your fourth fault. And you made a covenant with blood-smeared lips and pledged to those that supported you in your uprising that after things had been completed, rewards would not be slow in coming, yet although the evil has already been purged, there have been no discussions of merit or distributions of rewards; you have eaten your words, and this is your fifth fault.

"Great Prince, you have achieved uncommon deeds, and you now occupy the role of chief minister of the state. Yet you allow slander and rumor to swirl around you and you do nothing while people bear anger and hatred against you. Though it be rash and foolish of me, still I would risk death to demonstrate my sincerity to you."

Sima Jiong bit his tongue and only responded, "I had no idea of my five shortcomings. If not for you, Sir, I would never have heard of them."

It was not long before Sima Jiong was destroyed.

史臣曰：冏名父之子，唱義勤王，摧偽業于既成，拯皇輿於已墜，策勳考績，良足可稱。然而臨禍忘憂，逞心縱欲，曾不知樂不可極，盈難久持，笑古人之未工，忘己事之已拙。向若采王豹之奇策，納孫惠之嘉謀，高謝袞章，永表東海，雖古之伊、霍，何以加焉！

The Historian's Appraisal: Sima Jiong was the son of a famous father, he sounded the call to rise up and rallied the Princes to his banner, he smashed Sima Lun's false designs and kept them from fruition, and he rescued Emperor Hui from falling into oblivion. Truly his actions and deeds were excellent and worthy of praise. Yet afterwards, when he himself stood at the brink of destruction, he failed to heed the danger, but only indulged his heart's desires and did whatever he wished. Did he not know that pleasure cannot go unbridled, or a host of difficulties left unchecked? Was it not ironic that he mocked the ancients who never finished their work, not realizing that his own achievements had been undone? If only he had plucked out the fine plan offered by Wang Bao or accepted the good advice provided by Sun Hui, by magnanimously yielding his imperial splendor at the capital and going out to his fief on the Eastern Sea, where his lineage might have endured! If he had done that, could even Yi Yin or Huo Guang have surpassed him?

贊曰：偉哉武閔！首創宏謨。德之不建，良可悲夫！

Crown Prince Li Xian of Tang's Appraisal:

Pity the magnificent Prince Wumin!

His deeds were bold, his plans so keen!

Alas, his virtues he did not keep

And thus for this good man we weep.

#Sima Jiong #Eight Princes #War of the Eight Princes #Book of Jin #Jinshu #Jin Dynasty #Western Jin #Chinese History #China

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nithyanandaparamashivam1 · 4 years ago

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【脈輪詳解】頂輪——心懷感激(Sahasrara chakra)

頂輪在頭頂部位。梵文中Sahasrara 的意思是＂上千片花瓣＂。

頂輪如果開啟，頭頂會感覺有如千瓣蓮花綻放般不可思議。如果不滿足或將生活一切視為理所當然，頂輪因而閉鎖；若懷抱感激知足之心，頂輪則能開啟。

某人每天對神祈禱：＂��啊！我沒有足夠的錢！請保佑我中一千萬的樂透。如果我中了獎，我向你發誓，我一定捐出彩金的百分之二十，做為修建廟宇之用。如果你不相信我，可以自己先拿走兩百萬，留給我八百萬就可以了。＂

人將生活中一切視為交易。也許做的不著痕跡，但如果仔細研究自己祈禱的內容，不難發現，自己總想跟他人談條件，即使是神明也不例外！

一則小故事：

　　某天一個窮人向國王請贊助兒子的教育經費。國王一向以樂善好施聞名。窮人到皇宮時國王正在對天祈禱。於是他跟其他的人在外等候。國王祈禱完走出來，紛紛向國王求援的民眾都得到援助。

　　惟獨這個窮人一言不發轉身離開。國王看到了把他叫回來。國王問他：＂你為什麼話都不說就離開了？＂窮人回答說：＂陛下，我原本是來求你幫忙，結果你自己都要求老天幫忙。＂

仔細研究自己祈禱的內容不難發現，人們只是不停的要求，就像托缽行乞的乞丐。我們祈求的內容，包括物質生活豐足、感情順利、權力加身、心想事成、青春美貌等。人們心裡總是有所求，養成習慣後常常開口要求卻不自知，將一切視為理所當然。人們因為習慣要求，而不知道如何跳脫以新的視野看事情。

人們信仰宗教有兩種原因：一是因為內心有所祈求，二是因為出於感激。

因為內心對神有所祈求而信奉宗教，是大多數人信奉宗教的原因。因為人的慾望無窮，而且從小到大所受的教誨，都教人們心裡有所求時就向神祈禱。覺得這樣再自然不過。但因為對上天的感激而信奉宗教，是違背人們從小所受的教誨。

人們從小學習要感謝身邊所有，只為符合社會禮儀。真正心懷感激成了一種奢求。所以只有少數人會因為真心感激而信仰宗教。只有少數的宗教，像是佛教，其宗旨是基於感激，信徒人數雖少，但是素養極高。祈禱本身並沒有錯，但問題在於人們執著於祈禱的內容。祈禱本應為進入冥想境界，因為心懷感激，內心因此充滿喜樂。

你們心裡可能在想：心懷感激，也是為了符合社會規範，怎麼算是冥想？人們如果真心感激，表示已能體會生命價值所在，才會因為感激而產生信仰。人們只知道對撫養及關心自己的人表示感激，卻不知道上天以及全宇宙的能量，隨時隨地都在幫助你、保護你、及照應你。

人們總覺得身邊所有是理所應得，或出於機緣巧合。唯有在感受到上天無形的照護，才能領略到一切是上天的意旨，才得以成就今天的你。人們一直受到上天的眷顧。

能夠生氣勃勃，就是上天的眷顧。但人們大多不以為然，覺得人生乏味沮喪不已。不停的乞求上天，彷彿自己一無所有。如果能傾聽內心的聲音，就能調整自己，而更能感受到，上天以各種奇妙的方式照護自己。

大多數的人，因為出於恐懼而向上天祈禱。母親在孩子小時候告誡他們，如果不做某些事，上天會因而發怒。孩子雖然還小，但這種想法就已根深蒂固，以致孩子對上天有錯誤的認知。長大後面臨極度的矛盾，對上天無法懷抱愛跟感激。取而代之的是因對上天的恐懼而敬而遠之。

基於恐懼的心理而信奉宗教其實毫無意義，也不能幫助自己有所改變。表面上看來信心是增加了，但是內心沒有任何長進。人生真正的滿足不是光看表面功夫，而是要發自內心。得過成功憂鬱症的人，應該更能體會我的話。宗教信仰應出於感念上天的愛與感激。儘管社會教導人要敬畏神，其實大可不必，祈禱時只要對上天心存愛跟感激即可。

一則小故事：

　　東方玄學大師朱奈德以前一天向上天致意五次。有一次他和門徒流浪經過一些村莊。村莊的居民還無法接受玄學。第一個村莊里的村民把他們當成乞丐，而吝於施捨。

　　第二天，還是沒有人願意施捨他們任何東西。第三天，村民充滿敵意，棍棒石頭齊飛，將他們趕出村去。當天晚上，朱奈德大師跟往常一樣屈膝感謝上蒼。

　　門徒見狀覺得不可思議，不解大師為何還要感謝上蒼。門徒哭著說：＂老師，這三天來我們不只沒有東西吃，還像狗一樣讓人趕出村外。這樣你還要感激上天？＂　

　　大師說：＂你們是餓了三天，但過去三十年，你們是否曾經因為豐衣足食而感念過上蒼？要清楚一件事：我的感激無關得失，只為表達內心深深的喜樂跟愛，表達內心虔誠不應該是選擇性的。＂

生活充滿感激，自然無欲無求，猶如進入冥想的境地。若不生恐懼，你已步上正道，因為由衷感激，理智不會橫生阻礙，自然不會心生不滿，因為不滿是出於理智，而不是出自內心。人過分理智會阻礙人從聽覺及視覺等感官感受上天，或是表達對上天的情感。惟有超越理智的束縛，才能感受上天之美。你的祈禱會滿是感激，內心滿是喜樂，你因此解脫而享有永恆的喜樂。

如果能拋開世俗的邏輯，你會像河流般自在。只需順從自己的心意，不需刻意選擇，也不需付出額外努力就能充滿喜樂。你能善盡本分，享受每個當下，並能深刻了解在生命這場美好的戲劇中你也是其中一角，你因而更能領受上天，更稱職的扮演自己的角色而樂在其中。

如果違背自己的心意，不僅要投注心力，還要做出選擇。順從自己的心意，你不需花額外的心力，不會感到疲倦或挫折，只會覺無比的輕鬆和喜悅，所有的事看來都再美好不過。

一則小故事：

　　某人搭乘火車旅遊。一路上他觀察路旁車輛，以及沿途的美景。一位年長的女士坐在他旁邊。他告訴這位女士窗外令人屏息的美景是旅途中最佳享受。女士搖搖頭，望著窗外坐了一會兒便走出車廂。

　　不久女士迴座，望著窗外坐了一會兒，又起身走出車廂。過了一段時間，女士又回來這次坐在某人身後。女士拍拍他的背問說：“對不起，請問你看見什麼？因為我什麼都沒看見！＂

　　我們無法由衷感受上天而錯失人生之美。我們總需要理由享受人生或慶祝，甚至質疑自己哪些該享受，哪些不該？我們不僅不知感激身邊所有，還不停要求及質疑。其實只要心懷感激，就能重新找回自己，融入自然。

一則小故事：

　　某人某天在廟裡虔誠祈禱：“神啊！請借我一千塊錢，我真的有急用，我只要藉半個月，半個月後我領了薪水就還給你。＂在廟裡修行的人聽到他的祈求，很同情他的遭遇。

　　就拿出自己身邊的五百塊錢，放在信封裡交給前來祈求的人，說是神請他轉交。這人高興萬分，回家打開數了數發現裡面只有五百塊錢。隔天他回廟裡又跟神祈求說：“神啊！下次不要叫修士代轉錢了，直接給我就行了，讓他代轉，結果讓他拿走了一半。＂

我們對所有的事都視為理所當然，所以常不知足。要知道，生命本身就是上天的禮物。有誰的生命是努力求得的？我想沒有吧！所以我們才不懂得珍惜，把所有的事視為理所當然——包括我們的身體、每日所需、自然美景等等。我們求上天賜我們鑽戒，卻未曾感謝祂賜給我們戴戒指的手指。即使是鑽戒，不用多久我們也會對它失去吸引力。

一則小故事：

　　有天，地理老師要學生寫下世界七大奇蹟。學生寫下中國的長城、埃及的金字塔等等。有個小女孩一邊搖頭一邊寫。老師走近問她說：＂怎麼了？你不知道答案嗎？＂

　　小女孩說：＂不是的，我只是有點疑��，應該不止七大奇蹟。＂老師聽了十分驚訝，拿起小女孩的答案，讀了一遍，決定對全班大聲唸出：＂世界七大奇蹟—— 我能看見天空，能觸摸大地，能聽見鳥鳴，聞到花香，嚐到美食，大聲的笑，盡情的愛。＂

　　全班頓時陷入寂靜。

一些看似微不足道小事，常為人遺忘。愈容易獲得，人們愈不懂得珍惜。我們從來沒有想過世上有數以百萬計的人，眼盲耳聾，口不能言，或食不知味。我們只想凡事要再多一點，再好一點，或想著下一個願望。

一則小故事：

　　某人開車上高速公路打算回鄉下的家。開車開了近一個小時，車子猛然晃一下熄火了，原來是油箱空了。他走了好幾公里的路。邊走邊禱告，走的滿身大汗，終於走到鎮上。他走進加油站說他身上一毛錢都沒有，但急需汽油才能開車回鄉下。加油站裡的人拒絕了他的請求。

　　他見對街有另一座加油站，於是走過去把自己的情形再說了一遍。加油站老闆同情他的遭遇，同意送他幾公升的油。不料這人竟說：＂老闆，你可以折現金給我嗎？對面加油站的油便宜一些。＂

願望未實現前顯得彌足珍貴，人們也會由衷祈禱。一旦願望實現，價值頓失。人們便頭也不回的為下一個願望祈禱。人們心裡總有下一個願望，而不知心存感激。

舉例來說，我們到店裡看見有新功能的鬧鐘，頓時覺得這些新功對生活大有助益，能提升生活質量，自己會更有效率，所以決定買回家。過不了幾天，我們連撥鬧鐘的時間都沒有，可憐的鬧鐘在一旁佈滿灰塵，家里平白多了一個無用的東西。但不久我們又看上其它精巧的新玩具。

沒有到手的東西，總覺得至為重要，甚至攸關性命。等到真的到手了，卻又覺得微不足道。所以我們對生活永不滿足，而不停追逐。

一則關於拉瑪克里斯那大師的故事：

　　傳說中拉瑪克里斯那大師只要見到從皇宮來的人，就會向他們朝拜。切譚亞是一位印度得道大師。有一次拉瑪克里斯那對某人朝拜，他周圍的人問他：為什麼要向一個凡人朝拜？

　　拉瑪克里斯那回答說：“他們是凡人與否並不重要。重要的是，他們是從巴尼卡地來的。而切譚亞大師就是在那裡成就偉大的志業。因此我見到那裡來的人，就會想起切譚亞，所以我向他們朝拜，表達我的感激之心，因為他們讓我想起這位悟道大師。如果我沒有遇見他們，我可能會把時間浪費在想一些沒有意義的事。是他們喚醒我心中聖潔的記憶及想法。”

　　拉瑪克里斯那向凡人朝拜，只因他們喚醒了��內心的記憶，這在今天是難以想像的，這也是我說的，對所有的人跟事都要心懷感激，因為他們都是萬物的一部分，而其作為也能與萬物和諧存在。如果你能有如此感知，你對所有事就能抱持感激之心。

我們需要從大師身上學習的也是這份感激之心。只要懂得心存感激，一切的事自會迎刃而解，而上天自然會降福於你。慾望跟感激是無法並存，心裡如果有一連串的慾望，表示你不知道感激，凡事都覺得匱乏。

如果你心懷感恩，一切都十分美好，就不會有其他的慾望，因為你的所有符合當下所需，不須請求就已擁有。人的慾望無窮盡，即使成了一國之君仍會感嘆，日月星辰未能為其所用。

在濕婆神的書中，記載著一段濕婆神跟巴拉瑪卡帕的故事。巴拉瑪卡帕是頭蓋骨的意思。濕婆神以苦行僧的身份遊歷時，用頭蓋骨作乞討的缽。奇怪的是，不管人們布施什麼，只要放進頭蓋骨之中馬上被吞噬。不管濕婆神如何努力想要填滿它，缽中始終空空如也。

巴拉瑪卡帕好比人心或人的自我，能吞噬所有，貪得無厭。因為自我，人們不懂安享已得之福分。人的生活要建構在無盡的追求上，還是感激之上，全由自己決定。感激需發自內心，需要對上天以及上天的意旨有所領悟，而不是將道德規範強加在身上。能由衷感激，對生活的看法會全然改變，會永遠享有平安喜樂。

某人向上天祈求：＂我渴望平靜。＂

上天回答說：＂你已經找到答案。只要先把『我』去掉，再把『渴望』移除，就能得到平靜。＂

惟有拋開心中限制，拋開自我，打破自己設下的藩籬，才能夠真正融入現實生活，並與萬物結合。人們想常保這份真實，其實並不需要刻意做些什麼。只要保有本性即可。能心懷感激，在為人處事上內心會充滿能量，滿足感油然而生。實際上有無收穫，其實無妨。

其實人的內心都在追求這樣的滿足感卻不自知，轉而尋求物質上的滿足，以致於一再迷失。不管你們相信與否，上天會照看你們。只需要心存感激，保持信心，上天自會降福。然而世人卻總是缺乏信心。

一則小故事：

　　某人從不相信有神。有天，他突然從山頂上掉了下來，掛在樹根上。他心裡嚇的半死，突然想起人們總是把神掛在嘴邊。

　　他跟自己說：＂何不試試求神救命？＂於是他哭叫著說：＂神啊！我從來不相信有神。如果世上真的有神，你能救救我嗎？＂神的聲音如雷般響起：＂當然！我的孩子，把手放開，我會在下面接著你。＂這人又大聲哭叫起來：＂有沒有其他人能救救我？＂

人們只要能將自己託付給上天，由衷信任祂，就能像神一樣自在。然而人們卻因為自我或是無知，而一再錯失大好機會。只要能持續對宇宙間這股能量，抱持感激的心，會感受到這股能量照應著我們，就像是母親照應子女一般。不管你們相信與否，這都是事實。

有個人夢到自己跟神走在沙灘上，回顧自己的一生。

他跟神說：＂神啊！我夢到我們一起走在沙灘上。我回頭看沙灘上的足跡，想起人生曾遭遇極大的考驗跟挫折。但在那些時候，沙灘上卻只見一排足印。不見另一個人的踪跡。在那些困難的時刻，你為何離我遠去？＂

神回答說：＂親愛的孩子，在那些艱難的時刻，我背著你向前。＂

我跟大家說我自己的經驗。我四處遊歷時，走了將近三萬公里的路。其中的兩千公里，我完全步行。我只帶了兩件衣服和一個乞討用的缽。我許下心願，決不收取金錢，也不為下一餐積存糧食。人們問我是怎麼做到的，我告訴你們，我將一切託付上天。專心悟道，上天自會照應我的一切。

我勸大家對上天有信心，你們聯想到的，可能是如聖人一般，恆久而堅定的信仰，其實不然。我和大家分享的，是我切身的經驗。我想我應該是在場最年輕的。所以我說的，不是什麼陳年往事。試著心存感激，奇蹟自會發生。只要你做好準備，有一個滿載感激的心，上天總是樂於給予。

一則小故事：

　　某人夢見自己到了天堂。有位天使帶他到處參觀。他和天使並肩走著。他們先走進一個大工作室，裡面有很多天使正忙碌不堪。

　　天使解釋說：＂這是收件處。對神的祈求會先在此進行分類。＂這人往四處看去，發現天使們忙著將來自世界各地以各種語言寫成的願望分類。這些願望有的長篇大論，有的寫在廢紙上。

　　他們接著往下走，進入第二間工作室。工作室裡同樣擠滿忙碌不堪的天使，以及包裹和書信。導引的天使解釋說：＂這是包裝和寄件處。人們所祈求的恩典跟祝福，在此包裝後，一一寄往人間。＂

　　他們繼續往下走，到了走廊盡頭。在一間小房間門口停了下來。房間裡只有一位天使彎腰坐在書桌前。這人見了大吃一驚。他問天使說：＂這個房間為何如此冷清？這間房間用途為何？＂天使平靜的說：＂這是答謝處。人們的感恩會送到此地。＂

人們只知不停要求，又有多少人曾感謝自己所有？有多少人在祈禱詞中表達感激之心？

獨處時，可以做以下的練習：

花兩個小時的時間，將心裡的憂慮跟慾望先擱到一邊，專注的想上天給你的恩賜。你可能馬上想到：＂如果不去理會心中的慾望，如何能得到滿足？誰來照顧家人？我的生意又該怎麼辦。＂我同意，你們的心裡一定裝滿這些念頭。但試著給自己兩小時的時間。照我所說，先拋開腦中的所有念頭。

你覺得無論如何，你的家人或事業的存在，是因為你嗎？聽我說，不管有沒有你，所有的事都會繼續進行。上天如果要仰賴人類的智慧，才能維持家人的生計以及個人的財富，人們早已處於匱乏之中。記得：光會擔心是沒有用的。我們之前已經有過充分的討論。

所以給自己一些時間，閉上雙眼，專注的想自己所擁有的一切。用心的想每一件事——你的身體、財富、周圍的人的支持與協助、你的房子、奢侈品、你的假期等等。輕鬆的心懷感激的想每一件事，花多少時間都可以。

不要急著結束。用心想每一件事，記著這份滿足的感覺，感受內心充滿感激。當你睜開雙眼，會發現你所擁有的，遠遠超過你生活所需。你問自己－人生夫復何求？

人要懂得感激。要學會感激最好的方法，是學著對所有的事，不管是所見所聞，都能樂在其中，相信上天自會照應一切，生活自會有所改變。而你也因為常能自得其樂，而滿懷喜樂。

一則小故事：

　　某人走過一個芒果園，園里長滿各種芒果。這人走進園里四下看了看，研究後寫下一些數據，半小時後離開。另一個人走過同一個芒果園。他走了進去，摘了好幾個芒果，大快朵頤一番後才離開。

可別隨便走進別人的芒果園摘芒果吃，可能有人會朝你扔石頭！我真正的意思是，不需要任何理由，你隨時能樂在其中。但我不是教你把工作拋到一旁，只顧享樂。你當然需要工作，如果只是享樂，沒有人會資助你。我真正的意思是－快樂不需要理由。生性快樂的人，對所有事也會由衷感激。

不管工作、社會地位、經濟情況如何，人人都能自得其樂。問題在於，人們覺得凡事都需要理由，即使快樂也不例外。因為已習慣這樣的思考模式，所以總覺得別人的幸福比他應得的多。而自己努力的再多，得到的卻永遠不夠。

人們總覺得要努力才能得到快樂。努力並沒有錯，但與快樂無關。拋開這樣的想法，你就不會再抱怨或不滿足。上天隨時都降福於人。只要用心領略就能有所感受，決定權在於自己。自己做了錯誤的決定卻怪罪他人，別人無需為你的決定負責。你在有意無意間做出了決定，但因為缺乏覺知，才會事後對所做的決定懊悔，有諸多抱怨。

要謹記在心，天堂跟地獄並不具體存在，而是存乎一心。身處天堂或地獄，決定權在自己身上。對上天失去信心，離天堂越遠。無論身在何處，都宛如身處煉獄。不要以為地獄離你甚遠，其實就在你心中。你的天性，決定自己是身處天堂還是地獄。

一則小故事：

　　有個老師問學生說：＂有誰知道地獄在哪裡？＂有個小女生站起來回答說：＂老師，在我爸爸的書房裡。＂老師很驚訝的問她為什麼。

　　小女孩回答說：＂每次我走進爸爸的書房，他都叫我把地獄趕出去(get the hell out of here)。＂

孩子從很小就以為天堂跟地獄是具體存在的。他們以為神高高在上，坐在寶座上監視人的一舉一動，記下人的每一件善事或惡行。有了這種想法，人們做所有的事，都聯想到因果關係。做善事想到進天堂，做壞事就怕下地獄。人們把有關神的一切都當成交易。不管自己的本業為何，每個人都成了生意人。

你到廟裡都做些什麼？買了鮮花素果，到神前報上一長串自己以及家人的名號、生辰八字及其他細節，然後祝禱一番。唯恐神把福氣送錯家門。你告訴神自家的方位，再三強調是你獻上這些祭品。說完才放心離開廟裡。我說的對嗎？你擔心如果不再三提醒神，神不知道你的存在，福氣也不會降臨在你身上。

其實神隨時都降福於人，你只要心懷感激即可。神不是只救人於水火，而在平時，就對人不加理睬。這都只是人們自己的想像，以為神也是如此。而這都得歸咎於社會的教化。人們扭曲了感激的真正意義，以為只需要在脫離危難，或受到神的照應時，才需表達感激。這是再荒謬不過！

聽我說：到廟裡祈福，只需心懷感激，帶著謝意在神前默念數刻。離開時也抱持相同的心情，其它的事自有安排。這就是最誠心的祈禱。心懷感激，就是最好的獻禮。

體會我所說，你能遠離外在世界的紛擾，讓感激在你心中生根。敞開心胸，讓自己成長。問題在於，人們總想盡辦法想要親近神，卻怎麼都行不通。如果能拋開腦中的想法，用心體會，你自然會發現不用刻意親近神，神其實一直在你心裡。

人凡事單憑理智，所以永遠都需要快樂的理由。人向外找尋神，卻怎麼也找不到。如果能用心體會，你會有全新的視野，會發現理智打亂一切，而你卻不自知。能用心體會，你會常存感激之心。人們常說感激要發自內心，而不是出於理智。不是嗎？

你們可能會問：＂上師，我們要如何才能用心體會？＂只要觀察自己的思考模式，這就夠了。我們常因為不了解自己的思考模式，不只不停思考，而且陷入固定模式。如果了解自己的思考模式，就懂得適時停止。

心懷感激並不是種美德，而是為人應有的態度。唯有存著感激之心，才能感受上天，與周遭的關係會更為和諧，你們只需要放輕鬆，感受這份喜悅。

我進一步解釋，什麼是感受上天。大家都知道如何操作收音機吧！收音機有許多頻道及節目可供收聽。你聽某個節目時，有時候會有乾擾。你會怎麼做？

調整一下頻道。

沒錯。要調整一下才聽得清楚。同樣的道理可用來解釋如何感受上天。如果沒有調整到對的頻道，會跟周圍的人一樣，腦中一片混亂，生活充滿干擾，人生只會陷入永無止境的擔憂，不滿與矛盾之中。然而，如果調到正確的頻道，感受到上天，在紛擾中你能找到正確的方向，不再為情緒所苦，你會充滿感激，生活便有如天籟般和諧。

一則小故事：

　　有個乞丐在路上攔下一個人問他說：＂兩年前你給了我二十塊。去年一整年你只給了我十塊。前幾個月你只給了我兩塊錢。為什麼你越給越少？＂路人回答說：＂我以前單身，後來結了婚。現在我有孩子了，所以手邊沒有多餘的錢。＂乞丐哭著說：＂你居然把應該給我的錢，拿去養活你的家人！＂

　　乞丐說路人把原屬於他的錢拿去養活家人。很多人以為他人養活自己，滿足自己生活所需，是與生俱來的權利。人們習慣將一切都視為理所當然。人們有這種態度而不自知，不知道其實人生來一無所有。即使是自己的父母、先生、或妻子，也不能將他們的付出視為理所當然。

一則小故事：

　　某人某天下班回家，發現自己的太太情緒不佳。太太大叫說：＂我好不容易敎會女傭做所有的家事。她現在卻想辭職不干！＂先生心疼的問太太說：＂親愛的，她為什麼想辭職？＂

　　太太回答說：＂都是因為你。女傭說你跟她講電話時，很粗魯無禮，傷了她的自尊。所以她決定辭職。＂先生脫口而說：＂那是因為我以為跟我講電話的是妳。＂

我們常把身邊的人際關係視為理所當然，因此遇到不少障礙。要學習將每個人視為獨立的個體，適時表達感謝之意，就不會將他們的付出視為理所當然。要學會尊重每個人。如果懂得不將他人的付出視為理所當然，人們才會學會惜福。仔細思考，你會發現人們只在意自己沒有得到的東西。即使擁有再多都不滿足，因為總有東西還沒有到手。

你可以試著坐下來，列出你擁有的一切。你可以先從視力開始。我們之前提過，世上有多少盲人，你能想像如果某天早上醒來，突然雙眼失明，你該怎麼辦？你連起床上廁所都辦不到！以前輕而易舉就能做到的事，失明後卻得費盡力氣。

如果能列出自己擁有的東西，你會有一長串清單。之後再列舉自己尚未擁有的，你也能列出一長串。清單上的第一項，可能是一輛奔馳轎車。你的願望可能比奔馳轎車的車身還長。如果認真列舉，一樣都不放過，這兩張清單都可無限延伸。

現在每人手中都有兩張清單，要看哪一張，全憑自己決定。將所有事視為理所當然的人，通常會選擇看自己未擁有的東西，看完只會覺得生活匱乏，滿懷慾望及不滿，因此也無從體會生活中原本已擁有的樂趣。

因為如此，生活中不論遇到大小事，都顯得稀鬆平常，因為總在期待下一件事情發生。下一件事發生了，也只覺得平凡至極，因為早已又另有期待。

如果選擇看自己所擁有的，會覺得感恩惜福而樂在其中，不覺得自己還欠缺什麼，生命對他而言，永遠都值得慶祝。認識這種人是一大享受，因為他們會散發一種獨特的美，永遠不虞匱乏。只知道以愛和感激，享受身邊所有。只要常懷感激之心，即使再平常不過的事物，都會顯得不凡而美好。其實人生並不如想像中平凡。再小的事，也有美好之處。只因人心流於世俗，無法看穿自然運行之美。

人的想法如此僵固，只知道不停找尋下一個標的。

如果能帶著好奇而敬畏的心，看待所有的事，心中會充滿感激和滿足，而不再懷疑自己還缺少什麼。你能學會用心體會，而不受限於原有的思考。像孩子一樣天真，不流於世俗，對所有事充滿好奇。看到小孩子總覺得很愉快。因為小孩還沒有受到社會的製約，孩子的想法也不像大人一樣呆板，而是新奇不受拘束。

以自己的身體為例，你們可以做一個小小的實驗。坐下閉上雙眼，想像右手食指因為意外而少了一截，只剩下原來的四分之三。身體沒有其它的殘缺之處，只是食指突然少了一截。你會做何反應？可能覺得難以承受。不管用手做什麼事，都要用到食指，不是嗎？你會如何以對？可能因此感到憂鬱吧！

想想世上有多少人，身體有殘缺。有多少人手指不全。而你從頭到腳，只要稍有缺陷，人生就缺少部分樂趣。我說的對嗎？所以每天花幾分鐘的時間，自己在房間裡，懷抱愛意，觸摸自己身體各部位，感謝它讓你能如此享受人生。

你們有誰曾經這樣看待自己的身體？有多少人把自己的身體視為理所當然？又有多少人虐待自己的身體？我們之中有些人，因為覺得自己的身體不夠美，而憎恨自己。聽我說，如果你每天都能做我以上所說的練習，對自己身體每個部份都能有一份愛跟感激。你會發現自己的身體和臉上，能散發出不同的光芒。

你的身體能反應你的心��。不要忽略自己的身體，或將一切視為理所當然。畢竟你的身體為你帶來這麼多的樂趣。你今天能來這裡，能毫不費力的聽講，也多虧了你的身體各部的配合，不是嗎？

一則小故事：

　　在一個基督教家庭裡，有個小女孩跟媽媽坐在餐桌旁。桌上擺好了食物，小女孩沒有禱告就想開動。媽媽嚇了一跳，問她怎麼可以不守規矩。小女孩馬上回答說：＂桌上的每樣食物，我以前至少謝過一次。＂

這就是我所說的，將一切視為理所當然。令人難過的是看到小孩子有這樣的想法。

一則小故事：

　　一個小女孩問媽媽說：＂媽媽，還有幾天才到聖誕節？＂媽媽問：＂為什麼問這個問題？＂小女孩回答說：＂我只是在想，什麼時候要開始當個乖小孩？＂

我們就是這樣教小孩——教孩子做生意。敎孩子的事，都只是某種交易，而沒有敎小孩要隨性自然。沒有告訴孩子，生活不一定要有特定目的。是我們跟孩子說，所有的事都有其目的。因為如此，所有的過程都失去意義。

因為我們帶給孩子錯誤的觀念，要花一番力氣才能導正過來。而這正是我一直在做的事。想想看，幾代下來，人們累積了多少錯誤的觀念。我必須先導正你們的觀念，才能讓你們有所成長。

我告訴人們要常懷感激之心。有人會來告訴我說：“上師，這幾天我都有跟出租車司機或家裡的女傭致謝。＂如果你真的心懷感激，就不會把這些事掛在嘴上。如果你們失去心愛的人，會把自己的傷痛掛在嘴邊嗎？你們不會。因為那是一種發自內心深處的感覺，只有你感受的到，而不會掛在嘴邊。我說的對嗎？

同樣的道理，由衷的感激，不會刻意掛在嘴上。當然說謝謝是為了符合社會禮儀，因為總要把感激說出口，對方才聽得到。我的意思是要人們發自內心的感激。這種感激之深，是不可言喻。

人們常對我說：＂上師，接受你的教導後，我們的生活有很多改變。我們由衷感激你。＂

基於社會禮儀，你對某人表示感謝。真正的感激，不一定因為有任何實質獲得，而是內心深處湧現的想法，感受到上天的慈悲。這樣的感激不需要跟任何人有任何具體的關係，也不需要針對任何人或任何事，也不是因為情緒波動，像是慾望，憤怒，憎恨，或是愛，只是純然的感激。

人們用言語表示感激，有時只為一己之利，不想讓他人認為自己缺乏教養，嘴上雖說感激，但心裡不以為然。事實上，人們可以利用肢體語言表達內心的感激。你的眼神，你的微笑，你的熱情，都比言語更能表達內心的感激。因感激而留下的眼淚，勝過任何事。人們如果因為滿心感激而不知所措，自然會流下眼淚。

我並不是說一定要哭，只是告訴你們，如果心懷感激，你的肢體語言會有所表示。你無法隱藏，而這也是內心最佳寫照。記得：因為感激而流的眼淚，沒有階級，教派或宗教之分。沒有所謂印度教徒的眼淚或回教徒的眼淚。真情流露，超越任何界限。惟有真心感激，才能打破所有人為的藩籬與限制，才是最真的祈禱。

人們很難充分錶達內心深處的情感。儘管詩人寫詩，畫家作畫，作家寫作，仍有未盡之處。生命充滿奧秘及吸引力，無法一言道盡。即使人們有過一些切身的經驗，覺得驚喜萬分。但對於所經歷的事，只能意會，不能言傳。所以你們才會一再回來上我的課。

在我面前，即使你們沒有表達任何感激，我也能知曉。你們的內心充滿感激，我比你們自己都還早發現。我從你們的心跳，眼神，便能一探究竟。事實上，你們雖口說感激，卻可能是自欺欺人的說法。因為大多數時間，人們是心口不一。上天能看出一個人是否真心。只要對上天由衷感激，就已足夠。不需要用言語表達。

在印度有個習俗，如果想表達對大師的感激之心，卻不知如何表達，就摸摸大師的腳，感覺自己跟大師合而為一，藉以表達內心感激。來看我的人來自很多不同的地方。有些人到了我面前，一句話都不說，只是留下喜悅的眼淚。他們不用刻意說什麼，眼淚就是最好的表達，表示自己有感而發。

在大師面前，只要心存感激與愛，感謝有機會能與大師接近，大師的能量可直達你的內心，所有的問題都會一掃而空，內心頓時充滿喜悅。真心的感激能跨越時空，消除一切藩籬，讓人成長，對所有事都很容易投入。假以時日，連感激都顯得多餘，一切盡在不言中。

即使感情到了盡頭，在分手時，仍然可以感激對方，陪伴你這些時日。感謝由對方所得出的領悟，感謝曾共享的快樂，讓分手也可以如此美麗。

有人問我：＂上師，對敵人難道也要表達感激？＂

為什麼不呢？敵人讓你更堅強，讓你勇於面對挑戰，有所成長。他們也許傷害了你，卻也讓你對生活有不同的觀點。為什麼不感謝你的敵人？畢竟你想有所成長，不是嗎？你希望自己變聰明些，不是嗎？如果你的敵人沒有給你成長的機會，你還誤以為周遭都圍繞著朋友，這對你的幫助不大。你需要經歷挫折，才會有所突破。你的智慧也會更臻圓熟。

種子要先突破外皮，才能長成樹。如果一直安於現狀，只會錯過生長的時機而萎縮，不會有任何改變。平常人若心懷敵意，處理不當會不可收拾，讓所有的事陷入惡性循環，而充滿憎恨。家人間的積怨太深，無法化解，是因為人沒有善用覺知以及智慧，任由事情演變至此。因為心有不滿，事情才會不可收拾。

內心知足，對人自然不會產生敵意。你們了解我的意思嗎？即使他人對你有敵意，你也絲毫不覺。如果他人想要斷絕往來，你也只是抱著感激之心。很多的家庭裡，家人間彼此視而不見，出席公開場合覺得極為痛苦，只為避開對方，不知所為何來。為什麼要將精力浪費在這些事情上？不要為憎恨吞噬！以極深的覺知和智慧，面對心中的恨意，自然能將憎恨化於無形，只留下滿心的愛與感激。

上師……這些日子以來，我對您只有感激，別無所求。但奇怪的是，我希望您能記住我的名字，而能時常想起我。這是一種不滿還是渴求？

這個問題問的很好，表示你已經深刻的檢討自己。如果經過思考，藉由妒意或不滿來尋求他人關注，是不健康的；但如果是出於愛和感激，就不是渴求，只是表達對我的敬愛之心。出於渴求而祈禱，表示內心不知感激，只有自我。如果出於愛心，祈禱中充滿感激與虔誠。兩者有極大不同。

你會問這個問題，是出於內心的覺知，而不是有所不滿或渴求。還有一點值得肯定的是，你勇於發問。我確信你們之中有很多人私下也有同感，卻不敢表達。有的人可能會自我安慰的說：記得名字有什麼意義呢？有的人只是羞於表達。當然名字本身並不重要。重要的是，你能從中有所領悟，而不只是逃避。你會問這個問題，表示你有勇氣面對問題。

有人問我：＂上師，我們能做些什麼來表示我們的感激之心？＂

我告訴他們：你們能有所成長，就是對我最大的反饋，也是我對你們最大的助益。如果能把我的話記在心裡，由衷生出感激之心，就已經回報我很多了。如果覺得自己想有所反饋，就反饋社會，幫助其他的人。

讓他們也能領略你所享有的這份喜悅。這麼做不是出於自我的優越感，而是基於分享和喜悅的心。把你全部的精力��注其中，樂在其中。對你自己而言，會是一個美好的冥想經驗，也能藉此喚醒他人。

你能由衷生出感激，就是處於冥想之中。常存感激之心，就等於常做冥想。

還有一點提醒大家：沒有人能敎會你如何心存感激。你們也許在孩子小的時候教會他們要感恩，但也只是會了符合社會的規範。就像學習尊敬長者，在學校要向師長問好等等，只是一些機械化動作，而不是出自內心。

唯有感念上天，才會對所有的事由衷感激，而這也會成為你個性的一部分。祈禱只為表達感激，藉由祈禱，你能振奮心情，充滿愛與滿足。你學會如何與上天交流，將所有的人事物都視為一體，學會過和諧的生活，而不虞匱乏。最重要的是，你學會如何與大師建立聯繫。唯有出於感激的祈禱，才能與大師有真正的聯繫。在這之前，你只是一味的要求，誤解與大師互動的真意。

即使是現在，我也不是在敎各位要如何感激。只希望在你們對我的話有所體會。我的話中所蘊含的能量，能在你們心中闢出一方淨土。

如果學會釋放自己，你會更有長進。隨時敞開心胸。如果成為自己心性的奴隸，你很難尋得內心的平靜。我常告訴人們，我是敎人們如何釋放自己。我讓人們獲得極大的自由，唯有如此，人們才能放鬆探索自己而有所進步。

我並不是說，為人父母應該放任孩子，完全不予干涉。我的意思是，避免過度約束孩子的心性，孩子才有機會成長。必要時提醒孩子，但是讓孩子自己體驗真理。而不是填鴨般的塞給他們一堆大道理。讓孩子有成長的空間，得以體驗內心的喜樂。

有時候人們問我：“上師，你如何能常保喜樂？“

大師能常保喜樂，是因為內心長保感激，而與上天隨時連結。如果只對我，或特定的人存有感激之心，就誤會了感激的真正意涵。你們不應該只對特定的人表示感激。感激就像是香氛一般，由內心散發出來，所以大師們能常保喜樂。與大師相處，就像是置身香氛之中，能切身體驗而且樂在其中。所以你們才會一再回來這裡。

要了解：所有的當下，都是美好的。只要做好準備，你就能有所體驗。不一定要特殊場合，或是有所成就才慶祝。每一個當下，都值得慶祝。萬物若能自然運行而長保和諧，每一個當下都再美好不過。如果能明白這個道理，就不會覺得生活有何不妥之處。你們甚至會懷疑，為什麼其他人總是抱怨連連。

對上天心懷感激，天地就像是你的廟宇。你隨時都在祈禱，都在靜坐。不需要特地到廟裡祈禱。和萬物融合為一，就能常懷喜樂。天地既是你的廟宇，綠樹，藍天，大地，萬物皆合而為一。人身處萬物之中，除了心懷感激俯身頂禮，夫復何求？能與綠樹，藍天，大地，萬物合而為一，你已不需要言語溝通，而能用心交流。你的重心由理智��為情感。

有些人堅信上天會應許自己的願望。我要奉勸他們，正因為上天是慈悲的，所以才不讓他們如願。這就好比感冒的孩子吵著要吃冰淇淋，你能給他吃嗎？你不能。孩子這時候可能不知感激，但是你知道是為了他好。孩子所要求的不一定適合自己。同樣的道理，人因為無知，不知道什麼適合自己，才會不停的向上天提出各種請求。

神出於慈悲心，先將你的祈禱放到一邊，而賜予真正所需。神對人唯一的考量，是希望藉由刺激，讓人增長智慧。要了解，人的智慧愈高，要求愈少。人對神提出要求，意味著人們覺得神有所忽略，除非自己提醒神，不然神無從得知。這聽起來很矛盾，不是嗎？人們覺得神有所不知。

神只會供給人們所需，並不一定會應許人們心中所願。如果不論人們祈願為何，神一概應許，只會讓人們的生活更為悲慘。神供給人生活所需，讓人智慧漸生，要求自然減少，而由衷感激一切。

上天賜予人能力和勇氣，得以克服困難。上天賜予人知識，得以解開難題。

上天賜予人智慧，那是無價的財富。讓人時有精進，得以成長。上天賜予人機會，發掘屬於自己的愛與關懷。

上天賜予人所需一切，讓人們了解，自已擁有全世界。上天賜予人所需一切，讓人們得以開展自己風格。

根本的問題在於，人們堅信神能幫人實現所有的願望，卻不相信神有足夠的智慧，判定什麼對我們才是最好的。只因我們相信神是萬能的，就索求無度。人們都覺得自己知道，什麼最適合自己。於是向神許願，以自己有限的智慧，想藉助神力，讓自己如願以償。

人們的意思再清楚不過。＂這是我想要的，事情本該如此。請用您的神力，幫我實現願望。＂人們將自己的願望跟偏好集結起來，做為對神的禱詞。就是這樣的態度，讓人陷入困境。

人們應該了解，上天不只有無上的力量，更有無上的智慧，能決定什麼適合自己。了解這一點，就不會再有所求。人們因為習慣交易，以致於很難相信，有人跟自己毫無血緣關係，卻願意無條件照應自己，不求回報。對人們來說，這是難以置信的。

聽我說：上天對人的照應，無人能出其右。我說的都是事實，但相信與否，全憑自己內心的體驗。唯有如此，才能真正領悟。我常常說：我能敎你們如何提升心靈，傳授你們前所未聞的真理，但領悟與否全憑個人體驗。

一則小故事：

　　香卡拉還是個行腳僧時，有天跟門徒到了某個地方覺得口渴萬分。他們環顧四周，找不到東西解渴。周圍只有棕櫚樹，樹下有人在釀燒酒。香卡拉走進樹叢，問釀酒工人說是否有東西可止渴。工人說他們只有燒酒。

　　香卡拉取過燒酒，一飲而盡。門徒見了也隨即取過燒酒來飲。香卡拉是悟道大師，有無上覺知。燒酒對他毫無作用。他仍是步伐穩健，但門徒卻跌跌撞撞。幾天后，一行人走到沙漠裡。

　　又是口渴萬分。但四周除了打鐵鋪，什麼都沒有。香卡拉問打鐵工人說是否有任何東西可止渴。工人說什麼都沒有。香卡拉看見熔化的鐵漿，取過來一飲而盡。喝完鐵漿，他交給門徒。門徒卻只是無比震驚。

　　香卡拉想讓門徒了解，他們聽從大師的教導，但並不表示能仿效大師所為。因為香卡拉有無上的覺知，燒酒對他起不了作用。要出自內心親身體驗，才能了解，不能只是模仿。

對於我所說的真理，��們選擇相信幾分，接受幾分，全憑自己決定。我只能幫助有心改變的人。如果你們願意敞開心胸，接受我的協助，我很樂於助你一臂之力。你也可以選擇保持現狀，所以人們會說，上天亦給人受約束的自由！

大多數的人認為，上天對自己的幫助，和自身的期望有所出入。事實上，上天比你更了解你自己。你們必須要有這樣的認知，只管拋開心中的疑惑，對上天更有信心，這樣就夠了。其餘的事，上天自會照應。

一則小故事：

　　魚缸裡有兩隻金魚。其中一隻金魚問另一隻說：＂你相信有神嗎？＂另一隻金魚說：＂當然！不然你以為誰每天幫我們換水！＂

如果相信上天會照應自己所需，就能過的無憂無慮。但要記住一點：

生活所需不同於內心所求。人的需求有限，但慾望無窮。上天會滿足人生活所需，但是一個人的慾望愈多，對上天的信心愈低，因為慾望終無實現之日。

人們該秉持的信念，就是全心相信。從另一個角度來看，信仰就是信念加上實踐的動力。人先有信念，最終得出信仰。有信念，心中還是偶有疑惑。但因為有親身體驗，人們才能得出信仰，不再有疑惑。如果能親身體驗，心懷感激的奇妙之處，你的運氣會越來越好，這是我切身經驗。

一則小故事：

　　有個小男孩某天造訪皇宮。國王同意他在皇宮中留宿一夜。第二天一早，男孩到國王面前，不停抱怨住宿上的種種缺失。國王命令男孩出宮去，並對他說：＂能在皇宮留宿一夜，已經是莫大的享受。＂

　　男孩十分沮喪，到了一位大師面前，向他訴說種種不是。大師聽了不發一語，只說要收男孩為門徒。幾個月之後，聖者跟男孩說他要去拜訪國王，要小男孩跟他一起去。他們一起同行，國王同意他們皇宮留宿幾天。

　　第二天早上，國王問大師對所安排的一切是否滿意。大師對國王所安排的一切，表達由衷的感激。國王聽了十分高興，馬上要求隨侍更加細心招待大師。此時大師對男孩說：＂你聽到了嗎？這就是生活奧妙之處。心懷感激，就會更有福份。＂

如果能誠心感謝上天所賜，而不是一再挑剔，就會更有福份。藉由表達感激之心，能發送出正面的能量，而所得到的反饋，將超出你的想像。心懷感激，並不表示一定要出言讚美，或說些巧妙的謊言。大可不必。不管外在環境如何，如果都能由衷感激，好事自會降臨。

有人問我：＂上師，為什麼我們周遭有這麼多的痛苦？＂事實並非如此。世上雖有痛苦，但並不如你們想像中的多，是人們過份誇大。如果參考一些可靠的數據，就會發現，其實是人們過份渲染。只因人們喜歡隨意談論，才得出這樣的結論。其次，人們之所以受苦，是因為失去信仰，不知不覺變得貪得無厭。

上天力求宇宙萬物和諧。所有的事看似巧合，其實癒了解箇中道理，愈覺得亂中有序。我們只需要了解這一點，略守本分，生活自然像是流暢的樂章。

如果對身邊發生的大小事情，細心觀察，會發現所有的事都已巧妙安排，而自己只是其中的一部分。能體會萬物和諧的偉大，了解自己在整個大宇宙中，只是個小角色。只要跟隨生命的節奏，就能樂在其中，如果破壞了這份和諧，問題會應運而生。

一則小故事：

　　某天一群人急著通知某人。他太太掉進河裡，讓河水沖走了。這人趕緊跑到河邊，脫下鞋子，跳進河裡往上游游去。圍觀的人大叫：＂你怎麼往上游去？你太太是被沖到下游去了！＂這人回話說：＂只有我了解我太太。她什麼事都愛唱反調。就算掉進河裡，她也會逆流而上。＂

如果我們破壞這份和諧，表示人的自我介入上天與人之間的互動，問題因而產生。相反的，如果我們了解並順從這份和諧，我們會活的更自在。對發生的所有事都能勇於承擔，而且心懷感激。能活得自在，也意味著自己能承擔更多的責任。

我常常說，有責任感的人，會自動自發承擔責任。大師們就是如此。而且大師順從自然規律，為全世界的人承擔責任。因為大師們深信，只要順從自然，所有的事自有安排。

你們可以跟聚會所裡的志工談談，他們可以分享跟我相處的經驗。一開始他們很難跟上我的腳步，因為我總是隨心所欲。後來他們學會了不去想需要多少作業時間，而是隨時做好準備。所以在聚會所裡，事情常在無預警的情形下發生。外人看到聚會所裡亂中有序的情形，可能會大吃一驚。因為我總是隨心所欲，沒有特定計劃。我通常只在事前幾小時告訴他們準備，而一切都能順利完成。

凡事順其自然，會感受到內在散發出一股能量，看事情的角度也會也所改變。有如重組的拼圖般，不管走到哪裡，人們都能感受到你所散發出來的自在與熱情。人們看你的方式大異於前，不由自主受你吸引。

你的生活輕鬆的像首歌，像是有不知名的樂師為你伴奏，而你不禁手舞足蹈，想慶祝一番。但多數人們不但沒有慶祝，卻總是要求更多，要求有奇蹟出現。

人們總在等待奇蹟，也覺得永無來臨之日。其實我們身邊隨時有奇蹟，何須刻意營造。端看你是否能用心體會。如果心懷感激，順其自然，自然能目睹奇蹟發生。至於能否樂在其中，或是徒然錯失一切，全憑自己選擇。如果錯失一切，跟以前一樣不知滿足，就好比大門已開，你卻還不停的敲門。我已經一再的說，你一生所需的都已安排妥當，只要全心接受。但你卻不願相信，你看不見身邊的奇蹟，卻只是苦苦找尋。

把水變成酒，算不上什麼奇蹟，魔術師就做得到。讓人具有神性，才是真正的奇蹟，需要有極深的領悟。

一則小故事：

　　兩兄弟原本一起生活。哥哥決心從商，而弟弟決心學聖。幾年之後，兄弟再次相遇。他們問彼此過去幾年中，各自成就了什麼。哥哥把所有物質上的成就一一列出。訴說事業如何成功，累積了多少財富。然後問弟弟成就了什麼。

　　弟弟領他到了河邊，赤足過河。驕傲的說：＂這就是我的成就！＂哥哥隨即僱了一艘船過河。對弟弟說：＂這就是你所謂的成就！我只不過花了兩塊錢，你卻得花上好幾年！＂

人們以為只要在外在的世界成功，心靈就得以提升，也更為強大。其實不然。心靈成長，並不能仰賴外在的成就，而是藉由內在的改變，培養出獨立的個人。這才是最大的奇蹟。

人們常要求我行使奇蹟。我告訴他們，這些所謂的奇蹟，並不足以代表我。但是他們就是不聽，即使我只是玩些小把戲，變出一兩樣東西，人們還是來看這所謂的奇蹟，卻不思改進。這令我遺憾。

有天在信徒一再請求下，我用念力移動一尊神像。我向他們解釋，其實這並不算是奇蹟，只因為不了解背後的因果關係，才會這麼認為。

用念力移動物體的原理，其實跟打電話很像。聲音透過話筒轉成電子訊號，透過媒介傳送到另一端，再轉迴聲波。我所做的，只是把物體轉化成能量。移動之後，再轉回原先的物體，如此而已。這算不上是奇蹟。

不要再尋求奇蹟，在生活中對上天表達愛與感激，自然會感受到內在有奇蹟發生。透過大師協助，你的轉變就是最大的奇蹟。記得，你不需要大師在你身上行奇蹟，你只需要大師傳授你智慧。內心智慧漸長，每天生活可以輕鬆以對，而保持內心平靜。

假設你現在擔任的是管理要職，你必須承擔很多責任，是嗎？你要負責僱用員工，監督員工工作，計算薪水等等。在做這些事時，是否備感壓力。運用智慧，你能輕鬆處理這些事而不覺有壓力，保持心情平靜，所以你真正需要的是智慧，而不是蠻力。記住這一點。

如果你了解並相信上天的安排，不會有無謂的幻想，而能徹底轉變，成為一個獨立的人。我們對旁人所言，或是星座專家，算命師等星相之說深信不疑，卻從未相信神才是宇宙間生命的起源。

在印度，有一個駭人的習俗。人們會向鸚鵡請教未來。路旁有人提著籠裡的鸚鵡。

路人經過，付給飼主幾塊錢。虔誠的問自己的未來。飼主打開鳥籠，叫鸚鵡從一疊卡片中隨意揀出一張。鸚鵡挑出卡片，用鳥嘴銜著放到飼主手裡。

飼主讀出卡片上所寫。如此幫人預測未來。

人的感官遠比鸚鵡敏銳，卻向鸚鵡請教未來，這簡直荒謬。聽我的勸告，把這些荒唐的想法擺到一邊，凡事順其自然，聽從上天安排。你看大師總是氣定神閒，覺得他們無比神聖。這是因為大師們能遵循自然規律。

但你們只看得到大師外在的狀態，卻無法理解大師內心的境界。如果你能體會大師內心的境界，會發現他們跟自然融為一體，所以他們看來總是充滿喜樂，這也是你該努力達到的境界。

但是你的反應卻是：他是大師，當然滿是喜樂，他怎麼會了解我的困擾？我為生計奔忙，他還叫我要心存感激！我想說的是，你們只看到大師地位崇高，腳邊灑滿玫瑰花瓣，你以為大師對你的生活一無所知。要了解，大師能為人敬重，並不是因為地位崇高，而是內心境界。大師歷經挫折才有此境界，你對此毫無所悉。

你說你為生活奔忙，我告訴你們我的切身經歷。在我流浪的日子裡，多少次我米糧已盡，卻從未怪罪上天，因為我一心追求真理，所有的經歷都像是冥想一般，即使是糧食殆盡。你們知道嗎？除了少數的幾個慈善機構以及在北印度，其他地方人們對托缽行乞的修行者多退避三舍，投以懷疑的眼神，以為他們會竊取財物。

這些是我切身體驗，即使遭逢極大的困難與掙扎，只要堅持信念，心懷感激，善用智慧，終將度過難關，心中感激與智慧亦增。心愛的東西只要心存感激，珍惜曾擁有的時日。即使失去也不會感傷。

一則小故事：

　　有個國王習慣在夜間偽裝到處巡邏。每天晚上整座城裡陷入一片寂靜時，他都見到一位大師滿懷喜樂的坐在樹下。他對大師極為仰慕。一晚，邀請大師到皇宮作客。大師說：＂好啊！就今天吧！明天的事，誰也不確定。＂

　　國王對大師突如其來的回答嚇了一跳，卻仍是領大師回到皇宮。在皇宮裡，國王以最好的食物和房間來招待大師。大師極盡享受。國王在一旁觀察，見大師竟如此享受，覺得難以置信，對大師的尊敬日益減低，覺得上當。

　　有一天大師對國王說：＂你心裡好像有煩惱，為什麼不說出來？＂國王說：＂好吧。我看你享受程度，不在我之下。我不了解你我之間到底有何差異之處？＂

大師微笑著說：＂我們一起散個步吧？＂國王同意了。兩人沉默的走了很久。

終於到了河邊，這也是國王領地邊界所在。

　　大師說：＂我該離開了。你願意跟我一起走嗎？＂國王說：＂我怎麼能說走就走？我的國家，人民…還有很多的事情等我解決。＂大師微笑的說：＂現在你知道我們兩人差異之處了吧！＂國王聽了，只是瞠目結舌。

　　大師早已看清，一切都歸上天所有，所以能充分活在當下，珍惜每一刻。他們從不擔心會失去所有，因為人本來就一無所有。要記得，一切都歸上天所有。你們現在都只是暫時擁有，因此不管擁有多寡，都要心存感謝，才能夠過得灑脫自由。

一則小故事：

　　神和世上所有的科學家聚在一起比賽。神不管做出什麼，科學家都要完全複製。科學家成功複製所有東西。最後，神用泥土塑成人，跟科學家挑戰。科學家也動手和泥。神說：＂等等！用你們自己的泥土！別用我的。＂

你們要知道，神是造物主，祂造出宇宙萬物，所以祂珍愛萬物而不執著，能放棄所有以及造人的權利。如果能從不滿，擔憂及憂鬱之中，轉而尋求當下的滿足，你會更能感受到上天的能量，也更能感謝上天。心懷感激，會成為你一貫的態度。

一則小故事：

　　某人到菜市場幫太太買菜。他買了些秋葵拿給太太。太太看了說：＂你買的這些都太老了！怎麼能吃？＂隔天這人又到市場裡買了更多的秋葵。這次他小心翼翼的挑選後拿給太太。太太說：＂你買的這些都太小了！我想煮的不是這種！＂

　　又隔了一天，這人回市場求賣菜的老闆說：＂拜託你幫我挑一些上好的秋葵。不要太老，也不要太小！＂老闆親自挑選了些上好的秋葵。這人回家後跟太太炫耀。太太看了一眼後說：＂什麼？你又買了秋葵？＂

人們不懂得及時表達感謝，只因人生性格愛抱怨而不知足。事實上，不知足反而是人類思考的動力來源。因為不知足，人不停思考；如果知足，腦中無事可想，人反而無所適從。所以又開始不知足起來。

一則小故事：

　　有位小姐到鞋店裡試穿鞋子。售貨員很有耐心的幫他挑了好幾雙鞋。這位小姐一雙接一雙的試穿，卻沒有一雙適合。售貨員請她試穿最後一雙。她試了以後說：＂這雙很合腳。不知道是不是我的尺寸？＂

人若決意不知足，他人也無計可施。因為自己想法由自己決定，大多數的人習慣抱怨，或在言談之中發洩不滿，才會有談天的話題，腦中才有事可想。人若知足，會覺得腦中一片空白。所以雖然嘴上常說要知足常樂，卻從未決意如此。人心如此靈巧，只為不停思考。

唯有不停往前追逐，人們才覺得安慰。所追逐的雖然只是些假象，卻足以讓人安心，因為人們已慣於追逐。

慣於追逐的人其實是在自我矛盾。舉例來說，你內心渴望得到滿足，嘴上卻不停抱怨。不願正視自己所擁有的一切，心裡想的跟嘴上所說其實��兩回事。你覺得窮盡畢生之力求得內心滿足，是理所當然的事。要了解：自相矛盾是痛苦的開始。試著認清自己人生的方向，致力於此。認清方向，就不會欺騙自己。而你很快就能如願以償。

如果能在冥想中帶著感激，自然會感到滿足。一般人所說的滿足，總需要特定理由，需要外力的協助。能讓自己的腦子稍事休息，腦子暫時停下來，你就覺得滿足。其實真正的滿足不僅於此。真正的滿足，是能持續感激上天的仁慈。除此以外你別無他求，也不問理由。你能樂在其中。你若到此境地，不會再有不滿。

　　某人因失眠求診。醫生問他：＂你晚上睡不著嗎？＂某人回答說：＂我晚上睡的很好，醫生。＂醫生接著問說：＂那問題在哪？＂某人回答說：＂可是我下午跟傍晚睡不著！＂

人總是需索無度。雖說內心自有分寸，事實上卻是無限擴充，問題癥結在此。因為不停要求，人們變得盲目，看不清自己的立場。長久以來，人們從未探究自己內心，總是被自己的想法所蒙蔽，而活得無知。人們自尋煩惱，卻向外尋求解決之道。

你們覺得我剛剛說的故事很有趣，因為你們只是聽故事的人。其實在現實生活中，你們也有相同的問題而不自知。你們執著於眼前的問題，覺得茲事體大，也因此變得固執不堪。遇到煩心的事，就想一想剛剛的故事，以及故事裡的啟示，再回頭看那些煩人的事。以你的覺知深入分析，你是真的遇上難題，或只是你的念頭作祟！到頭來，你可能會一笑置之！

　　有位女士搭飛機長途旅行。空中小姐為乘客準備餐點。她見這位女士睡著就先服務下一位乘客。女士睡醒後，要求用餐。空中小姐端來餐點。

　　女士摸了摸餐點，很不高興的說：＂你們這是什麼航空公司？餐點一點都不熱！我買機票付了一大筆錢，卻吃不到熱的餐點！＂

　　空中小姐帶著歉意說：＂這位女士，很抱歉。機上的加熱器壞了。其他的乘客也是吃冷的。＂

　　女士聽了說：＂是嗎？那就算了！＂

食物還是冷的，但這位女士卻停止抱怨。因為她知道大家都有相同待遇。凡事都是一念之間，全憑個人想法。人的想法搖擺不定，任由自己的想法主導一切。滿足與否，內心沒有定見，常有動搖。如同我之前所說，如果無法一笑置之，表示你對所有的事仍過於執著，覺得自己承擔全世界，所有的事都以你為主。

事實上，我們都是上天的一部分。上天擁有無上的能量，祂才是一切的主宰。人的天性，是要找回與上天之間的聯繫。唯有如此才能生活無憂。但不知為何，人們有所誤解，失去與上天之間的聯繫，開始追求物質享受，以為這就是人生所求。

如果你去過動物園，可能注意到，排隊看獅子老虎的人是最多的。人們大排長龍，只為一睹獅子老虎的威嚴。人們會不自覺的這麼做，是因為人們看到比自己強大的東西，會產生安定感。可以藉此安慰自己說：人並非萬能。

其實人天性喜歡接近權威，藉以提醒自己，在這個大宇宙間，自己真正的角色為何。人們到廟裡拜神求心安。不到廟裡拜神的人，也會另覓管道。人從打從心裡知道自己並非萬能，這種感覺，慢慢會變成經驗之談，而深信不疑。

如果你到過喜馬拉雅山，你會感受到自然的奧妙。群山綿延迭起，溪水縱橫，可謂自然的極致。恒河從中穿過，氣象萬千。喜馬拉雅山所蘊藏的是無盡的能量，這些無法從書本中獲得，需要人們切身體驗。你會了解，人不過渺如滄海之一粟，學會以慈悲與謙衝為懷。一切疑問都能了然於心。

你們不需要刻意親近上天，只要拋開原本不屬於自己的一切，上天自會照應你。人們對上天心存敬愛並非難事；但若能得到上天關愛，則是無上福分。只要有堅定的信念，生活中有愛並懂得與他人分享。

某人生性博愛，不只敬神，也做了許多善事。他聽說有一本書，凡事敬愛神的人名字會記載於書中。他急於查證自己的名字是否也在書中。但是他來回看了幾遍，都沒有找到自己的名字。他極度失望的離去。

一年後，他又回來查看自己的名字是否載於書中。他再一次失望了。在他轉身離去前，書的主人說：＂先生，請等一等。這本書記載的是敬愛神的人。我還有另一本書，比這本小的多。上面只有幾個名字，記載的是神關愛的人。＂

書主拿出另一本書，某人的名字就在其中。

上天慈愛慷慨，而且無所不能，敬愛上天何難之有？你可早晚把敬愛神掛在嘴邊，卻不需要採取任何行動。但是如果你由衷感受上天，會有所轉變，上天會關愛於你，而且是在你意想不到的地方，因為祂是如此慈愛。

人們一直對自然萬物以及對上天，戒慎恐懼。走路時要穿拖鞋，才不會傷腳；下雨時忙著避雨，起風了就呆在屋裡，跟動物要保持距離。聽我說：萬物是人在世上唯一的知己。你們知道赤腳踩在地上有多麼舒服嗎？我小時候從來不穿鞋。一直到了進學校，因為校規，我才開始穿鞋。我習慣赤腳，不管在家裡，在學校，還是出外遊歷的時候。

即使在聚會所裡，我還是習慣赤腳。當然我身邊的人提醒我穿鞋，以免腳受傷。我會說：我赤著腳走遍印度各地，又怎麼會受傷？如此小心，只會跟自然疏離。很多人問我：上師，你赤足遊歷多年，為什麼腳還是完好無損？告訴你們，我從未與萬物疏離，這就是原因所在。我常覺得，自己是萬物的一份子。

我常覺得自己屬於自然，所以我在遊歷時從不擔心害怕。想像你獨自一人在漆黑的叢林中，身邊野生動物環繞。沒有食物，下一餐也沒有著落。沒有睡覺的地方，只得露宿。你們會怎麼樣？一定是嚇壞了！因為人們從不知道，萬物是人最忠實的朋友。人們只懂得向其他人求助，以為只有人才會彼此協助，卻沒想到其實是萬物藉由人而伸出援手。你只相信人，而從未相信万物。

如果你能相信万物，你會像神一般自在。我在遊歷的時候，常常隨意行走。沒有特定目標。我常常坐火車，看到哪里風景好就下車。那時我還不會說北印度語，而我又多在北印度及喜馬拉雅一帶遊歷，我就學了些北印度語，方便問路。學任何語言，一開始覺得困難，是因為覺得自己一無所知，這已讓人產生疏離感，而讓學習更為困難。這與你無所不知的天性相違背。

我常常一個人遊歷，沒有任何同伴，但我從不覺得孤單。我享受與萬物合而為一的感覺。如果你能親近自然，你會感受生命的喜悅。我從未攜帶任何食物，肚子餓了，食物隨處可得。這就是我之前所說，只要有信心，拋開一切，萬物自會照應你。

人們問我：＂上師，你的人生經歷許多挫折，才有今天的成就。我們能否免去這些痛苦，而仍能有所成就？＂我告訴他們，我會歷經挫折，是因為我試了千萬種方法，只為找到唯一的真理。我花了多年的時間，終於找到答案。我願意與其他想尋求真理的人分享。其實答案就在你一念之間。不過，如果你堅持要經歷一切，你有權選擇，我不會阻止你。

你只需要讓上天進入你的心。愈不加抵抗，愈覺輕鬆。當你真的悟道，心中空明，上天會常駐你心。

上師，我們如何利用冥想，讓自己感到滿足？

持續冥想，你的心會更加柔軟，領悟力變高。你會更敏感，更有覺知，你的意識持續提高。它會��響你的感覺以及行動。所以我一再建議你們冥想。冥想能淨化你們的思緒，看事情能更加清晰。

練習冥想，你的重心會由思考轉移到內心。當人不全然仰賴思考時，內心會有不同的感覺。不需要任何理由，你都能感受到深深的愛和極大的滿足，而常處喜樂之中。如果凡事只仰賴思考，只會要求更多。

不管如何分析，結論為何，都不會滿足。如果用心感受，你會停止分析，不再追憶過去，不再擔心未來，只會純然處於當下。不做任何批判，只有滿足與感激。你進入了一個新的境界。

你一旦進入新的境界，之前用於負面思考及抱怨的能量得以釋放，內心充滿喜樂。你的能量更為集中，你的祈禱中只有感謝！內心充滿感激時，你所感受到的能量，只能意會，不能言喻。

你對所有的事，都充滿感激之心。也因此得到更多的能量，覺得自己浸淫在喜樂中。所有的事帶來的喜悅更勝於前。所有的時刻都滿載喜樂。你覺得自己的存在，對自己跟整個世界都是一種福分。

你若要求更多，只會錯過眼前的幸福；你若懂得感激，自然覺得幸福滿溢。常存感謝之心，這就是真理。當然你的感激是發自內心，而不只是表面功夫。惟有由衷的感激，事情才會有所轉變。

睡覺前，由衷感激自己又過了一天；睡醒時，感激自己又將迎接新的一天。這是最簡單也是最有效的冥想，來表達你的感激之心。

由衷表達感激，你能改變世界的面貌，所有的人都能帶著感激之心，所有的恐怖主義，戰爭，宗教狂熱，疾病，貧窮等，都將消失無形。每個人能由衷感激，所有的愛憎忌妒，所有負面想法的起源，都能予以根除。只留下感激之心。

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