Chapter 25 The magical tree
Chapter 25 The magical tree
第二十五章 神奇的樹
第二十五章 神奇的樹
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中文有聲書
Ch25.m4a
25. The magical tree
25. The magical tree
Many years ago, during a moment of personal crisis, a friend of mine took me into a local park to visit a “magical tree”: his description, not mine. He had heard that the traditional people used to come to visit a giant spruce1 for solace and inspiration, and had decided to try its healing powers. Now he wanted to share his experience with me. I find that all good friends are deeply concerned when you have problems and are always willing to help. This was a bit much, though. I went along mostly to humor him. The forest was confined by the local city and its suburbs. What is so interesting about the urban park phenomenon is that no one has told the trees that they are to be constrained or limited. As soon as we left the developed environs, the forest unfolded her charms. The noise stopped and was filled with the soft “cooing” of the birds, bugs and undulating leaves which is the signature of all natural and unlimited life. As we walked along the earthen path and penetrated further and further into the wilderness, if you could call it such, my frustrations and anxieties seemed to be less and less important.
Many years ago, during a moment of personal crisis, a friend of mine took me into a local park to visit a “magical tree”: his description, not mine. He had heard that the traditional people used to come to visit a giant spruce1 for solace and inspiration, and had decided to try its healing powers. Now he wanted to share his experience with me. I find that all good friends are deeply concerned when you have problems and are always willing to help. This was a bit much, though. I went along mostly to humor him. The forest was confined by the local city and its suburbs. What is so interesting about the urban park phenomenon is that no one has told the trees that they are to be constrained or limited. As soon as we left the developed environs, the forest unfolded her charms. The noise stopped and was filled with the soft “cooing” of the birds, bugs and undulating leaves which is the signature of all natural and unlimited life. As we walked along the earthen path and penetrated further and further into the wilderness, if you could call it such, my frustrations and anxieties seemed to be less and less important.
We are often told that our perception of the world2 is the created reality that we occupy: all actuality is created by the self. This is easy to read and attempt to put into practice but much, much harder to do. I was reminded by something that I read from Anne Frank (1929-1945): “Look at all of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. … I've found that there is always some beauty left -- in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you. … I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. … The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. ... I firmly believe that nature brings comfort in all troubles.”3
We are often told that our perception of the world2 is the created reality that we occupy: all actuality is created by the self. This is easy to read and attempt to put into practice but much, much harder to do. I was reminded by something that I read from Anne Frank (1929-1945): “Look at all of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. … I've found that there is always some beauty left -- in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you. … I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. … The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. ... I firmly believe that nature brings comfort in all troubles.”3
We arrived at the side of this beautiful being. She jutted up, up, upwards to the heavens. Gnarled and old, much like my grandmother, she did seem to have hidden wisdom to impart. Forgetting my embarrassment and misgivings, I embraced her for the longest time. She smelled like life itself: deep and exotic and inviting. This was the first time in my life that I had been so intimate with Gaia, with Mother Earth. I come from the baby boomer age4 of mass consumption and runaway hedonism. If it couldn’t be useful or eaten, it was of little value. Vast swaths of forests and immense oceans of fish were exploited in this way. As a child, there was no end to nature’s carpet of trees and to the salmon’s bounty from the sea.
We arrived at the side of this beautiful being. She jutted up, up, upwards to the heavens. Gnarled and old, much like my grandmother, she did seem to have hidden wisdom to impart. Forgetting my embarrassment and misgivings, I embraced her for the longest time. She smelled like life itself: deep and exotic and inviting. This was the first time in my life that I had been so intimate with Gaia, with Mother Earth. I come from the baby boomer age4 of mass consumption and runaway hedonism. If it couldn’t be useful or eaten, it was of little value. Vast swaths of forests and immense oceans of fish were exploited in this way. As a child, there was no end to nature’s carpet of trees and to the salmon’s bounty from the sea.
I remember seeing huge barges filled to overflowing with trees5 and vibrating vats of salmon.6 This age has lapsed into history. We are now as divorced from nature as the traditional farm is from the chicken burger. Today, the majority of humanity lives in boxes in the city and we buy our prepackaged food from the convenience store or the supermarket. The calling of the unfettered environment never leaves us, however. We often see crowds of duly-frocked hikers getting on a bus heading to the mountains on the weekend. Even more optimistic for Earth, cycling as a sport and a lifestyle is expanding. I sat beside the tree for a long, long time. It was one of those seminal moments that we all have in life: do I give up and accept what is or do I move forward and investigate what could be? I chose the latter, though, on the surface, it was much more difficult. The scientist, philosopher, and humanist, Albert Einstein (1879-1955), has a tremendous thought: “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
I remember seeing huge barges filled to overflowing with trees5 and vibrating vats of salmon.6 This age has lapsed into history. We are now as divorced from nature as the traditional farm is from the chicken burger. Today, the majority of humanity lives in boxes in the city and we buy our prepackaged food from the convenience store or the supermarket. The calling of the unfettered environment never leaves us, however. We often see crowds of duly-frocked hikers getting on a bus heading to the mountains on the weekend. Even more optimistic for Earth, cycling as a sport and a lifestyle is expanding. I sat beside the tree for a long, long time. It was one of those seminal moments that we all have in life: do I give up and accept what is or do I move forward and investigate what could be? I chose the latter, though, on the surface, it was much more difficult. The scientist, philosopher, and humanist, Albert Einstein (1879-1955), has a tremendous thought: “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
The other morning I awoke quite early, it seems to be always too early, and trundled to the washroom. I like to shave and brush my teeth to begin my day. I, incidentally, have a little plant on the shelf beside the mirror. I have given her the name of Eudoxia, or Goodness, and talk to her every day. She has become my closest connection to nature, or so I apologize to myself. The other morning a mosquito sat nestled rather comfortably on the wall beside the shelf. I instinctively swatted and killed her. But, “the great hunter” felt guilty. Why did I feel that I had the power to take this life? There is no malaria outbreak at the moment, to the best of my knowledge. I am neither a vegetarian nor a deep environmentalist, but I do increasingly believe that all life, even the lowly cockroach, should be afforded some dignity. As my bones get closer to the earth, this is ringing more and more true.
The other morning I awoke quite early, it seems to be always too early, and trundled to the washroom. I like to shave and brush my teeth to begin my day. I, incidentally, have a little plant on the shelf beside the mirror. I have given her the name of Eudoxia, or Goodness, and talk to her every day. She has become my closest connection to nature, or so I apologize to myself. The other morning a mosquito sat nestled rather comfortably on the wall beside the shelf. I instinctively swatted and killed her. But, “the great hunter” felt guilty. Why did I feel that I had the power to take this life? There is no malaria outbreak at the moment, to the best of my knowledge. I am neither a vegetarian nor a deep environmentalist, but I do increasingly believe that all life, even the lowly cockroach, should be afforded some dignity. As my bones get closer to the earth, this is ringing more and more true.
25. 神奇的樹
25. 神奇的樹
很多年前，在我有次陷入個人危機時，我的朋友帶我到當地的一個公園看一棵「神奇的樹」，這是詞是他說的，不是我說的。他聽說過原住民總會去看一棵巨大的雲杉1尋求慰藉和靈感，因此他決定來試試看它的療癒功能。他想與我分享他自己的親身經驗。我發現所有好朋友都會在你遇到問題時為你擔憂，並且十分樂於提供協助。不過，說這棵樹有療效是有點太誇張了，我答應一起去只是想迎合他一下。這棵樹所處的森林被城市及郊區包圍。有趣之處是，雖然這座森林處於市區中，樹木的發展絲毫沒有受人類的侷限。當我們遠離人類開發的環境進入這座森林時，我們就發現她開始施展她的魅力了。噪音停止了，取而代之的是蟲鳴鳥叫和葉子隨風起伏的低語，這是所有大自然和無限生命的標章。當我們沿著原始的泥土路走，愈深入荒野時（如果你可以稱呼這片區域是荒野的話），我的挫折和焦慮似乎愈來愈不重要了。
很多年前，在我有次陷入個人危機時，我的朋友帶我到當地的一個公園看一棵「神奇的樹」，這是詞是他說的，不是我說的。他聽說過原住民總會去看一棵巨大的雲杉1尋求慰藉和靈感，因此他決定來試試看它的療癒功能。他想與我分享他自己的親身經驗。我發現所有好朋友都會在你遇到問題時為你擔憂，並且十分樂於提供協助。不過，說這棵樹有療效是有點太誇張了，我答應一起去只是想迎合他一下。這棵樹所處的森林被城市及郊區包圍。有趣之處是，雖然這座森林處於市區中，樹木的發展絲毫沒有受人類的侷限。當我們遠離人類開發的環境進入這座森林時，我們就發現她開始施展她的魅力了。噪音停止了，取而代之的是蟲鳴鳥叫和葉子隨風起伏的低語，這是所有大自然和無限生命的標章。當我們沿著原始的泥土路走，愈深入荒野時（如果你可以稱呼這片區域是荒野的話），我的挫折和焦慮似乎愈來愈不重要了。
人們常常說，我們對世界的感受2是依據我們所處的現實創造出來的--所有真實都是由自我創造的。這種說法讀起來很容易，思考要怎麼執行也不難，要實際去做就難多了。我想起了從安妮‧法蘭克（1929-1945）那兒讀到的東西：「看看所有仍在你周圍的美麗事物，並保持開心。……在大自然、陽光、自由，以及在你自身中，我總能發現一些美感，這些都能夠幫助你。……我不會去想那所有的痛苦，而是去想依然存在的美。……對於那些害怕、孤獨或不開心的人們來說，最好的辦法就是到外面去，在那裡他們可以獨自與上天、大自然和上帝相處。因為唯有這樣，一個人才能感受到事物的本質，並且了解到上帝希望看到人們在自然之美當中得到幸福。……我深信大自然能夠撫平所有煩憂。」3
人們常常說，我們對世界的感受2是依據我們所處的現實創造出來的--所有真實都是由自我創造的。這種說法讀起來很容易，思考要怎麼執行也不難，要實際去做就難多了。我想起了從安妮‧法蘭克（1929-1945）那兒讀到的東西：「看看所有仍在你周圍的美麗事物，並保持開心。……在大自然、陽光、自由，以及在你自身中，我總能發現一些美感，這些都能夠幫助你。……我不會去想那所有的痛苦，而是去想依然存在的美。……對於那些害怕、孤獨或不開心的人們來說，最好的辦法就是到外面去，在那裡他們可以獨自與上天、大自然和上帝相處。因為唯有這樣，一個人才能感受到事物的本質，並且了解到上帝希望看到人們在自然之美當中得到幸福。……我深信大自然能夠撫平所有煩憂。」3
我們到了這棵美麗的樹的旁邊。她向上伸展，直達天際。她的外表粗糙又年老，就如同我的祖母一樣，似乎內在藏著可以傳授的智慧。我忘卻了尷尬和憂愁，久久地擁抱著她。她散發生命本質的味道，那樣深沉、充滿異國情調又很親切。這是我生命中第一次與大地之母蓋亞如此親密的接觸。我出生於嬰兒潮時期4，這個時期以大量消費和失控的享樂主義聞名。如果一個東西沒有用處或是不能吃，那就一點價值也沒有。人們用這種心態大規模砍伐森林和捕魚。當我還是個孩子時，大自然的樹木與海裡的鮭魚是取之不盡，用之不竭的。
我們到了這棵美麗的樹的旁邊。她向上伸展，直達天際。她的外表粗糙又年老，就如同我的祖母一樣，似乎內在藏著可以傳授的智慧。我忘卻了尷尬和憂愁，久久地擁抱著她。她散發生命本質的味道，那樣深沉、充滿異國情調又很親切。這是我生命中第一次與大地之母蓋亞如此親密的接觸。我出生於嬰兒潮時期4，這個時期以大量消費和失控的享樂主義聞名。如果一個東西沒有用處或是不能吃，那就一點價值也沒有。人們用這種心態大規模砍伐森林和捕魚。當我還是個孩子時，大自然的樹木與海裡的鮭魚是取之不盡，用之不竭的。
我記得曾看過巨大的船隻裝滿木材5與桶子，桶內還有鮭魚在跳動。6那時代已經成為歷史。我們現在與大自然脫離，就如同雞肉漢堡裡的雞肉不再是來自傳統的農場。如今，大多數人住在城市像盒子般的房子，從便利店或超市購買包裝食品。然而，原始純樸的大自然從來沒有停止呼喚我們。我們經常在週末看到大批穿著合宜的人們搭公車到山上健行。對地球而言更加樂觀的發展是，將騎自行車當作一項運動和生活方式的族群正在增加。我在樹旁坐了很長很長一段時間，這是我生命中開啟思考的關鍵時刻：我是否選擇放棄並接受現況，或者採取行動，研究可以改變的地方？最終，我選擇了後者，雖然從表面上看，後者要困難得多。身為科學家、哲學家兼人文主義者的艾伯特‧愛因斯坦（1879-1955）有一個很重要的理念：「人類是我們宇宙整體的一部分，受到時間和空間的侷限。每個人認為自己思想和感受與眾不同，這是意識的一種視覺幻象。這種錯覺對我們來說是一種監獄，將我們侷限在個人慾望當中，對他人的情感也只限於最親近的人。我們的任務就是必須擴大我們同情的範圍，去擁抱大自然中的所有生物和整個世界的美，唯有如此我們才能從自我的監獄中掙脫出來。」
我記得曾看過巨大的船隻裝滿木材5與桶子，桶內還有鮭魚在跳動。6那時代已經成為歷史。我們現在與大自然脫離，就如同雞肉漢堡裡的雞肉不再是來自傳統的農場。如今，大多數人住在城市像盒子般的房子，從便利店或超市購買包裝食品。然而，原始純樸的大自然從來沒有停止呼喚我們。我們經常在週末看到大批穿著合宜的人們搭公車到山上健行。對地球而言更加樂觀的發展是，將騎自行車當作一項運動和生活方式的族群正在增加。我在樹旁坐了很長很長一段時間，這是我生命中開啟思考的關鍵時刻：我是否選擇放棄並接受現況，或者採取行動，研究可以改變的地方？最終，我選擇了後者，雖然從表面上看，後者要困難得多。身為科學家、哲學家兼人文主義者的艾伯特‧愛因斯坦（1879-1955）有一個很重要的理念：「人類是我們宇宙整體的一部分，受到時間和空間的侷限。每個人認為自己思想和感受與眾不同，這是意識的一種視覺幻象。這種錯覺對我們來說是一種監獄，將我們侷限在個人慾望當中，對他人的情感也只限於最親近的人。我們的任務就是必須擴大我們同情的範圍，去擁抱大自然中的所有生物和整個世界的美，唯有如此我們才能從自我的監獄中掙脫出來。」
有天早上我很早就醒了，似乎總是醒得太早，我拖著沈重的腳步到浴室。我喜歡從刮鬍子、刷牙來開始我的一天。順便說一下，我在鏡子旁的架子上擺了一株小植物。我給了這植物取了一個Eudoxia的名字，意思是「善意」，並且每天跟她說話。而她已經是我與大自然最親密的聯繫了，把植物說成大自然是有點不好意思。另一個早晨，一隻蚊子舒適地停留在架子旁邊的牆上。我本能地拍打並殺了牠。但是，我這「偉大的獵人」頓時感到內疚。為什麼我會認為自己有資格奪走這條生命呢？據我所知，目前沒有爆發瘧疾的疫情。雖然我不是素食主義者也不是環保主義者，但我愈來愈相信所有的生命，甚至是低賤的蟑螂，都應該得到應有的尊嚴。隨著我逐漸朝向生命的終點前進，這個道理對我而言愈加有真實感。
有天早上我很早就醒了，似乎總是醒得太早，我拖著沈重的腳步到浴室。我喜歡從刮鬍子、刷牙來開始我的一天。順便說一下，我在鏡子旁的架子上擺了一株小植物。我給了這植物取了一個Eudoxia的名字，意思是「善意」，並且每天跟她說話。而她已經是我與大自然最親密的聯繫了，把植物說成大自然是有點不好意思。另一個早晨，一隻蚊子舒適地停留在架子旁邊的牆上。我本能地拍打並殺了牠。但是，我這「偉大的獵人」頓時感到內疚。為什麼我會認為自己有資格奪走這條生命呢？據我所知，目前沒有爆發瘧疾的疫情。雖然我不是素食主義者也不是環保主義者，但我愈來愈相信所有的生命，甚至是低賤的蟑螂，都應該得到應有的尊嚴。隨著我逐漸朝向生命的終點前進，這個道理對我而言愈加有真實感。
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