A TurtIe Brought Me“EnIightenment”一只让我悟道的乌龟

·Michael Chase·

Life is good, really good. Sometimes I feel like the good karma train picks me up, and simply refuses to let me off.I have an amazing wife, a teenage son that makes me glow with pride, good health, a wonderful family and the best friends a guy could ask for.I have a lot to be grateful for.For many years now，“thank you”has become my meditation as I start each day.

But the truth is, life was not always this good. It wasn't all that long ago, when the resume of my life looked radically different.At one time, my life was filled with nearly everything that people try to avoid.Experiencing everything from unhappy relationships to financial struggles, poor health, depression, and an endless stream of negative habits was a part of my daily life.It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, happiness was constantly eluding me and disappointment became my shadow.It also seemed as if I was paving the way for a future that sadly resembled my father's, until he took his own life at the age of 54.This was a defining moment for me.Once the shock of losing my father began to fade, cIarity and a new sense of purpose became the dominant force in my life.I remember feeling as if I had“met myself”for the very first time while also became conscious of my life's true purpose.It was in that moment that I had made a major decision.Not only would I change my own life, but I would also make a difference in the lives of others.

Enlightenment and epiphanies can show up in some pretty strange ways. The Buddha found it under a Boddhi tree, Nelson Mandela in prison and spiritual guru Ram Dass through psychedelic drugs.Little did I know, mine would arrive in the form of a hard-shelled reptile simply trying to cross the road-a turtle.

But this wasn't just any turtle, this was the world's most optimistic one. He was tenaciousIy determined to cross twenty feet of tar as cars zoomed by at 55 mph.But today was his lucky day.My wife's quick reflexes not only ensured that“turtle soup”would not be for dinner that night, but her act of kindness would eventually become the foundation for everything I teach today.As unusual as this sounds, the simple act of pulling our car over, removing this little turtle from harms way, and placing him back into the wild, caused something extraordinary to happen inside of me.As I stood there holding this tiny creature in my hands, a wave of pure joy came over me.It was that warm, teary-eyed sensation that we feel during life's greatest moments；like falling in love or the birth of a child.I honestly felt as if my heart was completely opening up as everything stood still around me.In no way would I have described it as“enlightenment”，but there was no doubt about it-helping this little turtle just felt so damn good！But why?After all, it was just a turtle, right?

And then it hit me. I finally realized what was happening.At that point, a flood of inspiring thoughts surged through me.I walked back to the car, opened my journal and wrote eight words that would later prove to be life changing for me：“kindness creates happiness”and“live a life of kindness”.It was the answer I had been looking for.The secret to inner peace and lasting happiness was kindness.Not“random acts of”or simply being nice, but rather as a way of life.I had already known the benefits of kindness through studying many eastern philosophies, but I had never actually considered it as a lifestyle.

But, this day was just beginning.

Just thirty minutes after my mini-epiphany, my wife and I arrived at our original destination-a country garden show. After walking around for just a few minutes, a gentle faced 60-something looking man waved me over to the front porch of his farmhouse, for no apparent reason.The entire setting was like a scene out of an old movie-weathered rocking chairs-the smell of cookies baking-and a coon cat that looked as old as the farmhouse itself.“Let her look around.Come and sit with me.”he said.

I had no idea what to expect, but as I sunk into the large wicker chair beside him, I couldn't help feeling that he was going to say something profound. After all, if a turtle can change my life, why not a wise old farmer?After a brief hello and a polite introduction, we simply sat in silence and let the sunlight warm our faces.After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke.“You know，”he said，“I've often thought that the meaning of life is making things a little bit easier for those around us, what do you think?”I was speechless.It felt like I had just been hit on the head again by life's big karma stick.He went on to tell me his version of“the secrets to life”and how“true happiness can only be found by loving and serving others”.Finally he finished with“Oh, and don't forget you really gotta'love the one you’re with yourself.”

Life was obviously trying to tell me something. In the days and weeks that followed, the world looked completely different to me.The more I studied and tested my“kindness creates happiness”theory, the more I was blown away by its life-changing power.I realized that most of my disappointments in life were simply because I had been unkind to others and especially to myself.

After spending much of my life thinking“What's in it for me?”，my new inner mantra became“Am I being kind?”This one simple question changed my life. So, whenever I feel the need to disagree with my wife, lash out at a rude employee in the mall or even before I shove ten cookies into my mouth, I go within and ask，“Am I being kind?”These four little words have become my source to inner peace.It has created many positive changes in me such as recycling and acting more“green”and consciously respecting all of life.I even stopped setting the mousetraps in the garage.（My wife is going to kill me when she reads that last one.）Another big change in my life was the irresistible urge to perform“spontaneous acts of kindness”.Things like buying coffee for strangers and giving money to the homeless just seemed natural.Each kind act felt like a blissful surge of energy through my chest.But what became even more exhiIarating were the intense feelings of warmth towards everyone around me-especially difficult people.Whether there was someone who acted rude in traffic or an inconsiderate person in line at the grocery store, I no longer felt anxious or offended-I simply wished for their happiness.That's when I realized what it truly meant to be living kindness.

All thanks to an unexpected turtle crossing the street that day.

麦克·驰思

生活不错，很不错。有时我觉得仿佛坐上了一列善有善报的列车，想下车都不行。我有个人人夸好的妻子，有个给我脸上增光的十几岁的儿子，我们身体健康，家庭美满和睦，还有一帮世上最棒的朋友。我有好多值得感恩的东西。多年来，“感谢老天”已经成了我开始每一天的默祷词。

可是事实上，生活并不总是这么美好。就在不久前，我的人生简历看上去还是迥然不同。曾经一度，我的生活充满了令每个人都想躲避的东西。从让人沮丧的婚姻到困窘的经济状况，糟糕的健康，抑郁的心情和无穷无尽的坏毛病，都是我每天生活的一部分。似乎不管我怎么努力，快乐总是躲着我走，而失望则如影随形。而且似乎我在亦步亦趋地把日子过成父亲那样，他在五十四岁的时候自杀了。那一刻成了我人生的转折点，失去父亲所受的打击开始消退，清楚明确的目标感开始支配我的生活。我觉得好像有生以来第一次发现了自己，认识到了生命的真正目的。从那一刻起，我便做了一个重大的决定，我不仅要改变自己的生活，而且要令别人对生活改观。

令人茅塞顿开的灵光会以相当奇特的方式出现。佛祖在菩提树下悟道；纳尔逊·曼德拉在狱中觉醒；灵魂大师瑞姆·达斯则在致幻剂中获得升华。我从未曾料到，我的启示会以一只试图穿越马路的硬壳爬行动物的形象出现，它是一只乌龟。

但这可不是一只普通的乌龟，这是世上最乐观的一只乌龟。它不屈不挠地打算穿越一条宽二十英尺的柏油马路，路上是川流不息的以时速五十五英里行驶的车辆。可是今天是它的幸运日。我妻子的快速反应不仅保证了它不会以“乌龟汤”的形式成为今晚的餐桌一景，而且她接下来的善举还成就了我今天要讲述的一切的基础。这听上去要多玄有多玄，一个简单的将车停到路边，把这只小乌龟救离险境并将之归还给大自然的举动引发了我内心深处一场惊天动地的变革。当我站在那里，手捧着这个小生命，一种纯粹的喜悦感席卷了我。那是一种温暖的催人泪下的感觉，往往发生在人生最伟大的时刻，比如坠入爱河，比如婴儿降生。我真的觉得我的心完完全全地向着我周围静止的万物开启。我不想把这称之为“启示”，但它又千真万确就是——帮助这只小乌龟感觉真是太棒了！可是，为什么会这样？它终究不过是一只乌龟而已，是吧？

然后事情发生了。我终于明白自己顿悟了什么。彼时彼刻，思想的潮水汹涌而至。我走回车里，打开笔记本，写下八个字，事后证明这八个字成为了我的人生转折点：“善生乐”，以及“人生须行善”。这就是我孜孜以求的答案。内心宁静和永远快乐的奥秘就是善。不是“偶尔为之”或简单发发善心，而是变成一种生活方式。以前我已经通过研究许多东方哲学知道了善的妙处，但从没想过要把它变成一种生活方式。

可是，这一天来临了。

就在我小小顿悟完毕的三十分钟后，我和妻子到了原定的目的地，那是一个乡村花园展览所。四处走了一小会儿，一个六十岁左右的慈眉善目的男人在他的农舍门前向我挥手，好像没什么明显的理由。这一幕完全像是老电影中的场景：老旧的摇椅，烘烤糕点的气息，一只看上去和农舍一样老的长毛猫。“让她随意走走，你过来坐坐。”他说。

我不知道将要发生什么，但当我坐进他身旁那张宽大的藤椅里，不由觉得他会对我说些意味深长的话。毕竟，一只乌龟都能改变我的人生，为什么一位睿智的老农不能呢？简单寒暄之后，我们都静静地坐着，阳光温暖地照着脸庞。好像过了一辈子那么久，他终于开口了。“你瞧，”他说，“我常以为，生命的意义是让周围的人过得好一点儿，你说呢？”我哑口无言，好像脑袋上又挨了人生的一记闷棍。他继续跟我说起他理解的“人生奥秘”和“真正的快乐只能从关爱和服务他人中获得”。最后他说：“哦，别忘了……你必须得爱你与之相伴的那个人，就是你自己。”

显然，生活会让我领悟到些什么。随后的几天和几个星期，整个世界在我眼中完全变了模样。我越是研究和验证我的“善生乐”理论，我越是为它那改变人生的力量所倾倒。我发现生活中绝大多数失望都是源于我对别人的不善，尤其是对自己的不善。

花了大半辈子琢磨人生的意义，我的新灵魂咒语变成“我有没有为善？”这个简单的问题改变了我的生活。当我想和妻子争论的时候，当我想对粗鲁的商店售货员训斥的时候，甚至当我想往嘴巴里狂塞饼干的时候，我都会自问：“我有没有为善？”这几个字成为我内心平静的源泉。它在我内心生出许多好的变化，比如循环再利用资源，做环保人士，而且有意识地尊重一切事物。我甚至不再在车库里安置捕鼠器（我妻子要是读到这最后一句可能会杀了我）。另一个大变化是我控制不住地要去做“自然而然的善行”，比如给陌生人买咖啡、把零钱给流浪汉等，这样的行为做起来是那么自然。每个善行都好似一股幸福的能量在我胸膛里汹涌澎湃。但最让人愉快的是对我周围每一个人的强烈的亲切感，尤其是对那些坏脾气的人。不管是粗野无礼的司机，还是食品店排队加塞儿的家伙，我不再觉得焦灼不安或是怒不可遏，我只是希望他们能快乐。当然那是当我明白了人生须行善的真意之后。

所有这一切，都要归功于那天的那只不期而至穿过马路的乌龟。

核心单词

meditation[medi'teiʃən]n.沉思，默想；冥想

cIarity['klæriti]n.清楚；明晰；清澈

epiphany[i'pifəni]n.显现；顿悟

tenaciousIy[ti'neiʃəsli]adv.坚持地；顽强地

eternity[i（：）'tə：niti]n.永远，永恒；来世；永恒的真理

version['və：ʃən]n.译文；译本

mantra['mʌntrə]n.真言；（印度教、大乘佛教中的）祈祷文

spontaneous[spɔn'teinjəs]adj.自发的；无意识的，不由自主的

exhiIarate[ig'ziləreit]v.使振奋；使高兴

实用句型

Not onIy wouId I change my own Iife, but I wouId aIso make a difference in the Iives of others.

我不仅要改变自己的生活，而且要令别人对生活改观。

①not only 放在句首时，第一个句子要部分倒装。

②make a difference 有所区别，类似的表达还有make some difference 有些区别；make no difference没有区别；make all the difference大不相同等。

翻译练习

1.请你明天上午到机场接我。（pick up）

2.学校应该培养学生的责任感。（a sense of）

3.听到汶川糟糕的情况，我忍不住哭了。（could not help）