【原】贾道长 Jia the Taoist

贾道长

Jia the Taoist

   -资月写于纽约

   By Tao Tai Chi

  “知足是人生在世最大的幸事。”-约瑟夫·艾迪生，英国散文家，诗人，政治家.

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in the world. - Joseph Addison, English essayist, poet and politician.

   这句话使我想起一个住在山洞的百岁道士，他到底是一百多少，我不知道,只知道他很老，很快乐。

This saying reminds me of the story of a one hundred year old Taoist who lives in a cave.  I don’t know how old he is exactly, but I was told that he is very old and happy!   

  几年前的一天，我和两位朋友在中国道教圣地之一武当山顶探寻道家的踪迹，一位公交车司机告诉我们说，如果步行下山，会有机会找到一条小路，一个叫贾爷的百岁道士的山洞就在这条小径旁边。我们决定前往拜访这位贾道长，听说他不接受任何人给他的钱财，我们带了些食物去见他。可是当我们见到他后，他温和，又坚决地要将我们带去的礼物送还给我们。

A few years ago, two friends and I were exploring the traces of Taoism at one of its sacred places in China known as Wu Dang Mountain.  A bus driver told us that if we take a long walk, then we may have a chance to find a very old Taoist who lives in a cave which is close to a trail.  We decided to visit him and bring some food that we bought for him, since we were told that this man known as Taoist Jia won’t accept money from any one.  When we arrived, he gently insisted that he couldn't accept our gifts. 

  他笑迷迷地把食物放到我包里，然后意味深长地说了一句话：“放下了吗？”然后转身进洞拿出一大包的水果，放到我包里，又重复说：“放得下？”.看着这位象哲人一般的老人，我觉得他是在启发我们。来之前，本来我准备要问他很多关于他隐居生活的问题，可是我一瞬间觉得什么都别问了，看着老人住的山洞，不过十平方米左右，除了一尊神像外，只有一张床一个碗，和简单的生活用具。他真的放下了很多不需要的东西，在这里过着他想要的简单而快活的生活！

He smiled at me and placed the food into my bag and said "Let it go".   He went back to the cave and returned with some fruit for all of us and placed some in my bag and once again repeated,  "Let it go".    Looking at this old sage,  I thought that he was trying to inspire us.   I was going to ask him a lot of questions about his life of solitude,  but at that moment I felt it was better not to ask him anything.   I glanced at the cave where he lives, it is just about 150 square feet.   The cave contains everything he needs, a bed,  a bowl, some utensils, and a statue of a Toaist deity.   He really has "let it go" and come to this cave to have his own simple and happy life.    

  当然，绝大部分的人都会觉得住在房子里更舒服，我提起这位老道长的故事，不是说我们都应该住山洞，而是想说---快乐是健康的源泉，无论我们追求什么，挑战什么，大部分的人会在简化的生活中找到快乐。 

Surely, most people will feel it is more comfortable to live in a normal home or house.   The reason why I mention about this Toaist is not that we should live in a cave.   Rather, happiness is the key to wellness and no matter what it is we seek or what the challenges are, we can find happiness in simplifying.   

   很久很久以前，生活在前571年至471年之间的伟大的哲学家和思想家老子在他的“道德经”里说过一句话，叫知足常乐。只不过，老子这句话包含的意义比我们通常想象的更深奥，在他所著的道德经46章里，他提到了过度的欲望。如果人们有了无休止的欲望，会加重自己或者别人的精神负担，进而引起身体及至社会问题，导致各种不平衡，甚至会促使战争频繁爆发，过度的欲望会引起矛盾和渴望。老子不是强调我们应该放弃我们想要追求的物质或者梦想，而是提醒心存满足就会快乐。如果我们拥有懂得什么时候该停止欲望的智慧，才能长久地拥有快乐。

A long time ago, Lao-tzu, an extraordinary Chinese philosopher and thinker who lived during the sixth century B.C wrote about happiness in his book Tao Te Ching: “happiness lies in contentment”. However, this meaning is more profound than we think.  In Chapter 46 of his book "Tao Te Ching", I think that this statement refers to excess.  When we have excess desires, it increases the burdens we place on ourselves and others.  Excess causes sicknesses both in individuals and society, and can even create conflict and war.  Desire creates conflict and longing. Lao-tzu did not state that we should abandon what we seek but reminds us that in happiness is contentment.  We will experience happiness if we have the wisdom of knowing when enough is enough.   

  那天，我站在贾道长住的山洞门口，领会到他对自己简单生活的满足，我理解到我们也可以在简化我们自己的生活中找到快乐。

That day, when I was standing in front of the cave where the Taoist Jia lives, understanding his contentment in his simple lifestyle, I understood that we can find happiness within ourselves in simplicity.  After sayiing farewell to the Taoist Jia, I stood in front of the sacred Taoist palace for quite a while.  

  怀着对这位平和的老人和这片平静圣地的敬重，道别他后，我远远地站在附近一座建于明朝1413年的道教圣殿旁，祈盼能与我的朋友们分享这宁静和谐之气。

In the end, I hoped to achieve this mans tranquility, and a harmonious relationship with my friends and acquaintances.