英国伦敦泰晤士河西岸,有座闻名世界的威斯敏特大教堂,也译作“西敏寺”。 据说该教堂地下室碑林中,有一块朴实无华的无名氏墓碑,常常引来大批游客驻足。碑上铭文如下: When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As i grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change,so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world. 译为中文,略云: 年轻时我曾梦想改变这个世界,但当我成年后,发现这个目标难以实现,只得将目光缩短,决定只改变这个国家。进入暮年后,我发现这个目标也难实现,我的最后愿望仅剩下改变一下我的家庭。然而这也没做到。当行将就木时,我突然意识到:如果一开始我仅仅去改变我自己,做一个榜样,我就有可能改变我的家庭,然后在家人的帮助鼓励下,为国家做一些事情;甚至能改变这个世界,也未可知。 这段碑文,阐述了一条凡事应从自身做起的朴素真理,据说曾启发了许多政要名人,其中就包括南非黑人领袖曼德拉。 在古代中国,这不是连书塾童子都背得滚瓜烂熟的《大学》“八条目”吗?至迟到十四世纪,《大学》作为《四书》之一,已成为中国读书人的启蒙课本。 古之欲明明德(明明德:彰显美善之德)于天下者,先治其国;欲治其国者,先齐其家;欲齐其家者,先修其身;欲修其身者,先正其心;欲正其心者,先诚其意;欲诚其意者,先致其知;致知在格物。 对照西敏寺的碑文,“明明德于天下”不就是“改变这个世界”吗?“治其国”不就是“改变这个国家”吗?“齐其家”就是“改变一下我的家庭”。而“修其身”自然是“改变我自己”“做一个榜样”了。两者恰恰都采取了反推的论述方式,由改变世界的终极目标,反推出修炼自己的起步身姿。这不能不令人猜测,一篇西方碑文与一段东方格言有可能存着某种联系。 不过最先要弄清楚的是:西敏寺中真的有这样一块墓碑吗?——在信息泛滥的时代,人们不能不多个心眼儿。我们知道,西敏寺是英国王室的专属教堂,墓园中长眠着二十几位英王,还安葬着许多“大咖”级英国名人:丘吉尔、克伦威尔、达尔文、牛顿、乔叟、斯宾塞、狄更斯、哈代……能跻身如此“高大上”的墓地,墓碑的主人当然不会是等闲之辈,可为啥不著姓名呢? |
|