THE STREETS WERE crowded and the shops were full of things. It was the wealthy part of the town, but in the streets were people of every kind, rich and poor, labourers and office workers. There were men and women from all parts of the world, a few in their native costumes, but most of them dressed in western clothes. There were many cars, new and old, and on that spring morning the expensive ones sparkled with chrome and polish, and the people's faces were bright and smiling. The shops too were full of people, and very few seemed to be aware of the blue sky. The shop windows attracted them, the dresses, the shoes, the new cars, and the displays of food. Pigeons were everywhere, moving in and out among the many feet and between the endless cars. There was a book shop with all the latest books by innumerable authors. The people seemed to have never a care in the world; the war was far away, on another part of the globe. Money, food and work were plentiful, and there was a vast getting and spending. The streets were like canyons between the tall buildings, and there were no trees. It was noisy; there was the strange restlessness of a people who had everything and yet nothing.

街道上人满为患，商店里到处充斥着东西。 这是镇上的富裕区，但街上却有形形色色的人， 富人和穷人，劳工和上班族。 有来自世界各地的男人和女人，有些人穿着他们的本土服装， 但大多数人都穿着西装。很多车，有新车，也有旧车， 在那个春天的早晨，昂贵的车里闪耀着镀铬和光滑的色泽， 人们的脸上明亮而微笑。 商店里也挤满了人，似乎很少有人意识到蓝天。 商店的橱窗吸引了他们： 有服装、鞋子、新车和食品的展示。 鸽子无处不在，在众多的双脚之间和无数的汽车之间进进出出。 有一家书店，里面有数不清的作者的所有的最新的书籍。 人们似乎从来没有关心过这个世界。 战争是遥远的，在地球的另一个地方。 金钱、食品和工作都很丰富，而且有大量的收益和支出。 街道就像高楼之间的峡谷，却没有树。 有的是喧嚣； 这里的人们有一种奇怪的不安，他们拥有一切，却一无所有。

A huge church stood amidst fashionable shops, and opposite it was an equally big bank; both were imposing and apparently necessary. In the vast church a priest in surplice and stole was preaching about the One who suffered for the sake of man. The people knelt in prayer; there were candles, idols and incense. The priest intoned and the congregation responded; at last they rose and went out into the sunlit streets and into the shops with their array of things. Now it was silent in the church; only a few remained, lost in their own thoughts. The decorations, the richly coloured windows, the pulpit, the altar and the candles - everything was there to quiet man's mind.

一座巨大的教堂矗立在时髦的商店中间，对面是一家同样大的银行。 两者都是显著的，显然也是必要的。 在巨大的教堂里，一位穿着白色法衣披着圣带的神父 正在宣讲那位为人类受苦的人。 人们跪着祈祷；有蜡烛、偶像和香。 神父吟咏，大众回音； 最后，他们站起来，走进阳光明媚的街道， 带着他们一系列的东西进入商店。 现在教堂里一片寂静。 只剩下少数人，迷失在自己的思想中。 雕饰品、色彩缤纷的窗户、讲坛、祭坛和蜡烛 —— 一切都在那里，以使人的头脑安静。

Is God to be found in churches, or in our hearts? The urge to be comforted breeds illusion; it is this urge which creates churches, temples and mosques. We get lost in them, or in the illusion of an omnipotent State, and the real thing goes by. The unimportant becomes all-consuming. Truth, or what you will, cannot be found by the mind; thought cannot go after it; there is no path to it; it cannot be bought through worship, prayer or sacrifice. If we want comfort, consolation, we shall have it in one way or another; but with it come further pain and misery. The desire for comfort, for security, has the power to create every form of illusion. It is only when the mind is still that there is a possibility of the coming into being of the real.

上帝是在教堂里发现的，还是在我们的心里？ 被安慰的冲动，滋生出幻觉； 正是这种冲动创造了教堂、寺庙和清真寺。 我们迷失在其中，或迷失在无所不能的天国的幻觉中，而真实的东西消逝了。 不重要的东西，就变得令人着迷。 真理，不管怎么称呼它，是不能被头脑找到的； 思想无法追求它；没有通往它的路径； 它不能通过崇拜、祈祷或牺牲来采购。 如果我们想要舒服、安慰，我们将以这样或那样的方式得到它。 但随之而来的是进一步的痛苦和伤痛。 对舒适、对安全的渴望，具有创造各种幻觉的能力。 头脑只有停下， 才可能让真实呈现。

There were several of us, and B. began by asking whether it is not necessary to have help if we are to understand this whole messy problem of life. Should there not be a guide, an illumined being who can show us the true path? "Have we not sufficiently gone into all that during these many years?" asked S. "I for one am not seeking a guru or a teacher." "If you are really not seeking help, then why are you here?" insisted B. "Do you mean to say that you have put away all desire for guidance?"

我们有几个人，B首先问， 如果我们要理解整个混乱的生活问题， 是否有必要得到帮助。 难道不应该有一个向导，一个能够向我们展示真理道路的明星吗？ “这些年来，我们难道没有充分研究过这一切吗？ ” S问道， “我个人不是在寻求上师或老师。” “如果你真的不寻求帮助，那你为什么在这里？” B坚持说， “你的意思是说你已经放下了对所有指导的渴望吗？”

"No, I don't think I have, and I would like to explore this urge to seek guidance or help. I do not now go window-shopping, as it were, running to the various teachers, ancient and modem, as I once did; but I do need help, and I would like to know why. And will there ever be a time when I shall no longer need help?" "Personally I would not be here if there were no help available from anyone," said M. "I have been helped on previous occasions and that is why I am here now. Even though you have pointed out the evils of following, sir, I have been helped by you, and I shall continue to come to your talks and discussions often as I can."

“不，我不这样认为， 我想探索这种寻求指导或帮助的冲动。 我现在不再像以前那样去逛橱窗， 跑去找各种各样的老师们，无论是古代的还是现代的，就像我曾经做过的那样； 但我确实需要帮助，我想知道为什么。 是否有那么一天，我再也不需要帮助？” “就我个人而言，如果没有任何人的帮助，我就不会在这里，” M说， “我以前也得到过帮助，这就是为什么我现在在这里。 尽管你已经指出了追随的罪恶，先生， 我得到了你的帮助， 我将继续尽可能多地参加你的会谈和讨论。”

Are we seeking evidence of whether we are being helped or not? A doctor, the smile of a child or of a passer-by, a relationship, a leaf blown by the wind, a change of climate, even a teacher, a guru - all these things can help. There is help everywhere for a man who is alert; but many of us are asleep to everything about us except to a particular teacher or book, and that is our problem. You pay attention when I say something, do you not? But when someone else says the same thing, perhaps in different words, you become deaf. You listen to one whom you consider to be the authority, and are not alert when others speak.

我们是否在寻找：我们是不是得到了帮助的证据？ 一个医生，一个孩子或一个路人的微笑，一段关系， 一片被风吹动的叶子，气候的某个变化，甚至一个老师，一个导师 —— 所有这些都可以提供帮助。 对于一个警觉的人来说，到处都有帮助； 但是我们中的许多人除了对特定的老师或书本之外，对我们所有的一切都睡着了， 这就是我们的问题。 当我说的时候，你会注意，不是吗？ 但是，当别人说出同样的话，也许使用不同的词语，你就变聋了。 你听一个你认为是权威的人，而别人说的时候，你就不警觉。

"But I have found that what you say generally has significance," replied M. "So I listen to you attentively. When another says something it is often a mere platitude, a dull response - or perhaps I myself am dull. The point is, it helps me to listen to you, so why shouldn't I? Even if everyone insists that I am merely following you, I shall still come as often as I can manage it."

“但我发现你说的话通常都有意义，” M回答说， “所以我认真地听你说话。 当另一个人说某事时，它通常只是陈词滥调，一种沉闷的反应 —— 或者也许我自己很沉闷。 关键在于，它帮助我倾听你，所以我为什么不呢？ 即使每个人都坚持认为我只是在追随你， 我仍然会尽可能多地来参与。”

Why are we open to help from one particular direction, and closed to every other direction? Consciously or unconsciously you may give me your love, your compassion, you may help me to understand my problems; but why do I insist that you are the only source of help, the only saviour? Why do I build you up as my authority? I listen to you, I am attentive to everything you say, but I am indifferent or deaf to the statement of another. Why? Is this not the issue?

为什么我们在某个特定的方向敞开帮助，却关闭了其他的方向？ 你可能有意识或无意识地给予了我你的爱，你的慈悲， 你可能帮助我理解了我的问题； 但是，为什么我坚持认为你是唯一的帮助来源，唯一的救世主呢？ 我为什么要把你竖立成我的权威？ 我听你的，我注意你说的每一句话， 但我对另一个人的陈述无动于衷或充耳不闻。为什么？ 这不是问题所在吗？

"You are not saying that we should not seek help," said I. "But you are asking us why we give importance to the one who helps, making of him our authority. Isn't that it?"

“你没有说我们不应该寻求帮助，” 我说， “但你在问我们， 为什么我们重视这个帮助的人，把他变成为了我们的权威。是吗？”

I am also asking why you seek help. When one seeks help, what is the urge behind it? When one consciously, deliberately sets about seeking help, that one wants, or an escape, a consolation? What is it that we are seeking? "There are many kinds of help," said B. "From the domestic servant to the most eminent surgeon, from the high school teacher to the greatest scientist, they all give some kind of help. In any civilization help is necessary, not only the ordinary kind, but also the guidance of a spiritual teacher who has attained enlightenment and helps to bring order and peace to man."

我也在问你为什么寻求帮助。 当一个人寻求帮助时，背后的冲动是什么？ 当一个人有意识地、故意地开始寻求帮助时， 那个人想要的，是一种逃避，一种安慰吗？ 我们在寻求什么？ “有很多种帮助，” B说， “从家庭服务人员到最杰出的外科医生， 从高中老师到最伟大的科学家，他们都给予了某种帮助。 在任何文明中，帮助都是必要的，不仅是普通的， 而且有精神导师的指导， 他已经觉悟，并有助于为人类带来秩序与和平。”

Please let us put aside generalities and consider what guidance or help means to each one of us. Does it not mean the resolving of individual difficulties, pains, sorrows? If you are a spiritual teacher, or a doctor, I come to you in order to be shown a happy way of life, or to be cured of some disease. We seek a way of life from the enlightened man, and knowledge or information from the learned. We want to achieve, we want to be successful, we want to be happy so we look for a pattern of life which will help us to attain what we desire, sacred or profane. After trying many other things, we think of truth as the supreme goal, the ultimate peace and happiness, and we want to attain it; so we are on the lookout to find what we desire. But can desire ever make its way to reality? Does not desire for something, however noble, breed illusion? And as desire acts, does it not set up the structure of authority, imitation and fear? This is the actual psychological process, is it not? And is this help, or self-deception?

请让我们抛开一般性， 考虑一下指导或帮助对我们每个人意味着什么。 这难道不意味着解决个人的困难、痛苦、悲伤吗？ 如果你是一个精神导师，或者一个医生， 我来找你，是为了得到一个快乐的生活方式，或者治愈某种疾病。 我们从觉悟的人那里寻求一种生活方式， 从有学问的人那里寻求知识或信息。 我们想要达成，我们想成功，我们想要快乐， 所以我们寻找一种生活模式， 这将有助于我们获取我们想要的东西，无论是神圣的还是世俗的。 在尝试了许多其他方式之后， 我们认为真理是最高的目标，是最终的和平与快乐， 我们想要获得它；因此，我们正在寻找我们想要的东西。 但是，欲望能现实它吗？ 难道不正是对某种东西的渴望，无论这个东西有多么的高尚，滋生出幻觉吗？ 当欲望在起作用时，它难道没有建立权威、模仿和恐惧的框架吗？ 这是实际的心理过程，不是吗？这是帮助，还是在自欺？

"I am having the greatest difficulty not to be persuaded by what you say!" exclaimed B. "I see the reason, the significance of it. But I know you have helped me, and am I to deny that?"

“我最大的困难就是不被你的话说服！” B喊道， “我看到了原因，它的意义。 但我知道你帮助了我，我能否认吗？”

If someone has helped you and you make of him your authority, then are you not preventing all further help, not only from him, but from everything about you? Does not help lie about you everywhere? Why look in only one direction? And when you are so enclosed so bound, can any help reach you? But when you are open, there is unending help in all things, from the song of a bird to the call of a human being, from the blade of grass to the immensity of the heavens. The poison and corruption begin when you look to one person as your authority, your guide, your saviour. This is so, is it not?

如果有人帮助了你，而你把他当作你的权威， 那么你难道不是在阻止所有的、进一步的帮助吗 —— 那帮助不仅来源于他，而且来源于与你相关的一切？ 帮助难道不就在你的周围吗？为什么只寻求某一个方向的帮助？ 当你如此地自我封闭，帮助能够碰到你吗？ 但当你敞开心扉时，一切事物都在提供无尽的帮助， 从鸟儿的歌声到人类的呼唤， 从草叶到天空的浩渺。 当你把一个人看作你的权威、你的向导、你的救世主时， 毒药和腐败的种子已经萌生。 正是这样，不是吗？

"I think I understand what you are saying," said I. "But my difficulty is this. I have been a follower, a seeker of guidance for many years. When you point out the deeper significance of following, intellectually I agree with you, but there is a part of me that rebels. Now, how can I integrate this inward contradiction so that I shall no longer follow?"

“我想我明白你在说什么，” 我说， “但我的困难是这个。多年来，我一直是一个追随者，一个寻求指导的人。 当你指出追随的更深刻意义时， 理智上我同意你的看法，但我的某一个部分在抗拒。 现在，我怎样才能整合这个内在的矛盾，使我不再追随呢？”

Two opposing desires or impulses cannot be integrated and when you introduce a third element which is the desire for integration, you only complicate the problem, you do not resolve it. But when you see the whole significance of asking help, of following authority, whether it be the authority of another, or of your own self-imposed pattern, then that very perception puts an end to all following.

两种对立的欲望或冲动是无法整合的， 当你引入第三者 —— 整合的欲望时， 你只会使问题复杂化，却无法解决它。 但是，当你看到寻求帮助、追随权威的全部意义时， 无论是他人的权威，还是你自己强加的模式， 那么这种感知，就结束了所有的追随。