威廉.詹姆斯的《信仰的意愿》(The Will to Believe)一文是针对科学实证主义者对宗教信仰的挑战所作出的回应。詹姆斯认为,在进行科学研究时我们确实不能相信未经过验证的结论,但信仰不同,它并不受科学实证的制约,也就是说,“千方百计要避免谬误,只要有一丝怀疑都不能下定论”,科学主义这种信条并不是信仰的义务和责任。那么这样一来人不是什么都可以信了?比如“独角马”这种想像里合成出来的产物存在也成了可信的。为防止这种混乱,威廉.詹姆斯把“信还是不信”这个门槛定得很高,必须同时满足三个条件:
好莱坞影片《细细的红线》上映于1998年,是一部描写二战时期在太平洋战场上,一个连队与日军争夺瓜达康纳尔岛(Guadalcanal)的控制权的故事。 本片与《拯救大兵瑞恩》、《美丽人生》(Life is becautiful)一道角逐1999年度的奥斯卡最佳影片奖,但最佳影片却出人意外的颁给了《萨翁情史》。 点击看大图
"Why does nature vie with itself, the land contend with the sea?" "Is there an avenging power in nature? not one power but two?"
"I remember my mother when she was dying. I asked her if she was afraid. She just shook her head. I was afraid to touch the death seen in her. I couldn't find nothing beautiful or up lifting about her going back to God. I heard people talk about immortality, but I ain't seen it."
"I wonder how it'd be when I died. What it'd be like to know that this breath now was the last one you was ever gonna draw. I just hope i can meet it the same way she did, with the same calm. "
其次是身教,即自己也必须行得正,做到传习合一。对此我有个深刻的教训值得分享,有一次在绘画课上我女儿问她的老师:你为什么这么胖,是不是吃了好多垃圾食品(why are you so fat? did you eat a lot of junk food?)。后来当另一位老师告诉我这件事时,我很想在地上挖个洞钻进去。然而我却不能怪女儿,首先因为她太小,口无遮拦,不懂得什么话不可以讲。但最重要的是我们自己在饭桌上总笑话美国胖子,并且经常用junk food来形容美国食品之劣,孩子都听到耳朵里去了。这次事件使我们不再用junk这样的词,改用“unhealthy”之类的euphemism,也不敢再提胖子的事。
我曾一度有种感觉好像有天理这种东西存在,即天理是一种宇宙实体(当然不是物理实体),一种存在。但没过多久就否定了这种想法,因为实在是没有根据,也就是说“天理”之说实在是很渺茫。但就没有更好的解释了吗?我想到了宇宙的自然规律这个东西。没人会否定宇宙的自然规律的存在,我们千真万确地知道整个宇宙就是在这个规律的掌控下运行的,能不能以这个做个起点?为了方便讨论,将这个宇宙的自然规律称之为“The Law of Existence”。
如果审视我们的存在,不难看到,不是别的,正是“The Law of Existence”(以下简称“The Law”)允许了我们的存在。“The Law”本身是“和谐”的-宇宙是稳定的,天体在“The Law”的掌控下有序地运行;具体到我们这个星球,阳光雨露、山河湖海、草木植被、飞禽走兽,这一切的生存环境是和谐有序的。因此,“The Law”成就了我们盼望得到的生存原则-“和谐地存在”。虽然这一切可能是无意中造就的,但对于我们人类来说却是“有意”的,从人的角度来说,我们似乎可以说:“The Law”对于人是“道德”的。
所以关键是要打破“活着是天经地义的事”这个定式,质问自己这样一个问题:“我怎么会存在的?”,只要意识到“我”之存在是一件不平凡的事,是一件极不可能发生却发生了的事,才知道“我”之“被允许存在”是一种特权(privilege)。由于得到了这种特权,那么维护道德 ,或曰维护“和谐地存在”就成为人的必然使命。因为You are essentially promoting your own existence,或抽象地说,成为宇宙的“维护”者。
他尖锐地指出:A culture that just views a pig as a pile of protoplasmic inanimate structure to be manipulated by whatever creative design that humans can foist on that critter, will probably view individuals within its community and other cultures in the community of nations with the same type of disdain, disrespect and controlling-type mentality."(这种把猪随便摆弄的文化,对本社区和其他国家的人也会持同样傲慢的心态)
这位农场主被孟山都起诉,还没上法庭就已经花了$400,000,官司要上法庭还需要$1M,只好庭外和解。他气愤地说:"The way the system appeared to work to me was Lady Justice had the scales, and you piled cash on the scales. And the one that piled the most cash on the scales, hired the most experts and was most willing to tell the biggest lies, that was the winner. That seems to be how our justice system functions now. It's terrible. How can a farmer defend himself against a multinational corporation like Monsanto?(简单地翻:八字衙门朝南开,有理无钱莫进来?)
农民很无奈,如果不和孟山都打交道,就无种可种:"In the case of Monsanto, their control is so dominant. If you want to be in production agriculture, you're gonna be in bed with Monsanto. They own the soybean."
关于消费者知情权法案(SB-63)的辩论:正方:It simply requires that all foods that are cloned must be labeled as cloned foods. These cloned animals are a fundamentally new thing. But I find it incredible that the FDA not only wants to allow the sale of meat from cloned animals without further research, but also wants to allow the sale of this meat without any labeling. (克隆技术食品必须加标签) 反方:The reason that we are concerned with labeling is it creates unnecessary fear in a consumer's mind. Until the industry has an opportunity to educate why we want to use this technology and the value of the technology, we don't feel that consumers just having a warning label will help them. (消费者没必要知道,会引起不必要的恐慌)
目前,健康食品比junk food贵,政府必须在policy level做出改变,make carrots better deal than chips
- You can vote to change this system, Three times a day - Buying from companies that treat works, animals, and the environment with respect - When you go to supermarket, choose foods that are in season, Buy food that are organic. Know what's in your food, by reading labels- The average food travels 1500 miles from the farm to the supermarket, buy food that are grown locally. Shop at the Farmer's Markets. Plan a garden - Ask your school board to provide healthy school lunches - The FDA and USDA are supposed to protect you and your family. Tell congress to enforce Food Safety standars, and reintroduce Kevin's Law - You can change the world with every bite.
看来日常的文件备份是个非常重要的课题,比如,作为生活中最珍贵的记念-家人的文稿,照片和录像,除了计算机中的硬盘里,还应有单独的外部备份,比如拷到DVD光盘或External Hard Drive。为了避免火灾、水灾、地震等意外事件,最好是在国内家人处,或信得过的朋友处也留个备份,以防万一。当然云备份更好,如果你能找到足够大的空间。下面仅介绍一个备份万维博文的简单方法。我这是病刚好就开诊所呀,嘿嘿。
然后会弹出这个窗口,这个窗口一弹出来,备份就开始了。马上按"Pause"键暂停,然后把你的备份范围缩小到你自己的博客范围(目录)之内,即:选择Restrict to Directory(http://blog.creaders.net/[yourname]),我用这色箭头帮你标出来了。注意,这步如果省略的话,软件就会把主页上所有的链接都备份下来,既无必要又浪费时间。
What's the source of human grief, lamentation, pain and agony? Is it not to be found in the worldly attachments that people possess?
People cling obstinately to lives of wealth and honor, comfort and pleasure, excitement and self-indulgence; ignorant of the fact that the desire for these very things is the source of human suffering.
From its very beginning, the world has been filled with a succession of calamities. Over and above these calamities are the unavoidable hardships of illness, old age and death. In such circumstances, it is natural that pain and suffering should exist.
But if one carefully considers all of these, it will become clear that the basis of all suffering lies in the principle of desire for physical objects. If the ties of worldly attachments can be severed then human suffering will disappear without trace.
Day 13
The concept of universal oneness - that all things in their essential nature have no distinguishing characteristics - is called Śūnyatā. Śūnyatā means non-substantiality, the un-born, having no self-nature, no duality. It is because things in themselves have no form or characteristics that we can speak of them as neither being born or being destroyed. There is nothing about the essential nature of all things that can be described in terms of discrimination; that is why things are called non-substantial.
All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing can ever exist entirely alone; rather, all things exist in relation to everything else.
Whenever there is a light, there is shadow; whenever there is length, there is shortness; whenever there is white, there is a black. Just like these examples, the essential nature of the things cannot exist alone and is hence non-substantial.
Day 14
Behind the desires and worldly passions which the mind entertains, there abides clear and undefiled, the fundamental and true essence of mind.
Water is round in a round receptacle and square in a square one, but water of itself has no particular shape. Most people remain unaware of this fact.
People are caught in the entanglements of discriminating between good and bad; choosing between things they like and dislike; find agreeable and disagreeable; and thinking whether things exist or do no exist. People become attached with this way of thinking and as a result, suffer.
If it were only possible for them to serve the attachments to these imaginary and false discrimination and restore the original purity of their minds, then their minds and bodies would become free of suffering and they would know the peacefulness that comes with that freedom.
Day 18
Those who follow the path to Enlightenment must remove all self-pride and be humbly willing to accept the light of the Buddha's teachings. No amount of treasures of gemstones and precious metals can compare with the gifts of wisdom and virtue.
The enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family and to bring peace to all, one must first discipline one's own mind. Wisdom and virtue will naturally come to those who have the desire to follow the path and the ability to discipline their minds.
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds and wisdom is through the board maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom to illuminate the correct path, and the guidance of virtue to help point the way.
The Buddha's teaching which tells us how to eliminate the three poisons of greed, anger and foolishness is a good teaching; and those who follow it will attain the happiness of joyful life.
Day 25
There are three methods of practice that must be followed by all those who seek Enlightenment:
Precepts for behavior
Correct concentration of mind
wisdom
What are the precepts for behavior? As a man and as a follower of the path, one should follow the precepts for good behavior controlling both mind and body and guarding the gates of the five senses. One should be afraid of committing even the slightest evil and always endeavor to practice good deeds.
What is meant by correct concentration of mind? It means to develop the ability to quickly overcome and eliminate greedy and evil desires as they arise and to keep the mind pure and tranquil.
What is wisdom? It is the ability to perfectly understand what constitutes the end of suffering; and to know of and follow the Noble Path that leads to the end of suffering.
Those who follow these three methods of practice can be truly called disciples of the Buddha.
Day 26
The element of the Noble Eightfold Path are :
Right View: to thoroughly understand the Four Holy Truths of Suffering, to believe in the Law of Cause and Effect and not to be misled by appearances and desires.
Right Thought: the resolution not to cherish desires; not to be greedy; not to be angry; and not to do any harmful deed.
Right Speech: to avoid lying, idle talk, abuse and hypocrisy.
Right Behavior: not to destroy any life; not to steal; and not to commit adultery.
Right livelihood: to avoid any way of life that would bring shame
Right Effort: to make diligent and unending efforts in the right direction
Right Mindfulness: to maintain a pure and deeply thoughtful mind
Right Concentration: to train the mind to remain tranquil in its search for wisdom, seeking to realize the mind's true essence.
Day 28
"He abused me; he laughed at me; he struck me." As long as one thinks in this way, one's anger will continue.
Anger can never be stilled by more angry thoughts. Only when anger and resentment are forgotten will that anger be stilled.
Rain will leak into the house if the roof of a house is improperly made. or is in disrepair. In such a way, greed enters a mind that is improperly trained or uncontrolled.
Idleness is the road to death; true diligence is the road of life. Those who are foolish are idle, those wise are diligent.
As an arrow-maker makes all effort to produce straight arrows, wise men seek to keep their minds on a undeviating course.
The mind that is forever active and easily disturbed is hard to control, but by controlling the mind one can find true peace.
It is a man's own mind, rather than his enemy or foe that lures him into evil ways.
The person who protects his mind from greed, anger and all evil ways is the one who will enjoy real and everlasting peace.
Day 30
The avoid all evil; to perform good; and to keep the mind pure; this is the essence of the Buddha's teaching.
Endurance is one of the most difficult of disciplines, but it is to one who endures that the final victory comes.
One must banish resentment when feeling resentful; banish sorrow when in the midst of sorrow; banish greed when steeped in greed. To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.
To be healthy is the greatest advantage; to be contented with what one has is the greatest wealth; to be considered reliable is the greatest mark of friendship; and to attain Enlightenment is the greatest happiness.
When one dislikes evil, feels tranquility, and finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; and when one finds appreciation in these aspects, it is at that time that one is free from fear.
Do not become attached to things you like; nor maintain aversion toward things you dislike. It is from these likes and dislikes that sorrow, fear and bondage arise.
Day 31
Wisdom is the best guide; faith is the best companion. One must try to escape from the darkness of ignorance and seek the light of wisdom and Enlightenment.
Those those minds and bodies are disciplined in accordance with the teachings will gain freedom and peace. Faith will then be their wealth, sincerity will give their lives sweet savor, and to accumulate virtues will be their sacred task.
During the journey of life, faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is light by day, and correct thoughts are protection at night. if a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him; if he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.
One should forget one's self for the sake of one's family; forget one's family for the sake of one's village; forget one's village for the same of one's nation; and forget everything for the sake of Enlightenment.
All is in transition, everything that appears proceeds inevitably towards extinction. There can be no blissful peace until one transcends the repeating agony of life and death.
灯景固然漂亮,但并非第一次见到,也决非独此一家,留下印象最深的是园子里无处不闻的圣诞歌声。说来也怪,来美国也十多年了,那些耳熟能详的圣诞歌曲,无论是少儿版关于圣诞老人的那些,还是那些古典的,年年听,却常听常新,百听不厌。然而,只有这次旅行才真正地全身投入了节日的氛围中,灯影歌声之际,圣诞节的感觉从来没这么真切过,我的语言描述苍白,如果不身临其境,难以体会。印象中万维网友不少住在 DC Metro,那Busch Gardens Christmas Town真是个不应错过的好去处。
以下视频是Christmas Town中最好的现场表演 "Rejoice",主题是耶稣的诞生。第一首歌《when a child is born》是第一次听(歌名还是后来从网上找到的),有一种莫名的感动。其实演唱水平很一般,但现场气氛凝重,和在网上看视频的感觉是截然不同的。另一个打动我的地方是这个Show的舞台表现,整场就是这么一队僧人把手揣在大袖中走来走去,边唱着圣歌。决无任何华丽的布景,奇巧和舞步,但就是这种简洁却好像有一种神圣的力量,令人想拜倒在耶稣的脚下。
每次去Walmart或Target,都会到DVD的柜台上看一眼,那里总有$5的DVD出售,虽然绝大多数是滥片,间或也能挖出好东西来,二十次会有一次吧。比如曾发现了《GoodFellas》、《Seven》、《Sense and Sensability》这些经典电影。《屋顶上的提琴手》也是这么找到的,看后是喜出望外。
上集主要讲大女儿的婚姻:当时犹太人的婚姻完全由父母作主(和中国旧社会一样),Tevye的老婆想把大女儿嫁给有钱人屠夫Wolf,Tevye也和屠夫Wolf达成了协议。但大女儿却与青梅竹马的穷裁缝私定终身,苦求父亲不要牺牲自己的幸福,父亲Tevye经过思想斗争,父爱战胜了对金钱的欲望,成全了女儿的婚事。就这么一个极其简单的,看似老掉牙了的故事,却拍得妙趣横生,编导确实做到了化腐朽为神奇。 以下这段歌曲《If I were a rich man》是这部电影最有名的一个唱段,曲调优美,表演激情饱满,歌词风趣,连我的小女儿都特别爱听。
2:10,婚礼仪式开始,主题唱曲《Sunrise Sunset》,歌词点此,这是我最喜欢的一段唱段,任何已做了父母的人都可以理解其中饱含的深情,(父亲)“What words of wisdom can I give them? How can I help to ease their way?”,(母亲)“Now they must learn from one another,Day by day”。听到这样的歌词,就算不是处在当时那个苦难的时代背景,您的心里难道不会沉一下吗?
这段演讲给我印象最深之处不是那个用得恰得好处的比喻:"when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall",也不是那句掷地有声的"he won't sell anybody out to buy his future!",而是这句"I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it, you know why, it was too damn hard"。每每将生活中的事以这句话作对照的时候,我都发现这真是一条颠扑不破的真理。
再看国家,美国现在债台高筑,却还没破产,这是由于还有人不断地输血,用新债还旧债。那么理论上存在这么一种可能,忽然没有人再愿意借钱给美国,已有的债务陆续到期而国库又无钱可还。如果这一天真的来了,即所谓“moment of truth",这个国家的本来面目就会真正地显露出来。老老实实加税,过苦日子,还债是正路,但这样的政策会不会获得支持?还是对外转嫁危机,亦或是拿出传言中的杀手锏-印票子。美国这个被认为是占据了道德制高点的国家在这件事上会如何收场,是我很好奇的一件事。
可见,走正路难,走斜道方便,小到个人,中到团体,大到国家,莫不如此。我常听到这种说法:这是个价值观失落的年代。其实,什么是对的什么是错的,不是从来就明明白白地写在人心上吗?只是我们鲜少真正去执行。 那我们为什么不情愿做正确的事呢,不就是象弗兰克所说的,“it's too dame hard"嘛!
As I came in here, I heard those words: cradle of leadership. Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and it has fallen here, it has fallen. Makers of men, creators of leaders, be careful what kind of leaders you're producin' here.
I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong, I'm not a judge or jury, but I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that my friends is called integrity, that's called courage. Now, that's the stuff leaders should be made of.
Now I have come to crossroads in my life, I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it, you know why, it was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie, he's come to the crossroads, he has chosen a path. It's the right path, it's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee, it's a valuable future, believe me. Don't destroy it, protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make you proud one day, I promise you.