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艾克哈特‧托爾 (Eckhart Tolle)的《當下的力量》 (The Power of Now)已經賣出了五百萬本,而且這本在十年前出版的書,還繼續與他的近作《新境界:生命意義的覺醒》 (A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose)一起占據紐約時報暢銷書榜的前列位置。由此可見這位「心靈導師」在美國受歡迎的程度。
托爾的走紅,與脫口秀女王歐普拉‧溫芙蕾有很大關係。《當下的力量》出版於1997年,溫芙蕾在2000年和2002年兩度介紹此書,說它是重要的心靈著作。到了本月初,她又把《新境界》選進她的讀書會閱讀名單;為了推介此書,她還與托爾合作,連續十周在網上辦心靈課程,每逢周一直播,由她和托爾對談。
托爾宣揚的到底是些什麼心靈覺醒的思想?他所說的,其實很簡單,他的主要觀念是:活在當下,當人真正能夠活在當下時,好的事情就會出現 (例如平靜、愉快、去除煩惱)。(對於知道佛道兩家思想的華人讀者來說,這些一點也不陌生。)
為什麼可以達到平靜和去除煩惱的心境?托爾認為,人的意識是當下的 (一剎那一剎那的持續);我們回憶過去和思考未來,其實都是「在現在中」思考過去和未來,所以只要我們能夠放下過去和未來,投降給現在,就不會再為過去和未來擔憂煩惱,卻可以在現在中找到專注平靜。
在《當下的力量》中,托爾還說到,人的自我 (ego)其實是一種永不滿足和不斷追求的慾望,而不斷的慾望又是毀滅性的力量,因此唯有放下慾望,不去追求,集中於當下,我們的心靈才會變得平靜愉快。
《當下的力量》和《新境界》都是小書(分別只有二、三百多頁),網上所載的讀後感普遍批評說,托爾來來去去只是重覆「活在當下」的觀念,這個觀念又不新鮮,書裏更未能提供具體可行、讓人進入當下的途徑。
筆者認為,上述的批評是有道理的,因為凡是涉及心靈的文字,都是個人的感受,要從文字過渡到感受,本來就很困難;禪宗早就說過不立文字的話,儒家的王陽明按照朱子所說的話去「格物」,就一直找不到途徑。
雖然如此,托爾所說的「活在當下」,仍是一種智慧,因為只要我們真的試著去放下過去和未來,不為過去的事和還未發生的未來之事而煩惱,把注意力放在眼前的事物上,我們就會出現很大的轉變--從「思慮過去和未來」變為「嘗試進入當下」。雖然我們仍然可能找不到進入當下的辦法,但是在不斷嘗試進入當下的情況下,我們對生活的態度就已經有了改變。
例如,在活在當下的意識驅使下,我們在做事時就會盡力排除心中的一切思慮困擾,把精神集中於眼前的一件工作上,這樣當然有助我們把事情做好。又如在寫作和閱讀時,活在當下的意識會讓我們專注於眼前的寫讀,這樣也必然有助提高寫讀的效果;再如待人接物時,活在當下的意識可讓我們把注意力放在別人身上,這樣也必然有助了解和溝通。(世界日報,3.28.2008)
本網誌刊登之內容為作者個人自行提供上傳,不代表 World Journal 立場。
留言
一句「活在當下」竟還可以大賣五百萬本,可見人心多迷惘,大家真不開心啊。
發表: 花輪 | March 28, 2008 03:42 PM
活在當下, yes, because I am a half century old now.
發表: Anonymous | March 28, 2008 03:53 PM
華裔喜歡擔心將來,一直在想將來如何如何,年輕的想著將來學成和事業有成,就好生活,為人父母的,則老是望下一代長大,以致都忘了自己眼前的生活。趕快去生活,確是至理。
發表: 趕快活 | March 28, 2008 06:59 PM
I am also fifty-something. But recently I discover that if I could live until eighty-something, that means I still have 30 more years. That's a lot. That almost equals to a life. Think about how much you gained when you were from 20 to 50.
發表: half-century old | March 28, 2008 07:08 PM
老美真是天真,歐普拉叫他們做什麼他們就做什麼,所以才有五百萬本。難怪歐巴瑪那麼多人支持,因為歐脫口叫他們把票投給歐巴瑪。
發表: 五百萬本 | March 28, 2008 07:14 PM
think about how much you gained when you were from 20 to 50.;;;;;;/////I gained wisdoms. some of them gained from mistakes and frustrations. Life should be better and better to everybody.
發表: Life must be better when old | March 28, 2008 09:39 PM
真是要活在當下啊·!我有幾個朋友年紀輕輕就開始儲蓄,然後成家立室,供書教學,營營役役幾十年,等到退休,正準備來享受一下,卻忽然得了不治之症(有一位更是退休後第三天就跌倒在街頭,去了,還未拿第一個月的退休金呢!),要玩都沒有機會了。人生真的不是一切在自己掌握和規劃之中的,有什麼想做的事要盡快去做,不要等,命運大神是不會等我們的。此外更要珍惜眼前人!
發表: Emily | March 28, 2008 11:46 PM
I wanna bau er nai...
發表: Anonymous | March 28, 2008 11:58 PM
Don't ruin your da nai's life. It's not fair.
發表: advisor | March 29, 2008 08:38 AM
I've never like Oprah Winfrey. Not even once could I stick to her show. It's very 無聊. Why is she so popular?
發表: winfrey | March 29, 2008 01:07 PM
This talk show hostess has knowledge, intelligence and sense of humor when hosting th e show.
發表: I watched her show before. | March 29, 2008 01:40 PM
希望大家都能尊重這個能夠讓大家暢所欲言的地盤,但暢所欲言也不表示可以隨便說話侮辱別人,更不應以為不寫真姓名別人不知你是誰就胡言亂語。不尊重別人的人又怎能尊重自己呢?不尊重自己的人又怎能算是人呢?
說來好像很勞氣,實則我並沒有動氣,只是希望大家能珍惜一個有質素的留言地。
發表: Emily | March 29, 2008 10:14 PM
It's one of those "now" philosophy, which is careless for tomorrow and about others.
發表: don't do it | March 29, 2008 10:38 PM
Oprah Winfrey supports Barak Obama. I don't like Obama and thus I don't like Oprah. They all have strange names. Whether it's color purple or color brown, I like white.
發表: Anonymous | March 29, 2008 10:53 PM
對啊!暢所欲言不等於胡言亂語。我喜歡看有貭素的留言,除了學到許多不同知識外,也得到了分享不同意見的楽趣。
發表: Catherine | March 29, 2008 11:11 PM
If Obama were white he would look like a handsome guy. I suggest he do as Michael Jackson did - bleach his skin. He would attract more white voters if he did.
發表: Anonymous | March 30, 2008 12:34 AM
One time the TV Guide composed a picture of Oprah head on Ann Margreat's body. She sued for discrimination and won.
發表: Anonymous | March 30, 2008 12:37 AM
Work hard now for a better tomorrow cause without money, there is no tomorrow.
發表: Joy for Tomorrow | March 30, 2008 12:50 AM
It is the IS, not WAS, or WILL BE, that counts. Without NOW there will be no tromorrow.
發表: now | March 30, 2008 12:54 AM
我是活在當下. 我每天典當過日子.
發表: pawn | March 30, 2008 01:26 AM
美國不希望中國統一. 常用中國威脅論, 為軍售臺灣鋪路.
發表: DPP | March 30, 2008 01:52 AM
人生就是這樣矛盾。拼了命賺錢為明天,但到頭來有了錢,卻沒有明天!
發表: JoJo | March 30, 2008 04:35 AM
It's now or never,
come hold me tight,
kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight.
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never,
my love won't wait.
發表: no tomorrow | March 30, 2008 07:05 AM
大馬曾經周游列國, 到一個滿地生瓜的地方,但吃多了拉肚子,所以那個地方就叫 "瓜地馬拉"。
發表: 馬上 | March 30, 2008 11:57 AM
Elvis' song is good...It's now or never. But the thing is: now and love are things only for the young. As for the aged, "now" only means weak body, without much hope, or money, or passion.
發表: Elvis | March 30, 2008 12:47 PM
Elvis, you died from drug overdose, just because you wanted to keep being "young and now".
發表: nono | March 30, 2008 01:01 PM
為了不捨young and now而用藥自殺,這個看法有意思。不許人間見白頭。
不過,不想見白頭,說穿了還是逃避,不敢面對。如果不想死,還是要面對,釜底抽薪之計還是在面對年老中找到young and now。
發表: On Elvis | March 30, 2008 01:22 PM
其實要活在當下,忘記過去是比較容易做得到的,但要消除心中所有慾望,不憂慮將來,就比較難以做到,所以普通人都難達到心境平静愉快的境界。
發表: Karen | March 31, 2008 12:32 AM
Now that Ma is the president elect, he should divorce his wife and marry a younger woman who can bear him a son.
發表: 無後為大 | March 31, 2008 02:31 AM
Quarterbacks must get the 4th down, or he will lose his job.
One must down pay first to buy a house.
Please your girl friend, or she will turn you down.
發表: The Power of Downs | March 31, 2008 02:35 AM
問Elvis:Why now and love are things only for the young ? 老年人可能沒有太多的將來,但仍然可以擁有現在。至於愛,任何年紀都可以有愛的,只要你仍然懂得去愛。
發表: JoJo | March 31, 2008 06:56 PM
Mar should divorce his wife and marry a younger woman who can bear him a son. It absurd and ridiculous..... It is低俗落伍的思想 ﹐像大陸一樣 ﹐ 重男輕女 ﹐ 墮掉女嬰胚胎 ﹐ 棄養小女嬰...It is murder. How about President Nixon, Clinton and Bush? They have daughters, no son.
發表: 低俗落伍的思想 | March 31, 2008 09:32 PM
讀者[無後為大]可能是說笑吧了!以馬英九如此重視自己形象的人,有什麼可能離婚另娶呢?
發表: Dodo | March 31, 2008 10:15 PM
China has imbalance of male and female children birth ration. The solution is two brother share one wife.
Nixon was not handson enough to attract women.
Clinton has had many extra marital affairs.
Bush has girl friends. His wife will divorce him when he steps down the presidency.
Ma surely can have a 2nd nai and a 3rd nai..if he wants to...
發表: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 10:27 PM
Ma can adopt a male child
發表: Anonymous | March 31, 2008 10:30 PM
I agree with JoJo as love has no boundary of age, nationality, or creed.
Ah-Bien had an affair with Shio Meichiin and was caught by Annette Lu while they were in bed. There are lots of women waiting in line for Ma. Hope he will be careful.....
發表: eat, color, and sex | March 31, 2008 10:36 PM
為馬想到無後的問題,確見心思。不知馬在勝選後祭父,有無就此問題交代。
不過,人生固有「應為」之事,但也有「應為卻不為」的事,人生在世並不是要把所有事都做盡的。對於某些事應要放下,這就是為什麼人生會有瀟灑的空間。
發表: 非無後為大 | March 31, 2008 10:39 PM
Here are two more downs and their powers:
--When a person has down's syndrome, he feels happy all his life, without knowning any pain.
--When you're down and out, friends always come out to support you.
發表: power of downs | March 31, 2008 10:48 PM
讀花輪君留言有感:
美國人是很直接和天真的,只要提出一個觀點大家啱聽,書就可以大賣特賣了!
發表: GiGi | March 31, 2008 11:12 PM
Ma surely can have a 2nd nai and a 3rd nai..if he wants to...
Don't insult Mar. Don't be dirty and vulgar. Be decent as leave comments in WJTALK blog.
發表: Don't insult Mar. | March 31, 2008 11:48 PM
Don't spread out Dirty Chinese tradition.重男輕女 ﹐ 墮掉女嬰胚胎 ﹐ 棄養小女嬰.....Mar wouldn't do that. Don't insult Mainland Chinese women who might be ER Nai...etc.
發表: Shame on you | March 31, 2008 11:54 PM
Dear A: Don't initiate low-class talks (er nai...) in the blog. Please respect yourself before doing anything.
發表: Please respect yourself before doing anything. | March 31, 2008 11:57 PM
Unfortunately people follow their hearts not rations. And don't insult Ma by calling him Mar....
發表: Marx | April 1, 2008 05:08 AM
Heh...Heh...We've lost everything. So we're gonna get Ma down with beauty plot [美人計].
There are female members of KMT who were previously DPP's and there are more young women wanting to join KMT as well. Some of them will be our ambush...heh...heh...
Why did KMT lose it to CCP in 1949? Because lots of KMT members then were double crossers.
發表: DPP | April 1, 2008 07:15 AM
Why is the movie "Lust, Caution" directed by Lee Ang is so popular? Because it has patroitism, hatred, lust, and revenge in a political plot. Unfortunately that young died for love at end.
發表: 美人計 | April 1, 2008 07:32 AM
DPP to use 美人計? The problem is where could they find a beauty as 湯唯?
If there are female members of KMT who were members of DPP, we can't see any who is a beauty.
DPP could send 呂秀蓮 to KMT, who is #1 beauty of the party. Or they could send 蕭美琴 to Ma. She knows 總統府 very well, so she certainly can help.
發表: 美人計? | April 1, 2008 09:30 AM
" Ma" is pronounced correctly for Horse in Chinese. Mar is close to Ma , but not quite right.
發表: Agree with Marx | April 1, 2008 10:16 AM
Sisy Chen and Lee Yuonping all have a crash for Ma....
Annette Lu is too old to bear a child.
The beauty will be a new member unnoticed at the beginning, but she will work her way to his heart.
發表: 美人計 | April 1, 2008 10:50 AM
DPP is like CCP. They both did cultural revolution.
發表: Anonymous | April 1, 2008 01:03 PM
That poor 湯唯 died in the movie. In 美人計, never get emotionally involved with the subject. Rather pull out in time, like the famous ancient beauty Cise who mesmerized King Wu and toppled his kingdom, then scramed and lived happily with her lover Farn Leh a.k.a Tau Zu Gon.
發表: queen bee | April 1, 2008 01:22 PM
It was revealed in news papers that in 2002 a Taiwanese spy named Isabelle Cheng who became a lover of a US State Dept Asian hand Donald Keyser and got from him the info about Jiang Zemin iternary in the US. Isabelle Cheng was later sent back to Taiwan.
發表: aubu | April 1, 2008 01:44 PM
建國妖姬Sisy Chen will get on Ma
發表: Anonymous | April 2, 2008 01:43 AM
I wish that Ma could read this blog asking him to divorce and re-marry for a son. Nobady asked me I have 3 daughters plus my wife, and my friend has 8 daughters, no son. Ma is smiling at home that so many people cared about his family and private life after eating and drinking doing nothing.
發表: Anonymous | April 2, 2008 12:13 PM
Hi, Emily, I like your comments. One more thing, I agreed with your first one. If you live in LA, you go to Rose Hills Memorial Park, you will see so many people died at young at 2, 18, 20's and 30's. I, therefore, forced myself to have a happy life and I am going to retire early at 62, next year and receive my Social Security benefits. Who knows what happy tomorrow? Enjoy your life for today, tomorrow, and ....
發表: Jack Liu | April 2, 2008 12:51 PM
My elder brother is the only son of my Paretns' family, but only have 2 daughters. Is 無後為大 so important in today's world? Who can remember a person's descendants when the person passed away ? Who care ?
發表: I agree with Anonymous | April 2, 2008 12:13 PM :: | April 2, 2008 01:47 PM
Let me tell you a true story which happened 25 years ago in Taiwan. My friend has 6 daughters, no son. So, he spent 30 NTD asking a woman to bear a son for him . Results: he has one and his wife committed suicide and this friend is my cousin.
發表: Pat Li | April 2, 2008 02:03 PM
My friend, Pat, I feel sorry to hear it. However, let's be reasonable. In US and some nations in Europe, when you see a woman's last name with a dash with another name that means she wants her family name to be continued. For instance, Mary Smith-Hartman. What can you do?!
發表: Peter Hsu | April 2, 2008 02:19 PM
The male off-spring carries the family name.
發表: Anonymous | April 2, 2008 02:50 PM
Taiwan's Constitution has changed. It allows woman to carry family name.
發表: J. Su. | April 2, 2008 06:42 PM
朋友,讓我們活在當下,學會把握當下,努力做眼前的事,現在就做,不要把任何事情留到明天,因為我們生活的每一天都是特殊的一天。去.. 去尋找知識,去讀更多的書,去愛想愛的人,不要等,這樣才能享受做人做事的樂趣。
發表: Mimi | April 2, 2008 10:33 PM
live in dawn
發表: Anonymous | April 5, 2008 01:18 AM
My friend Mimi, I agree with you. When I go to the Rose Hills Memorial Park (the largest public cemetery in US/world)in LA to see my late wife, who has been buried there, every weekends, I also see too many people died at 2, 18, 20's 30's and 40's. Time waits for nobody and life is too short. Yes, do whatever you want(can) do. This is the reason that I decided to retire early last year.
發表: Peter Hsu | April 9, 2008 12:58 PM