Serendipity

Well, this is the photo I took on 19 January 2017. My Android phone asked me for permission to upload it to Google Map. I consented. Et voila!

The link to the map is here: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/111309788966576819377/photos/@40.7488758,-73.9680091,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1

机缘巧合。这阵子床头的书是韩少功的《马桥词典》，看的电视剧是《北风那个吹》。前者是从知青的视角，讲述一个虚构的地方--湘北罗江的人、事、话；后者说的就是知青的故事，让我想起《今夜有暴风雪》。

两者都是精品。

韩少功的书，我是在网上下载的（因为长期以来，我认为文字功底最扎实的几位作家中就有韩少功，因此随便挑了他的“近作”看看），看着看着就认定，自己这次是歪打正着了。由于之前没听说过这部小说，还以为曲高和寡。直到昨天，偶然看到一则新闻，今年美国给他和这部小说颁了某个华人文学大奖，才知道原来它的知名度还是挺高的，而且英译版早就有了，把它推荐给评委的，就是译者Julia Lovell。这是她的荐文：http://www.ou.edu/uschina/newman/HanShaogong.html

文革的许多记忆又回来了。

前几年陆续写了一些文革回忆，例如：

http://edanword.blogspot.com/2005/10/snob-n-90.html

http://edanword.blogspot.com/2005/10/way-i-dealt-with-what-happened-to-my.html

http://edanword.blogspot.com/2005/09/recently-i-realised-i-dont-have-hobby.html

http://edanword.blogspot.com/2006/10/blog-post.html

http://edanword.blogspot.com/2008/12/8-1963-12.html

今天想写的，是当年在扬州地区兴化县戴南公社董吕大队下放时，跟我们合住的几位知青中的一位：小左。

小左的全名是左松明。方脸，高颧骨，小眼睛，个子高高的，偏瘦。

很多年后，我们家已经回到城里，我已经在红卫中学上初中了。那是初春的一天，天气还是挺冷的。我放学回家，在大街上看到一个路边摊，卖豆腐和其他豆制品（百页、豆腐干等），显然是个临时的摊档： 一副木板架在中等高度的板凳上，摊主坐在小板凳上。周围没有其他类似的摊档。

我之所以注意到此人，是因为他不吆喝，高个子坐在小板凳上，腿脚很别扭地叉开着，双手同样别扭地插在裤兜里。

我走近一看，是小左！于是（没大没小地）大叫一声：“小左！”

他立即认出我来了，叫了我的小名，冲我直笑。相视无语。

几秒钟后，他问我住在哪里，我就告诉他了。

回家后很兴奋地告诉爸妈，见到小左了。爸感慨了一番，估计他回城后没有再读书，于是就帮家里打理豆腐作坊。

几天后，我放学回到家，看到屋子门口有一个大碗，里面养着几块豆腐，旁边用纸裹着厚厚的一叠百页，还有一个小纸片，写了几行字：“季老师，钦老师：家里做的豆腐和皮子，给你们吃玩。小左”

新年三念，分别于初一、初二和初五在日内瓦写就，分发给朋友。现黏贴如下：

一念：

新年好！

兔年初一醒来，第一个念头依然是思考了很久的一个主题：时间。

在新年的第一天，此念尤炽。

现在归纳一下，缀成头重脚轻尾巴翘的短文一篇，权作新年问候：

（1）在光速为上限的宇宙中，除了三维的空间（“界”，亦谓“宇”）之外，还有一个维度叫时间（“世”，亦谓“宙”）。有了空间，我们才能以占据空间的形式“存在”；有了时间，我们才能“续存”。至于存在和续存的“意义”，在此暂不讨论。

（2）空间可以“往”和“来”，但时间是单向的，不可逆转，它据说可以相对变慢（在接近光速时），但不可逆转。因此故地（空间）可以重游，昨天（时间）却不再来。

（3）我们碰到的问题，大都是时间造成的：因为时间的单向性决定了这个世界上没有后悔药。我们有意或“无意”作出的决定和选择，就会产生成果、结果或后果，除了事后“巩固”或“补救”（也就是对结果进行优化处理）之外，无法逆转。这，似乎是一个绕不过去的难题。

（4）但同时，这其实也是一件好事：我们的“好”决定、“好”选择所带来的“好”果实，不可逆转，不会一笔勾销，让我们可以实实在在地享受。

（5）至于运气，即使确实存在“运气”这回事儿，也需要我们首先感知运气，然后做出抉择去抓住它，所以终极的主动权依然把握在我们自己手中。

（6）我们的“存在”分为三个层次：肉体、情感、意识。三者当中只有意识能超越时空的桎梏，而意识是幸福的感受体（情感是经过意识过滤之后的次级感受体，肉体更是被动），人类追求幸福，其实追求的是幸福“感”，百分之百是主观的。这是天大的好消息：幸福原来是超时空的，是可以随时随地开启的，是我们意识的选择！

因此，总而言之：

新年新气象，全因脑筋日日新；

明天更美好，只缘当下做得好！

二念：

初二睡了个懒觉。

起来洗了衣服。

扔垃圾时，一不小心撞了头......

金星迸发的瞬间，灵光乍现：

决定今天聊健康。

关于健康的话题，写的书汗牛充栋也写不完。

只能拣最最关键的东西，点到为止。

想来想去，最关键的是：

脊椎。

治“已病”，防“未病”，脊椎最重要。

生病，先从经络开始。

经络有问题了，最好能在经络层面直接解决。

在经络层面没有解决，病灶就会渐次移入脏器。

而且，经络既是物理的，同时也有点“玄”，也就是有点“形而上”。经络的这个性质决定了它是“意识”和“情感”作用于“肉体”的媒介（反之亦然），经络时常处于疏通状态，那么负面思维和纠结的情绪对身体产生的致病影响也可以消除或降至最低。

举例来说，“感冒初起”，指的就是病灶还在经络层面，弄点葱白、老姜、红糖，熬点姜汤喝喝，就解决了，因为姜汤下肚，通过发散作用（加上一点正本清源作用），就能将感冒的异常能量场在经络里给消灭了。

但这里有个吊诡：经络有问题，往往是无症状的。等到有症状了，病灶已经从经络转移到更棘手的部位了。

怎么办？

当然是预防至上。

怎么预防？经络是纵横交错的能量通道网，相当复杂，要一条一条梳理，难度很大。

有捷径。

捷径就是脊椎。

脊椎大致与“督脉”同位，是灌溉所有经络的总源头。脊椎里气机畅旺，就可以驱动经络系统的能量流转，病灶就很难站得住脚。

更妙的是，经络防病的方法也很便捷：

首先，脊椎要永远处于温热状态！

一年四季均如此。冬季天气再冷，也要保证脊椎温热，如果发现脊椎是冷的，那就要采取措施恢复它的温热。夏季最容易疏忽，有时浑身燥热，但脊椎却是冷的，这很要不得。

其次，脊椎的气机要保持畅通。方法有若干，可选择最方便的、最能坚持的：

（1）可以练习重视脊椎锻炼的瑜珈功或中国传统功法（易筋经啦、抻拉功啦，等等）；

（2）用改良的“不求人”（一头有个橡胶小锤）轻轻捶打脊椎，自上而下自下而上反复轻轻捶打。

（3）直立，闭眼，从尾椎骨开始，轻轻蠕动，蠕动感渐渐上行，带动腰椎蠕动，继续上行，胸椎、颈椎依次被带动，直至整条脊椎都处于蠕动状态。没有所谓的标准动作，自己体会、摸索，大约几分钟后就能自如地让脊椎像蛇一样蠕动起来。每天早晚各蠕动几分钟即可。

（4）每当大脑无需集中注意力时，例如等车、等人时，把意念投射到尾椎骨，想象脊椎像一条山道，一阶一阶的，从山脚（尾椎）延伸到山顶（颈椎），你的意念代表你，开始登山。你就一阶一阶往上爬，爬到顶了，再爬下来。只要时间允许，三个来回就足够了。

上述方法，择一即可。不过（3）最重要，（4）最便捷。当然，（1）往往包括（3），有时还包括（4），所以（1）是首选，有兴趣的自己去寻觅。

凡是经常伏案工作的、凡是（几乎）天天长时间用电脑的，从这一刻起，就必须开始关心你的脊椎！

记住：

生机是一个能量场；

病机也是一个能量场。

它们每时每刻都在进行较量。

我们帮谁，谁就赢。

生机贯穿于我们的脊椎中，并由此散布全身。

守护住脊椎中的生机

不让病机驻足

就能远离疾病

常享健康

在兔年

在龙年

岁岁年年！

三念：

电脑的电量还剩20%，没带充电器。

我是用这20%看《反恐24小时》第八季的第二集呢，还是把这篇文章写出来呢？

还是写吧。

因为电量只剩大约7%时，电脑就会自动休眠了，而扣人心弦的电视剧看到最紧要关头时却黑屏了，那就太痛苦了。所以还是写文章。

我想了想，温饱解决了，健康也不错，接下来最重要的可能就是心情了，否则“生活质量/品质/质素”会大打折扣。

所以，接下来谈心情，顺理成章。

但这个话题让我心里发憷，因为我认为很难找到有资格谈心情的人，我当然也没资格。

我说的内容，如果公开发表，一定被很多人踩，甚至拍砖。

不过我把心情当一门学问研究，研究了很多年，有了一点心得，而且反复验证，觉得有一定的价值，藏着掖着就显得小气了，不如大大方方献丑吧。

我用短短的句子，试着说说，看是否能说清楚：

…...

…...

…...

（此处删去391个字，因为太啰嗦。是真的，我删掉前数了一下；而且跟“小树林”或“苞米地”无关）

干脆这么说得了：

（1）不要以为“意识”和“心情”跟“身体”不同。其实都是能量场，只是身体的频率很低，低到呈现为实体物质；心情或情感的频率略高（但依然可以感知，你旁边的人若心情不好，你不用看那人的表情和身体语言也能触摸得到那个凝重的能量；你心情不好时，你周围的人也能如此感知）；意识的频率最高。这个很好理解：身体要改变，很难；心情要调整，需要时间；意识要转向，一瞬间即可实现（思想钻牛角尖的人，其实已经把某个意识下放到情绪的层面了，当然钻不出来）。

（2）因此，呵护“意识”和“心情”，应该跟呵护“身体”同理。

（3）不管你如何去呵护自己的心情（干净、清淡、适量、多元，等等），最重要是记住四点：

（甲）不要给心情“喂毒药”。人们一般不会给自己的身体喂毒药，但常常有意无意给自己的心情喂毒药，还乐此不疲，真正的“饮鸩止渴”。什么是毒药？表现形式各异，想一想就知道了。

（乙）不要把太多的事务性的东西跟心情挂钩，否则心情不堪重负。要应对的事务，应尽量客观化，应尽量跟自己的心情切割。中国人说“该干啥干啥”，就是这个意思；外国人说“别太把自己当回事儿”，也是这个意思。

（丙）心情很宝贵，不要浪费。还是把心情留给自己最爱的人（无论甜酸苦辣，都值得），把心情留给最紧要的关头（例如：愤怒的生理作用是调动全身的资源和潜能去攻击敌人；恐惧的生理功能是调动全身的资源和潜能来逃避危险。它们不是让你为了鸡毛蒜皮的小事闹得面红耳赤，也不是让你为了小小的不确定而心惊肉跳好几天。）

（丁）当下的心情最重要，而“意识”是最活泼的能量场，从意识（高频能量）入手，让心情（中频能量）跟进，可以实现瞬间的调适。养成这个好习惯，身体（低频能量）也会渐渐受益。

就此打住。

老季扶犁

Definition of "heat" (Webster, 1913):

 A force in nature which is recognized in various effects,but especially in the phenomena of fusion and evaporation,and which, as manifested in fire, the sun's rays, mechanical action, chemical combination, etc., becomes directly known to us through the sense of feeling. In its nature heat is a mode of motion, being in general a form of molecular disturbance or vibration. It was formerly supposed to be a subtile, imponderable fluid, to which was given the name caloric.

This is thoroughly gratifying to read!

If I were to give a shorter definition, I would say: "a force in nature which is perceived by the sense of feeling as warmth when moderate and as a burning sensation when excessive".

Religion is about eternity.

Paradise in its variant forms is, by definition, eternal.

Nirvana, by negating the ephemeral, is eternal.

For mortals, eternity is beyond reach.

Yet, in another sense, everything is eternal. This thing may not last forever in this form; when this thing ceases to be manifested in this form, it moves on and continues to exist in a changed form. In essence, this thing, whatever it is, never ceases to be. It is the form that changes and gives the impression of one thing dying and a discrete new thing being born. The existence of this thing never ends.

Or does it ever?

Beyond the theoretical, we have no definitive answer.

There is a shortcut ladder to eternity: since eternity can be equated with timelessness, to transcend the temporal dimension is as good as achieving eternity.

But who can attain that, except in the conceptual world of the mind?

It does not matter, for this conceptual realisation in the mind will create euphoria and a sense of elation in the physicality of our being. That's good enough. It's good enough because we experience our existence through our physical senses. We therefore judge the quality of our existence by comparing and contrasting the data captured by our sensory organs when we find ourselves in different states of being.

On a slightly different note...

Think, for a moment, about the origin of the universe: that moment when matter came into being... what has happened since seems to prove that whatever comes into being has an innate tendency to prolong its existence.

Maybe that innate tendency is the gene that is embedded in everything in this universe as we know it.

In physics, that tendency is manifested as an array of forces that bind particles together.

It is easy to impart a personified spirit to these forces: God.

The very existence of this universe, and everything in it, proves the existence of these forces and, thereby, proves the existence of God, the personified embodiment of the creative, the generative and the promotive.

But do these forces have an "intention"? Or is there an "intention" underlying these forces? Is there a "plan"? I will discuss that in a future article.

Celestial bodies come and go; matter goes through metamorphosis; the cosmic landscape mutates...

But that "gene" is eternal: the innate tendency to be born and to remain in existence, be it a life form as commonly defined or an inanimate object.

Once you recognise this "gene", you see eternity.

It is that simple.

Any pursuit of eternity by attempting to prolong the existence of a particular form of being is doomed to failure, because of the dialectics of change and eternity:

It is through change that the eternity of the gene is preserved; it is thanks to the eternal nature of the gene that change can happen: if this thing ends and ends for good, there would be nothing left to change.

At this point, I am beginning to see that I have, in fact, been unwittingly explaining the meaning of "The Book of Changes", i.e. the triple-layered import of the character 易: Ephemeral, Eternal, Easy.

That was not my intention. I wanted to write something on a different topic, a topic that goes to the heart of the art of meditation.

It seems that my thought on this premeditated topic is not ready to be spelt out yet. So be it.

In some contexts, 慰问 = counseling.

This is because the purpose of such an exercise is to bring solace to the sufferer(s) of a misfortune, and that's what counseling typically aims to do.

22 June 2010

Another WC night. Poolside this time.

Chen, Hao and myself.

All tables are occupied when we arrive. An extra table is erected for us after some negotiation (by Chen and Hao, while I am busy texting someone on my mobile phone). Ours is next to a table occupied by a local couple, right in front of the main TV screen.

Mosquito zapping lights around us hiss, sizzle, frizzle and crackle throughout the game. Most people don't notice it.

It makes me wonder: What's the purpose of LIFE?

Just a fleeting thought – never mind, watch the game!

Hao takes the seat that's farthest from the screen. Chen offers the best seat to me, the seat that is closest to the centre and, incidentally, closest to our neighbours. I decline, so he sits down, next to the lady, at which point she casts a casual, but friendly glance at us. Chen and I smile back. Hao's eyes are already glued to the box.

Half-way through the match (which is, yes, the all-important showdown between our host country, Nigeria, and the lone but not forlorn Asian hope, South Korea), I made a comment about that lady:

“Can you imagine the boredom if you have zero interest in football and yet you have to sit through it with your man, who is totally unaware of your existence, let alone having any form of communication with you, for a good two hours!”

Hao and Chen take a quick, discreet look at her and nod in agreement.

The match ends in a draw. It's not good enough for Nigeria, who needed a win; but South Korea can proceed to the round of 16. The audience, largely Nigerian, are not too happy, but the 2-2 score is respectable. My club sandwich is okay, so is Chen's pizza and Hao's steak.

(Fast forward...)

23 June 2010

(The following is based on Chen's account.)

The time is 10:30 pm.

Locale: Capital Bar (so named, presumably, because Abuja is the capital of Nigeria and this Hilton is in Abuja)

After a very long day of hard work under suboptimal conditions, Chen feels like letting his (short) hair down, with a drink and a smoke in a noisily relaxing environment, to soak up some vibes that are different from what you would find in an interpreter's booth.

The moment he steps in, he is mobbed... er, by a crowd of gorgeous girls. He finds them friendlier and more diplomatic than their colleagues in, say, Kenya, who would come up to you and “demand” that you buy them a drink, sans pleasantries.

These girls, however, are very buddy-buddy: How are you? How was your day? What's your name? Where are you from? Welcome to Nigeria! How do you find our country?

But, alas, there are just too many of them for Chen to cope.

The bar manager (a matronly lady) comes to his rescue. The throng disperses.

At that point, Chen notices a girl who looks vaguely familiar, but he can't quite place her. She is very different from the rest in that she appears distinctly more cultured and reticent, even bashful.

She starts inching her way towards him. Finally, she sits down.

“Do you remember me?”

“Hmm... ah yes, you were sitting next to me by the poolside last night!”

“Yes.”

A conversation ensues. She says that she has a business management degree.

Before too long, the girl decides that their conversation is not getting anywhere, so she asks:

“Who is that slim gentleman sitting next to you last night?”

“Oh, him, he is my boss.”

“Ah, I thought so. I noticed that you offered the best seat to him. Did you deliberately arrange for him to sit next to me?”

“....”

“Well, I also noticed that he was very interested in me the whole time we were watching the football!”

“....”

“Please go tell your boss, please.”

(After regaining consciousness) Chen asks:

“Well, I certainly can do that if I know the price, because he's my boss and I have to get a quote first.”

“100.”

“100 what?”

“100 US dollars.”

“Wow, that's steep!”

“No, it's very reasonable. If your boss goes to New York....”

“Okay, okay, what's the lowest you can go down to?”

“Not less than 70.”

“I still think it's too much.”

“If you go tell your boss, I can go down even more.”

********************************************

That's the end of the story.

Hao, quiet until now, queries:

“She didn't ask about me?”

自学成才者 = autodidact (thanks to the 2007 film Nobel Son)