Perhaps it is the most common question I hear: “How do I know if I am being judgmental or discerning?” Considering that “the spiritual path is the path of discernment” (Adi Shankara), it is perhaps the most important question you can ask. Yet it is also the most difficult for you to answer.
這可能是我最常聽到的一個問題：”我如何知道我是在批判還是在明辨？”若以Adi Shankara（八世紀印度一位見性大師）所說的來考量，”心靈之旅是一個明白分辨的過程”，那麼這個問題可能是你可以問的問題中最重要的一個。然而這也可能是你最困難回答的一個問題。
And who do you think you are? What molds your viewpoint? You can justify anything with the intellect, and you do according to your viewpoint. What molds your viewpoints? Do you place your thumb on the scale of your own inner justice? Or perhaps a better question is, are you willing, or able, to take a step back and see yourself? Consider how you hold the scale of self-evaluation. Judging yourself harshly is putting your thumb on the scale. Any issue you have puts a thumb on the scale. Issues with authority? Self doubt? Self-righteousness? Defiance? Fear? For any and all issues, you place your thumb on one side of the scale.
你認為你是誰呢？是什麼塑造了你的見解？你可以用知識為任何事做辯解，你根據的是你的見解和看法。是什麼塑造了你的見解的？在你內心的天枰上是否已經傾向一邊了呢？也許更好的問題是，你願意或者有能力，退一步來看你自己嗎？考量你是如何把持你那個自我反省的天秤呢？嚴格地批判自己等於是你的天枰已經傾向一邊。任何你在意的事你都加重了天枰一邊的重量。你對權威有問題嗎？你自我懷疑嗎？自以為是嗎？習慣唱反調嗎？恐懼不安嗎？只要有任何一個或全部都有，無形中你都已經加重了天枰一邊的重量。
I suggest you consider placing a counterbalancing thumb on the other. Of course you may think to suggest removing the thumb from the scale. But if you see the thumb is there, it is already removed. Or is it? If you judge yourself harshly, I suggest considering the opposite. If you are self righteous, I suggest the opposite. If you see your own bias, I suggest your reaction to that realization compromises your understanding of it. Those who are instinctively kind to others are often the first to cruelly judge themselves as sometimes being unkind. Those instinctively judgmental of others are often the first to stand up for their self-righteous viewpoint.
我建議你考慮在天枰的另外一邊加碼。當然你可能會想提議把原來多加進去的重量去除就行了。但假如你已經察覺到你的見解有偏頗，它就應該不存在了。或者你確定它真的不存在了嗎？假如你嚴格批判自己，我建議你考慮相反的一面。假如你是自以為是，我建議你考慮相反的一面。假如你看見你自己的偏見，我會提醒你你的覺悟已經使你對真相的理解打了折扣。那些直覺對他人慈悲的人，往往是第一個嚴厲批判自己的人。那些直覺上習慣批評別人的人，往往是第一個站出來維護他自己見解的人。
Are you judgmental or discerning? It all comes down to the nature/tone of “your relationship with…” Your relationship with what? Your relationship with everything within and without you. With yourself, with society, with authority, with friends, with loved ones and so on. To overcome being judgmental and to become discerning, you must find balance within yourself. To do so, you need to consider your nature and the nature of all things.
你是在批判呢還是在明辨？癥結點在於”你跟…..的關係”的質調是什麼？你跟什麼東西的關係呢？你跟所有一切人事物的關係，包括你內心世界的與外在世界的。跟你自己的，跟社會的，跟權威人士的，跟朋友們的，跟你愛的人的，以及其他等等。要克服批判的習性並培養明辨的習慣，你必須找到你內心的平衡點。要能如此，你需要先考量你自己的本質以及所有事務的本質。
Consider strengths and weaknesses. Look at world history, social history, and your history. When the scales tip one way, consider the other. In all situations, be open to seeing the strengths as well as the weaknesses within and without. To anarchists I say, consider the value of society and authority. To puppets I say, think for yourself. To the self critical, I say be kind to yourself. To the self righteous, I say be humble. It starts with your relationship with yourself. Find balance there first. Only then can you have a healthy relationship with what lies outside of you.
把自己長處和缺點都考慮進去。看看世界歷史，社會歷史，和你自己的歷史。當你的天枰傾向一邊時，考量另一邊的觀點。在任何情況下，坦然開放地去看看你內在與外在的長處與弱點。對主張無政府主義的人，我建議你考量社會及權勢的價值。對沒有主見形同木偶的人，我建議你為自己著想。對常常責備自己的人，我建議你寬待自己。對自以為是的人，我建議你保持謙虛。這樣的過程從你跟你自己的關係為起點，從那裡先找到平衡點。惟有在那樣的情況下你才能跟外界有個健康的關係。
Do understand that discernment does not preclude passion. The more fully you find your Self, the more discerning you will be. You will know your wisdom and thereby find your true path in life. And your true path in life is filled with passion. It is the river that carries you to the ocean.
務必了解這點：明辨並非排除熱情。你找到自己越多，你越知道如何明辨。你會生發智慧並從中找到你真正的生命路程。你真正的生命路程是充滿了熱情的。它是那條帶你回歸大海的河川。
Yet judgment also can be most passionate, so life’s journey must begin within. Find your inner wisdom first. As Lord Krishna said to Arjuna, “Established in Being, perform action”.
然而批判也可以是熱情如火，所以說生命的旅程必須由內在為起點。先找到你內在的智慧。正如Krishna神對Arjuna說的”奠定真我，採取行動”。
Be you in conflict or comradery, always do your best to keep to the high road. There are no absolutes in the relative. Yet everything gravitates back to the Absolute, back to the Divine. That is the nature of existence. The path of discernment is the path of balance. You will fall. That is fine – just get back up. Your job is to do your best to keep your balance as you face the wind and go forward, forward, always forward.
無論你在衝突或親密的關係中，盡你最大的力量保持高檔路線，維持正向的回應。在相對的世界裡是沒有絕對的。但一切萬事萬物都會被吸引回歸於絕對體，回歸到那個神性。那是存在的本質。明辨的過程就是找尋平衡點的過程。你會跌倒，沒關係，重新站起來就好。你的職責就是盡你最大的力，在面對風浪時保持你的平衡，並且不斷地向前邁進。
That is called the Path of Discernment.
那就叫做明白分辨的過程。
