我的人生经历让我深信，有两种强大的工具能将体验转化为爱：拥抱和倾听。每一次我拥抱他人或被他人拥抱，每一次我倾听他人或被他人倾听，体验都如同木柴在永恒之火中燃烧，而我则发现自己置身于爱的怀抱之中。自古以来皆是如此。请思考这两种古老的信念，它们蕴含着拥抱和倾听的智慧与挑战。
第一个说法是古老的观念：把贝壳贴在耳边，就能听到大海的声音。这似乎总是灵验的。然而，医学的研究表明，当你把贝壳贴在耳边时，你听到的其实是自己的脉动，是血液的海洋在你耳边回响。但这并没有削弱其中的奥秘，反而增添了它的神秘感。因为把贝壳贴在耳边教会我们如何透过局部聆听整体，如何在自身之内找到宇宙。它告诉我们，当我们敢于将另一个生命体，比如贝壳，贴在耳边时，我们既能听到所有生命的奥秘，也能听到自身血液的海洋。
令人惊奇的是，每个生命都蕴藏着宇宙的故事。每个灵魂都是由深海脉动塑造的躯壳。甚至从生理角度来看，内耳——这微妙的平衡之源——也形似海螺。因此，任何被我们握在手中、聆听的事物，都会向我们揭示它在世界和我们自身中的位置。
这就引出了第二个误解：民间传说认为，如果马腿断了，就必须安乐死。但我发现这并非事实。当然，这种情况确实存在。一些马匹饲养员会毫不犹豫地射杀断腿的马，仿佛束手无策。但我现在明白，他们这样做是为了自己，因为他们不想照顾一匹无法奔跑的马。
就这样，恐惧而自私的人切断了与那些破碎之人的联系，不愿陪伴一个看不到明天的朋友，不愿被拖累，不愿面对自己内心的伤痛。这正是同情心的挑战所在。因为当我们敢于拥抱那些被击倒在地的人，敢于将他们紧紧拥入怀中时，拥抱和倾听的真谛便会响起，我们将被带入破碎之骨的智慧，领悟伤痛如何愈合的奥秘。
这些都是我们都需要的无声的勇气。是全然地等待和观察的勇气。是承认我们并不孤单的勇气。是彼此敞开心扉的勇气。是修复破碎之物的勇气。
这些勇气的训练场总是在身边的小事上。正如特蕾莎修女所说，通过用极大的爱去做小事，我们就能学会勇敢。事实上，爱的实践就是全心全意地照料小事。这样的照料开启了奥秘。凭借我们最微小的关注，我们便能进入那包容一切的爱的海洋。
简单而深刻地说，爱的本质就是去爱。因为在爱的行动中，宇宙焕发生机。正如马丁·布伯所说，当两个人真诚地鞠躬触碰时，这种鲜活的生命力便会在我们之间展开。
马克·尼波，《极致的冒险：敢于活出真实的人生》
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This made me happy, which has been rare recently. Thanks for sharing and writing this. -Marc
The Pilgrim and the Poustinik - a very short story
The pilgrim had been traveling for many days, through many moons. He had seen much during his journey, learned many things, but still had not found what his heart was searching for.
Finally, while walking at night in a dark wood where only small, barely visible animal paths guided him, he saw a dim glow in the distance. As he got closer he realized the light came from a small dwelling, a shack which seemed to glow itself? He approached the poustinia with both great anticipation and great fear.
Now at the door he could make out the form of an old hermit, a poustinik. “Ah pilgrim, I have been waiting for you, welcome.” “Sir, who are you?” asked the pilgrim. “Who I am does not matter, but I have your answer.”
The pilgrim was puzzled but mysteriously hopeful. He had not even posed the question on his heart, he had only asked “Who are you?” “Come, tell me of your travels, what have you seen and learned?” The poustinik seemed genuinely interested to hear the pilgrim’s story?
The pilgrim seemed to sense that the poustinik already knew all about his journey, that he had somehow seen it all? So, his reply was short but to the point of his heart. “I have traveled many miles through many countries and towns, yet I still have not found the answer. Sir, can you tell me, what is the meaning of life?”
“I will tell you pilgrim what your heart already knows, and has known since your birth. Love (God) and enjoy (Them) forever.” A great pause followed . . .
The pilgrim knew immediately that this was indeed The Answer to his question, to all questions. He pondered the depth and the love for what seemed like hours?!
“But how do I do this Sir? What does this life look like?”
“For each one emanating from Divine LOVE Themselves it will look different yet the same. We all love (God) by loving what They have created. In serving and caring for all Creation; earth, plants, animals, humans, we are returning the great LOVE we have received. So, you see though it will look different for each of us, it is the same.”
The pilgrim bowed his head, gave thanks, and left the way he had come, but transformed with peace and contentment in his heart.
}:- ♥️ a.m.
Hoofnote: This story, this dream vision came to me just before I awoke this morning. I share it in gratitude. ♥️🙏🏼
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