Serenity
詹姆斯·艾伦 / James Allen
Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.
A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect he ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.
The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Even the ordinary trader will find his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater self-control and equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal with a man whose demeanor is strongly equable.
The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. “Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life?” It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character, which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold—yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money seeking looks in comparison with a serene life—a life that dwells in the ocean of truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the eternal calm!
“How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood! It is a question whether the great majority of people do not ruin their lives and mar their happiness by lack of self-control. How few people we meet in life who are well balanced, who have that exquisite poise which is characteristic of the finished character!”
Yes, humanity surges with uncontrolled passion, is tumultuous with ungoverned grief, is blown about by anxiety and doubt. Only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.
Tempest-tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under whatsoever conditions ye may live, know this in the ocean of life the isles of blessedness are smiling, and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought. In the bark of your soul reclines the commanding master; he does but sleep; wake him. Self-control is strength; right thought is mastery; calmness is power. Say unto your heart “Peace, be still!”
心灵的平静是智慧宝藏中的一朵奇葩。长久而耐心的自我控制才造就了心灵的平静。它的出现暗示着成熟的经历，也是对思想活动规律更深层次的了解。
一个人是否心平气和，在于他对自己的熟悉程度，因为一定要先了解自己，才能去了解别人；随着更深入的了解，他会越来越透彻地观察到事物内部息息相关的因果关系，便会停止惊讶、愤怒、焦虑或忧愁，从而保持一种泰然自若、镇定、平静的态度。
沉着冷静的人已经学会如何调节自己，也知道如何调节自己与他人交往；相应地，别人也会尊重他的人格魅力，并认为他值得学习，可以依靠。一个人越是心若止水，他的成就、影响力和号召力就越显著。哪怕是一个普通商人，如果在遇到事情时能够很好地自我控制且临危不乱，那么他的生意便会兴隆昌盛，因为人们大都倾向于与一个举止得体、沉着冷静的人做生意。
人们通常会对坚强、冷静的人怀有好感和敬意，这种人如同一棵遮蔽烈日的大树，或是一块抵抗暴风雨的巨岩。“有什么人不爱一颗安静的心，一个温和、平实的生命呢？”不管是大雨瓢泼、阳光灿烂，还是天翻地覆、命运逆转，一切都如过眼云烟，因为这样的人任何时候都是谦和、冷静、沉着的。我们称之为心若止水的平静性格，是修养的最高境界，也是灵魂之花的硕果。它的宝贵能与智慧相媲美，人对它的期待胜过黄金——是的，即便赤真金也微不足道。在宁静的生活面前，追逐名利的行为是多么渺小——徜徉在真理的海洋中，潜伏在波涛汹涌之下，躲避暴风雨的侵扰，处在永恒的宁静之中。
“我们身边的许多人将生活搞得乌七八糟，一切美好的事物包括安静的生活都被他们的怒火给毁灭了，并殃及后代！目前的困扰是：大多数人是否由于缺乏自我控制而打破了自己的生活，毁坏了原有的幸福呢？在生活中那种沉着冷静、拥有成熟性格的人，我们能遇到的机率真是小之又小。”
的确，无法控制的激情令人躁动不安，无法抑制的无限悲伤令人起伏不定，焦虑和猜疑令人屡受挫折。在心灵的世界中游刃有余，唯有聪明的人，唯有掌控并净化了思想的人才能做到。
经历过暴风雨考验的人们，不管你们身在何方，不管你们处境怎样，你们都要清楚：在生活的海洋中，幸福的岛屿正向你微笑，阳光照耀的理想之地等待着你去开启。要紧紧握住思想的方向盘，有一个引领你方向的主宰者就在你灵魂的深处。然而他还在沉睡，唤醒他吧。自我控制是力量，正确的思想是优势，沉着冷静是能量。要经常对你的心灵说：“平和，安静!”
1. The calm man, having learned _________to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in_________, reverence his spiritual strength, and_________that they can learn of him and rely upon him.
2. That exquisite poise _________character, which we call serenity is the_________lesson of culture, the fruitage of the_________. It is precious as wisdom,_________to be desired than gold—yea, than even fine gold.
3. _________the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, ______ make the winds and the storms of the soul obey _________ .
1. 沉着冷静的人已经学会如何调节自己，也知道如何调节自己与他人交往。
2. 我们称之为心若止水的平静性格，是修养的最高境界，也是灵魂之花的硕果。
3. 要紧紧握住思想的方向盘，有一个引领你方向的主宰者就在你灵魂的深处。