SOME BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
一些基本的前提
We are entering upon a course of study wherein the entire tendency will be to throw the student back upon himself, and thus upon that larger self which has only, in most cases, made its presence felt at rare and highly emotional intervals. When the self is known and not simply felt and, when the realisation is mental as well as sensory, then truly can the aspirant be prepared for initiation.
我们正在进入一门课程的学习，这门课程会把学生的注意力重新转移到自己身上，从而回归到那个更大的自我身上，在大多数情况下，我们只会在极少且高度情绪化的间隔中感受到其存在。当这部分的自我被认知，而不是仅仅被感觉到的时候，当我们不仅仅去认识到，也去感受到它存在的时候，那么，寻求者就可以为启蒙做好准备了。
I would like to point out that I am basing my words upon certain basic assumptions, which for the sake of clarity, I want briefly to state.
我想指明的是，这些话是基于一些特定的基本前提，为了清晰起见，我要简单地声明。
Firstly, that the student is sincere in his aspiration, and is determined to go forward no matter what may be the reaction of and upon the lower self. Only those who can clearly differentiate between the two aspects of their nature, the real self and the illusory self, can work intelligently . . . (4 – 53),
首先，学生要对他的意愿保持真诚的态度，而且致力于一直前进，不论这部分低等的自我的反应如何。只有那些可以清晰的分辨出他们本质的两个面向的那些人，才可以明智地进行下去，这两个面向，即真实的自我和虚假的自我。
Secondly, I am acting upon the assumption that all have lived long enough and battled sufficiently with deterrent forces of life, to have enabled them to develop a fairly true sense of values. . . . They are not to be kept back by any happenings to the personality or by the pressure of time and circumstance, by age or physical disability. They have wisely learnt that enthusiastic rushing forward, and a violent energetic progress has its drawbacks, and that a steady, regular, persistent endeavour will carry them further in the long run. Spasmodic spurts of effort and temporary pressure peter out into disappointment and a weighty sense of failure . . .
其次，还有一个前提是，所有的人已经生活了足够长的时间，已经与生活中的阻力进行了充分地斗争，从而发展出相当真切的价值观……他们不会因为性格上的事情、来自时间和环境中的压力，或者是年龄或者身体上的残疾而退缩不前。他们已经明智地知道：充满热情地向前冲，以及猛烈冲击前进的方法都有其缺点，他们知道，从长远来看，稳定、有规律而且持久地努力会让他们走得更远。短暂性地冲刺性努力和暂时性的压力会逐渐变成失望，以及沉重的挫败感。
Thirdly, I assume that those who set themselves seriously to benefit by the instructions in this book, are prepared to carry out the simple requirements, to read what is written thoughtfully, to attempt to organise their minds, and adhere to their meditation work. The organising of the mind is an all-day affair, and the application of the mind to the thing in hand throughout the daily avocations, is the best way to make study and meditation periods fruitful, and bring about fitness for the vocation of the disciple.
第三，我做这样的推测，所有那些认真学习这本书的人，都会从这本书的指导中受益，而且准备好去执行那些简单的要求，去对写下的这些文字进行深思熟虑地思考，尝试去组织他们的头脑，并坚持进行冥想。对头脑进行组织是需要全天都要去关注的事情，在日常的事务之中，把头脑运用到身边的事物上，是让这些学习和冥想开花结果的最佳方式，并且会为修道之人使命的执行带来好处。
With these assumptions clearly understood, my words are for those who are seeking to measure up to the need for trained servers. I say not, you note, those who measure up. Intention and effort are considered by us of prime importance, and are the two main requisites for all disciples, initiates and Masters, plus the power of persistence. (4 – 54). [Page 2]
要理解以上这些前提，我的这些话是为那些追求成为可以胜任的受训服务者而说的。你要注意，是要成为那些可以胜任的人。用心和努力是我们认为最重要的条件，也是对所有的学生、启蒙者，以及大师们的要求，当然，这里面还有坚持的力量。
（该系列的内容，来自《渊思寂虑（Ponder On This, A Compilation）》，是爱丽丝 A. 贝利 (Alice A. Bailey) 和藏族大师迪瓦尔·库尔大师（DJWHAL KHUL）著作的摘录）
翻译：Soluna
