DISCIPLINE: PHYSICAL
物质层面的自律
(1) The discreet magician is one who sees to the readiness of his lowest vehicle to carry the fire wherewith he works, and this he accomplishes through discipline and strict purity. (3 – 1015).
（1）谨慎的魔法师是一位让他的低等载具做好准备，从而可以携带他工作所使用的火焰的人，他通过自律和严格的净化来实现这一点。
(2) If occult students disciplined the life more wisely, if they studied the food problem more carefully, if they took the needed hours of sleep with more determination, and if they worked with cautious slowness, and not so much from impulse, (no matter how high the aspiration) greater results would be seen, and the Great Ones would have more efficient helpers in the work of serving the world. (2 – 105).
（2）如果神秘学的学生更明智地去自律他的生活，如果他们更仔细地研究食物的问题，如果他们更坚定地去获得睡眠所需要的时间，如果他们工作时谨慎缓慢而不是一时冲动，（不论抱负有多高）都会看到伟大的成功，伟大的存有们在服务世界的工作中也会有更有效的帮手。
(3) Drastic physical disciplines are often attempted today by well-intentioned aspirants; they practise celibacy, strict vegetarianism, relaxation exercises, and many kinds of physical exercises, in the hope of bringing the body under control. These forms of discipline would be very good for the undeveloped and the lowest type of human being, but they are not the methods which should be employed by the average man or the practising aspirant. Concentration upon the physical body only serves to enhance its potency, and to feed its appetites and bring to the surface of consciousness that which should be securely secluded below the threshold of consciousness. The true aspirant should be occupied with emotional, not physical, control and with the effort to focus himself upon the mental plane, prior to achieving a stabilised contact with the soul. (17 – 579).
（3）现在，很多好心的寻求者常常去尝试剧烈的身体层面的训练，他们实行独身主义、严格的素食、放松运动，以及多种体育锻炼，希望可以让身体处于控制之中。这些形式的自律对于未进化和最低等的人类来说是非常好的，但是它们不是普通人或修道者应该采用的方法。专注于物质身体只会增强它的力量，满足它的胃口，并把本应该安全地隔离在意识门槛以下的东西带到意识表面。在达到与灵魂稳定接触之前，真正的寻求者应该专注于情绪的主宰，而非物质身体的掌控，并努力把自己的注意力集中在心智层。
(4) The rule as given to applicants consequently concerns their ability to accept and adhere to a self-imposed discipline. Through the means of that discipline, the control of the physical and astral natures are demonstrated by the applicant to himself, and the effect of the discipline is to reveal to him certain inevitable and basic weaknesses, such as control of the animal nature, the powerful imposition of desire, a sense of superiority, of pride and of separativeness. His ability to sustain the discipline, and his appreciation of himself for so doing, plus a sense of superiority to those who are not so disciplined, are all indicative of essential weaknesses. His fanaticism, latent or expressed, emerges in his consciousness with clarity, and – when he is sincere – he is conscious of having brought about a measure of physical purity; but at the same time, he is left with the awareness that he may be starting with the outer and the obvious, when he should be beginning with [Page 94] the inner, and with that which is not so easily contacted or expressed. This a great and most important lesson.
（4）因此，这些给予申请者的规则关系到他们接受和遵循自我训练的能力。通过训练，申请者可以向自己展示对物质身体和星光体本性的控制，训练的效果是向他揭示出某些不可避免的基本弱点，比如对动物本性、强大的强加欲望、优越感、自豪感和分离感的控制。他能维持自律的能力、他对自己这样做的欣赏、以及对那些不那么自律的人的优越感，都是他基本弱点的提示。他的狂热，不论是潜伏的还是表达出来的，都清晰地出现在他的意识中，当他诚恳时 —— 他会意识到已经带来了一定程度的物质层面的净化；但是与此同时，他意识到他或许要从外在和明显的事物着手，事实则是他应该从内在开始，而这并不是那么容易接触到和表达出的。这是伟大的、又是最重要的课程。
It is also an interesting illustration of the technique of the Masters, whereby They permit a fallacy to remain uncorrected (because it is originated by the disciple himself and must be dissipated by him also), and the use of language which conveys a wrong impression. By so doing, the user of the language discovers eventually his erroneous approach to the truth.
这也是大师们所使用技巧的一个有趣例证，他们允许错误不去纠正（因为这是由弟子自己发起的，也必须由他消除），也允许传达错误印象的语言。通过这么做，语言的使用者最终会发现他通往真理之路上的错误之处。
The true disciple does not need vegetarianism or any of the physical disciplines, for the reason that none of the fleshly appetites have any control over him. His problem lies elsewhere, and it is a waste of his time and energy to keep his eye focussed on “doing the right things physically”, because he does them automatically, and his spiritual habits offset all the lower physical tendencies; automatically these developed habits enable him to surmount the appeal of those desires which work out in the fulfilment of lower desire. No one is accepted into the circle of the Ashram (which is the technical name given to the status of those who are on the eve of initiation, or who are being prepared for initiation) whose physical appetites are in any danger of controlling him. This is a statement of fact. This applies particularly and specifically to those preparing for the first initiation. (18 – 125/6).
真正的弟子不需要吃素，或者任何身体训练，因为肉身的欲望无法控制他。他的问题在别处，把他的精力一直放在“对身体做正确的事情”是浪费他的时间和精力，因为他会自发地去这么做，他的灵性修养抵消了所有低等身体的倾向，这些养成的习惯自然而然地让他能够克服那些要做出满足低等欲望行为的欲望的诱惑。对于那些受制于身体欲望危险的控制之中的人来说，是不会被接纳进入修道院（这个术语被用来描述那些处于启蒙前夕或者正在准备启蒙的人的状态）的圈子中的。这是对事实的陈述。这特别适用于那些准备一阶启蒙的人。
(5) Some very sincere devotees and promising applicants, are so preoccupied with form and its disciplining, that they have no real time to give to soul expansion. They are so interested in their reactions to their self-imposed discipline, or to their capacity to conform, or their failure to accept discipline, that the spiritual truths – seeking entrance into their hearts – fail to make such an entrance. Temperance in all things, the wise use of all sustaining forms, and self-forgetfulness, are the hallmark of the disciple, but not of the beginner. Many disciples today, who should be functioning in the Hall of Wisdom, are still fanatically working in the Hall of Knowledge, and are still so earnest over the physical disciplines, that the disciplines of the soul are ignored. I would ask you to reflect on this.
（5）一些非常真诚的奉献者和有前途的申请者，如此专注于形式和其纪律，以至于他们没有真正的时间来拓展灵魂。他们对自我施加的训练的回应非常感兴趣，或者对他们自己服从能力的兴趣，或者是他们对拒绝接受训练的兴趣，以至于试图进入他们内心的灵性真理 —— 无法进入。凡事节制，明智地使用所有支持形态，以及忘我，是弟子的标志，但不是入门者的标志。现在很多弟子，本应该在智慧殿堂运作，却还在知识殿堂中狂热地工作着，他们仍然如此热衷于物质身体的训练，忽略了灵魂的操练。我想让你对这一点进行反思。
Let me repeat: the physical disciplines are of value in the beginning stage, and impart a sense of proportion and an awareness of defects and of limitations. These have their place in time and space, and that is all. Once the world of the soul is entered, the disciple uses all forms wisely, with understanding of their purpose, and with freedom from excess; he is not preoccupied with them or fundamentally interested in them. His eyes are off himself and are fixed on the world of true values. He has no sense of [Page 95] self-interest, because a group awareness is rapidly superseding his individual consciousness. (18 – 127/8).
我重复一遍：肉身的训练在最初阶段是有价值的，它带来一种分寸感以及对缺陷和局限性的认知。这些在时间和空间中都有着其位置，仅此而已。一旦进入了灵魂的世界，弟子就会明智地使用所有的形态，理解它们的用途，不会过度关注；他不会对它们全神贯注，也没有从根本上对它们产生兴趣。他的目光从自己身上移开，注视着真正有价值的世界。他没有自利的意识，因为群体意识正在迅速取代他的个人意识。
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