TEDSalon NY2014
Pico Iyer: The art of stillness
皮科．艾爾: 靜觀的技藝
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Readability: 3.7
3,176,968 views
旅行作家皮科．艾爾最想前往的地方是哪裡？哪裡都別去。在這個反直覺和抒情的沉思中，艾爾提出了他關於無所去處的洞見。在不斷變動與失焦的世界裡，他梳理出一個特別的策略，讓我們可以用它，在每一天，或每一季，收回片刻。百動不如一靜，這是給那些深感不堪重負於那需索無度的世界的人們的一段省思雜談。
Pico Iyer - Global author
Pico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships. Full bio
Pico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
I'm a lifelong traveler.
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我這輩子都是個旅行者。
00:14
Even as a little kid,
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即使還是一個小孩子的時候，
00:16
I was actually working out
that it would be cheaper
that it would be cheaper
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我便瞭解，事實上，
去讀英國寄宿學校會比
00:20
to go to boarding school in England
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00:22
than just to the best school down the road
from my parents' house in California.
from my parents' house in California.
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去加州父母家附近
最好的學校就讀還來得便宜。
最好的學校就讀還來得便宜。
00:27
So, from the time I was nine years old
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所以，當我 9 歲時，
00:30
I was flying alone several times a year
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我會在一年中獨自飛行幾回，
00:33
over the North Pole, just to go to school.
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穿越北極，就只是去上學。
00:37
And of course the more I flew
the more I came to love to fly,
the more I came to love to fly,
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當然，飛得越頻繁，我越是愛上旅行，
00:41
so the very week after I graduated
from high school,
from high school,
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所以就在我高中畢業後一週，
00:44
I got a job mopping tables
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我獲得一份清理桌子的工作，
00:47
so that I could spend
every season of my 18th year
every season of my 18th year
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為了讓自己可以在 18 歲那年，
在地球的各大陸上，
分別待上一季。
分別待上一季。
00:51
on a different continent.
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00:54
And then, almost inevitably,
I became a travel writer
I became a travel writer
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接著，幾乎不可避免地
我成了一個旅遊作家，
我成了一個旅遊作家，
00:58
so my job and my joy could become one.
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使我的工作和志趣
可以結合在一塊。
可以結合在一塊。
01:02
And I really began to feel
that if you were lucky enough
that if you were lucky enough
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我真的開始發覺
如果你可以幸運地
如果你可以幸運地
01:06
to walk around
the candlelit temples of Tibet
the candlelit temples of Tibet
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漫步於西藏的燭光寺廟，
01:10
or to wander along the seafronts in Havana
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或在音樂的繚繞間
01:12
with music passing all around you,
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悠然信步於哈瓦那海岸，
01:15
you could bring those sounds
and the high cobalt skies
and the high cobalt skies
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你便能將那聲音、天際
與靛藍海洋的閃爍光芒
01:18
and the flash of the blue ocean
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01:20
back to your friends at home,
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帶回給你故鄉的朋友，
01:22
and really bring some magic
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捎來些許神奇，
01:24
and clarity to your own life.
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點亮自身生命。
01:27
Except, as you all know,
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除了，如你們所知，
01:30
one of the first things you learn
when you travel
when you travel
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當你旅行時，你學到的第一件事情是
01:32
is that nowhere is magical
unless you can bring the right eyes to it.
unless you can bring the right eyes to it.
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你必須以正確的視角看世界，
否則大地依然黯淡無光。
否則大地依然黯淡無光。
01:38
You take an angry man to the Himalayas,
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你帶一個易怒的男人爬喜馬拉雅山，
01:40
he just starts complaining about the food.
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他只會抱怨那裡的食物。
01:44
And I found that the best way
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我發現，有點怪異的是，
01:46
that I could develop more attentive
and more appreciative eyes
and more appreciative eyes
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最好的讓自己可以培養
更專注的和更珍惜世界的視角的訣竅是
01:50
was, oddly,
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01:52
by going nowhere, just by sitting still.
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哪裡都不去，靜止於原處即可。
01:55
And of course sitting still
is how many of us get
is how many of us get
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當然，待在原地正是
我們許多人尋常就能得到的東西，
我們許多人尋常就能得到的東西，
01:58
what we most crave and need
in our accelerated lives, a break.
in our accelerated lives, a break.
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我們都渴望在快速的生活中獲得休息。
02:04
But it was also the only way
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但那卻是我唯一的方法，
02:06
that I could find to sift through
the slideshow of my experience
the slideshow of my experience
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讓自己可以重歷自身的經驗幻燈，
02:11
and make sense of the future and the past.
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理解未來與過去。
02:14
And so, to my great surprise,
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如此，我驚異地發現，
02:17
I found that going nowhere
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我發現無所去處
02:19
was at least as exciting
as going to Tibet or to Cuba.
as going to Tibet or to Cuba.
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和遊覽西藏或古巴一樣，令人興奮。
02:23
And by going nowhere,
I mean nothing more intimidating
I mean nothing more intimidating
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無所去處，只不過意謂著
每天花幾分鐘，
02:27
than taking a few minutes out of every day
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02:30
or a few days out of every season,
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或每季花幾天，
02:32
or even, as some people do,
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甚至，如同某些人所做的，
02:34
a few years out of a life
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在生命中花上幾年
02:37
in order to sit still long enough
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長久靜思於某處，
02:40
to find out what moves you most,
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尋找感動你最多的一瞬，
02:43
to recall where your truest happiness lies
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回憶你最真實的幸福時刻，
02:46
and to remember that sometimes
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並記住，有時
02:48
making a living and making a life
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謀生與生活
02:51
point in opposite directions.
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彼此是處於光譜線上的兩端的。
02:54
And of course, this is what wise beings
through the centuries
through the centuries
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當然，這是明智的眾生歷經幾百年
02:57
from every tradition have been telling us.
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從每個傳統中所告訴我們的。
03:00
It's an old idea.
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這是一個古老的概念。
03:02
More than 2,000 years ago,
the Stoics were reminding us
the Stoics were reminding us
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早在兩千多年前，斯多葛學派提醒我們
03:05
it's not our experience
that makes our lives,
that makes our lives,
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並不是我們的經驗
成就了我們的生命，
成就了我們的生命，
03:08
it's what we do with it.
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而是我們用那經驗做了什麼。
03:10
Imagine a hurricane suddenly
sweeps through your town
sweeps through your town
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想像一下，一陣颶風
迅速撲向你的城市，
迅速撲向你的城市，
03:14
and reduces every last thing to rubble.
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將所有一切化為廢墟。
03:18
One man is traumatized for life.
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某個人身心遭受終身頓挫，
03:22
But another, maybe even his brother,
almost feels liberated,
almost feels liberated,
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但另一人，也許甚至是他的兄弟，
卻幾乎感覺釋懷，
卻幾乎感覺釋懷，
03:26
and decides this is a great chance
to start his life anew.
to start his life anew.
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並認定，這是一個可以
使自己重獲新生的重要機會。
使自己重獲新生的重要機會。
03:30
It's exactly the same event,
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這是同樣的事件，
03:32
but radically different responses.
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截然不同的回應。
03:35
There is nothing either good or bad,
as Shakespeare told us in "Hamlet,"
as Shakespeare told us in "Hamlet,"
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沒有什麼是絕對的好壞，正如莎士比亞
在《哈姆雷特》中所告訴我們的，
在《哈姆雷特》中所告訴我們的，
03:39
but thinking makes it so.
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好壞由思維決定。
03:42
And this has certainly been
my experience as a traveler.
my experience as a traveler.
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這無疑就是我
作為一個旅者的經驗。
作為一個旅者的經驗。
03:46
Twenty-four years ago I took
the most mind-bending trip
the most mind-bending trip
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24 年前，我完成了一次
最不可思議的旅程：
最不可思議的旅程：
03:49
across North Korea.
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橫跨北韓。
03:52
But the trip lasted a few days.
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但這次旅行只持續了幾天。
03:55
What I've done with it sitting still,
going back to it in my head,
going back to it in my head,
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這經驗對於無所去處的我來說，
允許我可以在心思中回朔，
允許我可以在心思中回朔，
03:58
trying to understand it,
finding a place for it in my thinking,
finding a place for it in my thinking,
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試著瞭解它，
讓它在我的思維中尋得一個位置，
讓它在我的思維中尋得一個位置，
04:02
that's lasted 24 years already
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在那裡已存留了 24 年，
04:04
and will probably last a lifetime.
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而它很可能會在我這生中，
一直持續下去。
一直持續下去。
04:07
The trip, in other words,
gave me some amazing sights,
gave me some amazing sights,
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換句話說， 這次旅行，
帶給我一些驚人的景致，
帶給我一些驚人的景致，
04:11
but it's only sitting still
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但唯有處於靜止的狀態
04:13
that allows me to turn those
into lasting insights.
into lasting insights.
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才讓我得以將這些風景
化為更長的見識。
化為更長的見識。
04:17
And I sometimes think
that so much of our life
that so much of our life
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我有時會想，我們的生活
04:19
takes place inside our heads,
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有太多東西發生在我們自己的腦袋裡，
04:21
in memory or imagination
or interpretation or speculation,
or interpretation or speculation,
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在回憶中，在想像裡，
透過詮釋，或是猜疑，
透過詮釋，或是猜疑，
04:26
that if I really want to change my life
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如果我真想改變我的生命，
我可能最好從
改變我的思維開始。
改變我的思維開始。
04:29
I might best begin by changing my mind.
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04:33
Again, none of this is new;
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同樣，這一切都不是新想法；
04:35
that's why Shakespeare and the Stoics
were telling us this centuries ago,
were telling us this centuries ago,
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這就是為什麼莎士比亞和斯多葛學派
在幾個世紀前就告訴我們，
在幾個世紀前就告訴我們，
04:39
but Shakespeare never had to face
200 emails in a day.
200 emails in a day.
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然而，莎士比亞從未面對過
一天收到兩百多封電子郵件的日子。
一天收到兩百多封電子郵件的日子。
04:43
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
04:45
The Stoics, as far as I know,
were not on Facebook.
were not on Facebook.
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據我所知，斯多葛派的學者們
也沒掛在臉書上。
也沒掛在臉書上。
04:49
We all know that in our on-demand lives,
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我們都知道，在我們
充滿各種需索的生活中，
充滿各種需索的生活中，
04:52
one of the things that's most on demand
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一種最迫切需要之物
04:54
is ourselves.
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就是自己。
04:55
Wherever we are, any time of night or day,
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無論我們處於何處，處於何時，
無論是夜晚或白天中的任何時刻，
無論是夜晚或白天中的任何時刻，
04:58
our bosses, junk-mailers,
our parents can get to us.
our parents can get to us.
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我們的老闆、垃圾郵件、
我們的父母都能找到我們。
我們的父母都能找到我們。
05:02
Sociologists have actually found
that in recent years
that in recent years
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事實上，社會學家近年來發現，
05:05
Americans are working fewer hours
than 50 years ago,
than 50 years ago,
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當今美國人的工作時間
竟然比 50 年前還少，
竟然比 50 年前還少，
05:09
but we feel as if we're working more.
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但我們卻覺得自己的工時更長。
05:12
We have more and more time-saving devices,
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我們有越來越多的
可以用來節省時間的設備，
可以用來節省時間的設備，
05:15
but sometimes, it seems,
less and less time.
less and less time.
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但有時，時間似乎越來越少。
05:18
We can more and more easily
make contact with people
make contact with people
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我們比以前更容易與
身處地球另一端的人們聯繫，
05:21
on the furthest corners of the planet,
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05:23
but sometimes in that process
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但有時候，在那過程中，
05:25
we lose contact with ourselves.
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我們與自己斷了線。
05:29
And one of my biggest surprises
as a traveler
as a traveler
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作為一個旅行者，
最讓我詫異的事情之一就是
最讓我詫異的事情之一就是
05:33
has been to find
that often it's exactly the people
that often it's exactly the people
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我發現，時常，往往就是那些
05:36
who have most enabled us to get anywhere
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最使我們能夠走向世界各地的人
05:39
who are intent on going nowhere.
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卻最希望身居原處。
05:42
In other words, precisely those beings
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換句話說，正是那些
05:44
who have created the technologies
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創造了打破舊時限制
05:46
that override so many
of the limits of old,
of the limits of old,
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允許人自由出遊的科技的人們
05:50
are the ones wisest
about the need for limits,
about the need for limits,
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才是最有智慧的個體，
他們理解限制的必須，
他們理解限制的必須，
05:53
even when it comes to technology.
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甚至在面對科技本身時，亦是如此。
05:57
I once went to the Google headquarters
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有一次我造訪 Google 總部，
05:59
and I saw all the things
many of you have heard about;
many of you have heard about;
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我見到了所有你們聽說過的事；
06:02
the indoor tree houses, the trampolines,
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室內樹屋、蹦床、
06:05
workers at that time enjoying 20 percent
of their paid time free
of their paid time free
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以及那些正在體驗 20% 的
屬於自己付費工時的員工，
屬於自己付費工時的員工，
06:10
so that they could just let
their imaginations go wandering.
their imaginations go wandering.
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這讓他們的想像自由漫遊。
06:14
But what impressed me even more
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但更讓我感到印象深刻的是，
06:17
was that as I was waiting
for my digital I.D.,
for my digital I.D.,
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當我正在等待我的電子身份證時，
06:20
one Googler was telling me
about the program
about the program
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有位 Google 員工告訴我一個案子，
06:23
that he was about to start
to teach the many, many Googlers
to teach the many, many Googlers
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說他正打算教許許多多的 Google 員工
06:27
who practice yoga
to become trainers in it,
to become trainers in it,
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來練習瑜伽，並成為瑜伽訓練師，
06:30
and the other Googler was telling me
about the book that he was about to write
about the book that he was about to write
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而另外一個 Google 職員
向我述說了一本他正想寫的書，
向我述說了一本他正想寫的書，
06:34
on the inner search engine,
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一本關於內在尋索的書，
06:37
and the ways in which science
has empirically shown
has empirically shown
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以及科學如何經驗性地證明
06:40
that sitting still, or meditation,
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打坐，或冥想
06:43
can lead not just to better
health or to clearer thinking,
health or to clearer thinking,
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不僅能夠促進健康、明晰思維，
06:47
but even to emotional intelligence.
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甚至可以增進情緒智力。
06:50
I have another friend in Silicon Valley
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我有另一個在矽谷工作的朋友，
06:52
who is really one
of the most eloquent spokesmen
of the most eloquent spokesmen
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他的確是當前最先進科技的
最有說服力的代言人，
06:56
for the latest technologies,
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06:57
and in fact was one of the founders
of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly.
of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly.
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他是《Wired》雜誌的創始人之一，
凱文．凱利。
凱文．凱利。
07:01
And Kevin wrote his last book
on fresh technologies
on fresh technologies
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凱文當時正在寫一本有關最新科技的書，
07:05
without a smartphone
or a laptop or a TV in his home.
or a laptop or a TV in his home.
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但他家裡卻沒有智慧型手機、
筆記本電腦，或者電視。
筆記本電腦，或者電視。
07:10
And like many in Silicon Valley,
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如同許多住在矽谷的人們，
07:12
he tries really hard to observe
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他非常努力地觀察
07:15
what they call an Internet sabbath,
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那個稱為網路安息日的東西，
07:19
whereby for 24 or 48 hours every week
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在每個星期中，有 24 或 48 小時，
07:22
they go completely offline
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他們會徹底下線，
07:26
in order to gather the sense of direction
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以尋求一點方向感，
07:28
and proportion they'll need
when they go online again.
when they go online again.
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用來重新調整，並汲取
他們重新上線時之所需。
他們重新上線時之所需。
07:31
The one thing perhaps
that technology hasn't always given us
that technology hasn't always given us
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有件科技可能尚未給予我們的
07:35
is a sense of how to make
the wisest use of technology.
the wisest use of technology.
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是如何可以更聰明地使用科技。
07:40
And when you speak of the sabbath,
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談到休息日，
讓我們看看十誡吧，
07:42
look at the Ten Commandments --
143
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07:44
there's only one word there
for which the adjective "holy" is used,
for which the adjective "holy" is used,
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其中只有一個字的形容詞涉及「神聖」，
07:49
and that's the Sabbath.
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那就是安息日。
07:51
I pick up the Jewish holy book
of the Torah --
of the Torah --
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我拿起猶太聖典《托拉》，
07:54
its longest chapter, it's on the Sabbath.
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它最長的章節，也是關於安息日。
07:57
And we all know that it's really
one of our greatest luxuries,
one of our greatest luxuries,
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我們都知道，這真是
我們擁有的最大奢侈之一：
我們擁有的最大奢侈之一：
08:01
the empty space.
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空。
08:03
In many a piece of music,
it's the pause or the rest
it's the pause or the rest
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在許多音樂作品中，停頓或靜默
08:07
that gives the piece
its beauty and its shape.
its beauty and its shape.
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賦予這作品美麗形貌。
08:10
And I know I as a writer
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我知道，作為一個作家，
08:12
will often try to include
a lot of empty space on the page
a lot of empty space on the page
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我時常會在頁面中留下空白之處
08:16
so that the reader can complete
my thoughts and sentences
my thoughts and sentences
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讓讀者可以完整地
領會我的思維與句法，
領會我的思維與句法，
08:20
and so that her imagination
has room to breathe.
has room to breathe.
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以留給想像呼吸的空間。
08:25
Now, in the physical domain,
of course, many people,
of course, many people,
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現在，在實際的領域中，
當然，有很多人，
當然，有很多人，
08:28
if they have the resources,
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倘若他們稍微富裕的話，
08:29
will try to get a place in the country,
a second home.
a second home.
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會試著在國內擁有第二個家。
08:33
I've never begun to have those resources,
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我從未有過那些資源，
08:36
but I sometimes remember
that any time I want,
that any time I want,
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但我有時記得，任何時候，若我想的話，
08:40
I can get a second home in time,
if not in space,
if not in space,
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我可以給自己放一天假，
來適時地，獲得第二個家。
08:44
just by taking a day off.
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當然，這從來就不容易，
每次我這麼做，
每次我這麼做，
08:47
And it's never easy because, of course,
whenever I do I spend much of it
whenever I do I spend much of it
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08:50
worried about all the extra stuff
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對於所有多出來的
08:52
that's going to crash down on me
the following day.
the following day.
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會壓垮我隔日工作天的憂慮就會出現。
08:54
I sometimes think I'd rather give up
meat or sex or wine
meat or sex or wine
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有時我會覺得，我寧願
放棄吃肉、性生活，或紅酒，
放棄吃肉、性生活，或紅酒，
08:57
than the chance to check on my emails.
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也不願失去任何一丁點
查電子信箱的機會。
查電子信箱的機會。
09:00
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
09:01
And every season I do try to take
three days off on retreat
three days off on retreat
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每個季度，我的確給自己三天假期，
09:05
but a part of me still feels guilty
to be leaving my poor wife behind
to be leaving my poor wife behind
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但關於丟下我妻子
以及忽略那些
以及忽略那些
老闆寄來的看似緊急的郵件，
09:09
and to be ignoring
all those seemingly urgent emails
all those seemingly urgent emails
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09:12
from my bosses
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以及錯過朋友的派對，
09:14
and maybe to be missing
a friend's birthday party.
a friend's birthday party.
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我內心某處仍然覺得有負罪感。
09:17
But as soon as I get
to a place of real quiet,
to a place of real quiet,
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但一旦來到某個真正安靜的地方，
09:21
I realize that it's only by going there
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我才瞭解，只有去那裡，
09:23
that I'll have anything fresh
or creative or joyful to share
or creative or joyful to share
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我才能擁有全新的、
有創意的，或快意之事
有創意的，或快意之事
09:27
with my wife or bosses or friends.
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和我妻子、上司或朋友分享。
09:30
Otherwise, really,
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否則，天啊，
09:31
I'm just foisting on them
my exhaustion or my distractedness,
my exhaustion or my distractedness,
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我能夠加諸於他們的
僅僅是我的疲憊或分神狀態，
僅僅是我的疲憊或分神狀態，
09:35
which is no blessing at all.
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這實在黯然無光。
09:39
And so when I was 29,
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所以當我 29 歲時，
09:41
I decided to remake my entire life
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我決定要重整自己全部的生活，
09:44
in the light of going nowhere.
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為了獲得那無所去處的體驗。
09:47
One evening I was coming back
from the office,
from the office,
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2501
有天晚上，我從辦公室回家，
09:49
it was after midnight, I was in a taxi
driving through Times Square,
driving through Times Square,
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4179
當時午夜時分，我正在計程車上，
經過了時代廣場，
經過了時代廣場，
09:53
and I suddenly realized
that I was racing around so much
that I was racing around so much
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我突然驚覺，自己倉皇度日
09:57
I could never catch up with my life.
187
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3156
以至於永遠無法趕上自己的生活。
10:00
And my life then, as it happened,
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1816
而我的生活，在那時已
10:02
was pretty much the one
I might have dreamed of as a little boy.
I might have dreamed of as a little boy.
189
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3821
差不多就和我小時夢想的一般。
10:06
I had really interesting friends
and colleagues,
and colleagues,
190
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2315
我有非常有趣的朋友和同事，
10:08
I had a nice apartment
on Park Avenue and 20th Street.
on Park Avenue and 20th Street.
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我在公園大道和第 20 街口
有個非常棒的公寓。
有個非常棒的公寓。
10:12
I had, to me, a fascinating job
writing about world affairs,
writing about world affairs,
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我有個對我來說絕佳的工作，
這工作讓我可以撰寫一些世界事務，
這工作讓我可以撰寫一些世界事務，
10:17
but I could never separate myself
enough from them
enough from them
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2988
但我從來未能將自己和它清楚分開，
10:20
to hear myself think --
194
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1703
讓自己傾聽自己的思緒，
10:21
or really, to understand
if I was truly happy.
if I was truly happy.
195
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4126
或，去理解自己是否真的快樂。
10:26
And so, I abandoned my dream life
196
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3187
因此，我放棄我夢想中的工作，
10:29
for a single room on the backstreets
of Kyoto, Japan,
of Kyoto, Japan,
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就為了待在一個位於日本京都
某後街裡的單間房內，
某後街裡的單間房內，
10:34
which was the place
that had long exerted a strong,
that had long exerted a strong,
198
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3286
這地方長久以來產生了一種強烈的
10:37
really mysterious gravitational pull on me.
199
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3850
對我來說極為神秘的吸引力。
10:41
Even as a child
200
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1335
甚至在我孩提時代，
10:43
I would just look at a painting
of Kyoto and feel I recognized it;
of Kyoto and feel I recognized it;
201
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3371
我會看著一幅京都的畫作
並感覺，我認出它來了，
並感覺，我認出它來了，
10:46
I knew it before I ever laid eyes on it.
202
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在定睛審視它之前，我便知如此。
10:49
But it's also, as you all know,
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1929
但它也是，如同大家所知，
10:51
a beautiful city encircled by hills,
204
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2719
是一個群山環繞的美麗城市，
10:54
filled with more than 2,000 temples
and shrines,
and shrines,
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3629
充滿 2000 多座寺廟和神社，
10:57
where people have been sitting still
for 800 years or more.
for 800 years or more.
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5112
人們在那裡靜思了 800 年以上之久。
11:03
And quite soon after I moved there,
I ended up where I still am
I ended up where I still am
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3993
就在我搬到那裡不久，
我和現在的妻子、孩子
11:07
with my wife, formerly our kids,
208
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2579
擠在一個有兩間房的公寓裡，
在一個不毛之地，
在一個不毛之地，
11:09
in a two-room apartment
in the middle of nowhere
in the middle of nowhere
209
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2581
11:12
where we have no bicycle, no car,
210
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2388
我們沒有自行車，沒有車，
11:14
no TV I can understand,
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2169
沒有可以理解的電視節目，
11:16
and I still have to support my loved ones
212
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2553
我還得以作家和記者的身份
11:19
as a travel writer and a journalist,
213
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2531
撫養我的至親家人，
11:21
so clearly this is not ideal
for job advancement
for job advancement
214
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3364
因此很明顯地，這對職業生涯、
11:25
or for cultural excitement
215
673018
1827
對文化探索，
11:27
or for social diversion.
216
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2367
或對體驗社會紛繁來說，
都不是一個理想的規劃。
都不是一個理想的規劃。
11:29
But I realized that it gives me
what I prize most,
what I prize most,
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4528
但我理解，這賦予了我那些
我最珍愛的日子，
11:34
which is days
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1640
11:36
and hours.
219
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1733
與時刻。
11:37
I have never once had to use
a cell phone there.
a cell phone there.
220
685773
2627
我在那裡從未需要使用手機。
11:40
I almost never have to look at the time,
221
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3543
我基本上幾乎無須看時間，
11:44
and every morning when I wake up,
222
691943
2554
每天早上我醒來時，
11:46
really the day stretches in front of me
223
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2361
在我眼前展開來的一天
11:49
like an open meadow.
224
696858
2974
是一片敞開的草地。
11:52
And when life throws up
one of its nasty surprises,
one of its nasty surprises,
225
699832
3196
當生命向你拋出某個重大驚喜時，
11:55
as it will, more than once,
226
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1961
它會不只出現一次，
11:57
when a doctor comes into my room
227
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2181
當一個醫生來到我房裡，
11:59
wearing a grave expression,
228
707170
1895
臉上帶著肅穆的表情，
12:01
or a car suddenly veers
in front of mine on the freeway,
in front of mine on the freeway,
229
709065
3628
或一輛汽車在高速公路上
突然改道，轉進我車子前方，
突然改道，轉進我車子前方，
12:04
I know, in my bones,
230
712693
2744
我知道，在我骨子裡，
12:07
that it's the time I've spent
going nowhere
going nowhere
231
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2710
正是那無所去處的時光
12:10
that is going to sustain me much more
232
718147
2002
幫助我持續保持平靜，
12:12
than all the time I've spent
racing around to Bhutan or Easter Island.
racing around to Bhutan or Easter Island.
233
720149
4953
那比起我在不丹和復活節島
所度之日都要有幫助。
所度之日都要有幫助。
12:18
I'll always be a traveler --
234
726306
1404
我永遠都會是個旅者，
12:19
my livelihood depends on it --
235
727710
1904
那是我生活之所繫，
12:21
but one of the beauties of travel
236
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2179
然而旅行的美好之處在於，
12:23
is that it allows you to bring stillness
237
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4106
它讓你將沈靜之心
12:28
into the motion and the commotion
of the world.
of the world.
238
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4120
帶到這莽撞與躁動的世界之中。
12:32
I once got on a plane
in Frankfurt, Germany,
in Frankfurt, Germany,
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3378
有次，我在德國法蘭克福搭機，
12:35
and a young German woman
came down and sat next to me
came down and sat next to me
240
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2948
一位年輕的德國女子坐到我身旁，
12:38
and engaged me
in a very friendly conversation
in a very friendly conversation
241
746345
2620
與我展開非常友善的對談，
12:41
for about 30 minutes,
242
748965
1751
近 30 分鐘，
12:42
and then she just turned around
243
750716
1993
接著，她就轉過身去，
12:44
and sat still for 12 hours.
244
752709
3273
靜靜坐在那裡 12 小時之久。
12:48
She didn't once turn on her video monitor,
245
755982
2634
她未曾打開螢幕，
12:50
she never pulled out a book,
she didn't even go to sleep,
she didn't even go to sleep,
246
758616
3295
她也沒拿出書本，
甚至從未睡去，
甚至從未睡去，
12:54
she just sat still,
247
761911
2787
就只是靜靜地坐著，
12:56
and something of her clarity and calm
really imparted itself to me.
really imparted itself to me.
248
764698
4531
她那明晰和沈靜已傳授於我。
13:02
I've noticed more and more people
taking conscious measures these days
taking conscious measures these days
249
769999
4322
近來我注意到
有越來越多人刻意地
有越來越多人刻意地
13:06
to try to open up a space
inside their lives.
inside their lives.
250
774321
3273
試圖在他們的生活中打開一片空間。
13:09
Some people go to black-hole resorts
251
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2330
有些人參加黑洞之旅
13:12
where they'll spend hundreds
of dollars a night
of dollars a night
252
779935
2360
他們會一晚花上幾百美元
13:14
in order to hand over
their cell phone and their laptop
their cell phone and their laptop
253
782295
3158
只為了將自己的手機與電腦
交給度假中心接待處。
13:17
to the front desk on arrival.
254
785453
2204
13:19
Some people I know,
just before they go to sleep,
just before they go to sleep,
255
787657
2965
有些我認識的人
並不會在睡前玩手機，
13:22
instead of scrolling through
their messages
their messages
256
790622
2124
或觀看 YouTube 影片，
13:24
or checking out YouTube,
257
792746
1672
13:26
just turn out the lights
and listen to some music,
and listen to some music,
258
794418
3244
反而就只是關燈，聽音樂，
13:29
and notice that they sleep much better
259
797662
2426
他們知道，這樣會有更好的睡眠，
13:32
and wake up much refreshed.
260
800088
3213
在隔天一早將更神清氣爽。
13:35
I was once fortunate enough
261
803301
2206
我曾經有幸地
13:37
to drive into the high, dark mountains
behind Los Angeles,
behind Los Angeles,
262
805507
5040
駕駛於洛杉磯旁
高聳黯黑的群山之中，
高聳黯黑的群山之中，
13:42
where the great poet and singer
263
810547
2548
那裡曾住了一位偉大的詩人樂手 --
13:45
and international heartthrob Leonard Cohen
264
813095
3222
舉世皆知的李歐納．科恩。
13:48
was living and working for many years
as a full-time monk
as a full-time monk
265
816317
4171
他曾在那附近作了好幾年的全職僧侶，
13:52
in the Mount Baldy Zen Center.
266
820488
2851
就在博帝山禪學中心。
13:55
And I wasn't entirely surprised
267
823339
1965
當他在 77 歲發表了
13:57
when the record that he released
at the age of 77,
at the age of 77,
268
825304
3710
自己的唱片專輯，
14:01
to which he gave the deliberately
unsexy title of "Old Ideas,"
unsexy title of "Old Ideas,"
269
829014
5281
他故意給這個專輯取了個
非常不性感的名稱「舊思維」，
非常不性感的名稱「舊思維」，
14:06
went to number one in the charts
in 17 nations in the world,
in 17 nations in the world,
270
834296
2962
然而這專輯在全球
17 個國家衝上排行榜首位，
17 個國家衝上排行榜首位，
14:09
hit the top five in nine others.
271
837258
3230
在另外 9 個國家衝上前 5 名。
14:12
Something in us, I think, is crying out
272
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2767
它觸動了我們許多人
內心裡某種東西，
內心裡某種東西，
14:15
for the sense of intimacy and depth
that we get from people like that.
that we get from people like that.
273
843255
4506
觸動了躁動的人們
一種親密、深刻與沈靜的思緒。
14:19
who take the time
and trouble to sit still.
and trouble to sit still.
274
847761
3782
14:23
And I think many
of us have the sensation,
of us have the sensation,
275
851543
2238
我想許多人擁有這種感覺，我當然也是，
14:25
I certainly do,
276
853781
1528
我們站在一個巨大的螢幕前，
距離大約兩英吋，
距離大約兩英吋，
14:27
that we're standing about two inches away
from a huge screen,
from a huge screen,
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14:31
and it's noisy and it's crowded
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人聲鼎沸，摩肩接踵，
14:33
and it's changing with every second,
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每一刻都在變動著，
14:35
and that screen is our lives.
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而那螢幕即為我們自己的人生。
14:38
And it's only by stepping back,
and then further back,
and then further back,
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唯有向後退一步，再回頭一步，
14:42
and holding still,
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沉靜地屏住氣，
14:44
that we can begin to see
what the canvas means
what the canvas means
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我們才能開始瞭解
那畫布上描繪之物，
那畫布上描繪之物，
14:46
and to catch the larger picture.
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並以更寬廣的眼界洞察世界。
14:49
And a few people do that for us
by going nowhere.
by going nowhere.
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有些人已如此做了，他們無須來去。
14:54
So, in an age of acceleration,
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因此，在這個快速轉變的時代，
14:56
nothing can be more exhilarating
than going slow.
than going slow.
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沒有什麼比慢下來還要振奮人心。
15:00
And in an age of distraction,
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在這個失焦的時代，
15:02
nothing is so luxurious
as paying attention.
as paying attention.
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沒有什麼比凝神專注來得奢侈。
15:06
And in an age of constant movement,
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在這個不斷變動的時代，
15:09
nothing is so urgent as sitting still.
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沒有什麼比靜思來得急迫。
15:13
So you can go on your next vacation
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所以，下一次當你們
15:15
to Paris or Hawaii, or New Orleans;
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去巴黎、夏威夷或紐奧良度假時，
15:18
I bet you'll have a wonderful time.
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我保證你們會有一段美好時光，
15:22
But, if you want to come back home
alive and full of fresh hope,
alive and full of fresh hope,
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但如果你們想回家，
期待滿懷全新希望，
期待滿懷全新希望，
15:27
in love with the world,
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愛這個世界，
15:29
I think you might want
to try considering going nowhere.
to try considering going nowhere.
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我想，也許你們應該試著
哪裡都別去。
哪裡都別去。
15:33
Thank you.
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謝謝。
15:35
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Pico Iyer - Global authorPico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships.
Why you should listen
In twelve books, covering everything from Revolutionary Cuba to the XIVth Dalai Lama, Islamic mysticism to our lives in airports, Pico Iyer has worked to chronicle the accelerating changes in our outer world, which sometimes make steadiness and rootedness in our inner world more urgent than ever. In his TED Book, The Art of Stillness, he draws upon travels from North Korea to Iran to remind us how to remain focused and sane in an age of frenzied distraction. As he writes in the book, "Almost everybody I know has this sense of overdosing on information and getting dizzy living at post-human speeds ... All of us instinctively feel that something inside us is crying out for more spaciousness and stillness to offset the exhilarations of this movement and the fun and diversion of the modern world."
Pico Iyer | Speaker | TED.com