第十回：東風無力百花殘
Chapter 10
“Deprived of East wind
vigor, flowers lose their heart”
兩人好不容易恢復了神智，談起剛才教主的一番教誨，胡妁感慨良多。她說：「老實說，我以前總認為這位教主是個尸位素餐、任性妄為的神棍。今天才發現我錯了，他的確很有道行，很多過去我不瞭解的疑團，都得到了解答。」
After
some time the two of them regained conscious. As they spoke about what the sect leader
had just taught them, Hu Shuo had mixed feelings. She said, “To tell you the truth, I’d
always considered this sect leader as someone with an ecclesiastical sinecure;
an intractable and reckless swindler in the name of religion. Today I discovered I was wrong. He is truly a person of high spiritual
character. Many of my past doubts
and misgivings have been laid to rest.”
文祥說：「我還是不大瞭解，他說的我都懂，但是卻不懂我懂的是什麼！」
Wen Xiang said, “I still
don’t quite get it. I understood
perfectly what he said, but I don’t understand what it is that I understood!”
胡妁說：「那是因為你平常很少想這些問題。」
Hu Shuo said,
“That’s because ordinarily you don’t give any thought to these questions.”
「可能吧！請問妳，地宮酒店在哪裡？」
“Maybe! Could you tell me where I can find the
Underground Palace Hotel?”
「幹嘛去地宮酒店？」
“Why do you want to go
there?”
「我應該住在那裡。」
“I’m supposed to stay
there.”
「住在地宮酒店？」
“Stay at the
Underground Palace Hotel?”
「有什麼不妥？」
“What’s wrong with
it?”
以剛才的情況來判斷，胡妁猜想這可能是文祥工作的一部分，便說：「這樣吧，我帶你去。不過這次情況不同，我們不要再多管閒事了。」
Judging from what had just
happened, Hu Shuo thought it might have something to do with Wen Xiang’s
job. “Well, let me take you there”,
she said. “But this time it’ll be
different. We’re not messing in other
people’s affairs.”
「這樣方便嗎？後天就要開會了，會不會耽擱妳的工作？」
“Would that be convenient? The meeting is for the day after
tomorrow. Will it interfere with
your job?”
「我的工作？我的工作就是做你的介面啊！」胡妁很得意地用上「介面」一詞。
“My job? My job is to be your interface!” Hu Shuo proudly used the phrase
“interface”.
「聽妳的口氣，這家酒店好像有問題。」
“Your tone of voice makes it sound like there’s something wrong with the hotel.”
「沒錯，一般酒店在訂房後，客人就可以直接進房。地宮酒店卻特別規定，客人一定要親自到櫃台辦理登記手續。美其名是為了安全，其實另有目的。」
“Exactly. Usually, after a guest has reserved a
room in a hotel he can go straight to his room. But Underground Palace Hotel has special
rules. The guest must register
personally at the reception counter.
They make it sound nice by calling it ‘security’, but actually it’s done
for another reason.”
「什麼目的？」
“What reason?
「那我就不知道了！再說，一般酒店都是用生化人服務，可是，這家酒店有時會有自然人混在裡頭……」
“That I don’t know. Besides, usually a hotel uses
biochemical people as hotel staff, but this hotel mixes natural people among
them…”
「自然人？」
“Natural people?”
「你不知道嗎？為了跟生化人區別，我們都自稱為自然人。我不知道別的地方怎樣，在火星上，生化人與自然人幾乎一模一樣。」
“You don’t
know? In order to distinguish from
biochemical people, we call ourselves natural people. I don’t know about other places but on
Mars biochemical people are almost identical to normal people.”
「在地球上我們自稱真人。」
On Earth we call ourselves zhen ren (real people).”
「真人？」胡妁禁不住笑了。
“Zhen ren?” Hu Shuo couldn’t help smiling.
「真人有什麼不對？」
“What’s wrong
with zhen ren?”
「在這裡，真人指的是修道的人，自然人只是自然而已，一點兒也不真。」
“Over here, zhen ren refers to people who cultivate
the Way. Ordinary people are just
ordinary, that’s all. There is
nothing of the practitioner about them.”
「怎麼？你們這裡還有修道人？」
“What? You have initiates here?”
「當然，不僅有，還多得很呢！」
“Of course. Not only that, but we great numbers of them.”
「妳還沒說，地宮酒店的自然人怎樣了？」
“You haven’t told me about those ordinary people in the Underground Palace Hotel.”
「我最近幾次帶客人去，都被百般刁難，說些莫名其妙的話。」
“I’ve taken several guests over there recently. But on each occasion they gave me all kinds of trouble and said some very strange things.”
「妳是說人反而刁難人？」
“You’re saying
some humans deliberately make trouble for other humans?”
「是啊！如果是生化人來刁難那倒好辦了。到時候，你千萬不要說話。」
“Yep. If it was the biochemical people it
would be easier to deal with. When
we get there, just don’t say anything.”
兩人乘坐磁浮梭，到達地宮酒店時，天色已近黃昏了。火星上的黃昏應該稱做紅昏或纁紅，這裡的太陽比地球上見到的要小一點，經電離罩過濾後，就像一顆渾圓的朱砂球。紅光照在紅土上，紅芒濛濛，頗有夢幻的感覺。再加上黝黝陰影，觸目所及，彷彿浸淫在血海之中，顯得無比慘烈。
The
two of them boarded the magnetic levitated shuttle. By the time they arrived at the Underground Palace Hotel
the sun was almost down. Twilight
on Mars could more appropriately be called ‘red evening’, or ‘crimson’. The sun looked smaller than the one seen
from Earth. After being filtered
through the ion shield, it looked like a round vermilion ball. Red light shining on red earth created a
hazy crimson glow that gave a strong dream-like feeling. In addition, there were jet-black
shadows. Wherever you looked, everything
seemed to be soaked in an ocean of blood, a spectacle of incomparable
carnage.
文祥從來沒見過這種景色，尤其是身旁還有一位如花似玉的少女，更是迷離詭異。在紅夕陽下，胡妁的皮膚映襯著青春光澤，但是看她行事穩健周詳，顯然又不是少不更事的年輕人。
Wen Xiang had never seen anything like this. Having a beautiful young lady at his
side made it even more bizarre. The
red sunset suffused Hu Shuo’s complexion with the glow of youth. But the way she dealt with things was
mature, experienced, and well thought-out.
She was obviously no inexperienced youngster.
胡妁察覺出文祥疑惑的目光，笑著說：「你一定在猜的我歲數，告訴你，我今年六十了。我的外表只是虛榮心的產物，剛才聽了教主一番話，我才發覺我有很多我。」
Hu Shuo noticed Wen Xiang’s
confused look and she smiled, “You must be guessing how old I am. Let me tell you. I’m 60 this year. My appearance is the product of
vanity. After I heard what the sect
leader said, I realized I have many ‘me’s’.”
文祥被識破，有點不好意思，訕訕地說：「我今年三十六了，還在找尋我的我。」
Wen Xiang was
embarrassed at being seen through.
He said shyly, “I’m 36 and I’m still trying to find my ‘I’.”
兩人說著，已走到酒店門口。這座地宮酒店是宇內知名的建築，外表並不出奇，但一跨入大門，立刻就是另一個天地。
While they were
talking, they arrived at the hotel.
This Underground Palace Hotel was one of the famous structures in the
universe. Although the exterior was
nothing remarkable, upon entering the door, another world immediately emerged.
這裡原來是個小型隕石坑，跨度約有兩百公尺，深有四十公尺。建築師匠心獨運，不但沒有把坑底填平，反倒順著坑勢設計了各式小屋，各屋大小、間距不同，形色有別，一般人稱為「史前地宮」。
This location had once been a small
crater. The crater was 200 meters
wide and 40 meters deep. The
architect had the inspiration of a master craftsman. Instead of leveling the bottom of the
crater, he designed various kinds of cabins according to the crater’s
slope. The size and distance
between cabins were different as well as was their style. Most people referred to it the “Pre-historic
Underground Palace.”
一進這史前地宮，就見燈火通明，宛如白晝。奇妙的是，其光源不知來自何處，一片勻和，亮而不耀。
As soon as one stepped inside the
Pre-historic Underground Palace, one saw the entire place was lit up as bright
as day. What made it more amazing
was that this source of light was unknown.
The entire place was evenly lit.
It was bright but not dazzling to the eyes.
在坑口上方，是一個覆碗狀的半圓穹頂，沿著穹頂，有奇藤延衍，曲行盤繞。鬚根捫隙墜蔓，垂黃錦飄金緞；枝條如繩似索，攀穹附椽。最奇特的還是巴掌大的樹葉，竟泛著淡雅翠綠的瑩光。
Covering the top of the crater was
a half-dome that resembled an overturned bowl. An unusual creeper plant spread and
wound about the dome. Fibrous roots
made their way into vacant spaces and vines swayed in the air. Dangling there, these yellow vines
looked like streaks of golden satin.
The branches of the plant were similar to ropes. They scaled the dome and clung to the
beams. The most striking sight of
all was their palm-size leaves.
They actually glittered with an elegant jade-green light.
在藤根鬚枝間，錯懸著數以百計或方或圓，奇光幻彩、玲瓏剔透，如燈籠異果般的精巢，那就是聞名遐邇的「雲衖香巢」。
Hanging among the roots and
branches were hundreds of delicate nests.
They were either square or round in shape and illuminated with unusual,
dream-like colored lights. They
were lovely and translucent, very much like lanterns or exotic fruits. They were known far and wide as the
“Fragrant Nests among the Cloud Alleys”.
史前地宮共有五層，以寧靜古樸取勝，其間還有三景十折，都是原始世界風貌。旅客可以乘坐磁浮梭，隨意來往各處，探幽攬勝。
All
together, there were 5 levels in the Pre-historic Underground Palace, famed for
its quiet and simplicity. There
were 3 scenic spots with 10 views, all in their unspoiled natural
appearance. Tourists could take the
magnetic levitated shuttle to visit at their pleasure, any of these secluded
places and scenic spots.
雲衖香巢上下也有四層，提供那膽大如斗、喜歡冒險的人，享受驚奇的刺激。不要說房間地板採完全透空的設計（當然也能任人改變），光是往返香巢之間，乘坐飛梭高速來回衝刺的驚險，就讓人心神俱顫。
“Fragrant Nests among the Cloud
Alleys” had a total of 4 levels, providing exciting enjoyment to those of a
daring and adventurous nature. Not
only were the room floors completely translucent (of course they could be
changed according to personal taste), but guests were thrilled by the
spine-tingling trip back and forth on the high-speed flying shuttle.
五○七八號指第五層的七十八號，是雲衖香巢最低的一層。
Number 5078
meant number 78 on the 5th level, which was the lowest level among
the “Fragrant Nests among the Cloud Alleys”.
胡妁領著文祥走到櫃台前，服務員禮貌地問道：「請問是不是要住房？」
Hu Shuo led Wen Xiang to the counter and the clerk politely
asked, “Are you checking in?”
胡妁向文祥使了個眼色，客氣地對服務員說：「我們訂了五○七八號房。」
Hu Shuo gave Wen Xiang a
meaningful look and politely told the clerk, “We have a reservation for Room
5078.”
服務員低頭查了一下，對文祥說：「是文祥先生吧？」
The clerk
lowered his head and checked.
Addressing Wen Xiang he asked, “You’re Mr. Wen Xiang?”
胡妁說：「就是他。」
Hu Shuo said, “That’s right.”
服務員瞟了胡妁一眼：「那妳呢？」
The clerk looked over Hu Shuo. “How about you?”
胡妁說：「我是他的朋友。」
Hu Shuo said, “I’m his
friend.”
服務員輕佻地說：「是什麼朋友？要不要住這裡？」
The clerk sarcastically asked, “What kind of friend? Will you be staying?”
胡妁耐著性子說：「我只負責送他來貴酒店，馬上就要走。」
Restraining her temper, Hu Shuo
said, “I’m only responsible for bringing him to the hotel. I’ll be leaving right away.”
服務員辦妥了手續，問文祥：「你一個人不寂寞嗎？」
When the clerk was finished with the checking-in formality,
he asked Wen Xiang, “Aren’t you lonely?”
胡妁搶著回答：「他是修行人。」
Hu Shuo quickly replied,
“He’s a follower of religious order.”
服務員不理胡妁，又問文祥：「你不會說話嗎？」
The clerk
ignored Hu Shuo and once again asked Wen Xiang, “Can’t you talk?”
胡妁有點不耐煩了：「先生，我們還有事，手續辦好了嗎？」
Hu Shuo’s patience was running out. “Mister, we have other things to do. Are we all through with checking in?”
誰知服務員竟一拍櫃台，大聲對胡妁說：「我沒跟妳說話！」
Unexpectedly the clerk slammed his
hand on the counter and yelled at Hu Shuo, “I’m not talking to you!”
就這麼一拍，櫃台後立即轉出四名面無表情的彪形大漢，個個雙手抱胸。文祥沒有見過這種場面，用指語問文娃，她說：「這家旅店是紅教範圍，我們管不到。」
As
soon as the blow was heard, four enormous pokerfaced men suddenly appeared, and
stood there, arms folded across their chests. Wen Xiang had never seen anything like
this before, and using finger language, asked
胡妁陪文祥去了一趟金頂寺，早知文祥不是等閒之輩。起初只是不願惹麻煩，真要有事，她反而膽氣更壯，便大聲說：「你這是什麼態度？你們的經理呢？叫他出來！」
Hu
Shuo had accompanied Wen Xiang to the Golden Roof Monastery because she knew
that Wen Xiang was not just an average person. Initially, she’d just wanted to avoid trouble,
but being unavoidable, she conversely became even bolder. In a sharp voice she said, “What kind of
attitude is this? Where’s the
manager? Get him out here!”
服務員冷笑了一聲，說：「經理？我就夠了！」
The clerk chuckled coldly and said, “Manager? I’m good enough!”
胡妁說：「你不配！」
Hu Shuo said, “You don’t have what it takes!”
此話一出，那四個像是生化人一樣的大漢立刻蠢蠢欲動。胡妁毫不在意，挺立如山。本來嘛！只要他們真敢動手，電腦自然會制止他們。
As soon as she finished, the four seemingly biochemical
people started to squirm. Hu Shuo was not alarmed in the least and firmly stood
her ground. So be it! If they really dared to start a fight
the computer would of course stop them.
不料那服務員手一指，四個人馬上跳出櫃台，把二人圍住。胡妁大吃一驚，為什麼這些人不受電腦節制呢？難怪人家說地宮酒店囂張跋扈，可是，怎麼可能呢？
The clerk pointed at them and the four men leaped out from
behind the counter and formed a circle around them. Hu Shuo was stunned. Why didn’t the computer control these
people? No wonder people said this
hotel was pushy and bullying. But,
how was this possible?
文祥本來打算旁觀到底，一看這種弩張劍拔的情勢，不願再鬧下去。這時已有一些客人站在遠處旁觀，相互竊竊私語，卻沒有人挺身而出。
Wen Xiang originally intended to
watch and see what would happen, but when he saw there was danger of a fight
breaking out, he had no wish to continue.
All this time some guests were watching from a distance. They spoke in low voices among
themselves but no one stepped forward to help.
文祥很客氣地說：「我是第一次來貴地，特別請了這位胡小姐做嚮導。」
Wen Xiang said politely, “This is
my first visit here. I specifically
asked Ms. Hu to be my guide.”
那服務員眉毛一揚，不高興地說：「那你為什麼不開口？」
The clerked raised an eyebrow and said with annoyance, “Then why didn’t you say something?”
文祥說：「據我所知，服務行業是顧客至上。既然已經有人代勞，我開不開口又有什麼關係？」
Wen
Xiang said, “According to my knowledge, customers are always right in the
service industry. Since someone was
helping me, did it matter if I spoke up or not?”
服務員啐道：「少跟我來這一套！我要知道你是不是人，我們不為生化人服務！」說時又將手一招，那四個大漢立時兩人一組，分向文祥與胡妁撲過去。
The clerk snarled, “Save it! I want to know whether or not you’re a
human. We don’t serve biochemical
people!” He waved as he was
talking. The four big louts
immediately paired off and charged toward Wen Xiang and Hu Shuo.
文祥只覺得眼前一花，突聞一聲暴喝：「給我住手！」
Wen
Xiang’s eyes blurred for a brief moment.
He suddenly heard a shouted command, “Stop!”
四個大漢一聽到那個聲音，倏地收勢急停，呆立在原地。
As soon as the four burly men
heard that voice, they stopped dead in their tracks and stood there
stupidly.
服務員一時還沒有搞清楚狀況，他發現聲音是從文祥身邊發出，不由得怒火中燒，馬上翻過櫃台，一個箭步直衝向文祥：「你這個混蛋！膽敢指揮我的生化人！」
For a moment the clerk didn’t know what was going on. When he realized that the voice was coming from next to Wen Xiang, he was furious. He immediately leaped over the counter and swift as an arrow, charged at Wen Xiang, “You bastard! How dare you give orders to my biochemical staff!”
文祥自己也被嚇了一跳，那個聲音竟然是從自己腕上的念珠發出來的，他還在納悶，那服務生已衝到眼前。文祥來不及招架，本能地往後退了一步，突然一陣金光閃過，一位身著紅色袈裟的尊者，已經雙手合十，擋在文祥面前。
Wen Xiang, too, was startled. Of all places, the voice had come from the prayer beads on his wrist. He was still puzzled when the clerk charged up to him. It was too late for Wen Xiang to defend himself and he instinctively stepped back. Suddenly there was a flash of golden light and a sage in red cassock, hands before his chest in the Buddhist salute of respect, stood in front of Wen Xiang, shielding him.
「阿彌陀佛，罪過！罪過！」
“Amitabha, I have
sinned!”
那服務員只覺得一股莫大的壓力，迎面猛然襲來，阻住了他的去勢。接著一股更強勁的力量，彷彿一面無形牆，重重地倒塌在身上。一時之間痛入骨髓，他「哎唷」一聲慘叫，人已飛出兩丈之外。
The clerk only felt he had suddenly
been struck by an enormous pressure that now blocked his path. Then an even more powerful force like
some invisible wall fell on him heavily.
Instantly, pain penetrated into the very marrow of his bones. He shrieked in agony as he flew 20 feet
through the air.
旁邊圍觀的客人，見尊者乍然現身，莫不大驚。再一看服務員挨打，一時人心大快，紛紛鼓掌叫好。
When the onlookers saw the sage suddenly appear they were stunned. When they looked again, the clerk was receiving a beating. They were overjoyed, and each of them clapped their hands and cheered.
這時櫃台後面又有幾個男女，手抄棍子，個個如猛虎出柙似地衝了出來，其中還有兩個喇嘛。只見這位尊者當庭而立，施出金剛禪喝：「你們統統給我站住！」
At this moment, several men and
women with clubs in hand, rushed out from behind the counter like fierce tigers
released from a cage. Among them
were two lamas. The sage stood
before them and sharply commanded, “Stop, every one of you!”
這一聲震得人人耳中嗡嗡不絕，那幾個人定睛一看，不由得魂飛天外，一個個撲通跪倒，口呼：「尊者恕罪！」
This
earsplitting voice made everyone’s ears ring. Upon seeing it was the sage they were
almost frightened out of their wits.
One by one, they thudded to their knees and called out, “Forgive us, sage!”
旅客中原有不少信徒，被眼前情勢震懾住了，不由自主地也下跪膜拜。
Among the
tourists were a good number of believers.
They, too, were stunned by what they saw and knelt in obeisance.
原來這位尊者是第九護法協巴多杰，他向文祥合十問禮，說：「施主受驚了！」
It turned out
that this sage was Champa Dorje, the 9th Dharma Guardian. Courteously holding his hands in the
Buddhist salute, he bowed to Wen Xiang and said, “You’ve had a scare!”
文祥也雙手合十，說：「不敢，不敢。」
Wen Xiang also made the Buddhist salutation and replied, “You’ve been most gracious. It’s nothing at all.”
尊者指文祥腕上的佛珠，對那些跪地磕頭的酒店人員說：「孽障！爾等面對活佛的法器，尚敢如此放肆！」
The sage pointed at the prayer beads on Wen Xiang’s wrist
and said to the hotel staff, kowtowing and kneeling on the floor, “You evil
wretches! How could you act so outrageously
when confronted with a ritual object belonging to the living Buddha!”
大家慌忙抬頭一看，那串佛珠本來是半透明的紅色，此刻卻大放光明。紅色珠光在一圈一圈的虛影中，射出輪軸般的七彩精芒。全部共有四圈，各圈之間彩光相對競走，幻化出一片祥光，令人耀眼難睜。
Everyone
hurriedly raised their head to look.
Initially, the prayer beads had been a semi-translucent red color, but
at this moment they had become a radiating brilliance. The reddish-light beads projected a
wheel-like, 7-color bright beam into phantom rings. There were a total of 4 rings. The colored lights of each one competed
with one another, moving swiftly to and fro, emitting a field of colored light
dazzling to the eyes.
跪在地上的幾個人，只是不停地磕頭，那個服務員知道自己闖了大禍，幾個重頭磕將下去，立時血流不止。
Those who knelt on the floor just
kept kowtowing. The clerk knew he
had made a serious mistake and kowtowed mightily several times. Shortly, his head began to hemorrhage
blood.
尊者回身向在場的旅客拱手致歉：「貧僧協巴多杰，平素管教不週，致使劣徒肆行無忌，今日貧僧來此清理門戶。各位今日的消費，一律由本店免費招待。」
The sage turned to apologize to
those present. “I’m Champa
Dorje. Because I haven’t been
sufficiently strict with these worthless disciples, they’ve become aggressive
and defiant. Today I’ve come to
straighten up this mess.
Everything’s on the house.”
此話一出，人人歡喜。協巴多杰又對跪在地上的一位喇嘛說：「烏堅吉美！你先把生化人的程式重新調整好，業務完全交給他們負責！今後不許你們任何人再插手！快通知所有業務單位，全面給我清查！」
When he was finished, everybody was delighted. Champa Dorje said to a lama kneeling on
the floor, “Wujang Jigme! First
reprogram the biochemical staff and then make them responsible for
everything! In the future, none of
you is allowed to interfere. Notify
all units now and conduct a thorough examination!”
烏堅吉美叩頭領命，協巴多杰一揮手，一襲光帷已把不相干的人隔在外頭。又運起縮地法，把地上諸人移到面前。同時又解開了那四個生化大漢的禁制，讓烏堅吉美送到後面調整。一切安排妥當，這才又與文祥、胡妁二人見禮，他向地上一指，三張上鋪蒲團的圓凳緩緩浮出地面。協巴多杰說：「施主如果不習慣，可以換坐沙發。」
Wujang Jigme kowtowed and did as
ordered. Champa Dorje waved and a
curtain of light separated them from those unconcerned with this matter. Then he again performed the spell of
lessening distance and brought those kneeling on the floor to the space in
front of him. At the same time, he
also freed the four big biochemical men and let Wujang Jigme accompany them to
the rear for adjustment. When
everything was ready, he bowed again to Wen Xiang and Hu Shuo. He pointed to the floor, and three
stools, each topped with a rush prayer-mat, slowly rose into view. Champa Dorje said, “If you’re not used
to this, we can sit on a sofa.”
文祥忙說：「不必客氣，這個很好。」
Wen Xiang hurriedly said, “Please, don’t trouble yourself. This is fine.”
協巴多杰又說：「家門不幸，連累施主們受驚了。修行的法門雖是五花八門，大致說來，不外嚴刑峻法或自由任性，前者可以得一體面的外表，後者則見人之真章。教主慈悲，有意讓他們自行覺悟，一些小過錯便忽略不計。等到他們劣習漸深，再來清理門戶。在這個過程中，真正向道的修行人，一定不會同流合污，修為自必更上層樓。
Champa Dorje continued, “This is unfortunate for my clan as well as causing you a great inconvenience. Although there are many religious orders, in general, they can either be controlled by harsh, rigid laws or a free, do-as-you-like approach. The former can present an outward show of honor, but the later shows real character. Our sect leader has mercy. He wants them to perceive the error of their ways by themselves so he ignores their harmless faults. However, when their bad habits slowly gain the upper hand, he clears up this household of ours. During this time the true practitioner of the Way must disassociate himself from undesirable elements as a means of elevating his spiritual character.
「教主以佛珠相贈，即是將法眼付託，有意藉施主親身觀察，乘機作一次整理。貧僧將隨時因應情況，或明或暗，務必將害群之馬，逐一處置。」
“By giving you the prayer
beads our leader is trusting you with the Eye of Dharma (Note 1). Taking advantage of your presence, he
intends to perform a major housecleaning.
I shall react to any situation as needed. Be they obvious or concealed, I shall
deal with the ‘bad apples’ one by one.”
胡妁知道這種場面，其實是做給文祥或電腦看的。這些人態度惡劣是事實，那是因為喇嘛教在此包辦了各項事業，獨佔生意做久了，難免趾高氣揚、任性妄為。這本是人性的弱點，又算得上多大的錯誤呢？自己在火星上走動多年，此時正是建立公共關係的大好良機，不如做個順水人情。
Hu
Shuo knew this episode had actually been an act, staged for the benefit of Wen
Xiang or the computer. It was true
that these people had a bad attitude.
This was because the lama sect now controlled all commercial
ventures. After monopolizing
business for a long time, it was natural for them to give themselves airs and
do as they pleased. This was a
human weakness, so how big a mistake could it be? She had been moving about on Mars for
years. This was the right time to
do some PR work. Why not make a
friendly gesture at no extra cost to herself.
於是，胡妁便說：「請尊者鑒諒，此事實由信女引起，當時因為心急，言語多有不當，不盡然是他們的錯。」
So Hu Shuo said, “Forgive me,
sage. This entire incident was
actually my fault. I was too
outspoken, so much of what I said was inappropriate. They are not entirely to blame.”
協巴多杰點了點頭：「阿彌陀佛，聞得教主對胡施主多有開示，恭喜施主佛緣深厚。貧僧因當時有事，不在寺中，錯過良機，甚是遺憾。」
Champa Dorje nodded. “Amitabha. I’ve heard that our leader has given
enlightenment to Ms. Hu.
Congratulations. You have a
profound karma with Buddhism. I had
something to do at that time so I was not in the monastery. It was my loss that I’d missed such a
fine opportunity.”
胡妁忙道：「信女承蒙教主開示，有如醍醐灌頂。」
Hu Shuo hurriedly said, “I’m grateful for
the leader’s enlightenment. It is a
great inspiration.”
協巴多杰說：「以施主之見，應當怎樣處置他們？」
Champa Dorje said, “In your
opinion, what should I do with them?”
胡妁誠懇地說：「信女不敢僭越，但求尊者看在文祥先生的面上，網開一面，下不為例就是了。」
In earnest tones Hu Shuo said, “I
don’t dare exceed my authority.
However, for Mr. Wen Xiang’s sake, I’d like to ask you to give them a
chance, just so they don’t do it again.”
協巴多杰頷首笑道：「阿彌陀佛，善哉，善哉。」便對跪在地上的一干人道：「你們聽見了，胡施主大量，不究既往，你們現在都回寺裡好好修行！」
Champa Dorje nodded and
smiled. “Amitabha. Very good indeed.” Then he said to those who keeling on the
floor, “You’ve heard her. Ms. Hu is
very generous and she is willing to let bygones be bygones. Now all of you return to the monastery
and carefully observe the religious teachings!”
協巴多杰處理完畢，便陪著文祥與胡妁，一起到雲衖香巢。上到香巢需乘坐一種小型花籃式飛梭。三人上梭坐定後，卻見有一個人畏畏縮縮地，在梭旁徘徊。協巴多杰又下梭，問那人道：「不必害怕，你是在找人嗎？」
When Champa Dorje was finished, he
accompanied Wen Xiang and Hu Shuo to the “Fragrant Nests among the Cloud
Alleys”. In order to reach the
Fragrant Nests, one had to take a small flying shuttle resembling a flower
basket. As the 3 of them boarded
the shuttle, they saw a timid man lingering around the shuttle. Champa Dorje got off the shuttle and
said to the man, “Don’t be afraid.
Are you looking for someone?”
那人一見尊者問話，立刻下跪道：「仁波切ゞ請發慈悲，小的已經走投無路了。」
Upon
hearing the sage speak, the man immediately knelt. “Please have mercy, Rimpoche. I’m at the end of my tether.”
協巴多杰說：「你說，什麼事？」
Champa Dorje said, “Speak. What is it?”
那人如搗蒜般地磕頭，一面說：「小的和兒子阿巴在西南方的快活谷有個石礦場，前些時挖到幾塊中子石，小的拿來給小的師父看。師父說是假的，卻帶人去快活谷，把我們父子趕了出來。」
The man made a rapid succession of kowtows, saying as he did so, “My son Aba and I own a stone quarry at the Happy Valley, located in the southwest. Sometime back we dug up several neutron stones, and I showed them to my guru, who told me they were fake. But he later brought some people over to the Happy Valley and threw my son and I out.”
協巴多杰將他拉起，發覺那人面容枯瘦，體質甚差。問道：「你兒子多大了？」
Champa
Dorje helped him up and noticed that this man looked gaunt and weak. Champa Dorje asked, “How old is your
son?”
那人說：「今年三十了。」
The man said, “He’s 30 this year.”
協巴多杰說：「他人在哪裡？」
Champa Dorje asked, “Where is he?”
那人說：「和小的一樣，到處求情！」
That man answered, “Like me, he’s going around, pleading!”
協巴多杰說：「你叫你兒子來見我，我在五○七八號。你在家等著，不要再來，你需要治療保養，快回去吧！」那人高高興興地又磕了幾個頭，這才去了。協巴多杰上了梭，對二人說：「我們平時出來，他們不敢求情，誰也不知道哪位喇嘛能幫他們解決問題。我們又不願意故意出來亮相，這種事無論怎樣做都有流弊。敝教主的看法是一切任其自然，像今天，文施主來了，就是自然的機緣。」
Champa Dorje said, “Tell your son
to come see me. I’ll be in Room
5078. You wait at home and don’t
come back. You need some treatment
and nourishment. Go now!” That man happily made several more
kowtows and left. Champa Dorje
boarded the shuttle and said to them, “Usually, when we’re out and about they
don’t dare present a plea. They
don’t know which lama can help them with their problems. At the same time, we don’t like to show
ourselves on purpose. No matter what
you do, this kind of business always presents a possibility of
malpractice. Our leader’s opinion
is to let things take their natural course. Like today. Mr. Wen is here. It is a chance occurrence.”
文祥說：「可是這種機緣不是太少了嗎？」
Wen Xiang asked, “But isn’t this kind of chance occurrence quite rare?”
協巴多杰說：「也不見得，萬事有一定的規律，變化多，機緣就多。沒有變化，就不會有問題，有問題一定有變化。」
Champa Dorje said, “Not necessarily. Everything has set rules. The more changes there are, the greater the chance for coincidence. Without change there’d be no problems. When there’s a problem, there is certain to be change.”
文祥聽了，若有所感，好像在哪裡聽過這種說法，便順口問：「尊者的意思是說，一定都是前定的？」
After Wen Xiang heard this, he had a feeling he’d heard something like this before, so he casually asked, “You mean that everything is predestined?”
「那就要看施主對前定的看法了。」協巴多杰說。
“That depends on your definition of ‘predestined’,” replied Champa Dorje.
飛梭開動了，兩公里的路徑並不長，梭外的房舍草樹如飛一般地掠過，再往前看，距離幾乎沒有改變。文祥看看前面，又看看身邊，比來比去，知道這一定是幻境，但用在此時此地，確是羚羊掛角，不落痕跡。
The flying shuttle began to
move. The two kilometer route was
not a great distance. Outside the
shuttle, houses, grass, and trees flashed by. But if one looked straight ahead, the
distance didn’t seem to change. Wen
Xiang looked ahead and then to his side.
After several comparisons, he knew this must be an illusion. But employing it at this time and place
certainly revealed no trace of effort.
協巴多杰知道文祥已經看出來，微笑說：「施主如果不從客觀立場考慮，必然看不出這是幻境。人對環境已有主觀的認識，知道這裡全長不過兩公里，以飛梭的速度，要不了幾秒鐘就能飛到。人因為產生懷疑，才會去分析、思考，最後才能看出真相。」
Champa Dorje knew that Wen Xiang saw what
was taking place, so he smiled and said, “If you didn’t think about this from a
objective view, for sure you wouldn’t be able to tell this from an illusion. Human beings have a subjective
understanding of their environment.
They know that the total distance is only 2 kilometers. Based on the speed of the flying
shuttle, it should only take a few seconds. When people began to doubt, they start
to analyze and ponder. In the end,
this enables them to see the truth.”
文祥說：「尊者的意思是，有人看不出這裡的真假？」
Wen Xiang said, “you mean, some people can’t tell what is real and what is illusory about this place?”
協巴多杰：「不是有人，是絕大多數的人，他們被環境的變化迷住了，只顧吸取感官的刺激。本宮遐邇聞名，就是憑了這種幻覺。」
Champa Dorje said, “Not just some,
but most of them. They are
enchanted by the changes around them.
All they want to do is to absorb the stimulation to their senses. This is the illusion that makes our
palace famous.”
文祥若有所悟的問：「尊者是說，人生也是如此？」
Wen Xiang,
appearing to understand, asked, “You mean, that’s all there is to life?”
協巴多杰哈哈一笑：「好！施主必是我道中人，就像這裡的各種設施一樣，人生早已定型，只待客人來此一遊。」
Champa Dorje laughed.
“Good! You must be one of
our kind. Like all the facilities
here, man’s life has been pre-shaped.
We only wait for guests to come and visit.”
文祥說：「可是，我來了以後，還可以改變調整呀！」
Wen Xiang
said, “But after I arrive, changes can still be made!”
協巴多杰說：「是嗎？這飛梭是電腦控制的，你或許可以作小小的調整。但是施主再想想，你為什麼要調整呢？一定有原因吧？而那個原因又是另一個原因所決定的。」
Champa Dorje said, “Oh? This flying shuttle is controlled by the
computer. Maybe you can make small
adjustments. But think about
it. Why do you want to make
adjustments? There must be a
reason. And that reason, in turn,
is determined by still another reason.”
文祥說：「這樣說不等於是虛無論嗎？」
Wen Xiang said, “If you put it that way, isn’t that the same as nihilism?”
協巴多杰說：「剛才不是說過了嗎？如果不跳出主觀，提昇到宏觀立場，怎麼知道飛梭是幻覺呢？如果跳出了自我，哪一個原因不是由最原始的肇因支配的？」
Champa Dorje said, “Didn't I tell you,
just now? If you don’t break lose
from your subjective view and ascend to the broad perspective, how do you know
the flying shuttle is an illusion?
If you give up ego, is there any circumstance that isn’t derived from
the most primal cause?
文祥大喜道：「那麼，知道了原始肇因，就可以知道過去和未來了？」
Wen Xiang
was delighted. “So, if you know the
most primal cause, you are able to know the past and future?”
協巴多杰說：「知一就知萬，何必管過去未來？」
Champa Dorje
said, “Know one and you know them all.
Why bother with the past and future?”
胡妁說：「尊者，能知道未來不是更有用嗎？」
Hu Shuo said, “Sage,
wouldn’t it be more useful to know the future?”
協巴多杰說：「有什麼用？」
Champa
Dorje said, “What use would that be?”
胡妁說：「比如說，像今天的事。」
Hu Shuo said, “For example, today’s incident.”
協巴多杰說：「阿彌陀佛！如果事先都防止了，那三千大千世界盡入涅槃！」
Champa Dorje said, “Amitabha! If everything could be prevented, then
the three thousand universes (Note 2) would all be in a state of nirvana!”
胡妁問：「那有什麼不好？」
Hu Shuo asked,
“What’s wrong with that?”
協巴多杰說：「當然好，涅槃原本盡在涅槃中，不去分辨就是涅槃。人有所識，是因清中有濁，我佛也因此一大因緣而問世。有此因緣，必然有此果報，要防止什麼？」
Champa Dorje said, “Nothing
is wrong. Nirvana originates from
within the state of nirvana. When
you make no distinction, it is nirvana.
The reason why human beings make distinctions is because impurity exists
within purity. Buddha was born in
response to this great cause. Cause
and effect come hand in hand. What
is it you wish to prevent?”
胡妁有感而發：「信女只是覺得做人太可憐了，不知道怎樣幫助他們才好？」
On an impulse Hu Shuo said, “I just feel that man should be pitied. I don’t know how to help them.”
協巴多杰說：「阿彌陀佛！施主此刻有無煩惱？」
Champa Dorje said, “Amitabha! At this moment are you distressed by
anything?”
胡妁想了一想，說：「只有剛才那個困擾。」
Hu Shuo thought for a moment and
said, “Only the distress of what we were just talking about.”
協巴多杰說：「好，待貧僧為施主解除煩惱。」說罷，就準備施法。
Champa Dorje said, “O.k. Let me remove your distress.” As he finished, he prepared to perform a
spell.
胡妁詫道：「尊者明鑒，這煩惱不是信女本人的，又怎能從我身上解除？」
Surprised, Hu Shuo said, “Forgive
me, sage. This distress is not mine
alone. How can you rid me of it?”
協巴多杰說：「施主不妨說說看，天下有哪個煩惱是屬於他本人的？」
Champa Dorje said, “Why don’t you tell me, which of world’s many forms of distress solely belong to any one person?”
胡妁說：「比如長得不好看。」
Hu Shuo said, “For
example, physical ugliness.”
協巴多杰說：「那是怕別人不喜歡，別人不喜歡分明是別人的煩惱。」
Champa Dorje said, “That’s because they fear others don’t like it. If others don’t like it, it’s obviously the distress of those others.”
胡妁想了想，又說：「沒有人愛我。」
Hu Shuo thought again
and said, “Nobody loves me.”
協巴多杰說：「人除了愛自己，還會愛誰？人為什麼有這種煩惱呢？還不是受了別人的影響。人來時只有自己，走時也帶不了他人，管別人幹什麼？」
Champa Dorje said, “Besides loving
oneself, who else is there to love?
Why are people distressed in this manner? It’s nothing but the influence of
others. A person is born
alone. When they die they won’t be
taking anyone else with him. Why
concern yourself with others?”
胡妁又說：「這樣太自私了吧？」
Again Hu Shuo spoke up. “Isn’t that too selfish?”
協巴多杰說：「阿彌陀佛，人生下來，一事不知，又能顧及何人？施主足跡遍天下，也不過人生閱歷的增長罷了！不潛心修煉，增生智慧，哪來能力幫助他人？兩位施主有心濟世本屬好事，如果能力不足，害人一次事小，倘若誤人終生，那就罪孽深重了。」
Champa Dorje said, “Amitabha! At birth a person understands nothing. How can they worry about others? You’ve traveled far and wide, but that
has merely added to your experience of life. Without concentrating on religious
self-discipline in order to increase wisdom, how can one possess the ability to
help others? It’s laudable that you
two are of a mind to be benefactors to society. However, if because of inadequate
ability on your part you harm a person just once, it’s a minor matter. But if you mislead a person for life,
then you’ve committed a great sin.”
說著，飛梭已停在一盤根錯節的藤枝上，文祥一看，四面碧玉翔煙，腳下卻凌虛憑空，俯瞰峽谷屈曲枝分、亂石轟駕，令人不敢逼視。這種藤樹全靠氣根吸取營養，氣根之上則是粗若人臂的藤條，相互纏繞，盤旋而上。
As he spoke, the flying shuttle
landed on a spot formed by the twisting roots and intercrossing branches of the
creeper plant. Wen Xiang looked
around and saw they were surrounded by a bluish, swirling mist. Below their feet, however, was a
groundless void. Looking down he
saw a tortuous and twisting canyon with a jumble of upward thrusting
rocks. It was a not a sight one
wanted to examine very closely.
This kind of plant depended solely on aerial roots to extract
nourishment. On top of the aerial
roots were rattan vines as thick as a man’s arm, intertwining and circling
upwards.
在聳枝茂葉之間，有一棟精巧的木屋，整個架構因樹而成，綠葉為頂，嫩枝作架，恍如自然生就般。協巴多杰先下了雲階，徐步梢頭，輕風吹過，袍角翻飛。極目四顧，盡是雲霧靄靄，下望不能見底。文祥壯著膽子，三步併作兩步，跨進了房門。
Among the towering branches and thick leaves was a finely-crafted wooden cabin, its construction dictated by the nature of the tree. With its roof of green leaves and frame of saplings, it looked as if it had been put there by Nature. Champa Dorje was the first to descend the cloud steps. He leisurely tread the tree tops while a gentle breeze fluttered his monk’s robe. As far as one could see, there was nothing but cloud and mist. Looking downward there was no bottom to be seen. Wen Xiang summoned his courage and with long strides entered the door.
室內倒是極為寬敞，三人剛剛坐定，就見一個青年，匆匆趕來。一見協巴多杰，便磕頭道：「叩見仁波切。」
The interior was quite
spacious. As the three of them sat
down, a young man hurriedly came in.
When he saw Champa Dorje he kowtowed as he said, “My respects,
Rimpoche.”
協巴多杰將他拉起，對文祥及胡妁說：「要替人解除煩惱，必須先有能力。貧僧潛修多年，至今尚不敢妄言為人排難解紛。但阿巴既已來此，貧僧少不得要去淌一次渾水，事不宜遲，貧僧這就去了。」
Pulling the young man to his feet,
Champa Dorje said to Wen Xiang and Hu Shuo, “One must have ability before they
can remove the anguish of others.
I’ve been practicing Buddhist conduct for years but I still can’t claim
that I’m able to mediate disputes for others. However, since Aba is here, there’s no
way that I can avoid wading in muddy waters. Let’s not delay any more. I’ll leave right away.”
胡妁立刻說：「尊者能否開恩，讓信女同去？」胡妁是個聰明人，這種機會太難得了，紅教的九大護法，平常根本沒有機會見到。協巴多杰不但精通佛理，又一再諄諄相勸，不像一些半調子喇嘛，只是口誦經文，不知所云。