Two Sides of a Prison Wall 监狱内外
Ayoung Japanese man named Shun was riding on a crowded train when a belligerent drunk made his way through the train car and began to rough up passengers.Shun had studied martial arts for many years，yet never before had he been forced into a public confrontation.Shun felt his blood begin to boil，and realized the ruffian needed to be stopped before he hurt someone badly.Shun stood up，blocked the fellow's path，and the two exchanged angry words.As the men were about to square off，Shun felt a hand on his arm.He looked down and saw a frail old man.“Let me handle this，”the elder insisted.
Shun watched in amazement as the old man invited the heavy to have a seat next to him.Strangely，he acquiesced.The elder began to engage the fellow，asking him questions about his life and looking him in the eye with kindness and compassion.After a while the thug confessed that his wife had just died and he was in great pain；he had gone out and gotten drunk to numb his agony.The old man placed a comforting hand on the fellow's shoulder，and he began to weep.Before Shun's eyes the intruder was trans formed from a villain into an innocent child.
When the train arrived at the next station，the tough guy thanked the old man and exited the car.Shun，stunned，sat down next to the old man and asked him，“Why did you stop me？”“You were about to meet that man's violence with your own，”answered the old man.“In true martial arts，if you hurt your opponent in any way，you cannot call your act a victory.”
We have all encountered people whom we feel we must protect ourselves from.Yet there is a way to keep ourselves safe without hurting others.It is the strongest way to protect our peace.Although we have been taught that we must wield pain as a weapon to keep others at a distance，it is not so.We gain all together or not at all.To wish ill upon anyone is to hurt ourselves.
I used to visit a prisoner named Ron.Years earlier，in college，Ron had a girlfriend named Jen.One night the couple had an argument，and in a fit of rage，Ron beat her up.Tragically，she died.Ron was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to many years in prison.
I met Ron when he was up for parole after nine years of incarceration.In contrast to his violent act，I found him to be a gentle soul.He was contrite about his crime and he had used his time in prison to advance his spiritual growth.Ron studied A Course in Miracles，he was active in the prison church，he was liked by the other prisoners and staff，and he had worked his way up to a responsible position managing the prison laundry.When I visited Ron，I sensed no cruelty in him and he certainly did not seem like a dangerous criminal to me.
Ron told me that he had been denied parole repeatedly because Jen's parents had mounted a citywide campaign to keep him in jail.Each year when Ron was eligible to be released，Jen's parents took out newspaper ads，exerted their political influence，and orchestrated a concerted community effort to“keep this killer off the streets.”Yet，looking at this man，I did not see a killer at all.I saw a basically good man who had made a heartbreaking mistake.
“So how are you dealing with Jen's parents？”I asked Ron.“I send them love and prayer，”he answered.“I understand that they are very angry and they must be in great pain.If I could go back and undo my act，I surely would.More than anything，I wish I could bring Jen back.But I can't.So I am just deepening my relationship with God right where I am and trying to be a blessing to the world.”
As I left my meeting with Ron that day，I wondered who was really in prison.Ron was locked up physically，but his soul was soaring.Meanwhile，Jen's parents were quite wealthy and enjoyed unlimited physical freedom，yet they were consumed by anger and vengeance5.It seemed to me that their wrathful thoughts were creating walls more formidable than those encasing Ron.
Because we are spiritual beings at our essence，what we do with our spirit influences us more profoundly than what we do with our body.Heaven and hell are not places we go or conditions the outer world imposes on us；they are experiences we create with our thoughts and beliefs.A Course in Miracles tells us，“I am affected only by my thoughts.”Where our mind goes，there we are.The desire to hurt brings us instant pain，while the desire to heal brings us instant freedom.
If you are angry with anyone，or involved in a conflict，keep reaching for a solution that leaves everyone whole.If you feel you need to hurt someone or take something away from them to make things even，you do violence mostly to yourself.Instead of seeing them as a villain，regard them as wounded or calling for love.No one does anything mean or foolish unless they are in great pain.To try to inflict more pain only exacerbates their sense of disconnection.As you connect with your own sense of peace，you invite them to claim theirs.Only then can you say you have won.
拥挤的火车上乘坐着一个叫顺的日本年轻人。一个滋事的醉汉踉跄推攘着穿过车厢，更要与乘客大打出手。顺学功夫很多年了，但以前从来没有在公共场合与人发生过冲突。顺觉得体内的血沸腾了，他感觉必须在这个混蛋家伙伤害别人之前制止他。顺站起来，挡住他的去路，两个人的言语都很激烈。正当这两个人摆开架势准备开战的时候，顺感觉到有人用手扶住了他的胳膊。他向下看去，是个风烛老者。“让我来处理。”老人很坚持。
在顺惊奇地注视下，老人邀请壮汉在他身旁坐下，不可思议的是，那家伙默默地顺从了。老人开始与他攀谈，询问他的生活状况，用慈善和体恤的目光看着他。过了一会儿，这个暴戾的家伙道出了实情，他的妻子刚刚过世，他痛苦万分，并出来灌醉自己来麻痹痛苦。老人伸出手放在他的肩膀上安慰他，他哭了。在顺的眼里，这个寻事者由恶棍变成了一个无辜的孩子。
火车到达下一站的时候，壮汉感谢老人之后离开了。顺仍然震惊着并在老人旁边坐下，问道，“你为什么制止我呢？”“你要以暴制暴，”老人回答说，“在真正的功夫世界里，如果你有任何一点伤害到你的对手，你的行为就不能叫做胜利。”
我们都遇到过必须保护自己的时候，但是我们可以做到护己有道，不伤害别人，这是维护我们内在和平的最好办法。虽然生活曾告诉我们，我们必须用疼痛作为武器才能让他人远离自己，让自己免受伤害，但事实并非如此。我们得对自己的行为结果照单全收，要么什么也没有。对他人心怀恶意是对我们自己的一种伤害。
我过去常去看望一个名叫罗恩的囚犯。多年前上大学时，罗恩有个女朋友，名叫珍。一天晚上，这对恋人发生了争执，罗恩一怒之下，狠打了珍一顿。悲剧发生，她死了。罗恩以杀人罪被判长期徒刑。
我与罗恩相见是在他坐了九年牢准备假释的时候。与他的暴力行径相反，我发现他很温柔、虔诚。他对自己的罪行深感悔悟，利用在监狱里的时间里他不断修习，使精神得到净化和成熟。罗恩学习《奇迹课程》，在监狱教堂里也很活跃，受到狱友和工作人员们的喜爱，而且他的努力让他获得了负责监狱洗衣房的工作。我探望罗恩的时候，并没有感觉到他的残忍，他对我来说当然也不像个危险的罪犯。
罗恩告诉我他已经多次失去假释的机会，因为珍的父母发起全市性的运动迫使他继续坐牢。每年当罗恩够资格获释的时候，珍的父母就会拿出报纸广告，施加他们的政治影响力，组织联结当地的公众呼吁“不要让这个杀手在街道上逍遥。”但是，望着眼前的这个人，我根本看不到什么杀手，而是一个普通人，犯了一个令人心碎的错误。
“那么对于珍的父母，你是怎么做的？”我问罗恩。“我爱他们，为他们祈祷，”他回答，“我理解他们很愤怒，他们肯定非常悲痛。如果我能够回到过去，我肯定不会那样做。比起其他任何事情，我更希望我能够让珍活过来。但是，我不能。所以，在这种状况下，我只能不断加深我与上帝之间的灵系，努力做一个能够为社会造福的人。”
那天离开罗恩的路上，我思考谁才真正呆在监狱里。罗恩的身体是被锁了起来，但他的灵魂在自由飞翔。与此同时，珍的父母很富有，而且享有无限制的人身自由，但是他们却被愤怒和仇恨折磨。我觉得，他们愤怒的欲念像在他们周围竖起了墙，比包围罗恩的墙还要密闭可怕。
因为我们在本质上有精神和思想的生命体，所以与身体上的变化相比，精神上的变化对我们的影响更为深远。天堂和地狱不是我们死后去的地方，也不是外部世界加于我们的境况际遇，而是我们的思想和信仰作用于我们身上的种种经历。《奇迹课程》告诉我们，“我只由我的思想主宰。”念之所动，身形所至。伤害他人的想法会让我们自己感到痛楚，而帮助他人会给我们带来自由和解放。
如果你生某人的气，或是陷于某场冲突，尽量在不伤害任何人的情况下寻求解决问题的办法。如果你感觉你得去伤害某人或从他人那里拿走什么才能获得心理平衡，通常你会自食恶果。不要把他们看作恶徒、坏蛋，而是受伤，需要爱的人。没有人会干卑鄙或愚蠢的事，除非他们正承受着巨大的痛苦。同样以恶相向，造成的痛苦只会加剧他们的疏离感。如果你心底的平和感引导自己，你也会唤起他人的那份平和。只有这样你才能说你赢了。
译者感言
宽容、原谅并不是件容易的事，特别是当对方对你犯下了卑鄙或残忍的罪行的时候。心口在涓涓淌血，痛楚哪会轻而易举的摘除，仇恨自然相伴相随，世界也变得灰暗了。心就像一个容器，如果盛入了仇恨的汁液，那么整个容器也会被感染，而如果仇恨满溢，那么容器里就装不下别的东西。并且，装着愤恨和仇意的心能好受吗？平时隐隐作痛，一触更鲜血直流。仇恨给人带来痛苦，消磨人有限的生命力。怎么办？时间无疑是一剂良药，很多时候，当伤口慢慢抚平，你会赫然发现原来仇恨已渐渐淡出你的记忆。另外，要学着、试着去宽容和原谅。不要一遍遍地舔食伤口，提醒自己仇恨的存在，分析愤恨产生的缘由，看清隐藏在对方行为背后的原因。“没有人会干卑鄙或愚蠢的事，除非他们自己正承受着巨大的痛苦。”感情的痛苦或性格的缺陷往往是埋下仇恨种子的原因。推己及人，试着放开自己的心灵，敞开胸怀，去理解，可能的话，去体谅对方的痛苦和缺陷，感受人性的美丑，学习世事的变化。让眼睛看到更广阔的世界，让心灵去触摸更温暖的情感，赶走仇恨和不快。不要下意识的拒绝宽容，而要有意识地去学习宽容，因为不会宽容别人的人，也不配受到别人的宽容。尝试一下吧，美好就在你转念之间。
