上寨

Shang Zhai

得知上师回学院的消息，益西彭措和慈诚罗珠早已在上寨等候，益西彭措已为上师安排了上寨最好的房间。虽说是最好的，但其“豪华程度”也实在不敢恭维。

Upon learning the imminent return of our Guru to the academy, Yeshe Phuntsok and Tsultrim Lodro wasted no time in getting to Shan Zhai to wait there. Yeshe Phuntsok arranged a lodge for our Guru that supposedly was the best in the area. Although proclaimed to be the “top accommodation,” the facilities at this place were really quite awful.

慈诚罗珠、 哲和我挤在一个房间里，这是一间未经打扫的屋子，满地烟头、垃圾，枕头、被单污秽不堪，但因为上师的情况有所好转，再加上久别的友人得以重逢，我的心情格外快活，绝不亚于几天前呆在五星级饭店的感觉。安排的晚餐也十分可口，心的力量真是能超越一切。

Tsultrim Lodro, Zhe, and I squeezed into a room that had not been cleaned, the floor was scattered with cigarette butts and garbage, and the pillows and sheets were absolutely filthy. Yet the pleasure of reuniting with long-separated old friends and of seeing our Guru getting better made this stay no less enjoyable than the one at five-star hotel a few days ago. The prepared dinner also turned out to be quite delicious; indeed, the power of the mind transcends all things.

饭后，我们一起去散步，途经一家新建的住房，这里曾是当地杀牛的场所，慈诚罗珠感慨道：“人真是可怕的动物，对其它动物的生命毫不在乎，如果这里是杀人的地方，人们是决不会在这瑞安家落户的!”这里一定聚集着许多牦牛的冤魂，我们为它们念诵了回向偈。但愿它们能有一个好的去处。对面山上印着观音心咒的经幡迎风摇曳，附和着我的祝愿。

While taking a stroll together after dinner, we passed by a new residence built over a lot where the locals used to slaughter yaks. Tsultrim Lodro said with a sigh: “Isn’t the human an awful creature! Had this place been an execution ground of people, no one would imagine building a house on it and calling it home, yet they care not the least for animals’ lives.” Feeling that many unhappy souls of slaughtered yaks must be lingering around, we recited mantras for them and dedicated the merit for their rebirth to higher realms. On a hilltop facing the building, many prayer flags printed with Avalokitesvara’s mantra were flapping against the wind, as if echoing my prayers.

夕阳在山巅洒下最后一抹金黄后，迅速地消失于地平线，上寨迎来了新一轮的黑暗，回到房间，既没有水，也没有脸盆，隔壁嘹亮的鼾声透过薄薄的木板清晰地传了过来，敲打着我的耳鼓膜，如同一首安详的催眠曲，将我赶入了甜蜜的梦乡。

The sun set over the hill, in the last golden glow it faded in the horizon promptly, and night fell in Shang Zhai. Back at the lodge, there was no water or basin. A loud snoring, clearly audible through the thin walls, beat on my eardrums like a melodious lullaby; it quickly sent me to the realm of sweet dreams.

壬午年五月十二日 　
2002年6月22日 　

12th of May, Year of RenWu
June 22, 2002