預言家「愛德格·凱西」：人類的起源和未來

Edgar Casey：Humanity's origins and future 

愛德格·凱西：人類的起源和未來 

The following is humanity's origins and future as revealed by the Cayce readings:

以下是凱西解讀中所透露的人類的起源和未來：

People demand a beginning and a boundary, so in the beginning there was a sea of spirit, and it filled all space. It was static, content, aware of itself, a giant resting on the bosom of its thought, contemplating that which it was.

人類需要一個開始和一個界限，所以，在一開始，有一個靈之海，它充滿整個空間。它寧靜、完滿、能感知它自己的存在，它是一個在自己思想的懷抱中休息的巨人，它在沉思自己是什麼。

Then it moved. It withdrew into itself, until all space was empty, and that which had filled it was shining from its center, a restless mind. This was the individuality of the spirit; this was what it discovered itself to be when it awakened; this was God.

然後它開始運動。它退回到自己之內，直到全部空間空無一物，曾經充滿它自身的不安的心靈在它的中心閃光。這就是靈的個性；這就是當它甦醒時它所發現的自我；這就是上帝。

God desired to self-expression, and desired companionship. Therefore, God projected the cosmos and souls. The cosmos was built with the tools which humans calls music, arithmetic, and geometry; harmony, system, and balance. The building blocks were all of the same material, which humans calls the life essence. It was a power sent out from God, which by changing the length of its wave and the rate of its vibration became a pattern of differing forms, substance, and movement. This created the law of diversity which supplied endless designs for the pattern. God played on this law of diversity as a person plays on a piano, producing melodies and arranging them in a symphony.

上帝渴望自我表達，渴望伴侶。因此，上帝投射了宇宙和靈魂。宇宙是用人類稱作音樂、數學和幾何學的工具創造出來的；"諧和"、系統而且平衡。都是用同樣的材料建構，人類稱之為生命元素。這是一種上帝發出的力量，這種力量透過它的波長和振動頻率的變化而變成不同的形式、物質和運動的模式。這創造了多樣性的法則，它為此模式提供了無止境的設計。就像一個人彈奏鋼琴一樣，上帝彈奏著多樣性的法則，譜出各種旋律，並將它們組合成一部交響樂。

Each design carried within it, inherently, the plan of its evolution, which was to be accomplished by movement, growth, or as humans calls it, change. This corresponds to the sound of a note struck on a piano. The sounds of several notes unite to make a chord; chords in turn become phrases; phrases become melodies; melodies intermingle and move back and forth, across and between and around each other, to make a symphony. The music ends as it began, leaving emptiness, but between the beginning and the finish there has been glorious beauty and a great experience.

在它之內，每個設計自然而然地執行著它的進化排程，實現這個排程要透過運動、成長、或正如人類所說的改變來達成。這相當於在鋼琴上敲出一個音符。數個音符連起來就成了一個和音；"諧和"的和音成為樂句。樂句成為樂曲；樂曲相互交融、前後移動、交叉、連接、環繞而成為一部交響樂。音樂此起彼伏、停歇，但在起伏之間有著榮耀之美和偉大的經驗。

(The terms "light", "heat," and "electricity" with regard to the cosmos are of no use in this type of discussion, since they are effects observed three-dimensionally through the physical senses. The physical senses do not operate in the same manner in other dimensions, such as in the spirit world. At death, the sun might be to the surviving individuality an idea, an influence, or even an angel.)

（與宇宙相關的「光」、「熱」、和「電」等詞語在這樣的討論中毫無用處，因為它們是透過三維的生理感官感知的印象。生理感官在其他維度並不以同樣方式運作，比如，靈的世界。死亡時，對於續存的靈魂來說，太陽或許會是一個觀念、一種影響、或甚至是一個天使。）

Everything moved, changed, and assumed its design in various states of form and substance. Activity was begun and maintained by the law of attraction and repulsion: positive and negative, attracting each other and repelling themselves, maintained the form and action of all things.

一切都以不同的狀態和物質形式移動、變化、展現它的設計。活動是由吸引和排斥法則啟動和維護的：正和負、互相吸引和排斥，維持著一切事物的形式和行動。

All this was a part of God, an expression of God's thought. Mind was the force which propelled and perpetuated it: mind did everything God imagined; everything that came into being was an aspect, a posture, of mind.

全部這一切都是上帝的一部分、上帝思想的一種表達。心靈是使其行進和不朽的動力：心靈實現上帝想像的一切；一切存在都是心靈的一個方面、一種心境。

Souls were created for companionship with God. The pattern used was that of God's very Being: spirit, mind, individuality; cause, action, effect. First there had been spirit; then there had been the action which withdrew spirit into itself; then there had been the resulting individuality of God.

靈魂被創造出來是為了與上帝相伴。所採用的形式是上帝存在的形式：靈、心靈、個性；原因、行動、結果。開始先有靈；然後有行動，它使靈退回至它自身之中；然後有作為結果的上帝的個性。

In building the soul there was spirit, with its knowledge of identity with God; there was the active principle of mind; and there was the ability to experience the activity of mind separately from God.

靈憑著它是與上帝同一的知識構造靈魂；存在著積極的心靈原則；存在著經歷與上帝分離的心靈活動的能力。

Thus a new individual, issuing from and dependent upon God, but aware of an existence apart from God, came into being. To the new individual there was given, necessarily, the power to choose and direct its own activity; without free will it would remain a part of the individuality of God. Mind, issuing as a force from God, would naturally fulfill God's thoughts, unless directed otherwise. The power to do this - to direct otherwise the force of mind - is what humans calls his free will. The record of free will is the soul. The soul began with the first expression which free will made of its power, through the force of mind. The first thought which it generated of itself, the first diversion of mind force from its normal path, was the beginning of the soul.

就這樣，一個新的個人出現了，它來自於上帝、依賴於上帝，但能知覺一種獨立於上帝的存在。這個新的個人必須被給予選擇和指導它自己活動的力量；如果沒有自由意志，它就依然是上帝個性的一部分。作為一種來自上帝的力量的心靈，會自然地去完成上帝的思想，除非被導向其他方向。這種行動的力量——導向其他方向的心靈力量——就是人們所謂的他的自由意志。自由意志的記錄就是靈魂。隨著自由意志運用心靈力量產生第一個表達，靈魂就開始了。它自己產生的第一個思想、心靈力量從其正常道路的第一次背離，就是靈魂的開始。

The nucleus of the soul was in balance, positive and negative force in equal power, producing harmonious activity: the positive initiating, impregnating, thrusting forward; the negative receiving, nourishing, ejecting. The steps of this action were the stages of thought: perception, reflection, opinion.

靈魂的核子處於平衡中，正負力量相當，產生?諧和?的活動：正面力量發動、孕育、推進；負面的力量接收、滋養、逐出。這個行動的步伐就是思想的階段：感知、思考、判斷。

Thus the soul consisted of two states of consciousness: that of the spirit, bearing a knowledge of its identity with God, and that of the new individual, bearing a knowledge of everything it experienced.

因此，靈魂由意識的兩種狀態構成：一部分是靈，具有它與上帝是同一的知識，一部分是新的個人，具有關於它經驗到的一切的知識。

The plan for the soul was a cycle of experience, unlimited in scope and duration, in which the new individual would come to know creation in all its aspects, at the discretion of will. The cycle would be completed when the desire of will was no longer different from the thought of God. The consciousness of the new individual would then merge with its spiritual consciousness of identity with God, and the soul would return to its source as the companion it was intended to be.

靈魂的排程是經驗的一個循環，範圍和期間是無限的，在其中，新的個人會憑借意志的判斷力認識創造的各個方面。當意志的願望不再與上帝的思想相違背時，循環就會完成。新的個人的意識就會將其靈性意識與上帝相認同，靈魂會作為上帝期許的伴侶回到它的源頭。

In this state the soul would retain its consciousness of separate individuality and would be aware that of its own free will it now acted as a part of God, not diverting mind force because it was in agreement with the action toward which this force was directed. Until this state was reached the soul would not be a companion in the true sense of the word.

在這種狀態中，靈魂會保持其分離的個性意識，並瞭解它自己的自由意志，它現在是作為上帝的一部分而行動，而不是使心靈力量背道而馳，因為它與心靈力量所指向的行動是一致的。直到達成這種狀態，靈魂才在真正意義上成為一個伴侶。

The idea that a return to God means a loss of individuality is paradoxical, since God is aware of everything that happens and must therefore be aware of the consciousness of each individual. Thus the return of the soul is the return of the image to that which imagined it, and the consciousness of an individual - its record, written in mind - could not be destroyed without destroying part of God. When a soul returns to God it becomes aware of itself not only as a part of God, but as a part of every other soul, and everything.

回歸上帝的觀念代表著失去個性是荒謬的，因為上帝知道所發生的一切，並因而必定知道每個個人的意識。因此，靈魂的回歸就是意象向意象想像者的回歸，如果不摧毀個人意識——它寫在心靈中的記錄——中的上帝的部分，它就無法被毀滅。當一個靈魂回歸上帝，它認識到自己不僅是上帝的一部分，而且是每一個其他靈魂和一切事物的一部分。

What is lost is the ego - the desire to do other than the will of God. When the soul returns to God the ego is voluntarily relinquished; this is the symbology behind the crucifixion of Christ.

失去的只是自我——做上帝意志以外的事情的願望。當靈魂回歸上帝，自我被自動取消；這就是基督受難背後的象徵意義。
The plan for the soul included experience of all creation, but it did not necessarily mean identification with a participation in all forms and substance. Nor did it mean interference in creation by souls. It did not mean that they were to spin their own little worlds, twisting and bending laws to make images of their dreams.

靈魂的排程包括全部創造的經歷，但這並不一定代表著要去認同對全部形式和物質的參與。這也不代表著干涉靈魂的創造。這並不代表著它們應該去旋轉它們自己的小世界、去扭曲法則以造就它們夢中的意象。

But these things could happen. The soul was the greatest thing that was made; it had free will. Once free will was given, God did nothing to curb it; however it acted, it had to act within God's reality; by whatever route, the soul had to return to God.

但這些事情可以發生。靈魂是最偉大的創造物；它具有自由意志。上帝一旦給予它自由意志，上帝就對它不加控制；不論它如何行動，它必須在上帝的現實之中行動；無論走哪條路線，靈魂必須回歸上帝。

The fact that man's body is a speck of dust on a small planet leads to the illusion that humans are a small creation. The measure of the soul is the limitless activity of mind and the grandeur of imagination.

人的身體是一顆小行星上的一粒塵埃，這一事實使人類產生自己是一個渺小的造物的幻覺。衡量靈魂的標準是心靈的無限活動性和偉大的想像力。

At first there was little difference between the consciousness of the new individual and its consciousness of identity with God. Free will merely watched the flow of mind, somewhat as humanity watches his fancy disport in daydreams, marveling at its power and versatility. Then it began to exercise itself, imitating and paralleling what mind was doing. Gradually it acquired experience, becoming a complementary rather than an imitative force. It helped to extend, modify, and regulate creation.

一開始，新的個人意識與它和上帝是同一的意識之間並無區別。自由意志只是看著心靈的流動，有點像人看著他的想像在白日夢中玩耍，驚訝於它的無所不能。然後，他開始自己練習，模仿和比照心靈的所作所為。它逐漸取得經驗，成了一個互補的、而不是模仿的力量。它說明擴大、修改和調節創造。

Certain souls became bemused with their own power and began to experiment with it. They mingled with the dust of the stars and the winds of the spheres, feeling them, becoming part of them. One result of this was an unbalancing of the positive-negative force, by accentuating one or the other; to feel things demanded the negative force; to express through things, and direct and manage them, required the positive force. Another result was the gradual weakening of the link between the two states of consciousness - that of the spirit and that of the individual. The individual became more concerned with, and aware of, it's own creations than God's. This was the fall in spirit, or the revolt of the angels as described in the Bible.

某些靈魂對它們自己的力量感到困惑，開始試驗這種力量。它們與星塵和天體的風相混合、感覺它們、成為它們的一部分。這樣的一個後果是正負力量的不平衡，不是強調這一種力量，就是強調了另一種力量；感覺事物要求負的力量；透過事物進行表達，並指導和處理它們，要求正的力量。另一個結果是意識的兩種狀態——靈的意識和個人的意識之間的聯絡逐漸減弱。個人變得關注、瞭解它自己的創造更甚於上帝的創造。這是靈的降落，或是聖經中描寫的天使反叛。

To move into a portion of creation and become part of it, a soul had to assume a new, or third aspect of consciousness - a method of experiencing that portion of creation and translating it into the basic substance of mind by means of thought. Humanity refers to this aspect of awareness as the "conscious mind". It is the device by which he experiences earth: the physical body, the five senses, the glandular and nervous systems. In other worlds, in other systems, the device differed. Only the range and variation of man's own thoughts can give an idea of the number of these other worlds and systems and the aspects of divine mind which they represent.

要進入創造物並成為它的一部分，一個靈魂必須採取一種新的意識或意識的第三種形態——經驗創造物的那個部分並透過思想將它轉譯為頭腦的基本元素。人類把這種知覺形態稱作「有意識的頭腦」。這是他經驗地球的裝置：肉身、五官、腺體和神經系統。在其他世界中，在其他系統中，裝置是不同的。只有人類自己的思想的廣度和多樣性可以想像這些其他世界和系統的數量以及它們所代表的神聖心靈的各個方面。

When a soul took on the consciousness of a portion of creation it separated itself temporarily from the consciousness of its own individuality, and became even further removed from the consciousness of its spirit. Thus, instead of helping to direct the flow of creation and contributing to it, it found itself in the stream, drifting along with it. The farther it went from the shore, the more it succumbed to the pull of the current and the more difficult was the task of getting back to land.

當一個靈魂以作為造物的一部分的意識呈現時，它暫時將自己與它自己個性的意識相分離，並更加遠離它的靈的意識。這樣，不是說明指引創造的潮流，並對此做出貢獻，相反它發現自己身處潮流之中，隨波逐流。它越是遠離岸邊，它越是無力與潮流抗爭，越是感到難以回到岸上。

Each of the systems of stars and planets represented, in this manner, a temptation to the souls. Each had its plan, and moved toward it through the activity of a constant stream of mind. When a soul leaped into the stream (by immersing itself in the system through which the stream was flowing) it had the force of the current to contend with, and its free will was hampered. It was very easy, under these circumstances, to drift with the current.

每個恆星和行星系統都以這種方式來誘惑靈魂。每個系統都有它自己的排程，並透過持續不斷的心靈流動向它靠近。當一個靈魂跳入潮流（透過投身於這個流動的系統中）它具有與潮流抗爭的力量，它的自由意志受到阻礙。在這些環境中，它很容易隨波逐流。

Each solar system also represented an opportunity for development, advancement, and growth toward the ideal of complete companionship with God - the position of co-creator in the vast system of universal mind.

每個太陽系也代表著一個通往與上帝完全相伴的理想的發展、進步和成長的機會——在宇宙心靈的廣大系統中的共同創造者的地位。

Our solar system attracted souls, and since each system is a single expression, with its planets as integral parts, the earth came into the path of souls.

我們的太陽系也吸引靈魂，因為每個系統都是一個單獨的表達——行星為整體密不可分的一部分，地球就是靈魂的道路。

The planets of the solar system represent the dimensions of consciousness of that system - its consciousness as a whole. There are nine dimensions to the consciousness of our solar system. The earth represents the third dimension.

太陽系的行星代表了這個系統中意識的各個維度——它作為一個整體意識。對應於我們太陽系的意識有九個維度。地球代表第三個維度。

The earth was an expression of divine mind with its own laws, its own plan, its own evolution. Souls, longing to feel the beauty of the seas, the winds, the forest, the flowers, mixed with them and expressed themselves through them. They also mingled with the animals, and made, in imitation of them, thought forms: they played at creating; they imitated God. But it was a playing, an imitating, that interfered with what had already been set in motion, and thus the stream of mind carrying out the plan for earth gradually drew souls into its current. They had to go along with it, in the bodies they had themselves created.

地球是以它自己的法則、它自己的排程、它自己的進化對神聖心靈的一種表達。靈魂渴望感受海洋、風、森林、花兒的美麗，就身處它們之中，並透過它們來表達他們自己。他們也與動物相處，並模仿它們創造思想形式；他們享受創造之樂；他們模仿上帝。但這是一種遊戲、一種模仿，這干涉了已經置於運動中的事物，因此執行地球排程的心靈潮流逐漸將靈魂吸收進來。他們必須在他們創造出來的身體中隨波逐流。

This entanglement of souls in what humanity calls matter was a probability from the beginning, but God did not know when it would happen until the souls, of their own choice, had caused it to happen.

人們把這種靈魂的糾纏稱作物質，這自開始起就是一種可能性，但上帝並不知道它何時會發生，直到靈魂根據它們自己的選擇使它發生。

Of the souls which God created - and God created all souls in the beginning; none has been made since - only a comparative few have come into the experience of our solar system, though many have gone through or are going through a similar entanglement in other solar systems.

在上帝創造的靈魂之中——上帝在開始時就創造了全部的靈魂；自此以後再也未創造過靈魂——只有較少的一部分進入了我們太陽系經歷，儘管許多靈魂在其他太陽系已經經歷或正在經歷一種相似的糾纏。

A way of escape for the souls which were entangled in matter was prepared. A form was chosen to be a vehicle for the soul on earth, and the way was made for souls to enter earth and experience it as part of their cycle. Of the forms already existing on earth, one of the anthropoid apes most nearly approached the necessary pattern. Souls descended on these apes - hovering above and about them rather than inhabiting them - and influenced them to move toward a different goal from the simple one they had been pursuing. They came down out of the trees, built fires, made tools, lived in communities, and began to communicate with each other. Swiftly, even as humanity measures time, they lost their animal look, shed bodily hair, and took on refinements of manner and habit.

靈魂逃脫物質糾纏的方式已經準備好。地球上的靈魂選擇了一種作為載體的形式，為靈魂安排好了進入地球並在其中經歷的方式，作為它們循環的一部分。在已經存在於地球上的形式中，有一種類人猿最為接近所需要的模式。靈魂降至這些類人猿——在它們之上或周圍盤旋，而不是居住於它們體內——並影響它們向一個不同於它們原先所追求的簡單目標的方向發展。它們離開樹林，使用火，製造工具，生活於團體中，開始互相交流。它們很快就失去了它們的動物長相，褪去了體毛，開始有文雅的舉止和習慣。

All this was done by the souls, working through glands, until the body of the ape was an objectification - three dimensional - of the soul that hovered above it. Then the soul descended into the body and earth had a new inhabitant: man.

全部這些都是由靈魂透過腺體的運作完成的，最後猿的身體成為盤旋其上的靈魂的三維客體。然後靈魂降至身體中，於是地球有了新居民：人類。

Humanity appeared as a consciousness within an animal, a consciousness which was felt on the earth in five different places at the same time, as the five races. When the soul first incarnated into flesh, this began the first incarnation of the divine consciousness into an animal. Cayce referred to this divine consciousness as the "Christ Consciousness" and the evolved human that resulted was the human referred to in the Bible as "Adam".

人類顯現為動物之內的一個意識，它分成五個人種同時分佈在地球的五個不同的地方。當靈魂開始投生至肉身中，神聖的意識進入動物的第一次投生就開始了。凱西將這個神聖意識稱作「基督意識」，由此進化而來的人類就是聖經中的「亞當」。

The problem was to overcome the attractions of the earth to the extent that the soul would be as free in the body as out of it. Only when the body was no longer a hindrance to the free express of the soul would the cycle of earth be finished.

問題是要克服地球的吸引，使靈魂在體內可以像在體外一樣自由。只有當身體不再是靈魂自由表達的障礙時，地球上的循環才會結束。

In a smaller field this was the drama of free will and creation. In a still smaller field each atom of the physical body, being a world in itself, is a drama of free will and creation. The soul puts life into each atom, and each atom is a reflection in flesh of the soul's pattern.

在更小的範圍，這是自由意志和創造的戲劇。在更加小的範圍中，肉身的每一個原子——它自身就是一個世界——都是自由意志和創造的一場戲劇。靈魂將生命放入每一個原子，每一個原子都是靈魂模式的一個肉身反映。

Humans became aware, with the advent of consciousness, that sex meant something more to them than to the animals. It was the door by which new souls entered the earth, a door unnecessary elsewhere in the solar system. It was the only means the trapped souls had of getting out of their predicament - through the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They represented the ideal vehicle for the soul on earth.

人類以其意識開始明白人類的性代表著比動物的性更多的東西。它是新靈魂進入地球的門戶，在太陽系其他地方這種門戶是不必要的。這是受困的靈魂脫離它們困境的唯一方式——透過出生、死亡和再生。它們代表了地球上靈魂的理想載體。

The plan for the earth cycle of souls was a series of incarnations, interlarded with periods of dwelling in other dimensions of consciousness in the solar system - the planets, until every thought and every action of the physical body, with its five senses and conscious mind, was in accord with the plan originally laid out for the soul. When the body was no longer a hindrance to the free expression of the soul - when the conscious mind had merged with the subconscious, and the atomic structure of the body could be controlled so that the soul was as free in it as out of it - the earth cycle was finished and the soul could go on to new adventures. This conquest of the physical body could not be attained until there was perfection in the other dimensions of consciousness in the solar system, for these made up, with the earth, the total expression of the sun and its planets. Whichever state of consciousness the soul assumed became the focal point of activity. The other states of consciousness receded to the position of urges and influences.

靈魂的地球循環排程是一系列的輪迴，其中夾雜著有些時候居住於太陽系中其他意識維度——行星上，直到肉身以其五官和意識頭腦作出的每個思想和行動都與原來為靈魂安排的排程相一致。當身體不再是靈魂自由表達的障礙時——當意識頭腦與潛意識融為一體，身體的原子結構可以被控制，因而靈魂在體內與在體外一樣自由——地球循環就結束了，靈魂可以去進行新的探險。直到太陽系的其他意識維度存在完美，征服肉身才有可能達成，因為它們和地球一起拼湊成了太陽及其行星的完整表達。無論意識處於哪種狀態，靈魂都成為活動的焦點。意識的其他狀態都退至促進和影響的地位。

The race of humanity was fostered by a soul which had completed its experience of creation and returned to God, becoming a companion to Him and a co-creator. This is the soul human known as the "Christ", or the "anointed one" as described in the Bible. Adam, the first incarnation of the Christ Consciousness in flesh, was the first incarnation of the divine consciousness. Jesus, the final incarnation of that same soul, was the first human to fully manifest the Christ Consciousness in the flesh.

人類是由一個已經完成了它的創造經歷並回歸上帝的靈魂養育的，它已成為上帝的陪伴者和共同創造者。這個靈魂就是人們熟知的聖經中描述的「基督」或者「聖人」。亞當，基督意識的首次肉身輪迴，是這個神聖意識的第一次投生。耶穌，同一個靈魂的最後一次投生，是第一個以肉身完全表示基督意識的人。

The race of humanity was fostered by a soul which had completed its experience of creation and returned to God, becoming a companion to Him and a co-creator. This is the soul human known as the "Christ", or the "anointed one" as described in the Bible. Adam, the first incarnation of the Christ Consciousness in flesh, was the first incarnation of the divine consciousness. Jesus, the final incarnation of that same soul, was the first human to fully manifest the Christ Consciousness in the flesh.

人類是由一個已經完成了它的創造經歷並回歸上帝的靈魂養育的，它已成為上帝的陪伴者和共同創造者。這個靈魂就是人們熟知的聖經中描述的「基督」或者「聖人」。亞當，基督意識的首次肉身輪迴，是這個神聖意識的第一次投生。耶穌，同一個靈魂的最後一次投生，是第一個以肉身完全表示基督意識的人。

The Christ soul was interested in the plight of its brother souls trapped in earth, and after supervising the influx of human souls into flesh, the Christ soul took form itself, from time to time, to act as a leader for the people.

基督靈魂對它的陷於地球的兄弟靈魂感興趣，在指導人類靈魂流入肉體之後，基督靈魂時而自己投生為人，以領導世人。

The Christ soul helped humanity. As the Biblical characters named Adam, Enoch, and Melchizedek, the Christ soul took on flesh, to teach and lead. Enoch and Melchizedek experienced neither birth nor death. The Christ soul realized after these assumptions of human flesh that it was necessary to set a pattern for humanity, to show them the way back to God. The Christ soul assumed this task and was born of a woman, beginning voluntarily a new individuality, a new soul record; though behind this new individuality shone the pure Christ soul. But once born as a human, the separation of consciousness from subconsciousness occurred and the Christ soul began his pilgrimage. The Christ soul's last incarnation was as the humble carpenter from Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, triumphant over death and the body, became the way, laying down the ego of the will, accepting the crucifixion, and returning to God. He is the pattern to follow. The perfect life lead as Jesus and his subsequent unjust murder, reversed the negative karma that came from his first incarnation as Adam.

基督靈魂說明了人類。作為聖經人物，他的名字是亞當、伊諾克和梅爾凱茲迪克，基督靈魂投生地球，以教導和領導世人。伊諾克和梅爾凱茲迪克既未經歷出生也未經歷死亡。基督靈魂在這些肉身投生之後，認識到有必要為人類設立一個模式，以向他們顯示回歸上帝之路。基督靈魂承擔起這個任務，他由一個女人誕生，自願開始一個新的個人，一個新的靈魂記錄；儘管在這個新的個人之後閃耀著純粹的基督的靈魂。但一旦生而為人，與潛意識分離的意識發生了，基督靈魂開始了他的朝拜。基督靈魂最後一次投生是作為加利利(巴勒斯坦北部一多山地區)的卑微的木匠，拿撒勒的耶穌。耶穌戰勝了死亡和肉身，成就了這種道，他取消了意志的自我，接受在十字架上受難，並回歸上帝。他是人們追隨的榜樣。基督所過的完美生活以及他後來的不公正的被害，扭轉了他第一次作為亞當的輪迴所帶來的負面的羯磨。

At present, humanity is in a state of great spiritual darkness - the darkness which precedes dawn. Humanity has carried their skepticism to the point where it is forcing them to conclusions they know intuitively are wrong. At the same time humanity has carried their investigation of natural phenomena to the point where it is disproving all it seemed to prove in the beginning. Free will is finding that all roads lead finally to the same destination. Science, theology, and philosophy, having no desire to join forces, are approaching a point of merger. Skepticism faces destruction by its own hand.

如今，人類正處於一種巨大的精神黑暗的狀態——這是黎明前的黑暗。人類的懷疑論已到了他們被迫得出他們直覺所瞭解的知識都是錯誤結論的地步。同時，人類對自然現象的調查已到了它正在反證它一開始所證明的一切的地步。自由意識正在發現，全部道路都最終通向相同的終點。科學、神學和哲學，它們原本互不相容，現在正趨向於相互結合。懷疑論正面臨自掘墳墓的境地。

So people are different in their likes and dislikes, in their desires and dreams. The law of karma - which is the law of cause and effect - likewise makes them different in their joys and sorrows, in their handicaps, their strengths, their weaknesses, their virtues and vices, their appreciation of beauty, and their comprehension of truth. Transgression incurred in the flesh must be met in the flesh: earth's natural law, not humanity or God, demands an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

所以人們的好惡、他們的慾望和夢想是不同的。羯磨法則——即因果法則——同樣使他們的悲歡各不相同，他們的殘障、他們的力量、他們的弱點、他們的美德和惡行、他們對美的鑒賞力、以及他們對真理的理解也有所不同。肉身遭受的侵犯必須還之以肉身：地球的自然法則、而不是人類或上帝的法則，要求以眼還眼、以牙還牙。

The same law applies to groups of people, as they act together. There is karma for families, for tribes, for races, for nations. When the souls who committed a war die and are born again into the physical world, a war will be committed upon that nation. Only when defeat is endured by a nation with humility and understanding, only when victory is dispensed by a nation with justice and mercy, will the karma of war be lifted from them.

同樣的法則適用於一起行動的群體。存在著家庭、部落、種族和國家的羯磨。當發動戰爭的靈魂陣亡後再投生至物質世界，這個國家就會遭受戰爭。只有當一個國家以卑謙和諒解來忍受戰敗，只有當一個國家以正義和仁慈而無須勝利，他們才會擺脫戰爭的羯磨。

Every person's life is shaped to some extent by karma: their own, that of their associates and loved ones, that of their nation and race, and that of the world itself. But these, singly or together, are not greater than free will. It is what the person does about these influences and urges, how they react to them, that makes a difference in their soul development. Because of karma some things are more probable than others, but so long as there is free will anything is possible.

每一個人的生命在某種程度上是由羯磨造就的：他們自己的羯磨、與他們一起生活的人和他們所愛的人的羯磨、他們國家和種族的羯磨、以及世界自身的羯磨。但這些羯磨，單獨或一起，並不比自由意志更為巨大。一個人對這些影響和促進的所作所為，他對這些的反應，才會使他靈魂的發展有所不同。由於羯磨，一些事情比其他事情更具可能性，但只要具有自由意志，任何事情都是可能的。

Thus free will and predestination coexist in a person. Their past experiences limit them in probability, and incline them in certain directions, but free will c?la na?ways "draw the sword from the stone."

因此，自由意志和宿命同時存在於一個人之中。他們過去的經歷限制他們在可能性之中，使他們傾向於某些方向，但自由意志總是可以「將劍從石中拔出。」

No soul takes on flesh without a general plan for the experience ahead. The personality expressed through the body is one of many which the individuality might have assumed. Its job is to work on one or several phases of the karma of the individuality. No task is undertaken which is too much for the personality to which it is assigned - or which chooses it. Some souls choose their own entrances and set their own tasks; others, having made too many mistakes and having become dangerously subject to earthly appetites, are sent back by law, at a time and under circumstances best suited to help them. The task is seldom perfectly fulfilled, and sometimes it is badly neglected.

沒有哪個靈魂在投生之前不進行總體排程。人格透過身體展現的是這個個人可能已經設想的許多排程中的一種。他的工作是個人羯磨中的一個或幾個方面。沒有什麼任務會遠遠超過這個已接受或選擇它的人格的能力之上。有些靈魂選擇他們自己的投生，設定他們自己的任務；還有些人，已犯下太多的錯誤，已危險地陷於世俗的慾望，根據法則，他們會在某個時候被送回對他們最有說明的、最適宜的環境中去。任務很少被完滿地完成，有時任務會被極大忽視。

Choice of incarnation is usually made at conception, when the channel for expression is opened by the parents. A pattern is made by the mingling of the soul pattern of the parents. This sets up certain conditions of karma. A soul whose own karma approximates these conditions will be attracted by the opportunity presented. Since the pattern will not be exactly their own, they must consider taking on some of the karma of their parents.

投生的選擇通常在懷孕時作出，這時由父母開啟通往塵世的通道。一種模式是混合父母的靈魂模式構成。這為羯磨設定了某些條件。一個自己的羯磨與這些條件相適應的靈魂會為所提供的機會吸引。由於模式不可能完全符合他們，他們必須考慮接納他們父母的一些羯磨。

Things other than pattern concern the soul in its selection of a body: coming situations in history, former associations with the parents, the incarnation, at about the same time, of souls it wishes to be with and with whom it has problems to work out. In some cases the parents are the whole cause of a soul's return - the child will be devoted to them and remain close to them until their death. In other cases the parents are used as a means to an end - the child will leave home early and be about its business.

除了模式之外，還影響靈魂對身體的選擇：歷史將要出現的局勢、與父母以前的關係、在這次輪迴中將會遇到的他所希望在一起的靈魂、以及將要和對方一起解決羯磨問題的靈魂。在有些情形中，父母是靈魂回來的唯一原因——孩子深愛他們，並與他們關係密切，直到他們死亡。在另外的情形中，父母被用作達到某個目的的方式——孩子會很早離開家庭，去做他自己的事情。

The soul may occupy the body as early as six months before birth, or as late as a month after birth, though in the latter case it has been hovering over the body since birth, deciding whether or not to occupy it. Once the decision is made and the occupation completed, the separation between the conscious mind and subconscious mind takes place between the new personality and the soul, and the earthly record of the child begins. The fact that a baby is born dead does not mean that it was refused as a vehicle for a soul. Just the opposite is true: the opportunity is taken away from the soul due to natural forces and no occupation of that body was possible.

靈魂會在早到出生前六個月就進入胎兒，或晚到嬰兒出生後一個月才進入，但在後者的情形中，自嬰兒出生起，它就在嬰兒身體四周盤旋，它在決定是否進入。一旦作出決定，它就進入身體，在新的人格和靈魂之間，意識頭腦和潛意識頭腦就會分開，孩子的世間經歷就開始了。一個出生時就死亡的嬰兒並不代表著它被拒絕作為靈魂的載體。反過來說才對：由於自然力量，機會被從靈魂那裡拿走了，不進入這個身體是可能的。

The personality is a high-lighted portion of the individuality, experiencing three dimensional consciousness. The rest of the individuality remains in shadow, giving tone to the personality; urges, appreciations, tastes, avocations, and what is loosely termed "charm" - the background to which intuition responds.

人格是個性的最顯著的一部分，它經歷三維意識。個性的其餘部分留在陰影中，為人格設定基調；慾望、鑒賞力、品位、愛好、以及籠統稱作「魅力」的性格——直覺對其作出回應的背景。

The personality is shaped by three or four incarnations, the portions of the earthly experience on which the individuality wants to work. The emotions and talents of the person reflect these incarnations. The dreams, visions, meditations - the deep, closely guarded self-consciousness of the personality is the pattern of experience among the other states of consciousness within the solar system. The intellect is, roughly speaking, from the stars: it is the mind force of the soul, conditioned by its previous experience in creation outside the solar system, and dimmed or brightened by its recent experiences within the solar system.

人格是由三次或四次輪迴造就的，這是個性希望解決的塵世經驗的部分。個人的情感和才幹反應了這些輪迴。夢、顯聖、冥想——深刻的、嚴密防範的人格的自我意識是在太陽系內的意識的其他狀態中的經驗模式。大體而言，智力來自於恆星：它是靈魂的心靈力量，受到它以前在太陽系以外的創造的經驗的限制，並由它在太陽系中最近的經驗而變得更暗淡或更明亮。

Thus a personality is only an aspect of an individuality. A soul, deciding to experience earth again, might assume any of several personalities, each of which would express a portion of itself. As a soul approaches completion of the solar cycle the personality becomes more many-sided, expressing greater portions of the individuality. This is because each incarnation has less adverse karma, requiring less attention. Finally the personality is a complete expression of the individuality, and the cycle is completed.

因此，一個人格只是個性的一個方面。一個決定再次經歷地球的靈魂會採用幾個人格中的任何一個，他們中每一個都表達了它自己的一部分。當一個靈魂趨向於太陽循環的完成，這個人格就越來越多面化，表達出個性的更多部分。這是因為每一次輪迴的不利羯磨在減少，所需要的關注也更少。最終，這個人格成了對個性的一種完整表達，於是循環就完成了。

As an individuality succumbs to earthiness, abandoning intellect for emotion and emotion for sensuality, it becomes more and more one-sided.

當個性屈從於塵世，取消理智和感性，它就變得越來越片面。

The incarnations which influence the personality reflect their patterns in the person's life. Sometimes they intermingle: a child's parents may re-create the environment of one experience, while his playmates will re-create the environment of another. Sometimes the influences work in periods: home and childhood may re-create the conditions of one incarnation, school and college those of another, marriage those of a third, and a career those of a fourth. Usually the people and the problems of the incarnations have interlocking relationships, so that the pattern of the personality's experience is a rational development, and the problems are presented to them as they are prepared to meet them. Because the incarnations only reflect their problems (their blessings as well as their handicaps), usually the karma of more than one can be undertaken in a single life; if the life is successful, considerable progress is made toward freedom from the flesh.

影響人格的輪迴反映了它們在這個人生命中的模式。有時它們互相混合：一個孩子的父母會重新創造一種經驗的環境，而他的玩伴則會重新創造另一種經驗的環境。有時，這種影響在各個階段發揮作用：家庭和童年會重新創造一個輪迴的環境，學校和大學會重新創造另一個輪迴的環境，婚姻會是第三個輪迴的環境，職業會是第四個。通常輪迴中的人和問題具有連鎖的關係，這樣，這個人格經驗的模式是一種合理的發展，當他們作好解決問題的準備時，問題就會在他們面前出現。因為輪迴只反映了他們的問題（他們的福報和孽報），通常在一個輪迴中會承受不止一個輪迴的羯磨；如果這一生是成功的，那麼他在由肉身中解脫而取得自由方面就取得了很大的進步。

When a life is finished the personality vanishes. Its pattern is absorbed into the individuality. Its record is retained, but it becomes a part of the individuality, which at all times is the sum total of what it has been: all it has thought, all it has experienced; all it has eaten, drunk, and felt through the ages.

當一生結束時，這個人格就消失了。它的模式被這個個性所吸收。它的記錄被保留，但它成了個性的一部分，個性從來就是它曾經是的一切的總和：在全部時代中它所思、它所經歷、它所吃的、喝的和感受的一切。

Here is an example of how extremes may meet. Both the atheist and the religionist seem to be right. The atheist says the personality does not survive after death; the religionist says the soul is judged after death and returns to its Creator. Substituting personality for soul, both are expressing a truth. The personality is judged, returns to its creator - the individuality - and is absorbed, giving up its own independent existence.

這裡是極端情況下的一個例子。無神論者和宗教人士似乎都是對的。無神論者說死後人格並不續存；宗教人士說靈魂在死後接受審判並回歸它的創造者。如果以人格來取代靈魂，兩者都表達了一個真理。這個人格受到審判，回歸它的創造者——這個個性——並被吸收，取消它自己的獨立存在。

The general plan for perfecting the individuality in its experience of this solar system then proceeds. Another state of consciousness is assumed, as a trial or as a means of reinforcing the character of a future personality.

太陽系的個性在它的經歷中完善自己的總的排程在繼續進行。作為一種嘗試或加強一個未來人格的性格的一種方式，意識呈現出另一種狀態。

So the problems of individualities, the problems of groups, the problems of races and nations, are worked upon time and again until, by free will, they are solved, and the souls go on to other worlds, other solar systems, other universes.

因此個性的問題、團體的問題、種族和國家的問題被一次又一次地予以解決，直到自由意志解決了全部問題，靈魂就去往其他世界，其他太陽系、其他宇宙。

Though at first the souls but lightly inhabited bodies and remembered their identities, gradually, life after life, they descended into earthiness, into less mentality, less consciousness of the mind force. They remembered their true selves only in dreams, in stories and fables handed down from one generation to another. Religion came into being: a ritual of longing for lost memories. The arts were born: music, numbers, and geometry. These were brought to earth by the incoming souls; gradually their heavenly source was forgotten, and they had to be written down, learned, and taught to each new generation.

雖然起初靈魂只是稍微居住於體內，並記得它們的身份，但是漸漸地，一生又一生之後，它們沉淪於世俗生活，越來越沒有靈性，頭腦的意識力量越來越小。他們只在夢中、在世代流傳的故事和傳說中記得他們真正的自我。宗教產生了：一種對失去記憶的渴望的儀式。藝術產生了：音樂、數字和幾何學。這些是由來到地球的靈魂帶來的；他們的天堂起源逐漸被遺忘了，每一代新人都必須將它們記下來，瞭解和學習。

Finally humans were left with a conscious mind definitely separated from his own individuality. Humans now call this individuality the subconscious mind; awareness of the physical world is the conscious mind. The subconscious mind influenced the conscious mind - gave it, in fact, its stature, breath, and quality. It became the body under the "suit of clothes." Only in sleep was it disrobed.

最終，人類只剩下與他自己個性截然分離的意識頭腦。人類現在將這種個性稱作潛意識頭腦；感知物質世界的則是意識頭腦。潛意識頭腦影響著意識頭腦——事實上，為它提供了它的才幹、呼吸和特質。它成了「外衣」之內的身體。只有在睡眠時它才脫去衣服。

With his conscious mind humans reasoned (for all mind, left to itself, will work out the plans of God). Humans built up theories for what they felt - but no longer knew - to be true. Philosophy and theology resulted. Humans began to look around and discover, in the earth, secrets which they carried within themselves but could no longer reach with consciousness. The result was science.

人類以他的意識頭腦思考（因為全部頭腦，它自身都會執行上帝的排程）。人類根據他們感到什麼是正確的來建立理論——但他們不再知道。哲學和神學產生了。人類開始察看地球，發現他們自身所包含的秘密，但不能再以意識取得答案。結果就是科學。

The plan of humanity went into action. Downward humanity went from heavenly knowledge to mystical dreams, revealed religions, philosophy and theology, until the bottom was reached and humanity only believed what they could see and feel and prove in terms of their conscious minds. Then they began to fight their way upward, using the only tools they had left: suffering, patience, faith, and the power of mind.

人類的排程被付諸行動。人類從天堂的知識向下走到神秘的夢、顯現的宗教、哲學和神學，一直到達谷底，人類只相信他們看得見、感覺得到、和可以以他們的意識頭腦證明的東西。然後他們開始奮力向上走，運用他們剩下的唯一的工具：受苦、忍耐、信仰和心靈的力量。

by Kevin Williams 

作者：凱文·威廉斯著 

譯者：DNA