The five major world religions - John Bellaimey

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Jessica Ruby

譯者: Ming Gui Tan 審譯者: Crystal Yip

In all times and places in our history,

無論古今中外

human beings have wondered,

人類總在思索

"Where did we come from?

「我們從何而來？

What's our place in the world?

我們在世界扮演甚麼角色？

What happens to us after we die?"

我們死後會如何？」

Religions are systems of belief

宗教是一套信仰系統

that have developed and evolved over time

會隨著時間發展和演變

in response to these

來回應這些疑惑

and other eternal mysteries,

以及其他永恆奧秘

driven by the feeling that some questions

宗教的出現緣於強力的認知 認為某些問題

can only be answered by faith

只能透過信仰來解答

and based on an intuition

同時基於一種直覺

that there is something greater than ourselves,

認為一定有比我們自身更大的存在

a higher power we must answer to,

一個我們必須臣服於祂的更高力量

or some source we all spring from

或是我們共同的來源

and to which we must return.

也是我們必須回歸的地方

Hinduism means the religions of India.

印度教意思是印度的宗教

It's not a single religion

它不是單一宗教

but rather a variety of related beliefs

而是多種相關的信仰

and spiritual practices.

和性靈修習的統稱

It dates back five millennia

印度教的起源可以追溯至五千多年前

to the time of Krishna,

「克里希納」的時代

a man of such virtue

一個品德崇潔

that he became known as an avatar of Vishnu,

以至於被認為是「毗須奴」的化身

an incarnation of the god in human form.

一位示現為人身的神

He taught that all life follows karma,

他說所有生命皆遵從「業」

the law of cause and effect,

也就是因果定律

and our job is to do our duty, or dharma,

我們應該按照各自的社會地位， 克盡己責，即是依「法」

according to our place in society

without worrying how things turn out.

而不去擔憂事後種種

When we die, we are reincarnated into a new body.

我們死後會投胎轉世

If we followed our dharma

如果我們遵循「法」

and did our proper duty in our past life,

並於前世努力盡責

we get good karma,

我們即成就善業

which sends our soul upward in the social scale.

進而提升下一世的社會地位

Our rebirth into the next life

來世的投生取決於此生所做的一切

is thus determined by what we do in this one.

The wheel of rebirths is called samsara.

這種不斷的轉世，稱為「輪迴」

It's possible for a very holy person

若有聖人一生成就了足夠的善業

to lead a life with enough good karma

to escape the wheel.

他便有可能超脫輪迴

This escape is called moksha.

這超脫稱為「解脫」

Hinduism teaches that everything is one.

印度教主張萬物同一

The whole universe is

整個宇宙是

one transcendent reality called Brahman,

一個超然的現實，稱為「梵」

and there's just one Brahman

「梵」是獨一無二

but many gods within it,

而其中有眾多神祇

and their roles, aspects, and forms differ

各自的角色、能力、形態

according to various traditions.

在各個宗派裡有所不同

Brahma is the creator,

「梵天」是創造之神

Vishnu is the preserver

「毗須奴」是保護之神

who sometimes takes on human form,

時而化現為人

and Shiva is the transformer,

「濕婆」是轉化之神

or Lord of the Dance.

或是舞蹈之神

Durga is the fiercely protective divine mother.

難近母（杜爾嘎）是驍勇而温柔的地母神

Ganesha has an elephant head

象神（迦尼薩）有個象頭

and is the wise patron of success.

是成功的智慧守護神

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world.

印度教是世界第三大的宗教

And although most Hindus live in India,

雖然大部份印度教徒居於印度

they can be found on every continent,

但其實印度教徒散佈各大洲， 總數約十億

one billion strong.

Now, let's travel west,

現在，讓我們往西方去

across deserts and mountains

跨過沙漠和高山

to the fertile crescent about 4,000 years ago.

來到四千年前的新月沃土

Judaism began with God calling

猶太教源於神的呼召

Abraham and Sarah to leave Mesopotamia

叫亞伯拉罕和撒拉離開美索不達米亞

and migrate to the land of Canaan.

遷往迦南

In return for their faith in the one true God,

因為他們堅信唯一的真神

a revolutionary concept

一個在當時的多神論世界 具有革命性的概念

in the polytheistic world of that time,

they would have land and many descendants.

神應許他們土地，並且子孫綿延

From this promise came the land of Israel

這應許帶來「以色列」之地 和「神的選民」

and the chosen people,

but staying in that land

但要留居那地方，並守護當地居民

and keeping those people together

was going to be very difficult.

將會非常困難

The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt,

以色列人於埃及為奴

but God freed them with the help

但神借助摩西解救了他們

of the prophet Moses,

who received the Ten Commandments

摩西獲得「十誡」

and later hundreds more.

及後再添數百條律法

They conquered the Promised Land,

他們佔領了「應許之地」

but could only keep it for a few hundred years.

但只維持了數百年

Israel sits at a crossroads

以色列坐落於要塞

through which many armies

眾多軍隊歷來皆行軍於此

marched over the centuries.

And in the year 70,

在公元70年

the Romans destroyed the temple

羅馬人破壞神廟

in their capital, Jerusalem.

就在他們的首都耶路撒冷

So, the religion transformed itself

所以，猶太教轉化自身

from a temple religion

由廟堂的宗教

with sacrifices and priests

有奉獻和祭司

to a religion of the book.

轉化成經書的宗教

Because of this, Judaism is a faith

正因如此，猶太教的是一種信仰

of symbolism, reverence, and deep meanings

富含象徵、崇敬和深奧的義理

tied to the literature of its history.

蘊藏在其歷史著作中

The many sacred scriptures make up

眾多經文結集成

the Hebrew bible, or Tanakh,

希伯來聖經，或稱作《塔納赫》

and hundreds of written discussions and interpretations

還有數以百計的討論記錄和詮釋

are contained in an expansive compendium

收錄於一個漸漸豐富的大略， 當中包含種種深層意義

of deeper meanings,

called the Talmud.

此書稱為《塔木德》

Jews find rich, symbolic meaning in daily life.

猶太人在日常生活尋到豐富的象徵

At the Passover meal,

在逾越節家宴上

every item on the menu symbolizes

每道菜都是擺脫奴隸地位的象徵

an aspect of the escape from slavery.

The importance of growing up

猶太教重視成人之禮

is emphasized when young people

當年輕男女年屆成人禮之齡

reach the age of bar and bat mitzvah,

ceremonies during which they assume responsibility

透過儀式，他們開始 為自己的行為承擔責任

for their actions

and celebrate the weaving

並慶祝他們在猶太信仰和文史中， 開始編織自己的人生

of their own lives

into the faith, history, and texts

of the Jewish people.

There are 14 million Jews in the world today,

現今世界有1400萬猶太人

6 million in Israel,

600萬人在以色列

which became independent

以色列於二次大戰的 恐怖大屠殺後獨立

following the horrors of genocide in World War II,

and 5 million in the United States.

另有500萬人在美國

But now let's go back 2500 years and return to India

現在讓我們回到2500年前的印度

where Buddhism began

佛教始於一位年輕王子， 名叫「悉達多」

with a young prince named Siddhartha.

On the night he was conceived,

記載說， 他的母親「摩耶夫人」在受孕當晚

his mother, Queen Maya,

is said to have been visited in her sleep

夢見有隻白象進入她的右脅

by a white elephant who entered her side.

Ten months later, Prince Siddartha was born

十個月後，「悉達多」王子在榮華富貴中出生

into a life of luxury.

Venturing forth from his sheltered existence

當他長大成年輕的太子， 他離開了受保護的環境

as a young man,

he witnessed the human suffering

看見從未見過的世間苦難

that had been hidden from him

and immediately set out to investigate its sources.

他立即開始探索苦難的源頭

Why must people endure suffering?

為何人類必需忍受苦難？

Must we reincarnate through hundreds of lives?

我們是否一定要不斷地輪迴？

At first he thought the problem

起初，他以為問題 源於對物質的執著

was attachment to material things,

so he gave up his possessions.

所以他放棄一切擁有的， 成為一個流浪的乞士

He became a wandering beggar,

which he discovered certainly made him no happier.

但他發覺這並不使他變得更快樂

Then he overheard a music teacher telling a student,

然後，他偶然聽見 一名音樂老師對學生說

"Don't tighten the string too much, it will break.

「弦緊易斷

But don't let it go too slack,

弦鬆則音不鳴」

or it will not sound."

In a flash, he realized

當下，他明白

that looking for answers at the extremes

要在兩個極端尋求解脫是錯誤的

was a mistake.

The middle way between luxury and poverty

行在富貴與貧窮之間的中道， 才是無上的智慧

seemed wisest.

And while meditating under a bodhi tree,

當他沉思在菩提樹下

the rest of the answer came to him.

其餘的疑惑皆渙然冰釋

All of life abounds with suffering.

生命皆是苦

It's caused by selfish craving

都起因於追求損人利己的成就

for one's own fulfillment at the expense of others.

Following an eight-step plan

遵循「八正道」 能夠教導我們減少私慾

can teach us to reduce that craving,

and thus reduce the suffering.

從而減少苦的逼迫

On that day, Siddhartha became the Buddha,

就在那天，「悉達多」成為 「佛陀」，即覺悟者

the enlightened one.

Not the only one, but the first one.

不是唯一的，但乃是第一人

The Buddhist plan is called

這八個佛教總綱稱為「八正道」

the Eightfold Path,

and though it is not easy to follow,

雖然它不容易奉行

it has pointed the way

「八正道」卻指引了百萬人走向覺悟

for millions to enlightenment,

which is what Buddhahood means,

這正是所謂的「成佛」

a state of compassion,

一種帶有慈悲

insight,

智慧

peace,

and steadfastness.

平靜

堅定的境界

From the time he got up from under that tree

從他由樹下起身

to the moment of his death as an old man,

直至他老死的那一刻

the Buddha taught people how to become enlightened:

佛陀教導眾人如何證得覺悟：

right speech,

正確的言語

right goals,

a mind focused on what is real,

正確的目標

至念於真實

and a heart focused on loving others.

至心於慈悲

Many Buddhists believe in God or gods,

很多佛教徒相信神或眾神

but actions are more important than beliefs.

但行為遠比信仰重要

There are nearly a billion Buddhists

在現今的世界約有十億佛教徒

in the world today,

mostly in East, Southeast, and South Asia.

主要分佈在東亞、東南亞和南亞

2,000 years ago in Judaism's Promised Land,

2000年前， 在猶太教的「應許之地」

Christianity was born.

基督教誕生了

Just as Hindus called Krishna "God in Human Form,"

正如印度教稱「奎師那」為「顯為人身的神」

Christians say the same thing about Jesus,

基督教也如此描述耶穌

and Christianity grew out of Judaism

基督教衍生自猶太教

just as Buddhism grew out of Hinduism.

正如佛教衍生自印度教

The angel Gabriel was sent by the God of Abraham

亞伯拉罕的神派遣天使加百列

to ask a young woman named Mary

請求一個年輕姑娘瑪莉亞

to become the mother of his son.

成為衪兒子的母親

The son was Jesus,

這個兒子就是耶穌

raised as a carpenter

瑪莉亞和她的丈夫約瑟

by Mary and her husband Joseph,

養育他成為木匠

until he turned 30,

直至他三十歲

when he began his public career

他開始他的公共事業

as the living word of God.

作為神的話語

Less interested in religiousness

比起宗教性，他更在意公義和慈愛

than in justice and mercy,

Jesus healed the sick in order to draw crowds

耶穌治癒病患，以吸引眾人目光

and then taught them about his heavenly father --

然後向他們宣說天父的 慈愛、寬恕、專注

affectionate, forgiving, and attentive.

Then, he would invite everyone to a common table

然後，他會邀請所有人同坐枱前

to illustrate his Kingdom of God,

聆聽他描述神的國度

outcasts, sinners, and saints all eating together.

被放逐的、犯了罪的， 還有聖潔的同享食物

He had only three years

如此短短三年後， 他就被自己非傳統的智慧

before his unconventional wisdom

got him into trouble.

使他陷入麻煩招來禍害

His enemies had him arrested,

他的敵人拘捕他

and he was executed by Rome

然後他被羅馬人處決

in the standard means

處以一般懲處煽動叛亂者的方法， 即是釘十字架

by which rabble-rousers were put to death,

crucifixion.

But shortly after he was buried,

但耶穌被埋葬後不久

women found his tomb empty

婦人發現他的墳墓裡沒有他

and quickly spread word,

消息迅速散播開來

convinced that he had been raised from the dead.

確信他從死裡復活

The first Christians described

第一批基督徒形容耶穌復活的情形

his resurrected appearances,

使耶穌的訊息更可信

inspiring confidence that his message was true.

The message: love one another as I have loved you.

訊息：你們要彼此相愛，就如我愛你們

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus

基督徒在十二月的聖誕節 慶祝耶穌誕生

in December at Christmas,

and his suffering, death, and resurrection

也在春天的復活節前一周， 慶祝他的受難、死亡和復活

during Holy Week in the spring.

In the ceremony of baptism,

在受洗儀式，需洗去罪惡， 而迎至基督教的社群

a washing away of sin

and welcoming into the Christian community,

recall Jesus's own baptism

用以紀念耶穌不再當木匠時的受洗

when he left his life as a carpenter.

In the rite of Communion,

在領受聖體禮，基督徒進食 象徵耶穌的身和血的麵包和紅酒

Christians eat the bread and drink the wine

blessed as the body and blood of Jesus,

用以紀念耶穌的最後晚餐

recalling Jesus's last supper.

There are two billion Christians worldwide,

現約有20億基督徒遍及全世界

representing almost a third of the world's people.

差不多佔全球三分一的人口

伊斯蘭教始於1400年前

Islam began 1400 years ago

with a man of great virtue,

一位品德高尚的男子 在阿拉伯沙漠的山洞中默坐沉思

meditating in a mountain cave

in the Arabian desert.

The man was Muhammad.

這人就是穆罕默德

He was visited by a divine messenger,

神的使者來訪

一樣是天使加百利

again the angel Gabriel,

in Arabic, Jibril,

阿拉伯文為「Jibril」

向穆罕默德傳遞「阿拉」的話語

delivering to him the words of Allah,

即阿伯拉罕唯一的神

the one God of Abraham.

In the next few years,

在往後數年， 傳來的訊息愈來愈多

more and more messages came,

and he memorized and taught them.

他記下並教導這些訊息

The verses he recited were full of wise sayings,

那些他背誦的經文滿是智慧、 美麗的韻律和神秘的比喻

beautiful rhymes,

and mysterious metaphors.

But Muhammad was a merchant, not a poet.

但穆罕默德是一個商人，而非詩人

Many agreed the verses

很多人都同意， 記下的是神的話語

were indeed the words of God,

這些信徒成為第一批穆斯林

and these believers became the first Muslims.

「穆斯林」意即受降者： 一個降服於神的意志的人

The word Muslim means one who surrenders,

meaning a person who submits to the will of God.

A Muslim's five most important duties

穆斯林有五項基本而重要的責任， 稱為「五功」

are called the Five Pillars:

Shahada, Muslims declare publicly,

「唸」：穆斯林公開表白信仰

there is no other God but Allah,

信奉「阿拉」為唯一的真神

and Muhammad is his final prophet;

而穆罕默德是祂最後的先知

Salat, they pray five times a day facing Mecca;

「禮」：信徒每日朝麥加膜拜五次

Zakat, every Muslim is required

「課」：每個穆斯林必須 把他們2-3%的財富給予貧窮的人

to give 2 or 3% of their net worth to the poor;

Sawm, they fast during daylight hours

「齋」：在齋戒月期間， 他們在白天禁食

for the lunar month of Ramadan

以堅定他們的意志和他們對神的信靠

to strengthen their willpower

and their reliance on God;

and Hajj, once in a lifetime,

「朝」：他們一生

every Muslim who is able must make a pilgrimage

如有能力，皆必須朝聖到聖城麥加

to the holy city of Mecca,

rehearsing for the time

以綵排他們站在神面前被判定 是否值得與神一起永生

when they will stand before God

to be judged worthy or unworthy

of eternal life with Him.

The words of God,

於23年間，神顯現予先知的話語

revealed to the prophet over 23 years,

are collected in the Quran,

皆收錄於《可蘭經》

which literally translates into "the recitation."

其語義為「誦讀」

Muslims believe it to be the only holy book

穆斯林信奉《可蘭經》 為唯一沒有受人類沾污的神聖之書

free of human corruption.

It's also considered by many

《可蘭經》亦被很多人視為 最優秀的阿拉伯文學作品

to be the finest work of literature

in the Arabic language.

伊斯蘭教是世界第二大宗教

Islam is the world's second largest religion,

practiced by over one and a half billion Muslims around the globe.

全球有超過15億穆斯林

宗教存在以來， 便作為文化的其中一個面向

Religion has been an aspect of culture

for as long as it has existed,

and there are countless variations of its practice.

它有數之不盡的實踐方式

But common to all religions

但種種宗教有共通之處

is an appeal for meaning

均訴諸意義

beyond the empty vanities

超越空虛的自我滿足 和眼前現實的存在

and lowly realities of existence,

beyond sin,

超越罪惡

suffering,

and death,

苦難

和死亡

beyond fear,

超越恐懼

and beyond ourselves.

和超越我們自身