James Forbes: Compassion at the dinner table

翻译人员: Chunlei Chang 校对人员: Li Chen

Compassion:

同情心。

what does it look like?

同情心看起来是什么样的？

Come with me to 915 South Bloodworth Street

跟我一起来到北卡罗莱纳州

in Raleigh, North Carolina, where I grew up.

的南布拉德沃斯大街上，我成长的地方。

If you come in you will see us: evening time,

如果你进来，你会在晚上看到我们，

at table -- set for ten but not always all seats filled --

十个人围成一桌，但并不是每个位子上都有人。

at the point when dinner is ready to be served.

晚餐准备好的时候，

Since mom had eight kids,

因为妈妈有八个孩子，

sometimes she said she couldn't tell who was who and where they were.

有时她说她分不清谁是谁，都在哪儿。

Before we could eat, she would ask,

但我们吃饭之前，她会问，

"Are all the children in?"

“所有的孩子们都在吗？”

And if someone happened to be missing,

如果有人偶尔不在，

we would have to, we say, "Fix a plate" for that person, put it in the oven,

我们就会说，留一个盘子给他，放到烤箱里。

then we could say grace, and we could eat.

接着我们感恩祷告，然后开吃。

Also, while we were at the table,

所以，当大家坐在桌子前面的时候，

there was a ritual in our family:

这是我们家的一个仪式，

when something significant had happened for any one of us --

当任何人身上发生意义重大的事情时，

whether mom had just been elected as the president of the PTA,

比如当妈妈被选举为家长教师会（PTA）的主席的时候，

or whether dad had gotten an assignment at the college of our denomination,

或者当爸爸得到一份我们大学的教会的工作时。

or whether someone had won the jabberwocky contest for talent --

或者有谁赢得口才比赛的时候，

the ritual at the family was, once the announcement is made,

我们家庭的传统仪式就是，在宣布完之后，

we must take five, ten minutes to do what we call "make over" that person --

我们必须花五到十分钟时间来跟那个人总结一下，

that is, to make a fuss over the one who had been honored in some way.

就是，认认真真的表扬一下那个获得荣誉的人，

For when one is honored, all are honored.

就是一个人光荣，所有人都光荣。

Also, we had to make a report on our extended "visited" members,

同样，我们还必须向我们的家族的客人报告一下。

that is, extended members of the family,

那就是，家庭的扩展成员，

sick and elderly, shut in.

那些无法外出的病人和年长的人。

My task was, at least once a week, to visit Mother Lassiter

我的任务是，至少一周一次去拜访东街的

who lived on East Street,

拉斯特大妈，

Mother Williamson who lived on Bledsoe Avenue,

以及布莱索大道的威廉森大妈，

and Mother Lathers who lived on Oberlin Road.

还有欧柏林路的拉舒大妈。

Why? Because they were old and infirm,

为什么？因为他们年迈体弱。

and we needed to go by to see if they needed anything.

所以我们需要过去看看他们是不是需要任何东西。

For mom said, "To be family, is to care and share and to look out for one another.

妈妈说过：“成为一个家庭，就是要关心和分享，并且去照顾别人。

They are our family."

他们也是我们家庭的成员.”

And, of course, sometimes there was a bonus for going.

当然，偶尔也会有奖励。

They would offer sweets or money.

他们会准备一些糖果和零花钱。

Mom says, "If they ask you what it costs to either go shopping for them,

妈妈说“如果他们问你买东西花了多少钱，

you must always say, 'Nothing.'

你必须说，'不要钱'

And if they insist, say, 'Whatever you mind to give me.'"

如果他们坚持你就说，‘不管怎样你随便给一点’”

This was the nature of being at that table.

这是我们饭桌上的人的天性。

In fact, she indicated that if we would do that,

事实上，她表现出了，如果我们那样去做，

not only would we have the joy of receiving the gratitude

不只是我们会有收到扩展成员

from the members of the extended family,

的感激的喜悦，

but she said, "Even God will smile, and when God smiles,

她还说，“上帝也会微笑，并且上帝微笑的时候，

there is peace, and justice, and joy."

世间就充满了和平，公正和喜悦。”

So, at the table at 915, I learned something about compassion.

所以，在915的饭桌上，我学到了关于同情心很多东西。

Of course, it was a minister's family,

当然，这是一个牧师的家庭，

so we had to add God into it.

所以我们必须把上帝也算进去。

And so, I came to think that mama eternal, mama eternal,

因此，我一直在想永恒的妈妈

is always wondering: Are all the children in?

一直在问：“所有的孩子都在吗？”

And if we had been faithful in caring and sharing,

并且，如果我们坚持关心和分享，

we had the sense that justice and peace would have a chance in the world.

我们就坚信这个世界上公正和和平终会实现。

Now, it was not always wonderful at that table.

现在，那个饭桌并不总是美好的。

Let me explain a point at which we did not rise to the occasion.

我来解释一下我们为什么不能应付自如。

It was Christmas, and at our family, oh, what a morning.

那是圣诞节，在我们家的一个早晨，

Christmas morning, where we open up our gifts,

圣诞节的早晨，我们打开我们的礼物，

where we have special prayers, and where we get to the old upright piano

我们有特殊祈祷的地方，我们到了老的立式钢琴的地方，

and we would sing carols. It was a very intimate moment.

并且我们唱着颂歌。那是一个非常亲密的时刻。

In fact, you could come down to the tree to get your gifts and get ready to sing,

事实上，你可以从树上下来，拿到礼物并且准备唱颂歌，

and then get ready for breakfast without even taking a bath or getting dressed,

然后甚至不用洗澡或者打扮好就可以吃早餐，

except that daddy messed it up.

但爸爸却把一切搞砸了。

There was a member of his staff who did not have any place

因为他的一名同事没有地方去

on that particular Christmas to celebrate.

在这个特殊的圣诞节。

And daddy brought Elder Revels to the Christmas family celebration.

然后爸爸带着他同事爱尔德（Elder Revels）来参加家庭庆祝。

We thought he must be out of his mind.

我们认为他一定是疯了。

This is our time. This is intimate time.

这是属于我们的时刻。这是个亲密的时刻。

This is when we can just be who we are,

这是我们可以做我们真正的自己，

and now we have this stuffy brother

但是现在我们有了这个让人郁闷的哥们儿，

with his shirt and tie on, while we are still in our PJs.

在我们仍然穿着睡衣的时候他却穿着西装和领带。

Why would daddy bring Elder Revels?

为什么爸爸要来爱尔德过来？

Any other time, but not to the Christmas celebration.

只要不是圣诞节，别的任何时候都行。

And mom overheard us and said,

妈妈无意中听到我们的话，

"Well, you know what? If you really understand the nature of this celebration,

“你们知道吗？如果你真的理解庆祝的真正意义，

it is that this is a time where you extend the circle of love.

庆祝是你真正延伸你的爱的时刻。

That's what the celebration is all about.

这就是庆祝的真正意义。

It's time to make space, to share the enjoyment of life in a beloved community."

庆祝是制造空间，是在一个相亲相爱的家庭里分享生命的乐趣。”

So, we sucked up.

於是，我们忍过去了。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But growing up at 915, compassion was not a word to be debated;

但在915长大，同情心并不是个用来辩论的词汇，

it was a sensibility to how we are together.

它是一种我们如何患难于共的情感。

We are sisters and brothers united together.

我们兄弟姐妹们心心相连。

And, like Chief Seattle said, "We did not spin the web of life.

就像是西雅图酋长所说“我们并不是在织生命的这张大网。

We're all strands in it.

我们只是在里面丝缕的。

And whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves."

所以不管我们对这张网做什么，我们是对我们自己做的。”

Now that's compassion.

这就是同情心。

So, let me tell you, I kind of look at the world this way.

所以，我告诉你，我是这么来看这个世界的。

I see pictures, and something says, "Now, that's compassion."

我看图片，然后有些人说，“看，那是同情心。”

A harvested field of grain, with some grain in the corners,

一块收割完的谷田，一些谷物在角落里堆着

reminding me of the Hebrew tradition

提醒着我犹太人的传统

that you may indeed harvest,

你也许确实收割了，

but you must always leave some on the edges,

但你必须一直留点别的东西在边上

just in case there's someone who has not

留给那些没有得到足够的

had the share necessary for good nurture.

养育的人。

Talk about a picture of compassion.

谈及同情心的一张图。

I see -- always, it stirs my heart --

我看到一直震撼我心的

a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

马丁路德.金博士的一张照片。

walking arm in arm with Andy Young and Rabbi Heschel

跟安迪和拉比（Andy Young 和Rabbi Heschel）手挽手往前走

and maybe Thich Nhat Hanh and some of the other saints assembled,

也许是一行禅师（Thich Nhat Hanh）和其它的圣徒，

walking across the bridge and going into Selma.

向前走过桥然后去塞尔玛（Selma）。

Just a photograph.

只是一张照片。

Arm in arm for struggle.

手挽手的奋斗。

Suffering together in a common hope that we can be brothers and sisters

即使没有血缘和宗教关系，为了一个共同的希望患难与共

without the accidents of our birth or our ethnicity

能成为兄弟姐妹。

robbing us of a sense of unity of being.

改变了我们的统一感。

So, there's another picture. Here, this one. I really do like this picture.

现在，还有另外一张照片。我真的喜欢这张照片。

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated,

当马丁路德.金博士被暗杀后，

that day, everybody in my community was upset.

那天，我们社区里所有人都很伤心。

You heard about riots all across the land.

你会听到国家到处都有暴乱。

Bobby Kennedy was scheduled to bring an inner city message in Indianapolis.

鲍勃肯尼迪从印第安纳波利斯带来一个内城消息。

This is the picture. They said,

这就是那张图。他们说，

"It's going to be too volatile for you to go."

“它将会变的太动荡不定，你不能去。”

He insisted, "I must go."

他坚持“我必须去。”

So, sitting on a flatbed truck,

所以，坐在卡车上，

the elders of the community are there,

社区里的老者，

and Bobby stands up and says to the people,

然后鲍勃站起来告诉人们，

"I have bad news for you.

“我有一个坏消息告诉你们。

Some of you may not have heard that Dr. King has been assassinated.

有些人也许还没听说当马丁路德.金博士被暗杀了，

I know that you are angry,

我理解你们很生气，

and I know that you would almost wish to have the opportunity

并且我理解你们希望现在就有机会

to enter now into activities of revenge. But,"

去参与报仇的运动，但是”

he said, "what I really want you to know is that I know how you feel.

他说，“我希望你们知道，我理解你们的感觉。

Because I had someone dear to me snatched away.

因为我的亲人被死神带走了。

I know how you feel."

我理解你们的感受。”

And he said, "I hope that you will have the strength to do what I did.

然后他说，“我希望你们有力量去做我所做的，

I allowed my anger, my bitterness, my grief to simmer a while,

我允许我的愤怒，辛酸，我的悲伤慢慢燃烧，

and then I made up my mind that I was going to make a different world,

然后我立志要去一个崭新的世界，

and we can do that together."

并且我们可以一起达到。“

That's a picture. Compassion? I think I see it.

这是一个图片。 同情心？我觉得我看到它了。

I saw it when the Dalai Lama came to the Riverside Church while I was a pastor,

我看到它是在我是牧师的时候达赖喇嘛到河滨教堂

and he invited representatives of faith traditions from all around the world.

他从全世界邀请了信仰的代表。

He asked them to give a message,

他请他们传递一个信息，

and they each read in their own language a central affirmation,

然后他们每个人都用自己的语言去理解，

and that was some version of the golden rule:

那是另外版本的黄金法则。

"As you would that others would do unto you,

“你如何对待他人，也将如何对待自己，

do also unto them."

像对待自己一样对待别人。”

Twelve in their ecclesiastical or cultural or tribal attire

12个身着喇嘛服装或者民族服装的人

affirming one message.

重申着同一个信息。

We are so connected that we must treat each other

我们连接如此紧密，我们必须像所有的行为都

as if an action toward you is an action toward myself.

对待自己一样去对待大家。

One more picture while I'm stinking and thinking about the Riverside Church:

还有一个图片是我正在思考关于河滨教堂的时候。

9/11. Last night at Chagrin Fall,

9/11。 昨晚正懊恼的时候，

a newspaperman and a television guy said,

一个报摊小贩和一个电视男的对话，

"That evening, when a service was held at the Riverside Church,

那天晚上，当公共的服务在河滨教堂上的时候，

we carried it on our station in this city.

我们继续在我们城市里的车站。

It was," he said, "one of the most powerful moments of life together.

“那是”他说，“历史上生命连接最为紧密的时刻之一。”

We were all suffering.

我们都在经受苦难，

But you invited representatives of all of the traditions to come,

但你邀请所有传统的代表来参加，

and you invited them.

你邀请他们。

'Find out what it is in your tradition

来找出，什么是你的传统

that tells us what to do when we have been humiliated,

告诉我们当我们被侮辱的时候要去做什么,

when we have been despised and rejected.'

当我们被鄙视和拒绝的时候我们要做什么。

And they all spoke out of their own traditions,

然后他们会用他们自己的传统

a word about the healing power of solidarity, one with the other."

关于治疗团结一致的力量，一个接一个。

I developed a sense of compassion sort of as second nature,

好，现在我发现同情心是一种第二天性，

but I became a preacher.

但我变成了一个讲道士。

Now, as a preacher, I got a job. I got to preach the stuff,

现在，作为一个讲道士，我的工作就是布道和说教，

but I got to do it too.

但我就应该做这个。

Or, as Father Divine in Harlem used to say to folks,

或者，就像是哈莱姆神父告诉人们的一样，

"Some people preach the Gospel.

“一些人说教福音书。

I have to tangibilitate the Gospel."

我必须说出福音书的真实性。”

So, the real issue is: How do you tangibilitate compassion?

所以，真正的问题是： 你怎么说同情心的真实性？

How do you make it real?

你怎么让它变成现实？

My faith has constantly lifted up the ideal,

我的信条不断的升华成理想，

and challenged me when I fell beneath it.

并且一旦我落后就不断挑战我。

In my tradition, there is a gift that we have made to other traditions --

在我的传统里，我们要为其它的传统送一个礼物 ，

to everybody around the world who knows the story of the "Good Samaritan."

世界上每一个人都知道善人的故事。

Many people think of it primarily in terms of charity,

许多人认为首当其冲的应该是慈善，

random acts of kindness.

随机的善行。

But for those who really study that text a little more thoroughly,

但对于这些真正研究或者更理解的人来说，

you will discover that a question has been raised

你会发现一个问题慢慢浮现上来，

that leads to this parable.

导致了这个寓意。

The question was: "What is the greatest commandment?"

这个问题是：“什么才是最伟大的戒律？”

And, according to Jesus, the word comes forth,

根据耶稣，这个词汇出来了，

"You must love yourself,

“你必须爱自己，

you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul,

你必须像爱你自己一样全心全意爱你的主你的上帝，

and your neighbor as yourself."

以及你的邻居。”

And then the person asked, "Well, what do you mean, 'neighbor?'"

然后人们问道，“那么，你是指什么，邻居？”

And he answered it by telling the story of the man who fell among thieves,

然后他讲了一个男人落到贼窝的故事来回答这个问题，

and how religious authorities went the other way,

以及宗教的掌权者是如何通向另一条路，

and how their supporters in the congregation went the other way;

还有他们的支持者是如何聚在一起通向另一条路的，

but an unsuspecting, despised person came along,

但没有料想到，被歧视的人一起，

saw the man in need,

看到有需要帮助的人，

provided oil and wine for his wounds,

提供了油和酒来治疗他的伤口，

put him on his own transportation,

把他送上自己的交通工具，

and took him to the inn

然后送他到旅馆

and asked the innkeeper, "Take care of him."

并且告诉侍应生，“好好照顾他。”

And he said, "Here, this is the initial investment,

然后说，“这只是刚开始的投入，

but if needs continue, make sure that you provide them.

如果他还需要帮助，你要确保帮助他

And whatever else is needed, I will provide it and pay for it when I return."

不管他需要什么，等我回来我会把钱给你。”

This always seemed to me to be a deepening

这对于我来说，有意成为

of the sense of what it means to be a Good Samaritan.

一个善人的意识在不断加深。

A Good Samaritan is not simply one whose heart is touched

一个大善人不是仅仅简单的容易感动，

in an immediate act of care and charity,

仅仅一个直接的关心和慈善，

but one who provides a system of sustained care -- I like that,

而是一个提供一系列的可持续的关心 --如我所说的那样

'a system of sustained care ' -- in the inn, take care.

在旅馆里的一个可以持续的关心和照顾。

I think maybe it's one time when the Bible talks about a healthcare system

我想也许有一次当圣经论及医疗系统

and a commitment to do whatever is necessary --

以及承诺要做的必须的事情，

that all God's children would have their needs cared for,

所有的上帝的孩子都需要被照顾，

so that we could answer when mommy eternal asks, "In regards to health,

因此当永恒的妈妈问及，“关于健康，

are all the children in?" And we could say yes.

所有的孩子都在吗？” 然后我们可以回答是的。

Oh, what a joy it has been to be a person seeking to tangibilitate compassion.

一个去证明同情心的真实性的人是多么快乐啊。

I recall that my work as a pastor

我回想我作为一个牧师的时候

has always involved caring for their spiritual needs;

总是牵涉到关注他们的灵魂所需，

being concerned for housing, for healthcare,

关注他们的房子，医疗，

for the prisoners, for the infirm, for children --

犯人，年迈体弱的老人，儿童，

even the foster care children for whom no one can even keep a record

甚至是收养和照顾那些甚至没有出生记录

where they started off, where they are going.

和任何资料的儿童。

To be a pastor is to care for these individual needs.

作为一个牧师就是要关心这些个人之所需。

But now, to be a Good Samaritan -- and I always say,

但是现在，作为一个大善人，我总是说

and to be a good American -- for me,

并且做为一个善良的美国人，对于我来说，

is not simply to congratulate myself for the individual acts of care.

不是简单的恭喜我自己对于个人的关心行为，

Compassion takes on a corporate dynamic.

同情心呈现出一种全体的动态。

I believe that whatever we did around that table at Bloodworth Street

我坚信我们在布拉德大街围绕着饭桌所做的一切，

must be done around tables and rituals of faith

必须在在饭桌上完成的事情以及信条的仪式

until we become that family, that family together

直到我们变成了一个大家庭，在一起的大家庭，

that understands the nature of our unity.

理解我们统一的自然天性。

We are one people together.

我们一起变成了一个人。

So, let me explain to you what I mean when I think about compassion,

所以，让我来给你解释我对同情心的认识，

and why I think it is so important that right at this point in history.

并且为什么我认为同情心在历史上的这一时刻那么重要

We would decide to establish this charter of compassion.

我们会决定建立起同情心的新篇章。

The reason it's important is because this is a very special time in history.

它如此重要是因为这是历史的一个非常特殊的时刻。

It is the time that, biblically, we would speak of as

这个时刻是圣经里我们所说的

the day, or the year, of God's favor.

上帝恩惠的那一天，或那一年。

This is a season of grace.

这是一个感恩的季节。

Unusual things are beginning to happen.

不寻常的东西已经开始发生。

Please pardon me, as a black man, for celebrating

请允许我再说一遍，作为一个黑人，为了庆祝

that the election of Obama was an unusual sign

奥巴马的当选就是一个不寻常的迹象

of the fact that it is a year of favor.

今年是上帝恩惠的一年，

And yet, there is so much more that needs to be done.

而且，还有这么多的东西需要被完成。

We need to bring health and food and education

我们需要带来健康，食物和教育

and respect for all God's citizens, all God's children,

以及对上帝子民的尊重，所有上帝的孩子们，

remembering mama eternal.

记住永恒的妈妈。

Now, let me close my comments by telling you

现在，让我再告诉一件事来结束我的讲话，

that whenever I feel something very deeply,

无论何时我感触很深的时候，

it usually takes the form of verse.

它通常带着诗歌的形式。

And so I want to close with a little song.

所以我想以一首歌来结尾。

I close with this song -- it's a children's song --

以这首儿歌来结尾。

because we are all children at the table of mama eternal.

我们在永恒的妈妈的餐桌上的时候，我们都是孩子。

And if mama eternal has taught us correctly,

如果永恒的妈妈教导我们的是正确的话，

this song will make sense, not only to those of us who are a part of this gathering,

这首哥就一定有意义，不只是我们聚会的一部分，

but to all who sign the charter for compassion.

而是整个同情心新篇章的迹象。

And this is why we do it.

这就是我们为什么去做。

The song says, ♫ "I made heaven so happy today, ♫

这首哥是♫今天我使天堂如此开心♫

♫ Receiving God's love and giving it away ♫

♫我收到了上帝的爱并传递给别人♫

♫ When I looked up, heaven smiled at me ♫

♫当我提着看，天堂正朝我微笑♫

♫ Now, I'm so happy. Can't you see? ♫

♫现在我如此开心，你看不到吗？♫

♫ I'm happy. Look at me. I'm happy. Can't you see? ♫

♫我很开心。看看我，我很开心，你看不到吗？♫

♫ Sharing makes me happy, makes heaven happy too ♫

♫分享使我开心，也让天堂开心♫

♫ I'm happy. Look at me. I'm happy. Can't you see? ♫

♫我很开心，♫

♫ Let me share my happy loving smile with you. ♫

♫让我来分享开心可爱的微笑给你♫

That's compassion. (Applause)

这就是同情之心。