從戰鬥到平衡
From Battle to Balance
1/17
你或許會好奇，有沒有辦法抵銷平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 的作用。事實上，我們的日常生活總是在與平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 作鬥爭，所有遇到的困難與問題都與其有關。試圖抗拒它們是徒勞無功的，因為無論你怎麼努力，平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 終究會按照自己的法則行事；一旦你竭力避免它們的後果，情勢只會變得更糟。唯一能減緩它們影響的方法，就是降低因根本問題而產生的過剩「重要性 (Importance)」所帶來的過剩潛能 (Exceed potential)。生活中各種情況繁多，無法有一套普世萬能的法則，但總有一些共通的建議可助你應對。
You may wonder if there is a way of counteracting the action of balanced forces. In fact our day to day life is an ongoing battle with balanced forces. All the difficulties and problems we encounter are linked with the actions of balanced forces. Trying to resist balanced forces is futile as they will have their way no matter what. Any effort to avoid the consequences of their actions will only aggravate the situation. The only remedy for the impact of balanced forces is to reduce the excess potential of importance produced as a result of the underlying problem. The kind of situations life throws at us are so diverse it would be impossible to give a universal recipe to cover all of them. There are however, certain general recommendations that can be made to ease the way.
2/17
人們常常耗費大量時間，以「重要性 (Importance)」為基礎築起一道道高牆，然後撞得頭破血流，或者試圖爬過那牆。與其努力翻越這道障礙，不如拆掉構成牆基的磚塊，讓牆自然崩塌。人們對眼前的障礙看得一清二楚，但卻往往忽略了這些障礙所搭建的基礎。若你發現自己身陷困境，不妨檢視一下：是否在某處投入過度熱情、走得太遠，從而使自己的投射過分產生了「重要性 (Importance)」。弄清楚某件事對你的真正意涵後，再選擇放下。如此牆壁就會倒塌、障礙會消失，問題自然而然也會迎刃而解。切記，不要試圖強行跨越障礙，而是要降低它們所承載的「重要性 (Importance)」。
People spend a lot of time building walls based on a foundation of importance only to bang their heads against it or try crawling under it. Rather than trying to get over the obstacle would not it be better to remove bricks from the foundation so that it crumbled? People tend to have a very clear view of the obstacles in their way but a very dim view of the foundation the obstacles are constructed on. If you find yourself in a problematic situation try and determine where you might have placed too much intensity, gone too far, or become obsessive, consequently projecting excess importance. Determine the meaning something has for you and then let go of it. The wall will crumble, obstacles will disappear and problems will be resolved of their own accord. Do not try to overcome obstacles; reduce their level of importance.
3/17
降低「重要性 (Importance)」並不意味著要與你的情感對抗或試圖壓抑它們。過度的情緒與憂慮，正是你對事物投射出過多「重要性 (Importance)」的直接後果。這才是需要解決的根本原因，而這根原因正來自你與所發生事件或對象之間的關係。我可以勸你採取一種儘可能哲學的生活態度，儘管這種方法已被反覆闡釋；你必須清楚意識到，對事物投射過度「重要性 (Importance)」只會給你帶來麻煩。理解後，就有意識地減低你所賦予那些事物的「重要性 (Importance)」。
Reducing importance does not mean fighting your feelings or trying to suppress them. Excessive emotions and worries are the direct consequence of projected importance. It is the cause that has to be dealt with, and the cause is your relationship to whatever the event or other object happens to be. I could advise you to take a philosophical stance in life as far as this is possible, although this approach has already been milked for all its worth. You have to make conscious the fact that projecting importance onto things will bring you nothing but trouble and with that understanding, intentionally reduce the importance you attribute to things.
4/17
降低外在「重要性 (Importance)」，絕不意味著你對自己的責任掉以輕心或低估身邊發生的一切。相反，疏忽恰恰是與過度投射「重要性 (Importance)」相對的另一極。生活需要簡單而真實，這意味著你應該保持理智，遵循常識，而非過分小題大作。與其糾結一個人究竟好與壞，不如接受生活本就有其局限。
Reducing outer importance has nothing to do with neglecting one’s responsibilities or underestimating what is happening around you. On the contrary, neglect is the flip side of the coin where projected importance is concerned. There is a need to live simply, which includes maintaining a common sense attitude towards life. There is no place for carelessness or exaggeration. Rather than thinking so much about whether a person is good or bad, try to accept the limits of life.
5/17
同樣地，降低內在「重要性 (Importance)」也不是要讓你變得消沉或自我貶低。過分自責或極力炫耀自己的美德，其實僅僅是兩種對立的表現，而區別僅在於附加的價值標籤是正面還是負面而已。你的懊悔只對那些試圖控制你、操縱你情緒的擺錘 (Pendulum) 有效。請學會接受真實的自我，給自己做回自己的自由奢侈。既不要過分抬高，也不要過分貶低自己的優點與缺陷；相反，努力達到一種內心平靜，瞭解你既非舉足輕重，也非毫無價值。
Neither does reducing inner importance have anything in common with becoming resigned or putting yourself down. Indulgently repenting one’s sins and mistakes in life is the same as showing off one’s virtues and accomplishments. The only difference lies in the value sign each type of behaviour carries, be it positive or negative. Your remorse is only of any use to pendulums that want to establish control over you. Accept yourself the way you are. Allow yourself the luxury of being you. Neither exalt nor belittle your own virtues and flaws. Strive for a state of inner peace in which you understand that you are neither important nor totally insignificant.
6/17
如果你的處境極大程度上依賴於某個事件的結果，試著尋找其他替代方案。譬如，要在木板上平穩行走，你必須有個安全網。在每個具體情況中，這個安全網可能各不相同。只需問問自己，在當前情境下，什麼能成為你的安全網，並記住，與其去與平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 對抗，不如降低你對某物所投射的「重要性 (Importance)」。此外，也別試圖壓抑恐懼或激動；你唯一能做的是減低你對事物投射的「重要性 (Importance)」，而這只能在你擁有某種安全網或備案 (Plan B) 的情況下實現。切記，無論籃子看起來多麼穩固，都永遠不要把所有的希望押在單一籃子上。唯有幽默感——對自己和他人的自嘲而不冒犯——才能有效化解那股過度「重要性 (Importance)」所帶來的張力。
If your situation very strongly depends on the outcome of a certain event try to find an alternative solution. In order to stay calm when walking along a plank you have to have a safety net. In each individual case, the safety net will be something different. Simply ask yourself what might serve as a safety net in a given situation and remember that it is useless battling against balanced forces. Neither should you try to suppress fear or excitement. You can only reduce the level of importance you have projected onto something and this can only be done if you have a safety net of some kind or a plan B. Never put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how safe the basket looks. The only thing that does not create excess potential is a sense of humour, the ability to laugh at yourself and others without causing offense. This alone is enough to stop you from becoming a kind of walking talking manikin. Humour deflates the intensity of importance.
7/17
在解決問題時，請遵循一條金科玉律：在你開始考慮解決方案之前，先降低你對該問題所賦予的「重要性 (Importance)」。如此一來，平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 就不會介入，你便能更快且輕鬆地解決問題。
When trying to solve a problem follow one golden rule: before you even start considering where the solution might lie, first reduce the level of importance you associate with the problem. That way balanced forces will not get in the way and the problem can be solved quickly and easily.
8/17
要降低「重要性 (Importance)」，首先必須記住並意識到，任何問題或情境的產生，都是因你對它投射了過度的「重要性 (Importance)」。只要你還無法告訴自己，每個問題都是由於那份過份的意義而出現，你便會如夢般沉浸在中，完全處於擺錘 (Pendulum) 的掌控之下。停下來，甩掉那虛幻的迷思，回想一下過度投射「重要性 (Importance)」會招致什麼結果。然後有意識地改變你對那件事的態度。這並不難做到；你已明白，賦予某物過多意味只會成為絆腳石。主要的挑戰是是否能夠足夠迅速地意識到你正陷於內外「重要性 (Importance)」的投射中。你需要依靠你的內在守護者 (Guardian's Riddle)，那位不斷監察你內在價值的見證者。
In order to reduce importance, first remember and be aware that the problem or situation has arisen as a consequence of projected excessive importance. Until you can explain to yourself that every single problem is created by excessive importance, you will continue to bury yourself in its intensity, as in a dream, remaining completely under the power of the pendulum. Stop, shake off the delusion and recall what projected importance leads to. Then intentionally change your attitude to the situation in question. It is not difficult to do. You already know that attributing excessive meaning to something will only get in the way. The main difficulty is to remember quickly enough that you are playing out projections of inner and outer importance. You need the help of your Guardian, your inner witness who constantly keeps track of all of your inner values.
9/17
一個人的思緒，就如同肌肉因緊繃而變得僵硬一樣，会被「重要性 (Importance)」這股力量所左右。當某件事令你感到不安時，你背部的肌肉便會不由自主地緊繃起來，而這種緊繃常常只有在痛感襲來時才會顯現。若你能及時察覺並放鬆這些肌肉，便可在它們演變為痙攣前釋放那股壓力。
A person’s thoughts are gripped by the power of importance in the same way that muscles become tense. When something is bothering you the muscles in your back go into spasm. You do not notice the tension in these areas until you feel the pain it causes. If you had remembered in time and paid attention to your muscles you could have released the tension before it built up into spasm.
10/17
當你開始為即將到來的某個事件賦予過度的「重要性 (Importance)」時，請務必提前覺察。如果那件事對你真有意義，千萬別將其誇大。成功的最佳秘訣在於保持隨性、即興與常識。所有的準備工作都應當是為了構築一個安全網，而不是讓自己變得過於嚴肅或謹小慎微；後者只會讓你對該事件的「重要性 (Importance)」評價更加誇張。如果你擔心某件事情卻又無所作為，那也會使你給予它更多的「重要性 (Importance)」。過剩潛能 (Exceed potential) 只有在行動中才能得以消散。別只停留在思考上，立刻採取行動！如果你無法行動，那還不如完全停止思考，轉移注意力，盡可能地放下那個情境。
Try to catch yourself when you start attributing excess importance to some event you are preparing for. If the event is genuinely important to you, try not to blow it up out of all proportion. The best recipe for success is spontaneity, improvisation and a common sense attitude. Any preparation should be by way of creating a safety net, not by being intensely serious and over careful; this will only increase the level of importance you are attributing to the event. If you are worried about something and yet do nothing about it, this too magnifies the level of importance you give it. The excessive potential of importance dissipates with action. Do not think, act! If you cannot act then it is better not to think at all. Shift your attention to something else, and as far as possible, let go of the situation.
11/17
任何行動的最高效率，在於你能成功地將注意力從自我和最終目標上轉向行動的過程。此時，你既不是在「做重要的工作」，也不是認為「工作本身重要」。過剩潛能 (Exceed potential) 隨之消散，平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 自然也不會介入。你能夠冷靜而徹底地完成行動，但這絕非意味著草率或輕率。你或許會問：為什麼必須將注意力從最終目標上移開？畢竟，不思考最終目標，又如何完成工作？這個看似不那麼明顯的奧妙，隨後幾章將使你漸漸領悟。
The highest level of efficiency in any action is achieved when a person manages to shift the focus of their attention from self and the end goal, to the process of performing the action. In this case the person is not “doing important work” nor is “the work itself important”. Excess potential is eliminated and balanced forces will not interfere. The action is completed dispassionately but in no way carelessly or light-heartedly. You might be wondering why one should have to take the focus of attention off the end goal. After all, how can you do your work if you are not thinking about the end goal? Understanding of the meaning of this less obvious and curious fact will become clearer on reading the next few chapters of this book.
12/17
為何有時你會對某個事件非常焦慮，腦海中不斷想像種種可能出錯的狀況，而最終卻一切順利、甚至超出預期；而有時又恰恰相反，對某件事情毫不憂慮，結果卻出現完全預料之外的複雜與不快？在第一種情況下，你對事件的個人評價極度偏負；而在第二種情況下，則過於正面。而究竟最終發生的結果，是平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 為了平衡你所投射出的過剩潛能 (Exceed potential) 而施加影響的結果。
Why is it that sometimes you can get really anxious about a certain event? You think about it all the time imagining all kinds of things that could go wrong but in the end everything goes smoothly and so much better than expected? Other times the opposite happens. You are not particularly worried about a particular event which turns out to have completely unforeseen complications and unpleasant sides to it. In the first case, the personal assessment of the situation is off the charts negative whilst in the second case it is through the roof positive. What actually happens in the end is a result of the impact of balanced forces which have the function of balancing the excess potential created by the individual.
13/17
由此可能讓人誤以為，考前刻意想象最糟場景的學生，更有可能取得好成績；然而事實並非如此，因為任何只起源於心智而非靈魂的「意圖 (Intention)」都缺乏真誠。你或許可以自欺，但虛偽的真誠不具備能量，只有源自靈魂的「意圖 (Intention)」才充滿實質的力量。這正解釋了為什麼僅靠視覺化無法創造出你所渴望的結果（註：視覺化創造結果的失效原因），但這話題稍後再談。
From this one might assume that a student, who intentionally pictures the worst possible scenarios immediately before an exam, is more likely to get a high grade. It does not work that way unfortunately because any intention that originates in the mind and not the soul lacks sincerity. You can try deceiving yourself but false sincerity has no energy behind it. Only an intention that comes from the soul has juice to it. This is why it does not work when you try to create a desired result simply via visualization, but this is a topic for later.
14/17
千萬切記，無論在任何情況下，都絕對不要誇耀你所擁有的，哪怕那些是你憑正當手段應得的，更不用提你尚未取得的，因為平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 會反過來對你產生不利影響。
Never under any circumstances should you boast about what you have, even if you deserve those things and received them fairly, to say nothing of the things you have not yet achieved, because balanced forces will act against you.
15/17
請安心舒適地享受當下，但別忘了你只是個來客。如果你能與周圍的擺錘 (Pendulum) 保持平衡，同步共振，你的生活將充滿樂趣，一切都運行得順暢自如；與世界和諧共振時，你的能量自然蓬勃，目標也能毫不費力地達成。
Make yourself at home but do not forget that you are visiting. If you are in balance with surrounding pendulums, swaying with them in unison, your life will be pleasurable and flow with ease. When you are vibrating in resonant harmony with rest of the world it energizes you and you achieve your goals without any particular effort.
16/17
若你已陷入一個幾乎無法與周遭世界保持平衡的狀態（例如遭受家庭暴力），那麼你必須深思熟慮，找出改變環境的關鍵步驟。如果你覺得無處可去，那正是某個擺錘 (Pendulum) 企圖將你牢牢囚禁的結果。永遠有出路，甚至可能不只一條。記得那隻在玻璃窗旁卻沒看見開著的窗戶的蒼蠅嗎？踉蹌而衝動的行動應當避免。當你降低對問題所投射的「重要性 (Importance)」，並擺脫那個破壞性擺錘 (Pendulum) 的影響後，任何問題的最佳解法便會自然而然浮現。你已熟知擺脫擺錘 (Pendulum) 的兩大法門：讓步與停止其擺動。
If you have driven yourself into a state where it is practically impossible to live in balance with the world around you (for example, your husband beats you), then you should think hard about how to take that crucial step to change your surroundings. If you feel that you have nowhere to go this is an idea that has been instilled in you by a pendulum that is trying to keep you under its control. There is always a way out, sometimes more than one. Remember that fly on the glass pane that did not spot the open window? Sudden movements that are badly thought out should be avoided. The best possible solution to any problem will come to you as soon as you reduce the level of importance you project onto it and free yourself from the influence of the destructive pendulum that prevents you from living in peace. You are already familiar with the two means of freeing yourself from a pendulum: defeat and stopping its sway.
17/17
憑藉這番思考，我結束了有關平衡這個複雜艱深主題的章節。既然你已明白平衡力量 (Balanced forces) 的運作機制，你將能輕鬆找出失敗的根源。我們認為，堅守平衡原則至關重要；但同時必須提醒，不要過分著迷或偏執於此原則，否則只會使其本質自我瓦解。試想，若你向一隻蜈蚣詳細說明如何行走，它便會因困惑而徹底無法移動。凡事適中即可，偶爾允許短暫打破小小平衡也無妨；只要你不強行撥離天平，便不會有什麼大礙。
With that thought I conclude this chapter on the complex and difficult theme of balance. Now that you understand how the mechanism of balanced forces works, you will easily be able to determine the reason for one failure or another. We conclude that it is essential to observe the principle of balance. It remains only to offer a word of caution against applying the principle too ardently, from becoming fixated with or fanatic about it, as this will only negate the very principle itself. If you try and explain to a centipede in minute detail how it should walk it will become so confused that it won’t be able to move at all. All things in moderation. Allow yourself from time to time to disturb the balance at little. Nothing awful will happen as long as you do not force the arrow off the scales.
從戰鬥到平衡
From Battle to Balance
1/17
你可能會想知道是否有方法可以對抗平衡力的作用。事實上，我們的日常生活就是與平衡力的不斷鬥爭。我們遇到的所有困難和問題都與平衡力的作用有關。試圖抵抗平衡力是徒勞的，因為無論如何它們都會達到目的。任何避免其作用後果的努力只會加劇情況。對抗平衡力影響的唯一補救措施是減少由潛在問題產生的重要性(Importance)的過剩潛力。生活中遇到的情況如此多樣，不可能給出一個涵蓋所有情況的通用方案。然而，有一些普遍的建議可以緩解這些情況。
You may wonder if there is a way of counteracting the action of balanced forces. In fact our day to day life is an ongoing battle with balanced forces. All the difficulties and problems we encounter are linked with the actions of balanced forces. Trying to resist balanced forces is futile as they will have their way no matter what. Any effort to avoid the consequences of their actions will only aggravate the situation. The only remedy for the impact of balanced forces is to reduce the excess potential of importance produced as a result of the underlying problem. The kind of situations life throws at us are so diverse it would be impossible to give a universal recipe to cover all of them. There are however, certain general recommendations that can be made to ease the way.
2/17
人們花費大量時間在重要性(Importance)的基礎上建造牆壁，然後撞上它或試圖從下面爬過去。與其試圖克服障礙，不如從基礎上移除磚塊，讓它崩潰？人們往往對路上的障礙有非常清晰的看法，但對障礙所建構的基礎卻視而不見。如果你發現自己處於困境中，試著確定你可能在哪裡放置了過多的強度，走得太遠，或變得強迫，從而投射出過剩的重要性(Importance)。確定某事對你的意義，然後放下它。牆壁將崩潰，障礙將消失，問題將自行解決。不要試圖克服障礙；降低它們的重要性(Importance)。
People spend a lot of time building walls based on a foundation of importance only to bang their heads against it or try crawling under it. Rather than trying to get over the obstacle would not it be better to remove bricks from the foundation so that it crumbled? People tend to have a very clear view of the obstacles in their way but a very dim view of the foundation the obstacles are constructed on. If you find yourself in a problematic situation try and determine where you might have placed too much intensity, gone too far, or become obsessive, consequently projecting excess importance. Determine the meaning something has for you and then let go of it. The wall will crumble, obstacles will disappear and problems will be resolved of their own accord. Do not try to overcome obstacles; reduce their level of importance.
3/17
降低重要性(Importance)並不意味著與你的感受作鬥爭或試圖壓抑它們。過度的情感和擔憂是投射重要性(Importance)的直接結果。必須處理的是原因，而原因是你與事件或其他對象的關係。我可以建議你在生活中儘可能採取哲學立場，儘管這種方法已經被充分利用。你必須意識到，將重要性(Importance)投射到事物上只會給你帶來麻煩，並在理解這一點的基礎上，有意識地減少你賦予事物的重要性(Importance)。
Reducing importance does not mean fighting your feelings or trying to suppress them. Excessive emotions and worries are the direct consequence of projected importance. It is the cause that has to be dealt with, and the cause is your relationship to whatever the event or other object happens to be. I could advise you to take a philosophical stance in life as far as this is possible, although this approach has already been milked for all its worth. You have to make conscious the fact that projecting importance onto things will bring you nothing but trouble and with that understanding, intentionally reduce the importance you attribute to things.
4/17
降低外在重要性(Importance)與忽視自己的責任或低估周圍發生的事情無關。相反，忽視是投射重要性(Importance)的另一面。需要簡單地生活，包括對生活保持常識態度。沒有粗心大意或誇張的餘地。與其過多地考慮一個人是好是壞，不如試著接受生活的限制。
Reducing outer importance has nothing to do with neglecting one’s responsibilities or underestimating what is happening around you. On the contrary, neglect is the flip side of the coin where projected importance is concerned. There is a need to live simply, which includes maintaining a common sense attitude towards life. There is no place for carelessness or exaggeration. Rather than thinking so much about whether a person is good or bad, try to accept the limits of life.
5/17
降低內在重要性(Importance)也與屈服或貶低自己無關。放縱地懺悔自己的罪過和錯誤就像炫耀自己的美德和成就一樣。唯一的區別在於每種行為所承載的價值符號，無論是正面還是負面。你的悔恨只對那些想要控制你的"鐘擺"(Pendulums)有用。接受你自己的樣子。允許自己享受做自己的奢侈。既不抬高也不貶低自己的優點和缺點。努力達到一種內心平靜的狀態，在這種狀態下，你明白自己既不重要也不完全無關緊要。
Neither does reducing inner importance have anything in common with becoming resigned or putting yourself down. Indulgently repenting one’s sins and mistakes in life is the same as showing off one’s virtues and accomplishments. The only difference lies in the value sign each type of behaviour carries, be it positive or negative. Your remorse is only of any use to pendulums that want to establish control over you. Accept yourself the way you are. Allow yourself the luxury of being you. Neither exalt nor belittle your own virtues and flaws. Strive for a state of inner peace in which you understand that you are neither important nor totally insignificant.
6/17
如果你的情況非常依賴於某個事件的結果，試著找到替代解決方案。為了在走木板時保持冷靜，你必須有一個安全網。在每個具體情況下，安全網將是不同的。只需問自己在特定情況下什麼可以作為安全網，並記住與平衡力作鬥爭是無用的。你也不應該試圖壓抑恐懼或興奮。你只能減少你投射到某事物上的重要性(Importance)水平，這只能在你有某種安全網或備用計劃的情況下完成。無論籃子看起來多麼安全，永遠不要把所有的雞蛋放在一個籃子裡。唯一不會創造過剩潛力的是幽默感，能夠在不冒犯的情況下嘲笑自己和他人。這足以防止你成為一個行走的講話木偶。幽默削弱了重要性(Importance)的強度。
If your situation very strongly depends on the outcome of a certain event try to find an alternative solution. In order to stay calm when walking along a plank you have to have a safety net. In each individual case, the safety net will be something different. Simply ask yourself what might serve as a safety net in a given situation and remember that it is useless battling against balanced forces. Neither should you try to suppress fear or excitement. You can only reduce the level of importance you have projected onto something and this can only be done if you have a safety net of some kind or a plan B. Never put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how safe the basket looks. The only thing that does not create excess potential is a sense of humour, the ability to laugh at yourself and others without causing offense. This alone is enough to stop you from becoming a kind of walking talking manikin. Humour deflates the intensity of importance.
7/17
在嘗試解決問題時，遵循一個黃金法則：在你開始考慮解決方案可能在哪裡之前，首先降低你與問題相關的重要性(Importance)水平。這樣平衡力就不會妨礙，問題可以快速輕鬆地解決。
When trying to solve a problem follow one golden rule: before you even start considering where the solution might lie, first reduce the level of importance you associate with the problem. That way balanced forces will not get in the way and the problem can be solved quickly and easily.
8/17
為了降低重要性(Importance)，首先要記住並意識到問題或情況是由於投射過度重要性(Importance)而產生的。在你能夠向自己解釋每一個問題都是由過度重要性(Importance)創造的之前，你將繼續埋沒在其強度中，就像在夢中一樣，完全處於"鐘擺"(Pendulum)的控制之下。停下來，擺脫錯覺，回想投射重要性(Importance)會導致什麼。然後有意識地改變你對所涉及情況的態度。這並不難做到。你已經知道，賦予某事過多的意義只會妨礙你。主要的困難在於要足夠快地記住你正在演繹內在和外在重要性(Importance)的投射。你需要你的"守護者的謎題"(Guardian's Riddle)的幫助，你的內在見證者，他不斷跟蹤你所有的內在價值。
In order to reduce importance, first remember and be aware that the problem or situation has arisen as a consequence of projected excessive importance. Until you can explain to yourself that every single problem is created by excessive importance, you will continue to bury yourself in its intensity, as in a dream, remaining completely under the power of the pendulum. Stop, shake off the delusion and recall what projected importance leads to. Then intentionally change your attitude to the situation in question. It is not difficult to do. You already know that attributing excessive meaning to something will only get in the way. The main difficulty is to remember quickly enough that you are playing out projections of inner and outer importance. You need the help of your Guardian, your inner witness who constantly keeps track of all of your inner values.
9/17
一個人的思想被重要性(Importance)的力量緊緊抓住，就像肌肉變得緊張一樣。當某事困擾你時，你背部的肌肉會痙攣。直到你感受到它引起的疼痛，你才會注意到這些區域的緊張。如果你及時記住並注意你的肌肉，你可以在緊張積累成痙攣之前釋放它。
A person’s thoughts are gripped by the power of importance in the same way that muscles become tense. When something is bothering you the muscles in your back go into spasm. You do not notice the tension in these areas until you feel the pain it causes. If you had remembered in time and paid attention to your muscles you could have released the tension before it built up into spasm.
10/17
當你開始為某個你正在準備的事件賦予過多的重要性(Importance)時，試著抓住自己。如果這個事件對你來說真的很重要，試著不要把它吹得過於誇張。成功的最佳秘訣是自發性、即興創作和常識態度。任何準備都應該是為了創造一個安全網，而不是過於認真和過於小心；這只會增加你賦予事件的重要性(Importance)水平。如果你擔心某事卻什麼也不做，這也會放大你賦予它的重要性(Importance)水平。重要性(Importance)的過剩潛力隨著行動而消散。不要思考，行動！如果你不能行動，那麼最好根本不要思考。將注意力轉移到其他事情上，並盡可能放下這種情況。
Try to catch yourself when you start attributing excess importance to some event you are preparing for. If the event is genuinely important to you, try not to blow it up out of all proportion. The best recipe for success is spontaneity, improvisation and a common sense attitude. Any preparation should be by way of creating a safety net, not by being intensely serious and over careful; this will only increase the level of importance you are attributing to the event. If you are worried about something and yet do nothing about it, this too magnifies the level of importance you give it. The excessive potential of importance dissipates with action. Do not think, act! If you cannot act then it is better not to think at all. Shift your attention to something else, and as far as possible, let go of the situation.
11/17
當一個人成功地將注意力從自我和最終目標轉移到執行行動的過程中時，任何行動的最高效率就會實現。在這種情況下，這個人不是在“做重要的工作”，工作本身也不重要。過剩潛力被消除，平衡力不會干擾。行動是冷靜地完成的，但絕不是粗心大意或輕率的。你可能會想知道為什麼要將注意力從最終目標上移開。畢竟，如果你不考慮最終目標，你怎麼能做好工作？對這一不太明顯和好奇的事實的理解將在閱讀本書的接下來幾章時變得更加清晰。
The highest level of efficiency in any action is achieved when a person manages to shift the focus of their attention from self and the end goal, to the process of performing the action. In this case the person is not “doing important work” nor is “the work itself important”. Excess potential is eliminated and balanced forces will not interfere. The action is completed dispassionately but in no way carelessly or light-heartedly. You might be wondering why one should have to take the focus of attention off the end goal. After all, how can you do your work if you are not thinking about the end goal? Understanding of the meaning of this less obvious and curious fact will become clearer on reading the next few chapters of this book.
12/17
為什麼有時你會對某個事件感到非常焦慮？你一直在想像可能出錯的各種情況，但最終一切都順利進行，比預期的要好得多？其他時候，情況正好相反。你對某個特定事件並不特別擔心，但結果卻出現了完全意想不到的複雜情況和不愉快的方面。在第一種情況下，對情況的個人評估是極端負面的，而在第二種情況下，則是極端正面的。最終發生的事情是平衡力影響的結果，其功能是平衡個體創造的過剩潛力。
Why is it that sometimes you can get really anxious about a certain event? You think about it all the time imagining all kinds of things that could go wrong but in the end everything goes smoothly and so much better than expected? Other times the opposite happens. You are not particularly worried about a particular event which turns out to have completely unforeseen complications and unpleasant sides to it. In the first case, the personal assessment of the situation is off the charts negative whilst in the second case it is through the roof positive. What actually happens in the end is a result of the impact of balanced forces which have the function of balancing the excess potential created by the individual.
13/17
從這一點可以推測，一個學生在考試前故意想像最糟糕的情況，更有可能獲得高分。不幸的是，事情並不是這樣運作的，因為任何源於心靈而非靈魂的意圖都缺乏真誠。你可以試著欺騙自己，但虛假的真誠背後沒有能量。只有來自靈魂的意圖才有力量。這就是為什麼當你試圖僅通過可視化創造期望的結果時，它不起作用的原因，但這是以後的話題。
From this one might assume that a student, who intentionally pictures the worst possible scenarios immediately before an exam, is more likely to get a high grade. It does not work that way unfortunately because any intention that originates in the mind and not the soul lacks sincerity. You can try deceiving yourself but false sincerity has no energy behind it. Only an intention that comes from the soul has juice to it. This is why it does not work when you try to create a desired result simply via visualization, but this is a topic for later.
14/17
在任何情況下都不應該炫耀你擁有的東西，即使你應得這些東西並公平地獲得了它們，更不用說那些你尚未實現的事情，因為平衡力會對你不利。
Never under any circumstances should you boast about what you have, even if you deserve those things and received them fairly, to say nothing of the things you have not yet achieved, because balanced forces will act against you.
15/17
把這裡當家，但別忘了你是客人。如果你與周圍的"鐘擺"(Pendulums)保持平衡，與它們同步搖擺，你的生活將會愉快，並且輕鬆流暢。當你與世界其他部分在共振和諧中振動時，它會為你提供能量，讓你不費吹灰之力地實現目標。
Make yourself at home but do not forget that you are visiting. If you are in balance with surrounding pendulums, swaying with them in unison, your life will be pleasurable and flow with ease. When you are vibrating in resonant harmony with rest of the world it energizes you and you achieve your goals without any particular effort.
16/17
如果你把自己逼到一個幾乎無法與周圍世界保持平衡的狀態（例如，你的丈夫打你），那麼你應該認真考慮如何邁出改變環境的關鍵一步。如果你覺得無處可去，這是"鐘擺"(Pendulum)試圖控制你而灌輸給你的想法。總有出路，有時不止一條。記住那隻沒有發現開著的窗戶的蒼蠅嗎？應避免不經思考的突然動作。任何問題的最佳解決方案將在你降低投射到其上的重要性(Importance)水平並擺脫阻止你和平生活的破壞性"鐘擺"(Pendulum)的影響後出現。你已經熟悉了擺脫"鐘擺"(Pendulum)的兩種方法：打敗和停止其搖擺。
If you have driven yourself into a state where it is practically impossible to live in balance with the world around you (for example, your husband beats you), then you should think hard about how to take that crucial step to change your surroundings. If you feel that you have nowhere to go this is an idea that has been instilled in you by a pendulum that is trying to keep you under its control. There is always a way out, sometimes more than one. Remember that fly on the glass pane that did not spot the open window? Sudden movements that are badly thought out should be avoided. The best possible solution to any problem will come to you as soon as you reduce the level of importance you project onto it and free yourself from the influence of the destructive pendulum that prevents you from living in peace. You are already familiar with the two means of freeing yourself from a pendulum: defeat and stopping its sway.
17/17
帶著這個想法，我結束了關於平衡這個複雜而困難主題的章節。現在你了解了平衡力的機制如何運作，你將能夠輕鬆確定失敗的原因。我們得出結論，遵循平衡原則是至關重要的。只需提醒一下，不要過於熱衷於應用這一原則，避免對其過於執著或狂熱，因為這只會否定這一原則本身。如果你試圖詳細解釋給蜈蚣如何行走，它會變得如此困惑，以至於無法移動。凡事適度。允許自己偶爾打破一點平衡。只要你不強迫箭頭離開天平，就不會發生可怕的事情。
With that thought I conclude this chapter on the complex and difficult theme of balance. Now that you understand how the mechanism of balanced forces works, you will easily be able to determine the reason for one failure or another. We conclude that it is essential to observe the principle of balance. It remains only to offer a word of caution against applying the principle too ardently, from becoming fixated with or fanatic about it, as this will only negate the very principle itself. If you try and explain to a centipede in minute detail how it should walk it will become so confused that it won’t be able to move at all. All things in moderation. Allow yourself from time to time to disturb the balance at little. Nothing awful will happen as long as you do not force the arrow off the scales.
從戰鬥到平衡
From Battle to Balance
1/17
你可能會想知道是否有方法對抗平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 的作用。事實上，我們的日常生活就是與平衡力量的不斷戰鬥。我們遇到的所有困難和問題都與平衡力量的行動有關。試圖抵抗平衡力量是徒勞的，因為它們無論如何都會達成目的。任何試圖避免其行動後果的努力只會使情況惡化。對平衡力量影響的唯一補救措施是減少由潛在問題引起的過剩潛能 (Excess Potential)。生活拋給我們的各種情況太多了，無法給出一個通用的解決方案。然而，可以提出一些一般的建議來簡化這條道路。
You may wonder if there is a way of counteracting the action of balanced forces. In fact our day to day life is an ongoing battle with balanced forces. All the difficulties and problems we encounter are linked with the actions of balanced forces. Trying to resist balanced forces is futile as they will have their way no matter what. Any effort to avoid the consequences of their actions will only aggravate the situation. The only remedy for the impact of balanced forces is to reduce the excess potential of importance produced as a result of the underlying problem. The kind of situations life throws at us are so diverse it would be impossible to give a universal recipe to cover all of them. There are however, certain general recommendations that can be made to ease the way.
2/17
人們花了很多時間在重要性 (Importance) 的基礎上建造牆壁，卻只是撞頭或試圖從下面爬過。與其試圖越過障礙，不如從基礎中移除磚塊讓它崩塌？人們對他們面前的障礙有非常清晰的看法，但對構成這些障礙的基礎卻視而不見。如果你在一個有問題的情況中，試著確定你在哪裡投入了過多的強度、走得太遠或變得執迷，從而投射了過分的重要性 (Importance)。確定某事對你的意義，然後放手。牆壁會崩塌，障礙會消失，問題會自行解決。不要試圖克服障礙；降低它們的重要程度。
People spend a lot of time building walls based on a foundation of importance only to bang their heads against it or try crawling under it. Rather than trying to get over the obstacle would not it be better to remove bricks from the foundation so that it crumbled? People tend to have a very clear view of the obstacles in their way but a very dim view of the foundation the obstacles are constructed on. If you find yourself in a problematic situation try and determine where you might have placed too much intensity, gone too far, or become obsessive, consequently projecting excess importance. Determine the meaning something has for you and then let go of it. The wall will crumble, obstacles will disappear and problems will be resolved of their own accord. Do not try to overcome obstacles; reduce their level of importance.
3/17
降低重要性並不意味著與你的感覺作戰或試圖壓抑它們。過度的情緒和擔憂是投射重要性的直接後果。必須處理的是原因，而原因是你的關係或對任何事件或其他對象的態度。我可以建議你在生活中採取哲學立場，儘可能做到這一點，儘管這種方法已經被充分利用。你必須有意識地認識到，投射重要性只會給你帶來麻煩，並帶著這種理解，故意降低你賦予事物的重要性。
Reducing importance does not mean fighting your feelings or trying to suppress them. Excessive emotions and worries are the direct consequence of projected importance. It is the cause that has to be dealt with, and the cause is your relationship to whatever the event or other object happens to be. I could advise you to take a philosophical stance in life as far as this is possible, although this approach has already been milked for all its worth. You have to make conscious the fact that projecting importance onto things will bring you nothing but trouble and with that understanding, intentionally reduce the importance you attribute to things.
4/17
降低外在重要性 (Outer Importance) 與忽視責任或低估周圍發生的事情無關。相反，忽視是投射重要性的硬幣的另一面。需要簡單地生活，包括對生活保持常識態度。沒有粗心或誇大的空間。與其過多思考一個人是好是壞，不如試著接受生活的局限。
Reducing outer importance has nothing to do with neglecting one’s responsibilities or underestimating what is happening around you. On the contrary, neglect is the flip side of the coin where projected importance is concerned. There is a need to live simply, which includes maintaining a common sense attitude towards life. There is no place for carelessness or exaggeration. Rather than thinking so much about whether a person is good or bad, try to accept the limits of life.
5/17
降低內在重要性 (Inner Importance) 也與順從或自我貶低無關。沉溺於悔恨自己的罪行和錯誤與炫耀自己的美德和成就是一回事。唯一的區別在於每種行為帶有的價值符號，無論是正還是負。你的悔恨只對想控制你的擺錘 (Pendulum) 有用。接受自己的本來面目。允許自己擁有做自己的奢侈。不要誇大或貶低自己的優點和缺點。追求一種內在平靜 (Unity of Heart and Mind) 的狀態，在這種狀態中，你明白自己既不重要也不完全無足輕重。
Neither does reducing inner importance have anything in common with becoming resigned or putting yourself down. Indulgently repenting one’s sins and mistakes in life is the same as showing off one’s virtues and accomplishments. The only difference lies in the value sign each type of behaviour carries, be it positive or negative. Your remorse is only of any use to pendulums that want to establish control over you. Accept yourself the way you are. Allow yourself the luxury of being you. Neither exalt nor belittle your own virtues and flaws. Strive for a state of inner peace in which you understand that you are neither important nor totally insignificant.
6/17
如果你的處境非常依賴某個事件的結果，試著找到替代解決方案。為了在走木板時保持冷靜，你必須有安全網。在每種情況下，安全網會有所不同。只要問自己在特定情況下什麼可能作為安全網，並記住與平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 作戰是無用的。你也不應該試圖壓抑恐懼或興奮。你只能降低你投射到某事物上的重要性，這只有在你有某種安全網或備用計劃B時才能做到。永遠不要把所有雞蛋放在一個籃子裡，無論籃子看起來多安全。唯一不創造過剩潛能 (Excess Potential) 的是幽默感，能夠在不冒犯他人的情況下嘲笑自己和他人。這足以阻止你成為某種行走的講話人偶。幽默化解了重要性的強度。
If your situation very strongly depends on the outcome of a certain event try to find an alternative solution. In order to stay calm when walking along a plank you have to have a safety net. In each individual case, the safety net will be something different. Simply ask yourself what might serve as a safety net in a given situation and remember that it is useless battling against balanced forces. Neither should you try to suppress fear or excitement. You can only reduce the level of importance you have projected onto something and this can only be done if you have a safety net of some kind or a plan B. Never put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how safe the basket looks. The only thing that does not create excess potential is a sense of humour, the ability to laugh at yourself and others without causing offense. This alone is enough to stop you from becoming a kind of walking talking manikin. Humour deflates the intensity of importance.
7/17
在試圖解決問題時，遵循一個黃金法則：在你開始考慮解決方案可能在哪裡之前，首先降低你與問題相關聯的重要程度。這樣，平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 不會妨礙，問題可以快速輕鬆解決。
When trying to solve a problem follow one golden rule: before you even start considering where the solution might lie, first reduce the level of importance you associate with the problem. That way balanced forces will not get in the way and the problem can be solved quickly and easily.
8/17
為了降低重要性 (Importance)，首先要記住並意識到問題或情況是由投射過度重要性引起的。在你能向自己解釋每個問題都是由過度重要性創造之前，你會繼續沉浸於其強度中，如同在夢中，完全處於擺錘 (Pendulum) 的控制之下。停下來，擺脫錯覺，回想投射重要性會導致什麼。然後故意改變你對相關情況的態度。這並不難。你已經知道，對某事物賦予過多意義只會妨礙。主要困難是要足夠快地記住你在扮演內在和外在重要性 (Inner Importance, Outer Importance) 的投射。你需要內在守護者 (Guardian’s Riddle) 的幫助，你的內在見證者不斷追蹤你所有的內在價值。
In order to reduce importance, first remember and be aware that the problem or situation has arisen as a consequence of projected excessive importance. Until you can explain to yourself that every single problem is created by excessive importance, you will continue to bury yourself in its intensity, as in a dream, remaining completely under the power of the pendulum. Stop, shake off the delusion and recall what projected importance leads to. Then intentionally change your attitude to the situation in question. It is not difficult to do. You already know that attributing excessive meaning to something will only get in the way. The main difficulty is to remember quickly enough that you are playing out projections of inner and outer importance. You need the help of your Guardian, your inner witness who constantly keeps track of all of your inner values.
9/17
一個人的思想被重要性的力量抓住，就像肌肉變得緊張一樣。當某事困擾你時，你的背部肌肉會痙攣。你不會注意到這些區域的緊張，直到它引起疼痛。如果 你及時記住並注意你的肌肉，你可以在緊張積聚成痙攣之前釋放它。
A person’s thoughts are gripped by the power of importance in the same way that muscles become tense. When something is bothering you the muscles in your back go into spasm. You do not notice the tension in these areas until you feel the pain it causes. If you had remembered in time and paid attention to your muscles you could have released the tension before it built up into spasm.
10/17
試著在你開始為某個準備的事件賦予過分重要性 (Importance) 時抓住自己。如果事件對你真的很重要，試著不要將其誇大到不成比例。成功的最佳秘訣是自發性、即興創作和常識態度。任何準備都應該是創建安全網，而不是過於嚴肅和小心；這只會增加你賦予事件的重要程度。如果你為某事擔憂卻什麼也不做，這也會放大你賦予它的重要程度。重要性的過剩潛能 (Excess Potential) 通過行動消散。不要想，行動！如果你不能行動，最好完全不要想。將注意力轉移到其他東西上，盡可能放手情況。
Try to catch yourself when you start attributing excess importance to some event you are preparing for. If the event is genuinely important to you, try not to blow it up out of all proportion. The best recipe for success is spontaneity, improvisation and a common sense attitude. Any preparation should be by way of creating a safety net, not by being intensely serious and over careful; this will only increase the level of importance you are attributing to the event. If you are worried about something and yet do nothing about it, this too magnifies the level of importance you give it. The excessive potential of importance dissipates with action. Do not think, act! If you cannot act then it is better not to think at all. Shift your attention to something else, and as far as possible, let go of the situation.
11/17
任何行動的最高效率是在一個人設法將注意力從自我和最終目標 (Goals and Doors) 轉移到執行行動的過程時實現的。在這種情況下，這個人不是在“做重要的工作”，也不是“工作本身重要”。過剩潛能被消除，平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 不會干擾。行動冷靜地完成，但絕不粗心或輕率。你可能想知道為什麼必須將注意力從最終目標移開。畢竟，如果你不考慮最終目標，你如何完成工作？對這個不那麼明顯且有趣的事實的理解在閱讀本書接下來的幾章時會變得更清晰。
The highest level of efficiency in any action is achieved when a person manages to shift the focus of their attention from self and the end goal, to the process of performing the action. In this case the person is not “doing important work” nor is “the work itself important”. Excess potential is eliminated and balanced forces will not interfere. The action is completed dispassionately but in no way carelessly or light-heartedly. You might be wondering why one should have to take the focus of attention off the end goal. After all, how can you do your work if you are not thinking about the end goal? Understanding of the meaning of this less obvious and curious fact will become clearer on reading the next few chapters of this book.
12/17
為什麼有時你會對某個事件感到非常焦慮？你一直想著它，想像各種可能出錯的事情，但最終一切順利，比預期的好得多？其他時候則相反。你對某個事件並不特別擔心，但結果卻出現了完全未預料的複雜性和不愉快的一面。在第一種情況下，對情況的個人評估極端負面，而在第二種情況下則極端正面。最終發生的事情是平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 的影響結果，其功能是平衡個人創造的過剩潛能 (Excess Potential)。
Why is it that sometimes you can get really anxious about a certain event? You think about it all the time imagining all kinds of things that could go wrong but in the end everything goes smoothly and so much better than expected? Other times the opposite happens. You are not particularly worried about a particular event which turns out to have completely unforeseen complications and unpleasant sides to it. In the first case, the personal assessment of the situation is off the charts negative whilst in the second case it is through the roof positive. What actually happens in the end is a result of the impact of balanced forces which have the function of balancing the excess potential created by the individual.
13/17
由此可能假設，一個在考試前故意想像最壞情景的學生，更有可能獲得高分。不幸的是，事情並非如此，因為任何源於頭腦而非靈魂的意圖 (Intention) 缺乏真誠。你可以試圖欺騙自己，但虛假的真誠背後沒有能量。只有來自靈魂的意圖才有力量。這就是為什麼僅通過可視化試圖創造期望結果不起作用，但這是後面討論的主題。
From this one might assume that a student, who intentionally pictures the worst possible scenarios immediately before an exam, is more likely to get a high grade. It does not work that way unfortunately because any intention that originates in the mind and not the soul lacks sincerity. You can try deceiving yourself but false sincerity has no energy behind it. Only an intention that comes from the soul has juice to it. This is why it does not work when you try to create a desired result simply via visualization, but this is a topic for later.
14/17
在任何情況下，永遠不要誇耀你擁有的東西，即使你應得這些東西並公平獲得，更不用說你尚未實現的東西，因為平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 會反對你。
Never under any circumstances should you boast about what you have, even if you deserve those things and received them fairly, to say nothing of the things you have not yet achieved, because balanced forces will act against you.
15/17
賓至如歸，但不要忘記你是個訪客。如果 你與周圍的擺錘 (Pendulum) 保持平衡，與它們一致搖擺，你的生活將愉快且輕鬆流動。當你與世界的其餘部分以共振和諧振動時，它會為你注入能量，你無需特別努力就能實現你的目標 (Goals and Doors)。
Make yourself at home but do not forget that you are visiting. If you are in balance with surrounding pendulums, swaying with them in unison, your life will be pleasurable and flow with ease. When you are vibrating in resonant harmony with rest of the world it energizes you and you achieve your goals without any particular effort.
16/17
如果你將自己逼到幾乎無法與周圍世界保持平衡的狀態（例如，你的丈夫毆打你），那麼你應該認真思考如何邁出改變環境的關鍵一步。如果你覺得無處可去，這是擺錘 (Pendulum) 試圖控制你而灌輸給你的想法。總有出路，有時不止一條。記得那隻沒看到敞開窗戶的玻璃上的蒼蠅？應避免深思不熟的突然行動。只要你降低投射到問題上的重要性 (Importance) 並從阻止你平靜生活的破壞性擺錘中解放出來，最好的解決方案就會來到你身邊。你已經熟悉了從擺錘中解放的兩種方式：擊敗它和停止其搖擺。
If you have driven yourself into a state where it is practically impossible to live in balance with the world around you (for example, your husband beats you), then you should think hard about how to take that crucial step to change your surroundings. If you feel that you have nowhere to go this is an idea that has been instilled in you by a pendulum that is trying to keep you under its control. There is always a way out, sometimes more than one. Remember that fly on the glass pane that did not spot the open window? Sudden movements that are badly thought out should be avoided. The best possible solution to any problem will come to you as soon as you reduce the level of importance you project onto it and free yourself from the influence of the destructive pendulum that prevents you from living in peace. You are already familiar with the two means of freeing yourself from a pendulum: defeat and stopping its sway.
17/17
帶著這個想法，我結束了關於平衡這個複雜且困難主題的章節。現在你理解了平衡力量 (Balanced Forces) 的機制如何運作，你將輕易確定一個失敗或其他失敗的原因。我們得出結論，必須遵循平衡原則 (Balanced Forces)。唯一需要注意的是不要過分熱衷於應用這個原則，不要對它執迷或狂熱，因為這只會否定原則本身。如果你試圖向蜈蚣詳細解釋它應該如何走路，它會變得如此困惑以至於完全無法移動。一切都要適度。允許自己偶爾稍微擾亂平衡。只要你不強迫天平的箭頭偏離，不會發生什麼可怕的事情。
With that thought I conclude this chapter on the complex and difficult theme of balance. Now that you understand how the mechanism of balanced forces works, you will easily be able to determine the reason for one failure or another. We conclude that it is essential to observe the principle of balance. It remains only to offer a word of caution against applying the principle too ardently, from becoming fixated with or fanatic about it, as this will only negate the very principle itself. If you try and explain to a centipede in minute detail how it should walk it will become so confused that it won’t be able to move at all. All things in moderation. Allow yourself from time to time to disturb the balance at little. Nothing awful will happen as long as you do not force the arrow off the scales.
從戰鬥到平衡
From Battle to Balance
1/17
你可能會想知道是否有辦法抵消平衡力量的作用。事實上，我們的日常生活是一場與平衡力量的持續戰鬥。我們遇到的所有困難和問題都與平衡力量的行動有關。試圖抵抗平衡力量是徒勞的，因為無論如何它們都會如願以償。任何避免其行動後果的努力只會使情況惡化。對於平衡力量的影響，唯一的補救辦法是減少由根本問題所產生的過剩潛力（excess potential of importance）。生活拋給我們的情況如此多樣，以至於不可能給出一個普遍的食譜來涵蓋所有情況。然而，有一些一般性的建議可以緩解這種情況。
You may wonder if there is a way of counteracting the action of balanced forces. In fact our day to day life is an ongoing battle with balanced forces. All the difficulties and problems we encounter are linked with the actions of balanced forces. Trying to resist balanced forces is futile as they will have their way no matter what. Any effort to avoid the consequences of their actions will only aggravate the situation. The only remedy for the impact of balanced forces is to reduce the excess potential of importance produced as a result of the underlying problem. The kind of situations life throws at us are so diverse it would be impossible to give a universal recipe to cover all of them. There are however, certain general recommendations that can be made to ease the way.
2/17
人們花了很多時間在基於重要性（Importance）基礎上建立牆壁，卻只是在撞頭或試圖爬過去。與其試圖越過障礙，不如將基礎上的磚塊移除，讓它崩潰？人們往往對他們面前的障礙有非常清晰的看法，但對障礙所建構的基礎卻有非常模糊的認識。如果你發現自己處於一個問題情況中，試著確定你可能在哪裡放置了過多的強度，走得太遠，或變得過於痴迷，從而投射出過多的重要性。確定某事對你的意義，然後放手。牆壁將會崩潰，障礙將會消失，問題將會自動解決。不要試圖克服障礙；減少它們的重要性（Importance）水平。
People spend a lot of time building walls based on a foundation of importance only to bang their heads against it or try crawling under it. Rather than trying to get over the obstacle would not it be better to remove bricks from the foundation so that it crumbled? People tend to have a very clear view of the obstacles in their way but a very dim view of the foundation the obstacles are constructed on. If you find yourself in a problematic situation try and determine where you might have placed too much intensity, gone too far, or become obsessive, consequently projecting excess importance. Determine the meaning something has for you and then let go of it. The wall will crumble, obstacles will disappear and problems will be resolved of their own accord. Do not try to overcome obstacles; reduce their level of importance.
3/17
減少重要性（Importance）並不意味著與你的感受作鬥爭或試圖壓抑它們。過度的情緒和擔憂是投射重要性（Importance）的直接後果。必須處理的原因是你對事件或其他對象的關係。我可以建議你在生活中採取哲學的立場，儘可能地這樣做，儘管這種方法已經被榨取到極限。你必須意識到，將重要性（Importance）投射到事物上只會給你帶來麻煩，並在這種理解下，有意地減少你對事物的重視。
Reducing importance does not mean fighting your feelings or trying to suppress them. Excessive emotions and worries are the direct consequence of projected importance. It is the cause that has to be dealt with, and the cause is your relationship to whatever the event or other object happens to be. I could advise you to take a philosophical stance in life as far as this is possible, although this approach has already been milked for all its worth. You have to make conscious the fact that projecting importance onto things will bring you nothing but trouble and with that understanding, intentionally reduce the importance you attribute to things.
4/17
減少外在的重要性（Importance）與忽視自己的責任或低估周圍發生的事情無關。相反，忽視是與投射重要性（Importance）有關的另一面。需要簡單地生活，包括對生活保持常識的態度。沒有地方可以容忍粗心或誇張。與其過多地思考一個人是好是壞，不如試著接受生活的限制。
Reducing outer importance has nothing to do with neglecting one’s responsibilities or underestimating what is happening around you. On the contrary, neglect is the flip side of the coin where projected importance is concerned. There is a need to live simply, which includes maintaining a common sense attitude towards life. There is no place for carelessness or exaggeration. Rather than thinking so much about whether a person is good or bad, try to accept the limits of life.
5/17
減少內在的重要性（Importance）也與變得順從或貶低自己無關。寬容地懺悔自己在生活中的罪過和錯誤與炫耀自己的美德和成就是相同的。唯一的區別在於每種行為所承載的價值符號，無論是正面還是負面。你的懊悔對於那些想要控制你的擺動（pendulums）來說是唯一有用的。接受你自己本來的樣子。允許自己奢侈地做自己。既不要抬高也不要貶低自己的美德和缺陷。努力達到一種內心的平靜狀態，在這種狀態中你明白你既不重要也不完全微不足道。
Neither does reducing inner importance have anything in common with becoming resigned or putting yourself down. Indulgently repenting one’s sins and mistakes in life is the same as showing off one’s virtues and accomplishments. The only difference lies in the value sign each type of behaviour carries, be it positive or negative. Your remorse is only of any use to pendulums that want to establish control over you. Accept yourself the way you are. Allow yourself the luxury of being you. Neither exalt nor belittle your own virtues and flaws. Strive for a state of inner peace in which you understand that you are neither important nor totally insignificant.
6/17
如果你的情況非常依賴某個事件的結果，試著找到一個替代解決方案。在走在木板上時，為了保持冷靜，你必須有一個安全網。在每個具體情況下，安全網會有所不同。只需問自己在特定情況下什麼可以作為安全網，並記住與平衡力量（balanced forces）作鬥爭是毫無用處的。你也不應該試圖壓抑恐懼或興奮。你只能減少你對某事投射的重要性（Importance）水平，這只有在你有某種安全網或計劃B的情況下才能做到。無論籃子看起來多麼安全，都不要把所有的雞蛋放在一個籃子裡。唯一不會產生過剩潛力（excess potential）的東西是幽默感，能夠在不冒犯他人的情況下嘲笑自己和他人。這足以阻止你成為一種行走的木偶。幽默感會減輕重要性（Importance）的強度。
If your situation very strongly depends on the outcome of a certain event try to find an alternative solution. In order to stay calm when walking along a plank you have to have a safety net. In each individual case, the safety net will be something different. Simply ask yourself what might serve as a safety net in a given situation and remember that it is useless battling against balanced forces. Neither should you try to suppress fear or excitement. You can only reduce the level of importance you have projected onto something and this can only be done if you have a safety net of some kind or a plan B. Never put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how safe the basket looks. The only thing that does not create excess potential is a sense of humour, the ability to laugh at yourself and others without causing offense. This alone is enough to stop you from becoming a kind of walking talking manikin. Humour deflates the intensity of importance.
7/17
在試圖解決問題時，遵循一條黃金法則：在你開始考慮解決方案可能在哪裡之前，首先減少你與問題相關聯的重要性（Importance）水平。這樣平衡力量就不會妨礙，問題可以迅速輕鬆地解決。
When trying to solve a problem follow one golden rule: before you even start considering where the solution might lie, first reduce the level of importance you associate with the problem. That way balanced forces will not get in the way and the problem can be solved quickly and easily.
8/17
為了減少重要性（Importance），首先要記住並意識到問題或情況是由於投射的過度重要性（excessive importance）而產生的。在你能向自己解釋每一個問題都是由過度重要性（excessive importance）創造的之前，你將繼續在其強度中埋葬自己，就像在夢中一樣，完全處於擺動（pendulum）的控制之下。停下來，甩掉錯覺，回想一下投射的重要性（Importance）會導致什麼。然後有意地改變你對相關情況的態度。這並不難。你已經知道，對某事賦予過度意義只會妨礙事情的進展。主要的困難在於快速記住你正在演繹內在和外在的重要性（Importance）投射。你需要你守護者（Guardian）的幫助，你的內在見證者，時刻追蹤你所有的內在價值。
In order to reduce importance, first remember and be aware that the problem or situation has arisen as a consequence of projected excessive importance. Until you can explain to yourself that every single problem is created by excessive importance, you will continue to bury yourself in its intensity, as in a dream, remaining completely under the power of the pendulum. Stop, shake off the delusion and recall what projected importance leads to. Then intentionally change your attitude to the situation in question. It is not difficult to do. You already know that attributing excessive meaning to something will only get in the way. The main difficulty is to remember quickly enough that you are playing out projections of inner and outer importance. You need the help of your Guardian, your inner witness who constantly keeps track of all of your inner values.
9/17
一個人的思想被重要性（Importance）的力量所控制，就像肌肉變得緊張一樣。當某事困擾你時，你背部的肌肉會痙攣。你不會注意到這些區域的緊張，直到你感受到它帶來的疼痛。如果你及時記住並注意到你的肌肉，你可以在緊張變成痙攣之前釋放它。
A person’s thoughts are gripped by the power of importance in the same way that muscles become tense. When something is bothering you the muscles in your back go into spasm. You do not notice the tension in these areas until you feel the pain it causes. If you had remembered in time and paid attention to your muscles you could have released the tension before it built up into spasm.
10/17
當你開始對某個事件賦予過多的重要性（Importance）時，試著抓住自己。如果這個事件對你來說確實重要，試著不要將其誇大。成功的最佳秘訣是自發性、即興發揮和常識態度。任何準備都應該是創建安全網，而不是過於認真和小心；這只會增加你對事件的重視。如果你對某事感到擔憂卻又什麼都不做，這也會放大你對它的重要性（Importance）水平。過剩潛力（excess potential）隨著行動而消散。不要思考，行動！如果你無法行動，那麼最好根本不去思考。將注意力轉移到其他事情上，並在可能的情況下放下這個情況。
Try to catch yourself when you start attributing excess importance to some event you are preparing for. If the event is genuinely important to you, try not to blow it up out of all proportion. The best recipe for success is spontaneity, improvisation and a common sense attitude. Any preparation should be by way of creating a safety net, not by being intensely serious and over careful; this will only increase the level of importance you are attributing to the event. If you are worried about something and yet do nothing about it, this too magnifies the level of importance you give it. The excessive potential of importance dissipates with action. Do not think, act! If you cannot act then it is better not to think at all. Shift your attention to something else, and as far as possible, let go of the situation.
11/17
在任何行動中，最高效率的水平是在一個人成功地將注意力的焦點從自我和最終目標轉移到執行行動的過程中時實現的。在這種情況下，這個人並不是在“做重要的工作”，也不是“工作本身重要”。過剩潛力被消除，平衡力量不會干擾。行動是冷靜地完成的，但絕不是粗心或輕率的。你可能會想知道為什麼要將注意力的焦點從最終目標上移開。畢竟，如果你不考慮最終目標，你怎麼能做好你的工作呢？理解這一不那麼明顯且好奇的事實的意義，會在閱讀本書接下來的幾章時變得更加清晰。
The highest level of efficiency in any action is achieved when a person manages to shift the focus of their attention from self and the end goal, to the process of performing the action. In this case the person is not “doing important work” nor is “the work itself important”. Excess potential is eliminated and balanced forces will not interfere. The action is completed dispassionately but in no way carelessly or light-heartedly. You might be wondering why one should have to take the focus of attention off the end goal. After all, how can you do your work if you are not thinking about the end goal? Understanding of the meaning of this less obvious and curious fact will become clearer on reading the next few chapters of this book.
12/17
為什麼有時你會對某個事件感到非常焦慮？你一直在想著它，想像著可能出錯的各種情況，但最終一切都順利進行，遠比預期的要好？而其他時候則相反。你對某個特定事件並不特別擔心，但它卻出現了完全意想不到的複雜情況和不愉快的方面。在第一種情況下，對情況的個人評估極其負面，而在第二種情況下則極其正面。最終實際發生的事情是平衡力量的影響的結果，這些力量的功能是平衡個體所創造的過剩潛力（excess potential）。
Why is it that sometimes you can get really anxious about a certain event? You think about it all the time imagining all kinds of things that could go wrong but in the end everything goes smoothly and so much better than expected? Other times the opposite happens. You are not particularly worried about a particular event which turns out to have completely unforeseen complications and unpleasant sides to it. In the first case, the personal assessment of the situation is off the charts negative whilst in the second case it is through the roof positive. What actually happens in the end is a result of the impact of balanced forces which have the function of balancing the excess potential created by the individual.
13/17
從這一點可以推斷，故意在考試前想像最糟糕情況的學生更有可能獲得高分。不幸的是，事情並不是這樣運作的，因為任何源於心智而非靈魂的意圖都缺乏真誠。你可以試著欺騙自己，但虛假的真誠是沒有能量的。只有來自靈魂的意圖才有力量。這就是為什麼當你試圖僅僅通過可視化來創造期望結果時，它不會奏效，但這是後面的主題。
From this one might assume that a student, who intentionally pictures the worst possible scenarios immediately before an exam, is more likely to get a high grade. It does not work that way unfortunately because any intention that originates in the mind and not the soul lacks sincerity. You can try deceiving yourself but false sincerity has no energy behind it. Only an intention that comes from the soul has juice to it. This is why it does not work when you try to create a desired result simply via visualization, but this is a topic for later.
14/17
在任何情況下都不應該炫耀你所擁有的，即使你值得擁有這些東西並且公平地獲得它們，更不用說你尚未實現的事情，因為平衡力量將會對你產生不利影響。
Never under any circumstances should you boast about what you have, even if you deserve those things and received them fairly, to say nothing of the things you have not yet achieved, because balanced forces will act against you.
15/17
讓自己感到自在，但不要忘記你是在訪問。如果你與周圍的擺動（pendulums）保持平衡，與它們和諧共振，你的生活將會愉快且流暢。當你與世界的其餘部分共振和諧時，它會給你帶來能量，你將在沒有特別努力的情況下實現你的目標。
Make yourself at home but do not forget that you are visiting. If you are in balance with surrounding pendulums, swaying with them in unison, your life will be pleasurable and flow with ease. When you are vibrating in resonant harmony with rest of the world it energizes you and you achieve your goals without any particular effort.
16/17
如果你把自己推入一種幾乎不可能與周圍世界保持平衡的狀態（例如，你的丈夫打你），那麼你應該認真思考如何採取關鍵一步來改變你的環境。如果你感到無處可去，這是擺動（pendulum）灌輸給你的觀念，試圖將你保持在其控制之下。總有出路，有時不止一條。記住那隻在玻璃窗上飛的蒼蠅，它沒有注意到打開的窗戶？應避免突然的、不經思考的動作。當你減少對任何問題的重視（Importance）水平並擺脫阻礙你平靜生活的破壞性擺動（pendulum）的影響時，最佳的解決方案將會出現。你已經熟悉擺脫擺動（pendulum）的兩種方法：擊敗和停止其擺動。
If you have driven yourself into a state where it is practically impossible to live in balance with the world around you (for example, your husband beats you), then you should think hard about how to take that crucial step to change your surroundings. If you feel that you have nowhere to go this is an idea that has been instilled in you by a pendulum that is trying to keep you under its control. There is always a way out, sometimes more than one. Remember that fly on the glass pane that did not spot the open window? Sudden movements that are badly thought out should be avoided. The best possible solution to any problem will come to you as soon as you reduce the level of importance you project onto it and free yourself from the influence of the destructive pendulum that prevents you from living in peace. You are already familiar with the two means of freeing yourself from a pendulum: defeat and stopping its sway.
17/17
帶著這個想法，我結束了這一章關於平衡的複雜和困難主題。現在你了解了平衡力量的運作機制，你將能夠輕鬆確定某次失敗的原因。我們得出結論，遵循平衡原則是至關重要的。只需對過於熱心地應用該原則提出警告，避免對其過於執著或狂熱，因為這只會否定該原則本身。如果你試圖詳細解釋一隻蜈蚣應該如何行走，它將變得如此困惑，以至於根本無法移動。所有事物都應適度。允許自己偶爾打擾一下平衡。只要你不強迫箭頭偏離天平，就不會發生可怕的事情。
With that thought I conclude this chapter on the complex and difficult theme of balance. Now that you understand how the mechanism of balanced forces works, you will easily be able to determine the reason for one failure or another. We conclude that it is essential to observe the principle of balance. It remains only to offer a word of caution against applying the principle too ardently, from becoming fixated with or fanatic about it, as this will only negate the very principle itself. If you try and explain to a centipede in minute detail how it should walk it will become so confused that it won’t be able to move at all. All things in moderation. Allow yourself from time to time to disturb the balance at little. Nothing awful will happen as long as you do not force the arrow off the scales.