第十一章：創造的力量
Chapter 11: The Power of Creation
「你相信魔法嗎？」Drake 問道。
“Do you believe in magic?” Drake asked.
「你是指那種揮舞魔杖、念咒語的那種魔法嗎？」
“What, like waving wands and saying spells?”
他微笑著回答：「不，那些只是故事而已。我講的是‘魔法’這個詞的本質與核心意涵：擁有一種非凡的力量，以一種連凡人也難以解釋的方式影響事物。」
He smiled. “No. That’s all storytelling. I’m talking about the essence of the word, its core meaning: having an extraordinary power to influence things in a way that defies mortal explanation.”
「不盡然。」
“Not really.”
「那你就不相信奇蹟了？」
“Then you don’t believe in miracles?”
「哦，我相信。但那些並不是魔法，對吧？」
“Oh, yes. I do. But those aren’t magic. Are they?”
「絕非那種奇幻小說裡的魔法。不過，你可以開啟一股力量，看起來就像魔法一樣。因為你內在蘊藏著一縷神性的火花，你可以運用這火花來實踐創造的力量。事實上，你在物質世界中就擁有這種能力。試想，在地球上，你能創造出一整棟建築嗎？」
“Not in the fantasy storytelling way, no. But there is a power that you can tap into that can seem like magic. Because you have a spark of divinity in you, you can use that spark to exercise the power of creation. In fact, you have that power available in the physical world. On Earth, can you create an entire building?”
「不，我所做的只是裝修和表層工程而已。我對整棟建築的構造一無所知。」
“No. All I’ve ever done is framing and finishing work. I don’t know anything about making a whole building.”
「只要你真想做，就能做到。」
“You could if you really wanted to.”
「我是說，我想我也可以。但那需要大量的時間、勞動，還有許多我目前不具備的技能。」
“I mean, I guess I could. But it would take a lot of time and work, and a lot of skills I don’t have now.”
「沒錯，但你可以建造一個結構，反正你不一定非得親自揮動錘子。」
“Yes, but you could build a structure. You wouldn’t necessarily need to swing the hammer yourself.”
「你的意思是什麼？」
“What do you mean?”
「仔細想想，你可以找一位工程師或建築師，讓他們來設計詳細的方案，對吧？」
“Think about it. You can find an engineer or an architect and have them draft the detailed plans, right?”
回應是肯定的：「可以。」
“Yes.”
「然後，你可以聘請一位總承包商，由他來監督所有工人進行施工，直到建築完成。」
“And then you could hire a general contractor. That person would oversee other people doing the construction until the building was finished.”
「但實際上，我並沒有親自建造它。」
“But I didn’t actually build it.”
「你確定嗎？也許你並沒有讓它憑空出現，甚至連一枚釘子都沒打過。但若不是你先在心中構思出它，或沒有啟動那逐步完成的過程，這棟建築真會存在嗎？」
“Are you sure? You may not have made it materialize out of thin air, or even have pounded a single nail. But would that building exist if you did not first envision it? Or if you didn’t start the process that led to its completion?”
「我想不會。」
“I guess not.”
「在物質世界裡創造事物需要現實的材料和勞動力，但在此之前，一切始於一個念頭——一個願景——以及想要創造某物的渴望。你的思緒正是創造的第一步。」
“Making things in the physical world takes physical material and physical labor, but before any of that, it begins with a thought—a vision— and a desire to create something. Your thoughts are the first step in creation.”
「但那看起來不像是魔法，倒更像是努力工作。」
“But that doesn’t seem like magic. It’s more like work.”
「誰說魔法不需要努力？」Drake 帶著苦笑回答道，「而且，這僅僅是一個很基礎的例子。事實上，你可以用遠少於體力勞動的努力，創造出更偉大的事物。」
“Who said magic doesn’t require work?” Drake gave me a wry smile. “Besides, that is just one example and a very basic one. It is possible to create far greater things with far less physical effort.”
Drake 舉了一個例子，說明意志和意圖如何對物質施加力量：思緒的運作就像電磁能量，而大腦則充當著一個接收器（antenna），負責傳遞組織和指引一切的指令。
Drake shared an example of how will and intention exert power over matter. Thoughts operate much like electromagnetic energy, with the brain functioning as an antenna that transmits the instructions to organize and direct it all.
我的建築師思維開始佔據上風。「可是，大腦究竟怎麼能僅憑思考就跨越那道物理屏障，去操控物質呢？」
My builder’s mind started to take over. “But how does the brain jump that physical barrier into directing matter just by thinking about it?”
Drake 耐心地微笑著回答：「你現在不必完全明瞭這一切的運作原理，只需學習創造的基本法則，就能將它們運用起來。」
Drake smiled patiently. “You don’t need to understand how all of it works right now. Just learn the basic principles of creation, and you can put them to use.”
「可是——」
“But—”
「相信我吧。你不用知道燈泡究竟怎麼運作，才能打開燈具。眼下，只需理解澄清並集中你的意圖 (Intention) 的基本原則就足夠了。只要你的意圖足夠純淨並與上帝協調一致，它真能移山。」
“Trust me. You don’t need to know how a lightbulb works in order to turn on a lamp. For now, understanding the basic principle of clarifying and focusing your intention is enough. Your intention can literally move mountains if it is pure enough and aligned with God.”
我從小在聖經中讀到過這些事，但一直無法確定那是字面上的還是寓言性的描述。結果證明，那真的是具體存在的。「這真令人驚奇。」
I had read about such things in the Bible growing up but was never sure if it was literal or metaphorical. It turns out it was literal. “That’s amazing.”
「是的，確實如此。不過，用你的思緒創造事物的力量，有時也可能反作用到你身上。」
“Yes, it is. However, the power of creating with your thoughts can also work against you.”
「怎麼會呢？」
“How?”
「如果你總是沉溺在負面事物中，你就會創造出負面的結果。」
“If you think about negative things, you will create negative things.” “Even if I don’t want to? What if I’m just thinking about something I want to get rid of?”
「事情並不是那樣運作的。專注於某個事物，只會把它建構得更堅實，不論是好是壞。如果你想去除負面事物，你必須先思考你想以何種正面事物來替換它。專注於你所渴望的，便自然會取代你不需要的。隨著好事的茁壯，惡事也終將被淘汰。」
“It doesn’t work that way. Focusing on a thing will only build that thing, whether good or bad. If you want to get rid of something negative, you need to think about what you want to replace it with. Focus on what you want, and it will naturally replace whatever it is you don’t want. The good will replace the bad as you make the good grow.”
「那就是為什麼身邊要充滿正面能量的事物嗎？」
“Is that why it’s important to be surrounded by positive things?” “Exactly. You can train and condition your thoughts in many different ways—the television and movies that you watch, the music you listen to, the books you read, even the people you associate with. You create your environment, which helps to shape your thoughts, which determines what you create in your life.”
「但我不能隨心所欲地創造出任何東西，對吧？我的意思是，僅僅靠思考並不能阻止壞事發生。」
“But I can’t create just any old thing I want, right? I mean, just thinking won’t stop bad things from happening.”
「你認為什麼才算是『壞事』？」
“What would you consider to be a ‘bad thing’?”
「我不知道，大部分人會認為死亡是一件壞事。」
“I don’t know. Most people would consider dying to be a bad thing.” “Now that you’ve done it, do you still think it’s bad?”
我沉思了片刻，然後微笑著說：「不，大概不算吧。」
I thought for a moment, then smiled. “No. I guess it isn’t.”
「那再舉個例子。還有什麼其他的事情可能被認為是壞的？」
“Try another one, then. What is something else that could be bad?”
「失去工作？生病？」
“Losing a job? Getting sick?”
「那為什麼這些事會被視為壞事呢？」
“And why would those things be bad?”
「因為……我也不知道，大概是因為它們讓人不舒服？又或者，因為它們妨礙我獲得我渴望的東西？」
“Because…I don’t know. I guess because they’re uncomfortable? Because they stop me from getting what I want?”
「究竟是這些事情本身讓你停下，還是你因那種不適而分心，從而停止對創造的專注，反而沉浸於懷疑與自憐之中？你讓思緒轉向消極，而無法堅守正面焦點。」
“Do those things alone stop you, or do you allow yourself to be stopped because you are distracted by the discomfort? You stop focusing on creation and, instead, wallow in doubt and self-pity. You allow your thoughts to turn to negative things instead of staying focused on the positive.”
就在那時，我不由自主地回想起童年時所遭受的那些虐待情景，我知道他已感知了我的這些念頭。
Just then my thoughts turned to the abusive situations I had suffered as a child. I knew he was aware of my thoughts.
「是的，」Drake 說，「有時候當下真的難以看到美好之處，甚至多年之後也可能依然看不見，但這絕不會改變你選擇 (Choice) 觀點的力量。」
“Yes,” Drake said. “Sometimes it may feel impossible to see the good in the moment. It may even seem impossible for years afterwards. But that doesn’t change your power to choose your perspective.”
我不情願承認，但我知道他說的是對的。
I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew he was right.
「你看，你的思緒不僅能創造並改變外在環境，也能影響你如何體驗這個世界。即使最糟的處境，也能強化你、促使你成長。一旦你真正明白這一點，你可能會感到沮喪，但你永遠不會覺得自己被擊敗，哪怕是最黑暗的一天。當然，反過來亦然——你或許擁有看似美好的人生，但如果你長時間只專注於生活中的不良面向，最終你所建構的內心和現實，都會由好轉壞。」
“You see, your thoughts can create and transform not only your environment, but also how you experience that environment. Even the worst situations can strengthen you and help you to grow. Once you truly understand that, you may feel down but you’ll never feel defeated, even on your worst day. Of course, the opposite is true as well. You can have a seemingly wonderful life, but if you focus long enough on just the bad aspects of life, you will eventually replace all of the good things with bad things, both in your mind and in reality.”
「所以，我的專注力至關重要。」
“So, my focus is key.”
「沒錯。無論你把注意力投向何處，無論你專注於好或壞，你都會吸引並創造出相對應的現實。所以，謹慎選擇你心中所懷的思緒。若你思考正面事物，你便會在內在和外在構築正能量；反之，沉迷於負面思想和情緒，則會拆解正面的成果而取而代之產生負面結果，即便你的 (Intention) 意圖再好也難以挽救。俗話說，『通往地獄的道路是由良好意圖鋪就的。』」
“Yes. Whatever you give your attention to, whatever you focus on, good and bad, you attract and then create into existence. So, be careful what thoughts you hold in your mind. Think about positive things, and you will build positive things, both internally and externally. Dwell on negative thoughts and emotions, and you’ll tear down positive things and create negative things in their place, even if your intentions are good. As they say, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’”
我聽到他這麼說感到驚訝，「這裡也有這樣的諺語嗎？」
I was surprised to hear him say that. “That’s a saying here, too?”
Drake 笑了起來，「我們在這裡對這概念的理解比地球上要透徹得多。我們知道，在物質世界裡，人們往往任由自我（ego）扭曲甚至最美好的 (Intention) 意圖；而在這邊，因為什麼都無法隱藏，所以一個好意不可能被污染。謊言在這裡根本就不存在。」
Drake laughed. “We more fully understand that concept here than on earth. We know that those in the physical realm allow ego to corrupt even the greatest of intentions. On this side, there isn’t the ability to corrupt a good intention because you can’t conceal anything. It is simply impossible to lie.”
「我必須專注於我想創造的美好。」
“I need to focus on the good that I want to create.”
「沒錯。認識你思緒中的魔力，專注於你想要創造的事物，設定你的 (Intention) 意圖，然後掌控你的行動。這樣，你便能在內在和外在創造屬於你的環境，幫助你實現你最終的潛能 (Exceed potential) 」。
“Yes. Recognize the magic in your thoughts. Focus on what you want to create. Set your intentions. Then control your actions. That will create your environment, both internally and externally, and that will help you achieve your ultimate potential.”
我聯想到之前關於科技的討論，「而我的思緒確實受到周遭環境的影響。」
I made the connection with our previous discussion about technology. “And my thoughts are influenced by what I surround myself with.”
「正是如此。說到這兒，不如我們來談談對人們觀念與世界觀產生巨大影響的一個因素。」
“Exactly. Speaking of which, let’s talk about one of the biggest influences on what people think about and how they see the world.”
第十一章：創造的力量
Chapter 11: The Power of Creation
「你相信魔法嗎？」德瑞克問。
“Do you believe in magic?” Drake asked.
「什麼，像揮舞魔杖和念咒語那樣？」
“What, like waving wands and saying spells?”
他微笑著說：「不。那都是故事講述。我說的是這個詞的本質，它的核心意義：擁有非凡的力量，以一種超越凡人解釋的方式影響事物。」
He smiled. “No. That’s all storytelling. I’m talking about the essence of the word, its core meaning: having an extraordinary power to influence things in a way that defies mortal explanation.”
「不太相信。」
“Not really.”
「那麼你不相信奇蹟嗎？」
“Then you don’t believe in miracles?”
「哦，是的。我相信。但那些不是魔法，對吧？」
“Oh, yes. I do. But those aren’t magic. Are they?”
「在幻想故事的方式上，不是的。但有一種力量你可以利用，這種力量看起來像魔法。因為你體內有一絲神性，你可以利用這絲火花來行使創造的力量。事實上，你在物質世界中就擁有這種力量。在地球上，你能創造一整棟建築嗎？」
“Not in the fantasy storytelling way, no. But there is a power that you can tap into that can seem like magic. Because you have a spark of divinity in you, you can use that spark to exercise the power of creation. In fact, you have that power available in the physical world. On Earth, can you create an entire building?”
「不。我所做的只是框架和裝修工作。我對建造整棟建築一無所知。」
“No. All I’ve ever done is framing and finishing work. I don’t know anything about making a whole building.”
「如果你真的想的話，你是可以做到的。」
“You could if you really wanted to.”
「我的意思是，我想我可以。但這需要很多時間和工作，還有很多我現在沒有的技能。」
“I mean, I guess I could. But it would take a lot of time and work, and a lot of skills I don’t have now.”
「是的，但你可以建造一個結構。你不一定需要親自揮動錘子。」
“Yes, but you could build a structure. You wouldn’t necessarily need to swing the hammer yourself.”
「你是什麼意思？」
“What do you mean?”
「想想看。你可以找一位工程師或建築師，讓他們起草詳細的計劃，對吧？」
“Think about it. You can find an engineer or an architect and have them draft the detailed plans, right?”
「可以。」
“Yes.”
「然後你可以聘請一位總承包商。那個人會監督其他人進行建設，直到建築完成。」
“And then you could hire a general contractor. That person would oversee other people doing the construction until the building was finished.”
「但我並沒有實際建造它。」
“But I didn’t actually build it.”
「你確定嗎？你可能沒有讓它從空氣中顯現出來，甚至沒有釘下一根釘子。但如果你沒有首先構想出那棟建築，它會存在嗎？或者如果你沒有開始導致其完成的過程？」
“Are you sure? You may not have made it materialize out of thin air, or even have pounded a single nail. But would that building exist if you did not first envision it? Or if you didn’t start the process that led to its completion?”
「我想不會。」
“I guess not.”
「在物質世界中創造東西需要物質和勞動，但在這一切之前，它始於一個想法——一個願景——和創造某樣東西的渴望。你的思想是創造的第一步。」
“Making things in the physical world takes physical material and physical labor, but before any of that, it begins with a thought—a vision— and a desire to create something. Your thoughts are the first step in creation.”
「但這看起來不像魔法。這更像是工作。」
“But that doesn’t seem like magic. It’s more like work.”
「誰說魔法不需要工作？」德瑞克給了我一個苦笑。「此外，這只是其中一個例子，而且是非常基本的例子。用更少的物理努力創造更偉大的事物是可能的。」
“Who said magic doesn’t require work?” Drake gave me a wry smile. “Besides, that is just one example and a very basic one. It is possible to create far greater things with far less physical effort.”
德瑞克舉了一個例子，說明意志和意圖如何對物質施加力量。思想的運作方式與電磁能量非常相似，大腦就像一個天線，傳送指令以組織和引導一切。
Drake shared an example of how will and intention exert power over matter. Thoughts operate much like electromagnetic energy, with the brain functioning as an antenna that transmits the instructions to organize and direct it all.
我的建築者思維開始主導。 「但是，大腦是如何跳過那個物理障礙，僅僅通過思考來指導物質的？」
My builder’s mind started to take over. “But how does the brain jump that physical barrier into directing matter just by thinking about it?”
德瑞克耐心地微笑著說：「你現在不需要理解這一切是如何運作的。只需學習創造的基本原則，你就可以將它們付諸實踐。」
Drake smiled patiently. “You don’t need to understand how all of it works right now. Just learn the basic principles of creation, and you can put them to use.”
「但是——」
“But—”
「相信我。你不需要知道燈泡是如何工作的才能打開燈。現在，理解澄清和集中你的意圖的基本原則就足夠了。如果你的意圖足夠純淨並與上帝對齊，它可以真正地移山。」
“Trust me. You don’t need to know how a lightbulb works in order to turn on a lamp. For now, understanding the basic principle of clarifying and focusing your intention is enough. Your intention can literally move mountains if it is pure enough and aligned with God.”
我在成長過程中曾在聖經中讀到過這樣的事情，但從來不確定這是字面上的還是隱喻的。結果發現這是字面上的。「這真是太神奇了。」
I had read about such things in the Bible growing up but was never sure if it was literal or metaphorical. It turns out it was literal. “That’s amazing.”
「是的，確實如此。然而，用你的思想創造的力量也可能對你不利。」
“Yes, it is. However, the power of creating with your thoughts can also work against you.”
「怎麼說？」
“How?”
「如果你想到負面的事情，你就會創造出負面的東西。」 「即使我不想這樣？如果我只是想到我想擺脫的東西呢？」
“If you think about negative things, you will create negative things.” “Even if I don’t want to? What if I’m just thinking about something I want to get rid of?”
「不是這樣的。專注於某件事只會建立那件事，無論是好是壞。如果你想擺脫某些負面的東西，你需要思考你想用什麼來替代它。專注於你想要的東西，它自然會取代你不想要的東西。當你讓好的東西成長時，好的東西將取代壞的東西。」
“It doesn’t work that way. Focusing on a thing will only build that thing, whether good or bad. If you want to get rid of something negative, you need to think about what you want to replace it with. Focus on what you want, and it will naturally replace whatever it is you don’t want. The good will replace the bad as you make the good grow.”
「這就是為什麼被積極的事物包圍很重要的原因嗎？」 「正是如此。你可以用許多不同的方式訓練和調整你的思想——你觀看的電視和電影、你聽的音樂、你閱讀的書籍，甚至你交往的人。你創造了你的環境，這有助於塑造你的思想，進而決定你在生活中創造的東西。」
“Is that why it’s important to be surrounded by positive things?” “Exactly. You can train and condition your thoughts in many different ways—the television and movies that you watch, the music you listen to, the books you read, even the people you associate with. You create your environment, which helps to shape your thoughts, which determines what you create in your life.”
「但我不能隨便創造我想要的任何東西，對吧？我的意思是，僅僅思考並不能阻止壞事發生。」
“But I can’t create just any old thing I want, right? I mean, just thinking won’t stop bad things from happening.”
「你認為什麼是『壞事』？」
“What would you consider to be a ‘bad thing’?”
「我不知道。大多數人會認為死亡是一件壞事。」 「既然你已經經歷過了，你還認為這是壞事嗎？」
“I don’t know. Most people would consider dying to be a bad thing.” “Now that you’ve done it, do you still think it’s bad?”
我思考了一會兒，然後微笑著說：「不。我想這不是。」
I thought for a moment, then smiled. “No. I guess it isn’t.”
「那麼再試試另一個。還有什麼其他可能是壞事的事情？」
“Try another one, then. What is something else that could be bad?”
「失去工作？生病？」
“Losing a job? Getting sick?”
「那為什麼這些事情會是壞事？」
“And why would those things be bad?”
「因為……我不知道。我想是因為它們讓人不舒服？因為它們阻止我得到我想要的東西？」
“Because…I don’t know. I guess because they’re uncomfortable? Because they stop me from getting what I want?”
「這些事情單獨會阻止你，還是因為你被不適所分心而讓自己停下來？你停止專注於創造，而是沉溺於懷疑和自憐。你讓自己的思想轉向負面的事物，而不是保持專注於積極的事物。」
“Do those things alone stop you, or do you allow yourself to be stopped because you are distracted by the discomfort? You stop focusing on creation and, instead, wallow in doubt and self-pity. You allow your thoughts to turn to negative things instead of staying focused on the positive.”
就在這時，我的思緒轉向了我童年時期遭受的虐待情況。我知道他意識到了我的想法。
Just then my thoughts turned to the abusive situations I had suffered as a child. I knew he was aware of my thoughts.
「是的，」德瑞克說。「有時候，當下可能感覺不可能看到好的事物。甚至在之後的幾年裡也可能看起來不可能。但這並不改變你選擇觀點的力量。」
“Yes,” Drake said. “Sometimes it may feel impossible to see the good in the moment. It may even seem impossible for years afterwards. But that doesn’t change your power to choose your perspective.”
我不想承認，但我知道他是對的。
I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew he was right.
「你看，你的思想不僅可以創造和改變你的環境，還可以改變你如何體驗那個環境。即使是最糟糕的情況也可以讓你變得更強大，幫助你成長。一旦你真正理解這一點，你可能會感到沮喪，但即使在你最糟糕的一天，你也永遠不會感到被打敗。當然，反之亦然。你可以擁有看似美好的生活，但如果你長時間專注於生活中的壞方面，最終你會在心中和現實中用壞事取代所有好的東西。」
“You see, your thoughts can create and transform not only your environment, but also how you experience that environment. Even the worst situations can strengthen you and help you to grow. Once you truly understand that, you may feel down but you’ll never feel defeated, even on your worst day. Of course, the opposite is true as well. You can have a seemingly wonderful life, but if you focus long enough on just the bad aspects of life, you will eventually replace all of the good things with bad things, both in your mind and in reality.”
「所以，我的專注是關鍵。」
“So, my focus is key.”
「是的。無論你把注意力放在哪裡，無論你專注於什麼，無論是好是壞，你都會吸引並創造出來。因此，要小心你心中持有的思想。思考積極的事物，你將建立積極的事物，無論是在內心還是外部。沉溺於負面的思想和情緒，你將摧毀積極的事物，並在其位置上創造負面的東西，即使你的意圖是好的。正如所說的，『通往地獄的道路是由善意鋪成的。』」
“Yes. Whatever you give your attention to, whatever you focus on, good and bad, you attract and then create into existence. So, be careful what thoughts you hold in your mind. Think about positive things, and you will build positive things, both internally and externally. Dwell on negative thoughts and emotions, and you’ll tear down positive things and create negative things in their place, even if your intentions are good. As they say, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’”
我聽到他這麼說感到驚訝。「這裡也有這句話嗎？」
I was surprised to hear him say that. “That’s a saying here, too?”
德瑞克笑了。「我們在這裡對這個概念的理解比在地球上更全面。我們知道，物質領域中的人們讓自我腐蝕了即使是最偉大的意圖。在這一邊，沒有能力腐蝕好的意圖，因為你無法隱藏任何東西。說謊是根本不可能的。」
Drake laughed. “We more fully understand that concept here than on earth. We know that those in the physical realm allow ego to corrupt even the greatest of intentions. On this side, there isn’t the ability to corrupt a good intention because you can’t conceal anything. It is simply impossible to lie.”
「我需要專注於我想要創造的好事。」
“I need to focus on the good that I want to create.”
「是的。認識到你思想中的魔法。專注於你想要創造的東西。設定你的意圖。然後控制你的行動。這將創造你的環境，無論是在內部還是外部，並幫助你實現你的最終潛力。」
“Yes. Recognize the magic in your thoughts. Focus on what you want to create. Set your intentions. Then control your actions. That will create your environment, both internally and externally, and that will help you achieve your ultimate potential.”
我將這與我們之前討論的科技聯繫起來。「而我的思想受我周圍事物的影響。」
I made the connection with our previous discussion about technology. “And my thoughts are influenced by what I surround myself with.”
「正是如此。說到這裡，讓我們談談影響人們思考和看待世界的最大因素之一。」
“Exactly. Speaking of which, let’s talk about one of the biggest influences on what people think about and how they see the world.”
第11章：創造的力量
Chapter 11: The Power of Creation
“你相信魔法嗎？”德雷克問。
“Do you believe in magic?” Drake asked.
“什麼，像揮舞魔杖和念咒語那樣？”
“What, like waving wands and saying spells?”
他微笑著說：“不，那都是故事情節。我說的是這個詞的本質，它的核心意義：擁有一種非凡的力量，可以以凡人無法解釋的方式影響事物。”
He smiled. “No. That’s all storytelling. I’m talking about the essence of the word, its core meaning: having an extraordinary power to influence things in a way that defies mortal explanation.”
“不太相信。”
“Not really.”
“那你不相信奇蹟嗎？”
“Then you don’t believe in miracles?”
“哦，我相信。但那些不是魔法。是嗎？”
“Oh, yes. I do. But those aren’t magic. Are they?”
“不是以幻想故事的方式，但確實有一種力量，你可以利用它，感覺就像魔法。因為你內在有神性的火花，你可以利用這火花來運用創造的力量。事實上，你在物質世界中就擁有這種力量。在地球上，你能創造一整棟建築嗎？”
“Not in the fantasy storytelling way, no. But there is a power that you can tap into that can seem like magic. Because you have a spark of divinity in you, you can use that spark to exercise the power of creation. In fact, you have that power available in the physical world. On Earth, can you create an entire building?”
“不能。我只做過框架和裝修工作。我對建造整棟建築一無所知。”
“No. All I’ve ever done is framing and finishing work. I don’t know anything about making a whole building.”
“如果你真的想要，你可以做到。”
“You could if you really wanted to.”
“我的意思是，我想我可以。但這需要很多時間和工作，還有很多我現在沒有的技能。”
“I mean, I guess I could. But it would take a lot of time and work, and a lot of skills I don’t have now.”
“是的，但你可以建造一個結構。你不一定需要自己揮動錘子。”
“Yes, but you could build a structure. You wouldn’t necessarily need to swing the hammer yourself.”
“你是什麼意思？”
“What do you mean?”
“想想看。你可以找一位工程師或建築師，讓他們起草詳細的計劃，對吧？”
“Think about it. You can find an engineer or an architect and have them draft the detailed plans, right?”
“可以。”
“Yes.”
“然後你可以聘請一位總承包商。那個人會監督其他人進行施工，直到建築完成。”
“And then you could hire a general contractor. That person would oversee other people doing the construction until the building was finished.”
“但我實際上沒有建造它。”
“But I didn’t actually build it.”
“你確定嗎？你可能沒有讓它憑空出現，甚至沒有釘下一顆釘子。但如果你沒有首先構想它，或者沒有開始導致其完成的過程，那棟建築會存在嗎？”
“Are you sure? You may not have made it materialize out of thin air, or even have pounded a single nail. But would that building exist if you did not first envision it? Or if you didn’t start the process that led to its completion?”
“我想不會。”
“I guess not.”
“在物質世界中創造事物需要物質材料和物理勞動，但在所有這些之前，它始於一個想法——一個願景——和創造某物的願望。你的想法是創造的第一步。”
“Making things in the physical world takes physical material and physical labor, but before any of that, it begins with a thought—a vision— and a desire to create something. Your thoughts are the first step in creation.”
“但那看起來不像魔法。更像是工作。”
“But that doesn’t seem like magic. It’s more like work.”
“誰說魔法不需要工作？”德雷克給了我一個苦笑。“此外，這只是其中一個例子，而且是非常基本的一個。可以用更少的物理努力創造出更偉大的事物。”
“Who said magic doesn’t require work?” Drake gave me a wry smile. “Besides, that is just one example and a very basic one. It is possible to create far greater things with far less physical effort.”
德雷克舉了一個例子，說明意志和意圖如何對物質施加力量。思想運作的方式很像電磁能量，大腦作為天線發送指令來組織和引導這一切。
Drake shared an example of how will and intention exert power over matter. Thoughts operate much like electromagnetic energy, with the brain functioning as an antenna that transmits the instructions to organize and direct it all.
我的建築思維開始接管。“但大腦如何僅憑思考就能跨越物理障礙來指導物質呢？”
My builder’s mind started to take over. “But how does the brain jump that physical barrier into directing matter just by thinking about it?”
德雷克耐心地微笑著說：“你現在不需要理解所有的運作原理。只需學習創造的基本原則，你就可以運用它們。”
Drake smiled patiently. “You don’t need to understand how all of it works right now. Just learn the basic principles of creation, and you can put them to use.”
“但是——”
“But—”
“相信我。你不需要知道燈泡是如何運作的才能打開燈。現在，理解澄清和專注於你的意圖的基本原則就足夠了。如果你的意圖足夠純潔並與上帝一致，它可以真正移動山脈。”
“Trust me. You don’t need to know how a lightbulb works in order to turn on a lamp. For now, understanding the basic principle of clarifying and focusing your intention is enough. Your intention can literally move mountains if it is pure enough and aligned with God.”
我在成長過程中讀過聖經中的這些事，但從未確定它是字面意思還是隱喻。結果它是字面意思。“這太神奇了。”
I had read about such things in the Bible growing up but was never sure if it was literal or metaphorical. It turns out it was literal. “That’s amazing.”
“是的，確實如此。然而，用思想創造的力量也可能對你不利。”
“Yes, it is. However, the power of creating with your thoughts can also work against you.”
“怎麼會？”
“How?”
“如果你想到負面的事情，你就會創造出負面的東西。”“即使我不想要？如果我只是想擺脫某件事呢？”
“If you think about negative things, you will create negative things.” “Even if I don’t want to? What if I’m just thinking about something I want to get rid of?”
“事情不是那樣運作的。專注於某件事只會讓那件事增長，不管是好是壞。如果你想擺脫負面的東西，你需要想到你想用什麼來取代它。專注於你想要的，它自然會取代你不想要的。當你讓好的事物增長時，好的就會取代壞的。”
“It doesn’t work that way. Focusing on a thing will only build that thing, whether good or bad. If you want to get rid of something negative, you need to think about what you want to replace it with. Focus on what you want, and it will naturally replace whatever it is you don’t want. The good will replace the bad as you make the good grow.”
“這就是為什麼被正面的事物包圍很重要嗎？”“正是如此。你可以用許多不同的方式訓練和調整你的思想——你觀看的電視和電影、你聽的音樂、你讀的書，甚至是你交往的人。你創造了你的環境，這有助於塑造你的思想，從而決定你在生活中創造什麼。”
“Is that why it’s important to be surrounded by positive things?” “Exactly. You can train and condition your thoughts in many different ways—the television and movies that you watch, the music you listen to, the books you read, even the people you associate with. You create your environment, which helps to shape your thoughts, which determines what you create in your life.”
“但我不能隨心所欲地創造任何舊東西，對吧？我的意思是，僅僅思考不會阻止壞事發生。”
“But I can’t create just any old thing I want, right? I mean, just thinking won’t stop bad things from happening.”
“你認為什麼是‘壞事’？”
“What would you consider to be a ‘bad thing’?”
“我不知道。大多數人會認為死亡是一件壞事。”“既然你已經經歷過了，你還認為它是壞事嗎？”
“I don’t know. Most people would consider dying to be a bad thing.” “Now that you’ve done it, do you still think it’s bad?”
我想了一會兒，然後微笑著說：“不。我想不是。”
I thought for a moment, then smiled. “No. I guess it isn’t.”
“那麼再試一個。還有什麼可能是壞的？”
“Try another one, then. What is something else that could be bad?”
“失去工作？生病？”
“Losing a job? Getting sick?”
“為什麼這些事情會是壞的？”
“And why would those things be bad?”
“因為……我不知道。我想是因為它們讓人不舒服？因為它們阻止我得到我想要的？”
“Because…I don’t know. I guess because they’re uncomfortable? Because they stop me from getting what I want?”
“這些事情本身阻止了你，還是因為你被不適分心而讓自己停下來？你停止專注於創造，而是沉浸在懷疑和自憐中。你讓自己的思想轉向負面的事物，而不是保持專注於正面。”
“Do those things alone stop you, or do you allow yourself to be stopped because you are distracted by the discomfort? You stop focusing on creation and, instead, wallow in doubt and self-pity. You allow your thoughts to turn to negative things instead of staying focused on the positive.”
就在那時，我的思緒轉向了我童年時遭受的虐待情況。我知道他知道我的想法。
Just then my thoughts turned to the abusive situations I had suffered as a child. I knew he was aware of my thoughts.
“是的，”德雷克說。“有時候，可能感覺在當下看到好的一面是不可能的。甚至在多年之後也可能看似不可能。但這並不改變你選擇觀點的能力。”
“Yes,” Drake said. “Sometimes it may feel impossible to see the good in the moment. It may even seem impossible for years afterwards. But that doesn’t change your power to choose your perspective.”
我不想承認，但我知道他是對的。
I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew he was right.
“你看，你的思想不僅可以創造和改變你的環境，還可以改變你如何體驗那個環境。即使是最糟糕的情況也可以讓你變得更強大，幫助你成長。一旦你真正理解這一點，你可能會感到沮喪，但即使在最糟糕的一天，你也不會感到被擊敗。當然，反之亦然。你可以擁有看似美好的生活，但如果你長時間只專注於生活中的壞方面，你最終會在思想和現實中用壞事取代所有好事。”
“You see, your thoughts can create and transform not only your environment, but also how you experience that environment. Even the worst situations can strengthen you and help you to grow. Once you truly understand that, you may feel down but you’ll never feel defeated, even on your worst day. Of course, the opposite is true as well. You can have a seemingly wonderful life, but if you focus long enough on just the bad aspects of life, you will eventually replace all of the good things with bad things, both in your mind and in reality.”
“所以，我的專注是關鍵。”
“So, my focus is key.”
“是的。無論你把注意力放在哪裡，無論你專注於什麼，好的和壞的，你都會吸引並創造出來。所以，要小心你心中持有的想法。想著正面的事情，你會在內外建造正面的事物。沉浸在負面的思想和情緒中，你會拆毀正面的事物，並在其位置創造負面的事物，即使你的意圖是好的。正如他們所說，‘通往地獄的道路是由善意鋪成的。’”
“Yes. Whatever you give your attention to, whatever you focus on, good and bad, you attract and then create into existence. So, be careful what thoughts you hold in your mind. Think about positive things, and you will build positive things, both internally and externally. Dwell on negative thoughts and emotions, and you’ll tear down positive things and create negative things in their place, even if your intentions are good. As they say, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’”
我聽到他這麼說感到驚訝。“這裡也有這種說法嗎？”
I was surprised to hear him say that. “That’s a saying here, too?”
德雷克笑了。“我們在這裡比在地球上更充分地理解這個概念。我們知道在物質世界中，人們允許自我腐蝕即使是最偉大的意圖。在這一邊，沒有腐蝕善意的能力，因為你無法隱藏任何東西。撒謊是完全不可能的。”
Drake laughed. “We more fully understand that concept here than on earth. We know that those in the physical realm allow ego to corrupt even the greatest of intentions. On this side, there isn’t the ability to corrupt a good intention because you can’t conceal anything. It is simply impossible to lie.”
“我需要專注於我想要創造的美好事物。”
“I need to focus on the good that I want to create.”
“是的。認識到你思想中的魔力。專注於你想要創造的。設定你的意圖。然後控制你的行動。這將創造你的環境，無論是內在還是外在，這將幫助你達到你最終的潛力。”
“Yes. Recognize the magic in your thoughts. Focus on what you want to create. Set your intentions. Then control your actions. That will create your environment, both internally and externally, and that will help you achieve your ultimate potential.”
我聯想到我們之前關於科技的討論。“而我的思想受到我周圍環境的影響。”
I made the connection with our previous discussion about technology. “And my thoughts are influenced by what I surround myself with.”
“正是如此。說到這裡，我們來談談對人們思考和看待世界影響最大的因素之一。”
“Exactly. Speaking of which, let’s talk about one of the biggest influences on what people think about and how they see the world.”
第十一章：創造的力量
Chapter 11: The Power of Creation
「你相信魔法嗎？」德雷克問。
“Do you believe in magic?” Drake asked.
「什麼，像揮舞魔杖和念咒語那樣？」
“What, like waving wands and saying spells?”
他微笑著。「不，那是故事。我說的是這個詞的本質，它的核心意義：擁有超凡的力量以超越凡人解釋的方式影響事物。」
He smiled. “No. That’s all storytelling. I’m talking about the essence of the word, its core meaning: having an extraordinary power to influence things in a way that defies mortal explanation.”
「不太相信。」
“Not really.”
「那你不相信奇蹟？」
“Then you don’t believe in miracles?”
「哦，是的，我相信。但那些不是魔法，對吧？」
“Oh, yes. I do. But those aren’t magic. Are they?”
「不是奇幻故事中的魔法，不是。但你確實可以利用一種看似魔法的力量。因為你內心有神性的火花，你可以用那火花來行使創造的力量。事實上，你在物質世界中也有這種力量。在地球上，你能創造一整棟建築物嗎？」
“Not in the fantasy storytelling way, no. But there is a power that you can tap into that can seem like magic. Because you have a spark of divinity in you, you can use that spark to exercise the power of creation. In fact, you have that power available in the physical world. On Earth, can you create an entire building?”
「不能。我只做過框架和裝修工作。我對建造整棟建築一無所知。」
“No. All I’ve ever done is framing and finishing work. I don’t know anything about making a whole building.”
「如果你真的想，你可以。」
“You could if you really wanted to.”
「我的意思是，我想我可以。但這需要很多時間和努力，還需要很多我現在沒有的技能。」
“I mean, I guess I could. But it would take a lot of time and work, and a lot of skills I don’t have now.”
「是的，但你可以建造一個結構。你不一定需要親自揮錘。」
“Yes, but you could build a structure. You wouldn’t necessarily need to swing the hammer yourself.”
「什麼意思？」
“What do you mean?”
「想想看。你可以找一個工程師或建築師，讓他們起草詳細的計劃，對吧？」
“Think about it. You can find an engineer or an architect and have them draft the detailed plans, right?”
「可以。」
“Yes.”
「然後你可以僱傭一個總承包商。那個人會監督其他人進行建設，直到建築完工。」
“And then you could hire a general contractor. That person would oversee other people doing the construction until the building was finished.”
「但我並沒有真正建造它。」
“But I didn’t actually build it.”
「你確定？你可能沒有讓它憑空出現，甚至沒有敲過一顆釘子。但如果不是你首先設想它，或者沒有啟動導致它完成的過程，那棟建築會存在嗎？」
“Are you sure? You may not have made it materialize out of thin air, or even have pounded a single nail. But would that building exist if you did not first envision it? Or if you didn’t start the process that led to its completion?”
「我想不會。」
“I guess not.”
「在物質世界中製造東西需要物質材料和體力勞動，但在這之前，它始於一個想法——一個願景——以及創造某物的渴望。你的思想是創造的第一步。」
“Making things in the physical world takes physical material and physical labor, but before any of that, it begins with a thought—a vision— and a desire to create something. Your thoughts are the first step in creation.”
「但這似乎不像魔法。更像是工作。」
“But that doesn’t seem like magic. It’s more like work.”
「誰說魔法不需要工作？」德雷克給了我一個狡黠的微笑。「此外，這只是一個非常基本的例子。可以用遠少於體力的努力創造遠更大的東西。」
“Who said magic doesn’t require work?” Drake gave me a wry smile. “Besides, that is just one example and a very basic one. It is possible to create far greater things with far less physical effort.”
德雷克分享了一個關於意志和意圖如何對物質施加力量的例子。思想很像電磁能量運作，腦部就像一個天線，傳輸指令來組織和引導一切。
Drake shared an example of how will and intention exert power over matter. Thoughts operate much like electromagnetic energy, with the brain functioning as an antenna that transmits the instructions to organize and direct it all.
我作為建築工人的思維開始佔據主導。「但大腦如何僅僅通過思考就跨越物理障礙來引導物質？」
My builder’s mind started to take over. “But how does the brain jump that physical barrier into directing matter just by thinking about it?”
德雷克耐心地微笑著。「你現在不需要理解它是如何運作的。只要學習創造的基本原則，你就可以加以運用。」
Drake smiled patiently. “You don’t need to understand how all of it works right now. Just learn the basic principles of creation, and you can put them to use.”
「但是——」
“But—”
「相信我。你不需要知道燈泡如何運作才能開燈。現在，理解澄清和聚焦你的意圖的基本原則就足夠了。如果你的意圖足夠純粹並與上帝對齊，它真的可以移山。」
“Trust me. You don’t need to know how a lightbulb works in order to turn on a lamp. For now, understanding the basic principle of clarifying and focusing your intention is enough. Your intention can literally move mountains if it is pure enough and aligned with God.”
我小時候讀過聖經中的這些內容，但從不確定它是字面還是比喻。原來是字面的。「這太神奇了。」
I had read about such things in the Bible growing up but was never sure if it was literal or metaphorical. It turns out it was literal. “That’s amazing.”
「是的，確實如此。然而，用你的思想創造的力量也可能對你不利。」
“Yes, it is. However, the power of creating with your thoughts can also work against you.”
「怎麼說？」
“How?”
「如果你思考負面的事情，你會創造負面的事情。」「即使我不想？如果我只是想去除某個東西呢？」
“If you think about negative things, you will create negative things.” “Even if I don’t want to? What if I’m just thinking about something I want to get rid of?”
「不是這樣的。專注於某件事只會建立那件事，無論是好是壞。如果想去除負面的東西，你需要思考你想用什麼來替代它。專注於你想要的，它會自然取代你不想要的東西。當你讓好的東西成長時，好的會取代壞的。」
“It doesn’t work that way. Focusing on a thing will only build that thing, whether good or bad. If you want to get rid of something negative, you need to think about what you want to replace it with. Focus on what you want, and it will naturally replace whatever it is you don’t want. The good will replace the bad as you make the good grow.”
「這就是為什麼要被正面的事物包圍很重要？」「正是如此。你可以用許多不同的方式訓練和調節你的思想——你看的電視和電影、聽的音樂、讀的書，甚至是你交往的人。你創造你的環境，這有助於塑造你的思想，決定你在生活中創造什麼。」
“Is that why it’s important to be surrounded by positive things?” “Exactly. You can train and condition your thoughts in many different ways—the television and movies that you watch, the music you listen to, the books you read, even the people you associate with. You create your environment, which helps to shape your thoughts, which determines what you create in your life.”
「但我不能隨便創造我想的任何東西，對吧？我的意思是，僅僅思考不能阻止壞事發生。」
“But I can’t create just any old thing I want, right? I mean, just thinking won’t stop bad things from happening.”
「你認為什麼是『壞事』？」
“What would you consider to be a ‘bad thing’?”
「我不知道。大多數人會認為死亡是壞事。」「現在你經歷過了，你還覺得它壞吗？」
“I don’t know. Most people would consider dying to be a bad thing.” “Now that you’ve done it, do you still think it’s bad?”
我想了一會兒，然後微笑著。「不，我想不是。」
I thought for a moment, then smiled. “No. I guess it isn’t.”
「再試一個。還有什麼可能是壞事？」
“Try another one, then. What is something else that could be bad?”
「失業？生病？」
“Losing a job? Getting sick?”
「為什麼這些會是壞事？」
“And why would those things be bad?”
「因為……我不知道。我想因為它們讓人不舒服？因為它們阻止我得到我想要的？」
“Because…I don’t know. I guess because they’re uncomfortable? Because they stop me from getting what I want?”
「這些事情本身阻止了你，還是因為你被不適分散了注意力而讓自己停下來？你停止專注於創造，反而沉溺於懷疑和自憐。你讓你的思想轉向負面的事情，而不是保持專注於正面。」
“Do those things alone stop you, or do you allow yourself to be stopped because you are distracted by the discomfort? You stop focusing on creation and, instead, wallow in doubt and self-pity. You allow your thoughts to turn to negative things instead of staying focused on the positive.”
就在這時，我的思緒轉向我小時候遭受的虐待情況。我知道他知道我的想法。
Just then my thoughts turned to the abusive situations I had suffered as a child. I knew he was aware of my thoughts.
「是的，」德雷克說。「有時在當下可能感覺不可能看到好的東西。甚至在多年後似乎也不可能。但這並不改變你選擇視角的能力。」
“Yes,” Drake said. “Sometimes it may feel impossible to see the good in the moment. It may even seem impossible for years afterwards. But that doesn’t change your power to choose your perspective.”
我不想承認，但我知道他是对的。
I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew he was right.
「你看，你的思想不僅可以創造和改變你的環境，還可以改變你體驗環境的方式。即使是最糟糕的情況也能讓你更堅強，幫助你成長。一旦你真正理解這一點，你可能會感到低落，但即使在最糟糕的日子，你也不會感到被擊敗。當然，反之亦然。你可能擁有看似美好的生活，但如果你長時間只專注於生活的壞方面，你最終會用壞的東西取代所有的好東西，無論是在你的思想中還是現實中。」
“You see, your thoughts can create and transform not only your environment, but also how you experience that environment. Even the worst situations can strengthen you and help you to grow. Once you truly understand that, you may feel down but you’ll never feel defeated, even on your worst day. Of course, the opposite is true as well. You can have a seemingly wonderful life, but if you focus long enough on just the bad aspects of life, you will eventually replace all of the good things with bad things, both in your mind and in reality.”
「所以，我的專注是關鍵。」
“So, my focus is key.”
「是的。你關注什麼，專注於什麼，無論好壞，你都會吸引並創造出來。所以，小心你腦海中持有的思想。思考正面的事情，你會建立正面的東西，內在和外在。沉溺於負面的思想和情緒，你會拆毁正面的東西，並在它們的位置創造負面的東西，即使你的意圖是好的。正如他們說的，『通往地獄的路是用好意鋪成的。』」
“Yes. Whatever you give your attention to, whatever you focus on, good and bad, you attract and then create into existence. So, be careful what thoughts you hold in your mind. Think about positive things, and you will build positive things, both internally and externally. Dwell on negative thoughts and emotions, and you’ll tear down positive things and create negative things in their place, even if your intentions are good. As they say, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’”
聽到他說這個我很驚訝。「這裡也有這句話？」
I was surprised to hear him say that. “That’s a saying here, too?”
德雷克笑了。「我們這裡比地球上更充分地理解這個概念。我們知道物質世界中的人讓自我腐蝕了即使是最偉大的意圖。在這邊，無法腐蝕好的意圖，因為你無法隱藏任何東西。說謊根本不可能。」
Drake laughed. “We more fully understand that concept here than on earth. We know that those in the physical realm allow ego to corrupt even the greatest of intentions. On this side, there isn’t the ability to corrupt a good intention because you can’t conceal anything. It is simply impossible to lie.”
「我需要專注於我想創造的好的東西。」
“I need to focus on the good that I want to create.”
「是的。認識到你思想中的魔法。專注於你想創造的東西。設定你的意圖。然後控制你的行動。這將創造你的環境，內在和外在，這將幫助你實現你的終極潛能。」
“Yes. Recognize the magic in your thoughts. Focus on what you want to create. Set your intentions. Then control your actions. That will create your environment, both internally and externally, and that will help you achieve your ultimate potential.”
我聯繫到我們之前關於科技的討論。「我的思想受到我周圍事物的影響。」
I made the connection with our previous discussion about technology. “And my thoughts are influenced by what I surround myself with.”
「正是如此。說到這個，讓我們談談對人們思考和看待世界方式的最大影響之一。」
“Exactly. Speaking of which, let’s talk about one of the biggest influences on what people think about and how they see the world.”