前言
Preface
由琳恩·泰勒著
By Lynn Taylor
這本書改變了我的人生，也徹底改變了我。如今的我，已與初識文森特故事時判若兩人。當然，像大多數內在變化一樣，這是一個循序漸進的過程；提升自我絕非一朝一夕之功。
This book changed my life. It changed me. I am a different person now than I was when I was first introduced to Vincent’s story. Of course, like most internal changes, it was a process. Elevating who you are rarely happens in an instant.
我是在一次為了讓世界變得更美好而努力的男士晚宴上認識文森特的（我一直稱他為“Vinney”）。那時現場有數十位男士，人聲鼎沸，使得深入而有意義的對話變得相當困難。Vinney與我對坐，在繁忙的晚宴中，我們嘗試交換彼此的故事。
I met Vincent (I’ve only ever known him as “Vinney”) at a dinner event for men seeking to make a positive difference in the world. There were dozens of men there, and the buzz of activity made it difficult to have a deep and meaningful conversation. Vinney and I sat across from each other, and we exchanged what stories we could over the busy dinner.
當晚宴結束後，我們各自散去，或許再也不會相遇。事後，我記住了關於Vinney的兩件事。
The evening ended, and we parted ways, perhaps never to meet again. When it was over, I remembered two things about Vinney.
第一，他曾經有過一段非凡的瀕死經驗。儘管我至今仍難以用「瀕死經驗」這一詞來形容它——在我看來，被裝入屍袋遠遠超出了「瀕死」的範疇。我對他的經歷了解不多，僅知道他從那扇通往彼岸的門後，獲得了不少深刻的啟示。
First, that he had had an interesting near-death experience. I still have trouble calling it a “near” death experience, though. To me, being in a body bag is beyond “near.” I hadn’t learned many details of his experience, such as the deep lessons he learned, but I remembered that he had more than a brief peek through the door to the other side.
第二，我記得Vinney那種謙卑而真摯的態度。他談論這段經歷時平淡自然，彷彿只是敘述一趟普通的旅程或上過的一所學校。他是我所遇到過的最仁慈、最謙遜的人之一，這給我留下了深刻的印象。
The second thing that I remembered about Vinney was his humble sincerity. He was very matter-of-fact about the experience, as if he was talking about a trip he had taken, or a school he had attended. He was one of the most gracious and unassuming people I had ever met, and that impressed me.
我從小就相信「彼岸」的存在，並認為在我們的生活中，有著超越物質感官的力量在運作。雖然我知道人們擁有超越凡人感官的能力，但我從未確信自己特別敏銳。雖然我見證過他人展現這些能力，但我自己的體驗卻總是短暫且（據我當時的認知）不夠準確。
I was raised with a belief in “the other side,” and that there are forces active in our lives that exist beyond our physical senses. While I knew that we have access to senses beyond our mortal ones, I was never confident that mine were very keen. I had seen those senses in action with other people many times, but my own experience with them had been fleeting and, in some cases, unreliable (or so I thought).
不久後，我在紐約時報暢銷書作家理查德·保羅·埃文斯於南猶他州牧場舉辦的作家靜修會上再次遇到了Vinney。當時我正忙於撰寫小說，而Vinney則努力將他的那段經歷寫成一本書。
We met again at a writers’ retreat hosted by New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans at his ranch in southern Utah. I was working on a novel, and Vinney had been striving to translate his experience into a book.
一個午餐後的午後，Vinney和我坐在牧場住宅前室的大型豆袋上，邊閒聊邊談論彼此的寫作計劃。令我驚訝的是，Vinney突然問我是否願意幫助他用文字記錄他的經歷。比起他的這個提問，更令我驚訝的是，我幾乎下意識地回答了「好」。我當時不確定自己是否適合這項任務，但我信任Vinney的判斷，也跟隨了內心的直覺。這感覺就是正確的選擇，我也相信最終一切都會圓滿落實。
One afternoon after lunch, Vinney and I sat in the front room of the ranch house, stretched out on oversized bean bags, talking about our writing projects. I was surprised when Vinney asked me if I would help him put his experience into words. What surprised me more than his question was that I said “yes,” almost without a thought. I wasn’t sure that I was the right person for the task, but I trusted Vinney’s judgment and also followed my intuition. It just felt like the right answer, and I was confident that it would somehow all work out.
Vinney寄給我一份他錄製的錄音文字稿，記下了他「死亡」的過程以及在彼岸獲得的啟示。那是我第一次全面瞭解他的整個旅程，令我無比著迷。更令人驚異的是，他從中領略的教訓與我迄今為止的人生經歷竟是那麼契合。我並不是在談論死後世界的細節，而是在談論如何在我們這個世界上過得更充實、更有意義的生活。這些見解，將我長久以來模糊不清的推斷和假設，轉換成了明晰而具體的原則，這讓我深受鼓舞。
Vinney sent me a transcript of an audio recording he made, recounting his death and what he learned on the other side. It was my first encounter with the full scope of his journey, and it fascinated me. It was remarkable to me how closely the lessons he learned aligned with my life experience thus far. I’m not referring to the details of existence after we die—I mean the principles of how to have a more fulfilling and rewarding life while we are still here. Insights that he shared brought my lifetime of hazy inferences and fuzzy assumptions into clear and focused principles, and that excited me.
當我著手撰寫這本書時，也開始逐漸注意到一些並非出自我自身思緒的念頭。在隨後數週乃至數月的持續寫作與重寫中，我經常會有疑問需要向Vinney請教。後來我發現，每當我剛想到某個問題，答案就彷彿悄然降臨在我的心頭，像是一聲細微的耳語，等待著我去傾聽。我總會與Vinney確認那些細節，但一次又一次，Vinney只是不斷地印證我早已領悟的答案，並偶爾補充一些細節。
As I worked on the book, I also started to recognize thoughts and ideas that were not my own. In the weeks and months that followed, as I wrote and rewrote, I often had questions that I would need to ask Vinney about. Then I noticed that I sometimes received answers almost as soon as I thought of the question. The answers would enter my thoughts gently, like a whisper that I had to be ready to hear. I would always verify the details with Vinney, but time after time, all Vinney did was confirm the answer I had already been given, and perhaps add some additional details.
最令我驚訝的是，我如今可以回顧自己一生中無數次接收到那類似耳語的時刻，而在當時我卻未曾辨識出它們的真實意義。以往我的自我懷疑常使我對周圍那壯麗而無法言喻的真實存在失去感知。
What is most remarkable to me is that I can now look back at a lifetime of receiving similar whispers and, in those moments of guidance and inspiration, not recognizing them for what they were. My self-doubt had dimmed my inner senses to the spectacular unseen realities of existence surrounding me.
我的妻子 Donna 一直對靈性事物極為敏感。初稿完成不久，她就說：「每次我走過你的辦公室，我總能察覺到你正在忙著撰寫 Vinney 的書。」
My wife, Donna, has always had a strong sensitivity to spiritual things. Some time after the first draft was complete, she said, “Whenever I walked by your office, I could always tell when you were working on Vinney’s book.”
「你怎麼看出來？」我問道。
“How could you tell?” I asked.
「感覺就是不一樣，好像那裡多了其他人的存在。」
“It just felt different. Like there were other people there.”
她說得對。那些力量從一開始就已經介入其中。只不過我花了不少時間，加上大量的練習與努力，才逐漸培養出敏銳的靈性感知，從而辨認出它們的影響。我深深感激這些幫助，不僅因為幫助本身，更因為因此我獲得了寶貴的技能。我不能說自己在傾聽指引及建議上已臻完美，但如今確實有了進步。我現在能自信地將自己的聲音加入那日益壯大的合唱中，高聲宣告我們在這生命中並不孤單——我們永遠都不會。
She was right. They were involved from the very beginning. It just took me time, and no small amount of practice and effort, to develop my spiritual senses enough to recognize their input. I am deeply grateful for their help, not only because of the help itself, but because of the skills I have gained as a result. I can’t say that I am perfect at listening to the advice and guidance I receive, but I am better at it now. I can now confidently add my voice to the growing chorus that sings that we are not alone in this life. We never truly are.
此書還為我的生命帶來了另一份恩賜。書中的原則改變了我看待世界、宇宙以及自己在其中角色的方式。人生固然充滿挑戰，但要獲得豐盛且充實的生活，其實方法相當簡單。這本書所闡述的原則為我們提供了一個普遍適用的起步指南。
There is another gift that this book brought into my life. The principles in this book have changed the way I see our world, the universe, and my place in it. Life may be challenging, but the way to have a rich and fulfilling life is really quite simple. The principles in this book provide a universally applicable guide on how to start.
如今的我已不再是當初走上這條道路的那個人，我對促成轉變的無數恩賜充滿感激。我仍無法預見那曲折旅程將帶我走向何方，但內心懷有一份寧靜而堅定的信念——那條路最終會引領我們通向正確的方向。我也更加準備好全力以赴地享受這段旅程，不論前路如何變幻。
I am different now than when I started on this path, and I am deeply grateful for the many gifts that made that transformation happen. I still can’t see more than a few steps ahead of where my winding path will take me, but I carry a quiet, firm assurance of where that path ultimately leads. I am also better prepared to make the most of this journey, wherever the road may roam.
我希望你閱讀這本書時，也能獲得與我相似的體驗。
My hope is that your experience with this book will do the same for you.
前言
Preface
由林·泰勒（Lynn Taylor）
By Lynn Taylor
這本書改變了我的生活。它改變了我。我現在與第一次接觸文森特的故事時的自己截然不同。當然，像大多數內在變化一樣，這是一個過程。提升自我很少會在瞬間發生。
This book changed my life. It changed me. I am a different person now than I was when I was first introduced to Vincent’s story. Of course, like most internal changes, it was a process. Elevating who you are rarely happens in an instant.
我在一個尋求在世界上產生積極影響的男性晚宴活動中遇到了文森特（我只認識他為「維尼」）。那裡有數十名男性，活動的喧鬧讓人難以進行深入而有意義的對話。維尼和我坐在對面，我們在忙碌的晚餐中交流著我們能分享的故事。
I met Vincent (I’ve only ever known him as “Vinney”) at a dinner event for men seeking to make a positive difference in the world. There were dozens of men there, and the buzz of activity made it difficult to have a deep and meaningful conversation. Vinney and I sat across from each other, and we exchanged what stories we could over the busy dinner.
晚會結束，我們各自離開，或許再也不會見面。結束時，我記得兩件關於維尼的事情。
The evening ended, and we parted ways, perhaps never to meet again. When it was over, I remembered two things about Vinney.
首先，他有過一段有趣的近死經歷。不過，我仍然很難稱之為「近」死經歷。對我來說，躺在屍袋裡已經超越了「近」的範疇。我並沒有了解到他經歷的許多細節，比如他學到的深刻教訓，但我記得他不僅僅是短暫地窺見了另一邊的門。
First, that he had had an interesting near-death experience. I still have trouble calling it a “near” death experience, though. To me, being in a body bag is beyond “near.” I hadn’t learned many details of his experience, such as the deep lessons he learned, but I remembered that he had more than a brief peek through the door to the other side.
我記得的第二件事是維尼的謙遜真誠。他對這段經歷非常平淡，就像在談論他曾經去過的旅行或上過的學校一樣。他是我見過的最優雅和不矯揉造作的人之一，這讓我印象深刻。
The second thing that I remembered about Vinney was his humble sincerity. He was very matter-of-fact about the experience, as if he was talking about a trip he had taken, or a school he had attended. He was one of the most gracious and unassuming people I had ever met, and that impressed me.
我從小就相信「另一邊」的存在，並且相信在我們的生活中有超越我們物理感官的力量。雖然我知道我們可以接觸到超越我們凡人感官的感知，但我從未對自己的感知能力充滿信心。我曾多次在其他人身上看到這些感知的運作，但我自己的經歷卻是短暫的，在某些情況下還是不可靠的（或者我這麼認為）。
I was raised with a belief in “the other side,” and that there are forces active in our lives that exist beyond our physical senses. While I knew that we have access to senses beyond our mortal ones, I was never confident that mine were very keen. I had seen those senses in action with other people many times, but my own experience with them had been fleeting and, in some cases, unreliable (or so I thought).
我們在紐約時報暢銷書作者理查德·保羅·埃文斯（Richard Paul Evans）在猶他州南部的牧場舉辦的作家靜修會上再次相遇。我當時正在寫一部小說，而維尼則在努力將他的經歷轉化為一本書。
We met again at a writers’ retreat hosted by New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans at his ranch in southern Utah. I was working on a novel, and Vinney had been striving to translate his experience into a book.
一個午餐後的下午，維尼和我坐在牧場房子的前廳，舒展地躺在超大豆袋椅上，談論我們的寫作項目。當維尼問我是否願意幫助他將他的經歷用文字表達出來時，我感到驚訝。更讓我驚訝的是，我幾乎沒有思考就回答「是」。我不確定自己是否是這項任務的合適人選，但我相信維尼的判斷，也遵循了我的直覺。這感覺就是正確的答案，我相信這一切會以某種方式順利進行。
One afternoon after lunch, Vinney and I sat in the front room of the ranch house, stretched out on oversized bean bags, talking about our writing projects. I was surprised when Vinney asked me if I would help him put his experience into words. What surprised me more than his question was that I said “yes,” almost without a thought. I wasn’t sure that I was the right person for the task, but I trusted Vinney’s judgment and also followed my intuition. It just felt like the right answer, and I was confident that it would somehow all work out.
維尼給我發送了一份他錄製的音頻的文字稿，講述了他的死亡和他在另一邊學到的東西。這是我第一次接觸到他整個旅程的範疇，讓我著迷。令我驚訝的是，他所學到的教訓與我迄今為止的生活經歷如此契合。我不是在指死亡後的存在細節——我指的是在我們仍然活著的時候，如何擁有更充實和有意義的生活的原則。他所分享的洞見將我一生的模糊推論和模糊假設轉化為清晰而集中的原則，這讓我感到興奮。
Vinney sent me a transcript of an audio recording he made, recounting his death and what he learned on the other side. It was my first encounter with the full scope of his journey, and it fascinated me. It was remarkable to me how closely the lessons he learned aligned with my life experience thus far. I’m not referring to the details of existence after we die—I mean the principles of how to have a more fulfilling and rewarding life while we are still here. Insights that he shared brought my lifetime of hazy inferences and fuzzy assumptions into clear and focused principles, and that excited me.
在我編寫這本書的過程中，我也開始認識到一些不是我自己的想法和觀念。在接下來的幾週和幾個月裡，當我寫作和重寫時，我經常會有需要向維尼詢問的問題。然後我注意到，有時我幾乎在想到問題的同時就得到了答案。這些答案會輕柔地進入我的思緒，就像一個我必須準備好聽到的低語。我總是會向維尼核實細節，但一次又一次，維尼所做的只是確認我已經得到的答案，或許還會補充一些額外的細節。
As I worked on the book, I also started to recognize thoughts and ideas that were not my own. In the weeks and months that followed, as I wrote and rewrote, I often had questions that I would need to ask Vinney about. Then I noticed that I sometimes received answers almost as soon as I thought of the question. The answers would enter my thoughts gently, like a whisper that I had to be ready to hear. I would always verify the details with Vinney, but time after time, all Vinney did was confirm the answer I had already been given, and perhaps add some additional details.
對我來說，最令人驚訝的是，我現在可以回顧一生中接收到的類似低語，在那些指導和啟發的時刻，卻未能認識到它們的真實意義。我的自我懷疑讓我對圍繞我的壯觀無形現實的內在感知變得模糊。
What is most remarkable to me is that I can now look back at a lifetime of receiving similar whispers and, in those moments of guidance and inspiration, not recognizing them for what they were. My self-doubt had dimmed my inner senses to the spectacular unseen realities of existence surrounding me.
我的妻子多娜（Donna）一直對靈性事物有著強烈的敏感性。在第一稿完成後不久，她說：「每當我經過你的辦公室時，我總能感覺到你在寫維尼的書。」
My wife, Donna, has always had a strong sensitivity to spiritual things. Some time after the first draft was complete, she said, “Whenever I walked by your office, I could always tell when you were working on Vinney’s book.”
「你是怎麼知道的？」我問。
“How could you tell?” I asked.
「感覺就是不一樣。就像那裡有其他人在一樣。」
“It just felt different. Like there were other people there.”
她說得對。他們從一開始就參與其中。只是我花了一些時間，以及不小的練習和努力，才發展出足夠的靈性感知來認識他們的貢獻。我對他們的幫助深表感激，不僅因為幫助本身，還因為我因此獲得的技能。我不能說我在聆聽所接收到的建議和指導方面是完美的，但我現在做得更好了。我現在可以自信地加入到越來越多的聲音中，唱著我們在這一生中並不孤單的旋律。我們從來都不是。
She was right. They were involved from the very beginning. It just took me time, and no small amount of practice and effort, to develop my spiritual senses enough to recognize their input. I am deeply grateful for their help, not only because of the help itself, but because of the skills I have gained as a result. I can’t say that I am perfect at listening to the advice and guidance I receive, but I am better at it now. I can now confidently add my voice to the growing chorus that sings that we are not alone in this life. We never truly are.
這本書還帶來了另一份禮物。這本書中的原則改變了我看待我們的世界、宇宙以及我在其中位置的方式。生活可能充滿挑戰，但擁有豐富而充實的生活的方式其實相當簡單。這本書中的原則提供了一個普遍適用的指南，告訴我們如何開始。
There is another gift that this book brought into my life. The principles in this book have changed the way I see our world, the universe, and my place in it. Life may be challenging, but the way to have a rich and fulfilling life is really quite simple. The principles in this book provide a universally applicable guide on how to start.
我現在與開始這條道路時的自己截然不同，我對促成這一轉變的許多禮物深表感激。我仍然無法看清我的曲折道路將帶我走向何方，但我對這條道路最終的方向有著安靜而堅定的信心。我也更好地準備好充分利用這段旅程，無論道路會通向何方。
I am different now than when I started on this path, and I am deeply grateful for the many gifts that made that transformation happen. I still can’t see more than a few steps ahead of where my winding path will take me, but I carry a quiet, firm assurance of where that path ultimately leads. I am also better prepared to make the most of this journey, wherever the road may roam.
我希望你在這本書中的經歷也能為你帶來同樣的效果。
My hope is that your experience with this book will do the same for you.
前言
Preface
林恩·泰勒
By Lynn Taylor
這本書改變了我的生活。它改變了我。我現在是一個與首次接觸文森特故事時不同的人。當然，像大多數內在的變化一樣，這是一個過程。提升自我很少會在瞬間發生。
This book changed my life. It changed me. I am a different person now than I was when I was first introduced to Vincent’s story. Of course, like most internal changes, it was a process. Elevating who you are rarely happens in an instant.
我在一個旨在讓男人們對世界產生積極影響的晚宴活動上認識了文森特（我一直稱他為“維尼”）。那裡有幾十個男人，活動的喧囂使得進行深入而有意義的對話變得困難。維尼和我坐在對面，我們在繁忙的晚宴中交換了我們能講的故事。
I met Vincent (I’ve only ever known him as “Vinney”) at a dinner event for men seeking to make a positive difference in the world. There were dozens of men there, and the buzz of activity made it difficult to have a deep and meaningful conversation. Vinney and I sat across from each other, and we exchanged what stories we could over the busy dinner.
晚會結束後，我們分道揚鑣，也許再也不會見面。結束後，我記得維尼的兩件事。
The evening ended, and we parted ways, perhaps never to meet again. When it was over, I remembered two things about Vinney.
首先，他有過一次有趣的瀕死經驗。不過，我仍然很難稱其為“瀕死”經驗。對我來說，躺在屍袋裡已經超越了“瀕”。我沒有了解到他經歷的許多細節，比如他學到的深刻教訓，但我記得他不僅僅是短暫地窺探了另一邊的門。
First, that he had had an interesting near-death experience. I still have trouble calling it a “near” death experience, though. To me, being in a body bag is beyond “near.” I hadn’t learned many details of his experience, such as the deep lessons he learned, but I remembered that he had more than a brief peek through the door to the other side.
我記得的第二件事是維尼的謙遜真誠。他對經歷的描述非常實事求是，就像在談論一次旅行或上過的學校。他是我見過的最優雅和謙遜的人之一，這讓我印象深刻。
The second thing that I remembered about Vinney was his humble sincerity. He was very matter-of-fact about the experience, as if he was talking about a trip he had taken, or a school he had attended. He was one of the most gracious and unassuming people I had ever met, and that impressed me.
我從小就相信“另一邊”，並且相信在我們的生活中有超越我們物理感官的力量。雖然我知道我們可以接觸到超越凡人感官的感知，但我從未確信自己的感知能力很敏銳。我曾多次看到這些感知在其他人身上的表現，但我自己的經歷一直是短暫的，在某些情況下，甚至是不可靠的（或者我以為是這樣）。
I was raised with a belief in “the other side,” and that there are forces active in our lives that exist beyond our physical senses. While I knew that we have access to senses beyond our mortal ones, I was never confident that mine were very keen. I had seen those senses in action with other people many times, but my own experience with them had been fleeting and, in some cases, unreliable (or so I thought).
我們再次相遇是在《紐約時報》暢銷書作者理查德·保羅·埃文斯在猶他州南部的牧場舉辦的作家退修會上。我正在寫一本小說，而維尼一直在努力將他的經歷轉化為一本書。
We met again at a writers’ retreat hosted by New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans at his ranch in southern Utah. I was working on a novel, and Vinney had been striving to translate his experience into a book.
一天下午午餐後，維尼和我坐在牧場房子的前廳，躺在超大的豆袋椅上，談論我們的寫作計劃。當維尼問我是否願意幫他把經歷寫下來時，我感到驚訝。比他的問題更讓我驚訝的是，我幾乎不假思索地回答了“好”。我不確定自己是否是合適的人選，但我相信維尼的判斷，也跟隨了我的直覺。這感覺就是正確的答案，我相信事情會以某種方式順利解決。
One afternoon after lunch, Vinney and I sat in the front room of the ranch house, stretched out on oversized bean bags, talking about our writing projects. I was surprised when Vinney asked me if I would help him put his experience into words. What surprised me more than his question was that I said “yes,” almost without a thought. I wasn’t sure that I was the right person for the task, but I trusted Vinney’s judgment and also followed my intuition. It just felt like the right answer, and I was confident that it would somehow all work out.
維尼給我寄來了一份他錄音的文字稿，講述了他的死亡和他在另一邊學到的東西。這是我第一次全面了解他的旅程，讓我著迷。令我驚訝的是，他所學到的教訓與我迄今為止的生活經歷如此緊密地一致。我不是指我們死後存在的細節——我是指如何在我們還在這裡時擁有更充實和有意義的生活的原則。他分享的見解將我一生模糊的推斷和模糊的假設轉化為清晰和集中的原則，這讓我感到興奮。
Vinney sent me a transcript of an audio recording he made, recounting his death and what he learned on the other side. It was my first encounter with the full scope of his journey, and it fascinated me. It was remarkable to me how closely the lessons he learned aligned with my life experience thus far. I’m not referring to the details of existence after we die—I mean the principles of how to have a more fulfilling and rewarding life while we are still here. Insights that he shared brought my lifetime of hazy inferences and fuzzy assumptions into clear and focused principles, and that excited me.
在我撰寫這本書的過程中，我也開始認識到一些不是我自己的想法和觀念。在接下來的幾周和幾個月裡，當我寫作和重寫時，我經常有需要問維尼的問題。然後我注意到，有時我幾乎在想到問題的同時就得到了答案。答案會輕輕地進入我的思緒，就像一聲我必須準備好聆聽的耳語。我總是會向維尼核實細節，但一次又一次，維尼所做的只是確認我已經得到的答案，並可能補充一些額外的細節。
As I worked on the book, I also started to recognize thoughts and ideas that were not my own. In the weeks and months that followed, as I wrote and rewrote, I often had questions that I would need to ask Vinney about. Then I noticed that I sometimes received answers almost as soon as I thought of the question. The answers would enter my thoughts gently, like a whisper that I had to be ready to hear. I would always verify the details with Vinney, but time after time, all Vinney did was confirm the answer I had already been given, and perhaps add some additional details.
最令我驚訝的是，我現在可以回顧一生中收到過的類似耳語，在那些指引和啟發的時刻，卻沒有認出它們的真實性。我的自我懷疑使我的內在感知對周圍存在的壯觀無形現實變得遲鈍。
What is most remarkable to me is that I can now look back at a lifetime of receiving similar whispers and, in those moments of guidance and inspiration, not recognizing them for what they were. My self-doubt had dimmed my inner senses to the spectacular unseen realities of existence surrounding me.
我的妻子多娜一直對靈性事物有很強的敏感性。在第一稿完成後不久，她說：“每當我走過你的辦公室，我總能感覺到你在寫維尼的書。”
My wife, Donna, has always had a strong sensitivity to spiritual things. Some time after the first draft was complete, she said, “Whenever I walked by your office, I could always tell when you were working on Vinney’s book.”
“你怎麼知道的？”我問。
“How could you tell?” I asked.
“感覺就是不一樣。就像有其他人在那裡。”
“It just felt different. Like there were other people there.”
她說得對。他們從一開始就參與其中。我花了一些時間，以及不少的練習和努力，才發展出足夠的靈性感知來識別他們的貢獻。我非常感謝他們的幫助，不僅僅是因為幫助本身，還因為我因此獲得的技能。我不能說我在聆聽收到的建議和指導方面是完美的，但我現在做得更好了。我現在可以自信地加入那不斷壯大的聲音合唱，歌頌我們在這生命中並不孤單。我們從來都不是真正孤單的。
She was right. They were involved from the very beginning. It just took me time, and no small amount of practice and effort, to develop my spiritual senses enough to recognize their input. I am deeply grateful for their help, not only because of the help itself, but because of the skills I have gained as a result. I can’t say that I am perfect at listening to the advice and guidance I receive, but I am better at it now. I can now confidently add my voice to the growing chorus that sings that we are not alone in this life. We never truly are.
這本書還為我的生活帶來了另一份禮物。書中的原則改變了我看待我們的世界、宇宙以及我在其中的位置的方式。生活可能充滿挑戰，但擁有豐富而充實的生活的方法其實相當簡單。這本書中的原則提供了一個普遍適用的指南，告訴我們如何開始。
There is another gift that this book brought into my life. The principles in this book have changed the way I see our world, the universe, and my place in it. Life may be challenging, but the way to have a rich and fulfilling life is really quite simple. The principles in this book provide a universally applicable guide on how to start.
我現在與剛開始這條道路時不同，我非常感謝那些促成這一轉變的眾多禮物。我仍然無法看到我曲折道路的未來超過幾步，但我懷著一種平靜而堅定的信念，知道這條路最終會通向何方。我也更好地準備好充分利用這段旅程，無論道路通向何處。
I am different now than when I started on this path, and I am deeply grateful for the many gifts that made that transformation happen. I still can’t see more than a few steps ahead of where my winding path will take me, but I carry a quiet, firm assurance of where that path ultimately leads. I am also better prepared to make the most of this journey, wherever the road may roam.
我希望你在這本書中的經歷也能為你帶來同樣的改變。
My hope is that your experience with this book will do the same for you.
前言
Preface
作者：林恩·泰勒
By Lynn Taylor
這本書改變了我的人生。它改變了我。我現在與最初接觸文森特故事時的我不同了。當然，就像大多數內在改變一樣，這是一個過程。提升自我很少是一瞬間完成的。
This book changed my life. It changed me. I am a different person now than I was when I was first introduced to Vincent’s story. Of course, like most internal changes, it was a process. Elevating who you are rarely happens in an instant.
我在一個旨在為世界帶來積極改變的男性晚宴活動上認識了文森特（我只知道他叫「維尼」）。當時有幾十個人在場，活動的熱鬧氣氛讓深入而有意義的對話變得困難。我和維尼坐在桌子對面，我們在忙碌的晚餐中交換了能分享的故事。
I met Vincent (I’ve only ever known him as “Vinney”) at a dinner event for men seeking to make a positive difference in the world. There were dozens of men there, and the buzz of activity made it difficult to have a deep and meaningful conversation. Vinney and I sat across from each other, and we exchanged what stories we could over the busy dinner.
晚上結束後，我們分道揚鑣，或許再也不會相見。活動結束後，我記住了關於維尼的兩件事。
The evening ended, and we parted ways, perhaps never to meet again. When it was over, I remembered two things about Vinney.
首先，他有過一段有趣的瀕死體驗。我至今仍難以稱之為「瀕」死體驗。對我來說，被裝進屍袋已經超越了「瀕死」。我還沒了解他經歷的許多細節，比如他學到的深刻教訓，但我記得他不只是短暫地瞥見了另一邊。
First, that he had had an interesting near-death experience. I still have trouble calling it a “near” death experience, though. To me, being in a body bag is beyond “near.” I hadn’t learned many details of his experience, such as the deep lessons he learned, but I remembered that he had more than a brief peek through the door to the other side.
我記住的第二件事是維尼謙遜的真誠。他對這段經歷的態度非常平實，就像在談論一次旅行或一所他讀過的學校。他是我見過的最親切、最謙遜的人之一，這給我留下了深刻印象。
The second thing that I remembered about Vinney was his humble sincerity. He was very matter-of-fact about the experience, as if he was talking about a trip he had taken, or a school he had attended. He was one of the most gracious and unassuming people I had ever met, and that impressed me.
我成長過程中相信「另一邊」的存在，相信我們的生活中有超越肉體感官的力量在運作。雖然我知道我們可以接觸到超越凡人感官的感覺，但我從未對自己的這種能力有信心。我多次在其他人身上見過這些感官的運作，但自己的體驗卻是短暫的，有些情況下甚至不可靠（或者我當時是這麼認為的）。
I was raised with a belief in “the other side,” and that there are forces active in our lives that exist beyond our physical senses. While I knew that we have access to senses beyond our mortal ones, I was never confident that mine were very keen. I had seen those senses in action with other people many times, but my own experience with them had been fleeting and, in some cases, unreliable (or so I thought).
我們在《紐約時報》暢銷書作者理查德·保羅·埃文斯於猶他州南部牧場舉辦的作家靜修會上再次相遇。我當時在寫一部小說，而維尼一直在努力將他的經歷轉化成一本書。
We met again at a writers’ retreat hosted by New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans at his ranch in southern Utah. I was working on a novel, and Vinney had been striving to translate his experience into a book.
午餐後的一個下午，我和維尼坐在牧場房子的大廳裡，躺在超大的懶人沙發上，談論我們的寫作項目。當維尼問我是否願意幫他把他的經歷寫成文字時，我感到很驚訝。更讓我驚訝的是，我幾乎不假思索地說了「好」。我不確定自己是否是合適的人選，但我信任維尼的判斷，也跟隨了自己的直覺。這感覺是正確的答案，我相信一切都會順利解決。
One afternoon after lunch, Vinney and I sat in the front room of the ranch house, stretched out on oversized bean bags, talking about our writing projects. I was surprised when Vinney asked me if I would help him put his experience into words. What surprised me more than his question was that I said “yes,” almost without a thought. I wasn’t sure that I was the right person for the task, but I trusted Vinney’s judgment and also followed my intuition. It just felt like the right answer, and I was confident that it would somehow all work out.
維尼給我發了一份他錄製的音頻記錄的文字稿，講述了他的死亡以及他在另一邊學到的東西。這是我第一次全面接觸他的旅程，這讓我著迷。讓我震驚的是，他學到的教訓與我至今的人生經歷驚人地契合。我指的不是死後存在的細節，而是關於如何在我們還在世時過上更充實、更滿足的生活的原則。他分享的洞見將我一生中模糊的推測和模糊的假設變成了清晰而聚焦的原則，這讓我興奮不已。
Vinney sent me a transcript of an audio recording he made, recounting his death and what he learned on the other side. It was my first encounter with the full scope of his journey, and it fascinated me. It was remarkable to me how closely the lessons he learned aligned with my life experience thus far. I’m not referring to the details of existence after we die—I mean the principles of how to have a more fulfilling and rewarding life while we are still here. Insights that he shared brought my lifetime of hazy inferences and fuzzy assumptions into clear and focused principles, and that excited me.
在寫書的過程中，我也開始意識到一些不屬於我自己的想法。在接下來的幾週和幾個月裡，當我寫作和重寫時，我常常有一些需要問維尼的問題。然後我注意到，有時我剛想到問題，答案就幾乎立刻出現在我的腦海中。這些答案溫和地進入我的思緒，就像一個我必須準備好聆聽的低語。我總是會與維尼核實細節，但一次又一次，維尼只是確認了我已經得到的答案，或許再補充一些額外的細節。
As I worked on the book, I also started to recognize thoughts and ideas that were not my own. In the weeks and months that followed, as I wrote and rewrote, I often had questions that I would need to ask Vinney about. Then I noticed that I sometimes received answers almost as soon as I thought of the question. The answers would enter my thoughts gently, like a whisper that I had to be ready to hear. I would always verify the details with Vinney, but time after time, all Vinney did was confirm the answer I had already been given, and perhaps add some additional details.
最讓我震驚的是，我現在回顧一生，發現自己曾多次接收到類似的低語，在那些引導和啟發的時刻，卻沒有認出它們的本質。我的自我懷疑讓我對周圍那些壯觀的、看不見的存在真相的內在感官變得遲鈍。
What is most remarkable to me is that I can now look back at a lifetime of receiving similar whispers and, in those moments of guidance and inspiration, not recognizing them for what they were. My self-doubt had dimmed my inner senses to the spectacular unseen realities of existence surrounding me.
我的妻子唐娜一直對靈性事物有很強的敏感性。在第一稿完成後的某個時候，她說：「每次我經過你的辦公室，我總能感覺到你在寫維尼的書。」
My wife, Donna, has always had a strong sensitivity to spiritual things. Some time after the first draft was complete, she said, “Whenever I walked by your office, I could always tell when you were working on Vinney’s book.”
我問：「你怎麼知道？」
“How could you tell?” I asked.
她說：「感覺不一樣。就像有其他人在那裡。」
“It just felt different. Like there were other people there.”
她說得對。他們從一開始就參與其中。只是我花了時間，以及不少的練習和努力，才培養出足夠的靈性感官來辨認他們的參與。我深深感謝他們的幫助，不僅是因為幫助本身，還因為我因此獲得的技能。我不能說我現在完全擅長聆聽我收到的建議和引導，但我比以前進步了。我現在可以自信地加入那越來越多的合唱團，唱出我們在這一生中從不孤單。我們從未真正孤單。
She was right. They were involved from the very beginning. It just took me time, and no small amount of practice and effort, to develop my spiritual senses enough to recognize their input. I am deeply grateful for their help, not only because of the help itself, but because of the skills I have gained as a result. I can’t say that I am perfect at listening to the advice and guidance I receive, but I am better at it now. I can now confidently add my voice to the growing chorus that sings that we are not alone in this life. We never truly are.
這本書還給我帶來了另一個禮物。書中的原則改變了我看待我們的世界、宇宙以及我在其中的位置的方式。生活可能充滿挑戰，但過上豐富而充實的生活的方式其實很簡單。本書中的原則提供了一個通用的指南，教你如何開始。
There is another gift that this book brought into my life. The principles in this book have changed the way I see our world, the universe, and my place in it. Life may be challenging, but the way to have a rich and fulfilling life is really quite simple. The principles in this book provide a universally applicable guide on how to start.
我現在與開始這條道路時的我不同，我深深感謝那些促成這一轉變的許多禮物。我仍然看不到我的曲折道路會帶我走向何方，但我帶著一種安靜而堅定的確信，知道這條路最終通向何處。我也更好地準備好充分利用這段旅程，無論道路通往何方。
I am different now than when I started on this path, and I am deeply grateful for the many gifts that made that transformation happen. I still can’t see more than a few steps ahead of where my winding path will take me, but I carry a quiet, firm assurance of where that path ultimately leads. I am also better prepared to make the most of this journey, wherever the road may roam.
我希望你閱讀這本書的體驗也能為你帶來同樣的改變。
My hope is that your experience with this book will do the same for you.