在不幸中成长 The Lesson of Evil（第1页）

在不幸中成长TheLessonofEvil

詹姆斯·艾伦JamesAllen

&andpainandsorrowaretheshadowsoflife。Thereisihathasingofpain，nomindhasossedupoersoftrouble，hashehotblindingtearsofunspeakableanguish……

Irong，alyiiblemeshesofevilallaremoreorlessfastdpain，unhappiness，andmisfortuuponmankind。

Withtheobjectofesewaymitigatingthisgloom，menandwomenrushblindlyintoinnumerabledevices，pathwaysbywhichtheyfoerintoahappinesswhiotpassa>

Sucharethedrunkarda，whorevelinses;suchistheexclusiveaesthete，whoshutshimselfoutfromtullesorrowsoftheworld，andsurrouheingluxuries;suchishewhothirstsforwealthorfame，andsubordihingstotheatofthatobjedsucharetheywhoseeksolationintheperformanceiousrites。

Andtoallthehappiseemstoe，andthesoul，foratime，islullediy，andanintoxigfetfulheexistethedayofdiseaseesatlast，reatsorrow，temptation，ormisfortunebreakssuddenlyiifiedsoul，andthefabricofitsfanciedhappiorntoshreds。

Thechildanorwoman;themanandwomansighforthelostfelicityofchildhood。Thepoormahesofpovertybywhichheisbound，andtherioftenlivesinfearofpoverty，orscourstheworldinsearelusiveshadoiness。

&hesoulfeelsthatithasfoundasecurepeadhappinessinadoptiainreligion，inembratellectualphilosophy，orinbuildingupaualorartisticideal;butstemptatiohereligiontobeieoriheoreticalphilosophyisfoundtobeauselessprop;oriheidealisticstatueuponwhichthedevoteehasforyearsbeenlab，isshatteredihisfeet。

Isthere，then，nowayofespainandsorrow?Ispermahappiness，secureprosperity，andabidingpeaceafoolishdream?

No，thereisaeakitwithgladness，bywhichevilbeslaihereisaprocessbywhichdisease，poverty，oraionorbeputooreturhodbyermaprosperitybesecured，freefromallfearoftherectumofadversity，andthereisapracticebywhibrokenandunendingpeadblissbepartakenofandrealized。

Andthebeginningofthewaywhichleadstothisgloriousrealizationistheathtuandiureofevil。

Itisnotsuffittmustbeuood。Itisodtoremovetheevil;youmustfindoutwhyitisthere，ahasforyou。

Itisofnoavailtofretandfumeaheswhiustknowwhyandhowyouarebound。Therefore，reader，youmustbegintoexamineaandyourself。

Evilisnotanabstraethingoutsideyourself;itisanexperienyourow，andbypatientlyexaminiifyiyouwillbegraduallyledintothediscoveryinandnatureofevil，whiecessarilybefollowedbyitspleteeradi。

Alleviliscorredremedial，andistherefore。Itisrootedinignruenatureaionofthings，andsolongasweremaininthatstateofignorance，weremaioevil。

Evilhasalwaysbeensymbolizedbydarkness，andGoodbylight，ahinthesymbolisedtheperfeterpretatioy;for，justaslightalwaysfloodstheuniverse，anddarknessisonlyamerespeckorshadowcastbyasmallbafewraysoftheillimitablelight，sothelightoftheSupremeGoodisthepositiveandlife-givingpowerwhichfloodstheuniverse，aheinsignifitshadowcastbytheselfthatisandshutsofftheilluminatingrayswhichstriveforentrance。

&foldstheworldinitsblaetrablemaerhowdehedarkcoversbutthesmallspaceofhalfourlittleplahewholeuniverseisablazewithlivinglight，andeverysoulknowsthatitwillawakeiinthem。

Kwhenthedarknightofsorrow，pain，ormisfortulesdownuponyoursoul，andyoustumblealongwithwearyaeps，thatyouaremerelyiingyourownpersoweehebouofjoyandbliss，andthedarkshadowthatcoversyouisohingbutyourself。

Andjustasthedarkhoutisbutaiveshadow，aywhionowhere，andhasnoabidingdwellihedarkhinisequallyaiveshadowpassiheevolvingandLight-bornsoul。

“But，”IfancyIhearsomeonesay，“whypassthroughthedarkall?”Because，byignorance，youhavetodoso，andbecause，bydoingso，youmayuandbothgoodandevil，andmaythemoreappreciatethelightbyhavihroughthedarkness。

&hedireeofignorance，so，whenthelessonsofevilarefullylearned，ignorancepassesaway，andlace。

&herefore，whowouldshakehimselffreeoftheevilwhipasseshim，mustbewilliolearn，andmustbepreparedtothatdisaryprocesswithoutwhiograinofwisdhappinessandpeabesecured。

Amanmayshuthimselfupinadarkroom，ahelightexists，butitiseverywherewithout，asonlyinhisownlittleroom。

SoyoumayshutoutthelightofTruth，oryoumaybegintopulldorejudice，self-seekinganderrorwhichyouhavebuiltaroundyourself，ahegloriousaLight。

&self-examinatioorealize，andnotmerelyholdasatheory，thatevilisapassingphase，aself-createdshadoains，sorrowsandmisfortuoyoubyaprodeviatingandabsolutelyperfectlaw;haveetoyoubecauseyoudeserveahem，andthatbyfirstenduring，aandingthem，youmaybemadestronger，wiser，nobler。

Whenyouhavefullyehisrealization，youwillbeinapositiontomouldyourownuteallevilintogoodahamasterhand，thefabricofyourdestiny。