ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Pico Iyer - Global author
Pico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships.

Why you should listen

In twelve books, covering everything from Revolutionary Cuba to the XIVth Dalai Lama, Islamic mysticism to our lives in airports, Pico Iyer has worked to chronicle the accelerating changes in our outer world, which sometimes make steadiness and rootedness in our inner world more urgent than ever. In his TED Book, The Art of Stillness, he draws upon travels from North Korea to Iran to remind us how to remain focused and sane in an age of frenzied distraction. As he writes in the book, "Almost everybody I know has this sense of overdosing on information and getting dizzy living at post-human speeds ... All of us instinctively feel that something inside us is crying out for more spaciousness and stillness to offset the exhilarations of this movement and the fun and diversion of the modern world."

More profile about the speaker
Pico Iyer | Speaker | TED.com
TEDSalon NY2014

Pico Iyer: The art of stillness

皮科·耶尔: 静观的技艺

Filmed:
3,176,968 views

旅行作家皮科·耶尔最想前往的地方是哪里?哪里都别去。在这个反直觉和抒情的沉思中,耶尔提出了他关于无所去处的洞见。在不断变动与失焦的世界里,他梳理出一个特别的策略,让我们可以用它,在每一天,或每一季,收回片刻。百动不如一静,这是给那些深感不堪重负于那需索无度的世界的人们的一段省思杂谈。
- Global author
Pico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:13
I'm a lifelong终身 traveler游客.
0
875
1908
我这辈子都是个旅行者。
00:14
Even as a little kid孩子,
1
2783
1659
即使还是一个小孩子的时候,
00:16
I was actually其实 working加工 out
that it would be cheaper便宜
2
4442
3480
我便了解,事实上,
去读英国寄宿学校会比
00:20
to go to boarding登机 school学校 in England英国
3
7922
2126
00:22
than just to the best最好 school学校 down the road
from my parents'父母' house in California加州.
4
10048
5120
去加州父母家附近
最好的学校就读还来得便宜。
00:27
So, from the time I was nine years年份 old
5
15168
3379
所以,当我 9 岁时,
00:30
I was flying飞行 alone单独 several一些 times a year
6
18547
3228
我在一年中,会独自飞行几回,
00:33
over the North Pole, just to go to school学校.
7
21775
3466
穿越北极,就只是去上学。
00:37
And of course课程 the more I flew
the more I came来了 to love to fly,
8
25241
3635
当然,飞得越频繁,
我越是爱上旅行,
00:41
so the very week after I graduated毕业
from high school学校,
9
28884
3266
所以就在我高中毕业后一周,
00:44
I got a job工作 mopping扫荡 tables
10
32150
2714
我找到一份清理桌子的工作,
00:47
so that I could spend
every一切 season季节 of my 18th year
11
34864
4201
为了让自己可以在 18 岁那年,
在地球不同的大陆上,
分别待上一季。
00:51
on a different不同 continent大陆.
12
39065
3001
00:54
And then, almost几乎 inevitably必将,
I became成为 a travel旅行 writer作家
13
42066
4121
接着,几乎不可避免地
我成了一个旅游作家,
00:58
so my job工作 and my joy喜悦 could become成为 one.
14
46187
4109
使我的工作和志趣
可以结合在一块儿。
01:02
And I really began开始 to feel
that if you were lucky幸运 enough足够
15
50636
3886
我真的开始发觉
如果你可以幸运地
01:06
to walk步行 around
the candlelit烛光的 temples寺庙 of Tibet西藏
16
54522
3432
漫步于西藏的烛光寺庙,
01:10
or to wander漫步 along沿 the seafrontsseafronts in Havana哈瓦那
17
57954
2804
或者在音乐的缭绕间
01:12
with music音乐 passing通过 all around you,
18
60758
2380
悠然信步于哈瓦那海岸,
01:15
you could bring带来 those sounds声音
and the high cobalt skies天空
19
63138
3297
你便能将那声音、天际
01:18
and the flash of the blue蓝色 ocean海洋
20
66435
2342
与靛蓝海洋的闪烁光芒
01:20
back to your friends朋友 at home,
21
68777
2013
带给你家乡的朋友,
01:22
and really bring带来 some magic魔法
22
70790
1791
真确地捎来些许神奇,
01:24
and clarity明晰 to your own拥有 life.
23
72581
2821
点亮自身生命。
01:27
Except, as you all know,
24
75402
2466
除了,如你们所知,
01:30
one of the first things you learn学习
when you travel旅行
25
77868
2832
当旅行时,你学到的第一件事情是
01:32
is that nowhere无处 is magical神奇
unless除非 you can bring带来 the right eyes眼睛 to it.
26
80700
5377
你必须以正确的视角看世界,
否则大地依然黯淡无光。
01:38
You take an angry愤怒 man to the Himalayas喜马拉雅山,
27
86078
2479
你带一个易怒的男人爬喜马拉雅山,
01:40
he just starts启动 complaining抱怨的 about the food餐饮.
28
88557
3316
他只会抱怨那儿的食物。
01:44
And I found发现 that the best最好 way
29
91873
2522
我发现,有点怪异的是,
01:46
that I could develop发展 more attentive细心
and more appreciative欣赏的 eyes眼睛
30
94395
4044
最好的让自己可以培养
更专注和更珍惜世界的视角的诀窍是
01:50
was, oddly奇怪,
31
98439
1598
01:52
by going nowhere无处, just by sitting坐在 still.
32
100037
3468
哪儿都不去,静止于原处即可。
01:55
And of course课程 sitting坐在 still
is how many许多 of us get
33
103505
2849
当然呆在原地正是我们许多人
寻常所得到的东西,
01:58
what we most crave渴望 and need
in our accelerated加速 lives生活, a break打破.
34
106354
5050
我们都渴望在快速的生活中获得休息。
02:04
But it was also the only way
35
112124
1722
但那却是我唯一的方法,
02:06
that I could find to sift through通过
the slideshow幻灯片 of my experience经验
36
113846
5501
让自己可以重历自身的经验幻灯,
02:11
and make sense of the future未来 and the past过去.
37
119347
3284
理解未来与过去。
02:14
And so, to my great surprise,
38
122631
3042
如此,我惊异地发现,
02:17
I found发现 that going nowhere无处
39
125673
1902
我发现无所去处
02:19
was at least最小 as exciting扣人心弦
as going to Tibet西藏 or to Cuba古巴.
40
127579
4118
和游览西藏或古巴一样,令人兴奋。
02:23
And by going nowhere无处,
I mean nothing more intimidating吓人
41
131697
4052
无所去处,只不过意谓着
每天花几分钟,
02:27
than taking服用 a few少数 minutes分钟 out of every一切 day
42
135752
2832
02:30
or a few少数 days out of every一切 season季节,
43
138584
1971
或每季花几天,
02:32
or even, as some people do,
44
140555
1969
甚至,如同有些人所做的,
02:34
a few少数 years年份 out of a life
45
142524
2819
在生命中花上几年
02:37
in order订购 to sit still long enough足够
46
145343
2701
长久地静思于某处,
02:40
to find out what moves移动 you most,
47
148044
3391
寻找感动你最多的一瞬,
02:43
to recall召回 where your truest最真实的 happiness幸福 lies
48
151435
3344
回忆你最真实的幸福时刻,
02:46
and to remember记得 that sometimes有时
49
154779
1770
同时记住,
02:48
making制造 a living活的 and making制造 a life
50
156549
2715
有时候,谋生与生活
02:51
point in opposite对面 directions方向.
51
159264
3183
彼此是处于光谱线上的两端的。
02:54
And of course课程, this is what wise明智的 beings众生
through通过 the centuries百年
52
162457
3197
当然,这是明智的众生历经几百年
02:57
from every一切 tradition传统 have been telling告诉 us.
53
165654
2243
从每个传统中所告诉我们的。
03:00
It's an old idea理念.
54
167897
1926
这是一个古老的概念。
03:02
More than 2,000 years年份 ago,
the Stoics斯多葛学派 were reminding提醒 us
55
169823
3294
早在两千多年前,
斯多葛学派提醒我们
03:05
it's not our experience经验
that makes品牌 our lives生活,
56
173117
3054
并不是我们的经验
成就了我们的生命,
03:08
it's what we do with it.
57
176171
2208
而是我们用那经验做了什么。
03:10
Imagine想像 a hurricane飓风 suddenly突然
sweeps扫描 through通过 your town
58
178379
3852
想象一下,一阵飓风
迅速扑向你的城市,
03:14
and reduces减少 every一切 last thing to rubble瓦砾.
59
182231
4508
将所有一切化为废墟。
03:18
One man is traumatized创伤 for life.
60
186739
3662
某个人身心遭受终身顿挫,
03:22
But another另一个, maybe even his brother哥哥,
almost几乎 feels感觉 liberated解放,
61
190401
3864
但另一个人,也许甚至是他的兄弟,
却几乎感觉释怀,
03:26
and decides决定 this is a great chance机会
to start开始 his life anew重新.
62
194265
4242
并认定,这是一个可以
使自己重获新生的重要机会。
03:30
It's exactly究竟 the same相同 event事件,
63
198507
1850
这是同样的事件,
03:32
but radically根本 different不同 responses回复.
64
200357
2552
截然不同的回应。
03:35
There is nothing either good or bad,
as Shakespeare莎士比亚 told us in "Hamlet村庄,"
65
202909
4381
没有什么是绝对的好坏, 正如莎士比亚
在《哈姆雷特》中所告诉我们的,
03:39
but thinking思维 makes品牌 it so.
66
207300
2130
好坏由思维决定。
03:42
And this has certainly当然 been
my experience经验 as a traveler游客.
67
210720
3340
这无疑就是我
作为一个旅者的经验。
03:46
Twenty-four二十四 years年份 ago I took
the most mind-bending令人费解 trip
68
214060
3173
24 年前,我完成了一次
最不可思议的旅程:
03:49
across横过 North Korea韩国.
69
217233
2682
橫跨朝鮮。
03:52
But the trip lasted历时 a few少数 days.
70
219915
2889
但这次旅行只持续了几天。
03:55
What I've doneDONE with it sitting坐在 still,
going back to it in my head,
71
222804
3580
这经验对于无所去处的我来说,
允许我可以在心思中回朔,
03:58
trying to understand理解 it,
finding发现 a place地点 for it in my thinking思维,
72
226384
3672
试着了解它,让它在我的思维中
寻得一个位置,
04:02
that's lasted历时 24 years年份 already已经
73
230056
2264
在那儿,它已存留了 24 年,
04:04
and will probably大概 last a lifetime一生.
74
232320
3363
而且很可能会在我这生中,
一直持续下去。
04:07
The trip, in other words,
gave me some amazing惊人 sights景点,
75
235683
3376
换句话说, 这次旅行,
带给我一些惊人的景致,
04:11
but it's only sitting坐在 still
76
239059
2065
但唯有处于静止的状态
04:13
that allows允许 me to turn those
into lasting持久 insights见解.
77
241124
3692
才让我得以将这些风景线
化为更长的见识。
04:17
And I sometimes有时 think
that so much of our life
78
244816
2946
我有时会想,我们的生活
04:19
takes place地点 inside our heads,
79
247762
2017
有太多东西发生在
我们自己的脑袋里,
04:21
in memory记忆 or imagination想像力
or interpretation解释 or speculation推测,
80
249779
4813
在回忆中,在想象里,
透过诠释,或是猜测,
04:26
that if I really want to change更改 my life
81
254592
2803
如果我真想改变我的生命,
04:29
I might威力 best最好 begin开始 by changing改变 my mind心神.
82
257395
4035
我可能最好从
改变我的思维开始。
04:33
Again, none没有 of this is new;
83
261430
1520
同样,这一切都不是新想法;
04:35
that's why Shakespeare莎士比亚 and the Stoics斯多葛学派
were telling告诉 us this centuries百年 ago,
84
262950
4300
这就是为什么莎士比亚和斯多葛学派
在几个世纪前就告诉我们,
04:39
but Shakespeare莎士比亚 never had to face面对
200 emails电子邮件 in a day.
85
267250
4253
然而,莎士比亚从未面对过
一天收到两百多封电邮的日子。
04:43
(Laughter笑声)
86
271503
1402
(笑声)
04:45
The Stoics斯多葛学派, as far as I know,
were not on FacebookFacebook的.
87
272905
4323
据我所知,斯多葛派的学者们
也没待在脸书上。
04:49
We all know that in our on-demand一经请求 lives生活,
88
277228
2846
我们都知道,在我们的按需生活中,
04:52
one of the things that's most on demand需求
89
280084
2108
一种最迫切需要之物
04:54
is ourselves我们自己.
90
282192
1228
就是自己。
04:55
Wherever哪里 we are, any time of night or day,
91
283420
2632
无论我们处于何处,处于何时,
无论是夜晚或白天中的任何时刻,
04:58
our bosses老板, junk-mailers垃圾邮件程序,
our parents父母 can get to us.
92
286052
3731
我们的老板,垃圾邮件,
我们的父母都能找到我们。
05:02
Sociologists社会学家 have actually其实 found发现
that in recent最近 years年份
93
290443
3329
社会学家近年来所发现的是,
05:05
Americans美国人 are working加工 fewer hours小时
than 50 years年份 ago,
94
293772
3458
当今美国人的工作时间
竟然比 50 年前还少,
05:09
but we feel as if we're working加工 more.
95
297230
3166
但我们却觉得自己的工时更长。
05:12
We have more and more time-saving节省时间 devices设备,
96
300396
2546
我们有越来越多的
可以用来节省时间的设备,
05:15
but sometimes有时, it seems似乎,
less and less time.
97
302942
3800
但有时,时间似乎越来越少。
05:18
We can more and more easily容易
make contact联系 with people
98
306742
2484
我们比以前更容易与
身处地球另一端的人们联系,
05:21
on the furthest最远 corners角落 of the planet行星,
99
309226
2359
05:23
but sometimes有时 in that process处理
100
311585
1994
但有时候,在那过程中,
05:25
we lose失去 contact联系 with ourselves我们自己.
101
313579
3746
我们与自己断了线。
05:29
And one of my biggest最大 surprises惊喜
as a traveler游客
102
317325
3793
作为一个旅行者,
让我最为诧异的事情之一就是
05:33
has been to find
that often经常 it's exactly究竟 the people
103
321118
3178
我发现,时常,往往那些
05:36
who have most enabled启用 us to get anywhere随地
104
324296
3117
最使我们能够走向世界各地的人
05:39
who are intent意图 on going nowhere无处.
105
327413
2715
却最希望身居原处。
05:42
In other words, precisely恰恰 those beings众生
106
330128
2185
换句话说,正是那些
05:44
who have created创建 the technologies技术
107
332313
2333
创造了打破旧时的
05:46
that override覆盖 so many许多
of the limits范围 of old,
108
334646
3550
限制人出游的科技的人们
05:50
are the ones那些 wisest最明智的
about the need for limits范围,
109
338196
3011
才是最具智慧的个体,
他们理解限制的必须,
05:53
even when it comes to technology技术.
110
341207
3676
甚至在面对科技本身时,亦是如此。
05:57
I once一旦 went to the Google谷歌 headquarters司令部
111
344883
2629
有一次我造访谷歌总部,
05:59
and I saw all the things
many许多 of you have heard听说 about;
112
347512
2803
我见到了所有你们听说过的事;
06:02
the indoor室内 tree houses房屋, the trampolines蹦床,
113
350315
3224
室内树屋,蹦床,
06:05
workers工人 at that time enjoying享受 20 percent百分
of their paid支付 time free自由
114
353539
4478
拥有 20% 属于自己付费工时的员工,
06:10
so that they could just let
their imaginations想象 go wandering飘零.
115
358017
4040
允许他们的想象自由漫游。
06:14
But what impressed印象深刻 me even more
116
362057
2918
但更让我感到印象深刻的是,
06:17
was that as I was waiting等候
for my digital数字 I.D.,
117
364975
3579
当我正在等待我的数字身份证时,
06:20
one GooglerGoogle员工 was telling告诉 me
about the program程序
118
368554
2769
有位谷歌员工告诉我一个项目,
06:23
that he was about to start开始
to teach the many许多, many许多 GooglersGoogle员工
119
371323
3794
说他正打算教许许多多的谷歌员工
06:27
who practice实践 yoga瑜伽
to become成为 trainers培训师 in it,
120
375117
3393
来练习瑜伽,并成为训练师,
06:30
and the other GooglerGoogle员工 was telling告诉 me
about the book that he was about to write
121
378510
4254
而另外一个谷歌员工
向我阐述了一本他正想写的书,
06:34
on the inner search搜索 engine发动机,
122
382764
3014
一本关于内在寻索的书,
06:37
and the ways方法 in which哪一个 science科学
has empirically经验 shown显示
123
385778
2993
以及科学如何经验性地证明
06:40
that sitting坐在 still, or meditation冥想,
124
388771
2537
打坐,或冥想
06:43
can lead not just to better
health健康 or to clearer更清晰 thinking思维,
125
391308
3612
不仅能促进健康,明晰思维,
06:47
but even to emotional情绪化 intelligence情报.
126
394920
3520
甚至也能增加情绪智慧。
06:50
I have another另一个 friend朋友 in Silicon Valley
127
398440
2313
我有另一个在硅谷工作的朋友,
06:52
who is really one
of the most eloquent雄辩 spokesmen代言人
128
400753
3122
他的确是当前最前沿科技的
06:56
for the latest最新 technologies技术,
129
403875
1803
最有说服力的代言人,事实上,
06:57
and in fact事实 was one of the founders创始人
of Wired有线 magazine杂志, Kevin凯文 Kelly黄绿色.
130
405678
3885
他是《连线》杂志的
创始人之一,凯文·凯利。
07:01
And Kevin凯文 wrote his last book
on fresh新鲜 technologies技术
131
409563
3753
凯文当时正在写一本有关最新技术的书,
07:05
without a smartphone手机
or a laptop笔记本电脑 or a TV电视 in his home.
132
413316
4563
但他家里却没有智能手机,
笔记本电脑,或者电视。
07:10
And like many许多 in Silicon Valley,
133
417879
2882
如同许多住在硅谷的人们,
07:12
he tries尝试 really hard to observe
134
420761
2976
他非常努力地观察
07:15
what they call an Internet互联网 sabbath安息日,
135
423737
3186
那个称为互联网安息日的东西,
07:19
whereby因此 for 24 or 48 hours小时 every一切 week
136
427643
3098
在每个星期,有 24 或 48 小时,
07:22
they go completely全然 offline离线
137
430741
3080
他们会彻底地下线,
07:26
in order订购 to gather收集 the sense of direction方向
138
433821
2148
以寻求一点方向感,
07:28
and proportion比例 they'll他们会 need
when they go online线上 again.
139
435969
3494
用来重新调整,并汲取
他们重新上线时之所需。
07:31
The one thing perhaps也许
that technology技术 hasn't有没有 always given特定 us
140
439463
3727
有件科技可能尚未给予我们的是
07:35
is a sense of how to make
the wisest最明智的 use of technology技术.
141
443190
4709
如何可以更聪明地使用科技。
07:40
And when you speak说话 of the sabbath安息日,
142
447899
2665
谈到休息日,
07:42
look at the Ten Commandments戒律 --
143
450564
1937
让我们看看十戒吧,
07:44
there's only one word there
for which哪一个 the adjective形容词 "holy" is used,
144
452501
4373
其中只有一个字的形容词涉及“神圣”,
07:49
and that's the Sabbath安息日.
145
456874
2276
而那就是安息日。
07:51
I pick up the Jewish犹太 holy book
of the Torah托拉 --
146
459150
3030
我拿起犹太圣典《托拉》,
07:54
its longest最长 chapter章节, it's on the Sabbath安息日.
147
462180
3341
它最长的章节,就是关于安息日。
07:57
And we all know that it's really
one of our greatest最大 luxuries奢侈品,
148
465521
3897
我们都知道,这真是
我们所拥有的最大奢侈之一:
08:01
the empty space空间.
149
469418
2188
空。
08:03
In many许多 a piece of music音乐,
it's the pause暂停 or the rest休息
150
471606
3922
在许多音乐作品中,停顿或静默
08:07
that gives the piece
its beauty美女 and its shape形状.
151
475528
3110
赋予了这作品美丽形貌。
08:10
And I know I as a writer作家
152
478638
1583
我知道,作为一个作家,
08:12
will often经常 try to include包括
a lot of empty space空间 on the page
153
480221
4133
我时常会在页面中留下空白,
08:16
so that the reader读者 can complete完成
my thoughts思念 and sentences句子
154
484354
3712
让读者可以完整地
领会我的思维与句法,
08:20
and so that her imagination想像力
has room房间 to breathe呼吸.
155
488066
4102
以留给想象呼吸的空间。
08:25
Now, in the physical物理 domain,
of course课程, many许多 people,
156
493618
2578
现在,在实际的领域中,
当然有很多人,
08:28
if they have the resources资源,
157
496196
1524
倘若他们稍微富余的话,
08:29
will try to get a place地点 in the country国家,
a second第二 home.
158
497720
3480
会试着在国内拥有第二个家。
08:33
I've never begun开始 to have those resources资源,
159
501200
3142
我从未有过那些资源,
08:36
but I sometimes有时 remember记得
that any time I want,
160
504342
3715
但我有时记得
任何时候,若我想的话,
08:40
I can get a second第二 home in time,
if not in space空间,
161
508057
4365
我可以给自己放一天假,
来适时地,获得第二个家。
08:44
just by taking服用 a day off.
162
512422
2431
08:47
And it's never easy简单 because, of course课程,
whenever每当 I do I spend much of it
163
514853
3565
当然,这从来就不容易,
每次我这么做,
08:50
worried担心 about all the extra额外 stuff东东
164
518418
1678
对于所有多出来的
08:52
that's going to crash紧急 down on me
the following以下 day.
165
520096
2674
会压垮我隔日工作天的忧虑就会出现。
08:54
I sometimes有时 think I'd rather give up
meat or sex性别 or wine红酒
166
522770
3022
有时我会觉得,我宁愿
放弃吃肉,性生活,或红酒,
08:57
than the chance机会 to check on my emails电子邮件.
167
525792
2042
也不愿失去任何一丁点查邮箱的机会。
09:00
(Laughter笑声)
168
527834
1124
(笑声)
09:01
And every一切 season季节 I do try to take
three days off on retreat撤退
169
528958
4308
每一季,我的确给自己三天假期,
09:05
but a part部分 of me still feels感觉 guilty有罪
to be leaving离开 my poor较差的 wife妻子 behind背后
170
533266
4302
但关于丢下我妻子
以及忽略那些
老板寄来的看似紧急的邮件,
09:09
and to be ignoring无视
all those seemingly似乎 urgent紧急 emails电子邮件
171
537568
3048
09:12
from my bosses老板
172
540616
1754
以及错过一个朋友的派对,
09:14
and maybe to be missing失踪
a friend's朋友的 birthday生日 party派对.
173
542370
3067
我内心某处仍然觉得有负罪感。
09:17
But as soon不久 as I get
to a place地点 of real真实 quiet安静,
174
545437
3828
但一旦来到某个真正安静的地方,
09:21
I realize实现 that it's only by going there
175
549265
2469
我才了解,只有去那儿,
09:23
that I'll have anything fresh新鲜
or creative创作的 or joyful快乐 to share分享
176
551734
4027
我才能拥有全新的,
有创意的,或快意之事
09:27
with my wife妻子 or bosses老板 or friends朋友.
177
555761
2506
和我妻子,上司和朋友分享。
09:30
Otherwise除此以外, really,
178
558267
1280
否则,老天,
09:31
I'm just foisting强加于 on them
my exhaustion衰竭 or my distractednessdistractedness,
179
559547
3520
我能够加诸于他们的
仅仅是我的疲惫或分神状态,
09:35
which哪一个 is no blessing祝福 at all.
180
563067
2572
实在无福可言。
09:39
And so when I was 29,
181
566849
2468
所以当我 29 岁时,
09:41
I decided决定 to remake翻拍 my entire整个 life
182
569317
3065
我决定要重整自己全部的生活,
09:44
in the light of going nowhere无处.
183
572382
2717
为了获得那无所去处的体验。
09:47
One evening晚间 I was coming未来 back
from the office办公室,
184
575099
2501
有天晚上,我从办公室回家,
09:49
it was after midnight午夜, I was in a taxi出租车
driving主动 through通过 Times Square广场,
185
577600
4179
当时午夜时分,我正在出租车上,
经过了时代广场,
09:53
and I suddenly突然 realized实现
that I was racing赛跑 around so much
186
581779
3500
我突然惊觉,自己仓皇度日
09:57
I could never catch抓住 up with my life.
187
585279
3156
以至于永远无法赶上自己的生活。
10:00
And my life then, as it happened发生,
188
588435
1816
而我当时的生活,事实上
10:02
was pretty漂亮 much the one
I might威力 have dreamed梦见 of as a little boy男孩.
189
590251
3821
已差不多就和我小时梦想的一般。
10:06
I had really interesting有趣 friends朋友
and colleagues同事,
190
594072
2315
我有非常有趣的朋友和同事,
10:08
I had a nice不错 apartment公寓
on Park公园 Avenue大街 and 20th Street.
191
596387
4248
我在公园大道和第 20 街交口
有个非常棒的公寓。
10:12
I had, to me, a fascinating迷人 job工作
writing写作 about world世界 affairs事务,
192
600635
4433
我有个对我来说绝佳的工作,
这工作让我得以撰写世界事务,
10:17
but I could never separate分离 myself
enough足够 from them
193
605068
2988
但我从来未能将自己和它清楚分开,
10:20
to hear myself think --
194
608056
1703
让自己倾听自己的思绪,
10:21
or really, to understand理解
if I was truly happy快乐.
195
609759
4126
或,去理解是否我真的处于喜乐之中。
10:26
And so, I abandoned my dream梦想 life
196
613885
3187
因此,我放弃我梦想中的工作,
10:29
for a single room房间 on the backstreets后街
of Kyoto京都, Japan日本,
197
617072
4155
就为了待在一个位于日本京都
某后街里的单间房内,
10:34
which哪一个 was the place地点
that had long exerted发挥 a strong强大,
198
622382
3286
这地方长久以来产生了一种强烈的
10:37
really mysterious神秘 gravitational引力 pull on me.
199
625668
3850
对我来说极为神秘的吸引力。
10:41
Even as a child儿童
200
629518
1335
甚至在我孩提时代,
10:43
I would just look at a painting绘画
of Kyoto京都 and feel I recognized认可 it;
201
630853
3371
我会看着一幅京都的画作
并感觉,我认出它来了,
10:46
I knew知道 it before I ever laid铺设 eyes眼睛 on it.
202
634224
3247
在定睛审视它之前,我便知如此。
10:49
But it's also, as you all know,
203
637471
1929
但它也是,如同大家所知,
10:51
a beautiful美丽 city encircled包围 by hills丘陵,
204
639400
2719
是一个群山环绕的美丽城市,
10:54
filled填充 with more than 2,000 temples寺庙
and shrines神社,
205
642119
3629
充满了 2000 多座寺庙和神社,
10:57
where people have been sitting坐在 still
for 800 years年份 or more.
206
645748
5112
人们在那儿静默了 800 年以上之久。
11:03
And quite相当 soon不久 after I moved移动 there,
I ended结束 up where I still am
207
650860
3993
就在我搬到那儿不久,
我与现在的妻儿,
11:07
with my wife妻子, formerly以前 our kids孩子,
208
654853
2579
挤在一个有两间房的公寓里,
在一个不毛之地,
11:09
in a two-room两房 apartment公寓
in the middle中间 of nowhere无处
209
657432
2581
11:12
where we have no bicycle自行车, no car汽车,
210
660013
2388
我们没有自行车,没有车,
11:14
no TV电视 I can understand理解,
211
662401
2169
没有可以理解的电视节目,
11:16
and I still have to support支持 my loved喜爱 ones那些
212
664570
2553
我还得以作家和记者的身份,
11:19
as a travel旅行 writer作家 and a journalist记者,
213
667123
2531
抚养我的至亲家人,
11:21
so clearly明确地 this is not ideal理想
for job工作 advancement进步
214
669654
3364
因此很明显地,这对职业生涯,
11:25
or for cultural文化 excitement激动
215
673018
1827
对文化探索,
或对体验社会文化纷繁来说,
都不是一个理想的规划。
11:27
or for social社会 diversion导流.
216
674845
2367
11:29
But I realized实现 that it gives me
what I prize most,
217
677212
4528
但我理解,这赋予了我那些
我最珍爱的日子,
11:34
which哪一个 is days
218
682400
1640
11:36
and hours小时.
219
684040
1733
与时刻。
11:37
I have never once一旦 had to use
a cell细胞 phone电话 there.
220
685773
2627
我在那儿从未需要使用手机。
11:40
I almost几乎 never have to look at the time,
221
688400
3543
我基本上几乎无须看时间,
11:44
and every一切 morning早上 when I wake唤醒 up,
222
691943
2554
每天早上我醒来时,
11:46
really the day stretches舒展 in front面前 of me
223
694497
2361
在我眼前展开来的一天
11:49
like an open打开 meadow草地.
224
696858
2974
是一片敞开的草地。
11:52
And when life throws up
one of its nasty讨厌 surprises惊喜,
225
699832
3196
当生活向你抛出某个重大惊喜时,
11:55
as it will, more than once一旦,
226
703028
1961
它不只会出现一次,
11:57
when a doctor医生 comes into my room房间
227
704989
2181
当一个医生来到我房里,
11:59
wearing穿着 a grave expression表达,
228
707170
1895
脸上带着肃穆的表情,
12:01
or a car汽车 suddenly突然 veers情诗
in front面前 of mine on the freeway高速公路,
229
709065
3628
或一辆汽车在高速公路上突然改道,
漂移到我车子前方,
12:04
I know, in my bones骨头,
230
712693
2744
我知道,在我骨子里,
12:07
that it's the time I've spent花费
going nowhere无处
231
715437
2710
正是那无所去处的时光
12:10
that is going to sustain支持 me much more
232
718147
2002
帮助我持续保持平静,
12:12
than all the time I've spent花费
racing赛跑 around to Bhutan不丹 or Easter复活节 Island.
233
720149
4953
那比起我在不丹和复活节岛
所度之日都要有帮助。
12:18
I'll always be a traveler游客 --
234
726306
1404
我永远都会是个旅者,
12:19
my livelihood生计 depends依靠 on it --
235
727710
1904
那是我生活之所系,
12:21
but one of the beauties美女 of travel旅行
236
729614
2179
然而旅行的美好之处在于,
12:23
is that it allows允许 you to bring带来 stillness寂静
237
731793
4106
它让你保有沉静之心,
12:28
into the motion运动 and the commotion骚动
of the world世界.
238
735899
4120
在这莽撞与躁动的世界之中。
12:32
I once一旦 got on a plane平面
in Frankfurt法兰克福, Germany德国,
239
740019
3378
有一次,我在德国的法兰克福搭机,
12:35
and a young年轻 German德语 woman女人
came来了 down and satSAT next下一个 to me
240
743397
2948
一位年轻的德国女子坐到我身旁,
12:38
and engaged订婚 me
in a very friendly友善 conversation会话
241
746345
2620
与我展开非常友善的对谈,
12:41
for about 30 minutes分钟,
242
748965
1751
近 30 分钟,
12:42
and then she just turned转身 around
243
750716
1993
接着,她就转过身去,
12:44
and satSAT still for 12 hours小时.
244
752709
3273
静静地坐在那儿 12 有个小时之久。
12:48
She didn't once一旦 turn on her video视频 monitor监控,
245
755982
2634
她未曾打开屏幕,
12:50
she never pulled out a book,
she didn't even go to sleep睡觉,
246
758616
3295
她也没有拿出书本,
甚至从未睡去,
12:54
she just satSAT still,
247
761911
2787
就只是静静地坐着,
12:56
and something of her clarity明晰 and calm冷静
really imparted赋予的 itself本身 to me.
248
764698
4531
她那明晰和沉静已真正传授于我。
13:02
I've noticed注意到 more and more people
taking服用 conscious意识 measures措施 these days
249
769999
4322
近来我注意到
有越来越多人刻意地
13:06
to try to open打开 up a space空间
inside their lives生活.
250
774321
3273
试图在他们的生活中打开一片空间。
13:09
Some people go to black-hole黑洞 resorts度假村
251
777605
2330
有些人参加黑洞之旅
13:12
where they'll他们会 spend hundreds数以百计
of dollars美元 a night
252
779935
2360
他们会一晚花上几百美元
13:14
in order订购 to hand over
their cell细胞 phone电话 and their laptop笔记本电脑
253
782295
3158
只为了将自己的手机与电脑
13:17
to the front面前 desk on arrival到达.
254
785453
2204
上缴给度假接待处。
13:19
Some people I know,
just before they go to sleep睡觉,
255
787657
2965
有些我认识的人
并不会在睡前刷屏看信息,
13:22
instead代替 of scrolling滚动 through通过
their messages消息
256
790622
2124
或观看 YouTube 视频,
13:24
or checking检查 out YouTubeYouTube的,
257
792746
1672
13:26
just turn out the lights灯火
and listen to some music音乐,
258
794418
3244
反而就只是关灯,听音乐,
13:29
and notice注意 that they sleep睡觉 much better
259
797662
2426
他们知道,这样会有更好的睡眠,
13:32
and wake唤醒 up much refreshed刷新.
260
800088
3213
在隔天一早将更神清气爽。
13:35
I was once一旦 fortunate幸运 enough足够
261
803301
2206
我曾经有幸地
13:37
to drive驾驶 into the high, dark黑暗 mountains
behind背后 Los洛杉矶 Angeles洛杉矶,
262
805507
5040
驾驶于洛杉矶旁的
高耸黯黑的群山之中,
13:42
where the great poet诗人 and singer歌手
263
810547
2548
那儿曾经住了伟大的诗人乐手 --
13:45
and international国际 heartthrob万人迷 Leonard伦纳德 Cohen科恩
264
813095
3222
举世皆知的莱纳德·科恩。
13:48
was living活的 and working加工 for many许多 years年份
as a full-time全职 monk
265
816317
4171
他曾在那儿附近作了好几年的僧人,
13:52
in the Mount安装 Baldy秃子 Zen Center中央.
266
820488
2851
就在博帝山禅学中心。
13:55
And I wasn't entirely完全 surprised诧异
267
823339
1965
当他在 77 岁发表了
13:57
when the record记录 that he released发布
at the age年龄 of 77,
268
825304
3710
自己的唱片专辑,
14:01
to which哪一个 he gave the deliberately故意
unsexyunsexy title标题 of "Old Ideas思路,"
269
829014
5281
他故意给这个专辑取了
一个非常不性感的名称 “旧思维”,
14:06
went to number one in the charts图表
in 17 nations国家 in the world世界,
270
834296
2962
然而这专辑在全球
17 个国家冲上排行榜首位,
14:09
hit击中 the top最佳 five in nine others其他.
271
837258
3230
在另外 9 个国家冲上前 5 名。
14:12
Something in us, I think, is crying哭了 out
272
840488
2767
它触动了我们内心里某种东西,
14:15
for the sense of intimacy亲密关系 and depth深度
that we get from people like that.
273
843255
4506
触动了躁动的人们
14:19
who take the time
and trouble麻烦 to sit still.
274
847761
3782
一种亲密、深刻与沉静的思绪。
14:23
And I think many许多
of us have the sensation感觉,
275
851543
2238
我想许多人拥有这种感觉,我当然也是,
14:25
I certainly当然 do,
276
853781
1528
我们站在一个巨大的屏幕前,
距离大约两英寸,
14:27
that we're standing常设 about two inches英寸 away
from a huge巨大 screen屏幕,
277
855309
4449
14:31
and it's noisy嘈杂 and it's crowded
278
859767
1838
人声鼎沸,摩肩接踵,
14:33
and it's changing改变 with every一切 second第二,
279
861605
2176
每一刻都在变动着,
14:35
and that screen屏幕 is our lives生活.
280
863781
2749
而那屏幕即为我们自己的人生。
14:38
And it's only by stepping步进 back,
and then further进一步 back,
281
866530
3623
唯有向后退一步,再回头一步,
14:42
and holding保持 still,
282
870153
1738
静静地屏住气,
14:44
that we can begin开始 to see
what the canvas帆布 means手段
283
871891
2818
我们才能开始了解那画布上描绘之物,
14:46
and to catch抓住 the larger picture图片.
284
874709
2296
并以更宽广的眼界洞察世界。
14:49
And a few少数 people do that for us
by going nowhere无处.
285
877005
3985
有些人已如此做了,他们无须来去。
14:54
So, in an age年龄 of acceleration促进,
286
881950
2022
因此,在这个快速转变的时代,
14:56
nothing can be more exhilarating令人振奋
than going slow.
287
883972
4049
没有什么比慢下来还要振奋人心。
15:00
And in an age年龄 of distraction娱乐,
288
888021
2181
在这个失焦的时代,
15:02
nothing is so luxurious豪华
as paying付款 attention注意.
289
890202
3663
没有什么比凝神专注来得奢侈。
15:06
And in an age年龄 of constant不变 movement运动,
290
894715
2726
在这个不断变动的时代,
15:09
nothing is so urgent紧急 as sitting坐在 still.
291
897441
3773
没有什么比静思来得急迫了。
15:13
So you can go on your next下一个 vacation假期
292
901214
2229
所以,下一次当你们
15:15
to Paris巴黎 or Hawaii夏威夷, or New Orleans奥尔良;
293
903443
3066
去巴黎,夏威夷或新奥尔良度假时,
15:18
I bet赌注 you'll你会 have a wonderful精彩 time.
294
906509
3540
我保证你们会有一段美好时光,
15:22
But, if you want to come back home
alive and full充分 of fresh新鲜 hope希望,
295
910049
5068
但如果你们想回家,
期待满怀全新希望,
15:27
in love with the world世界,
296
915117
2160
爱这个世界,
15:29
I think you might威力 want
to try considering考虑 going nowhere无处.
297
917277
4436
我想,也许你们应该试着哪儿都别去。
15:33
Thank you.
298
921713
1147
谢谢各位。
15:35
(Applause掌声)
299
922860
1271
(掌声)
Translated by Geoff Chen
Reviewed by Zhiting Chen

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Pico Iyer - Global author
Pico Iyer has spent more than 30 years tracking movement and stillness -- and the way criss-crossing cultures have changed the world, our imagination and all our relationships.

Why you should listen

In twelve books, covering everything from Revolutionary Cuba to the XIVth Dalai Lama, Islamic mysticism to our lives in airports, Pico Iyer has worked to chronicle the accelerating changes in our outer world, which sometimes make steadiness and rootedness in our inner world more urgent than ever. In his TED Book, The Art of Stillness, he draws upon travels from North Korea to Iran to remind us how to remain focused and sane in an age of frenzied distraction. As he writes in the book, "Almost everybody I know has this sense of overdosing on information and getting dizzy living at post-human speeds ... All of us instinctively feel that something inside us is crying out for more spaciousness and stillness to offset the exhilarations of this movement and the fun and diversion of the modern world."

More profile about the speaker
Pico Iyer | Speaker | TED.com