A decomposing body may not seem like an ideal meditation aid, but at some of Thailand’s tens of thousands of Buddhist temples, it is common to find monks reflecting while seated before a rotting corpse.
一具腐烂的尸体或许不像是辅助冥想的理想之物，但在泰国的数万座佛寺中，有些寺里的僧人的确经常坐在腐烂的尸体前沉思。
The practice of corpse meditation, largely limited to Thailand today, is an ancient concept in Buddhism, sanctioned by the Buddha himself.
这种尸体冥想是佛教的一种古老观念，由佛陀本人准许，如今基本只在泰国境内存在。
There are centuries-old murals and manuscripts depicting scenes of meditation next to different types of cadavers, some infested with worms, others cut in two or being picked at by crows.
一些有数百年历史的壁画和手稿描绘了人们在尸体旁边冥想的景象，尸体多种多样，有的布满蛆虫，有的一分为二，还有的被乌鸦啄食。
The unpleasant sight and overpowering stench of flesh decaying in tropical heat can impart lessons about important Buddhist precepts, like nonattachment to one’s body and the impermanence of everything, said Justin McDaniel, a professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
这种令人不快的场面以及肉体在高温下腐烂的难闻臭味可以传达重要的佛教教义，诸如不要执着肉体，一切都是无常，宾夕法尼亚大学宗教学教授贾斯汀•麦克丹尼尔(Justin McDaniel)说。
The ritual is viewed as a powerful way to learn selflessness, Professor McDaniel said, and the more selfless you are, the closer you are to nirvana.
这种仪式被视为一种学习无我的强大方式，麦克丹尼尔说，你愈是无我，就愈接近涅槃。
The corpse is often that of a child or young adult who has died unexpectedly.
尸体通常是意外死亡的孩子或年轻人的。
A family will donate the body to a temple, hoping something good can come from the tragedy.
家人把尸体捐到寺庙，希望这样的悲剧可以产生一些善果。
The monks see the deceased young people as representing the best of humanity, Professor McDaniel said.
僧侣们把这些早逝的年轻人视为人性最美好一面的代表，麦克丹尼尔教授说。
They’re innocent — not so selfish and greedy and ambitious.
他们是纯洁的——并没有太多的我执、贪念和野心。
If something so beautiful can decay, why are you so proud and vain? You’re even uglier.
如果这样美好的东西也会腐朽，为什么你还要如此骄傲自负呢，你更丑陋。
The abbots who run Thailand’s temples, or wats, have tremendous leeway in adopting innovative approaches to meditation, and certain practices may be limited to a single sanctuary.
泰国寺院的住持有很大的自由度，可以采用各种有创意的冥想方式，有些方式只限于在某一座寺庙进行。
At one temple in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, a monk meditates in what appears to be hot oil.
在廊磨喃蒲府(Nong Bua Lamphu Province)的一座寺院里，一个僧侣在似乎是热油的液体里冥想。
At another temple, Wat Tham Mangkon Thong, nuns meditate while floating in a pool.
在金龙洞寺(Wat Tham Mangkon Thong)，尼姑漂浮在水池中冥想。
At Wat Pai Civilsai, meditation has taken place in a box with pythons.
在Pai Civilsai寺，僧侣们在装着蟒蛇的箱子里冥想。
Monks also meditate in caves and coffins, where the absolute darkness enhances concentration.
僧侣们还会在洞穴和棺材里冥想，里面绝对的黑暗有助于集中精神。
So-called forest monks who observe strict ascetic practices known as dhutanga are said to meditate while walking for weeks without ever lying down, even to sleep.
所谓的林中僧侣奉行一种严格的苦修，叫做头陀苦行。据说他们在冥想中会一连行走几个星期，不用躺下来休息，甚至不睡觉。
It is not only monks who meditate in ways that may seem extreme.
不仅仅是僧人会以看似极端的方式进行冥思。
Julia Cassaniti, an anthropology professor at Washington State University, was walking in the woods of a Thai monastery when she heard screams coming from a hut.
华盛顿州立大学人类学教授茱莉亚•卡桑尼提(Julia Cassaniti)在泰国一座寺院的森林里行走时，听见一座小屋里传来阵阵尖叫声。
The laypeople inside were using meditation to interact with their past lives, a struggle that adherents describe as painful.
屋里的俗家修行者正在使用冥想与自己的前世交流，根据信徒的描述，那是一种痛苦的挣扎。
A mediation technique that both monks and laypeople practice is a 10-day period of total silence.
有一种僧人和俗家修行者都采取的冥想方式是连续10天保持绝对静默。
Some temples offer meditation retreats for tourists and encourage visitors to remain awake for the final three days.
有些寺院为游客提供冥想体验场所，鼓励游客在最后三天一直保持清醒。
The sleep deprivation is seen as worth it to get to the first stages of enlightenment, said Brooke Schedneck, a lecturer in Buddhist studies at the Institute of South East Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
为了达到觉醒的初级阶段，睡眠剥夺被认为是值得的，泰国清迈东南亚事务研究所的佛学讲师布鲁克•施德尼克(Brooke Schedneck)说。
The goal of meditation for all Buddhists is to gain insights into spiritual truths.
所有佛教徒冥想的目标都是为了获得对灵性真相的认识。
These more extreme practices, Professor Cassaniti said, can heighten the access, so you get there a little faster or more intensely.
卡桑尼提说，这些更加极端的修行方式可以增强接近真相的机会，帮助你更快，或是更强烈地体验那种境界。