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My first experience of the Sangha came at what felt like an ungodly hour.
一大清早，我對僧伽的初次體驗便開始了。
At Boudhanath every morning, just after dawn, monks of all ages gather to perform the first of many rituals of the day.
每天清晨，博德納的僧侶們無論長幼都會聚集在一起誦經，進行當天的第一項儀式。
The Sangha is one of the oldest continuously active spiritual organizations in the world.
僧伽是世上最古老且延續至今的宗教組織之一。
What's being recited here is a Tara Puja, it's a chant that aims to ensure a kind of liberation from suffering.
他們正在吟誦的是度母經。此經文旨在助眾生脫離苦海。
And it's really interesting, because "Tara" is thought to be a female manifestation of Buddha's wisdom, something which is incredibly potent.
這很有意思，因為“度母”被認為是佛陀智慧的女性化身，她具有無邊法力。
I mean, this isn't just an abstract idea of wisdom, this is thought to be healing, to actually be stronger than medicine itself.
我的意思是，度母不僅是智慧的抽象概念，而是被視為治愈者，一種遠比藥物更加強大的力量。
The Sangha includes women and was set up to allow those who wish to practise Buddha's teachings a disciplined environment and maximum time to focus on the philosopher's ideas,
僧伽群體包括女性成員，而僧團的建立給渴望踐行佛陀教誨的人們提供了一個有節律約束的環境，使得她們有充足的時間專注于先哲們的思想，
free from the responsibilities and distractions of a domestic or conventional lifestyle.
不必受困于家務責任，并擺脫世俗的干擾。
A few miles outside Kathmandu, Ani, the singing nun, runs her own nunnery.
在加德滿都城外幾英里處，歌尼阿尼管理著她自己的庵寺。
It's a refuge for girls, many as young as ten, the age both sexes can embark on the life of a Buddhist novice.
這是女孩們的避難所，很多人只有十歲。在這個年齡不論男女都可以開始修行生涯，成為新教徒。
I have here mostly girls from families who are facing some difficulties, obviously poverty.
我這里大多數的女孩都來自家境有困難的家庭，主要是因為貧窮。
And the other thing is the fathers are often very ignorant.
抑或是因為蒙昧無知的父親。
They get carried away with the alcoholic behaviour, as well. Very abusive behaviours.
他們會因酗酒而失去理智，繼而做出虐待孩子的暴行。
And they do not think that it is good to send their girls to school,
甚至覺得送女孩去讀書沒什么好處，
so I try to collect them here, and give them as much as I can give them.
所以我盡力收留她們，盡我所能去幫助她們。
Controversial for its time was the inclusion of women among the ranks of the Sangha.
是否接納女性加入僧團曾經是個很有爭議的問題。
The Buddha allowed women to become nuns, to lead a life devoted to spiritual development.
佛陀允許女性成為比丘尼，讓她們全心投入到精神修行之中。
Like Buddhist monks, nuns are expected to remain celibate, pure,
和僧侶一樣，比丘尼也要保持獨身與純潔。
since they are one of the three jewels of Buddhism, not just Buddha's foot-soldiers, but an incarnation of the belief system itself.
因為她們是佛教三寶之一，不僅意味他們是著佛陀腳下的茫茫一卒，更是這信仰系統本身的一種體現。
So, I've learnt about two of the three jewels of Buddhism.
至此，我已經了解到佛教三寶中的兩寶。
The Sangha and the life of the Buddha.
“僧寶”與“佛寶”。
But what about the third jewel, the Dharma, or teachings?
但第三寶——“法寶”，或者說佛陀的教誨又該如何理解呢？
