The mind is as restless as a monkey and as
swift as a horse.(心猿意馬)
During China's Yuan dynasty, there was a
famous playwright named Guan Hanqing.
He wrote on a variety of subjects and
produced over 60 plays during his lifetime. Through his works, he reflected the
various phenomena and realities of contemporary society.
One of his heroines was named Tan Ji'er.
The first chapter of this play contains the
following passage:
Tan Ji'er was a beautiful widow. After her
husband's unexpected death, she lived alone and became deeply depressed.
In an attempt to cheer herself up, she
visited a Taoist temple near her home, hoping that this religious activity
would relieve her loneliness.
There, she met the temple's abbess, Aunt Bai.
Aunt Bai was around 20 years older than Tan Ji'er and had practised Taoism at
the temple since childhood.
From the day they met, Tan Ji'er would
visit Aunt Bai at the temple whenever she felt down to chat. They grew
increasingly familiar with each other and eventually became close friends.
One day, Tan Ji'er said to Aunt Bai, 'I
want to join you in practising Taoism at the temple. Do you support my idea?'
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai said she
disagreed, and they argued about it.
Realising that she could not convince Aunt
Bai, Tan Ji'er sighed and said, 'Since my husband's death, I've had a very
difficult time. Living in this world as a widow is full of difficulties and
grievances. I'm deeply discouraged and disappointed with my current lifestyle.
"I want to leave this society, where relationships are so complex. I'm
willing to stop wearing makeup and dressing up. I think I can also accept
simple food and a simple life. I want to live in a peaceful Taoist temple. I'd
like you to join me in practising Taoism. I believe that this way of life will
bring me true spiritual peace.
Aunt Bai replied to Tan Jier.
'Life in the Taoist temple isn't as
wonderful as you imagine. The practice is dull and boring. The food is mostly
simple and consists of vegetables. You won't find any expensive or rare
delicacies there. I don't think you could adapt to temple life.
Tan Jier replied to Aunt Bai.
'How can you say I can't adapt to life in
the Taoist temple?' I think my mindset has changed. My heart used to be as
restless as a monkey and my thoughts as fast as a horse, but since my husband's
death, my mindset has changed completely. Now my heart is as calm as a lake.
I'm tired of life in the bustling city.'
Aunt Bai replied to Tan Jier. "Haven't
you heard the saying, 'Our eyes can easily see many beautiful sights, but
painting them is incredibly difficult'?" We often encounter similar
situations in life: things that seem easy only become challenging when we try
to do them.
You are still young and very beautiful. I
think the best choice for you is to find a good man and marry him. That's the
choice you should make right now. You shouldn't choose to practise at a Taoist
temple.
This idiom literally means 'the mind is as
restless as a monkey and as fast-moving as a horse'.
It is also used to describe a state of
restlessness and instability where one struggles to control their emotions.
Dear friend, what insights or thoughts have
you gained from this story?
Do you think your current situation is
good? Do you think that if you left your current environment completely and
moved to a new place, your problems would disappear?
I hope this story brings you some new
insights.
心猿意馬(The mind is as restless as a monkey
and as swift as a horse.)
中國的元王朝有一個非常著名的劇作家，他的名字叫做關漢卿。
他創作的題材非常的廣泛，一生中寫出了超過60部的戲劇作品，他藉由他寫的作品反映出當時的社會環境的各種現象與當時的各種社會現實。
他寫的諸多作品中，有一部作品的女主角的名字叫做譚記兒。
這部作品的第一章中，有一段內容的大意如下。
譚記兒是一個非常漂亮的獨居的寡婦，她的丈夫發生意外去世後，她一個人獨居在家，她變得非常憂鬱。
她為了調適心情，她去了她家附近的一間道觀拜拜，她想要藉由這種宗教活動來排解自己內心的寂寞。
因為這個原因，所以她認識了一個名字叫做白姑姑的道觀的觀主。白姑姑的年紀大約比譚記兒多20歲，她從幼童的時候就進入道觀進行道教相關的修行。
從她們認識的那一天起，譚記兒只要心情不好就會到這間道觀中找白姑姑聊天，她們兩個人彼此變得愈來愈熟悉，她們兩個人後來成了很好的朋友。
有一天，譚記兒對白姑姑說。
我想要跟妳一樣進入道觀中進行道教相關的修行，妳是否支持我的想法呢?
白姑姑聽完譚記兒的話後說她不贊成譚記兒的想法，她與譚記兒兩個人因為這件事情發生了一連串的爭執。
譚記兒看到自己無法說服白姑姑，她嘆了一口氣並對白姑姑說。
自從我的丈夫死後，我這段時間過得非常辛苦，一個寡婦生活在這個社會上會遭遇到許多的困難，也會遭遇到許多的委屈，我對現在的生活方式感到非常的灰心與失望。
我想要離開這個人與人之間的關係非常複雜的社會，我願意從此不再化妝，也不在整理打扮自己，我也認為我可接受很簡單且的食物與過著很簡樸的生活，我想要生活在這個恬靜的道觀內，我願意妳一起在這個道觀中進行道教相關的的修行，我認為這種生活反而能帶給我真正的心靈上的平靜。
白姑姑回答譚記兒。
道觀中的生活不像妳想像中那麼的美好，修行的過程非常的枯燥且沉悶，道觀中的食物只能吃到以蔬菜料理為主的一些很普通的食物，在道觀中不可能吃到非常昂貴與稀有的美食，我認為道觀中的生活方式妳無法適應。
譚記兒回答白姑姑。
你怎麼可以認定我無法適應道觀中的生活，我認為我的心態已經調整好了，以前的我的心就像猴子一樣躁動，意念就像馬一樣快速奔馳，但自從我的丈夫死後，我的心態已經完全轉變了，我現在的心情就如同湖水一樣的平靜，我已經厭倦了繁華的都市中的生活。
白姑姑回答譚記兒。
難道妳沒有聽過一句諺語嗎?我們的眼睛可以輕易地看見很多美麗的景色，但是如果要你畫下你所看到的景色那是非常的不容易。
我們人生中常常會遇見種類似的情況，外表看起來很輕鬆的事情，但是實際要執行的時候才會知道有多麼的困難。
你的年紀還很輕，你長得非常的漂亮，我認為對你最好的選擇是你找一個好男人嫁了，這才會是你現在應該做的選擇。你不應該選擇到道觀中修行。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是心就像猴子一樣躁動，意念就像馬一樣快速奔馳。
這句成語也被用來形容一個人處於一種心態浮躁不定，自己難以控制自己的情緒的狀態。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為你的現狀好嗎?你認為如果你完全離開現在的環境到另外一個新的地方，煩惱你的問題就會消失了嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為元-關漢卿-望江亭中秋切鱠-第一折
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