Holy men like these penitents1 and hermits2, were common in India 3,000 years ago, and there are still many there today.
3000年前,這樣神圣的人、懺悔者和遁世者在印度有很多很多,今天也還有。
But one of them was different from all the others. He was a nobleman called Gautama, and he lived about 500 years before Christ.
但是他們中的一個卻與眾不同。他是一名貴族,他的名字叫喬答摩(釋迦牟尼),他生活在公元前500年左右。
The story goes that Gautama, whom they were later to call the 'Enlightened One', the 'Buddha3', grew up in Eastern luxury and splendor4.
喬答摩后來被人稱為“覺者”、“佛陀”,喬答摩在東方的富麗堂皇的環(huán)境中長大。
It is said that he had three palaces which he never left ,據(jù)說他曾有三座宮殿,
one for summer, one for winter, and one for the rainy season – and that they were always filled with the most beautiful music.
一座供夏季居住,一座供冬季居住,一座供雨季居住——宮殿里總是響著最悅耳的音樂,His father wouldn't allow him to leave their lofty terraces because he wanted to keep him far away from all the sorrows of the world.
他從不離開宮殿。他的父親不讓他從高貴的陽臺上下來,因為他們想讓他遠離一切令人傷心的事物。
And no one who was sick or unhappy was ever allowed near him.
所以任何生病或不開心的人都不曾在他身邊出現(xiàn)。
However, one day Gautama summoned his carriage and went out.
可是有一次喬答摩乘車離開宮殿。
On the way he caught sight of a man, bent5 with age, and he asked his driver what it was.
在路上他看見一個彎腰弓背的老人,所以他問他的馭車人這是什么人。