4. The Principle of Polarity
IV.极性法则

"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its
pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are
identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet;
all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be
reconciled."--The Kybalion.
所有事物都是双重的；所有事物都有两极；所有事物都有相互对立的两面；喜欢和不喜欢是一样的；对立的事物本质上是一模一样的，只是在程度上有所不同；极端的两面总是相连；所有的真理都只是相对正确的真理；所有看似矛盾的说法都可以调和。
——Kybalion

This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is dual";
"everything has two poles"; "everything has its pair of opposites,
" all of which were old Hermetic axioms.
这个法则包含了这样的真理，即:每一种事物都是双重的；每一种事物都有两极；每一种事物都有相互对立的两面。这些都是古老的赫尔墨斯公理。

It explains the old paradoxes, that have perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows:
它解释了自古以来困惑许多人的自相矛盾的观点，它们如下所述：

"Thesis and antithesis are identical in nature, but different in degree"; "opposites are the same, differing only in degree";
"the pairs of opposites may be reconciled";
"extremes meet";
"everything is and isn't, at the same time";
"all truths are but half-truths";
"every truth is half-false";
"there are two sides to everything,"
etc., etc., etc.
“主张女权和反对女权的人在本质上是一样的，但不同在于程度上”；

“对立的事物本质上是一模一样的，只是在程度上有所不同”；

“对立的两面可以调和”；

“极端的两面总是相连”；

“每一种事物都同时存在肯定和否定的方面”；

“所有的真理都只是一半正确的真理”；

“每一种真理都有一半是错误的”；

“凡事都有两面性”，等等。

It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that "opposites" are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them.
它揭示了在每一事物中都有两极，或相互对立的两面，而这相互对立的两面其实只是同一事物的两个极端，在它们之间有各种不同的程度，

To illustrate: Heat and Cold, although "opposites," are really the same thing, the differences consisting merely of degrees of the same thing.
例如：热和冷，虽然是“对立”的，但事实上是同一事物，不同只在于同一事物的不同程度。

Look at your thermometer and see if you can discover where "heat" terminates and "cold" begins!
看看你的温度计，是否发现“热”的终点就是“冷”的开始！

There is no such thing as "absolute heat" or "absolute cold"--the two terms "heat" and "cold" simply indicate varying degrees of the same thing, and that "same thing" which manifests as "heat" and "cold" is merely a form, variety, and rate of Vibration.
没有绝对的“热”和绝对的“冷”这样的事物——“热”和“冷”这两个词只是反映了同一事物的不同程度，而“同一事物”显化为“热”和“冷”只是振动频率的变化形式。

So "heat" and "cold" are simply the "two poles" of that which we call "Heat"--and the phenomena attendant thereupon are manifestations of the Principle of Polarity.
因此，“热”和“冷”只是我们称之为“热”的事物的“两极”——这种现象伴随着的是极性法则的显现。

The same Principle manifests in the case of "Light and Darkness," which are the same thing, the difference consisting of varying degrees between the two poles of the phenomena.
同样的法则显化在“光明和黑暗”的事例中，它们是同一事物，不同只在于现象两极之间的不同程度。

Where does "darkness" leave off, and "light" begin?
What is the difference
between "Large and Small"?
Between "Hard and Soft"?
Between "Black and White"?
Between "Sharp and Dull"?
Between "Noise and Quiet"?
Between "High and Low"?
Between "Positive and Negative"?
“黑暗”在哪里离去，“光明”又在哪里开始？
“大和小”之间的区别是什么？
“硬和软”之间呢？
“黑和白”之间呢？
“灵光和呆钝”之间呢？
“吵闹和安静”之间呢？
“高和低”之间呢？
“积极和消极”之间呢？

The Principle of Polarity explains these paradoxes, and no other Principle can supersede it. The same Principle operates on the Mental Plane.
极性法则解释这些看似矛盾的对立面，没有其他的法则可以超越它。相同的法则也在思想层面运行。

Let us take a radical and extreme example--that of "Love and Hate," two mental states apparently totally different.
让我们举一个激进和极端的例子，那就是“爱和恨”这两种明显不同的心理状态。

And yet there are degrees of Hate and degrees of Love, and a middle point in which we use the terms "Like or Dislike," which shade into each other so gradually that sometimes we are at a loss to know whether we "like" or "dislike" or "neither."

然而，有各种不同程度的爱和各种不同程度的恨，一个中间的状态就是我们用“喜欢和不喜欢”这样的词汇所表达的，它们彼此渗透相随，以致有时我们感到迷失，即不知道我们“喜欢”或“不喜欢”或“两者都没有”。

And all are simply degrees of the same thing, as you will see if you will but think a moment.
一切都只是同一事物的不同程度，如果你稍微细想一会儿，就会明白这个道理。

And, more than this (and considered of more importance by the Hermetists), it is possible to change the vibrations of Hate to the vibrations of Love, in one's own mind, and in the minds of others.
而且，不仅如此（赫尔墨斯主义者认为更重要），更重要的是，改变一个人自己思想和他人思想中恨的振动为爱的振动是可能的。

Many of you, who read these lines, have had personal experiences of the involuntary rapid transition from Love to Hate, and the reverse, in your own case and that of others.
已经读到这些字眼的、你们中的许多人，已有自觉迅速地由爱转变到恨的亲身体验，或许是你们自己的事例，或许是其他人的。

And you will therefore realize the possibility of this being accomplished by the use of the Will, by means of the Hermetic formulas.

因此，通过赫尔墨斯的准则与方法，你将会意识到运用意志完成这一点是可能的。

"Good and Evil" are but the poles of the same thing, and the Hermetist understands the art of transmuting Evil into Good, by means of an application of the Principle of Polarity.
“好”和“坏”只是同一事物的两极，借助极性法则的应用方式，赫尔墨斯主义者懂得转坏为好的艺术。

In short, the "Art of Polarization" becomes a phase of "Mental Alchemy" known and practiced by the ancient and modern Hermetic Masters.
简而言之，“极性化艺术”成为古代和现代神秘大师所知道和应用的精神炼金术的一部分。
An understanding of the Principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as that of others, if he will devote the time and study necessary to master the art.
对这一法则的理解，将能使一个人改变他自己的极性，也能改变他人的极性，如果他投入时间进行必要的研究来掌握这一艺术的话。

5. The Principle of Rhythm
V.节律法则

"Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides;
all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in
everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the
measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates."
--The Kybalion.
一切事物都在流动，有出有进；一切事物都有它的潮汐；一切事物都升起又回落；钟摆现象发生在每一事物中；右摆的幅度就是左摆的幅度；节律互相补偿着。
——Kybalion

This Principle embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion, to and fro; a flow and inflow; a swing backward and forward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a high-tide and low-tide;
这个法则包括了这样的真理，即在每一种事物中，都存在着有节律的运动：前进和后退；流出和流进；前摆和后摆；像钟摆那样的运动；像潮汐那样退潮又涨潮；有高潮也有低潮。

between the two poles which exist in accordance with the Principle of Polarity described a moment ago.
在两极之间，也存在着与刚才阐述的极性法则相一致的律动。

There is always an action and a reaction; an advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking.
总是有着作用和反作用，有前进就必然有后退，有高涨就必然有低落。

This is in the affairs of the Universe, suns, worlds, men, animals, mind, energy, and matter.
这种现象存在于宇宙万事万物中，如太阳、地球、人类、动物、心理、能量和物质。

This law is manifest in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the mental states of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists find the understanding of the Principle most important).
这种法则显化于世间万物的创造和毁灭之中，显化于民族的崛起和没落之中;显化于一切事物的生命过程之中最后，还显化于人类的精神状态之中（正是在后者，赫尔墨斯主义者发现并领悟到这个法则极其重要）。

The Hermetists have grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by the use of the appropriate formulas and methods.
赫尔墨斯主义者已经领会这个法则，发现它普遍适用，也发现通过运用适当的准则和方法可以克服这种法则在他们身上产生的效应。

They apply the Mental Law of Neutralization. They cannot annul the Principle, or cause it to cease its operation, but they have learned how to escape its effects upon themselves to a certain degree depending upon the Mastery of the Principle.
他们应用这种中和化的精神法则。他们不能消除这种法则，或使它停止运行，但他们已学会依靠这种法则而避开它发生在他们身上的影响，然后达到某种层级。

They have learned how to USE it, instead of being USED BY it. In this and similar methods, consist the Art of the Hermetists.
他们已学会应用它，而不是被它应用。正是这种方法或类似的方法，构成了赫尔墨斯主义者的艺术。

The Master of Hermetics polarizes himself at the point at which he desires to rest, and then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of the pendulum which would tend to carry him to the other pole.
赫尔墨斯主义大师使自己偏向于他们想要保持的那一极的状态上，而中和或抵消促使他们倾向另一极状态的像钟摆那样的律动。

All individuals who have attained any degree of Self-Mastery do this to a certain degree, more or less unconsciously, but the Master does this consciously, and by the use of his Will, and attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of the masses who are swung backward and forward like a pendulum.
所有做到一定程度自我控制的个体，都或多或少无意识地在一定程度上这么做过，但是大师是有意识地做，而且通过运用意志，他获得一定层级的平静和精神镇定，而就那些像钟摆一样前后摆动的普通大众来说，达到大师这种状态是不可能的。

This Principle and that of Polarity have been closely studied by the Hermetists, and the methods of counteracting, neutralizing, and USING them form an important part of the Hermetic Mental Alchemy.
这个法则和极性法则已经被赫尔墨斯主义者密切研究，而抵消、中和的方法以及应用它们，则构成了赫尔墨斯精神炼金术的一个重要部分。