CHAPTER XI　RHYTHM
第十一章 节律

"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

The great Fifth Hermetic Principle--the Principle of Rhythm-embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion; a to-and-from movement; a flow and inflow; a swing forward and backward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a high-tide and a low- tide;
between the two-poles manifest on the physical, mental or spiritual planes.

The Principle of rhythm is closely connected with the Principle of Polarity described in the preceding chapter.
Rhythm manifests between the two poles established by the Principle of Polarity.
伟大帮赫尔墨斯的第五法则
——节律法则
——揭示的真理是，显化在物理、精神和灵魂的层面上，在两个极性之间，在每一个事物中，都显化一个可测量的运动、一个往复的运动、一个流入和流出、向前和向后的飘动、一个钟摆般的运动、一个潮汐般的涨落、一个大潮和一个小潮。
节律法则与前一章讲述的极性法则有紧密的关系。
节律通过极性法则在两个极性之间显化着。

This does not mean, however, that the pendulum of Rhythm swings to the extreme poles, for this rarely happens; in fact, it is difficult to establish the extreme polar opposites in the majority of cases. But the swing is ever "toward" first one pole and then the other.
无论如何，这不是意味着节律的摆锤摆动到极端点，这是极少发生的；事实上，在众多案例里，确定极端的端点是困难的。摆动总是从一个极性再到另一个极性。

There is always an action and reaction; an advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking; manifested in all of the airs and phenomena of the Universe.
在宇宙的所有事物和现象中，总是有一个行动和一个回返的行动；一个前进和一个倒退；一个上升和一个下降。

Suns, worlds, men, animals, plants, minerals, forces, energy, mind and matter, yes, even Spirit, manifests this Principle.
恒星们，社会们，人类，动物，植物，矿物，力量，能量，思想，物质，还有，甚至灵魂，都显化着这个法则。

The Principle manifests in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of nations; in the life history of all things; and finally in the mental states of Man.
这个法则显化在社会的创立和毁灭之中；在民族的兴起和没落之中；在所有事物的生命历史中；最后在人类的精神状态之中。

Beginning with the manifestations of Spirit
--of THE ALL
--it will be noticed that there is ever the Outpouring and the Indrawing; the "Outbreathing and Inbreathing of Brahm," as the Brahmans word it.
由精神的显化开始
——全能者
——要注意这里的持续的流出和吸入；婆罗门说的梵天的呼与吸。

Universes are created; reach their extreme low point of materiality; and then begin in their upward swing.
Suns spring into being, and then their height of power being reached, the process of retrogression begins,
and after aeons they become dead masses of matter, awaiting another impulse which starts again their inner energies into activity and a new solar life cycle is begun.
宇宙的被创造，达到它们物质性的极端低点，然后开始它们向上的摆动。
恒星跃入存在，它们力量的高点一旦达到，衰退的过程就开始了，
在亿万年后，它们成为死寂的物质，等待另一次的推动把它们的内在能量带入活跃，并且开始一轮新的生命循环。

And thus it is with all the worlds; they are born, grow and die; only to be reborn. And thus it is with all the things of shape and form; they swing from action to reaction; from birth to death; from activity to inactivity--and then back again.
这个过程伴随着所有的世界；它们诞生，成长，死亡，只是要去再生。这是伴随着所有形状和形式的所有事物的；它们摆动，从行动到反应；从出生到死亡；从活跃到不活跃
——然后的再回转过来。

Thus it is with all living things; they are born, grow, and die--and then are reborn. So it is with all great movements, philosophies, creeds, fashions, governments, nations, and all else-birth, growth, maturity, decadence, death-and then new-birth. The swing of the pendulum is ever in evidence.
这也在所有生命事物中；他们出生，成长，和死亡——然后是再生。这也同样伴随着所有伟大的运动，哲学，信仰，时尚，政府，国家，和其它所有的——诞生，成长，成熟，衰落，死亡——然后是再生。摆锤的摇摆永远是显而易见的。

Night follows day; and day night. The pendulum swings from Summer to Winter, and then back again.
夜以继日，日以继夜。摆锤从夏摆到冬，然后又返回来。

The corpuscles, atoms, molecules, and all masses of matter, swing around the circle of their nature.
粒子，原子，分子，和所有的海量物质，围绕它们本性的循环摆动。

There is no such thing as absolute rest, or cessation from movement, and all movement partakes of rhythm.
The principle is of universal application.

在运动上没有绝对停滞或是静止的事物，所有的运动伴随着节律法则，这个法则是寰宇适宜的。
It may be applied to any question, or phenomena of any of the many planes of life.
它可以被用在生命的许多层面的任何问题和任何现象上。
It may be applied to all phases of human activity.
它可以被用到人类活动的任何阶段中。

There is always the Rhythmic swing from one pole to the other.
总是有个节律的摆动，从这个极性到另一个极性。
The Universal Pendulum is ever in motion. The Tides of Life flow in and out, according to Law.
宇宙的钟摆永远处在运动之中。生命的潮汐也遵循法则涨落。

The Principle of rhythm is well understood by modern science, and is considered a universal law as applied to material things.
节律法则已经很好地被现代科学所掌握，被认为是应用在物质事物上的宇宙法则。

But the Hermetists carry the principle much further, and know that its manifestations and influence extend to the mental activities of Man,
and that it accounts for the bewildering succession of moods, feelings and other annoying and perplexing changes that we notice in ourselves.
但是，赫尔墨斯者们把这个法则推到更广远的境地，知道它的显化和影响同样也是扩展到人类的精神活动上，
它揭示了那些我们注意到在我们之内的，混乱轮替的心态、感受，以及其它的烦恼和困惑的变化。

But the Hermetists by studying the operations of this Principle have learned to escape some of its activities by Transmutation.
但是，赫尔墨斯者们利用研习这个法则的运行，学会了通过转化去避开其中的一些影响。

The Hermetic Masters long since discovered that while the Principle of Rhythm was invariable, and ever in evidence in mental phenomena, still there were two planes of its manifestation so far as mental phenomena are concerned.
赫尔墨斯大师们久远以前就发现节律法则是永恒的，永远显化于精神现象，在涉及的精神现象上，它的表象有两个层面。

They discovered that there were two general planes of Consciousness, the Lower and the Higher, the understanding of which fact enabled them to rise to the higher plane
and thus escape the swing of the Rhythmic pendulum which manifested on the lower plane.
In other words, the swing of the pendulum occurred on the Unconscious Plane, and the Consciousness was not affected.
他们发现有两个普通的意识层面，较低的和较高的，对这个事实的理解，使他们能够提升到较高的，
这样得以避开在较低层面显化的节律摆动。
换一种说法，摆锤的摆动，发生在潜意识层面里，显意识层面不受影响。

This they call the Law of Neutralization.
这称为中立法则（Law of Neutralization）。

Its operations consist in the raising of the Ego above the vibrations of the Unconscious Plane of mental activity, so that the negative-swing of the pendulum is not manifested in consciousness, and therefore they are not affected.
它的运作由精神活动的潜意识层面的振动自我提升，钟摆的负向摆动，不显化在显意识上，他们就不受影响。

It is akin to rising above a thing and letting it pass beneath you.
这类似于你上升到超过某个事物，让它在你的下面通过。

The Hermetic Master, or advanced student, polarizes himself at the desired pole, and by a process akin to "refusing" to participate in the backward swing or,
赫尔墨斯大师，或者优秀的学生，在期望的极性极化他们自己，依靠类似”拒绝”的方法参与回摆，或者，

if you prefer, a "denial" of its influence over him, he stands firm in his polarized position, and allows the mental pendulum to swing back along the unconscious plane.
如果你愿意，去否定作用在他身上的影响。他坚定站在他极化的位置上，并且允许精神摆锤沿着潜意识的层面回摆。

All individuals who have attained any degree of self- mastery, accomplish this, more or less unknowingly, and by refusing to allow their moods and negative mental states to affect them, they apply the Law of Neutralization.
所有已经达到自我控制等级的人，都靠着拒绝让他们的心态和负面心理状态影响他们，或多或少无意识地这样做，他们在应用中立法则。

The Master, however, carries this to a much higher degree of proficiency, and by the use of his Will he attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of those who allow themselves to be swung backward and forward by the mental pendulum of moods and feelings.
可是大师，把这带入到一个更高的精熟程度，靠着他们的意志，他们达到的平衡和心理稳固的程度，那是随着心态和感受的心理摆锤摇来摇去的人们，几乎无法相信的。

The importance of this will be appreciated by any thinking person who realizes what creatures of moods, feelings and emotion the majority of people are, and how little mastery of themselves they manifest.
这里的重要性为每位思考者认同，他们认识到大部分人是心态、感受和情绪活动的傀儡，在他们的显化上，能够把握的是如此微小。

If you will stop and consider a moment, you will realize how much these swings of Rhythm have affected you in your life
如果你愿意停下来思考片刻，你会认识到在你的生命中，这些节律的摆动多大地影响了你

--how a period of Enthusiasm has been invariably followed by an opposite feeling and mood of Depression.
——一个高度狂热的阶段如何总是跟随着一个消沉的反面感受和负面心态。

Likewise, your moods and periods of Courage have been succeeded by equal moods of Fear.
同样，你的勇敢的阶段被相等的恐惧心态追随着。