宗教与科学
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AI-translated. May contain errors. For accurate text, refer to the original English.
中文
经验是知识的唯一来源。在世间，宗教是唯一缺乏确定性的领域，因为它从未被作为一门经验的科学来传授。这种状况不应如此。然而，始终有一小群人从经验出发来传授宗教。他们被称为神秘主义者，而每个宗教中的神秘主义者都说着同样的语言，传授着同样的真理。这才是真正的宗教科学。正如数学在世界各地毫无差别，神秘主义者之间也没有分歧。他们的构成相似，处境相似。他们的经验相同，而这便成为法则。
在教会中，信徒先学习一种宗教，然后开始践行；他们并不以经验作为信仰的基础。但神秘主义者则出发去追寻真理，首先亲身体验，然后才形成信条。教会取用他人的经验；神秘主义者拥有自己的经验。教会由外向内；神秘主义者由内向外。
宗教处理形而上世界的真理，正如化学和其他自然科学处理物质世界的真理一样。学习化学所必须阅读的书是自然之书。学习宗教所必须阅读的书是你自己的心灵。圣贤往往不通物理科学，因为他读错了书——他读的是内在之书；而科学家往往不通宗教，因为他也读错了书——他读的是外在之书。
一切科学都有其特定的方法，宗教科学亦然。它还拥有更多的方法，因为它需要处理的素材更为丰富。人的心灵不像外部世界那样同质。根据不同的本性，必须有不同的方法。正如某一种感官在某人身上占主导地位——一个人以视觉为主，另一个人以听觉为主——心灵中也有一种占主导的感知方式；每个人都必须通过这扇门到达自己的内心。然而，贯穿一切心灵的是一种统一性，而且有一种科学可以适用于所有人。这门宗教科学建立在对人类灵魂的分析之上。它没有教条。
没有任何一种宗教形式适合所有人。每一种都是串上的一颗珍珠。我们最重要的是要发现每一种宗教中的个性。没有人生来就属于某种宗教；他的灵魂中自有其宗教。任何试图摧毁个性的体系，从长远来看都是灾难性的。每个生命中都流淌着一股潮流，这股潮流最终会将其引向上帝。一切宗教的终极目标都是证悟上帝。一切修行中最伟大的就是唯独礼拜上帝。如果每个人都选择自己的理想并坚持不渝，一切宗教纷争都将消失。
English
Experience is the only source of knowledge. In the world, religion is the only source where there is no surety, because it is not taught as a science of experience. This should not be. There is always, however, a small group of men who teach religion from experience. They are called mystics, and these mystics in every religion speak the same tongue and teach the same truth. This is the real science of religion. As mathematics in every part of the world does not differ, so the mystics do not differ. They are all similarly constituted and similarly situated. Their experience is the same; and this becomes law.
In the church, religionists first learn a religion, then begin to practise it; they do not take experience as the basis of their belief. But the mystic starts out in search of truth, experiences it first, and then formulates his creed. The church takes the experience of others; the mystic has his own experience. The church goes from the outside in; the mystic goes from the inside out.
Religion deals with the truths of the metaphysical world just as chemistry and the other natural sciences deal with the truths of the physical world. The book one must read to learn chemistry is the book of nature. The book from which to learn religion is your own mind and heart. The sage is often ignorant of physical science, because he reads the wrong book—the book within; and the scientist is too often ignorant of religion, because he too reads the wrong book—the book without.
All science has its particular methods; so has the science of religion. It has more methods also, because it has more material to work upon. The human mind is not homogeneous like the external world. According to the different nature, there must be different methods. As some special sense predominates in a person—one person will see most, another will hear most—so there is a predominant mental sense; and through this gate must each reach his own mind. Yet through all minds runs a unity, and there is a science which may be applied to all. This science of religion is based on the analysis of the human soul. It has no creed.
No one form of religion will do for all. Each is a pearl on a string. We must be particular above all else to find individuality in each. No man is born to any religion; he has a religion in his own soul. Any system which seeks to destroy individuality is in the long run disastrous. Each life has a current running though it, and this current will eventually take it to God. The end and aim of all religions is to realise God. The greatest of all training is to worship God alone. If each man chose his own ideal and stuck to it, all religious controversy would vanish.
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。