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My first experience of the Sangha came at what felt like an ungodly hour.
一大清早，我对僧伽的初次体验便开始了。
At Boudhanath every morning, just after dawn, monks of all ages gather to perform the first of many rituals of the day.
每天清晨，博德纳的僧侣们无论长幼都会聚集在一起诵经，进行当天的第一项仪式。
The Sangha is one of the oldest continuously active spiritual organizations in the world.
僧伽是世上最古老且延续至今的宗教组织之一。
What's being recited here is a Tara Puja, it's a chant that aims to ensure a kind of liberation from suffering.
他们正在吟诵的是度母经。此经文旨在助众生脱离苦海。
And it's really interesting, because "Tara" is thought to be a female manifestation of Buddha's wisdom, something which is incredibly potent.
这很有意思，因为“度母”被认为是佛陀智慧的女性化身，她具有无边法力。
I mean, this isn't just an abstract idea of wisdom, this is thought to be healing, to actually be stronger than medicine itself.
我的意思是，度母不仅是智慧的抽象概念，而是被视为治愈者，一种远比药物更加强大的力量。
The Sangha includes women and was set up to allow those who wish to practise Buddha's teachings a disciplined environment and maximum time to focus on the philosopher's ideas,
僧伽群体包括女性成员，而僧团的建立给渴望践行佛陀教诲的人们提供了一个有节律约束的环境，使得她们有充足的时间专注于先哲们的思想，
free from the responsibilities and distractions of a domestic or conventional lifestyle.
不必受困于家务责任，并摆脱世俗的干扰。
A few miles outside Kathmandu, Ani, the singing nun, runs her own nunnery.
在加德满都城外几英里处，歌尼阿尼管理着她自己的庵寺。
It's a refuge for girls, many as young as ten, the age both sexes can embark on the life of a Buddhist novice.
这是女孩们的避难所，很多人只有十岁。在这个年龄不论男女都可以开始修行生涯，成为新教徒。
I have here mostly girls from families who are facing some difficulties, obviously poverty.
我这里大多数的女孩都来自家境有困难的家庭，主要是因为贫穷。
And the other thing is the fathers are often very ignorant.
抑或是因为蒙昧无知的父亲。
They get carried away with the alcoholic behaviour, as well. Very abusive behaviours.
他们会因酗酒而失去理智，继而做出虐待孩子的暴行。
And they do not think that it is good to send their girls to school,
甚至觉得送女孩去读书没什么好处，
so I try to collect them here, and give them as much as I can give them.
所以我尽力收留她们，尽我所能去帮助她们。
Controversial for its time was the inclusion of women among the ranks of the Sangha.
是否接纳女性加入僧团曾经是个很有争议的问题。
The Buddha allowed women to become nuns, to lead a life devoted to spiritual development.
佛陀允许女性成为比丘尼，让她们全心投入到精神修行之中。
Like Buddhist monks, nuns are expected to remain celibate, pure,
和僧侣一样，比丘尼也要保持独身与纯洁。
since they are one of the three jewels of Buddhism, not just Buddha's foot-soldiers, but an incarnation of the belief system itself.
因为她们是佛教三宝之一，不仅意味他们是着佛陀脚下的茫茫一卒，更是这信仰系统本身的一种体现。
So, I've learnt about two of the three jewels of Buddhism.
至此，我已经了解到佛教三宝中的两宝。
The Sangha and the life of the Buddha.
“僧宝”与“佛宝”。
But what about the third jewel, the Dharma, or teachings?
但第三宝——“法宝”，或者说佛陀的教诲又该如何理解呢？
