一只猫的生命哲学
“是的。”男人说。
“是从一株棉花上来的，还是许多棵？”
“从许多株上来的。”男人回答说。
“在棉花生长的那片土地上，有可能长出其他植物或花朵吗？棉花的旁边也有可能生长着一株玫瑰，对吗？”猫问。
“是的，我相信这是可能的。”男人说。
“那么所有的植物都可能生长于同一片土地，啜饮同样的雨水，对吗？所以一切植物，玫瑰和棉花，本质是非常相似的，即使它们从外表看起来很不一样。”猫说道。
The Man nodded his head in agreement, but didn't see what that had to do with the present situation.
男人点了点头表示同意，但是依然不明白这同目前的情况有什么关系。
“Now, that piece of string,” said the Cat, “is that the only piece of string ever made of cotton?”
“No, of course it isn't,” said the Man. “It was part of a ball of twine.”
“And do you know where all of the other pieces of string are now, and all of the balls of twine?” asked the Cat.
“No, I don't ... that would be impossible,” said the Man.
“But even though you do not know where they are, you believe they exist. And even though some of the string is with you, and other pieces of string are elsewhere ... you would agree that all the string is related?” the Cat asked.
“I've never thought about it, but yes, I guess they would be related,” the Man said.
“What would happen if a piece of cotton string fell onto the ground?” the Cat asked.
“Well ... it would eventually be covered up and decompose into the soil,” the Man said.
“I see,” said the Cat. “Then perhaps more cotton would grow above it, or a rose.”
“Yes, it would be possible,” the Man agreed.
“Then the rose growing on your windowsill might be related to the string you are holding as well as to all the pieces of string you do not know about,” said the Cat.
“好了，那段绳子，”猫说，“是唯一一段由棉花做成的绳子吗？”
“不，当然不是了，”男人说，“它是一团线球中的一段而已。”
“那你知道其他那些绳子现在在哪里吗？还有所有的线球呢？”猫问。
“不知道……我不可能知道呀。”男人说。
“但是即使你不知道它们在哪里，你依然相信它们是存在的。而且即使绳子的某些部分在你身边，其他部分在别的地方……你还是同意所有的绳子都是有关联的，对吗？”猫问。
“我从没想过这个问题，不过，是的，我猜它们相互之间是有关联的。”男人说。
“假如一段棉线落在了地上，会发生什么事情呢？”猫问。
“嗯……它最终会被掩埋、分解并回到土壤里。”男人说。
“知道了，”猫说，“那么可能会有更多的棉花，或一株玫瑰在它上面长出来。”
“是的，有可能。”男人同意道。
“那么，你窗台上的那株玫瑰，也许同你拿着的这段绳子以及所有你所不知道的绳子有着某种联系了。”猫说。
The Man 3)knit his brow in thought.
男人皱起眉头陷入了沉思。
“Now take each end of the string in one hand,” the Cat ordered.
The Man did so.
“The end in your left hand is my birth and the end in your right hand is my death. Now bring the two ends together,” the Cat said. The Man complied.
“You have made a continuous circle,” said the cat. “Does any point along the string appear to be different, worse or better than any other part of the string?”
The Man inspected the string and then shook his head “no.”
“Close your eyes again,” the Cat said. “Now 4)lick your hand.”
The Man widened his eyes in surprise.
“Just do it,” the Cat said. “Lick your hand, think of me in all my familiar places, think about all the pieces of string, and think about the cotton and the rose.”
“现在用两只手捏住绳子的两端。”猫命令道。
男人照做了。
“你左手捏着的那端就是我的出生，而右手的那端就是我的死亡。现在把两端连在一起。”猫说道。男人又照做了。
“你做出了一个连贯的圆圈，”猫说，“这个绳子上的任意一点同其他点有什么不同吗？比绳子的其他部分更好或者更差吗？”
男人审视着那根绳子，然后摇了摇头。“没有。”
“再次闭上你的眼睛，”猫说，“现在舔舔你的手。”
男人惊讶地睁大了眼睛。
“照我说的做吧，”猫说。“舔舔你的手，想想我在所有我熟悉的地方，想想所有的绳子，再想想棉花和玫瑰。”
The Man felt foolish, licking his hand, but he did as he was told. He discovered what a cat must know, that licking a paw is very calming and allows one to think more clearly. He continued licking and the corners of his mouth turned upward into the first smile he had shown in days. He waited for the Cat to tell him to stop, and when he didn't, he opened his eyes. The Cat's eyes were closed. The Man stroked the warm, brown fur, but the Cat was gone.