羚羊

　　Tibetan Antelope

　　從收音機裏聽到一則消息：一條殺屠弑(音譯，即爲藏羚羊絨)製成的披肩，在意大利時裝市場，可以賣到十幾甚至幾十萬美圓。聽了這則使不少屠夫商人心跳的消息，不由得令我憂心忡忡。在高額利潤的引誘下，必然會有膽敢以身試法而爲之效勞的“勇夫”。不論法律如何禁止捕殺，藏羚羊終究擺脫不了被殺的命運。

　　I heard this news on the radio: A Shahtoosh shawl made from the down hair of Tibetan antelopes is worth from $100,000 up to a few times over in the Italian fashion market. This news is sure to quicken the heartbeats of bloodthirsty merchants and I worry very much that with the lure of high profits, people will be brazen enough to defy regulations and provide illicit services. Regardless of how the law forbids illegal killing and hunting, the Tibetan antelopes, I am afraid, will eventually meet their doom, the fate of being slaughtered.

　　在廣袤靜谧的藏北草原，藏羚羊自來與人類和諧相處，世世代代無憂無慮，安享天年。突如其來的厄運使它們手足無措，柔弱的藏羚羊豈能與手持武器的人類抗爭？

　　Over the vast and peaceful plains in northern Tibet, these antelopes have been living harmoniously with human beings; for many generations they have been worry-free and lived their full lifespan. When all of a sudden such a disaster befalls them, they are completely at a loss. How can these gentle and frail antelopes fight against humans who carry guns and other weapons

　　我們可以想象這樣的一幕，奄奄一息的藏羚羊靜靜地躺在草原上，哀望著漸漸模糊的草原，送走此生最後一個夕陽。耳邊是殺手們肆無忌憚的笑聲，他們正爲即將到手的鈔票慶賀著。它就在這樣的痛楚與仇恨中咽了氣。在通往中陰的路上，殺手的面孔和笑聲將在冤屈的神識裏久久萦繞，無法消散。

　　Just imagine such a scene: The wounded Tibetan antelope, lying on the field and with few remaining breaths, sadly looks at the prairie with blurry vision and bids its last farewell to the setting sun. Surrounding their prey are the poachers who congratulate themselves in uproarious fits of laughter over the big money on the way to them. It is in such immense pain and aversion that the antelopes perish and wander into bardo, the intermediate state, while the grimaces and laughter of the perpetrators linger forever in their grieving souls.

　　那些銷售與購買披肩的人們，怎能不意識到，在高檔時裝的背後是堆積如山的藏羚羊頭骨，每一條披肩上面都遊蕩著藏羚羊的靈魂。披著這樣的披肩怎能不戰栗、不膽寒，怎能心安理得？

　　Behind high fashion lay huge piles of skulls of Tibetan antelopes and around every shahtoosh shawl lingers the antelopes” unsettling souls. How can those who sell or buy the shawls have no inkling at all

　　 How can they not feel appalled and terrified when wearing such a shawl

　　 Can they ever maintain an easy conscience

　　索南達傑爲保護藏羚羊而被人謀殺，殊不知那些暗自慶幸的人們正因此而謀殺了自己的天良；謀殺了自己的今生來世；謀殺了自己的解脫慧命。

　　Sonam Dargye, an animal rights advocate for Tibetan antelopes, was murdered. Yet little do the murderers know that in what they considered a feat, they have also killed their own conscience; they have destroyed their present and future lives, and they have eradicated their chance to attain liberation.

　　這一切只是人類殘忍發展史中的一段小小篇章，若任由這種獸行繼續，甚至爲其推波助瀾，滅絕地球也只是彈指之間。又有多少人會在乎藏羚羊或某種動物將在極短的時間內，將從人類的視線中消失呢？

　　The plight of Tibetan antelopes is only a tiny chapter in the whole history of human cruelty, but if this kind of savage behavior is allowed to perpetuate or become more prevalent, the destruction of our Mother Earth will happen in the blink of an eye. How many people care if Tibetan antelopes or other endangered animals will face extinction very soon

　　天網恢恢，疏而不漏。六道輪回，滄海桑田。誰能斷定自己下世不會淪爲畜生？誰能逃脫因果的定則？人類爲了滿足錦衣玉食的需求，必將付出綿長的代價。

　　“Though the mills of Justice grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.” Sentient beings are perpetually cycling in the six realms, constantly changing from one form to the other. Who can say for sure that an animal rebirth is not the next destination

　　 Who can ever defy the effect of positive and negative actions

　　 When humans stop at nothing to satisfy the demand of a sumptuous lifestyle, there is no escape from having to pay a huge price.

　　令人稍感欣慰的是，保護動物的意識，已經在一些人的心中生起了苗頭。酷愛狩獵的英國查爾斯王子，因爲一張屠殺野鴨的照片，在西方輿論界引起了一場軒然大波，也使捕獵者的囂張氣焰有所遏製。

　　But there is some consolation that people are becoming aware of the issue of animal rights and animal protection. England”s Prince Charles, an avid hunter, caused a media uproar in the West when he was photographed killing wild goose; this episode also dampened somewhat the abrasive arrogance of hunters.

　　我期待著遍地羚羊的景象能在藏北草原上重現，但願這美好的願望，不會變成一場黃粱美夢。

　　I look forward to seeing the grazing prairie of northern Tibet populated again with its native antelope, and I hope this earnest wish is not just a fool”s dream of paradise.

　　壬午年七月十九日 　

　　2002年8月27日 　

　　19th of July, Year of RenWu

　　August 27, 2002

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