原文作者：佚名

　保罗·柯艾略（paulo coelho， 1947～），巴西作家、小说家。保罗生于巴西里约热内卢，从小就向往成为一名作家，但在父母的逼迫下一度放弃这一梦想，后成为一名歌词创作者。1982年，保罗出版了他的第一本书，但影响甚微。1988年，保罗的《牧羊少年奇幻之旅》（the alchemist）出版，获得了巨大的成功。该小说已被译为近60种语言出版，成为历史上最畅销的小说之一。[论文网] 
 　　《光明战士手册》（manual of the warrior of light）实际上是一部箴言集。这些箴言都来自保罗·柯艾略在1993～1996年间发表于《圣保罗日报》的“天命”专栏。在1997年集结成书时，保罗又加上了序曲和尾声，使其成为一个更加完整的故事。书中，保罗结合中西方文化，从《道德经》《庄子》《圣经》《可兰经》等经典著作中撷取精华，极具启发性地记述了光明战士寻找生命真谛的故事，为读者开启独特的内心探索之旅。
 　　下节文选自该书的“序曲”部分。
　　精彩片段
　　"just off the beach to the west of the village lies an island， and on it is a vast temple with many bells，" said the woman.
 　　the boy noticed that she was dressed strangely and had a veil covering her head. he had never seen her before.
 　　"have you ever visited that temple？" she asked. "go there and tell me what you think of it."
 　　seduced by the woman's beauty， the boy went to the place she had indicated. he sat down on the beach and stared out at the horizon， but he saw only what he always saw： blue sky and ocean.
 　　disappointed， he walked to a nearby fishing village and asked if anyone there knew about an island and a temple.
 　　"oh， that was many years ago， when my great-grandparents were alive，" said an old fisherman. "there was an earthquake， and the island was swallowed up by the sea. but although we can no longer see the island， we can still hear the temple bells when the ocean sets them swinging down below."
 　　the boy went back to the beach and tried to hear the bells. he spent the whole afternoon there， but all he heard was the noise of the waves and the cries of the seagulls.
 　　when night fell， his parents came looking for him. the following morning， he went back to the beach； he could not believe that such a beautiful woman would have lied to him. if she ever returned， he could tell her that although he had not seen the island， he had heard the temple bells set ringing by the motion of the waves.
 　　many months passed； the woman did not return and the boy forgot all about her； now he was convinced that he needed to discover the riches and treasures in the submerged1） temple. if he could hear the bells， he would be able to locate it and salvage2） the treasure hidden below.
 　　he lost interest in school and even in his friends. he became the butt3） of all the other children's jokes. they used to say： "he's not like us. he prefers to sit looking at the sea because he's afraid of being beaten in our games." and they all laughed to see the boy sitting on the shore.

although he still could not hear the old temple bells ringing， the boy nevertheless learned about other things. he began to realise that he had grown so used to the sound of the waves that he was no longer distracted by them. soon after that， he became used to the cries of the seagulls， the buzzing of the bees and the wind blowing amo

ngst the palm trees.
 　　six months after his first conversation with the woman， the boy could sit there oblivious to all other noises， but he still could not hear the bells from the drowned temple.
 　　fishermen came and talked to him， insisting that they had heard the bells.
　　but the boy never did.
　　some time later， however， the fishermen changed their tune4）： "you spend far too much time thinking about the bells beneath the sea. forget about them and go back to playing with your friends. perhaps it's only fishermen who can hear them."
 　　after almost a year， the boy thought： "perhaps they're right. i would do better to grow up and become a fisherman and come down to this beach every morning， because i've come to love it here." and he thought too： "perhaps it's just another legend and the bells were all shattered during the earthquake and have never rung out since."
 　　that afternoon， he decided to go back home.
　　he walked down to the ocean to say goodbye. he looked once more at the natural world around him and because he was no longer concerned about the bells， he could again smile at the beauty of the seagulls' cries， the roar of the sea and the wind blowing in the palm trees. far off， he heard the sound of his friends playing and he felt glad to think that he would soon resume his childhood games.
 　　the boy was happy and—as only a child can—he felt grateful for being alive. he was sure that he had not wasted his time， for he had learned to contemplate nature and to respect it.
 　　then， because he was listening to the sea， the seagulls， the wind in the palm trees and the voices of his friends playing， he also heard the first bell.
 　　and then another.
　　and another， until， to his great joy， all the bells in the drowned temple were ringing.
 　　years later， when he was a grown man， he returned to the village and to the beach of his childhood. he no longer dreamed of finding treasure at the bottom of the sea； perhaps that had all been a mere product of his imagination， and he had never in fact heard the submerged bells ring out on one lost childhood afternoon. even so， he decided to walk for a while along the beach， to listen to the noise of the wind and to the cries of the seagulls.

imagine his surprise when， there on the beach， he saw the woman who had first spoken to him about the island and its temple.
 　　"what are you doing here？" he asked.
　　"i was waiting for you，" she replied.
　　he noticed that， despite the passing years， the woman looked exactly the same； the veil hiding her hair had not faded with time.
 　　she handed him a blue notebook full of blank pages.
　　"write： a warrior of light values a child's eyes because they are able to look at the world without bitterness. when he wants to find out if the person beside him is worthy of his trust， he tries to see him as a child would."
 　　"what is a warrior of light

？"
　　"you already know that，" she replied with a smile. "he is someone capable of understanding the miracle of life， of fighting to the last for something he believes in—and of hearing the bells that the waves sets ringing on the seabed."
 　　he had never thought of himself as a warrior of light. the woman seemed to read his thoughts. "everyone is capable of these things. and though no one thinks of themselves as a warrior of light， we all are."
 　　he looked at the blank pages in the notebook. the woman smiled again.
　　"write about that warrior，" she said.
　　“就在小村西边的海岸处，坐落着一座孤岛；岛上有座很大的寺庙，庙里有许多钟。”女人说。
　　男孩注意到她衣着奇特，头上罩着一层薄纱。他以前从未见过她。
　　“你去过那座寺庙吗？”她问道，“去看看吧！然后回来告诉我你对那里的看法。”
　　男孩被女人的美貌所吸引，去了她说的那个地方。他在海滩上坐下，紧紧盯着地平线看，但却只看到他平日常见的碧海蓝天。
　　他失望地走到附近的一家渔村，询问那里是否有人知道一座孤岛和一座寺庙。
　　“哦，那是好多年前的事了，那时我的曾祖父母还活着，”一位年迈的渔夫说，“当时发生了一场地震，那座小岛被海水吞没了。不过，虽然我们无法再看见那座岛，但我们仍能听到庙里的那些钟在海底被海水冲击晃动时发出的阵阵声响。”
 　　男孩返回海边，努力倾听那钟声。整个下午，他都待在那儿，但他听到的只有海浪声和海鸥的啼鸣。
　　夜幕降临，男孩的父母来寻他回家。次日清晨，他又回到了海岸边。他无法相信那么美丽的一个女人会撒谎骗他。如果她回来了，他就可以告诉她，尽管自己没见到那座岛，却听到了那些海浪翻腾时引发的钟声。
 　　好几个月过去了，那个女人没有回来，男孩也已把她忘得一干二净。现在他确定的是，他需要找到那海底寺庙里的财宝。如果他能听到钟声，他就可以确定寺庙所在的具体位置，然后打捞出藏匿于海底的宝藏。
 　　他对上学失去了兴趣，甚至觉得他的那些朋友都变得索然无味。他沦为了其他孩子的笑柄。他们时常这样说：“他跟我们不一样。他更愿意坐在那儿看海，因为他怕在游戏中被我们打败。”而且，他们看到男孩坐在海边就会笑话他。
 　　尽管男孩还是没能听到古庙的钟声，他却渐渐学会了其他事情。他开始意识到，自己已对海浪声习以为常，不会再因它们而分心。很快，他也渐渐习惯了海鸥的啼鸣、蜜蜂的嗡嗡声以及海风吹过棕榈树时所发出的声音。
 　　自男孩同那女人首次交谈的六个月之后，他已经能够心无旁骛地坐在海边，忽视周遭的任何声音。但是，他依旧听不到来自那沉没的古庙的钟声。
　　渔人们过来跟他交谈，坚持说他们听到过钟声。
　　可是男孩却一次也没听到过。
　　但是一段时间之后，那些渔人又换了一种说法：“你思考海底钟声花了太多时间了。忘记它们，回去跟你的朋友们一块玩吧！也许那钟声只有我们渔夫才能听见。”
　　过了差不多一年的光景，男孩想：“也许他们是对的。我最好长大后成为一名渔夫，然后天天早上来这片海滩，因为我已经喜欢上这里了。”他又想：“也许这只是又一个传说罢了。那些钟或许在当年地震时就全部被震碎了，然后就再也没响过。”
 　　那天下午，他决定回家。
　　他走向大海，与它告别。他又看了看周围的自然风景，因为他不再想着古庙钟声，他又能感觉到海鸥的啼鸣、大海的咆哮还有海风拂动棕榈树的声音是那么美丽了，又能因此而微笑了。他听到了远处传来的朋友们的嬉戏声，一想到自己马上就要回到那些儿时的游戏中去，他就感到很高兴。

　男孩很开心，并因为活着而心生感激——只有孩子能做到这点。他很确信自己并没有蹉跎时光，因为他已经学会了如何去思考自然、尊重自然。
　　而后，就在他倾听着海的呼啸、鸥的啼鸣，听着棕榈树间的沙沙风声以及朋友们的嬉戏声时，还有一声钟鸣传入他的耳畔。
　　接着，又一声。
　　接着，又一声，直至沉没的古庙中的所有钟全部响起。这让他狂喜不已。
　　数年后，他已长大成人，又回到了童年时去过的那个村庄和那片海滩。他已不再梦想着找到海底的财宝。兴许一切都只是他想象出来的。或许在那个遗失的童年的午后，他从未真正听到过海底的钟声。尽管如此，他仍然决定沿着海滩走一走，听听风声与鸥鸣。
 　　你可以想象得到他有多惊讶，因为就在那片海滩上，他看见了那个最初和他交谈并告诉他有关那个小岛和寺庙的故事的女人。
　　“你在这里做什么呢？”他问道。
　　“我一直在等你。”她回答。
　　他注意到，尽管流年似水，她却容颜依旧，连包裹发丝的那层薄纱都没有随时光消逝而褪色。
　　她递给他一本空白的蓝色笔记簿。
　　“请在上面写下：光明战士珍视孩子的眼睛，因为他们眼中的世界没有痛苦。当光明战士想要弄清他身边的人是否值得信任时，他会努力用孩童的眼光去看他。”
　　“什么是光明战士？”
　　“你已知晓答案，”她笑着回答，“光明战士能够理解生命的奇迹，能够为了自己的信仰而奋战到底，也能够听到海底浪潮拍打那些钟而响起的钟声。”
　　他从来没有想过自己就是一个光明战士。女人似乎猜透了他的心思，说道：“每个人都可以胜任这些事。尽管没有人认为自己是光明战士，但我们每个人都是。”
　　他看着那本笔记簿中的一页页白纸。女人又笑了。
　　“在上面写些关于那个光明战士的东西吧。”她说。
　　1. submerged [s?b?m??d?d] adj. 淹没的；水下的
　　2. salvage [?s?lv?d?] vt. 打捞
　　3. butt [b?t] n. （嘲弄等的）对象，笑柄
　　4. change one's tune： 改变调子，变卦
　　赏析
　　《光明战士手册》全书共包含133则短篇，以箴言的形式讲述了光明战士寻找生命真谛的故事。作者在书中将东西方智慧浓缩于简洁、诗意的语言之中，从一个看似平淡无奇却悬念重重的寓言出发，探寻生活中常常被忽略的真实以及真实背后隐藏的那些深邃的哲理。其实，这本书可以有各种各样的解读。你可以随时放下，又可以随时开始，

闭上眼睛随便翻到哪一页，总会有那么几句话蓦地触动你的心灵。你也可以把它当做一本特殊的“旅行指南”，将光明战士的所作所为与自己对比，从而使自己的思想“地图”更加清晰。你还可以结合序言和尾声中的寓言故事，慢慢地领悟在成为勇士的征途上到底需要什么，又会得到什么。
 　　也许你会说：“我从未想过自己能成为勇士，那只是少数人能做到的事。”故事中的男孩也曾这样想过。那时他还只是一个懵懂的小男孩，仅仅因为对一个神秘的美丽女子的倾心而日复一日地独自坐在海滩上，期冀着能够聆听到海底寺庙的钟声。虽然他心无旁骛，却始终一无所获。然而，在他决定向大海告别的那一刻，神奇的事情发生了：他听到了海底深处传来的连绵不绝的钟声！长大成人后的他再次来到海滩上，奇迹般地遇到了多年前向他说起海岛和寺庙的那个神秘的女人。尽管男孩从未想过自己会成为光明战士，但女人告诉他：“每个人都可以胜任这些事。尽管没有人认为自己是光明战士，但我们每个人都是。”
 　　什么是光明战士？故事中的神秘女人给出了解释：光明战士能够理解生命的奇迹，并会为了自己的信仰而奋战到底。听到海底的钟声是男孩最初的目标，男孩一心一意只为听到钟声，日复一日地等待，默默地坚守。但在漫长而孤独的等待之后，他渐渐懂得了欣赏周遭的风景，懂得了尊重自然，意识到了活着就是幸福，明白了生命的美丽。正是在大自然中，他学会了静心沉思和心怀敬畏，他的心灵也得以净化，变得坚忍而纯粹。此时，最初的目标对他来说已然不再重要，因为他找到了更重要的东西。当他渐渐放下，静心感悟，就发现自己想要找的就在眼前。因此，对于光明战士来说，在成为勇士的征途上，过程最重要。譬如爬山时，可以沉醉于鸟语花香，静听泉水叮咚，可以欣赏层峦叠嶂、冷山云雾，也可以感受心跳的加快、身体的疲惫，正是这样的体验赋予了登上顶峰时那种“一览众山小”的感觉更多的意义。譬如一粒种子，只有在经历冬的严酷、春的温柔、夏的热烈后才能够破土而出、茁壮成长并结出累累硕果。人的生命又何尝不是如此呢？正如书中的一条箴言告诉我们的：“如只一心追求目标的达成，他就无法意会到征途上的启示；如只一味追问，他也将错过隐藏在身边的万千答案。”
 　　然而，光明战士要做的不仅仅是要欣赏沿途的美丽，更要秉承信念、坚持正义，让自己的生命更加绚烂，让他人的生命因自己而幸福。他总有一套为人处世的准则，而这些准则是他历经挫折、困难和逆境时得来的，是他体味生活、感悟生命的每一刻时得来的。故事中的男孩迈出了第一步，学会了欣赏生命、用孩子的眼光看待世界，而他以后的每一步都会记录在那本蓝色的笔记簿里。书中的那133条箴言正是光明战士的心路历程，是光明战士的人生感悟和行事准则，教我们拥有信心、爱心和敬畏之心，教我们独立、怜悯和忍耐……
 　　或许你会说，书中这133条箴言流于说教，甚至相互矛盾，没什么价值，但读过本书的尾声部分后你就不会这么认为了。在尾声部分，男孩在听完女人对光明战士的描述（也就是那些箴言）之后，发出了和我们一样的疑问：“可是，您说的很多都是相互矛盾的啊？”此时，女人告诉了男孩对于光明战士来说最重要的一点：“真正的战士不必徒劳分清泾渭，他必须学会接受生活原本，明白生活总是祸福相倚，矛盾共生。”这才是生命的本质。因此，在成为勇士的征途上，要记得：“只有当你意识到海浪呼啸、鸥鸟啼鸣和棕榈树的沙沙声与那钟声总是融汇在一起的时候，你才能真正听得到钟声。”