天然香一定好嗎？Is natural incense definitely good?

      常有人問，天然香一定都是好的嗎？如何分辨好壞？

    Often times, people ask if natural incense definitely good and how to distinguish its quality.

來自天地的生生不息---香與五行的關係 The endless cycle of the universe------on incense and the five elements

五行是中國古代的物質觀，分別為木、火、土、金、水，這五種元素充盈在天地之間，無所不在。五行也是四季自然律動的元素，彼此相互作用、相互發展，使自然產生變化，人遵循四時之法成，隨著春生，夏長，秋收，冬藏的規律而成長，違反自然便容易產生疾病。

Chinese classify all the materials into the five elements, including wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The world we live in teems with these five ubiquitous elements. The five elements interact with one another, which lead to changes naturally, and thus we have four seasons. Human-beings should abide by the rhythms of the four seasons, sowing in spring, growing in summer, harvesting in fall, and storing in winter. If not, the violation of natural rhythms of rules can give rise to disorders of all sorts.

竟心香道……覺醒的芳香路徑Meditating with incense----an awakening path of fragrance

        香的本質，是回歸內在的療育之旅。

    The essence of incense is an inward healing journey.

       香道，是禪的精神，是找回自心的禪的藝術。禪，是生活、是精神、是態度；是看待萬事萬物的心境。透過與香的連結，提高專注力，開啟覺知，觀照自我、明白阻礙個人前進的信念；透過香，滋養身心、轉化負面思維、提高信心、找回喜悅幸福，與更高的精神力量及意識連結。

    Incense ceremony carries the spirit of Zen, also an art that leads us to retrieve our true hearts. Zen can be interpreted as a way of living, a kind of spirit, an attitude, or a perspective on something. Through the connection to incense, we can hopefully enhance our attention, activate our awareness, observe ourselves clearly, and clarify what stops us from moving forward. By virtue of incense, we can really nourish our body and mind, transform our negative thought, enhance our confidence, find our blessings, and connect to the Higher Me.

    香，是萬物之精華；道，是路徑、是方法，也是內在本源。形式是內容的呈現方式，內容是形式外顯的依據，二者無法區分。黑格爾說：「藝術的形式是美的實現。」香道，體現為香席、香事、儀軌、品香的形式；內容是反觀自心的探索之旅；而其最初的意義與最終的目的，是回歸萬物被創化的起始點。

    Incense is the essence of all the beings, while a ceremony can be a way or method, or even an origin. The apparent ceremony is intertwined with the content. Hegel once said that the exhibition of art is the realization of beauty. Incense ceremony is displayed through the related instruments, a series of activities and rituals. By such doing, we can reflect our own mind and explore ourselves. And, the initial meaning and the ultimate goal are about the origin of all the creations. 

    當我們的心往外追尋時，就會失去認識自己的機會；唯有往內，才能聽見真正的聲音。平常的你，如何觀照自己？是否常常和自己的五感連結？你聽見、看見、聞到、吃到、碰到了什麼？引起你哪些感受？你的身體舒服嗎？你放鬆了嗎？此刻你是喜悅寧靜還是悲傷低落？你能覺察自己的思考模式嗎？你正向積極或消極灰暗？透過品香靜心與隨時觀照，就是把自己帶回內在的家了。

    When we go after something in the outside world, we actually lose the opportunity to know ourselves. Only by looking inward into ourselves can we really hear the true voice. That being said, how do you usually see yourself? Do you connect to your five senses? What do you hear, see, smell, eat or touch? What things do you respond to? Do you feel comfortable or relaxed? At the very moment, do you feel peaceful or sorrowful? Can you perceive your thinking patterns? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? When you meditate with incense and observe all the above-mentioned, you are going back to your inner home. 

    香道必須超越感官取悅，將精神與心靈的美感經驗，昇華為「共好」的情操。在宇宙神聖秩序中，與大自然合一、讓心境再度歸零，珍惜當下的一期一會，立足於更高視野看待萬事萬物，回歸圓滿自在的生命源頭，這才是香道的最終本質啊！

    Incense ceremony is above sensory pleasure. It is a beautiful experience about spirit and mind. It leads us to calm down, merge with the big nature in the holy universe. If we can cherish each unique encounter with incense and learn to see things on a higher level, we can return to the perfect origin of life. And, that is the ultimate essence of incense ceremony!

        「竟心香道」是一趟身心靈的療育之旅，讓我們走入內在認識本質，與真正的自己「香遇」。

    Incense ceremony is a healing journey for our body, mind, and soul. Let’s travel inwards and meet our true selves.

供香的意義The Meaning of Worshipping with Incense

    煙供是以天然香的清淨高等能量供養諸佛菩薩及六道眾生。若從室內及戶外來看，一般可分為以下幾種：

    To worship gods and all the sentient beings with natural high-quality incense can be done indoors and outdoors, and the details are listed as follows:

一、室內Indoors

  1.供佛菩薩：以家中的佛菩薩為供香對象，祈求佛菩薩加持，福

慧雙修、悲智雙運。

  1. We can worship Buddha or Bodhisattva with incense at home and pray for blessings and wisdom.

  2.祭祖：早晚為祖先供三柱清香，祈求闔家平安、祝福祖先提昇至

更高次元。

  2. We can worship our ancestors with incense every morning and evening and pray for a peaceful family or the spiritual promotion of our ancestors.

香--來自天地靈氣的祝福 Incense---a blessing from heaven

           香，在天地日月的精華中蘊育而生，不同香材各有不同的特性、生長環境和季節性。

            Incense stems from the nourishment of the sun and the moon; furthermore, the quality and property of each incense material vary with the environment and seasons.

聞香，恢復身心安頓與自我療癒 Smell the incense to refresh and heal our body and mind.

         藥材和香具有生命力，跟人一樣，他們也有不同的個性、特質、力量和智慧。

            Like human beings, medicinal herbs and incense have life, individual properties and effects.  

    檀香、圓柏等木質類生命力沉穩厚重；洋甘菊、茉莉花清揚芬芳；沉香則令人感覺心神安寧、輕安喜悅。

    For example, sandalwood and sabina give off an aura of composure, while chamomile and jasmine emanate a pleasant atmosphere.

師法自然，才是製香的精神 Incense should be produced in a natural approach.

    自然界的香材各具不同的療癒效能，透過炮製、存放、轉化的過程，可以再次激發、喚醒香材的能量。香，具有大自然的原生力，也是宇宙訊息能量的載體，承載了大自然的訊息，是平衡身心的天然療癒珍品。

Natural incense materials have their own healing properties, which can be activated in the manufacturing, storing, and transforming process. Incense has a natural power, and it also stores the information of the universe. Therefore, incense is a precious treasure that can be used to help balance our body and mind.

香與祝禱Incense and praying

在求神問卜的祭祀過程中，祝禱是為了「讓神明聽到」，「神明」即是「道」即是「生命的本源」，更是我們內在的神性與佛性，當我們自內在散發愛力時，就與神明合而為一，這種天人合一的愛力會擴展至家中，呈現出一片的祥和瑞氣。

                                                                                                                       ----------------------摘自《品香靜心》

香是一種療癒、修復、靜心、回歸、自在Incense helps us heal, recover, calm down, return to our original state, and stay at ease.

 香是一種療癒、修復、靜心、回歸、自在。真正的神明在內不在外，明白我們原本就是不生不滅、不垢不淨的自性之光，那才是香的真正意義。

Incense helps us heal, recover, calm down, return to our original state, and stay at ease. God exists inside rather than outside us. Incense leads us to realize the fact that we are never born and we never die and that we are neither clean or filthy in essence.

    

香是具祥瑞之氣的稀有聖品。 Peace emanates from incense, a rare treasure.

香是具祥瑞之氣的稀有聖品。

Peace emanates from incense, a rare treasure.

 在充滿祥和的氛圍中，就會轉換原本的感覺、想法，照見身心在當下的轉變，自然而然的，逐漸轉化內在的暴戾之氣，從緊張、恐懼、焦躁、不安中，昇華為安詳、篤定與恬靜。

In a peaceful atmosphere, our original feeling or thought can be transformed at the very moment. Naturally and gradually, our anger, anxiety, fear and fret can turn into peace and composure. 

一本特別的香道書，引你走入內在The special book on incense ceremony presents to you an inward path.

書名：《品香靜心》《The Fragrance of Incense Leads to Tranquility》

副標：築一香室、療癒、修復、靜心、回歸、自在的練習，找回最佳

的自己

Build up an incense chamber, and allow yourself to heal, recover, calm down, return to your original state, practice incense ceremony, and find the best of you!

沉香之美，氤氳無窮Agilawood is as captivating as can be.

    品一爐好香，可以修身養性、安神寧心。香不僅是中國古代文人的高雅生活，也是現代愛香人士的心靈安頓；而沉香在如此悠久的香道發展史中，始終備受青睞，其來有自。所謂四大名香─「沉檀龍麝」，沉香被列為首位，亦見其在眾香中的地位與價值。

Good-quality incense can calm us down and add pleasure to our life. Ancient Chinese literates enjoyed their life elegantly with incense and so do modern incense-lovers. In the long history of incense, agilawood has been thought highly of and there is a reason for it. Among the four famous incense materials, agilawood is considered the best, followed by sandalwood, ambergris, and musk. Presumably, the value of agilawood is greatly recognized.

心靜，則世界靜A serene state of mind leads to a peaceful world

 眾聲喧嘩的世界，紛紛擾擾，來來去去。

想讓世界安靜下來的唯一方法，

就是---

讓心安靜下來！

一縷青煙心自遠──香‧靜心‧情緒 Alienating from the mundane world------On incense, meditation, and emotions

         適當的情緒表現是與人相處的行為反應，但是基於某些原因，會害怕流動因而壓抑、漠視或切斷情緒，這些做法都會降低敏銳度及同理心。很多成人會忽略孩子的壓力和情緒反應，事實上，學童及青少年的壓力並不亞於大人，只是他們不善於說明。壓力會讓人肌肉緊繃、呼吸急促、腸胃不適、內分泌失調、失眠、焦慮、情緒化、容易哭泣……。這時，可以透過點香的方式，引導他們專注在呼吸上，讓香氣隨著吸氣進入身體，很快的就會感覺到身體放鬆。上班族在工作前點一支香，可為一天帶來美好的開始；午休時品一支香，補充耗散的體力，在緊張忙碌中，依然能夠保持愉快的心情；下班後點一爐香，釋放累積的壓力和情緒，修復流失的能量。

  

    

香---簡單又快速的提神良方 Incense---a simple and rapid tool to revitalize you~

   用香氣來治療疾病是20世纪70年代興起的新型療法，利用植物的根、莖、葉、花或果實散發出的氣味，來調節人的心理、生理機能，達到治療疾病的目的。波蘭「香味療法」協會會長瓦‧布魯斯介紹，利用香味療法治病有兩種方法：

Aromatherapy, based on the use of the all the parts of plants, cropped up in the 1970s and was utilized to cure diseases. It is believed that aromatherapy can regulate our psychological and mental functions and subsequently cure our disorders. According to the director of Polish Aromatherapy Association, aromatherapy can be operated in two ways:

香的價值知多少？ How much do you know about the value of the incense?

        藥材的好壞決定了香的品質，為了確保品質優良，避免買到劣質香材或假貨，必須從香材的產地、氣味、外觀、色澤、質地來判定原料的優劣。

    The quality of the herbs determines the quality of incense. In order to make sure the quality of the incense is good enough, we cannot pay more attention to the origins, scents, appearances, colors, and textures of the materials.

調一款2016年的上等平安好香 Creating the Incense of the Best Quality for harmony in 2016

    感謝大家對「研香師的香道世界」的支持，特地在2016年的農曆新年，以東方智慧的古法香藝，為大家調製上等好香：祈禱在馨香的祝福中，一切平安。

In order to thank all of you for your support of the blog, as the Chinese New Year is around the corner, we would like to deliver to you our most sincere wishes based on oriental wisdom through text--our precious incense. Wish you a joyful and peaceful 2016.

沒有宗教信仰為什麼要點香？ Why do those who don’t have religious beliefs burn incense?

道教、佛教會點香，天主教望彌撒時也會點香，華人更有「逢廟必拜」、「有拜有保佑」的心理，香已經成為宗教祭祀的符碼；但是點香拜拜，並不是宗教的專用形式。

  People who believe in Taoism, Buddhism, and Catholicism burn incense, and on the other hand, Chinese tend to worship any god in any temple for good luck. Incense, in one sense, has become a token with which people deliver their wishes in their own religious rituals; however, incense is not specifically used on religious occasions merely.

天然香的美學 Seeing Natural Incense from an Aesthetic Viewpoint

  現代香品製作的原料可分為天然香料與人工香料，在中國古代香藝的發展中，皆以天然香料為主；如植物的根、莖、葉、花、果實、樹幹、樹皮；動物則如麝香、龍涎香。

The ingredients found in modern incense can be roughly divided into two types------natural and artificial. In ancient China, natural incense was the mainstream, and the ingredients included the roots, stems, leaves, blooms, fruits, bark, trunks of plants as well as animal components, such as musk and ambergris.

香道--喚醒沉睡的嗅息覺受 Tao of Incense---Awakening the Sleeping Sense of Smell

          一般人很少把注意力放在五感的微細感受，對周遭所發生的一切經常是走馬看花、甚至是毫無感覺的。為了提高我們對事物的敏銳度，可以藉由品香過程

的氣味辨識，提高身體覺受及內在專注力。例如：吸氣時，感覺氣味如何進入鼻腔、進入肺部、進入身體；感受氣味前中後段有何不同、如何發生轉變；覺察氣味如何影響身體和情緒反應。透過這樣的訓練，可以開啟更精微的覺受力，讓自己從毫無知覺的麻痺式五感，提高為被動式五感，最後成為明察秋毫的主動式五感。

    Normally, people do not pay attention to the subtle changes in our five senses; that is to say, we may feel numb or nothing about the happenings around us. In order to enhance our sensitivity to all the occurrences, we can manage to enhance our sensitivity as well as concentration by distinguishing the scents in the process of appreciating the incense products. For instance, we can lead ourselves to notice how the smell enters our nasal cavities, lungs, and finally all over our body. In the meanwhile, we can also manage to distinguish the changes of the scents in the beginning, middle, and end of the process. Furthermore, we are also advised to feel how the scents affect our bodies and emotions. Through such training, we can sharpen our senses step by step and finally become more and more lucid.

 

物我香忘──由疏離走向合一的專注力訓練 Melting Yourself in Tao of Incense---a training for concentration

        對學習香道的新手而言，看到香案上各種不同的器具和固定的操作過程，大都會很緊張，害怕做不好而貽笑大方。香道流程是一種專注力的自我訓練，首先必須要放鬆、自然、專注、甚至帶著一種輕鬆的玩心，讓自己身心更為柔軟、舒適。有些初學者往往因為過度認真而顯得緊繃不自然，這樣就會讓香具、香材、香人三者各自疏離，無法全然合一。

To the novices in Tao of Incense, the incense instruments and the way to use them can fret them more or less, since they may fear becoming a laughing stock. As a matter of fact, Tao of Incense is a synonym for concentration. For starters, we should learn to relax, focus, and maintain a playful mindset. Some beginners are overconcerned, so much so that they appear not comfortable. In such a case, we may alienate from the incense instruments and the incense, and thus cannot be involved in the training process.