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.

    

         
有時在香道演示的過程中，展演者基於求好心切的心理，會擔心流程是否通暢、是否漏失重要程序或擔心動作不夠嫻熟；在擔憂恐懼中，肢體和動作就會顯得僵硬。因此必須透過不斷的練習，結合呼吸與專注，經驗豐富了，就能遊刃有餘，輕鬆地融入整個操作過程。

Occasionally, in the process of presenting Tao of Incense, the presenter may have too high expectations, worrying too much about his or her skills or the details involved. Consequently, his or her body language can appear stiff. The only solution lies in repetitive practice and focused breathing. As long as the presenter becomes more experienced, he or she can easily manipulate the whole process.

        一旦進入渾然一體的最高極致時，會感覺身體越來越輕、動作越來越柔、呼吸越來越細、心也越來越靜，仿如行雲流水天地間。拿起香匙整平香灰時，香匙已經不再是香匙了，而是身體的一部分；當香匙接觸香灰時，也會感覺香灰和自己全然合一，知道香灰的溫度、溼度、密度，明白該下多少力道是最適切的，所有動作的輕重緩急皆了然於心。雖然有整平香灰的動作，卻沒有整平香灰的概念、也沒有整平香灰的人，一切進入更深的寂靜。

Once you become one with Tao of Incense, your body can become lighter and lighter and your actions can be increasingly smooth as well as tender. On the other hand, your mind can be more and more peaceful, as if you were wandering free in the universe. Under such circumstances, an incense spoon is no more an incense spoon but a part of your body. And meanwhile, the incense ashes are no longer ashes but a part of you as you touch the ashes with the incense spoon. Naturally and consciously, you will know well about the temperature, humidity, density of the incense ashes, and you will also know how much strength you should impose on the instruments. You may have to level off the incense ashes, but you will do it without any concepts and have no idea who is the one doing all these things. You will simply slide into serenity.

        成為一個有意識的呼吸者，放鬆身體、放下情緒，放下思想，是學習香道很重要的基礎。唯有放鬆、自然，才能與香材、香具、流程、空間融為一體，達到「物我雙泯」、「主客相融」的完美結合。

The foundations of Tao of Incense include breathing consciously, relaxing your body, and letting go of your emotions and thoughts. Only by relaxing and freeing yourself can you merge with the incense, the incense instruments, the process and the space in order to become one with the activity and experience the ultimate spirit of Tao of Incense.