采访：Stella Zhang & 闲人捷
整理：Stella Zhang
翻译：闲人捷
问：那又是什么契机来到中国呢？
A: Six years ago, some Chinese person came to my ashram in Australia to study meditation.
六年前，澳大利亚的修习营迎来了一些来学习冥想的中国学生。
I was very impressed that they would come so far to learn.
我很惊讶他们不远万里而来学习。
And I was one of the teachers so they got to know me a little bit.
我是他们的老师之一，所以他们对我有一些了解。
In the end he asked me to come to China and teach for him for 3 months.
最后，他们问我是否愿意去中国教学3个月。
I refused because China is a long way away and I was very busy.
当时我很忙，中国又很远，所以我拒绝了。
He looked at me said that he really wanted me to come.
他看着我说，他十分想让我去。
And I thought I got a lot of holidays why don't I go to China.
后来我想我还有很多假期，那就去吧。
So I decided to go for few months and see what's like.
所以我觉得花几个月时间去看看。
It's sort of like a little bit adventure.
像个小探险一样。
But when I came here I started to see this was very hard.
但是当我来了之后才知道如此艰难。
I don't know what they say. I don't know how to talk to people. They eat parts of animals that we don't normally eat. But people were very kind to me.
我不知道人们在说什么，不知道如何和人们交流。他们吃一些动物的部位是我们从来不吃的。不过，大家对我非常友善。
I traveled to many cities and stayed 2 weeks in each one. I was meeting a lot of nice people.
我在很多城市旅行，每个城市会住两周左右。我遇到了很多不错的人。
After I went home at end of it all he contacted me and asked me to come back again. So in the beginning I came for 3 months, and then for 4 months and then for 5 months.
回家后，他继续联系我希望我可以再来。所以我开始来3个月，4个月，5个月这样子。
I worked for free in China and the other time I worked for money in Australia.
我在中国工作是免费的，而在澳洲是有收入的。
One day I thought if I am going to make a difference in China I must go and live in China.
一天我想到如果我想要在中国做点不同的事，我需要长期住在这里。
I must have same students for 2 years or 3 years or 4 years then we can make progress. I can't teach them very much in 2 weeks.
我需要在这里教一些固定的学生2到4年，这样我们才能取得进步。我无法在2星期里教得太多。
Then I was invited to LeYoga for 3 days workshop when I was looking for a way to work in China.
当我正在寻求工作时，乐瑜伽邀请我做一次工作坊。
All of these different experiences proved to me that there is a reason and purpose in your life.
所有这些经历证明我们的人生是有使命的。
Because when I used to follow money and power, it took me nowhere except to sadness and suffer.
因为当我追随金钱和权利时，他们常常带来悲伤和痛苦。
And when I let go all of those stuff and looked for way to be useful and helpful, ways came to me.
当我放下这些东西，去寻求一种有益方式时，它就会到来。
I never chose to be a teacher. I never chose to come China. The way would keep coming to me to be able to do this.
我从未选择做老师，我从没想过来中国。一切都推着我来到这里。
(图片是老师第一次在乐做工作坊照的，我应该收下肚子，哈哈哈）
Q: You've been LeYoga for 2 years, but some students don't know you. Some thought you are a serious person or scared person.
问：您来乐瑜伽已经2年多了，可是现在很多同学都还不了解您。有些学生觉得您是很严肃的人。
A: I don't really try to be anything but I'd try to be humble and quiet, not to make too much noise or anything like these.
我一般不会努力尝试去做什么，不过我确实尝试过表现谦逊和安静，不去制造太多声音等类似的事情。
And also I do not speak any Chinese. So it's very difficult for me to talk to many other students.
也因为我不会说中文，所以和其他学生交流起来很困难。
So usually the students I interact with are the ones who come to my class because I come to know them a little bit.
所以通常我会记住那些来上课的学生，因为我开始对他们有了一些了解。
But I've always tried to say hello to people. When someone walk to pass I would make eye contact. And if they look back, I would always smile and say hello.
然而，我也总是试着和路过并和我有眼神接触的同学说hello。当他们再次回眸，我总是笑着和他们打招呼。
And if they don't look back I would just keep walking. Because also you must respect their space in the yoga center. Some people don't like to talk too much in yoga center.
同时，当他们只是经过，通常我也会继续行走，因为我会尊重每个人在乐瑜珈的个人空间。有些人不愿在瑜伽馆和别人有太多交流。
But I feel good and comfortable here. I think I'm a shy person anyway except when I'm teaching. I'm not shy when I am teaching.
不过，我觉得在这里很好很舒适。我觉得除了上课的时候我平时是很腼腆的人。我上课的时候一点都不腼腆。
Q: What's the biggest challenge to teach in China?
问：在中国教瑜伽最大的挑战是什么？
A: Language. The concepts and ideas that I am trying to teach and the words I am trying to use they don't understand.
答：语言。我尝试解释一些大家不了解的概念和想法。
Things like awareness, consciousness, witness, I can explain them pretty quickly to people in the west because they get these.
像是觉知、意识、旁观者这些词，在西方人们我解释的很快，人们理解的也很快。
It's just no part of the Chinese culture or they see these things in a different way.
一些是中国传统里没有的或是理解角度不同的。
So I must seek different way to explain that doesn't scare them or anything like that.
所有我必须用不同的方式解释，让大家不害怕或是什么的。
Sometimes when I say in meditation class "Are there any questions?" Silence that what I get.
有时我会在冥想课上问，有什么问题吗？得到的总是沉默。
People just stare at me. And I can see their faces with questions but they won't ask.
大家只是盯着我，我能看到大家满脸疑问，可他们就是不问。
Sometimes I think they don't understand what is question to ask.
有时，我在想他们只是不知道什么是问题。
And then I come to realize that I don't really understand the students well enough to be able to teach them.
然而，我突然意识到我没有真正了解我教的这些学生。
So I really want to become Chinese. Because I must become Chinese to be able to understand how Chinese think, to communicate with them and interact with them properly.
所以我十分想变成中国人，因为这样我就可以明白大家是如何想，如何交流和怎么去影响他人。
So when I come to China I don't want to be a westerner. It's difficult. But I want to try to embrace Chinese culture and I have so much respect for Chinese people.What they do and how they live.
所以来到中国，我不想做为外来者，这很难。我想试着去尊重中国传统，更多的去尊重中国人如何做事和生活的。
I think we can all learn from each other.
我想大家需要互相学习。
And I hope way keeps coming for me to be here and to keep getting opportunity so I can keep working with Chinese people.
所以我希望能以我喜欢的方式来此工作，这样我就有机会和中国人一起工作了。
I am here for a reason. Universe doesn't ever make mistakes. It doesn't put you into places that you not meant to be. It just sometimes takes you a long time to understand why you are there or to be able to get used to this idea that you are there for a reason or purpose.
我来这里是有原因的。宇宙不会犯错，他不会把你放到你不该存在的地方。只是你要花很长时间才能明白你来此的原因和目的。
Q: Where does your name "Mantra" come from?
问：您名字中“Mantra”从何而来？
A: In India there is a tradition called Sannyasa.It's a little bit like a monk. If you wish you can make these vow and become a Sannyasa which means you will live your life following path of yoga to grow yourself and help other people.
答：在印度有一个瑜伽传承是萨提亚南达瑜伽。有一点像僧人那样。如果你愿意遵守戒律变成萨提亚南达的习练者，那就意味着你选择了瑜伽士的生活方式，自我成长和帮助他人。
After 10 years or so of doing this yoga, I was surrounded by many people who have took this vow.
经过这样十年的瑜伽生活，我身边很多人觉得遵守戒律。
And I decided it was a suitable way for me to live and I wanted to become a Sannyasa.
我决定成为一名萨提亚南达瑜伽士，这是我要的生活方式。
There are different levels of Sannyasa.Anyone can become a Sannyasa.
每一个人都能成为萨提亚南达瑜伽士，这里有不同的层级。
But when you get to higher levels and really dedicate your life to it, the Guru must agree that you are suitable to this.
当你达到更高的级别真正决定要如此生活时，需要由上师来判断决定。
The highest level of these is to be made a Swami. Swami is like a title for a high teacher who is chosen to dedicate their whole life to live in this way.
更高的级别是成为Swami，这个称呼更像是高级教师，成为Swami就意味着他们选择以此方式度过一生。
Only the Guru can make you a Swami you cannot decide whether you are. You will go to your Guru and ask whether you can do this.
只有上师才能决定你能否成为Swami，你必须去问上师你是否可以，而不是你自己决定。
And he will decide whether you are ready for this and able to make this commitment.
而上师会决定你是否准备好为此奉献。
So after many years of being a Sannyasa, I asked whether I can be a Swami. And the Guru said "Yes, you can do this. You are ready to become a Swami."
所以经过几年瑜伽士的生活，我问老师，我可以成为Swami了吗？老师说，你可以的，你已经准备好了。
And when you become a Swami, he gives you a yoga name.
当你成为Swami时，上师会赐予你一个瑜伽名字。
My whole name is Swami Mantramurti Saraswati. Saraswati the name of the family of yoga that I study.
我的全名是Swami Mantramurti Saraswati.
Saraswati是我所练习瑜伽的家族姓氏。
Mantra means vibration and energy. Murti can mean many different things but it is like a container. So one of the meanings of word Mantramurti would be energy within me.
Mantra的意思是震动和能量，Murti有很多意思，其中一个意思是容器。所以Mantramurti有一种解释就是内在充满能量（赐予我力量吧）。
And one of the rules of becoming a Swami is that whenever you are teaching or presenting your tradition in anyway, you must use the name that given to you. And also I must wear this color.
成为Swami的另一个规则就是在教学和展示传承时必须用被赐予的名字，还有必须穿这个颜色的衣服。
It's like the Buddhist Monk will wear the red robe that indicates that he has made commitment to that.
就像僧侣穿红色的袈裟一样，表明自己是受戒的。
This color is called Geru which comes from the mud from the bottom of the Ganges River.
这个颜色被称为Geru，是恒河底部的颜色。
So when I am coming to the class I understand that it's very difficult for Chinese people to call me Swami Mantramurti Savasvoti. So Mantra is ok. That's where my name comes from.
我明白让中国人记住我的全名很难，所以称呼我Mantra就好。
这就是我名字的由来。
Namaste.
延伸阅读：
专访·经历篇|Swami Mantramurti：瑜伽让我快乐（文末有八卦）
专访·冥想篇|Swami Mantramurti：为什么是瑜伽？为什么是冥想？
