生活·艺术——三谈“林语堂与中国文化”

Life·Art: On Lin Yutang and Chinese Culture Thrice

社会之进步和科技之发展,给人类提供了极为丰沛之物质财富,然而,人类亦渐失自己之精神家园与灵魂。欲找回丢失之精神家园与灵魂,欲诗意地栖居尘世这个"唯一的天堂",人类之生活就须诗意化艺术化。林语堂提倡"生活的艺术",于他而言,生活即艺术。"生活的艺术"乃人生之一种积极之生活态度,一种生活方式和哲思情怀;"生活的艺术"是人生之一种生命存在之艺术体验,一种静观超然之精神境界;"生活的艺术"亦是一种高智、随性、细致、从容应对尘世之方式。故其热爱自然,于自然中感悟生活之真谛和生命之真如,于闲适中抽烟、钓鱼、听音乐、与古今中外之先贤达人心灵相契,细品生活之乐慢味人生之美,从而将平凡简单之生活升华至哲学与艺术之高度。

Social progress and the development of science and technology provide Man with extremely abundant material wealth. However, human beings are gradually losing their spiritual homes and souls. To retrieve what has been lost, and to live poetically on ＂the only earthly paradise＂, Man＇s life should be poetic and artistic. Lin Yutang advocates ＂the art of life＂, to whom life is art. ＂The art of life＂ is a positive attitude, a way of life and philosophical sentiments in life; ＂The art of life＂ is an artistic experience of beings, a mentality of tranquility and transcendence in life;＂The art of life＂ is an approach to handling worldly affairs with wisdom, disposition, care and ease in life. So Lin loves the Nature, in which he sees the true meanings of life and the true Self of life. He smokes, fishes, listens to music, and communicates mentally with those prominent figures at home and abroad, from the past or at present. And he tastes the pleasure and the beauty of life to sublimate ordinary and simple life to the level of philosophy and art.