How can we tell which spiritual realm, contingent or spirit, we are in? Here we share an example of observing ourselves through meditation, focusing on the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air, which were mentioned by ancient philosophers.
我們如何知道自己屬靈操練是住在依附的世界還是靈性世界？這裡我們藉由默思中觀照地、水、火、風四元素作為例子來說明。

In one aspect, when we feel the weight of our body we observing the earth element of self. When we feel the flow of energy through our bodies, we observed the water element of self. When we feel the change in the temperature of our bodies, hot and cold, we observed the fire element of the self. When we feel the airflow while we breathe, fast and slow or deep and shallow, we observed the wind element of the self. In this aspect, we observe through the sensations of the body the rhythm we are in at that moment in our spiritual travel.
當我們默思時，我們可以觀照地、水、火、風四元素的變化。這觀照可分為兩種不同面的觀照。當我們在靜坐中感覺到身體的沈重與輕盈，這是對身體的「地」的觀照。當我們感覺到能量的流動時，我們觀照的是「水」的元素。當我們察覺打坐中體溫的變化時（有時感覺冷、有時感覺熱），我們觀照的是「火」的變化。當我們感覺呼吸中氣流的流動時，或察覺呼吸快慢的變化時，我們觀照的是「風」的變化。這種觀照，是透過身體的感受，我們觀察著這身體在不同時空旅行時，那當下的「宇宙韻律」變化。

From another viewpoint, we can observe the feeling of our heart in four different spiritual senses. God said our heart is His dominion. He also said:
另一層面的觀照是觀照心的感受與那感受相對的精神意義。神說我們的心是祂的國土，祂也說：

“O My servants! Be as resigned and submissive as the earth, that from the soil of your being there may blossom the fragrant, the holy and multicolored hyacinths of My knowledge. Be ablaze as the fire, that ye may burn away the veils of heedlessness and set aglow, through the quickening energies of the love of God, the chilled and wayward heart. Be light and untrammeled as the breeze, that ye may obtain admittance into the precincts of My court, My inviolable Sanctuary.” (Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh 152)
「我的僕人哪！你們要像大地一樣謙卑而柔順，如此，你們的生命之土或將盛開我聖潔、色彩繽紛的知識之花。你們要像熾熱的火焰，焚毀疏失與怠惰的面紗，通過上帝之愛催生的力量，使冷漠而頑劣之心燃燒起來。你們要像微風一樣輕盈自在，這樣，才能進入我的殿堂周圍，那不可侵犯的聖所。」（巴哈歐拉聖文選粹152）

We can ask ourselves, “am I humble enough, resigned and submissive, in front of God”, as we observe the element of earth in our spirit. By observing the seeds we sow in the soil of our heart (from the Holy Writings we read) and the result that reflects from our heart, this is another way of observing the earth element of spirit.
我們觀照「地」時，可以問問自己「我在神面前謙卑了嗎？我順從、交托了嗎？」藉由觀照我們所播種之種子其成長狀況，也就是觀照聖言播種在心田、看看聖言是否在心田產生結果的狀態，這是藉由靈性土地上的現象觀照，以另一種方式來而觀照靈性的「土」元素。

The water element comes when we receive inspiration and have more understanding of the Words of God, it is like our soul’s thirst is quenched. It’s also like grace showering upon the land of the heart and we see the plants of knowledge in the garden blooming with a variety of colors. By observing the effect of the grace of God, we see the water element of the spirit. When we observe the knowledge we understand from the Holy Writings and submerge ourselves in it, we taste the sweetness of the Words of God and sense their fragrance.
當我們看見自己受啟迪而對上帝知識有理解、並因理解而解心靈之乾渴時，那就好像我們在「心的土地」上看見了植物在恩雨的作用下盛開、成長著（不再枯萎），看見了各種色彩的植物，這是藉由恩典雨水的作用對「水」這元素的觀照。當我們看見自己因增加的上帝知識而心花怒放、沈浸與陶醉在神的知識恩賜中時，我們因此感受到那知識田園來的甜蜜與芳香。

When we feel the love of God and sense the eagerness to love God more, we observe the burning fire of love as fire element in spirit. While this fire is burning, we also can observe the veils of heedlessness that are burning away gradually, the chill of our heart is melted and instead of being wayward, we become resigned and submissive.
當我們感受到神的愛、看見自己對那愛的更渴求時，我們觀照著靈性的「火」。觀照那愛火的燃燒過程，我們是可以看見自己與神之間的面紗也在燒盡著，會看見與神之間的障礙愈來愈少，那原本的冷漠漸漸消失而轉為熱情，也會看見原本的任性變得順從與交托，這是愛火作用下可察覺的心的感受的轉變。

When we feel cheerful and joyful in our heart, we observe the influence of the breeze of the Holy Spirit. By being aware of the condtion of our heart, the degree of happiness, we know how close we are to the realm of Kingdom of God.
當我們感受到愉悅與喜樂時，我們觀照著聖靈微風吹拂過心田的感受。感受到聖靈微風，我們就知道自己已進入聖殿周圍，知道自己的靈魂已被提升至上帝的王國。

By observing the feeling of our heart, and the effect of the power of remembering God, we observe the four elements of spirit in the higher realm of the Kingdom of God. The more we see with our inner vision of the four elements in spirit, the more we are close to God.
藉由心感受的觀照，我們看見了念記上帝的力量在心起的種種作用。當我們觀照的是靈性的四元素，在這觀照中與上帝有了靈裡的連結時，我們就能進入更接近上帝的領域，這是更接近上帝世界的方式。愈多的洞察心中的靈性四元素，就是我們愈靠近神了。

The difference between these aspects of observation, we live in the spiritual realm, or that of the self. One is material, it has rise and fall, this is the realm of thing that perish. The other is spiritual, it can be observed more and more easily only when we embrace God in our heart. This is the realm of divinity and is eternal. We see the unchanging love of God and His unfailing promises.
這兩種不同層面的觀照，一個是在自我的領域，另一個是神我的領域。一個是物質的，有生有滅的。另一個是神性的，更靠近上帝的，是永恆的，但只有心中有上帝時那神我才能更清楚地被觀察到，那領域是神聖的。在那裡我們會看見上帝永恆不變的愛與祂不曾改變的承諾。

We can truly live in the spirit only when we have God in our heart. In the spiritual realm, we desire to know more about God. Detachment and letting go of earthly ideas and values will help us to live more and more in the spirit.
當我們心中有神，就能真正活出靈性。在那境域裡，對上帝的認識是充滿渴望的。藉著對塵世的超脫與世俗見的放下，就可以愈來愈活在靈裡。