Right Hand Path vs Left Hand Path: Explanation & Comparison
右手路径 vs 左手路径：解释与比较
Spirituality is often considered as a way of connecting with God, Universe or the Absolute. All traditional cultures are predicated on a belief in a Higher Power and it is up to the individual to reconnect with this power or at the very least follow the morals of their given religion (which is predicated on the existence of this power). So it may come as a bit of a surprise that there are two entirely different spiritual paths on this journey, that of the right hand and left hand. This is especially true when it comes to esoteric and magical beliefs and practices.
精神通常被视为与上帝、宇宙或绝对存在连接的方式。所有传统文化都基于对更高力量的信仰，而个体需要重新连接这种力量，或者至少遵循其宗教的道德规范（该宗教基于这种力量的存在）。因此，当人们了解到在这段旅程中存在两条截然不同的精神道路——右手道路和左手道路时，可能会感到有些惊讶。这在涉及神秘和魔法信仰与实践时尤其如此。
The Symbolism of Right and Left
右手与左手的象征意义
We first need to examine the symbolism of right and left. We can find the symbolical significance in the fact that there are more right handed individuals than there are left handed ones. The right side of the human body is controlled by the left side of the brain, which is dominant in analytical and logical thinking. Conversely, the left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain, which is dominant in creativity, emotions and imagination.
我们首先需要考察右手与左手的象征意义。我们可以从这样一个事实中找到其象征意义：右撇子比左撇子更常见。人体的右侧由左脑控制，而左脑主导分析和逻辑思维。相反，身体的左侧由右脑控制，而右脑主导创造力、情感和想象力。
On the political spectrum, the Right is mostly concerned with preserving social values against the onslaught of change. The political Left however is bent on change and progress. Already we find some major characteristics of the right as being conservative and orderly, whereas the left is geared towards change and chaos.
在政治光谱上，右派主要关注在社会变革的冲击下维护社会价值观。然而，政治左派则致力于变革和进步。我们已经发现右派的一些主要特征是保守和有序，而左派则倾向于变革和混乱。
Right Hand Path vs Left Hand Path
右手之路与左手之路
Drawing this analogy further, we arrive at deeper, esoteric implications. I will quote a passage from the excellent book Qabalah, Qlippoth and Goetic Magic by Thomas Karlsson to illustrate this difference:
进一步推演这个类比，我们便触及更深层的神秘含义。我将引用托马斯·卡尔松所著的杰出书籍《卡巴拉、克利波斯与巫术魔法》中的一段话，来说明这种差异：
The western Left Hand Path and the eastern Indian Left Hand Path, the Vamachara, strive towards the same goal. The common yoga of the RHP strives – just like the light western mysticism – to reach the unity and melt together with God or the divine. The RHP in Tantra also has this goal. Julius Evola in The Yoga of Power explains the difference between the RHP and the LHP:
西方左手法与东方印度左手法——即瓦马查拉——都追求同一个目标。右手法共有的瑜伽——正如西方的光明神秘主义一样——力求达到统一，与上帝或神圣融为一体。在密续中，右手法也有这个目标。尤利乌斯·埃沃尔在《力量瑜伽》中解释了右手法与左手法之间的差异：
There is a significant difference between the two Tantric paths, that of the right hand and that of the left hand (which both are under Shiva’s aegis). In the former, the adept always experiences ‘someone above him’, even at the highest level of realization. In the latter, ‘he becomes the ultimate Sovereign’ (chakravartin = worldruler).
右手法与左手法这两种密续之途之间存在显著差异（两者皆受湿婆神庇护）。在前者中，修行者始终体验到“在他之上存在某种力量”，即使在最高层次的觉悟中也是如此。而在后者中，“他成为至高无上的统治者”（chakravartin = 世界统治者）。
The LHP takes a further decisive step than the RHP. It represents the mysticism around the number 11 and the AA formula. The RHP leads to unity with God, while the Left takes one step beyond God. The RHP leads to a conclusive and final, eternal goal, while the goal of the LHP is to arrive at a new beginning. The two roads have been compared to the two ways that one can follow a river. The RHP follows the river into the sea, while the LHP goes against the flow back to the spring. The LHP goes backwards and against the stream. When the magician reaches the spring he has the possibility to alter the direction of the river and create a new river if he wishes to.
左手法则比右手法则走得更进一步，它代表着围绕数字 11 的神秘主义和 AA 公式。右手法则导向与上帝合一，而左手法则走出了上帝的一步。右手法则导向一个最终且永恒的目标，而左手法则的目标是抵达一个新的开始。这两条道路被比作人们可以跟随河流的两种方式。右手法则沿着河流入海，而左手法则逆流而上回到源头。左手法则逆向而行，逆流而上。当魔法师到达源头时，他有机会改变河流的方向，如果他愿意的话，可以创造一条新的河流。
So we find that the Right Hand Path is governed by light or white magic, and it’s the path that is recommended to most aspirants on the spiritual journey. But there is also a dark path that can be followed. Both paths promise greatness to the initiate, but they have ultimately different end goals. The RHP leads to the destruction of the Self in order to return to the Primordial Absolute from which all Creation came into Being. On the other hand, the LHP leads further away from the Absolute, glorifying the individual and making him more powerful, to the point where the practitioner of the left hand path becomes a differentiated God in full control of his own reality.
所以我们发现，右手路径受光或白魔法支配，它是大多数精神旅程追求者所推荐的路径。但也有可以遵循的黑暗路径。这两条路径都向初学者承诺伟大，但它们最终的目标是不同的。右手路径通向自我毁灭，以回归所有创造物产生的原始绝对。另一方面，左手路径则进一步远离绝对，颂扬个体，使其更强大，以至于左手路径的实践者成为完全掌控自身现实的区分神。
Because of this difference, the right hand path has often been associated with Good, and the left hand path with Evil. Former is the path of unselfishness and love, while the latter is the path of knowledge and power at whatever cost necessary. If the motivations for pursuing the left hand path by some are not entirely clear, here’s another illuminating passage from Karlsson’s book:
由于这种差异，右手路径常与善相关联，而左手路径则与恶相关联。前者是无私和爱的道路，后者是无论付出何种代价都要追求知识和力量的道路。如果有些人追求左手路径的动机并不完全清晰，这里是从卡尔松的书中摘录的另一段启发性的文字：
But, what reason exists for turning towards the dark side, according to the Qabalah? When analyzing the Qabalah’s view on metaphysical evil, we find that it is not necessarily connected wit the mundane brutality that we normally associate with evil. The Qabalistic, metaphysical evil is, at the same time, both a destructive force and a force of creation to which man must turn if he wants an individual existence. Man is separated from God in the Creation and from his mother at birth. Most religions offer to sphepherd man back to a utopian, original state. The dark path instead guides man into a second birth in which knowledge is attained, and he becomes like a god, just as the Serpent in the Garden of Eden promised. According to the Qabalistic view on evil, power and knowledge are the keywords that illustrate what the dark side has to offer.
但是，根据卡巴拉的教义，转向黑暗面有什么理由呢？当分析卡巴拉对形而上学之恶的看法时，我们发现它与通常与邪恶联系在一起的世俗残忍并不一定有关。卡巴拉的形而上学之恶，同时既是一种破坏力量，也是一种创造力量，人类如果想要获得个体存在，就必须转向这种力量。在创世中，人类与上帝分离；在出生时，人类与母亲分离。大多数宗教都承诺将人类引导回一个乌托邦式的原始状态。而黑暗面则引导人类经历第二次诞生，在这个过程中获得知识，并成为像神一样的人，正如伊甸园中的蛇所承诺的那样。根据卡巴拉对邪恶的看法，权力和知识是说明黑暗面能提供什么的关键词。
Right Hand vs Left Hand Path in Kabalah
卡巴拉中的右手路与左手路
RHP and LHP can be found in almost every complex esoteric system simply because light cannot exist without darkness and vice-versa. In order for there to exist a path of unselfishness, there has to also exist its opposite. In Kabalistic and Judeo-Christian mythological corpus exist the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Because man has eaten the fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge in his desire to become as powerful as God, he has already embarked on the left hand path.
RHP 和 LHP 几乎存在于每个复杂的神秘体系中，因为光明无法脱离黑暗而存在，反之亦然。为了存在一条无私的路径，其对立面也必须存在。在卡巴拉和犹太基督教神话体系中存在生命之树和知识之树。由于人类出于渴望像上帝一样强大而吃下了禁果，他已经踏上了左手路径。
All traditional religions strive towards reuniting with God by banishing this desire. That is the path of the right hand. But as an undercurrent there exists the path of the left hand, which embraces the Serpents quest for knowledge instead of returning to that primordial innocence that is symbolized by the Garden of Eden.
所有传统宗教都致力于通过消除这种欲望来与上帝合一。这就是右手之路。但暗流中存在着左手之路，它拥抱蛇追求知识的道路，而不是回归伊甸园所象征的原始纯真。
In Kabalah, on the RHP the initiate embarks on the journey symbolized by the Tree of Life, which is constituted by ten divine emanations known as Sephiroths. Each of the Sephirots is governed by angelic forces that provide challenges that have to be overcome in order to finally unite with the Godhead. But the shadow side of this process is symbolized by the Tree of Knowledge, which is made of the opposite of Sephiroth also known as Qliphoth. Qlipha are governed by demons such as Lilith, Asmodeus, Abaddon and many others.
在卡巴拉中，在右手路径上，修行者踏上由生命之树象征的旅程，生命之树由十个被称为卡发罗特的神性流溢构成。每个卡发罗特都受天使力量的统治，这些力量提供了必须克服的挑战，最终才能与神格合一。但这一过程的阴影面由知识之树象征，它由卡发罗特的相反面构成，也被称为克利普霍特。克利普哈受莉莉丝、阿斯莫德、亚伯龙等恶魔的统治。
There are many pitfalls on both journeys, but the left hand path is considered far more dangerous. However, the reward of becoming a fully individuated God is considered by some to be greater than merely returning to the Primordial Source from which all existence has arisen.
在这两条道路上都有许多陷阱，但左手路径被认为要危险得多。然而，有些人认为，成为完全独立的神所获得的奖赏，比仅仅回归所有存在都起源于的原始源头要大得多。
Right Hand Path vs. Left Hand Path in Traditional Cultures
右手路径与左手路径在传统文化中的对比
A similar difference that can be characterized as RHP vs LHP can be found in other cultures. Taoism is considered by some as a left-hand path, while Confucianism is the right-hand path. Simply because Taoism is concerned more with individual’s spiritual progression, while Confucianism is concerned more with preserving social equilibrium even if it goes against individual’s desires and progress. Again, we find a battle between individualism and collectivism, between selfishness and unselfishness.
在其他文化中，也可以找到类似的、可以用 RHP（右手路径）与 LHP（左手路径）来描述的差异。有些人认为道教是左手路径，而儒家则是右手路径。这仅仅是因为道教更关注个人的精神进步，而儒家更关注维护社会平衡，即使这会违背个人的愿望和进步。再次，我们看到了个人主义与集体主义、自私与无私之间的斗争。
In esoteric Hinduism the left hand path is that of Shakti Tantra, or Yoga of Power, as mentioned already in the passage quoting Julius Evola. The difference between the two paths is made especially clear in mainstream Christianity, which has relegated the left hand path to an outright heresy, depicting it as Satanism or Luciferianism and for a large part of its history outright persecuting anyone who dared to embark on this dark journey.
在神秘主义的印度教中，左手法门是湿婆派神秘主义，或称力量瑜伽，正如文中引用尤利乌斯·埃沃尔的观点所述。这两种法门之间的区别在主流基督教中尤为明显，基督教将左手法门贬斥为纯粹的异端邪说，将其描绘为撒旦教或路西法教，并在其历史的大部分时间里，对敢于踏上这条黑暗旅程的人进行残酷迫害。
Right Hand Path vs Left Path in Magic
魔法中的右手之路与左手之路
When it comes to magical operations, right hand path is mostly concerned with white and angelic magic. The left hand path includes demonic magic and curses aimed at harming people.
在魔法操作方面，右手路径主要关注白魔法和天使魔法。左手路径则包括旨在伤害他人的恶魔魔法和诅咒。
However, some magicians and theologians divide white and black magic based on their desired outcome rather than the type of magic being used. For example, demonic magic can be considered white magic if it’s used for benevolent purposes such as healing a sick person. Having said that, I’ve yet to find any angelic magic that would be aimed at harming others so it seems that all angelic magic is white, whereas demonic magic can be one or the other.
然而，一些魔法师和神学家根据其期望的结果，而不是使用的魔法类型来区分白魔法和黑魔法。例如，如果恶魔魔法用于慈善目的，如治疗病人，则可以被视为白魔法。话虽如此，我尚未发现任何旨在伤害他人的天使魔法，因此似乎所有天使魔法都是白的，而恶魔魔法则可能是白的也可能是黑的。
For this reason, famous Renaissance occultists like Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola were very reluctant to include demonic magic into their magical systems. Magicians who did, such as Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa were considered to be heretics and black magicians by the Church authorities during the times of the Reformation and witch hunts. These historical influences have seeped into the modern and contemporary imagination which almost exclusively designates a special place in hell for anyone meddling with demons.
因此，像马尔西利奥·费奇诺和皮科·德拉·米兰多拉这样著名的文艺复兴时期神秘主义者，都非常不愿意将恶魔魔法纳入他们的魔法体系。那些这样做的人，比如海因里希·科伦纽斯·阿格里帕，在当时宗教改革和猎巫时期被教会当局视为异端和黑魔法师。这些历史影响已经渗透到现代和当代的想象中，几乎专门为任何与恶魔打交道的人保留了一个特殊的地狱位置。
Right Hand vs Left Hand Path in Contemporary Culture
右手路径与左手路径在当代文化中的对比
The easiest way to make out the difference between right hand and left hand is to watch Star Wars. George Lucas did an excellent job of embodying these two principles in the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi obviously represent the Light Side of the Force (RHP) while the Sith represent the Dark Side of the Force (LHP). The former are ruled by unselfish motivations while the latter are striving for power and knowledge at all costs. We can find some similarity between the Left Hand Path, the Sith and Nietzsche’s philosophy based on Will to Power and becoming the Overman (Ubermensch). Watch Darth Sidious’ attempt to seduce Anakin into the dark side:
要区分右手路径和左手路径最简单的方法就是看《星球大战》。乔治·卢卡斯在绝地武士和西斯之间出色地体现了这两种原则。绝地武士显然代表着原力的光明面（RHP），而西斯则代表着原力的黑暗面（LHP）。前者受无私动机的支配，而后者不惜一切代价追求权力和知识。我们可以发现左手路径、西斯以及尼采基于权力意志和成为超人的哲学之间存在一些相似之处。观看达斯·西迪厄斯试图引诱天行者堕入黑暗面：
Some left hand practitioners will probably be somewhat insulted by being compared to Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. While I’m not suggesting that they would commit atrocities to become living gods, the ability to make moral and personal sacrifices is an integral part of the left hand path and therefore the comparison is justified, at least theoretically.
一些左手修行者可能会因为被比作达斯·维达和帕尔帕廷而感到些许冒犯。虽然我并非暗示他们会为了成为活神仙而犯下暴行，但做出道德和个人牺牲的能力是左手修行的重要组成部分，因此这种比较至少在理论上是有道理的。
Conclusion 结论
While the right hand path is the path of light and eternal bliss, the left hand path is the path of darkness, knowledge and power. The yin and yang of Taoism and the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge/Death in Kabalah are both depicting two sides of the same coin. Any esoteric system that has a light side is bound to have another because all Absolutes are internally divided by polar opposites and the seekers who align with one or the other.
虽然右手路径是光之道路和永恒喜悦的道路，而左手路径则是黑暗、知识和力量的道路。道教的阴阳、卡巴拉的生命之树和知识/死亡之树都在描绘同一枚硬币的两面。任何有光明一面的神秘体系都必然有另一面，因为所有绝对之物都由极性对立面内在划分，而寻求者会与其中之一对齐。
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