Chapter 9 serve
When Knecht took up the post of game master, he felt that the gain outweighed the loss.Work almost exhausted all his energy, devoured all his private life, and he had to ignore his hobbies and habits, so that there was only loneliness in his heart, and his mind seemed to be dizzy after overwork.Then there are new experiences and perceptions, which come with the rest, contemplation and adaptation process after exhaustion.
And the greatest fruit is that he won the war, and he established a cooperative relationship of mutual trust with the elites.He discussed work projects with his "shadow"; he tried to let Fritz de Glarius represent the communication affairs to share his burden; Various materials and records of colleagues.Through this work process, Knecht was able to truly and thoroughly get to know this group of elite talents he thought he knew very well, so his feelings for them also grew rapidly.And the true essence of this group of people, just like the general characteristics of the Glass Bead Game Academy, was truly grasped by Knecht.
For many years, Knecht had indeed belonged to this talented and ambitious elite group, and had long felt himself part of the Waldzell Play Academy.Now, he is no longer just a random member, nor just a solidarity with the group; now he feels that he has become its head, the consciousness and conscience of the whole group, not only to breathe with everyone Shared fate, but also have an inescapable responsibility to everyone.
Once, a class for training junior teachers was over, and Knecht came to give a speech. When he was very happy, he once said: "Castalia is a small country, and our Glass Bead Game Academy is this A small country among small countries, a small but very old and proud democratic republic, not only completely equal to all sister countries, but also higher and more sublimated by its special artistic function and a certain degree of sacredness A sense of mission. For we are given special honor by defending the sacred site of Castalia, which is the unique mystery and symbol of Castalia - the glass bead game. This makes Castalia cultivate produced outstanding musicians, art historians, linguists, mathematicians, and other specialists. All Castalian institutions and every Castalian must know and understand their own Two goals and ideals: one is to master one's major as much as possible; the other is to be able to flexibly and flexibly apply what he has learned, so that this major is always closely related to other disciplines, and he knows how to maintain the inner relationship with other disciplines Friendly relations. This second ideal, the idea of the inner coherence of all human mental endeavours, the idea of all-inclusiveness, finds perfect expression in our brilliant game. Perhaps a physicist, Or a historian of music, or a specialist in any other discipline, who has to constantly bury himself strictly in his profession, not allowing them, or even asking them to give up, even for a moment, the idea of being educated in universal concepts, then this scholar may possibly achieve the highest point of our own profession—and we, we glass bead players, must not, must not, in any case, fall into any kind of self-satisfaction. Because our task is precisely to defend our noble game, to defend this inclusion It is our task forever and ever to rescue the individual sciences from their tendency to self-satisfaction, and to promote to their culmination the idea of all things. But how can we save anything that we do not want to be saved? How can we induce archaeologists, educators, astronomers, or experts in any other discipline to abandon their self-satisfaction in their own field and keep opening the door to other disciplines? We cannot use For example, by making the glass bead game an official subject in lower schools, we cannot completely follow the guidance of the predecessors of the glass bead game. We can only try to prove that our glass bead game and ourselves are Indispensable to human beings, because we keep the general spiritual life of human beings at its peak through play; because our games are always closely integrated with every new achievement, every new horizon, and every new problem of all different disciplines ; also because we shape and operate this noble and dangerous game with our own concept of unity and harmony, to carry forward our all-inclusive thought, so that the game is always fresh, always lovely, always convincing, and always charming, Even the most serious and sober scholars, the most diligent and rigorous experts have repeatedly felt itThe signal it sends, its allure and appeal.
"Let's imagine that if we slack off for a period of time, the courses in the junior class are superficial and boring, while the game performances in the advanced class are lifeless, lacking in positive and interesting spiritual thoughts, and disappointing the experts; if our Twice and three times in succession the great annual meeting has struck the guests as a vain, empty ceremony, like a remnant of an obsolete and lifeless ancient time—so perhaps our games, along with our We're going to be over soon too! We're not as good as we were a generation ago, at the height of the glory days of the glass bead game, when annual meetings lasted not just one or two weeks, but often three to four weeks, and not only It is Castalia's own climax, but also the annual climax of the whole country. Although there are always representatives of the government, and there are always envoys from cities and groups, but it is always always boring guests. Every When the celebration is about to end, these dignitaries from the secular world sometimes politely put forward their opinions, thinking that the duration of the conference is too long for some cities to dare not send representatives to participate, so the duration of the conference is shortened appropriately, or it is held every two or three years. Perhaps more in line with the current state of the world.
"Yes, we have to stop this decline now. Otherwise, our game will soon have no influence in the secular world, and it will only be possible to hold a celebration every five, or even ten years, until it will eventually die out completely.
We must first contain it, and we have the ability to contain it from spreading in its hometown and our academy, so that the game will not be suspected or degraded.Our struggle is not only promising, it has actually been won time and time again.We witness some touching scenes every day: Many young elite students reluctantly signed up for the glass bead game course. Although they completed their studies in a proper manner, they had no enthusiasm. His venerable traditions and soul-soothing powers eventually became our most ardent disciples and comrades.At the annual celebration conference, we can always see a number of celebrities or prestigious scholars who usually look down on us glass bead game players, and don’t think our research institutions will have any future. During the grand game performance, I am more and more attracted by our artistic magic, feel more and more spiritual relief and spiritual sublimation, and even feel younger and more vigorous, until finally my whole body and mind are shocked and strengthened , and left with an almost ashamed sense of gratitude.
"Let's now take a look at the medium that gives us the instructions to do what we do. We see a beautiful, complex, robust institution, at its heart is the Glass Bead Game Archive, which we use gratefully all the time It, and it's what we all—from game masters to archivists to handymen—must serve. The best and liveliest things in this institution are the historic Castalian picks The principle of meritocracy. Castalia schools select the best students for education from all over the country.
Similarly, our game academy also selects those students with game talents for education, so that they can improve more and more, and always move towards the goal of harmony and perfection.Our workshops and seminars draw on hundreds of talents, and although they are scattered after school, we always manage to continue educating the best of them, improve and improve, and become skilled glass bead game artists .We all know, of course, that our art, like any other, is endless.Each of us, once elite, has dedicated his life to the development, deepening, and perfection of our art, whether or not that person occupies a position in our senior leadership.
"The fact that our game academy has an elite group has been criticized occasionally. Some people think that this is a luxury. It is believed that we should not cultivate so many elites, as long as it is enough to supplement various leadership positions.
However, there are also different opinions. First, dealing with public affairs is not a job that can be successfully completed by any institution alone. Second, not everyone is suitable for public office, just like not every outstanding linguist is suitable for teaching.In any case, we at the Glass Bead Game leadership do know that our teachers are not just reservists to fill vacancies.I'd go so far as to say that it's just a side job of the elite - if we need to explain to laymen who don't understand the meaning of the game emphatically why our institution was created and exists.
"No, the first task of teachers is not to try to become future game masters, seminar teachers, archivists, their goal is themselves, and their small group is the real home and hope of the glass bead game. Here The glass bead game played in the hearts and minds of a small group of people evolves, develops, promotes, and explores the relationship between games and the spirit of the times, and the relationship between games and various disciplines. Only in this way can our glass bead game It can be carried out properly and correctly, comprehensively and completely. Only in this way can our elites make the glass bead game their own goal and a sacred mission, and avoid half-bottle or ostentation, self-importance, and even blind superstition. The future of the Glass Bead Game depends on you—the teachers of Waldzell. The Glass Bead Game is the heart and core of Castalia, and you are the soul and vitality of the Game Academy, so you can be called For the essence and drive of the Educational District. Now your numbers may be growing too fast, your demands may be too urgent, your enthusiasm for the glass bead game may be too hot, but there is no danger in any of them. Be enthusiastic! It all comes down to it , for you, and for all Castalians, there is only one danger, which we all have to guard against at all times. Our school of education and our religious community are all based on two principles: the first is To study knowledge, we must maintain objectivity and love the truth, and the second is to cultivate the wisdom and harmonious spirit of meditation. For us Castalians, it is not only wise to maintain the balance of these two principles, but also the most valuable. We love All sciences, all sciences have their own scientific value, but a person's dedication to a certain science does not necessarily make this person free from selfishness, evil, and smallness. There are examples of this everywhere in human history, and floating Dr. Schwartz is a well-known example of this danger through the popularity of literature.
"Our ancestors in previous centuries were always seeking a way of combining reason and religion, study and practice. At that time, theology was dominant. Now we use meditation-modified yoga- To exorcise our own bestiality, and the devil that lurks in every science. Yes, you know as well as I do, that there are ghosts hidden in the glass bead game, the artifice that always lures men to emptiness, artistic vanity, Climbing up, seeking power over others, and then abusing it. Because of this, we need another education besides intellectual education, we place ourselves under the moral teaching of religious organizations, The purpose is not to transform our life of active action into a vegetable life without desires, but on the contrary, to equip us with spiritual capacities for the highest intellectual achievement. We should not flee from a life of action to a life of meditation, nor should we It should be reversed from meditation to action, and there should be something in between so that they complement each other and coexist harmoniously."
We cite Knecht's statement here - there are many such statements recorded and preserved by his students - because it is quite representative of Knecht's view of the role of master of the glass bead game, at least It was his opinion during the first few years of his tenure.Knecht was an eminent teacher, as evidenced by the large number of lectures he has bequeathed to us.Knecht had many surprising and unexpected experiences at the beginning of his tenure, and teaching was one of them. He never expected that teaching would bring him a lot of fun, and that he would be able to do it easily and happily.He probably never expected that he would have such good grades, because he never had the desire to be a teacher in the past.Of course, like any other elite, he often had the opportunity to act as a substitute teacher for a short period of time when he was studying in the senior year, and he also served as a substitute teacher in short courses of glass bead games at different levels, and he often tutored the students of these short courses Review exercises, just because Knecht loved and paid too much attention to his free research work and meditation exercises, so that such teaching tasks were regarded as annoying interference by him-although it was already recognized that he was good at teaching, yes A beloved teacher.Later, Knecht taught the glass bead game in the Benedictines, but it was only a secondary job, and it didn't mean much to him.Since he had become associated with Father Jacobus, and had begun to study under the learned old man, everything else had become secondary.At that time, his greatest ambition was just to be a good student, to absorb and learn as much as possible, so as to cultivate himself to the greatest extent.Now, he has matured from a student to a teacher. The most important thing is that he has fully mastered this important task as soon as he took office as a teacher. He has not only won the position of authority, but also achieved a state of integration of personal and public affairs.Knecht discovered two great pleasures during his tenure: one is to transplant his own thoughts into the thoughts of others, so that their hearts can be cultivated and transformed, and they will have a new appearance and glow with brilliant light. That is the joy of teaching; the other is to compete with the different personalities of the students and elites, and guide them after gaining authority. This is the joy of education.At the same time, Knecht regarded the two as an inseparable unity. He practiced himself and did not dare to slack off. Therefore, during his tenure, he not only cultivated a large number of excellent glass bead players, but also through his precepts and deeds, through His extremely strict teachings of tolerance and patience, and through the inspiration of his own character and personality, have enabled most of the students who have been trained by him to achieve the highest level possible.
Knecht himself gained from it an experience that is quite characteristic of him, and please allow us to reveal some of it here first.We have already said that Knecht had to devote himself to the work of an elite group, students of the highest caliber, and teachers, some of whom were his own age, and all of whom were well-rounded and well-rounded. Glass bead game player.It wasn't until Knecht gradually and completely conquered the elite group that he slowly and cautiously withdrew, allocating more time and energy year by year, and in the end was often able to hand over the work almost completely to colleagues and assistants.It is true that this process has lasted for many years, but it can be clearly observed that Knecht turns to younger students year by year, whether it is hosting training classes, tutoring experimental classes, or giving reports, all of which are the same, and in the end even several For the first time, I personally taught the introductory course of the glass bead game for the lowest class of elementary school children. This is also the job that a rare glass bead master has done before.During the teaching process, Knecht also discovered that the younger and more innocent the students he taught, the more joy he got.In the past few years, he has sometimes returned among high school students and elites, but he always feels uncomfortable and struggling.Yes, he still had occasional desires to teach younger children, children who hadn't had a game lesson and didn't know anything about the glass bead game.Sometimes he wished he could go to Eichholtz or any preparatory school for a while, and teach the children Latin, singing, or algebra, although the level of knowledge there was not much better than the lowest glass bead game introduction class. In the distance, there are many children who are more savvy, plastic, and worthy of training. At the same time, it is also a place where teaching and education are more closely integrated.In the last two years of Master Knecht's career, he twice referred to himself as "primary school teacher" in his letters, in order to remind his recipients that "the original meaning of the word Magister^Ludi (game master) is simply the title of primary school teacher, although For generations in Castalia it has been a title dedicated to masters of the glass bead game.
Undoubtedly, Knecht's wish to be a primary school teacher is just a dream, just like a person dreaming about the blue sky in midsummer in the cold winter.Today's Knecht can no longer walk freely, his official position determines that he must fulfill his duties, but he can decide by himself what method to use to fulfill these duties.And so, as the years went by, he began to pay more and more attention to educational problems and to the younger students he could care for, year by year, quite unconsciously.The older Knecht is, the more attractive the youthful atmosphere is to him, at least we can make such a judgment today.In those days, however, it was difficult for any critic to trace any trace of arbitrariness in Knecht's work.Even the official duties of the Game Master forced him to deal constantly with the elite, and although he handed over almost all the work of seminars and archives to assistants and his "shadow", there were still many traditional and long-term jobs. Overwhelmed hands, such as the annual glass bead game competition, or the preparations for the annual grand and public celebrations, forced him to contact the elite every day.Knecht once joked with his good friend Deglarius: "Since ancient times, there have always been many kings who love their subjects unrequitedly and suffer from lovesickness. Their hearts are always concerned about their farmers, shepherds, and craftsmen. , teachers and students, but rarely have the opportunity to contact their own people, they are always surrounded by ministers, generals, these people are like a wall between them and the people. A master of the glass bead game The same is true of the same. He wants to be close to everyone, but he can only see colleagues, and he wants to be close to students and children, but he only sees researchers and elites."
But we've gone too far, let's move on to Knecht's first year in office!
After Knecht reached an understanding with the elite group, he first focused his attention on the staff of the archives, showing them his friendly but absolutely strict supervisory position, and then familiarized and studied the work of the general office Regular and daily affairs, due to piles of letters, endless meetings and endless official documents of educational and religious authorities, the intricate work often makes it difficult for every new incumbent to know where to start. right.In the various professional disciplines within the academy, there are often various forms of issues that everyone competes for or is jealous of each other-such as things like authority and rewards and punishments.Knecht gradually understood and thus grew more and more amazed at the mystery of the great power of religious groups. He finally knew the living soul of the Kingdom of Castalia, and also understood the role of various legal systems in guarding the kingdom.
The tense and hectic first months of his tenure flew by, and Knecht didn't even have time to think about Deglarius, and half of this came from his instinct, because he had assigned his friends many different tasks. Work less, so that Deglarius will not be too idle.Frieze lost his partner overnight. Friends became bosses and leaders. They could no longer have personal friendships, but had to be respectfully addressed as "You" or "Dear Sir".Deglarius, however, accepted the appointment of the new master as a gesture of consideration and nostalgic friendship.Deglarius had a dull personality, but this time he was also very excited, partly because of the promotion of his friends and the excitement of the entire elite group, and partly because the job assigned to him was quite beneficial to him.All in all, he finally endured his mutant status relatively easily, which is better than the moment when he told Knecht the good news of being elected as the game master, but was dismissed coldly by the other party, and he was still unable to deal with it much.Besides, he was intelligent and sympathetic, so that he saw, half speculatively, half truly, his friend's situation and extreme tension.He witnessed with his own eyes how Knecht was forged in the fire, and in terms of personal feelings, the pain he felt might be more intense than the testee himself.Deglarius did his best to fulfill the work assigned to him by the master, and if he had regretted so much that he was unfit for public office because of his personal defects, he now just made up for his ardent desire, as an assistant, a squire, a "shadow" Stand by the side of your admirer and help him wholeheartedly.
When the beech woods in Waldzell began to glow light brown, one day Knecht took a small book and walked into the garden next to his mansion for game masters. This lovely little garden was the late It was the most cherished place of Master Thomas during his lifetime. He often came here to sit here with the mood of a poet.At that time, Knecht, like all the students, once regarded it as an awe-inspiring holy place, a magical land of poetry and gods, where only the holy masters of the game can rest quietly.Since he himself became the master and the owner of the garden, he seldom comes in, and it seems that he has never had the leisure to really appreciate it.Even this time, he only came for a quarter of an hour walk after dinner, and he just wandered among the tall bushes where some evergreens had been transplanted from the south by his predecessors.Knecht had already felt a little cool in the shade, so he moved a light wicker chair and placed it in the open space under the sun, sat down, and opened the little book he brought.It was a copy of The Glass Bead Game Master's Almanac Handbook.About seventy or eighty years ago, it was compiled and published for the first time by an incumbent master Rodwig Wassermaller, and each of his successors made some modifications, additions and deletions according to the current situation.This handbook was originally written for those who have no work experience in the first place, it is purely a handbook, to remind a new game master to prepare everything in advance during the whole year's work, so as to avoid major negligence.Some of the items in this week-by-week writing are just outlines, while others are not only detailed, but also have personal suggestions.Knecht turned to this week's page and read it carefully.He found nothing surprising or particularly urgent, but at the end of the section he read the following: Slowly turn your thoughts to the next Annual Convention.It still seems early, and it may be too early in your eyes.However, I would like to advise you: unless you already have a plan for this event, you must start thinking about the work of the future conference now, not to let go of a week, let alone a month.
Record your impromptu thoughts at any time, and when you have half an hour free, you can take out the format charts of previous conferences for reference, even if you are on a business trip.You don't have to expect too much and force yourself to come up with some amazing plan, but just start by reminding yourself regularly: there is a beautiful and important celebration waiting for you, and the preparation time is only a few months, so , You must continuously strengthen yourself again and again, accumulate strength, and adjust yourself to the best condition.These words come from the mouth of a wise old man, exactly three generations ago now, who was also a master of the art of the glass bead game, perhaps at a time when the art of the game was at its highest peak, comparable in refinement, elegance, and splendor of ornament to the late brother Typical or Rococo architecture and decorative arts.There used to be a period, maybe twenty years or so, when the game of glass balls seemed to be really a game of marbles, as if it were really fragile and hollow like glass, as if it was really an indulgent pastime combined with superficial pompous forms, yes , sometimes it's really like a kind of tightrope walk on very different rhythms, a dance in the air.Some Glass Bead players have described the style of play at the time as a string of incomprehensible charms, while others have flatly called it pompous, decadent, unmanly stuff, worth nothing but ornamental value.The man who wrote this little booklet of wise and friendly advice was one of the masters and creators of this style of play back then.
After Knecht read it carefully two or three times with a scrutinizing eye, an impulse of happiness and relief surged in his heart. He remembered that he had had a similar mood once, only once, and it never happened again.He remembered that it was the mood he experienced when he sat in meditation before taking office, that was the strange chase he had seen in his fantasy, the music master and Joseph, the mentor and the new disciple, the old man and the young man when they circled around in circles. Feeling.The man who thought and wrote things like "Never let a week go" and "Don't force yourself to come up with something amazing" was an old man, well past senility.This old man has been the master of the glass bead game for at least twenty years, maybe longer. He presided over the official duties of the game master in that fancy Rococo era. The elites have had many dealings.He has personally designed and hosted more than twenty annual Glass Bead Game conventions, each lasting about four weeks.For an old man, organizing and holding such a large and solemn meeting every year is probably no longer a glorious and pleasant thing, but has become a very tiring burden, and has become a kind of constant self-discipline. Adjustment, self-persuasion, and even more or less self-motivated work tasks.
At this time, Knecht couldn’t help feeling a sense of awe for the wise elder who wrote down the legacy of the almanac manual and the consultant who provided experience, but also a little complacent, yes, a kind of ecstasy A sense of superiority, a sense of youthful superiority.Because, a master of the glass bead game has countless things to worry about and worry about. Knecht certainly knew about it long ago, but in fact nothing happened to worry him: he felt that he didn't have to worry about the annual meeting too early. Don't worry about the task making him unhappy and worried, let alone thinking that he won't be able to come up with good ideas and do nothing.Absolutely will not let the annual meeting fail.Knecht knew that after several months of intense work, he sometimes looked old, but he felt that he was indeed young and strong at the moment.
Knecht didn't last long to savor this wonderful feeling, his brief moment of rest was over.Yet this beautiful and pleasant feeling lingered on him, and he took it with him when he went away, so that his brief rest and reading in the garden paid off.Specifically, not only did it provide him with a moment of relaxation and a pleasantly heightened vitality, but it also triggered two important associations in him.These were two decisive thoughts, the first being that, once he was old and feeble, when he first felt that the organization of the annual meeting was an unbearable burden and he could not do anything about it, he resigned.The second is: he has to start the work of the first annual meeting as soon as possible after taking office, and he must immediately summon Deglarius as the main assistant for this work.This may cheer up a friend's redress, or it may give them the first tentative steps in a new approach to a long-lost friendship.Only he of the two of them—the Game Master himself—could take action.
This time Deglarius had too much work to do.As early as during his stay in Mariafer, Knecht had already conceived two glass bead games, and now he decided to implement his idea at the first celebration meeting he presided over.The idea of this game was formed from a wonderful association. Its structure and scale are based on Chinese-style house buildings that conform to the ancient Chinese Confucian etiquette. Its orientation, gates, courtyard walls, rooms and gardens all have mutual constraints. The combination of the whole building is closely related to the sun, moon and stars in the sky, the calendar, and family life. Even the garden has its symbolic meaning and customary style.It had occurred to him long ago, when he was studying a related note, that the mystical arrangement and meaning of these rules in the book seemed to display a particularly pleasing and lovely symbol of the relationship between man and the universe in the world. question combination.
In addition, Knecht also found that this ancient and mysterious Chinese house traditional spirit has an amazing internal similarity with the traditional official and academic abstract speculative spirit here.Although he has not written any written records so far, Knecht has never stopped thinking about this game, often making overall plans, and the construction is almost almost complete, with only a slight interruption in the early days of his tenure as master.Now, at this very moment, he has made a decision that his first celebration will be based on Chinese ideals.As long as Deglarius agrees with the inner spirit of this idea, then he will let him immediately start the necessary research work to build the game, and start the preparatory work for translating it into the game language and programming it.Now there is only one difficulty: Deglarius does not know Chinese, and if he is asked to learn it on the spot, he will definitely not be able to.If Knecht gave him some pointers, and then asked him to consult the Far Eastern Institute and study some relevant materials, then Deglarius would be able to grasp the mysterious symbolic meaning of Chinese-style houses relatively correctly.
After all, the idea of this game is not to learn the Chinese language.However, this is time-consuming work, especially for my friend who is sickly and unwilling to work every day, so it is best to start working immediately.Thinking of this, Knecht couldn't help but smile. He marveled at the senior's ability to predict things like a god, and the cautious words in the almanac manual were completely correct.
Coincidentally, Knecht's official business came to an end early the next day, so he asked Deglarius to be invited.
Frieze arrived, with the same humble and submissive attitude as before, but he was surprised to find that the other did not use concise business language, but greeted him with a joking look and said: "Do you remember our students Was it a dispute in the era? At that time, I failed to convince you to agree with me. That dispute involved the value and importance of East Asian cultural studies. I was talking about Chinese culture. I advised you to set aside some time to go to the Far East College to learn Chinese.—Ah, do you remember this? Yes, I regret once more today that I failed to persuade you. If you learn Chinese, it will be of great use now. We can It’s a great thing to do together.”
Knecht teased him for a while, until his friend couldn't wait to ask him to tell the truth, and then he said his plan: he wanted to start preparing for the next annual meeting as soon as possible, and if Frieze was willing, he could invite him Undertake most of the work, just as Knecht had asked him to help with the preparations for the glass bead game during his stay at the Benedictine monastery.Deglarius stared at him in amazement, almost in disbelief that the cheerfully smiling face in front of him was that of a friend, and the lively tone of voice came from a man who had not so long been a teacher.Fritz felt very relieved and overjoyed, knowing that this proposal not only gave him honor and trust, but also meant above all a beautiful gesture by Knecht, an attempt by him to heal, and he wanted to reopen the relationship between them. The closed door of friendship.Deglarius did not mention the Chinese language issue that Knecht was worried about for the time being, and hastily stated that he was willing to obey his orders and was willing to do his best for the dignity and development of the glass bead game.
“很好，”玻璃球游戏大师答道，“我接受你的承诺。那么我们现在又可以共同研究和工作，就像从前那样那都已经遥远得恍如隔世了——我们曾合作奋斗完成过好多场游戏呢。我现在真高兴，德格拉里乌斯。你目前的首要任务是了解我所设计游戏的基本思想内容。你必得先弄懂中国式房屋的意义，以及制约中国式建筑的规律。我介绍你去远东学院那里自有人会助你一臂之力。或者——我又想到了另一个更美妙的主意，——我们也可以到老年长老那里去试一试，就是我过去常常向你提起的住在竹林茅舍里的老人。也许他会觉得有损尊严，或者是过分打扰，因为来者对中国语言一无所知。但是我们不妨试一试。如果他愿意，这位长者就有力、法把你造就成一个中国人。”
华尔采尔方面向长老发出了正式邀请，请他作为玻璃球游戏大师的贵宾来华尔采尔稍事逗留，因为游戏大师公务压身，无法亲自登门造访，随即又把请他援手之事作了说明。然而这位中国人不肯离开竹林茅舍，却用毛笔书写了一纸中文便笺交信使带回，其中写道：“晋见大人实乃无上光荣。惜老朽行动不便。谨以小碗两只权充贡品。晚辈小人恭颂大人吉祥。”
后来，克乃西特好不容易说服自己的朋友去了竹林茅舍，恳请长老收为弟子。
结果却是徒劳往返。竹林隐士款待德格拉里乌斯的礼数几乎近似“尊若上宾”，却对客人提出的每一个问题，都客客气气地用中文答以一句中国格言或警句，而且也没有邀请他留下，尽管对方还递上了玻璃球游戏大师亲手用华丽中文书法写在一张漂亮信笺上的推荐书。事情没有办成，德格拉里乌斯只得败兴而归，仅给大师带回了一件礼物，一首用毛笔抄录的歌颂金鱼的古诗。
而今唯有向远东学院讨教了。这回克乃西特的介绍信起了作用。兼为游戏大师特使的求教者受到了友好接待，也得到了全面协助，因而他虽然不懂中文，却也很快就学得了涉及游戏主题的重要知识，并在用功过程中对克乃西特以房屋为象征基础构思游戏计划的想法十分入迷，喜悦之情抵消了他在竹林茅舍遭遇的不幸，乃至忘得一干二净。
当克乃西特倾听过弗里兹叙述拜访老年长老的经历，随后又一人静静细读过捎来的金鱼颂诗后，顿觉这位老人的精神气息也随诗俱来，往日居留茅屋的情景——那沙沙摇曳的竹林，那一束束欧蓄草茎，伴随着对自由轻松学生年代的往事，对彩色缤纷青春梦幻的强烈追忆，全都一古脑儿向他猛然袭来。这位勇敢的占怪隐士怎么懂得退隐之途的呢？他如何使自己那方清静竹林免受世事纷扰的呢？他怎能让自己溶汇入纯粹中国式的又迂腐又智慧的文化之中的呢？他又怎能年复一年，几十年如一日地把自己的生命之梦集中和固守在同一不变的魔力里，以致终于把自己的花园化为一个中国，把他的茅舍化为了庙宇，把金鱼化为了神明，而他自己则成了圣贤的呢？克乃西特叹了一口气，抖掉自己这些奇怪的想法。他现在已经走卜了另一条路，或者倒不如说被大家推到了这一处境，唯有正直而忠诚地继续前行，不需要他选择其他人所走的道路。
克乃西特尽量省出时间来与德格拉里乌斯一起设计和组合他的玻璃球游戏。他把到档案馆筛选材料，以及拟订第一遍和第二遍草稿的工作全部交给了自己的朋友。
他们两人的友谊因为有了新内容而获得了与以往不同的另一种形式的生命力。就连他们共同设计的游戏也由于弗里兹的奇特个性和过分精细的想象力而有了若干变革，也增添了内容。弗里兹是那种对工作永不满足，却又要求不高的人，往往对着一束别人已扎好的花卉，或者一张已布置妥贴的餐桌，一个钟点接一个钟点地逡巡不停，还要满怀爱意地作一些极细微的更动，把鸡毛蒜皮的小事当成了整天孜孜从事的工作。
在后来的许多年里，他们一直保持着这种工作关系。每年度的玻璃球游戏都是两人合作的成果。对德格拉里乌斯来说，这是一种双重的满足，既显示出自己是大师这项如此重要任务的不可或缺的朋友，又在精英分子间扬了威风，弗里兹虽然没有名分，但他的作用在精英分子群中早已尽人皆知。
在克乃西特上任第一年的深秋时分，当时他的朋友还刚刚开始中国学研究，有一天他在匆匆检阅办公室的每日工作记录时，有一段附录引起了他的注意，其中写道：“学生彼特洛斯来自蒙特坡，系音乐大师介绍，并捎来前任音乐大师的专门问候，要求提供膳宿以及进入档案馆借阅资料。已安排在学生客房居住。”嗯，学生来住宿和使用档案馆资料等，不须他亲自过问，但是“前任音乐大师的专门问候”
却是他必须亲自处理的。克乃西特派人叫那个学生来见他。那青年有一副文静而又善于思考的模样，沉默寡言，显然是蒙特坡的青年精英，至少很习惯于受到一个大师的接待。克乃西特询问他捎来了老音乐大师的什么言语？
“问候，”青年学生回答说，“十分亲切而尊敬地问候您，还邀请了您。”
克乃西特请客人坐下说话。年轻人坐下后便字斟句酌地继续说道：“我方才说过，尊敬的老音乐大师恳求我替他致以衷心的问候。他还暗示了希望不久之后，其实应该说是尽早看见您的愿望。他邀请您，或者敦促您去见他，时间越早越好，倘若这次访问又是一次公差当然就更好了，不至于太耽误您的工作。口信的内容大致如此。”
克乃西特审视着面前的青年，断定他确是老大师的一位得意门生，便谨慎地问道：“你要在档案室呆多长时间？做研究工作吧！”他得到的回答是：“尊敬的先生，我要留到亲眼看您动身前往蒙特坡的时候。”
克乃西特沉思了片刻，接着说道：“很好，你为什么不一字一字传达老大师向我说的原话呢，难道没考虑应当这样么？”
彼特洛斯毫无惧色地直视着克乃西特的目光，仍然长时间地斟酌着话语，似乎在迫他说某种不熟悉的外国话。“其实并没有什么口信，尊敬的先生，”他回答，“所以也就没有什么原话。您深知我们敬爱的大师，您知道他是一个极其谦逊的人。
蒙特坡的人们传说，在他青年时代，当他还只是一个青年教师时，已被整个精英集团视为当之无愧的音乐大师时，大家就给起了一个符合他为人的绰号：“善下之'。
是的，他的这种谦逊精神，他的虔诚和乐于助人的精神，还有他的为他人着想以及宽容精神，这些精神并未随着岁月流逝而略有减弱，反而越来越增强，尤其自他退职之后显得更为完美。我想您对此肯定比我认识得更加清楚。这种谦逊精神使他不可能请您尊敬的大人去看望他，即使他极想请您去。尊敬的大人，这就是我并未受委托转致口信，却向您转叙了口信的原因。如果这是一个错误，那么就请您把这不存在的口信当作真正不存在的事情吧。 "
克乃西特露出一丝笑意。“如此说来，你查阅档案资料只是借口而已，好心的学生？”
“嗅，不是的。我有许多阐释音部记号的关键材料要摘录，不久以后总得请尊敬的大人准我来此逗留。不过我想，似乎把行期稍稍提早更为恰当。”
“很好，”大师点头认可后，神情又严肃起来。“能否问问匆促提前的原因？”
年轻人双目紧闭了片刻，皱起眉头，似乎这个问题令他痛苦。随即又以他青年人的锐利目光探究地直视着大师的脸。
“这个问题是没法回答的，大概只能由您自己作出确切判断了。”
“那么，好吧，”克乃西特大声说。“是不是老大师身体状况欠佳，已经到了让人担忧的程度？”
尽管这位大师说话的神态极为镇静，青年人仍然觉察到了他对老人的衷心担忧。
这才第一次在会谈开始后始终目光严厉的青年人眼里露出了一丝善意光芒。当他终于决定和盘托出实情时，语调也变得较为友好亲切了。
“大师先生，”他说，“请您放心，那位可敬的老人身体状况不能说坏。一个人到了高龄自然体力日见衰弱，然而他一向身体健康，至今仍如此。我也不是说他外表有什么显著变化，或者体力突然迅速下降，他始终每天散步和演奏一段时间，不久前甚至还教两个小学生演奏管风琴呢，全都是初学阶段，因为他一向喜欢教最幼小的学生。但是，几星期前他回掉了最后两名学生，不管怎么说，这是一种征兆，这也引起了我的注意，从此我更加小心留意他的状况，并得出了我的结论。——这便是我来此的原因。倘若我的结论和我采取的步骤还都符合实情的话，那是因为我也曾是老青乐大师的一个学生，而且是得意门生，我自以为这么说没错。尤其一年以来我受现任音乐大师委托照料他的生活，成为这位老先生的助手和伴侣。对我而言，这是一项使我愉快的任务。世界上没有任何人比这位老师兼恩人更受我的尊敬和依恋。他向我揭示了音乐的奥秘，使我得以用音乐从事服务，并且从中获取思想，认识宗教团体，还得以日益成熟，内心更加和谐，一切益处都受赐于他，全都是他的成绩。一年以来，我完全呆在他身边，虽然我还从事着几门专题研究，却时刻准备听他差遣。我陪他用餐，陪他散步，有时也和他一起演奏音乐，晚上就睡在他隔壁房里。我和他在一起生活关系如此密切，对他的衰老阶段——是的，对他肉体上的老化程度，也就观察得比较精细，我的苦于同伴不时对我的特别任务表示同情或者讽刺挖苦，因为我这么年轻力壮居然成了一个衰弱老耄的生活伴侣。但是他们全然不知，我想除了我之外没人确切知道，这位谦逊的大师在经历着什么样的老化过程，他的体力确乎逐渐衰弱，饮食越来越少，每次散步回来也越来越显得累乏，但是他却没有任何病痛，同时由于年迈少动，平日更加富于思想，更加虔诚，更加威严，也更加纯真质朴。倘若说我这个助手兼侍从的职务有什么困难的话，也只存在一个难题，这位可敬的长者不要别人为他服务，因为他一如既往地只愿意施与，而不愿意获取。”
“我很感谢你，”克万西特说，“我真高兴，有这么一位既忠诚又知恩的学生呆在这位长者身边。现在请告诉我，既然老先生没向你说过什么，或者暗示过什么，你为什么觉得我必须去蒙特坡呢？”
“您刚才担忧地问起老音乐大师的健康，”年轻人回答说，“显然我的请求使您即刻联想到他也许病了，也许到了见最后一面的时刻。是的，我也认为正是去看他的时候。当然，表面看来这位尊敬的人远未接近大限旭是他辞别世界的方式很特殊。例如最近几个月来，他几乎完全戒绝了说话的习惯，虽然他一贯说话简洁，近日却达到了几近沉默无语的程度，这不免使我略感惊吓。最初，当他常常不与我对话或者不回答我的问题时，我想他的听力己开始减退，但是他的听力事实上没有改变，我已经试验过许多次了。因而我不得不揣测他已经精神涣散，不能够集中注意力了。但是这也不是一个让我满意的解释。情况倒像他已一定程度地离开了我们，已经不完全和我们生活在一起，而是越来越生活在一个他自己的世界里。他越来越少探望别人，或者让别人来见他，除我之外，现在他有时候几天也不见任何别的人。
自从出现了这一情形，这种心不在焉，这种超脱生存之外的情况后，我曾努力促使几位我知道他最喜欢的朋友去看他。如果您愿意去看他，尊敬的大人，您无疑会让您的老朋友感到高兴，我也敢断定，您还会遇见一个您曾如此尊敬爱戴的人差不多的老朋友。倘若再过几个月，也许只是几个星期之后，他见到您的喜悦以及他对您的兴趣就会大大减少，更可能的是，他也许将不再认识您，或者不再在乎您了。 "
克乃西特站起身来，走向窗口，静静站了一会，目光凝视着室外，深深吸了一口气。当他转过身子重新面向学生时，发现对方也已站起，仿佛谈话业已结束。大师向他伸出了手。
“彼特洛斯，我再次谢谢你，”他说，“你也知道，一个大师职务繁杂。我不能够戴上帽子立即就动身，我不得不首先把工作安排妥当。但愿后天就可以出发。
你是否满意这个日期，也许你还来不及结束你在档案馆的工作？一啊，没问题那到时候我就派人来招呼你。 "
克乃西特果真几天后便在彼特洛斯陪同下到了蒙特坡。当他们抵达老音乐大师现在居住的花园，走近园中那座又美丽又幽静的园亭——修道院的密室，这时，听见屋内传出一阵优雅、纤弱、却节奏稳定、轻快悦耳的音乐声。老人正坐在那里用两根手指演奏一个二声部的旋律——克乃西特当即揣摩出那是十六世纪末叶著名《二重奏曲集》里的一首。他们站立静听，直至乐声平息，彼特洛斯才呼唤老师，说他还带回了一位客人。老人走到门口，用目光向他们表示亲切的欢迎。老音乐大师问候人的微笑一如既往地感人，这是一种敞开心扉的、闪耀出诚恳友情光彩的微笑。三十年前，克乃西特第一次见到这种微笑是在一个激动人心的幸福早晨，他当即也向他敞开心扉，并把自己托付给了这个亲切长者。从此以后，他就常常看见这种微笑，每一次都感受到深沉的喜悦和内心的触动。岁月流逝，大师的灰发逐渐转白了，声音逐渐低弱了，握手的力量减小，动作也逐渐迟缓了，然而他的笑容依旧开朗、优雅，丝毫没有丧夫往日的纯洁和深沉。但是这一回，克乃西特作为学生和朋友，无疑看到了变化：老人脸上那双蓝色眼睛和浅红双颊已随时光日益黯淡，他那光彩夺人的笑容也似乎与以往有些差异，然而，他的笑容更神秘，更内向，也更热切了。直到与老人互致问候时，克乃西特才真正开始理解学生彼特洛斯为什么忧心忡忡的原因，如今更为不安的竞是他自己了。但是克乃西特没有料想到，原以为要付出牺牲的，却因而受到馈赠，获益匪浅。
克乃西特的朋友卡洛·费罗蒙梯是第一个听到他叙述这次经历的人。费罗蒙梯那时正在著名的蒙特坡音乐图书馆担任管理员，克乃西特抵达此地几小时后便去拜访了他。他们谈话的内容由于费罗蒙梯一封书信而给保存了下来。
“我们的音乐大师也当过你的老师，”克乃西特说道，“你曾十分喜欢他，最近还常见到他么！”
“不，”卡洛回答，随即又作了解释，“当然我常在他散步时看见他，因为我凑巧从图书馆出来，但是我总有好几个月没同他交谈过一句话了。他显然越来越内向，似乎不再喜欢有什么社交往来。从前他常常抽出一个晚上的时间招待像我这样的老学生以及目前在蒙特坡任职的老部下。然而一年多没见他有如此举动了，因而他去华尔采尔参加你的就职典礼时，令我们大家都惊讶万分。”
“嗅，”克乃西特说，“那么你现在偶尔看见他的时候，没有因他身上的变化而吓了一跳吗！”
“啊，是这样的。你指的是他动人的外貌，他的奇异快活光彩吧。我们当然都观察到了。在他的体力日渐衰退之际，这种快活精神却持久发展着。我们大家都看惯了，我想你也许会感到吃惊的。”
“他的助手彼特洛斯比你看得更多，”克乃西特大声叫嚷说，“但是他却没有像你方才所说的'看惯了'。他为此特地去了华尔采尔，当然找了一个可信的理由，以促使我来蒙特坡一行。你对他的看法如何？”
“对彼特洛斯么？他是一个音乐知识丰富的专家，不过我以为学究式的迂腐气更多于才气，此外他还是一个比较迟钝或者应当说性情忧郁严肃的人。他完全忠于老音乐大师，不惜牺牲自己的性命。我相信，为自己崇拜的老师和偶像服务已成了他生活的全部内容。他对他着迷了。你难道没有得出这种印象！”
“着迷了？啊，是的，但是我认为这个年轻人并非单纯出自喜爱的狂热而醉心着迷，他也不单是爱自己的老师而变成偶像崇拜者。他之所以着迷是因为他确实真真切切地看清了一个现象，他不仅比其他人看得更清楚，也在感情上体会得更精确。
我现在告诉你这件事让我感到多么震惊吧。今天我来看望老音乐大师时，心里不存多少奢望，或者可以说一无所求，因为我已六个多月没有看见他，而他的助手又给了我那种种暗示。我心里只有恐惧，生怕老人家会突然一下子就离我们而去，便急急忙忙赶来，至少得见上最后一面吧。当他看见我向我招呼时，他的脸便闪出了亮光，然而他只是唤了我的名字和握了我的手，什么话也没有说。但是就连他的姿态，他的双手似乎也在闪光，他整个的人，或者至少是他那双蓝色的眼睛、雪白的头发和红润的皮肤，在我眼中都闪烁着柔和的清辉。我坐到他身边，他只瞥了那助手一眼，便打发了他。接着我们展开了一场我生平所经历的最奇特的谈话。谈话开始时，我自然觉得很别扭，也有点羞愧，因为总是只有我一人再三说话或者不断提问题，而他只用一个目光作为答复。我无法判断自己所说的话和所提的问题给他的印象，是否都纯属讨厌的唠叨。这种情况使我迷们、失望和心烦意乱，我觉得自己尽说些多余的话，太惹人厌烦了。我连续不断地向他说话，反应总只有微微一笑和短暂的一瞥。嗯，是的，倘若不是那一瞥全都充满了友好的情意，我就不得不认为，那位老人是在毫不留情地嘲笑我，嘲笑我所说的故事和所提的问题，嘲笑我徒劳往返来看他。事实上，我得承认，他的沉默和他的微笑确实多少含有类似的意义。它们无疑是一种劝阻和拒绝的方式，区别仅仅是它们建基于另一种精神层次和意识阶段，截然不同于普通的讥讽嘲笑。我在最初的自感软弱无力之后决心振作起来，不惜一切代价以最大的耐心和礼貌来挽救濒临垮台的谈话，然而我应该承认，这位老人具有强我百倍的耐心、毅力和礼貌，可以轻轻松松毫不费力地应付我的努力。这种情况持续了约摸一刻钟或者半个钟点光景，对我却像是过了整整半天似的。我开始感到悲哀、疲倦、厌烦，甚至后悔此行真乃多此一举，我开始觉得日干舌燥。我对面坐着这位可敬的长者，我的恩师，我的好友，自从我懂得思考以来，我就爱戴他，信赖他，从前我哪怕说一个字他都有反应，如今他却坐在那里只是听我说话，或者甚至根本没有听我说话，只是坐在他那光辉和微笑后面，隐藏在他自己那金色的面具后面，和我们完全隔绝了，他已抵达了一个我们无法企及的另一个世界，那里的法则与我们完全不同，凡是我向他叙述的我们世界里的一切，全都像雨滴落在石头上似的飞溅出去。正当我放弃一切希望的时候，他终于击破了那道魔墙，终于向我伸出了援助之手，他终于说出了一句话！这也是我今天听他讲的唯-一句话。
“'你这是徒劳的，约瑟夫，'他的声音轻柔，语调里充满了感人的友爱以及你也很熟悉的那种体贴照顾的情感。'你这是徒劳的，约瑟夫，'这就是一切。他就像看见我久久地奋力做一件劳而无功的工作，不得不提醒我终止。老人说这句话的时候显得有点儿吃力，似乎已很久不曾动用嘴唇说话。他说话的同时把一只手搁在我的臂上——那手轻得就像一只蝴蝶——目光透视一般望着我，随后又微微一笑。
我就在这一瞬间被他慑服了。他那种愉悦的沉默，他那种宽容和平静也多少转移给了我一点。我醍醐灌顶似地忽然领悟了老人的本质性转化；从世俗人生转向清静世界，从语言转向音乐，从私心杂念转向和谐统一。我领悟到自己得以亲眼目睹这一转化实属天大幸事，也才领悟笑容和光辉的意义。这里有一位圣贤和完人，他容许我沐浴他的灿烂光辉一个钟点之久，可我这个低能儿却一个劲儿地为讨他欢心而不断提问题，不断逗他说话。我得感谢上帝，他早早让我亲眼见到了这种光芒。他也可以支开我，以致我被永远拒之门外：如果这样的话，那么我也许就不能够有生平从未感受过的最美妙的惊人体验了。 "
“我想，”费罗蒙梯沉吟地说，“你发现我们的老音乐大师已经近似一位圣者，这件事由你而不是别人告诉我，总算还能让我相信。老实说吧，倘若出自任何别的人之口，我大概不会相信的。总而言之，我绝不是一个喜欢神秘主义的人，也即是说，我身为音乐家和历史学家，我只能是纯粹理性范畴的朋友和学者。我们卡斯塔里人既不隶属于基督教会，也不归于印度教或者道家学派，因而我认为，这类纯属宗教范畴的转化成圣，凡是卡斯塔里人全都是不可能的。这件事如果不是你——请原谅，我应该说尊敬的大人——亲口所说，我会把这种转化成圣的言论看作无稽之谈的。不过我想，你大概并没有要替我们可敬的老音乐大师进行封圣的意图，老实说在我们的团体里也找不到完成这类仪式的合格的主管部门呢。啊，请不要打断我，我是认真的，没有丝毫开玩笑的意思。你向我叙述了一种精神体验，我不得不向你坦白承认，我现在有一点儿惭愧感。因为你描绘的这种现象，不论是我还是蒙特坡的任何同事都并非一无所见，然而我们仅仅看到而已，几乎未加关心注意。我现在正在思索自己为何视而不见，为何漠不关心。原因很多，其中之一便是：老音乐大师的改变令你吃惊，看出他已转化成圣，而我则几近毫无党察，原因自然很容易理解，你出乎意外地面对了一个已完成转化的人，你看见的是结果，而我与你不同，我只能说是这一逐渐变化过程的见证人。你在几个月前见到的音乐大师与今天所见到的截然不同，而我们这些经常遇见他的邻居则几乎没有发现任何显著变化。不过我还得承认这一解释连我自己也不满意。如果真有什么奇迹在我们面前出现，即或极其悠悠缓慢，我们也必然会有所知觉，会受到越来越强烈的触动，凡是没有偏见的人，都应该如此。我想，我在这里找到了自己所以迟钝的原因：我恰恰并非没有偏见。我看不见，注意不到眼前发生的现象，因为我不愿意发现它的存在。我和这里任何别的人一样，无疑都看见了我们尊敬的大师日益静默和隐退的态度，以及与之同时发生的在脸上焕发出日益更为明亮、更为微妙的光辉，每当他遇见我并以静默回答我的问候时，我自然清楚地察觉到了这一情况，其他人也莫不如此。但是我始终持抗拒态度，不想深入去观察，我这样做全不是对老大师缺乏敬意，而有其他原因，一部分是厌恶个人迷信之类的盲目热情，另一部分则针对特殊的个人，譬如我讨厌彼特洛斯这个学生把老师当作偶像加以崇拜。其实早在你还在叙述故事之际，我就完全清楚了。”
克乃西特笑道：“原来你转弯抹角绕了一个大圈子，目的只想说明你对可怜的彼特洛斯的厌恶之情。现在怎么办呢？我也是一个神秘主义者或者盲目热情的人么？
我也在宣扬这种遭禁的迷信个人和迷信圣贤么？或者，你愿意向我承认——虽然你不肯向学生承认——，也就是说，你承认我们亲眼所见、亲身经历的若干东西并非梦想和幻景，而是确凿无疑的客观存在么！ "
“我自然得向你承认了，”卡洛慢慢地边思索边说道，“没有人会否定你的精神体验，更没有人怀疑老音乐大师那种不可思议的笑容所包含的美或者快乐。问题在于：我们应该把这一现象归入何类学问？我们称呼它什么？我们又怎么解释它呢？
这些问题听着有小学教师味儿，归根结蒂，我们毕竟就是小学教师啊。如今我希望把你和我们的体验加以归类和赋予名称，并不是我希望通过抽象提炼和归纳整理而损害它的真善美，而是希望尽可能精确、清楚地把它记录下来，保存下来。当我偶尔走过一个地方，听到一个农夫或者小孩哼唱着我从未听见过的优美旋律，这对我也是一次重要体验。倘若我试图立即尽可能正确地记录下这个曲调，肯定不是简单归档了事，而是出于尊敬我的体验，使之永恒存在下去。 "
克乃西特友好地点头赞许说：“卡洛，真是不幸，我们今后不会有很多见面机会了。青年时代的朋友并不是总能再聚首的。我把老音乐大师的故事告诉你，因为你是唯一在这里工作并且能够分担和分享我这个故事的老朋友。现在你想怎么处理我叙述的故事，怎么称呼我们老大师的神化状态，我只得悉听尊便了。如果你愿意去看看他，在他的光环里呆上一小会儿，我会感到很高兴的。他的这种慈爱、完善、智慧和神圣状态，不论我们怎么称呼，也许最终得归属于宗教范畴。虽然我们卡斯塔里人既无教派，又无教堂，但是对虔诚性并不陌生。我们的老音乐大师恰恰一直是位绝对虔诚的人。我们看到，许多宗教教派都曾出现因虔诚而臻至神圣、完善、光辉四溢、光华普照的情景，为什么我们卡斯塔里人的虔诚不能达到这样最高境界呢？——夜已很深，我得去睡觉了，明天一早就得动身归去。我希望不久能够再来。
现在让我把故事的结局简单地告诉你吧！直等他说出'你是徒劳的'之后，我才得以停止挣扎，我不仅安静下来，而且也放弃了自己妄图迫他说话以获得教益的愚蠢目标。就在这一瞬间——我放弃目标，决定让一切听其自然——，我所期望的便自动呈现在我眼前了。你也许会觉得我用词不妥，想采用另一种说法，不过请你暂且耐心听下去，尽管我似乎讲得不精确或者弄错了范畴。我在老人身边呆了大约一个小时或者一个半小时，在我和他之间发生的事情或者进行的交流，我无能传达给你，事实上那也不是任何语言交流。我只觉得，一待我不再抗拒，他就把我带进了他那清静和平、明亮清澈的世界之中，包围着我和他的是一片又愉悦又美妙的肃静。不须我运用意志力量进行打坐，我便已多多少少处于一种既令人喜悦又很成功的静坐状态，我所观照的主题是老音乐大师的一生。我看到了或者感觉到了他以及他的发展历程，我回溯了从当初第一次见面——我那时还是一个孩子——直到目前这一时刻。他毕生都是在奉献和工作中度过的，这却是他的自由选择，他毫无虚荣野心，一生充满了音乐，好似他让自己成为音乐家和音乐大帅只是使音乐成为达到人类最高目标的途径之一，那目标便是：内心的自由、纯洁和完善。and.在他作出选择以后，他就似乎不再分心旁务，只是一心一意日益更深地潜心音乐中，听任自己逐渐净化、转变，从他那双灵巧聪明的钢琴家之手和无比丰富的音乐家之脑，直到整个躯体的各个部分和器官，直到灵魂、脉搏和呼吸，直到睡眠和梦境，最后，直到如今成为一种音乐象征，更确切地说是一种音乐的显现形式，一种音乐的化身。我至少可以这么说，凡是他放射的光辉，或者好似有节奏地来回地晃动在我们之间的呼吸气息，我觉得完全是音乐的感受，是一种绝非人间的神秘音乐，把每一个踏入它魔圈的人都吸收进去，就像一首许多人合唱的歌曲把每一个新声音都纳入其中