俄羅斯的雪！
02/03/2016
2015年12月3日 星期四
(人鬼通話?)
Why do the Dying See Their Deceased Relatives
Before They Go – (人鬼通話?)
And What My Dying Mom Told Me She Saw
My quest to understand what the dying see began when I found out that my mom only had a few months (if that) to live. I wanted to be familiar with the stages she would go through and how I could best be there for her.
One of the things I read about the dying is that often they see deceased relatives or friends right before the end. In the world I grew up in (as a Seventh Day Adventist), I was taught that such things simply couldn’t happen. Yet, I read and heard story after story of men, women and children on their deathbeds who saw their dead mothers, fathers, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and friends. The same is true with people who experience “near-death experiences.”
The logical response to this phenomena is that lack of oxygen and the consumption of various drugs can do crazy things to the brain. Who knows what can occur when a person is hanging on by a thread?
As we neared the last days of my mom’s life, I so wanted to understand what she was feeling and seeing. The day before she took her last breath I decided to ask her.
First I wanted to make sure she could comprehend what I was saying. I told her I loved her, and she raised her eyebrows in acknowledgement. Then I shared a funny story about a conversation my sister and I had. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. I could tell that she was taking in every word.
And then I went for it.
“Mom, can I ask you a really serious question?” She turned her head and opened her eyes fully. I could tell she wanted to grasp every word that came out of my mouth.
“Mom, do you see any of our dead relatives in the room? Do you see your dad?” she shook her head to indicate “no.”
“Do you see your mom,” she shook her head.
“Do you see dad?” (my dad had died when I was 10). Her response was quite different this time. She began nodding her head to indicate “yes.”
“Is he here in this room right now?” she nodded. “Can he see me?” she nodded again. And then she tried to communicate with words, but was frustrated when she couldn’t get the words out. I could tell she wanted to share her reality with me so badly.
The next day mom was in a different realm. She wasn’t responding to me or my family members, yet she was having full-on inaudible conversations with a being I couldn’t see. Maybe my dad?
At times she would become quite animated, speaking deep within her throat and making gutteral (如滴水般)sounds. At one point, she kept shaking her head and saying “no.” It was obvious she was fighting something. I sat down next to her and tried to hold her. My sister also came into the room to let mom know she was there. I then called my brother and let him say hello.
Shortly thereafter, mom began having conversations again. When she spoke to the invisible being this time, it was as though they were having a cohesive conversation (黏住不放)— one that I still couldn’t understand because by that time her vocal chords were shot. She’d talk and then listen and talk again. It was as though she was trying to make sense of what she was being told.
The conversation ended, and a bit later her body constricted. Her brow furrowed. Then something profound happened. Her soul (the mom I loved and treasured so much) completely left her body. Her body continued to breathe, but there were no more conversations. No more frowns or grimaces when you’d adjust her legs or back.
What I saw led me to conclude that she finally agreed to go. Could it be possible that she went with my dad? That he was sent to take her away and keep her safe along the way? (魂不附體? 魂先體離開人?)
While I can’t be certain, this is what it seemed to be.
According to David Kessler, author and expert on death and dying, the following things often happen when a person is about to die.
David Kessler新聞媒體名作家
【David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on healing and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life. David’s work has been featured on CNN, NBC, Fox, PBS, and Dr Oz.】.
- The dying are often visited by their dead mothers.
- Their hands often reach up toward a force that can’t be seen. (My momdid this)
- Family members and friends of the dying can’t see their visions or participate in conversations. (但台灣的觀落陰能?)
- Visions often occur hours to weeks before they die.
While there is no “proof” that their visions and communication with deceased family members or friends are real, some death and dying experts are adamant (深信)they should be taken seriously.
“People think it’s just confusion or the drugs,” explains Maggie Callanan. As a hospice nurse for more than 27 years, she has helped more than 2,000 dying men and women in their last days. “But frankly, the confusion is ours. The patient knows what is going on.”
Dr. Martha Twaddle, chief medical officer of the Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter, explains further: “You can write it off and say it’s a hallucination, they’re not getting enough oxygen in their brain, but no, it doesn’t apply to many people in these situations. I have to believe they are transitioning; they are in a phase we don’t understand physically or metaphysically. And it is profoundly reassuring to see it happen.”
Following the death of my Mom, I am more open to the idea that something amazing (like my father being there to take my mom away) may occur. The experience is one I can never forget — and honestly I never want to forget.
Just a few weeks ago, I was wondering why I haven’t had many dreams of my mom since she died. As I was driving home from work, I said out loud, “Mom, it’s about time you come and visit me in a dream! Where are you anyway?” I then laughed it off and enjoyed my drive through my favorite canyon.
That night while I was sleeping, it happened. I had one of the most lucid dreams I’ve had in a long time. Mom was dressed beautifully. She peered at me with aHUGE smile. Her eyes were bright and full of life. She was happier than I had seen her in years. And she was younger, maybe her 45 or 50-year-old self. We didn’t exchange any words, but it was clear that she is healed, happy and free.
I woke up with joy in my heart.
August 28, 2015
【編按】：
有人以為進入彌留狀態的人意志力最薄弱，流行民間的迷信之一，收驚即為招回失落(wandering) 的神魂，一般道士(俗稱司公) ，除了吹號之外，定唱聲『十二條精神歸本命! 』人真有12條魂魄? 這是中國道教的看法與主張。一位垂危病人家屬去求神問卜時，會被告知12條神魂，10條已離人體，僅存2條，此即意謂離鬼門關不遠。這時垂死之人會胡思亂想，當然全是負面，此點東西方看法一致。而即使厭世者也不會主動去找鬼魂打交道，是牠們主動來找的。所謂『人牽m走(念kian)，鬼拖弄弄走(念zhao)』，前半句的「牽」乃affectionately leading, 而後半句的「拖∣」表示unkindly dragging。(但「牽拖」在台語則作誣控解) ，另為何都夢想到『熟識的親友』? 也許是『陌生人』拉你不走? 也無話可說吧！
Justin Lai (賴正雄) 評註
12/01/2015
2015年11月7日 星期六
台灣小吃的典故
你知道台語何謂『腥操』? 『虱目魚與皇帝豆』命名的由來?
台灣小吃典故-作者：魚夫
台灣最早是荷蘭人準備要和清國做生意的基地，接著是鄭氏王朝要反清復明的基地，然後是日本要南進的基地，1949年後，是國民黨要反攻大陸的基地，總之，『走了豺狼，來了虎豹』，所以台灣人衰到 (註：十分倒楣) 沒有自己的史觀，統治者『說了算』，原住民也自以為是炎黄子孫，漢人自認是皇民，最後大家都是「中國人」，更有甚者，自己尋根湊上去，所謂「溯本正源」，別的不說，表現在飲食文化上也是如此。
我在府城 (台南市) 住了六、七年後，漸漸的了解一些飲食掌故，更是發現紫朱奪赤、鄭聲亂雅樂，先說台語形容一頓飯很豐盛，音發成：thsinn-tshau ，那麼漢字便有人主張應寫成「差操」(註：日語-おいし馳走-好料理)，說是當年鄭成功為了反清復明大業，只准文人在「差事」之外，武人在「操事」之外才能享用美食，故名「差操」。
鄭成功活在台灣的時間並不久。1662年的2月1日，據守熱遮蘭城的荷蘭「台灣長官」揆一正式修書跟鄭成功議和，從此退出台灣，可是到了該年的6月23日鄭成功就一命歸西了 (註：鄭氏享壽39，而荷蘭據台也是39年) 如果把他在1661年的4月30日登陸抵台的時間算進去，大概就約是一年兩個月的光陰罷了，前半段在打仗，後半截在宮廷鬥爭，並且開始掛病號((註：生病)。
然而鄭成功卻從此陰魂不散。「差操」教育部定的寫法是「腥臊」，所謂「差操」實在很難令人相信咱鄭成功不來台灣前，住在台灣島上的人就從沒吃過一頓豐沛的好料的吧？如果有，那時候並無「差操」一詞，難道要比手劃腳？
蚵仔煎也是鄭成功在圍荷蘭守軍時的發明。當時圍城的軍隊缺少响糧，鄭成功向上天禱告，便有了將台南盛產的牡蠣煎而食之的點子。這也是實在是太唬爛了 (註=bull shit)，蚵仔煎是閩南一帶的庶民食物，從前只消插竹枝即有，或烤或煎，烹調小事，何勞鄭成功祈神發現？
虱目魚是因為廚師奉上鮮魚，鄭成功嚐之，深感此魚應屬人間極品，脫口發問：「什麼魚？」，下人以為國姓爺要將此名取為「什麼魚」，年久訛音，乃成「虱目魚」，又有「國姓魚」(註: Koxinga國姓爺) 之稱。
左：蚵仔煎 右：虱目魚，又稱國姓魚
《維基》百科全晉上很不留情面的發表打臉文說：
「虱目魚」的名稱可能源於臺灣原住民西拉雅族的語言「麻薩末」，而臺灣的虱目魚（日本人中野民考證Sabahe為荷蘭語發音）養殖技術，被認為最早係由荷蘭人自印尼引入臺灣。
正宗台南口味的的虱目魚 魚粥
現在去台南的菜巿場逛，老一輩人真的是說「麻薩末」而不是「虱目」二字而已。
「國姓魚」其實還有一種魚，名喚「香魚」，連横寫《雅言》也有聞必錄瞎起鬨，記載「新店溪香魚」根據《淡水廳誌》謂鄭氏至臺始有，所以亦名「國姓魚」。
鄭氏王朝當年的勢力並不及於北台灣，就算有，香魚也是千年以上古生物，此等台灣生物史交給生物學家來說更是長篇累犢，那連雅堂胡說八道，其理自明。
說到台南特有的「意麵」之名，鄭成功又顯靈了。謂「意麵」乃鄭氏的福州籍伙頭兵來台時在鹽水所創作的麵食。其實在縣巿尚未合併前的官方刊物《南瀛小吃誌》就有記載，係1923年一位福州人名喚黄忠亮隻身來台時所製作出來的，以其製作時加入全鴨蛋汁而不加水，因此擀起麵來必須特別出力，發出「噫、噫、噫」聲，乃呼之為「意麵」。
有人將「意麵」引申為清・伊秉綬官府裡的「伊麵」的轉音，那是不了解日治時期高級餐館裡也真有「伊麵」，不過那是列在昻貴的菜單裡的佳饌，一般百姓是吃不起的。
日治時期那位福州人黄忠亮來台時的身份是外國人，當時正值歐戰，日本乃趁機而入，掌握了遠東的海上貿易，並與中國沿岸通商，有句老話說：「一府、二鹿、三艋舺」，中國東南沿海的移民首選當然是府城（當時的神仙府），就像今天的台北集中了各省以乃世界各國料理一般，台南的人口最多，也最繁榮，料理自然最多元。
「意麵」之名既已定調，隨後而來的汕頭人也稱他們所作的麵食是「意麵」，其實要是去汕頭，哪來的意麵，只有乾麵；去福州也沒意麵，且今之台北所謂「福州乾拌麵」或「傻瓜麵」事實上都是台灣族群融合後的創意麵品。
意麵 滷麵
無奈的是將飲食種種來源都連結到鄭成功，好像鄭成功沒來台灣，老百姓就沒好東西吃；鄭成功死在台灣後，留下來的人及其後代似乎從此不吃不喝，國民黨政府刻意「遺忘」台灣曾被日本統治的事實，教育讓我們看不到日治時期的人民生活，所以要一直到1949年後才又開始了飲食這回事。
譬如說「滷麵」，這是台南人在喜慶宴會裡經常出現的一味佳餚，可是在〈維基〉百科上，卻說成是1949年後才出現的。這是漳州人的傳統美食，傳說從唐朝「開漳聖王」陳元光時代就已流傳開來，我去漳州，當地專家也是這麼說的，隨漳州人移民來台的滷麵，何必等待1949的外省新移民來傳授？許多台灣文學家如葉石濤老先生也在小說裡曾經描繪滷麵，根本不待終戰已是文學的題材。
而且不只是鄭成功本人神威顯赫而已，鄭氏王朝其後的大小歷史人物也都左右了台南的飲食文化史。
土魠魚是打敗鄭氏王朝的施琅愛吃的。施琅官拜水師提督，「土魠」乃「提督」魚的轉音，實則清朝時期移民來台的「三邑人」（晉江、惠安、南安）人稱土魠為Thòo-thú，漢字作「頭魠」，不信跟我去三邑走走，隨便找人來問問，或者去台南的水仙宮巿場逛逛，聽濟歲的 (註：上年紀) 資深國民如何發音？至於為何轉出如今的Thòo-thoh？很簡單，不知是哪位仁兄望見「土魠」二字，不知台語如何發音，只好就字面來推論罷。
左：土魠照黑魚 右：切片煎成
終結鄭成功王朝的，清朝施琅將軍
台南人愛吃一種「皇帝豆」，傳說是寧靖王的最愛。寧靖王哪有那麼好命？連雅堂的書中說嗜此物者為鄭成功的兒子鄭經：
「皇帝豆」乃因「嗣王經嗜此，因以為名。按鄭氏居臺，保持正朔，未嘗帝制自為；或因肇造東都，便宜封拜，為其代行天子之事而附會歟？或曰：豆本名『黃筴』(註：念hong geng)，呼音訛為『皇帝』；猶『承天府』之為『神仙府』也。豆筴長三、四寸，仁偏而大，皮有紅紋；作饌極美。冬、春盛出，他處未見。」
連雅堂著書不用心考究，然後搞不清楚鄭經愛吃的豆子怎可稱為「皇帝豆」，這豈非僭越？然後之乎也者的丈二金剛摸不著頭腦，真是作繭自縛。
皇帝豆依我看，就是長得超大一顆罷了，搞得疑雲重重，何苦來哉？
皇帝豆 連戰祖父
總之我寫此文不是來跟美食家們找麻煩的，美食連結歷史人物的「文化創意」也不可勝數，只是我想了解的是先民的生活，而連結帝王將相就看不到真象。有人問我台灣的小吃為什麼這麼多？我這樣推測：可能跟先民是「羅漢腳」(註：光棍) 來台蓽路藍縷，以啟山林有關，先講速食，再慢慢發展成更為講究的味道有關，至於鄭成功，咱們現在吃得到的，他當年可能都無福消受，當然，我不是文史工作者也不敢斷言，要不然，咱們去觀落陰 (註：活人被催眠後去地獄夢遊)問看看？
男女信徒用紅布蒙眼遊地府-觀落陰 (第三度空間的幻想)
Justin Lai 附圖及加註
11/07/2015
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