English Original
There is an old saying that actions speak louder than words. This isn't the case, however, when it comes to resolving conflict. Actions can make conflict worse, especially if they are violent. The most productive way to solve an argument is through words of love and actions of patience.
On a drowsy spring afternoon, the train clanked through the suburbs of Tokyo. Our car was relatively empty. At one station, the quiet was shattered by a big, drunk laborer staggering in, bellowing curses. He swung at a woman holding a baby, sending her spinning. Passengers froze in terror. I stood up, ready to use my Aikido training.
I was young and strong, having trained daily for years. Yet, my teacher's words echoed: "Aikido is the art of reconciliation. We study how to resolve conflict, not how to start it." Despite this, in my heart, I secretly longed for a "legitimate" fight to save the innocent.
"This is it!" I thought. Seeing me stand, the drunk roared, "A foreigner! You need a lesson in Japanese manners!" I gave him a look of disgust and blew an insolent kiss, provoking him to charge.
A split second before he moved, a joyous "Hey!" rang out. We both turned to see a tiny, elderly Japanese man in a kimono. He beamed at the drunk and beckoned him over. "C'mere and talk with me."
Belligerently, the drunk demanded, "Why should I talk to you?"
"What'cha been drinkin'?" the old man asked, eyes sparkling.
"Sake! And it's none of your business!" the laborer bellowed, flecks of spittle hitting the old man.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" the old man said. "I love sake, too. Every night, my wife and I warm a little bottle, sit in our garden, and watch our persimmon tree..." He shared a simple, heartfelt story of his evening ritual.
The drunk's face began to soften. His fists unclenched. "Yeah... I love persimmons, too..."
"And I'm sure you have a wonderful wife," the old man smiled.
"No," the laborer replied. "My wife died." Swaying with the train, the big man began to sob. "I don't got no wife, no home, no job. I'm so ashamed."
Standing there with my youthful righteousness, I felt dirtier than he was.
The train reached my stop. As I left, I saw the laborer sprawled on the seat, his head in the old man's lap, who was softly stroking his filthy hair.
I sat on a station bench. What I had wanted to accomplish with muscle had been achieved with kind words. I had just seen Aikido in action, and its essence was love.
中文翻译
常言道，行动胜于雄辩。然而，在解决冲突时，情况并非如此。行动可能使冲突恶化，尤其是暴力行为。解决争执最有效的方式，是充满爱意的话语和饱含耐心的行动。
一个令人昏昏欲睡的春日午后，火车哐当作响地穿过东京郊区。我们这节车厢相对空旷。某一站，宁静被一个跌跌撞撞走进来的高大醉汉打破，他满口污言秽语。他挥拳打向一位抱着婴儿的妇女，使她旋转着摔出去。乘客们吓得呆若木鸡。我站起身，准备动用我合气道的训练成果。
那时我年轻力壮，已每日训练多年。但老师的话言犹在耳：“合气道是调和的艺术。我们学习如何化解冲突，而非挑起冲突。”尽管如此，在我内心深处，却暗自渴望一场“正当”的打斗来拯救无辜。
“就是现在！”我想。醉汉看到我站起来，吼道：“外国人！你需要学学日本礼仪！”我投以厌恶和蔑视的眼神，并吹了一个傲慢的飞吻，激怒他向我冲来。
就在他动手的前一刹那，一声欢快的“嘿！”响起。我们都转过头，看到一位身着和服、身材瘦小的日本老人。他对着醉汉微笑，招手让他过去。“过来，和我说说话。”
醉汉充满敌意地质问：“我凭什么要和你说话？”
“你喝了什么呀？”老人问道，眼中闪着感兴趣的光芒。
“清酒！关你什么事！”劳工吼道，唾沫星子溅到老人身上。
“哦，那太棒了！”老人说。“我也爱喝清酒。每晚，我和妻子都会温一小瓶，坐在花园里，看着我们的柿子树……”他分享了一个关于他晚间习惯的简单而真挚的故事。
醉汉的脸开始柔和下来。他紧握的拳头慢慢松开了。“是啊……我也喜欢柿子……”
“我相信你有一位好妻子，”老人微笑着说。
“不，”劳工回答。“我妻子去世了。”随着列车晃动，这个大个子开始抽泣。“我没有妻子，没有家，没有工作。我为自己感到羞耻。”
站在那里，带着我年轻的正义感，我却觉得自己比他更肮脏。
火车到站了。我离开时，看到劳工瘫坐在座位上，头枕在老人的膝上，老人正轻柔地抚摸着他肮脏打结的头发。
我坐在车站的长椅上。我本想用武力达成的事，已被善言软语实现了。我刚刚目睹了合气道的实践，而其精髓就是爱。