和尚的足球梦

This is no ordinary temple. The monks here are 1)devotees, but not just of Buddhism.

Inspired by China’s heroism in the 2002 World Cup, millions of Chinese have become soccer fans. Amongst them, a group of Buddhist monks from the western Chinese city of Chongqing have also caught the soccer fever. For them, watching the game isn’t enough. They want to play in the big league.

Monks at Huayan Temple practice Zen Buddhism, a school of Mahayana Buddhism that combines a life of work and prayer with 2)intensive periods of meditation. Tonight the monk’s prayers have taken on greater significance.

Early morning: The monks gear up for the friendly game against the students and teachers of Chongqing Foreign Language School. A matchup like this has never been seen before in Chongqing, so it’s attracted more than just curious onlookers.

The monks are off to an energetic start, but the foreign team quickly takes control, and the goals fly in fast and furious. Halftime: The monks are three goals down and the pressure is building. In the dying moments the monks snatch a goal back. Final score: Foreigners: 3, Monks: 1.

After proving their 3)metal against real competition, the 4)abbot gives the team approval to apply for Chongqing’s annual Kings of Soccer Championship. While some may disapprove, the monks press on with their dreams of becoming Chongqing’s Kings of Soccer.

这不是普通的寺庙，这里的和尚十分虔诚，但可不仅仅是对佛教。

受到2002年世界杯赛上中国队勇猛表现的激励，好几百万中国人迷上了足球。在他们当中，来自中国西部城市重庆的一群和尚也染上了足球热。对他们来说，看球还不够，他们还想下场比赛。

华岩寺的和尚修习禅宗，这是大乘佛教的宗派，强调在生活中结合修行、诵经与长时间的打坐。今天晚上和尚的诵经课更为重要。

一大早，和尚们就准备好和重庆外语学校的师生联队进行友谊赛。这样的比赛在重庆前所未有，所以吸引了许多人到场观战。

和尚队一开始就很有拼劲，不过外国人队很快就控制了局面，接二连三地进球。到了半场，和尚落后三分，压力变得越来越大。在最后关头，和尚队追回了一球。最后的结果是三比一，外国人队胜。

在和尚队证明了自己的奋战精神之后，方丈允许他们参加重庆每年一次的球王争霸战。虽然有些人对此举不赞成，这些和尚还是坚持成为重庆足球霸主的梦想。

The Buddhist monks from Chongqing’s Huayan Temple have defied all odds to compete in their first official soccer tournament. Known as the Kings of Soccer Championship, it uses a 5)knockout system to crown the best three-a-side team. Lose a game and you’re out.

The monks start the game strong, and the coach’s good advice begins to show. An equalizer from the opposing team, but the monks reply with the winner. Their first victory. 6)Morale in the monk camp is at a record high, and they go on to win their next game. The third elimination match: The monks take an early lead, but their rivals respond with a quick equalizer. Coach Li Qing decides to switch strategy. But the new tactic proves to be a costly one. The monks lose the match 3-1 and are knocked out of the tournament.

The monks may have lost out on the soccer championship, but they can still claim to be winners of some new-found fans. For now, Huayan Temple’s soccer-playing monks will have to be contented with watching from the sidelines. There’s always next year’s tournament and the dream of playing in the big league one day.

重庆华岩寺的和尚克服了种种困难，终于第一次参加正式比赛。这个比赛叫球王争霸战，采用单淘汰制来产生三人冠军球队，只要输一场比赛就出局。

和尚队一开始就攻势凌厉，教练的意见开始发挥作用，对手追一球扳成平手，不过和尚们踢进致胜的一球，获得首场胜利。和尚队阵营士气空前高涨，他们接着赢了第二场。在第三场淘汰赛中，和尚一开始就取得领先，但对手很快追平，教练李庆决定改变战术，可是新战术付出了昂贵的代价，和尚队以一比三输了比赛，被淘汰出局。

和尚虽说在球王争霸战中输了比赛，不过，他们仍称得上是赢家，因为他们吸引了一些新球迷。现在华岩寺那些踢球的和尚只能暂时当观众了，不过明年的球王争霸战还是会举办，踢进大联赛的梦想或许还有机会实现。翻译：旭文