An American journal has published an account of a psychological experiment involving the study of the behavior of a white mouse in water under dangerous conditions.
美国的《生物心理学》杂志曾发表过一个将一只小白鼠放到池子里，借此来观察在危险情况下小白鼠的行为的心理学实验。
The swimming ability of mice is highly developed. When the mouse was placed in a pool of water it did not immediately start to swim but went round and round emitting squeaks. It was fixing its position.
小白鼠的游泳能力很强。当这只小白鼠被放到池水的中心时，它并没有马上游动，而是转着圈子，发出吱吱的叫声。原来，它是在测定方位。
The whiskers of mice are directional indicators and the mouse’s squeaks were reflected by the edge of the pool back to the whiskers, thus allowing the mouse to judge the direction and distance of its target.
小白鼠的胡须就是一个方位探测器，它的叫声传到水池边沿后，声波反射回来，被胡须探测到，通过这个方法，小白鼠可以判断出目标的方位和距离。
The mouse circled several times emitting squeaks, chose a direction and started swimming vigorously. Within moments it had reached the bank.
只见小白鼠尖叫着，转了几圈以后，朝着一个选定的方向，奋力游了过去。不一会儿，它就游到了岸边。
This test was repeated a number of times with the same result.
这样的测试经过了好几次，都是一样的结果。
Subsequently, the mouse’s whiskers were clipped and it was placed in the center of the pool again.
后来，实验人员把这只小白鼠的胡须剪掉，将它放到水池中心。
It swam in circles squeaking as before but lacking whiskers was unable to fix its position
这只小白鼠同样转着圈子，发出吱吱的叫声。但是由于胡须被剪掉了，它无法测定方位。
. It continued squeaking and circling in agitation until it sank and drowned.
它转着叫着，显得非常的着急，却一筹莫展。不一会，这只小白鼠就沉到水底，淹死了。
What was it that led to the mouse’s death?
究竟是什么导致小白鼠淹死的呢？
It was because the mouse, deprived of its whiskers was unable to fix its position, so that in its mind it was surrounded by a vast sheet of water with no way of escape.
这是因为，由于小白鼠的胡须被剪掉了，它没办法准确测定方位，在它的脑子里，四处都是水，白茫茫的一片，它自己觉得无论如何是游不出去的了。
In this situation it ceased all effort.
在这种情况下，小白鼠停止了一切努力，自己结束了生命。
It could also be said that the mouse was dead before it drowned.
因此，也可以说，在小白鼠沉入水底之前，它就已经死亡了。
The psychologist concluded that on the premise that there is absolutely no hope, all animals will take their own lives. This is known as “suicide by thought.”
心理学家最后得出结论：所有的动物，在生命彻底绝望的前提下，都会强行终止自己的生命，这就叫“意念自杀”。
中文大意：
美国的《生物心理学》杂志曾发表过一个将一只小白鼠放到池子里，借此来观察在危险情况下小白鼠的行为的心理学实验。
小白鼠的游泳能力很强。当这只小白鼠被放到池水的中心时，它并没有马上游动，而是转着圈子，发出吱吱的叫声。原来，它是在测定方位。小白鼠的胡须就是一个方位探测器，它的叫声传到水池边沿后，声波反射回来，被胡须探测到，通过这个方法，小白鼠可以判断出目标的方位和距离。只见小白鼠尖叫着，转了几圈以后，朝着一个选定的方向，奋力游了过去。不一会儿，它就游到了岸边。这样的测试经过了好几次，都是一样的结果。
后来，实验人员把这只小白鼠的胡须剪掉，将它放到水池中心。这只小白鼠同样转着圈子，发出吱吱的叫声。但是由于胡须被剪掉了，它无法测定方位。它转着叫着，显得非常的着急，却一筹莫展。不一会，这只小白鼠就沉到水底，淹死了。
究竟是什么导致小白鼠淹死的呢？这是因为，由于小白鼠的胡须被剪掉了，它没办法准确测定方位，在它的脑子里，四处都是水，白茫茫的一片，它自己觉得无论如何是游不出去的了。在这种情况下，小白鼠停止了一切努力，自己结束了生命。因此，也可以说，在小白鼠沉入水底之前，它就已经死亡了。
心理学家最后得出结论：所有的动物，在生命彻底绝望的前提下，都会强行终止自己的生命，这就叫“意念自杀”。
摘自: 吴言生著《CHINESE ZEN A PATH TO PEACE AND HAPPINESS》，
TONY BLISHEN 译，Better Link 出版社，纽约 )
