国家地理-2008-07-10 Shaolin monks 身怀绝技的少林和尚

（单词翻译）

The Shaolin monks¹ of China are famous for fighting skills and acrobatics², but above all, for their ability to somehow manage their senses.

 Does this really not hurt or do they just not mind the pain? To prepare themselves for their grueling acts, the monks use one of the oldest forms of pain control—meditation³.

 “We have to focus 100 percent. We need willpower to channel our Qi, our spiritual energy. When we meditate⁴, we channel this spiritual energy throughout our body.”

 Meditation starts by changing how the body works: The heart slows, pumping less blood; the muscles relax. Relaxed muscles means[1] less tension, which means less pain.

 But the strangest effect occurs in the brain. Astonishingly, although the brain is still alert, meditation lessens⁵ the emotional reaction to pain. It’s like turning down the volume. So when pain sensations hit, they have little effect. That’s how the monks can tolerate what for anyone else would be extraordinary pain.

 Vocabulary Mix:

grueling: Physically⁶ or mentally demanding to the point of exhaustion⁷.折磨的，使精疲力尽的：对生理或心理上的要求达到极限的。