国家地理-2008-10-11 世上最大的宝塔拱顶
时间：2018-12-30 作者：英语课 分类：国家地理2008年
Transcript 1 (by myconsent, for reference only)
An architectural marvel 2, the center of the Golden Global Pagoda 3 in Bijapur India contains the world’s largest stone dome 4, built without any supporting pillars. The planned height of the structure is more than 315 feet. And with an inner diameter of nearly 280 feet, it is nearly twice the size of the previously 5 largest hollow stone monument in the world. Near completion, it is being built with the combination of ancient Indian and modern technologies to enable it to last for thousands of years.
It would have taken three ages, three generations to build this structure, which the computer technology, which has made each stone design like this, which can be fabricated at Bhilwada and Rajasthan site.
With an octagonal base, the pagoda externally rises and tapers 7 at the top through a circular bell shape.
It was an architectural challenge for anyone, in the sense that 300 feet of octagonal side is converging 8 into a one-foot diameter needle on the top.
The inside of the pagoda is hollow and serves as a large meditation 9 hall, reportedly big enough to accommodate 8000 people.
This is exact replica 10 of Swedagon pagoda of Rangoon, Burma. But Swedagon pagoda is not hollow inside. It is solid. Here we have made it hollow so that people can sit and meditate 11 there.
The pillarless dome is made of thousands of Jodhpur stones, each weighing about 1300 to 1500 pounds, suspended without any external support. The construction engineers have used an interlocking principle of one stone griping and holding another to lock the massive stones into place. Stones have grooves 13 cut both horizontally and vertically 14, designed to interlock in both directions. It’s a gesture of thanks to monks 15 in Myanmar, who have preserved the Vipassana form of mediation 16 through the ages.
Vipassana joins people, people from every community, people from every religion, from every tradition. They come, meditate. They don’t feel that they are being converted into Buddhism 17. So we make it very clear that we are not here to convert. We convert you from misery 18 to happiness.
Pagodas 19 were originally erected 20 as memorials to Buddha 21. In the discourse 22 recording 23 the last days of the Buddha, it is mentioned that ten pagodas were constructed to house his remains 24.
Notes
Octagonal:八边形的
Replica:复制品
Myanmar/Burma:缅甸
Convert: 改变宗教信仰
Vipassana: meaning "to see things as they really are", one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation.
- A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
- They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
- The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
- The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。
- The ancient pagoda is undergoing repairs.那座古塔正在修缮中。
- The pagoda is reflected upside down in the water.宝塔影子倒立在水里。
- The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
- They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。
- The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
- Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。
- You'd better taper off the amount of time given to rest.你最好逐渐地减少休息时间。
- Pulmonary arteries taper towards periphery.肺动脉向周围逐渐变细。
- The pencil tapers to a sharp point. 铅笔的一段细成笔尖。
- She put five tapers on the cake. 她在蛋糕上放了五只小蜡烛。
- Plants had gradually evolved along diverging and converging pathways. 植物是沿着趋异和趋同两种途径逐渐演化的。 来自辞典例句
- This very slowly converging series was known to Leibniz in 1674. 这个收敛很慢的级数是莱布尼茨在1674年得到的。 来自辞典例句
- This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
- I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。
- The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
- The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。
- It is important to meditate on the meaning of life.思考人生的意义很重要。
- I was meditating,and reached a higher state of consciousness.我在冥想，并进入了一个更高的意识境界。
- They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
- The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。
- Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Line the pages for the graph both horizontally and vertically.在这几页上同时画上横线和竖线，以便制作图表。
- The human brain is divided vertically down the middle into two hemispheres.人脑从中央垂直地分为两半球。
- The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
- He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
- The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。
- Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
- Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
- A dream is more romantic than scarlet pagodas by a silver sea. 梦中的风光比银白海洋旁边绯红的宝塔更加旖旎艳丽。
- Tabinshwehti placed new spires on the chief Mon pagodas. 莽瑞体在孟人的主要佛塔上加建了新的塔顶。
- Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
- He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。
- We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
- He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
- How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
- I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。