韩国自杀倾向新疗法 躺入木棺思考人生

A new treatment for suicidal patients in South Korea involves locking them up in wooden coffins2. The fake "death experience" apparently3 helps students appreciate life better after confronting a simulated version of their last moments.

韩国出现自杀倾向患者新疗法，躺入木棺思考人生。在直面模拟的“临终时刻”后，假死经历有助于人们更加珍惜生命。

The rate of suicide in Korea is on the rise, with about 40 people killing4 themselves every day. Experts believe that the nation's super-competitive atmosphere is responsible for so many cases of depression and suicide. And according to theSeoul Hyowon Healing Center, the solution to this crisis lies in their 'death experience' therapy.

Participants at the centre come from all walks of life, including teenagers who struggle with pressure at school, older parents experiencing isolation5, and the elderly who are afraid of becoming a financial burden on their families. They all don white robes and get into coffins arranged in rows. Beside each coffin1 is a small desk with pens and paper. Students sit inside the coffins and listen to a short talk by Jeong Yong-mun, a former funeral worker who is now the head of the healing centre. He explains to them that they should accept their problems as a part of life and try to find joy in the most difficult situations.

The students then lie down in the coffin and close their eyes to have a 'funeral portrait' taken. Afterwards, they write down their will or compose a farewell letter to their loved ones, and read their last words aloud to the group. When the 'hour of death' approaches, they are told that it is now time to 'go to the other side'. Candles are lit and the 'Korean Angel of Death' enters the room. The students lie down in their coffins once more, and the angel closes the lid on each one of them.

They are left alone in the dark for about 10 minutes, during which time they are faced with the idea of 'nothingness' in the after-life. They are encouraged to use this time to contemplate6 on life from an outsider's perspective. When they finally emerge from their coffins, they claim to feel 'refreshed' and 'liberated7'. Jeong Yong-mun enters the room once more to tell them: "You have seen what death feels like, you are alive, and you must fight!"

1 coffin

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。

The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 coffins

n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物

参考例句：

The shop was close and hot, and the atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins. 店堂里相当闷热，空气仿佛被棺木的味儿污染了。 来自辞典例句

Donate some coffins to the temple, equal to the number of deaths. 到寺庙里，捐赠棺材盒给这些死者吧。 来自电影对白

3 apparently

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。

He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 killing

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。

Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 isolation

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。

He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

6 contemplate

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。

The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

7 liberated

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。

The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。