04道德经英译本85种-第121章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
till the mud settles and your water is clear?
Can you remain motionless。。。
till the right action arises by itself?
The Master doesn't seek fulfillment。
Not seeking; not expecting;
He is at hand in every moment;
His vigor will not be easily exhausted;
And his need for renewal will be reduced。
16
Empty the self completely; Embrace perfect peace。
Realize that all beings alike go through their processes of activity and life;
and then they return to the original source。
Returning to the source brings peacefulness and stillness。
This stillness is the flow of nature; and signifies that the beings have lived their allotted span of life。
Accepting this brings enlightenment and tranquility;
ignoring this brings confusion and sorrow
If one can accept this flow of nature; one can cherish all things。
Being all…cherishing you become impartial;
Being impartial you become magnanimous;
Being magnanimous you become natural;
Being natural you become one with The Way;
Being one with The Way you become immortal:
Though the body will decay; the Way will not。
17
When the Master governs; the people
are hardly aware that he exists。
Second best is a leader who is loved。
Next; is one who is feared。
The worst is one who is despised。
Such as these have no faith in their people;
and the people in turn become unfaithful to them。
The Master doesn't talk; he acts。
How sparing he is with his words!
When his work is complete and the purpose is achieved;
the people regard the triumph as their own。
18
When the way of the Tao is forgotten;
morality and ethics need to be stressed。
When the body's innate intelligence is not heeded;
deception becomes routine; and men learn to pretend to be wise and good。
When genuine peace among people is not regarded;
filial piety and compassion are made apparent。
When a nation falls into chaos; loyalty and patriotism are renewed。
19
If we could discard knowledge and wisdom;
then the people would be a hundred times happier。
If we could renounce our kindness and discard our righteousness;
the people's harmonious relationships and love would form of their own accord。
If cunning and profit were renounced; stealing and fraud would disappear。
Since the above three are merely words and slogans; they are not sufficient as they are lost in the world of man。
Therefore we must look to that to which they belong:
Cultivate simplicity and be like the uncarved wooden block。
Reduce your selfishness and diminish desire and ambition。
Stop worthless learning and you will reduce vexations of the spirit。
20
Discard relentless learning; and put an end to the anxiety in your harried mind。
What is the difference between yes and no?
What is the distinction between success and failure?
Must the sage fear what all others fear?
How preposterous; these questions can be asked for as long as one seeks enlightenment。
It is to the sage's advantage that he need not fear what others fear。
But it is to the advantage of most that they can enjoy the feast;
and celebrate in the terraced parks in the springtime。
I alone seem tranquil and still amidst the smiling revelers。
I am as expressionless as an infant before it learns to smile。
I do not know the minds of other people;
My mind is that of a fool; muddied and cloudy。
I am alone; with no true home。
Other people have enough and to spare;
I alone seem to have lost everything。
Other people enjoy all they need and more;
I alone have left everything behind。
Other people appear bright;
I alone seem wrapped in darkness。
Other people seem razor…sharp;
I alone am dull。
Other people are lucid;
I alone am obscure。
Everyone seems to know everything;
I alone have no knowledge。
I am like a wave on the ocean;
blowing as aimlessly as the wind; with no place to rest。
Others have purpose; taste and a sphere of action:
I alone am purposeless; unrefined and uncentered。
I do not share the fears of the people;
For creation nourishes me。
21
The form of great virtue is something that only the Tao can follow。
The Tao as a 〃thing〃 is vague and obscure。
How obscure! How vague! Yet in it there is form。
How vague! How obscure! But in it there are things。
How deep! How dark! In it there is an essence。
The essence is so realtherein is belief。
Since before time and space were;
the Tao IS。
It is beyond is and is not。
How do I know this is true?
I look inside myself and see。
22
Yield; and maintain integrity。
If you want to become whole; let yourself become partial。
If you want to become straight; let yourself become crooked。
If you want to become full; let yourself become empty。
If you want to be reborn; you must let yourself die。
If you want to be given everything; you must give everything up。
The sage accepts the world as the world accepts the Way。
He is free from self…display; and therefore he shines。
Freed from self…assertion; he is distinguished。
Removed from self…boasting; his merit is acknowledged。
removed from self…complacency; he acquires superiority。
It is because he is free from striving that
no one in the world is able to strive with him。
When the ancient Masters said;
〃If you want to be given everything; give everything up;〃
they weren't mouthing empty phrases。
Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly complete。
23
Nature says only a few words:
To speak little is natural。
Express yourself completely;
and then keep quiet。
Be like the forces of nature:
a gale seldom blows the whole morning;
nor does a downpour last a whole day。
When the clouds pass; the sun shines through。
If nature's words do not last;
why should those of man?
If you open yourself to the Tao;
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely。
If you open yourself to insight;
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely。
If you open yourself to loss;
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely。
The Tao accepts this accordance gladly。
Virtue accepts this accordance gladly。
Loss also accepts this accordance gladly。
He who does not have trust in others
should not himself be trusted。
24
He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm
he who travels at a speed beyond his means;
cannot maintain his pace。
He who tries to shine dims his own light。
If you boast; you will have no merit。
Pride yourself and you will not endure。
These behaviors are wasteful and indulgent;
so they attract disfavor;
therefore those who pursue
the Tao do not accept and allow them。
25
There is a mystery; something formless and perfect
before the universe was born。
It is tranquil。 Empty。
Solitary。 Unchanging。
Infinite。 Eternally present。
It is the mother of everything。
I don't know its name。
Hence; when forced to name it; I call it 〃Tao。〃 (the Way)。
When attempting to categorize it; I call it 〃great。〃
Being great it flows through all things;inside and outside。
And being limitless it returns to the origin of all things。
The Tao is great。
The universe is great。
Earth is great。
Man is great。
These are the four great powers。
Man follows the laws of the earth。
Earth follows the laws of the universe。
The universe follows the laws of the Tao。
The law of the Tao is in being what it is。
26
The heavy is the root of the light。
Composure is the ruler of instability。
An experienced traveler will journey all day; watching over his belongings;
Though there may be spectacles to see
He easily passes them by。
However splendid the views;
he stays serenely in him