04道德经英译本85种-第151章
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Opening and closing the gates of heaven;
Can you play the role of woman?
Understanding and being open to all things;
Are you able to do nothing?
Giving birth and nourishing;
Bearing yet not possessing;
Working yet not taking credit;
Leading yet not dominating;
This is the Primal Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub;
It is the center hole that makes it useful。
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful。
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful。
Therefore benefit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there。
12
The five colors blind the eye。
The five tones deafen the ear。
The five flavors dull the taste。
Racing and hunting madden the mind。
Precious things lead one astray。
Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees。
He lets go of that and chooses this。
13
Accept disgrace willingly。
Accept misfortune as the human condition。
What do you mean by 〃Accept disgrace willingly〃?
Accept being unimportant。
Do not be concerned with loss or gain。
This is called 〃accepting disgrace willingly。〃
What do you mean by 〃Accept misfortune as the human condition〃?
Misfortune comes from having a body。
Without a body; how could there be misfortune?
Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things。
Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things。
14
Look; it cannot be seen … it is beyond form。
Listen; it cannot be heard … it is beyond sound。
Grasp; it cannot be held … it is intangible。
These three are indefinable;
Therefore they are joined in one。
From above it is not bright;
From below it is not dark:
An unbroken thread beyond description。
It returns to nothingness。
The form of the formless;
The image of the imageless;
It is called indefinable and beyond imagination。
Stand before it and there is no beginning。
Follow it and there is no end。
Stay with the ancient Tao;
Move with the present。
Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao。
15
The ancient masters were subtle; mysterious; profound; responsive。
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable。
Because it is unfathomable;
All we can do is describe their appearance。
Watchful; like men crossing a winter stream。
Alert; like men aware of danger。
Courteous; like visiting guests。
Yielding like ice about to melt。
Simple; like uncarved blocks of wood。
Hollow; like caves。
Opaque; like muddy pools。
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment。
Not seeking fulfillment; they are not swayed by desire for change。
16
Empty yourself of everything。
Let the mind become still。
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches theirreturn。
They grow and flourish and then return to the source。
Returning to the source is stillness; which is the way of nature。
The way of nature is unchanging。
Knowing constancy is insight。
Not knowing constancy leads to disaster。
Knowing constancy; the mind is open。
With an open mind; you will be openhearted。
Being openhearted; you will act royally。
Being royal; you will attain the divine。
Being divine; you will be at one with the Tao。
Being at one with the Tao is eternal。
And though the body dies; the Tao will never pass away。
17
The very highest if barely known。
Then comes that which people know and love。
Then that which is feared;
Then that which is despised。
Who does not trust enough will not be trusted。
When actions are performed
Without unnecessary speech;
People say; 〃We did it!〃
18
When the great Tao is forgotten;
Kindness and morality arise。
When wisdom and intelligence are born;
The great pretense begins。
When there is no peace within the family;
Filial piety and devotion arise。
When the country is confused and in chaos;
Loyal ministers appear。
19
Give up sainthood; renounce wisdom;
And it will be a hundred times better for everyone。
Give up kindness; renounce morality;
And men will rediscover filial piety and love。
Give up ingenuity; renounce profit;
And bandits and thieves will disappear。
These three are outward forms alone; they are not sufficient in themselves。
It is more important
To see the simplicity;
To realize one's true nature;
To cast off selfishness
And temper desire。
20
Give up learning; and put an end to your troubles。
Is there a difference between yes and no?
Is there a difference between good and evil?
Must I fear what others fear? What nonsense!
Other people are contented; enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox。
In spring some go to the park; and climb the terrace;
But I alone am drifting; not knowing where I am。
Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile;
I am alone; without a place to go。
Others have more than they need; but I alone have nothing。
I am a fool。 Oh; yes! I am confused。
Others are clear and bright;
But I alone am dim and weak。
Others are sharp and clever;
But I alone am dull and stupid。
Oh; I drift like the waves of the sea;
Without direction; like the restless wind。
Everyone else is busy;
But I alone am aimless and depressed。
I am different。
I am nourished by the great mother。
21
The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone。
The Tao is elusive and intangible。
Oh; it is intangible and elusive; and yet within is image。
Oh; it is elusive and intangible; and yet within is form。
Oh; it is dim and dark; and yet within is essence。
This essence is very real; and therein lies faith。
From the very beginning until now its name has never been forgotten。
Thus I perceive the creation。
How do I know the ways of creation?
Because of this。
22
Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused。
Therefore the wise embrace the one
And set an example to all。
Not putting on a display;
They shine forth。
Not justifying themselves;
They are distinguished。
Not boasting;
They receive recognition。
Not bragging;
They never falter。
They do not quarrel;
So no one quarrels with them。
Therefore the ancients say; 〃Yield and overcome。〃
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole;
And all things will come to you。
23
To talk little is natural。
High winds do not last all morning。
Heavy rain does not last all day。
Why is this? Heaven and Earth!
If heaven and Earth cannot make things eternal;
How is it possible for man?
He who follows the Tao
Is at one with the Tao。
He who is virtuous
Experiences Virtue。
He who loses the way
Is lost。
When you are at one with the Tao;
The Tao welcomes you。
When you are at one with Virtue;
The Virtue is always there。
When you are at one with loss;
The loss is experienced willingly。
He who does not trust enough
Will not be trusted。
24
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady。
He who strides cannot maintain the pace。
He who makes a show is not enlightened。
He who is self…righteous is not respected。
He who boasts achieves nothing。
He who brags will not endure。
According to followers of the Tao; 〃These are extra food and unnecessaryluggage。〃
They do not bring happiness。
therefore followers of the Tao avoid them。
25
Something mysteriously formed;
Born before heaven and Earth。
In the silence and the void;
Standing al