04道德经英译本85种-第212章

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s　naturally。　Conflicts　resolve　themselves　sooner　or　later；　whether　or　not　a　person　knows　how　things　happen。
　　It　is　true　that　being　aware　of　how　things　happen　makes　one's　words　more　potent　and　one's　behaviour　more　effective。
　　But　even　without　the　light　of　consciousness；　people　grow　and　improve。　Being　unconscious　is　not　a　crime；　it　is　merely　a　lack　of　a　very　helpful　ability。
　　Knowing　how　things　work　gives　the　leader　more　real　power　and　ability　than　all　the　degrees　or　titles　the　world　can　offer。
　　That　is　why　people　in　every　era　and　in　every　culture　have　honoured　those　who　know　how　things　happen。

　　63

　　The　wise　leader　knows　how　to　act　effectively。
　　To　act　effectively；　be　aware　and　unbiased。　If　you　are　aware；　you　will　know　what　is　happening；　you　will　not　act　rashly。　If　you　are　unbiased；　you　can　react　in　a　balanced　and　centered　manner。
　　Have　respect　for　every　person　and　every　issue　directed　at　you。　Do　not　dismiss　any　encounter　as　insignificant。　But　neither　should　you　become　anxious　or　afraid　of　being　overwhelmed　or　embarrassed。
　　If　you　are　attacked　or　criticized；　react　in　a　way　that　will　shed　light　on　the　event。　This　is　a　matter　of　being　centered　and　of　knowing　that　an　encounter　is　a　dance　and　not　a　threat　to　your　ego　or　existence。　Tell　the　truth。
　　If　you　are　conscious　of　what　is　happening　in　a　group；　you　will　recognize　emerging　situations　long　before　they　have　gotten　out　of　hand。　Every　situation；　no　matter　how　vast　or　complex　it　may　become；　begins　both　small　and　simple。
　　Neither　avoid　nor　seek　encounters；　but　be　open　and　when　an　encounter　arises；　respond　to　it　while　it　is　still　manageable。　There　is　no　virtue　in　delaying　until　heroic　action　is　needed　to　set　things　right。　In　this　way；　potentially　difficult　situations　become　simple。
　　If　you　have　not　bragged　about　your　abilities　or　tried　to　make　people　be　the　way　you　think　they　ought　to　be；　very　few　group　members　will　want　to　encounter　you　anyway。

　　64

　　Learn　to　recognize　beginnings。　At　birth；　event　are　relatively　easy　to　manage。　Slight　interventions　shape　and　guide　easily。　Potential　difficulties　can　be　avoided。　The　greatest　danger　lies　in　disrupting　the　emerging　process　by　using　too　much　force。
　　The　wise　leader　sees　things　almost　before　they　happen。　A　tree　that　is　stiff　and　rigid　begins　as　a　pliant　sapling。　A　great　construction　project　begins　with　one　shovelful　of　earth。　A　journey　of　a　thousand　miles　begins　with　a　single　step。
　　Once　an　event　is　fully　energized　and　formed；　stand　back　as　much　as　possible。　Needless　interventions　will　only　confuse　or　block　what　is　happening。　Especially；　do　not　try　to　make　an　event　conform　to　any　predetermined　plan　or　model。
　　Many　leaders　spoil　the　work　just　as　it　nears　completion。　They　get　eager。　They　get　interested　in　certain　outcomes。　They　become　anxious　and　make　mistakes。　This　is　a　time　for　care　and　consciousness。　Don't　do　too　much。　Don't　be　too　helpful。　Don't　worry　about　getting　credit　for　having　done　something。
　　Because　the　wise　leader　has　no　expectations；　no　outcome　can　be　called　a　failure。　Paying　attention；　allowing　a　natural　unfolding；　and　standing　back　most　of　the　time；　the　leader　sees　the　event　arrive　at　a　satisfactory　conclusion。

　　65

　　The　teacher's　leaders　did　not　emphasize　complex　theories。　The　practiced　and　taught　a　way　of　life　based　on　consciousness　and　wisdom。
　　People　who　see　the　world　in　terms　of　theories　often　have　a　very　intricate　view　of　what　is　happening。　Clarity　is　difficult　for　them。　They　are　very　hard　to　work　with。
　　If　you　teach　a　group　by　making　complex　explanations；　you　will　confuse　people。　They　will　take　notes　and　fill　their　minds　with　opinions。
　　But　if　you　return　again　and　again　to　an　awareness　of　what　is　actually　happening；　you　will　both　clarify　and　enlighten。
　　The　ability　to　distinguish　between　theory　and　practice　will　save　you　much　trouble。
　　Practice　a　way　of　life；　and　demonstrate　conscious　cooperation　with　the　single　principle。　If　you　cooperate　with　Tao；　you　will　experience　the　power　of　universal　harmony。

　　66

　　Why　is　the　ocean　the　greatest　body　of　water？　Because　it　lies　below　all　the　rivers　and　streams　and　is　open　to　them　all。
　　What　we　call　leadership　consists　mainly　of　knowing　how　to　follow。　The　wise　leader　stays　in　the　background　and　facilitates　other　people's　process。　The　greatest　things　the　does　go　largely　unnoticed。　Because　the　leader　does　not　push　or　shape　or　manipulate；　there　is　no　resentment　or　resistance。
　　Group　members　genuinely　appreciate　a　leader　who　facilitates　their　lives　rather　than　promoting　some　personal　agenda。　Because　the　leader　is　open；　any　issue　can　be　raised。　Because　the　leader　has　no　position　to　defend　and　shows　no　favouritism；　no　one　feels　slighted；　no　one　wishes　to　quarrel。

　　67

　　Here　is　a　paradox：　even　though　the　single　principle　of　how　everything　happens　is　great；　those　who　follow　the　principle　know　that　they　are　ordinary。
　　Great　egocentricity　does　not　make　a　person　great。　The　common　ground　of　all　creation　is　a　greater　source　of　life　than　any　exalted　isolation。
　　These　three　qualities　are　invaluable　to　the　leader：
　　…　Compassion　for　all　creatures
　　…　Material　simplicity　or　frugality
　　…　A　sense　of　equality　or　modesty
　　A　compassionate　person　acts　in　behalf　off　everyone's　right　to　life。　Material　simplicity　gives　on　an　abundance　to　share。　A　sense　of　equality　is；　paradoxically；　one's　true　greatness。
　　It　is　a　mistake　to　consider　a　person　whose　only　interest　is　self…interest　as　being　either　caring　or　courageous。　It　is　a　mistake　to　rationalize　that　excessive　consumption　contributes　to　the　well…being　of　others　by　giving　them　employment。　It　is　a　mistake　to　imagine　that　a　person　who　acts　immodestly　or　in　a　superior　way　is　in　fact；　a　genuinely　superior　person。
　　These　are　all　egocentric　behaviours。　They　isolate　a　person　from　the　common　ground　of　existence。　They　produce　rigidity　and　death。
　　Compassion；　sharing；　and　equality；　on　the　one　hand；　sustain　life。　This　is　because　we　are　all　one。　When　I　care　for　you；　I　enhance　the　harmonious　energy　of　the　whole。　And　that　is　life。

　　68

　　The　greatest　martial　arts　are　the　gentlest。　They　allow　an　attacker　the　opportunity　to　fall　down。
　　The　greatest　generals　do　not　rush　into　every　battle。　They　offer　the　enemy　many　opportunities　to　make　self…defeating　errors。
　　The　greatest　administrators　do　not　achieve　production　through　constraints　and　limitations。　They　provide　opportunities。
　　Good　leadership　consists　of　motivating　people　to　their　highest　levels　by　offering　them　opportunities；　not　obligations。
　　That　is　how　things　happen　naturally。　Life　is　an　opportunity　and　not　an　obligation。

　　69

　　If　a　group　member　wants　to　fight　with　you；　consider　the　strategy　of　the　guerrilla　commander：　Never　seek　a　fight。　If　it　comes　to　you；　yield；　step　back。　It　is　far　better　to　step　back　than　to　overstep　yourself。
　　Your　strength　is　good　intelligence：　be　aware　of　what　is　happening。　Your　weapon　is　not　a　weapon　at　all。　It　is　the　light　of　consciousness。
　　Advance　only　where　you　encounter　no　resistance。　If　you　make　a　point；　do　not　cling　to　it。　If　you　win；　be　gracious。
　　The　person　who　initiates　the　attack　is　off　center　and　easily　thrown。　Even　so；　have　respect　for　any　attacker。　Never　surrender　your　compassion　or　use　your　skill　to　harm　another　needlessly。
　　In　any　event；　the　more　conscious　force　will　win。

　　70

　　This　way　of　living　and　leading　groups　is　easy　to　understand。　It　is　easy　to　do。
　　But　not　many　leaders　understand　this　approach。　Very　few　use　it　in　their　work。
　　Frankly；　it　is　too　simple　and　ancient　to　attract　much　attention。　As　a　rule；　the　greatest　interest　goes　to　the　greatest　novelty。
　　The　wise　leader；　sticking　to　the　single　principle　of　how　everything　happens；　does　nothing　new　or　original。
　　The　wise　leader　appeals　to　a　very　few　followers；　to　those　who　recognize　that　traditional　wisdom　is　a　treasure　which　often　lies　hidden　beneath　an　ordinary　appearance。

　　71

　　Nobody　has　all　the　answers。　Knowing　that　you　do　not　know　everything　is　far　wiser　than　thinking　that　you　know　a　lot　when　you　really　don't。
　　Phony　expertise　is　neurotic。　Fortunately；　once　the　sym