04道德经英译本85种-第213章
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at you know a lot when you really don't。
Phony expertise is neurotic。 Fortunately； once the symptoms are recognized； the sure is easy： stop it。
Probably every leader has tried this form of pretense at one time or another。
The wise leader has learned how painful it is to fake knowledge。 Being wise and not wanting the pain； the leader does no indulge in pretending。
Anyway； it is a relief to be able to say： 〃I don't know。〃
72
Group work must include spiritual awareness if it is to touch the existential anxiety of our times。 Without awe； the awful remains unspoken； a diffuse malaise remains。
Be willing to speak of traditional religion； no matter how offended some group members may be。 Overcome the bias against the word of God。 The great force of our spiritual roots lies in tradition； like it or not。
The wise leader models spiritual behaviour and lives in harmony with spiritual values。 There is a way of knowing； higher than reason； there is a self； greater than egocentricity。
The leader demonstrates the power of selflessness and the unity of all creation。
73
Imagine that there are two kinds of courage。 One is an active courage that gets people killed。 The other is an inner courage that keeps people alive。 Which of these two is better？
No one can answer that for you。 Each has its benefits and its drawbacks。 Tao has no preferences。
Keeping in mind that Tao means how： how things happen。 But how…things…happen is not the same as what…should…I…do。 No one can tell you what to do。 That is your freedom。 That is your responsibility。
Instead of asking for advice； learn to become more conscious of what is actually happening。 Then you will be able to see for yourself how things happen。 You can make your own decisions about what to do。
Tao does not preach sermons or dictate behaviour。 What people do is their own responsibility。 But the pattern of their behaviour follows natural law。
This law is so general； it covers every possible event。 It is so specific； it applies to every instance of every event。
But no one can decide for you what to do in a given situation。 That is up to you。
74
It is not the leader's role to play judge and jury； to punish people for 'bad' behaviour。 In the first place； punishment does not effectively control behaviour。
But even if punishment did work； what leader would dare to use fear as a teaching method？
The wise leader knows that there are natural consequences for every act。 The task is to shed light on these natural consequences； not to attack the behaviour itself。
If the leader tries to take the place of nature and act as judge and jury； the best you can expect is a crude imitation of a very subtle process。
At the very least； the leader will discover that the instrument of justice cuts both ways。 Punishing others in punishing work。
75
The group will not prosper if the leader grabs the lion's share of the credit for the good work that has been done。
The group will rebel and resist if the leader relies on strict controls in an effort to make things come out a certain way。
The group members will become deadened and unresponsive if the leader is critical and harsh。
The wise leader is not greedy； selfish； defensive； or demanding。 That is why the leader can be trusted to allow any event to unfold naturally。
76
At birth； a person is flexible and flowing。 At death a person becomes rigid and blocked。
Consider the lives of plants and trees： during their time of greatest growth； they are relatively tender and pliant。 But when they are full grown or begin to die； they become tough and brittle。
The tree which has grown up and become rigid is cut into lumber。
The rigid group leader may be able to lead repetitious and structured exercises but can't cope with the lively group process。
Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow。 Whatever is rigid and blocked will atrophy and die。
77
Natural events are cyclical； always changing from one extreme toward an opposite。
Imagine a bow and arrow。 As the archer draws the bow； the two tips of the bow； which were far apart； come close together； the narrow space between string and wood becomes wide； the bow string； which was at rest； becomes taut。
When the archer releases the arrow； once again the process reverses itself； as the tension relaxes。
That is the way of inner nature： to relax what is tense； to fill what is empty； to reduce what is overflowing。
But a society based on materialism and the conquest of nature works to overcome these cycles。 If some is good； more must be better； and an absolute glut seems best。 At the same time； those who have little get even less。
The wise leader follows the natural order of events and does not take the consumer society for a model。
By serving others and being generous； the leader knows abundance。 By being selfless； the leader helps others realize themselves。 By being a disinterested facilitation； unconcerned with praise or pay； the leader becomes potent and successful。
The leader's behaviour works because it is based on an understanding of opposites and cycles。
Effective behaviour only seems backwards。
78
Water is fluid； soft； and yielding。 But water will wear away rock； which is rigid and cannot yield。
As a rule； whatever is fluid； soft； and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard。
The wise leader knows that yielding overcomes resistances； and gentleness melts rigid defenses。
The leader does not fight the force of the group's energy； but flows and yields and absorbs and lets go。 A leader must endure a great deal of abuse。 If the leader were not like water； the leader would break。 The ability to be soft is what makes the leader a leader。
This is another paradox： what is soft is strong。
79
If you get into an argument with a group member； and it does not come out the way you wish it would； do not pretend to compromise while withholding your true feelings。
Yield your position gracefully。 Return to facilitating what is happening。
It is not your business to be right or to win arguments。 It is not your business to find the flaws in the other person's position。 It is not your business to feel belittled if the other person wins。
It is your business to facilitate whatever is happening； win or lose。
Because we are all one； there are no sides to take。 When all is said and done； the wise leader goes along with what is happening anyway。
80
If you want to be free； learn to live simply。
Use what you have and be content where you are。 Quit trying to solve your problems by moving to another place； by changing mates or careers。
Leave your car in the garage。 If you have a gun； put it away。 Sell that complex computer and go back to using pencil and paper。 Rather than read every new book that comes along； reread the classics。
Eat food grown locally。 Wear simple； durable clothing。 Keep a small home； uncluttered and easy to clean。 Keep an open calendar with periods of uncommitted time。 Have a spiritual practice and let family customs grow。
Of course； the world is full of novelty and adventures。 New opportunities come along every day。
So what？
81
It is more important to tell the simple； blunt truth than it is to say things that sound good。 The group is not a contest of eloquence。
It is more important to act in behalf of everyone than it is to win arguments。 The group is not a debating society。
It is more important to react wisely to what is happening than it is to be able to explain everything in terms of certain theories。 The group is not a final examination for a college courses。
The wise leader is not collecting a string of successes。 The leader is helping others to find their own success。 There is plenty to go around。 Sharing success with others is very successful。
The single principle behind all creation teaches us that true benefit blesses everyone and diminishes no one。
The wise leader knows that the reward for doing the work arises naturally out of the work。
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