04道德经英译本85种-第226章
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they could wear out。
If the valleys were not copious
they could become empty。
If the living things could not live
they would be doomed。
If barons and kings could not keep their high and respected positions；
they could be toppled。
The noble must be based on the ignoble。
The highly positioned must be buttressed by the lowly。
Barons and kings call themselves
the 〃lonely one〃 the 〃widowed one〃； or the 〃under provided one〃。
Don't these practices demonstrate loud and clear
that it is through the lowly
that kings and barons hold their positions？
Merely counting the number of carriages
will not give you any carriage。
It is no use showing the shiny look of jade
if the substance is merely an ordinary stone。
40
The Uncommon Dao
The reverse of expectations is the Dao in action。
The weak in appearance is the Dao in application。
All living things are born of interactions in the world of existence。
Interactions in the world of existence are born of emptiness or
non…existence。
41
The Dao and Its Real and False…Followers
Superior men； hearing about the Dao；
Will work diligently under its guidance。
Mediocre men； hearing about the Dao；
Remembers and then forgets about it。
Inferior men； hearing about the Dao；
Laughs and jeers at it。
If people do not laugh or jeer at it；
It is unlikely to be the Dao。
Thus it is said：
Those whose mind shines with the Dao
Appear to be dull and stupid。
Those who make progress along the Dao
Appear to be falling behind。
Those who go astray
Appear to be following the Dao。
The truly virtuous are humble like a valley；
The truly stainless souls appear sullied。
A man with many virtues
appears to be inadequate。
Those who are establishing their virtues
look like thieves。
The truthful look like good quality turned bad；
An infinite space will have no corners。
A man who is a great instrument never
aspires or strives to be such。
A big voice sounds like it is soft。
A big symbol has no shape。
The Dao is hidden and nameless。
Yet nothing is better than the Dao
In lending support and helping people accomplish。
42
Harmony through the Dao
The Dao gives birth to the One。
The One gives birth to the Two（yin and yang）。
The Two give birth to the Three（heaven； earth； and man）。
The Three give birth to all things as we know them。
All living things bear the female nature
And espouse the male nature。
In interacting with each other
these two natures result in a new harmony。
It is well known that people generally hate
to be lonely； widowed； or under…provided。
Yet kings and people who wield power
call themselves lonely； widowed； or under…provided。
Things may benefit people through imposing losses on them；
And may hurt them through bestowing apparent benefits。
I teach the same kind of people that others teach。
But by a single maxim that I teach； that
〃Those who use sheer force to make their ways
Will not die a good death〃
I should become the teacher of all teachers。
43
The Benefits of Being Empty
The most gentle and the most flexible of the world
Certainly outperforms the strongest and the hardest。
What appears intangible and without substance
Can penetrate the narrowest gaps。
From this we can appreciate the benefits of not contriving。
The wordless teaching； and the benefits of not contriving；
Certainly find no match under heaven。
44
Knowing When to Stop
Which is the dearer；
Fame or the body？
Which means more；
The body or wealth？
Which can be called an ill；
To gain or to lose？
Greater cost comes with greater craving。
Greater loss comes with greater accumulation。
He who knows what he needs
will attract no dishonor。
He who knows when to stop
will come to no grief。
Such people can have a lasting life。
45
Natural Stillness
The greatest accomplishment appears incomplete；
Yet it can meet the needs of the most demanding occasions。
The greatest fulfillment appears to be weak and restrained。
Yet its use is limitless。
What is most straight appears to be bent。
What is most dexterous appears to be clumsy。
The most skilled of debaters use words sparingly。
Motion overcomes cold。
Stillness overcomes hot。
Clearing up the muddiness of the mind
By allowing it to settle down to its natural stillness；
Will restore all things to their proper places。
46
Knowing One's True Needs
When things under heaven follow the Dao；
Horses will roam freely；
and their droppings will be found anywhere。
When things under heaven have departed from the Dao；
The horses will be reared in special stables away from the city。
No wrong is greater than having objects to crave for。
No disaster is greater than not knowing one's true needs。
No greater ill is invited than by craving to possess。
Thus； the satisfaction from knowing one's true needs
and asking for no more is eternal。
47
The Truth Lies Within
Without stepping out of the door；
One can know the universal truth that pervades the universe。
Without peeping through the window；
One can see the Dao of Nature。
He who goes to a distant land
in search of the Truth
Will only distant himself from the Truth。
The Sage knows it all without traveling afar。
He is illuminated without seeing with his physical eyes。
He accomplishes without ever contriving to accomplish。
48
How to Win the Hearts of People
The more we learn；
The more things are plowed into our minds；
The more we follow the Dao；
The more things are taken out of our minds。
As we take more and more things out of our mind；
We finally arrive at the state of losing the sense of contriving and action。
At that point we be in the state of non…action。
At that point all actions will be done in the state of non…action。
To win the hearts of all under heaven；
We must always leave people alone。
If we do not leave them alone；
We will not win their adherence。
49
The Mind of Equanimity
The Sage does not have a fixed mind different from that of others。
He takes the mind of any of his people as his own mind。
If people are good； I shall be good to them。
If people are not good； I shall also be good to them。
This way I am really good。
If people are truthful； I shall be truthful to them。
If people are not truthful； I shall also be truthful to them。
This way I am really truthful。
The Sage keeps an undiscriminating mind
for the sake of all under heaven。
While people use their eyes and ears to discriminate；
The Sage's mind is always unsuspecting and innocent
like an infant's。
50
The Natural Right to Live
Anyone who is born dies。
If 13 people are born
All 13 people will eventually die。
From birth to life；
From life to death；
The great earth will afford the places to live and to die
for exactly 13。
Why is this so？
It is because the mind cherishes the belief
that living is a privilege and not a natural right。
I have heard that those who are good at conserving and preserving life
Seldom meet tigers and horned animals when they move around。
If they should join the military forces；
They would not have the need to combat。
Horned animals will have no way to cast their horns on their bodies；
Nor will tigers find a place to lay their claws。
Even soldiers' swords will not hurt them。
Why is this so？
Because such people will never die。
51
The Dao and the Virtue
The Dao gives them birth。
The Virtue rears them。
They get their shapes from substance。
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