04道德经英译本85种-第256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!
Long and Short oppose each other;
High and Low merge with each other;
Sound and Noise blend with each other;
Front and Back relate to each other。
This is how the wise man can do without doing;
and teach without speaking。
All things are done without words。
Create and do not possess。
Govern and do not exploit。
Achieve the results and depart。
Depart to be remembered。
3
Do not esteem Wisdom; and people will not argue。
Do not covet unobtainable goods; and people will not steal。
Do not harbor desires; and peoples' hearts will not be confused。
Thus does the wise man govern。
Empty the mind and fill the stomach。
Weaken the ambition and strengthen the body。
Often; if people are ignorant; they have no motivation;
and when informed will not venture to act。
Govern without acting。
Rule without administration。
4
Tao is empty; and when used; never fills up。
It is Deep; like the ancestor of all things。
Round the edges;
end the separation;
merge with the light;
join with the dust。
It is clear; yet still seems to exist。
I do not know whose child it is。
It is older than the appearance of Ti。
5
Heaven and Earth are not benevolent;
treating all things as straw dogs。
The wise man is not compassionate;
governing all people as straw dogs。
Is Heaven and Earth not like a bellows;
Empty and straight; then active and fruitful ?
Words are often inadequate; unlike keeping the center。
6
The Valley Spirit does not die; and must be the Mystic Female。
The house of the Mystic Female must be the origin of Heaven and Earth。
Diffuse and ethereal; it works without effort。
7
Heaven is everlasting; Earth is enduring。
Heaven and Earth have existed since the dawn of time。
They do this not for themselves; and therefore endure。
Thus does the wise man retire; and therefore lead;
renounce himself to save himself。
Unselfishness is self…fulfillment。
8
The greatest Good is like water。
The Goodness of Water benefits all things without struggle;
like Tao; choosing places men avoid。
A good dwelling has land。
A good mind is profound。
Good relations are benevolent。
Good speech is true。
Good leaders take charge。
Good actions are skillful。
Good movement is well timed。
Heaven alone is beyond dispute; and therefore blameless。
9
Keeping your gains
is not as good as knowing when to stop。
Concealed weapons will not long protect you。
A house full of gold and jade cannot be guarded。
Wealth; riches and pride indeed bring misfortune。
Retire when the work is done。
This is the Way of Heaven。
10
Nourish your Spirit; can you accept all things without distinction ?
Focus your energy; can you be pliant as a new…born babe ?
Dispel the darkness; can you observe without criticizing ?
Love the people; can you govern without Knowledge ?
Reach Heaven's gate; can you do it without gentleness ?
Understand the goal; can you succeed without action ?
Produce and save。
Create and do not possess。
Govern; and do not exploit。
Lead; and do not kill。
This is Mystic Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes join at the hub;
but the space between them makes the cart useful。
Capacity defines a vessel;
but emptiness makes it useful。
Doors and windows define a house;
but emptiness makes the house livable。
Being defines a resource;
while non…Being governs its use。
12
The five colors make one's eyes blind。
The five tones make one's ears deaf。
The five flavors make one's palate dull。
The mad dash of the hunt makes one's heart wild。
Hard to obtain goods promote theft。
Thus is the wise man led by the mind; not the eye;
to choose the former over the latter。
13
Favor and Disgrace are both alarming。
Possessions are a great concern to one's Self。
Why say that 'Favor and Disgrace are both alarming' ?
Favor does not appear alarming; but loss of Favor is alarming。
This means that both Favor and Disgrace are alarming。
Why say that 'Possessions are a great concern to one's Self' ?
Whatever I own causes great worry; and affects my Self。
Compared to non…Self; what a great concern is Self。
Therefore; Self is governed by Possessions; rather than Heaven;
and can not be delivered to Heaven。
Self is governed by (self…) Love; rather than Heaven;
and can not be entrusted to Heaven。
14
Look; not seeing; call it invisible。
Listen; not hearing; call it silent。
Touch; not feeling; call it intangible。
These three fail to provide answers;
and are therefore combined into one。
It is above; but not recognized。
It is below; but not hiding。
A guideline without name; it returns to Nothing。
Its appearance has no shape; Nothing is its form。
It seems an illusion。
Approaching; it has no head。
Withdrawing; it has no back。
It continues its ancient ways;
controls the present;
knows the Primal Beginning。
This is the Way of Time。
15
In the beginning; those who worked the land
were modest and charming; with profound understanding。
Their depth was not easy to recognize。
And if not easy to recognize;
perhaps it is better just to describe their appearance。
They were crossing a river in Winter; so it seemed。
Respectful of their four neighbors。 Solemn in appearance。
They always seemed thankful; as if pardoned just yesterday。
Their simple honesty was sincere; and broad as a valley。
Without a purpose; they appeared dull。
He who can be dull; has a quiet serenity。
He who is at peace; can withstand a lifetime of hard work。
He who keeps this Way can not ask for more;
and not asking for more; need not hide his achievements。
16
Let emptiness prevail。
Maintain deep silence。
All things arise。
I can observe their return。
They flourish; then each returns to its center;
returns to its unchanging center。
This implies a return to life。
A return to life is the Norm。
To know the Norm leads to understanding。
To ignore the Norm is absurd; and leads to disaster。
To know the Norm is Tolerance。
Tolerance is Justice。
To be Just is to rule。
Sovereignty comes from Heaven。
Heaven is the Way。
The Way is eternal。
The disappearance of the body is not to be feared。
17
The best rulers are barely known to their subjects。
The next best are loved and praised。
The next are feared。
And the worst are insulted。
The dishonest are not trusted。
Good advice is soon forgotten。
Once the results are achieved;
everyone takes credit。
18
When great Tao is neglected;
there will be artificial charity。
When wisdom and cleverness appear;
there will be great pretentions。
When the six family relations are not in harmony;
there will be filial compassion。
When politicians are confused;
there will be loyal ministers。
19
Renounce experts; forsake wisdom;
and people gain a hundred fold。
Renounce charity; forsake justice;
and people return to filial compassion。
Renounce cleverness; forsake profit;
and thieves and robbers disappear。
These three can not be stressed enough。
Instead; there are regulations !
Dress plainly; live simply;
with few possessions and few needs。
20
Be done with Knowledge and free of worry。
Is not 'Yes' the same as agreement ?
Do not Good and Evil occur together ?
People cannot control their fears;
and the foolishness is not yet over。
Most men are prosperous and happy。
They enjoy great strength; and climb the terraces in Spring。
I alone am silent; giving no sign;
as a new…