04道德经英译本85种-第284章
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When one is compelled to use them; it is best to do so without relish。
There is no glory in victory; and so to glorify it despite this isto exult in the killing of men。
One who exults in the killing of men will never have his way in theempire。
On occasions of rejoicing precedence is given to the left;
On occasions of mourning precedence is given to the right。
A lieutenants place is on the left;
The general's place is on the right。
This means that it is mourning rites that are observed。
When great numbers of people are killed; one should weep over themwith sorrow。
When victorious in war; one should observe the rites of mourning。
32
The way is for ever nameless。
Though the uncarved block is small
No one in the world dare claim its allegiance。
Should lords and princes be able to hold fast to it
The myriad creatures will submit of their own accord;
Heaven and earth will unite and sweet dew will fall;
And the people will be equitable; though no one so decrees。
Only when it is cut are there names。
As soon as there are names
One ought to know that it is time to stop。
Knowing when to stop one can be free from danger。
The way is to the world as the River and the Sea are to rivulets andstreams。
33
He who knows others is clever;
He who knows himself has discernment。
He who overcomes others has force;
He who overcomes himself is strong。
He who knows contentment is rich;
He who perseveres is a man of purpose;
He who does not lose his station will endure;
He who lives out his days has had a long life。
34
The way is broad; reaching left as well as right。
The myriad creatures depend on it for life yet it claims no authority。
It accomplishes its task yet lays claim to no merit。
It clothes and feeds the myriad creatures yet lays no claim to beingtheir master。
For ever free of desire; it can be called small;
Yet as it lays no claim to being master when the myriad creatures turnto it; it can be called great。
It is because it never attempts itself to become great that it succeedsin becoming great。
35
Have in your hold the great image
And the empire will come to you。
Coming to you and meeting with no harm
It will be safe and sound。
Music and food
Will induce the wayfarer to stop。
The way in its passage through the mouth is without flavor。
It cannot be seen;
It cannot be heard;
Yet it cannot be exhausted by use。
36
If you would have a thing shrink;
You must first stretch it;
If you would have a thing weakened;
You must first strengthen it;
If you would have a thing laid aside;
You must first set it up;
If you would take from a thing;
You must first give to it。
This is called subtle discernment:
The submissive and weak will overcome the hard and strong。
The fish must not be allowed to leave the deep;
The instruments of power in a state must not be revealed to anyone。
37
The way never acts; yet nothing is left undone。
Should lords and princes be able to hold fast to it;
The myriad creatures will be transformed of their own accord。
After they are transformed; should desire raise its head;
I shall press it down with the weight of the nameless uncarved block。
The nameless uncarved block
Is but freedom from desire;
And if I cease to desire and remain still;
The empire will be at peace of its own accord。
38
A man of the highest virtue does not keep to virtue and that is whyhe has virtue。
A man of the lowest virtue never strays from virtue and that is whyhe is without virtue。
The former never acts yet leaves nothing undone。
The latter acts but there are things left undone。
A man of the highest benevolence acts; but from no ulterior motive。
A man of the highest rectitude acts; but from ulterior motive。
A man most conversant in the rites acts; but when no one responds rollsup his sleeves and resorts to persuasion by force。
Hence when the way was lost there was virtue;
When virtue was lost there was benevolence;
When benevolence was lost there was rectitude;
When rectitude was lost there were the rites。
The rites are the wearing thin of loyalty and good faith
And the beginning of disorder;
Foreknowledge is the flowery embellishment of the way
And the beginning of folly。
Hence the man of large mind abides in the thick not in the thin; inthe fruit not in the flower。
Therefore he discards the one and takes the other。
39
Of old; these came to be in possession of the One:
Heaven in virtue of the One is limpid;
Earth in virtue of the One is settled;
Gods in virtue of the One have their potencies;
The valley in virtue of the One is full;
The myriad creatures in virtue of the One are alive;
Lords and princes in virtue of the One become leaders of the empire。
It is the One that makes these what they are。
Without what makes it limpid heaven might split;
Without what makes it settled earth might sink;
Without what gives them their potencies gods might spend themselves;
Without what makes it full the valley might run dry;
Without what keeps them alive the myriad creatures might perish;
Without what makes them leaders lords and princes might fall。
Hence the superior must have the inferior as root;
The high must have the low as base。
Thus lords and princes refer to themselves as 'solitary'; 'desolate';and 'hapless'。
This is taking the inferior as root; is it not?
Hence the highest renown is without renown;
Not wishing to be one among many like jade
Nor to be aloof like stone。
40
Turning back is how the way moves;
Weakness is the means the way employs。
The myriad creatures in the world are born from
Something; and Something from Nothing。
41
When the best student hears about the way
He practises it assiduously;
When the average student hears about the way
It seems to him there one moment and gone the next;
When the worst student hears about the way
He laughs out loud。
If he did not laugh
It would be unworthy of being the way。
Hence the Chien yen has it:
The way that is bright seems dull;
The way that is forward seems to lead backward;
The way that is even seems rough。
The highest virtue is like the valley;
The sheerest whiteness seems sullied;
Ample virtue seems defective;
Vigorous virtue seems indolent;
Plain virtue seems soiled;
The great square has no corners。
The great vessel takes long to complete;
The great note is rarefied in sound;
The great image has no shape。
The way conceals itself in being nameless。
It is the way alone that excels in bestowing and in accomplishing。
42
The way begets one;
One begets two;
Two begets three;
Three begets the myriad creatures。
The myriad creatures carry on their backs the yin and embrace in theirarms the yang and are the blending of the generative forces of the two。
There are no words which men detest more than 'solitary'; 'desolate';and 'hapless'; yet lords and princes use these to refer to themselves。
Thus a thing is sometimes added to by being diminished and diminishedby being added to。
What others teach I also teach。
'The violent shall not come to a natural end。'
I shall take this as my precept。
43
Exterminate learning; and there will no longer be worries。
The most submissive thing in the world can ride roughshod over the hardestin the world;
That which is without substance entering that which has no crevices。
That is why I know the benefit of resorting to no action。
The teaching that uses no words; the benefit of resorting to no action;these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world。
44
Your name or your person;
Which is