04道德经英译本85种-第302章
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t of nowhere。
The Tao has unlimited depth； and it is within this depth that we find the essence of life。 The principle and driving force of this essence are undeniable。 When we examine this essence； we have no choice but to believe that the Tao exists and is quite real。
This is why the Name … the Tao； the great virtue； and power inherent inherent in all things … have never gone away from antiquity to modern times。 It is not a passing fad or temporary fixation； it is the enduring and eternal truth。
We can use this truth to observe and understand the universal source of all Creation。 So if people were to ask me how I can know anything about the nature of this mystical source； I would simply let them know this is it。
We may never be able to see it with perfect clarity； we may never have complete comprehension of it。 Nevertheless； its existence； function and power are absolutely； positively beyond doubt。 It is the Tao。
Notes
Life； as we know it； is all based on DNA。 In fact； one can even say that it is the genes that perpetuate themselves generation after generation。 They surround themselves with sophisticated and complex cellular mechanisms in order to enable this perpetuation。
But； as science writer Bill Bryson points out； DNA is not in itself alive。 So at the very core of the phenomenon known as life； we come up against this interesting puzzle； a profound paradox： the fundamental basis of life is not itself a living thing。 How can this be？ How can it work？
Study this issue long and hard enough； and one may come to a startling realization。 We are in fact not biological machines that have learned how to think。 Instead； we are pure consciousness that has learned how to manifest in the physical universe through the workings of life。 There is something about this metaphysical consciousness that simply wants to be； and it drives the process of life； transforming the inorganic to organic in order to enable its manifestations。
This is genesis。 It is not completely understood and perhaps it never will be。 It is indistinct and unclear； and yet within it is the seed of infinite life。 Our very existence is proof positive of its function and power。 It is the Tao。
22
Yield and remain whole
Bend and remain straight
Be low and become filled
Be worn out and become renewed
Have little and receive
Have much and be confused
Therefore the sage holds to the one as an example for the world
Without flaunting oneself … and so is seen clearly
Without presuming oneself … and so is distinguished
Without praising oneself … and so has merit
Without boasting about oneself … and so is lasting
Because he does not contend； the world cannot contend with him
What the ancients called 〃the one who yields and remains whole〃
Were they speaking empty words？
Sincerity becoming whole； and returning to oneself
To yield； when the situation requires yielding； is to remain whole。 To bend； like flexible bamboo in the wind； is to remain straight。
To be low is to be filled … just as lowly places tend to be filled with water。 To be worn out is to be renewed。
If you don't have much； you are in a position to receive or obtain more； if you have a lot； you are more likely to experience confusion。
Therefore； the sage embraces the unity of the one true Tao； to set a standard and serve as an example for everyone。
The sage does not flaunt； show off； or make himself or herself highly visible in anyway。 Ironically； this makes the sage unique； and therefore conspicuous。
The sage does not presume upon his or her own correctness。 This distinguishes him or her in a world with so many presumptuous blowhards。
The sage does not praise his or her own efforts。 Despite this； or perhaps because of it； the sage ends up with the credit he or she deserves。
The sage does not brag or boast about his or her own prowess。 There is no need to when he or she possesses true staying power。
Because the sage does not contend or get defensive； others cannot contend with him or her … there is nothing to attack。
The sage is what the ancients meant when they talked about the one who yields and remains whole … surely they were not speaking idly of empty words！
The sage achieves integrity and wholeness through sincere effort … thereby returning the virtues to himself or herself。
23
Sparse speech is natural
Thus strong wind does not last all morning
Sudden rain does not last all day
What makes this so？ Heaven and earth
Even heaven and earth cannot make it last
How can humans？
Thus those who follow the Tao； are with the Tao
Those who follow virtue； are with virtue
Those who follow loss； are with loss
Those who are with the Tao； the Tao is also pleased to have them
Those who are with virtue； virtue is also pleased to have them
Those who are with loss； loss is also please to have them
Those who do not trust sufficiently； others have no trust in them
To speak sparingly emulates nature； and is therefore natural。
For instance； an unusually strong windstorm will not persist the entire morning。
In the same way； an unusually sudden downpour will not continue the entire day。
What makes these things the way they are？ Heaven and earth … nature。
If even heaven and earth cannot make events last indefinitely； then how can human beings？ This is why we say that too much talk goes against nature。
Those who follow the Tao will identify with the Tao and become one with it。 Similarly； those who practice virtues will identify with virtues and become one with them； those who pursue loss will identify with loss and become one with it。
The working of the universe is indifferent and will give you exactly what you seek。 If you are one with the Tao； the Tao will happily accept you。 If you identify with virtues； the virtues will be equally pleased to embrace you。 If your path leads to the loss of the Tao and virtues； that loss will welcome you just as gladly。
Because of this karmic cause and effect； we can see that those who distrust others and have no faith in people； are also the ones that people find most untrustworthy。
24
Those who are on tiptoes cannot stand
Those who straddle cannot walk
Those who flaunt themselves are not clear
Those who presume themselves are not distinguished
Those who praise themselves have no merit
Those who boast about themselves do not last
Those with the Tao call such things leftover food or tumors
They despise them
Thus； those who possesses the Tao do not engage in them
The one who stands on tiptoes； in order to raise himself or herself above others； cannot stand for long。 The one who straddles in an exaggerated gait cannot walk any significant distance for long。
The one who shows off himself or herself will； ironically； not be clearly perceived by others。 The one who thinks he or she is always right will not be considered respectable or admirable by others。
The one who incessantly praises himself or herself is not the person with true merit。 The one who is always bragging about his or her achievements is not the person with lasting power。
Those who are on the path of Tao speak of such things as if they were leftover food or useless growth； like a tumor。 They despise such things and regard them with contempt。 This is why those who possess the Tao do not engage in such activities。 They do not show off； presume； or boast。
25
There is something formlessly created
Born before Heaven and Earth
So silent！ So ethereal！
Independent and changeless
Circulating and ceaseless
It can be regarded as the mother of the world
I do not know its name
Identifying it； I call it 〃Tao〃
Forced to describe it； I call it great
Great means passing
Passing means receding
Receding means returning
Therefore the Tao is great
Heaven is great
Earth is great
The sovereign is also great
There are four greats in the universe
And the sovereign occupies one of them
Humans follow the laws of Earth
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