04道德经英译本85种-第314章

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　　Both　of　these　approaches　…　shrewd　cunning　versus　straightforward　plainness　…　are　standards；　and　it　is　important　to　know　both。　The　ancient　masters　made　it　a　point　to　understand　Machiavellian　methods　thoroughly；　while　embracing　upright；　honest　simplicity　in　actual　practice。　This　mindset　of　never　losing　sight　of　both　is　known　as　Mystic　Virtue。
　　The　power　of　Mystic　Virtue　is　beyond　measure。　It　is　both　profound　in　its　implications　and　far…reaching　in　its　effects。　It　runs　counter　to　the　tendency　to　pursue　material　things；　and　opposite　the　typical　person's　desire　for　short…term　gains。　We　see　it　as　achieving　a　state　of　great　congruence；　because　Mystic　Virtue　follows　nature　and　is　therefore　perfectly　congruent　with　the　Tao。
　　Notes
　　Your　life　is　a　sovereign　state　in　its　own　right；　and　you　are　the　ruler　of　this　state。　If；　like　many　people；　you　run　your　life　with　a　measure　of　clever　duplicity　and　contrived　craftiness；　you　will　also　make　everything　more　complex　and　difficult　to　manage。　A　complicated　life　filled　with　tension　and　stress　is　one　where　the　joy　has　been　taken　away　…　by　yourself。　You　would　then　be　the　thief　who　robs　your　own　life　of　happiness。
　　Lao　Tzu　advises　you　to　cultivate　Mystic　Virtue　instead。　That　is；　be　fully　aware　of　all　the　deceptive　tricks　and　meddlesome　cunning　that　can　manifest　in　your　life；　but　at　the　same　time　hold　on　to　P'u；　the　ultimate　principle　of　simplicity　and　plainness。　This　will　be　a　great　blessing　in　your　life；　and　as　you　continue　living　this　way　…　in　total　congruence　with　the　Tao　…　you　will　feel　profound　and　far…reaching　effects　of　Mystic　Virtue　in　every　aspect　of　living；　resulting　in　a　life　filled　with　joy　and　peace　of　mind。
　　66

　　Rivers　and　oceans　can　be　the　kings　of　a　hundred　valleys
　　Because　of　their　goodness　in　staying　low
　　So　they　can　be　the　kings　of　a　hundred　valleys
　　Thus　if　sages　wish　to　be　over　people
　　They　must　speak　humbly　to　them
　　If　they　wish　to　be　in　front　of　people
　　They　must　place　themselves　behind　them
　　Thus　the　sages　are　positioned　above
　　But　the　people　do　not　feel　burdened
　　They　are　positioned　in　front
　　But　the　people　do　not　feel　harmed
　　Thus　the　world　is　glad　to　push　them　forward　without　resentment
　　Because　they　do　not　contend
　　So　the　world　cannot　contend　with　them　
　　Rivers　and　oceans　receive　everything　from　the　streams　and　rivulets　of　a　hundred　valleys。　It　is　as　if　they　are　the　rulers　of　all　these　valleys；　receiving　their　tributes　and　offerings　into　the　royal　treasury。
　　The　reason　that　rivers　and　oceans　have　dominion　over　the　valleys　is　simple：　It　is　their　nature　to　occupy　the　lowest　position。　All　the　streams　and　rivulets　of　the　valleys　naturally　flow　into　them。
　　Tao　sages　emulate　nature。　So　when　they　observe　the　above；　they　realize　that　the　principle　applies　equally　well　to　human　beings。　If　they　wish　to　have　influence　over　other　people；　they　must　occupy　the　lowest　position　like　rivers　and　oceans。　In　other　words；　they　must　possess　true　humility　and　speak　humbly　to　everyone。
　　Similarly；　if　the　sages　wish　to　lead　people　and　be　in　front　of　them；　they　must　place　themselves　behind　them　out　of　the　same　sense　of　humility。　Because　the　sages　are　self…effacing　and　wish　only　to　serve　the　greater　good；　people　thrust　them　forward　into　positions　of　leadership。
　　As　leaders；　sages　utilize　the　Tao　rather　than　force　or　domination。　People　serve　and　assist　them　voluntarily；　without　coercion　or　pressure。　Therefore；　although　the　position　of　a　sage　ends　up　being　above　the　followers；　people　do　not　feel　burdened　or　oppressed。　Although　the　sage　is　ahead　of　the　masses；　people　do　not　feel　threatened　or　harmed。
　　This　Tao　leadership　builds　relationships　and　promotes　harmony；　so　people　are　happy　to　follow　the　sage　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　They　do　not　resent　the　power　wielded　by　the　sages。　In　fact；　they　push　the　sages　forward　and　urge　that　they　accept　the　the　mantle　of　power。
　　This　is　a　very　different　concept　from　the　conventional　〃might　makes　right〃　paradigm；　where　one　seizes　power　by　force　and　bullies　others　with　it。　The　sages　are　the　exact　opposite。　They　have　no　need　to　seize　anything　or　fight　against　anyone。　Because　of　this；　no　one　fights　with　them。　Instead；　the　people　support　Tao　leadership　from　the　heart；　and　of　their　own　free　will！
　　67

　　Everyone　in　the　world　calls　my　Tao　great
　　As　if　it　is　beyond　compare
　　It　is　only　because　of　its　greatness
　　That　it　seems　beyond　compare
　　If　it　can　be　compared
　　It　would　already　be　insignificant　long　ago
　　I　have　three　treasures
　　I　hold　on　to　them　and　protect　them
　　The　first　is　called　compassion
　　The　second　is　called　conservation
　　The　third　is　called　not　daring　to　be　ahead　in　the　world
　　Compassionate；　thus　able　to　have　courage
　　Conserving；　thus　able　to　reach　widely
　　Not　daring　to　be　ahead　in　the　world
　　Thus　able　to　assume　leadership
　　Now　if　one　has　courage　but　discards　compassion
　　Reaches　widely　but　discards　conservation
　　Goes　ahead　but　discards　being　behind
　　Then　death！
　　If　one　fights　with　compassion；　then　victory
　　With　defense；　then　security
　　Heaven　shall　save　them
　　And　with　compassion　guard　them　
　　The　reason　people　call　the　Tao　great　is　because　there　is　nothing　quite　like　it。　The　Tao　is　an　infinite　concept　that　has　no　form；　shape；　substance；　limit　or　boundaries。　If　it　were　finite；　then　no　matter　how　big　it　is；　there　will　always　be　something　far　bigger　that　dwarfs　it　into　insignificance。
　　Tao　cultivators　have　three　treasures　that　they　cherish。　The　first　is　compassion　…　a　love　and　kindness　toward　all　things。　The　second　is　conservation　…　knowing　when　and　how　to　avoid　wasting　one's　time　and　energy；　and　direct　them　in　a　meaningful　way；　in　accordance　with　one's　purpose　in　life。　The　third　is　humility　…　the　awareness　that　seeing　oneself　as　being　above　or　ahead　of　other　people　can　only　lead　to　failure。
　　By　having　compassion；　one　gains　courage。　True　courage　doesn't　come　from　macho　posturing　or　false　bravado。　Rather；　it　comes　from　love　and　commitment　to　something　greater　than　oneself。
　　By　having　the　mindset　of　conservation；　one　understands　how　to　allocate　and　direct　one's　efforts　to　best　effect；　and　therefore　reach　the　most　people　and　have　the　widest　impact。
　　By　having　humility；　one　can　connect　with　the　Tao　of　leadership。　Leaders　who　lead　best　do　not　focus　on　themselves。　They　have　no　wish　to　be　the　center　of　attention　and　prefer　to　let　others　shine。　They　direct　their　attention　to　what　needs　to　be　done；　and　do　not　need　to　take　credit　or　remind　others　of　their　accomplishments。
　　All　three　treasures　are　important　and　must　work　together。　Courage　without　compassion　would　be　nothing　more　than　brutality。　To　reach　widely　without　conserving　one's　resources　will　quickly　lead　to　exhaustion。　Forgetting　the　lesson　of　humility；　becoming　arrogant；　and　letting　the　ego　run　wild　are　the　beginning　stage　of　self…delusion。　These　negative　consequences　can　only　lead　to　failure　and　doom。
　　Those　who　hold　on　to　the　three　treasures　can　achieve　extraordinary　feats。　Warriors　who　fight　with　compassion　in　their　hearts　achieve　victory；　because　love　gives　them　the　strength　they　need。　If　they　fight　to　defend　loved　ones　or　a　cherished　cause；　they　achieve　security　and　protection。
　　Because　they　follow　the　Tao；　Heaven　itself　will　come　to　their　aid；　events　will　seem　to　conspire　in　rendering　assistance　at　just　the　right　time；　as　if　they　are　safeguarded　by　divine　powers。　All　manners　of　resources　and　allies　will　appear　and　rally　to　their　cause；　in　unexpected　ways　that　no　one　could　foresee。　Anyone　who　witnesses　this　process　at　work　will　know　that；　indeed；　the　Tao　is　great　beyond　compare。
　　68

　　The　great　generals　are　not　warlike
　　The　great　warriors　do　not　get　angry
　　Those　who　are　good　at　defeating　enemies　do　not　engage　them
　　Those　who　are　good　at　managing　people　lower　themselves
　　It　is　called　the　virtue　of　non…contention
　　It　is　called　the　power　of　managing　people
　　It　is　called　being　harmonious　with　heaven
　　The　ultimate　principle　of　the　ancients　
　　Those　who　excel　in　the　art　of　command　do　not　wage　war　lightly。　The　truly　great　generals　and　strategists　do　not　show　a