04道德经英译本85种-第339章
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Others have taught this too: the violent meet violent ends。 This is a good teaching。
43
The softest will penetrate the hardest; the non?existent will penetrate the existent。
By this I know the value of being passive。 This is teaching without words; achievement without direct action。 In all the world few know this。
44
To have the world know of you or to know yourself; which is more important? Money or your mind; which is more valuable? Profit or loss; which is the greater evil? Overdoing leads to waste; great fortunes invite theft。 Being content prevents harmful extremes。 Knowing where to stop prevents danger。 To know this is to endure。
45
The most perfect seems imperfect; but it endures with constancy。 The greatest fullness seems empty; but it cannot be exhausted。 The most straight seems twisted; the most skilled seems clumsy; the most eloquent seems awkward。 Movement overcomes coldness; stillness overcomes heat。 The serene and passive are guides for all。
46
Contentment
When the world follows Tao; racehorses work on farms。 When the world forsakes Tao; cavalry horses practice in parks。
The greatest curse is being discontent。 It is the greatest misery。 The greatest sin is selfish striving。 Being content with contentment is to be always satisfied。
47
One can know the world without leaving the house。 One can see Tao without looking out the window。 The more you study the less you know。 Thus the truly wise know without traveling; perceive without seeing; achive without doing。
48
The scholar needs to know more and more each day。 The follower of Tao needs to know less and less each day。 By lessening knowledge one reaches serenity。 With serenity everything can be done。 The world is won by those who leave it alone。 When one feels compelled to dominate; the world is already beyond reach。
49
The truly wise areselfless; people抯 needs are their needs。
The good are treated with goodness; the bad are also treated with goodness; this is the goodness of Teh。
The faithful are treated with faith; the faithless are also treated with faith; this is the faith of Teh。
The truly wise are peacefully and impartially。 In their eyes people share a common heritage。 The truly wise accept all people as their own family。
50
Life leaves and death enters。 Three and ten parts accompany life; three and ten parts accompany death; three and ten parts move toward death。 Why? The wear of the drive to live。
It is said that whoever realizes this is not attacked by the wild buffalo or tiger and is not vulnerable on the field of battle。 The buffalo抯 horns find no place to gore; the tiger抯 claws no place to tear; the soldier抯 waepons no place to pierce。 Why? Because death is not yet within reach。
… Alternate version:
Three parts in ten accompany life; three parts in ten accompany death; three parts in ten move toward death。 Why? Living tips the balance toward dying。
It is said that whoever realizes this is not attacked by the wild buffalo or tiger and is not vulnerable on the field of battle。 The buffalo抯 horns find no place to gore; the tiger抯 claws no place to tear; the soldier抯 waepons no place to pierce。 Why? Because death is not yet within reach。
51
Tao causes all things to exist; Teh sustains them。 Reality gives them form; fate finishes them。 Thus all things honor Tao and respect Teh of their own accord。
So; Tao causes all things to exist and Teh sustains them。 It fosters growth; develops them; harbors them; provides shelter。 It nourishes them; gives protection。
Everything exists through Tao and nothing is rejected; everything is produced through Tao but Tao is not possessive; Tao is superior but never interferes。
52
The beginning of the universe may be considered its mother。 Knowing the mother the sons can be known; kowing the sons we can keep close to the mother。 Thus life finds security within itself。
Eyes closed; mouth shut; life is without trouble。 Eyes open; busily conversant; life is without hope。
Whoever sees the most minute sees clearest。 Whoever cherishes the weak has the most strength。 Whoever uses enlightenment has bright vision。 Thus; no harm is done。 This is following Tao。
53
The Main Path of Tao
Let me walk along the main path of Tao and avoid by…paths of worthless knowledge。 I would not leave this main path; so easily followed; but many people prefer the by…paths。
The palaces are well kept while fields go untilled and the granaries are empty。 To wear elegant clothes; to carry a fine sword; to gorge with food and drink; to have wealth and riches; all this invites plunder。 Is this not departing from Tao?
54
Whatever is firmly planted is not easily uprooted; whatever is firmly grasped is not easily loosened。 Thus; generation follows generation; continuing endlessly。
Accept Tao in yourself and Teh is yours; accept Tao in the family and Teh is abundant; accept Tao in the village and Teh multiplies; accept Tao in the nation and Teh flourishes; accept Tao in the world and Teh is universal。
Therefore one can measure by Teh: by your Teh gauge the family; by the family抯 Teh gauge the village; by the village抯 Teh gauge the nation; by the nation抯 Teh gauge the world。 How do I know this is so? By seeing it so!
55
Whoever has Teh is like a child; poisonous insects will not bite; wild animals will not attack; predatory birds will not strike。
Bones soft and muscles weak but gripping strongly; unconcerned about sexual relations yet with vigor at its peak; crying out all day long but not hoarse。 This involves perfect harmony。 Knowing harmony is to approach the eternal。 Knowing the eternal is to be enlightened。
To become excitable leads to confusion; to freely vent emotions is to be aggressive。 Things reach their prime and then decline。 To be impatient is to oppose Tao; whatever opposes Tao dies young。
56
Whoever knows does not speak; whoever speaks does not know。 So; stop the senses。 Close their doors。 Ignore their riddles。 Subdue their light。 Be one with humble dust。 This is the mystic unity。
It is beyond love and hate; beyond profit and loss; beyond honor and dishonor。 Thus; it is the most valuable treasure in all the world。
57
Be Lawful; Not Full of Laws
Rule by what is right。 Wage war by clever strategy。 Win the world by being passive。 How do I know? By this: more restritions mean weaker people; more weapons mean a troubled state; more cunning means many surprises; more laws mean violators。 Therefore be passive and the people will be peaceful; be serene and the people will be pricipled; be reserved and the people will be wealthy; be selfless and the people will be simple and serene。
58
To Govern Be Gentle
Govern passively; the people are happy。 Govern precisely; the people are restless。 Happiness arises from unhappiness; unhappiness lies beneath happiness。 Who knows what is best? When the state is self?righteous; self?righteousness becomes strategy and good becomes evil。 Man has long been misguided。 The truly wise are: square (sharp…cornered) but nut cutting; angled (wedge…like) but not interfering; straight (pointed) but not domineering; bright (enlightened) but not binding。
59
With Tao You Are Supreme
In ruling men be reserved。 To be reserved is to conform to Tao; to conform to Tao is to achieve Teh; with Teh anything is possible; because anything is possible; no one knows your supremacy; because no one knows your supremacy; a nation can be ruled well; because this is a Mother Principle it long endures; therefore you are as deeply rooted and as immortal as it is。
60
Do But Never Overdo
Rule a great state as you cook a small fish: do not overdo it!
Rule with Tao and evil departs。 Evil will still have power; but it will not harm the people。 Then not only does evil cease to do harm; the ruler also ceases to do harm; and therefore both possess Teh。
61
The Tao of Statecraft
A great nation is one to which the stre