04道德经英译本85种-第348章
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is not an empty phrase。
True wholeness is achieved
by blending with life。
23
To talk little is to follow nature。
A whirlwind does not last all morning。
A sudden shower does not last all day。
Who produces these things?
Heaven and earth!
Even heaven and earth cannot make
wild things last long。
How then can people hope to do so?
People of the Tao
conform to the Tao。
People of Virtue
conform to Virtue。
People who lose the way
conform to the loss。
Those who conform to the Tao
are welcomed into the Tao。
Those who conform to Virtue
are welcomed into Virtue。
Those who conform to the loss
are welcomed into the loss。
Those who do not trust enough
will not be trusted。
24
The person on tiptoe is not steady。
The person with legs astride cannot walk。
Those who look only at thernselves see little。
Those who justify themselves are not distinguished。
Those who brag have no merit。
The work of prideful people will not endure。
From the standpoint of the Tao;
these things are
〃excessive food and tumors of the body。〃
As they bring sickness; followers of the Tao do not linger aroundthem。
25
Something formless yet complete;
existing before heaven and earth。
Silent and limitless;
it stands alone and does not change。
Reaching everywhere; it does not tire。
Perhaps it is the Mother of all things under heaven。
I do not know its name
so I call it 〃Tao。〃
When I have to describe it I call it 〃great。〃
Being great it flows。
It flows far away。
Having gone far away; it returns。
Therefore; the Tao is great。
Heaven is great。
Earth is great。
People are also great。
Thus; people constitute one of the
four great things of the universe。
People conform to the earth。
The earth conforms to heaven。
Heaven conforms to the Tao。
The Tao conforms to its own nature。
26
Whe solid must be the root of the light。
The still must be the master of thc restless。
Therefore; wise people when traveling all day
do not lose sight of their baggage cart。
Although there are beautiful scenes to see;
they remain quietly in their own place。
Should a lord of ten thousand chariots
appear more frivolous than a simple traveler?
To be light is to lose the root。
To be restless is to lose the master。
27
A skillful traveler leaves no track。
A skillful speaker makes no slip。
A skillful reckoner needs no counting rod。
A skillfully made door requires no bolts;
yet it cannot be opened。
A skillful binding has no cords or knots;
yet it cannot be untied。
Therefore; the True Person is skillful in assisting people;
and abandons nobody;
In skillful in assisting things;
and abandons nothing。
This is called 〃Following the lnner Light。〃
Therefore; the skillful person is the teacher
of the person without skill。
The person withont skill is the material
for the skillfirl person。
If you do not respect the teacher;
if you do not care for the material;
you are on the road to confusion
and your cleverness will not save you。
This is an essential principle。
28
Develop the strength of a man;
but live as gently as a woman。
Become a brook and receive all things under heaven。
If you are such a brook
then Virtue will constantly flow into you
and you will become a simple child again。
Know thew pure
but live the life of the sullied。
Become a fountain to all things under heaven。
If you bccome such a fountain
then you will have abundant Virtue
and you will return to the state of the Uncarved Block。
When the Uncarved Block is cut up into pieces;
it is turned into specialized instruments。
But the True Person makes use of it whole
and becomes the master of the instruments。
Hence; it is said; 〃The finest carver cuts little。〃
29
Whoever wishes to take over the world
will not succeed。
The world is a sacred vessel
and nothing should be done to it。
Whoever tries to tamper with it
will mar it。
Whoever tries to grab it
will lose it。
Hence; there is a time to go ahead
and a tirne to stay behind。
There is a time to breathe easy
and a time to breathe hard。
There is a tirne to be vigorous
and a tirrle to be gentle。
There is a tine to gather
and a time to release。
Therefore; the True Person avoids extremes;
self…indulgence; and extravagance。
30
If you would assist leaders of people
by way of the Tao;
you will oppose the use of armed force to overpower
the world。
Those who use weapons will be harmed by them。
Where troops have camped only thorn bushes grow。
Bad harvests follow in the wake of a great army。
The skillful person strikes the blow and stops;
without taking advantage of victory。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be vain。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant。
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice。
Bring it to a conclusion but without violence。
When force is rlsed; youthful strength decays。
This is not the way of Tao。
And that which goes against the Tao
will quickly pass away。
31
Weapons are ill…omened things。
Among gentle people the left side
is the place of honor when at home;
but in war the right side is the place of honor。
Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people;
they use them only when they have no other choice。
Peace and quiet are what they value。
They do not glory in victory。
to glorify it is to delight in the slaughter of people。
Those who delight in the slaughter of people will
never thrive among all that dwell under heaven。
The army that has killed people
should be received with sorrow。
Conquerors should be received with the rites of mourning。
32
The Tao is forever nameless。
Though the Uncarved Block is small;
it is not inferior to anything under heaven。
lf leaders could keep hold of it;
the ten thousand things would submit to them freely。
Heaven and earth would unite and sweet dew would fall。
The people would live in harmony
without any law or decree。
Only when the Block is carved are there names。
As soon as there are names
it is timc to stop。
Knowing when to stop prevents trouble。
All under heaven will return to the Tao
as brooks and streams flow home to the sea。
33
Knowing others is to be clever。
Knowing yourself is to be enlightened。
Overcoming others requires force。
Overcoming yourself requires strength。
To know that you have enough is to be rich。
Push through and you may get your way;
but return home and you will endure。
Live out your days and you have had a long life。
34
The great Tao covers everything like a flood。
lt flows to the left and to the right。
The ten thousand things depend upon it
and it denies none of them。
It accomplishes its task yet claims no reward。
It clothes and feeds the ten thousand things
yet it does not attempt to control them。
Therefore; it may be called 〃the little。〃
The ten thousand things return to it;
even though it does not control them。
Therefore; it may be called 〃the great。〃
So it is that the True Person does not wish to be great
and therefore becomes truly great。
35
Hold on to the Great Image
and all under heaven will approach you。
Coming to you and not being harmed;
they will find rest; peace; and security。
A passing guest will pause at the sound of music
and the smell of fancy food。
By comparison the Tao is mild and flavorless。
It is not solid enough to be seen;