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第388章

04道德经英译本85种-第388章

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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esults are obtained it is solely because therewas no other way out。 When results are obtained they do not try to dominate。When creatures come to their prime they begin to age。 That is spoken ofas the Dao (course) of retrograde action。 What is on the retrograde Daois soon finished。

  31

  Excellent weapons are inauspicious instruments。 Creatures always abhorthem。 So those who have the Dao do not become involved with them。 Whenthe ruler resides at peace he values the left; and when he takes up armshe values the right。 Arms are inauspicious instruments; not the instrumentsfit for a noble man。 Only when there is no alternative does he resort tothem。'And then' placidity and blandness are the best。 He does not regardvictory as glorious。 Those who glorify victory exult in killing people。Now those who exult in killing people cannot achieve their aspirationsin this world。 For auspicious affairs one elevates the left。 For inauspiciousaffairs one elevates the right。 The lieutenant generals take their stationson the left。 The full generals reside on the right。'Because the rightis the side of mourning; the above discussion' means one ought to treat'military' affairs with the rites of mourning。 Because of the large numbersof people who are killed; they are to be wept for with sorrow。 Victoryin war should be treated with the rites of mourning。

  32

  The Dao is always nameless。 Although the Uncarved Block is insignificant;nothing in the world can subordinate it。 If the lords and kings can holdfast to it; then the myriad creatures will come to be their vassals oftheir own accord。

  Heaven and Earth will couple in order to let the sweet dew fall。 Althoughno people shall so command; the 'distribution of sweet dew' will be equitableof its own accord。

  Only after fabrication occurs are there names; and once there are namespeople ought to know where to stop; for by knowing where to stop they canescape danger。

  For example; the Dao in relation to the world is like the way the streamsand valleys supply 'water to' the rivers and oceans。

  33

  Those who know other people are knowledgeable。
  Those who know themselves are enlightened。

  Those who overcome other people are forceful。
  Those who overcome themselves are strong。

  Those who know when they have enough are rich。
  Those who act strongly have aspirations。

  Those who do not lose their positions are long enduring。
  Those who die and yet do not perish have life everlasting。

  34

  The great Dao reaches everywhere without regard to direction。 The myriadcreatures depend on it to reproduce themselves and be born; and none aredenied。 When accomplishments are made 'the Dao' does not claim them。 Itfeeds and clothes the myriad creatures and does not act as their master。Constantly without desire 'in regard of the myriad creatures' it can becalled insignificant。 The myriad creatures take refuge therein and yetit does not act as their master; so it can be called great。 Because itnever takes itself to be great it can therefore accomplish its own greatness。

  35

  Grasp the great Image and 'all in' the world will approach。 They approachand are not injured; thus great is their peace and tranquility。 When thereis music and food; the passing travellers will stop in。'But' the Dao whenexpressed in words is found bland and flavorless; when looked at providesnothing to see; when listened to provides nothing to hear。'Yet' when putinto use; there is no way to exhaust it。

  36

  If one would contract something; then one must first resolutely spreadit out。 If one would weaken something; then one must first resolutely strengthenit。 If one would have a thing be discarded one must first resolutely causeit to flourish。 If one would seize something one must first resolutelygive it away。 This 'approach' is called subtle discernment。 The pliantand weak overcome the rigid and strong。'So' fish cannot leave the depthsand the sharp instruments of the state cannot be shown 'to threaten' thepeople。

  37

  The Dao never employs forceful action yet there is nothing it fails todo。 If the lords and rulers can hold to it; then the myriad creatures willtransform themselves of their own accord。 Should desire rise up 'even'after they have transformed; I will tranquilize it with the nameless UncarvedBlock。'By reason of' the nameless Uncarved Block; the 'myriad creatures'too will in future become desireless。 Their having been stilled by desirelessness;the world will become settled of its own accord。

  38

  The highest virtue is not virtuous and for that reason has 'true' virtue。The lesser virtue does not lose virtue and for that reason does not have'true' virtue。 The highest virtue does not engage in 'forceful' activityand so uses nothing to do things。 The highest benevolence does things and doesso by means of nothing。 The highest righteousness does things and doesso by means of something。 The highest propriety does things and if nothingresponds to what it does then it thrusts out its forearms and forces them。So after the Dao is lost there is virtue。 After virtue is lost; there isbenevolence。 After benevolence is lost; there is righteousness。 After righteousnessis lost; there is propriety。 Now propriety is the husk of faithfulnessand trust and the beginning of disorder。 The initial discernments are thedetritus of the Dao and the beginnings of ignorance。 For this reason thegreat man abides in the substantial parts and does not tarry in the husk。He abides in the solid parts and does not tarry in the detritus。 So herejects that and accepts this。

  39

  Of those in ancient times who attained unity: Heaven attained unity inorder to be pure。 Earth attained unity in order to be stable。 Spirits attainedunity in order to be responsive。 The valleys attained unity in order tobe full。 The myriad creatures attained unity in order to reproduce。 Thelords and kings attained unity in order to become the correct ones in theworld。'It is unity that' brings them to this height。 If Heaven did nothave what it takes to be pure; it would probably become rent。 If Earthdid not have the means to be stable; it would probably quake。 If the spiritsdid not have the means to be responsive; they would probably dissipate。If the valleys did not have the means to be filled; they would probablybecome exhausted。 If the myriad creatures did not have the means to reproduce;they would probably become extinct。 If the lords and kings did not havethe means to be noble and exalted; they would probably fall。 So the nobletakes the ignoble as its base; and the high takes the low as its foundation。For this reason the lords and kings speak of themselves as the orphaned;the bereaved; and the unworthy。 Is this not taking the ignoble as one'sbase? Is this not so? So the highest degree of good repute is to have nogood repute。 Be not glistening like jade 'but' stony like rock。

  40

  Recirculation is 'characteristic of' the motion of the Dao。 Weakness is'characteristic of ' the functioning of the Dao。 The myriad creatures ofthe world are produced out of things that exist。 Existence is producedfrom non…existence。

  41

  When the superior knight…scholar hears of the Dao; he diligently puts itinto practice。 When the average knight…scholar hears of the Dao; it ishalf as though he preserves 'the concept of' it in his mind and half asthough it is lost。 When the inferior knight…scholar hears of the Dao; helaughs uproariously at the notion。 If such a one did not laugh at it; itwould be something too inadequate to be the Dao。 So an established sayingstates that the brightness of the Dao seems like darkness; the advanceof the Dao seems like retreat; the level Dao seems rough; the superiorvirtue seems like a gully; the whitest white seems sullied; ample virtueseems inadequate; firmly established virtue seems stealthy; pristine virtueseems polluted; the greatest square has no corners; the greatest vesselsare completed late; the greatest sound is inaudible; the greatest imagehas no form。 The Dao hides itself in namelessness。 Now only the Dao isgood at bestowing 'things upon the creatures of the world' and bringing'them' to completion。

  42

  The Dao pr

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