04道德经英译本85种-第430章
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57
Honesty governs the empire Cleverness overcomes without weapons Wisdom prevails through non…action。
How do I know this? Because this is how it is:
The more administrations and prohibitions there are the more force and poverty。
The more force and weapons there are the more unrest and resistance。
The more cunning and calculation there are the more craftiness and setbacks。
The more orders are given the more foes of order there are。
Hence the Sage speaks:
I practice non…action and the people do what is right of themselves。
I practice silence and the people calm down。
I practice non…interference and the people attain prosperity。
I practice gentleness and patience and the people attain harmony and simplicity。
58
The less administration the more beneficial is the harmony。
The more administration the more unpleasant confusion grows。
Trusting letting…go produces agreement and happiness。
Decisive attempt at control causes disagreement and misfortune。
One who does not give thought to what he does turns order into disorder fortune into misfortune enlightenment into blinding and dazzling。
How different is the Sage:
He is just without judging。
He guides without regulating。
He is a model without deforming。
He shines without blinding。
59
To advance the people and serve Tao nothing is better than serenity。
Serenity is caring foresight that guards against troubles。
It leads to abundance through being filled with Tao which is being superior to every situation。
To be superior means to be without limits to be without limits means to be owner of the empire To be owner of the empire means to be rooted in the limitless to be rooted in the limitless means to have duration。
Thus a firm foundation in the unfathomable immortality and the All…wisdom of the Tao grow out of serenity。
60
One should rule a country as one prepares a meal: with wisdom。
The more willingly one lets Tao do the less things are mismanaged and spoilt。
The less management the less pressure of forces。
The less forces are pressing the less trouble counter…pressure and resistance there are。
A sage does not press therefore he produces harmony and unity。
61
The great place themselves low like streams rushing toward the sea which unites in itself rivers and brooks。
As woman conquers man through gentleness winning through surrender the great win the small through service and the small the great。
Service ensures conquest service makes superior。
When the great thus protect the small and advance them and the small willingly serve the whole all are served。
Greatness and oneness both thrive on surrender and are maintained through service。
62
Tao is a refuge for all beings treasure of the good and support of the not…good。
Words coming form it produce perfection。
Works caused by it; lead to realization。
The not…good; too; it guides to completion。
Mightier than the highest ruler stronger than all those in power more secure than those possessing most is the man who rests in Tao。
That is why Tao has since olden times ranked highest:
Because it is attained by one who surrenders because it saves him who knows that it is the savior Tao of all creation the home and the shelter。
63
Let your action be non…action your doing letting go your enjoying being free from gain。
See the great as small the many as one and requite hatred with goodness。
Tackle the difficult while it is easy。
Master the big while it is small。
For everything difficult arises from what is easy everything big grows from what is smallest。
Thus; mastering the small the Sage accomplishes the great without acting big。
Since the Sage unbiased sees the end in the beginning the small in the big what is riskiest and hardest becomes easy for him。
64
Easy it is to guide what is still at rest to forestall what is not yet manifest to bend what is still weak to master what is still small。 Therefore; put order into things in their not…yet…being。
Guide in the bud what will later be awkward and unmanageable。
The strongest tree grows from a tiny rootlet the highest house rises from a clod of earth a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step。
Interfering disturbs and spoils grasping causes disappearance and loss。
Therefore the Sage:
Not grasping he does not disturb and spoil。
Not interfering he does not lose。
The masses instead busily greedily interfering grasping for plenitude are at an end before completion 。。。
。。。 They would not fail before the goal if they took care of the beginning as of the end of the small as of the great!
Follow the Sage:
Content with little he does not fail。
Heeding what is unheeded letting things ripen and biding his time he follows the wisdom of non…action and attains what belongs to him。
65
The old Sages doers of the Tao did not bring to men the multiplicity of learning but taught the simplicity of wisdom。
Because those knowing much are not sure of the goal and hard to lead。
One who tries to advance men by increasing their learning only leads them to perdition。
One who increases their wisdom serves their liberation。
One who considers both is a pointer to the goal and a model。
To be a pointer to the goal means to be a carrier of virtue。
Teh the fullness of virtue wells up from the depth flowing far surmounts ignorance and resistance leading all life to the sea of fulfillment。
66
The reason why streams and seas rule over rivers and brooks is that they are taking a low position。
Thus they remain lords of abundance。
Likewise the Sage:
He becomes a model for others by keeping in the background。
He leads them upward by keeping glow。
Thus he accomplishes outstanding things without being prominent and produces harmony without causing injury。
Because he does not oppress anybody everybody presses on to him because he is untiring one does not tire of him。
And because he is a master of non…action devoted to all nobody can harm him。
67
The world calls my TAO great but myself insignificant。
Yes: the clearer TAO manifests the more meaningless the ego becomes。
Worth nothing and without duration is he who wants to rate and be of importance。
Three treasures I guard which endure: the first is compassion the second frugality the third modesty。
Compassion makes me brave frugality generous modesty a carrier of the eternal。
Today the inconsiderate is called brave the spendthrift generous the go…getter progressive 。。。。
They are progressing away from the essential thing toward decay toward death while the compassionate conquer through gentleness remaining in existence through non…resistance。
Heaven fills with compassion those it wants to preserve。
68
A good manager manages without force a god fighter wins without fighting a good conqueror conquers without struggle a good user of men controls without constraint。
Such is the virtue of non…resistance such is the art of resolving through moderation。
Such is: being like heaven the highest goal of all times。
69
A man experienced in the struggle for life knows:
Better it is to yield thoughtfully than to provoke thoughtlessly。
Better it is to retreat a foot than to advance an inch。
That is what I call:
To go forward without pushing forward。
To capture without taking。
To hold without keeping。
To conquer without defeating。
He acts disastrously who attacks wantonly since it is easy to tackle and overcome a man who is an advocate of force。
Where two clash the more thoughtful is the victor。
70
My words are easy to understand still easier to practice and yet they are seldom understood still more seldom practiced。
My words originate in the primordial source and follow the primordial law。
One who does not know this misjudges me。
It is to my honor that few there are who recognize me and und