04道德经英译本85种-第440章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
It is a shape without a shape。
It is an image without substance。
This is called illusory and inexplicable。
Go toward it and you do not see its face。
Follow it and you do not see its back。
Retain the ancient ways of the Tao in order to take hold of the present。
You have the power to know the Source。
This is called the Tao抯 unbroken thread。
15
The masters* of ancient times could penetrate subtle mysteries too intense to be comprehended。
Students** of the Tao are truly not able to understand and feel compelled to describe these mysterious qualities。
Be hesitant; like crossing a river in winter。
Watchful! Like standing in awe of all four directions。
Reserved! And behave like a guest。
Yielding! Like melting ice。
Genuine! Like the natural state of uncarved wood or uncut jade。
Empty! Like a valley。
Turbulence! Like churning waters。
Who can be still and slowly calm the churning waters?
Who can be tranquil with this motion to insure the gradual birth?
The Tao is not depleted by deep…seated desires。
Separation from deep…seated desires is not new。
It completes。
* person who knows all from 1 to 10 (1 indicates Heaven; and 10 indicates being centered in the four directions)
** upstanding community member who is trying to do things correctly。
16
Attain the highest emptiness。
Keep a constant stillness。
Ten…thousand things (everything) come into being and flourish in unison。
I witness the return。
Now all things can flourish; flourish。
Every one is restored and returns to the origin。
The return to the origin is known as stillness。
This is called a return to life。
Repeating life is known as eternal。
Perceiving the eternal speaks of the light。
Not perceiving the eternal is an error that brings calamity。
Experience of the eternal is all…embracing。
The all…embracing opens and reveals。
The act of revealing connects Heaven; Humanity and Earth。
The act of connecting Heaven; Humanity and Earth is heaven。
Heaven is the Tao。
The Tao is enduring。
Till the end; the body is not in peril。
17
The superior person who is below* perceives reality。
The next best person loves and praises them。
The next best person is in fear of them。
The next best person despises them。
Good intentions are not adequate in that place of reality。
People are reluctant to not have good intentions!
They have words。
They reward accomplishment
True success is achieved when the hundred families (all people) say it is as though we all did it together。
* The concept that if you place yourself below everything then you will be able to receive everything and accurately perceive your world; e。g。; the ocean lies below the rivers to receive them。
18
When the great Tao is abandoned;
Humanity with righteousness is the practice。
After that; intellect and knowledge appear。
Then comes great hypocrisy。
The six relationships (the entire family) will not be in harmony。
After that; duty and devotion to the state arise。
Families will be in trouble and there will be disorder。
After that; loyal ministers appear。
19
Renounce holiness; discard certainty; the people will benefit one…hundred fold。
Abandon benevolence with righteousness; people will return to devotion in the family。
Abandon craftiness; discard profit; and thieves and bandits will not appear。
Don抰 be content to use these three lessons as decorations。
Learn to depend on them。
Recognize simplicity; embrace the purity of uncarved wood or uncut jade。
Reduce self…interest; diminish desires; abandon learnedness; and the people will have no sorrow。
20
Abandon learnedness; and you will not walk slowly with a troubled head and heart。
I join together certainty with uncertainty so both can be discarded and come close to what is。
I join together the virtuous with the loathsome so both can be discarded and become what is。
People are afraid。 They are unable to not be afraid。
Without restraint! They are without limits!
All people are busy; busy。
Like taking part in a great ox feast。
Like in spring climbing a terrace。
I alone remain calm!
I am one who gives no sign; like a newborn baby who does not smile。
Wearied; wearied!
I seem to be a person who has no place to return to。
People everywhere; all have excess。
I alone appear to be deficient。
I am a simple person in my heart and mind!!
Chaos; chaos!
Worldly people display; display。
I alone am dim; dim。
Worldly people are sharp; sharp。
I alone am dull; dull。
Tranquil! I seem like an ocean。
Whirlwind! It never stops。
People everywhere; all have a reason to exist。
I alone am thickheaded; and seem unrefined。
I alone differ from people and treasure being fed by the Mother。
21
The all…embracing action of the soul displays itself the same as the Tao to be followed。
The Tao acts on things entirely elusively and inexplicably。
Inexplicable! Elusive! Its center has form。
Inexplicable! Elusive! Its center has substance。
Deep! Mysterious! Its center contains the life force。
Its life force is very genuine; it can be tested。
Throughout the ages its presence has never ceased。
Witness all things of creation。
How I know all things of creation is through this。
22
Yield to be whole。
Curl in order to straighten。
Empty in order to be filled。
Grow old in order to be renewed。
Reduce in order to receive。
Excess creates confusion。
The sage embraces unity to become Heaven below抯 (the sacred body's) example。
They do not display themselves; which allows them to shine。
They do not see themselves as being right; which allows them to be outstanding。
They do not show off; which allows them to be rewarded。
They are not arrogant; which allows them to endure。
It is precisely because the masters do not resist Heaven below that no one is able to contest them。
The ancients said yield to be whole。
How can these words possibly be hollow?
True wholeness will be preserved and return to its original state。
23
Scatter your words spontaneously。
Gusty winds do not outlast the dawn。
Torrential rains do not outlast the sun。
Why does Heaven Earth (nature) do this?
Heaven Earth (nature) honors the power of change。
Is it less so for people?
You need to pursue your activities through the Tao。
The Tao becomes one with the Tao。
The action of the soul becomes one with the action of the soul。
Change becomes one with change。
Become one with the Tao and enjoy the benefits of the Tao。
Become one with the action of the soul and enjoy the benefits of the action of the soul。
Become one with change and enjoy all the benefits of change。
Faith is never enough! Be in the place of change; not in the place of faith。
24
On tiptoes; they cannot be steady。
When they straddle something; they cannot go forward。
Self…display is not the light。
Self…righteousness is not outstanding。
Boasting about yourself is not of service。
Praising yourself cannot endure。
From the point of view of the Tao this is called excessive consumption and redundant actions。
All beings will detest this。
One who follows the Tao does not dwell in excessive consumption and redundant actions。
25
The substance that arose from the chaos is whole。
Before Heaven and Earth were born there was stillness! Formlessness!
Alone; poised; not yet changed。
Then it went out everywhere unhindered。
It then became Heaven below's (the sacred body's) mother。
We still know it by the name of the one。
The philosopher; they speak of the Tao。
Forced to create a name; I name it the great。
The great is called far reaching。
Far re