04道德经英译本85种-第441章
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Forced to create a name; I name it the great。
The great is called far reaching。
Far reaching; it is known to go far away。
Far away; it is known to return。
Thus the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; the nobility of humanity is great。
Within the universe there exist four great directions and the nobility of humanity dwells there in the unity of the one。
Humanity emulates the Earth; the Earth emulates the Heavens; the Heavens emulate the Tao; and the Tao emulates itself。
26
Being solid creates a lighthearted foundation。
Unresponsive stillness makes an agitated master。
The sages all day go forward and do not separate themselves from their heavy load。
Though they have beautiful perception; they stay calm in an undisturbed manner。
Their resources are what a master of ten…thousand chariots has; yet they are a person who moves lightly in Heaven below (the sacred body)。
Disregard follows the loss of their foundation。
Restlessness follows the loss of this master。
27
Good practices leave no trace of a rut。
Good words do not find fault。
Good plans are not calculated。
Good doors have no bolt or bar; yet cannot be opened。
Good bindings have no ties; yet cannot be loosened。
The sage is always good at embracing people because they do not abandon people。
They are always good at embracing all of life because they do not reject anything。
This is called following the light。
The good person is the bad person抯 teacher。
The bad person is the good person抯 lesson。
When the student does not value their teacher; they become cunning and very confused。 They cannot cherish their lessons。
This is called the essential mystery。
28
Know your masculine。
Maintain your feminine。
Act in Heaven below's (the sacred body) valley。
Act in Heaven below's valley。
The eternal action of the soul does not divide or separate。
Return and revert to your original state like that of a new born child。
Know your purity。
Observe your evil。
Become an example of Heaven below。
Become an example of Heaven below。
The eternal action of the soul does not falter。
Return and revert to the origin through the highest emptiness。
Know your beauty。
Observe your shame。
Act in Heaven below's empty spaces。
Act in Heaven below's empty spaces。
Eternal action of the soul is enough。
Return and restore the purity of uncarved wood or uncut jade。
Purity* disperses and becomes the vessel。
The sage uses it and becomes an enduring leader。
Hence great rulers do no harm
* Purity: Energy from the Source of all creation。
29
If you have deep…seated desires to control Heaven below (the sacred body) and manipulate it; you will see that you do not benefit!
Heaven below is a sacred vessel that cannot be manipulated!
Manipulation destroys it。
Seizing it separates you from your reason for existence。
Sometimes you will progress; sometimes you will imitate。
Sometimes you will breath out; sometimes you will breathe in。
Sometimes you will be strong; sometimes you will be weak。
Sometimes you will break; sometimes you will be broken。
This is why the sage rejects extremes; rejects extravagances; and rejects excesses。
30
With the Tao guiding the people the rulers do not have a reason to use weapons and violence。
Heaven below's (sacred body's) activities will return to the highest degree。
The master knows when to stop; for brambles and thorny bushes live there。
Great battles are postponed; or surely there would be disaster for years。
The results are good when one does not venture to rule by force。
They succeed yet do not brag。
They succeed yet do not destroy。
They succeed yet are not arrogant。
They succeed yet do not possess!
They succeed yet do not overpower。
Life flourishes and then decays。
This is sometimes spoken of as not the Tao。
Not the Tao is when life ends before its time。
31
Those who are superior at warfare do not have good fortune。
They are likely to be detested。
The emergence of the Tao does not stop。
The honorable ruler dwells in and emulates this (the Tao) because they favor the left side。
Using weapons emulates and favors the right side。
Weapons are not a blessing and are not useful。
The honorable ruler does not obtain these instruments! Yet they still can function。
Tranquility and quiet become supreme。
Conquering has no beauty because it is as if you rejoice and delight at the slaughter of people。
Truly to rejoice at the killing of people means you will not be able to fulfill your ambitions for Heaven below (the sacred body)!
Joyful activities add to the left side。
Cruel activities add to the right side。
The person who acts from below will approach the battle and dwell in the left side。
The person who acts from above will approach the battle and dwell in the right side。
Speak as though performing funeral rites。
Killing causes the people to grieve and weep with sorrow。
Tremble at victory because life will be like a funeral ceremony。
32
The Tao is eternal and not named。
Even though simple and subtle; no one in Heaven below (the sacred body) can rule over it!
When all people can sustain it; ten…thousand things (everything) will naturally honor it as they would honor a guest。
Heaven and Earth are mutually joined and drip with sweet dew。
The people are without laws and are naturally in harmony。
When rules began; their names emerged。
From their names; exhaustion emerged。
The master will recognize that in which the mind rests; and knows that when the mind rests there is no danger。
They compare this to the Tao's presence in Heaven below。
It resembles the valley streams that become the great rivers that flow into the sea。
33
Recognize that people naturally know。
Knowing the light sustains humanity。
This naturally emerging force overcomes violence。
Knowing the light provides strength in action。
Resolve to not separate from it。
The light is enduring。
Death is not the end。
The light is immortal。
34
The great Tao is the cycle of life!
It can move to the left and to the right。*
Ten…thousand things (everything) rely upon it and it gives birth and does not refuse。
It deserves praise for the whole which cannot be named。
It clothes and nourishes ten…thousand things and does not act like a ruler。
It is always without deep seated desires。
Its name is associated with everything including the small。
Ten…thousand things revert to their original state; and from that place do not act as rulers。
The Name** becomes great because until the end; it is not great and does not act great。
Thus it can succeed in its greatness。
* Left and right = Being to the right of the ruler was considered a place of honor。 Being to the left of the ruler was considered second best。
**The Name = The universe becoming conscious of itself through its human form。
35
Take hold of and follow Heaven below's (the sacred body's) elephant*。
Follow and there will be no loss; quiet peace is in abundance。
Food and music will make passing strangers stop。
The Tao that goes forth by words is tasteless!
It is without taste。
Those who think about it cannot see it。
Those who listen for it cannot hear it。
Use it and it can never be exhausted。
* Elephant: a symbol of strength; peace and abundance。
36
To be at peace with your deep…seated desires; you surely must expand。
To soften your deep…seated desires; you surely must be vigorous。
To give up your deep…seated desires; you surely must flourish。
To deprive your deep…seated desires; you surely must give of yourself。
This is called the mystery of the light。
The gentle and the yielding overcome the hard and the forcef