04道德经英译本85种-第459章
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Sharpen a blade too much and its edge will soon be lost
Fill a house with gold and jade and no one can protect it
Puff yourself with honour and pride and no one can save you from a fall
Complete the task at had
Be selfless in your actions
This is the way of Heaven
This is the way to Heaven
10
Hold fast to the Power of the One
It will unify the body and merge it with the spirit
It will cleanse the vision and reveal the world as flawless
It will focus the life…force and make one supple as a newborn
As you love the people and rule the state can you be free of self…interest?
As the gates of Heaven open and close can you remain steadfast as the mother bird who sits on her nest?
As your wisdom reaches he four corners of the world can you keep the innocence of a beginner?
Know this Primal Power that guides without forcing that serves without seeking that brings forth and sustains life yet does not own or possess it。
One who holds this Power brings Tao to this very Earth
He can triumph over a raging fire or the freeze of winter weather
Yet when he comes to rule the world it抯 with the gentleness of a feather
11
Wu is nothingness; emptiness; no…existence
Thirty spokes of a wheel all join at at a common hub yet only the hole at the center allows the wheel to spin
Clay is molded to form a cup yet only the space within allows the cup to hold water
Walls are joined to make a room yet only by cutting out a door and a window can one enter the room and live there
Thus; when a thing has existence alone it is mere dead…weight
Only when it has wu; does it have life
12
The five colours blind the eye
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavours dull the palate
Racing; hunting; and galloping about only disturb the mind
Wasting energy to obtain rare objects only impedes one抯 growth
So the Sage is led by his inner truth not his outer eye
He holds to what is deep and not what lies on the surface
13
揃e wary of both honour and disgrace?br》 揈ndless affliction is bound to the body?br》 What does it mean; 揃e wary of both honour and disgrace??br》 Honour is founded on disgrace and disgrace is rooted in honour
Both should be avoided
Both bind a man to this world
That抯 why it says; 揃e wary of both honour and disgrace?br》 What does it mean; 揈ndless affliction is bound to the body??br》 Man抯 true self is eternal; yet he thinks; 揑 am this body; I will soon die?br》 This false sense of self is the cause of all his sorrow
When a person does not identify himself with the body tell me; what troubles could touch him?
One who sees himself as everything is fit to be guardian of the world
One who loves himself as everyone is fit to be teacher of the world。
14
Eyes look but cannot see it
Ears listen but cannot hear it
Hands grasp but cannot touch it
Beyond the senses lies the great Unity ?invisible; inaudible; intangible
What rises up appears bright
What settles down appears dark
Yet there is neither darkness nor light just an unbroken dance of shadows
From nothingness to fullness and back again to nothingness
This formless form
This imageless image cannot be grasped by mind or might
Try to face it
In what place will you stand?
Try to follow it
To what place will you go?
Know That which is beyond all beginnings and you will know everything here and now
Know everything in this moment and you will know the Eternal Tao
15
The masters of this ancient path are mysterious and profound
Their inner states baffle all inquiry
Their depths go beyond all knowing
Thus; despite every effort; we can only tell of their outer signs ?br》 Deliberate; as if treading over the stones of a winter brook
Watchful; as if meeting danger on all sides
Reverent; as if receiving an honoured guest
Selfless; like a melting block of ice
Pure; like an uncarved block of wood
Accepting; like an open valley
Through the course of Nature muddy water becomes clear
Through the unfolding of life man reaches perfection
Through sustained activity that supreme rest is naturally found
Those who have Tao want nothing else
Though seemingly empty they are ever full
Though seemingly old they are beyond the reach of birth and death
16
Become totally empty
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance in endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness ?br》 Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging。 Flourishing; dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return
To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster
Be still
Stillness reveals the secret of eternity
Eternity embraces the all…possible
The all…possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao
Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish; deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity
17
To know Tao alone; without trace of your own existence; is the highest
Next comes loving and praising it
Then fearing it
Then despising it
If one doesn抰 trust himself how can he trust anyone else?
The great ruler speaks little and his words are priceless
He works without self…interest and leaves no trace
When all is finished; the people say; 揑t happened by itself?br》
18
When the greatness of Tao is present action arises from one抯 own heart
When the greatness of Tao is absent action comes from the rules of 搆indness?and 搄ustice?br》 If you need rules to be kind and just; if you act virtuous; this is a sure sign that virtue is absent
Thus we see the great hypocrisy
Only when the family loses its harmony do we hear of 揹utiful sons?br》 Only when the state is in chaos do we hear of 搇oyal ministers?br》
19
Abandon holiness
Discard cleverness and the people will benefit a hundredfold
Abandon the rules of 搆indness?br》 Discard 搑ighteous?action and the people will return to their own natural affections
Abandon book learning
Discard the rules of behaviour and the people will have no worries
Abandon plots and schemes
Discard profit…seeking and the people will not become thieves
These lessons are mere elaborations
The essence of my teachings is this:
See with original purity
Embrace with original simplicity
Reduce what you have
Decrease what you want
20
The difference between a formal 搚es?and a casual 搚eah??how slight!
The difference between knowing Truth and not knowing it ?how great!
Must I fear what others fear?
Should I fear desolation when there is abundance?
Should I fear darkness when that light is shining everywhere?
Nonsense!
The people of this world are steeped in their merrymaking as if gorging at a great feast or watching the sights of springtime
Yet here I sit; without a sign; staring blank…eyed like a child
I am but a guest in this world
While others rush about to get things done
I accept what is offered
Oh; my mind is like that of a fool aloof to the clamour of life around me
Everyone seems so bright and alive with the sharp distinctions of day
I appear dark and dull with the blending of differences by night
I am drifting like an ocean; floating like the winds
Everyone is so rooted in this world yet I have no place to lay my head
Indeed I am different。 。 。 。
I have no treasures but the Eternal Mother
I have no food but what comes from her breast
21
Perfect action;
Rue virtue;
Supreme power;
This is how the Tao is revealed through those who follow it completely
Though formless and intangible
It gives rise