04道德经英译本85种-第461章

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　　This　world　is　nothing　but　the　glory　of　Tao　expressed　through　different　names　and　forms
　　One　who　sees　the　things　of　this　world　as　being　real　and　self…existent　has　lost　sight　of　the　truth
　　To　him；　every　word　becomes　a　trap　every　thing　becomes　a　prison
　　One　who　knows　the　truth　that　underlies　all　things　lives　in　this　world　without　danger
　　To　him；　every　word　reflects　the　universe　every　moment　brings　enlightenment
　　Rivers　and　streams　are　born　of　the　ocean
　　All　creation　is　born　of　Tao
　　Just　as　all　water　flows　back　to　become　the　ocean
　　All　creation　flows　back　to　become　Tao

　　33

　　One　who　knows　others　is　intelligent
　　One　who　knows　himself　is　enlightened
　　One　who　conquers　others　is　strong
　　One　who　conquers　himself　is　all…powerful
　　One　who　approaches　life　with　force　surely　gets　something
　　One　who　remains　content　where　he　is　surely　gets　everything
　　One　who　gives　himself　to　his　position　surely　lives　long
　　One　who　gives　himself　to　Tao　surely　lives　forever

　　34

　　The　great　Tao　flows　everywhere
　　It　fills　everything　to　the　left　and　to　the　right
　　All　things　owe　their　existence　to　it　and　it　cannot　deny　any　one　of　them
　　Tao　is　eternal
　　It　does　not　favour　one　over　the　other
　　It　brings　all　things　to　completion　without　their　even　knowing　it
　　Tao　nourishes　and　protects　all　creatures　yet　does　not　claim　lordship　over　them
　　So　we　class　it　with　the　most　humble
　　Tao　is　the　home　to　which　all　things　return　yet　it　wants　nothing　in　return
　　So　we　call　it　揟he　Greatest？br》　The　Sage　is　the　same　way　？br》　He　does　not　claim　greatness　over　anything
　　He抯　not　eve　aware　of　his　own　greatness
　　Tell　me；　what　could　be　greater　than　this？

　　35

　　Hold　fast　to　the　Great　Form　within　and　let　the　world　pass　as　it　may
　　Then　the　changes　of　life　will　not　bring　pain　but　contentment；　joy；　and　well…being
　　Music　and　sweets　are　passing　pleasures　yet　they　cause　people　to　stop
　　How　bland　and　insipid　are　the　things　of　this　world　when　one　compares　them　with　Tao！
　　One　tastes；　but　the　sweetness　turns　bitter
　　One　sees；　but　the　colours　grow　faint
　　One　hears；　but　the　sound　fades　into　silence
　　One　may　look　for　fulfillment　in　this　world　but　his　longings　will　never　be　exhausted
　　The　only　thing　he　ever　finds　is　that　he　himself　is　exhausted

　　36

　　Contraction　pulls　at　that　which　extends　too　far
　　Weakness　pulls　at　that　which　strengthens　too　much
　　Ruin　pulls　at　that　which　rises　too　high
　　Loss　pulls　at　life　when　you　fill　it　with　too　much　stuff
　　The　lesson　here　is　called　揟he　wisdom　of　obscurity？？br》　The　gentle　outlast　the　strong
　　The　obscure　outlast　the　obvious
　　Hence；　a　fish　that　ventures　from　deep　water　is　soon　snagged　by　a　net
　　A　country　that　reveals　its　strength　is　soon　conquered　by　an　enemy

　　37

　　Tao　does　not　act　yet　it　is　the　root　of　all　action
　　Tao　does　not　move　yet　it　is　the　source　of　all　creation
　　If　princes　and　kings　could　hold　it　everyone　under　them　would　naturally　turn　within
　　Should　a　doubt　or　old　desire　rise　up
　　The　Nameless　Simplicity　would　push　it　down
　　The　Nameless　Simplicity　frees　the　heart　of　desire　and　reveals　its　inner　silence
　　When　there　is　silence　one　finds　peace
　　When　there　is　silence　one　finds　the　anchor　of　the　universe　within　himself

　　38

　　To　give　without　seeking　reward
　　To　help　without　thinking　it　is　virtuous　？therein　lies　the　great　virtue
　　To　keep　account　of　your　action
　　To　help　with　the　hope　of　gaining　merit　？therein　lies　no　virtue
　　The　highest　virtue　is　to　act　without　a　sense　of　self
　　The　highest　kindness　is　to　give　without　condition
　　The　highest　justice　is　to　see　without　preference
　　When　Tao　is　lost　one　must　learn　the　rules　of　virtue
　　When　virtue　is　lost；　the　rules　of　kindness
　　When　kindness　is　lost；　the　rules　of　justice
　　When　justice　is　lost；　the　rules　of　conduct
　　And　when　the　high…blown　rules　of　conduct　are　not　followed　people　are　seized　by　the　arm　and　it　is　forced　on　them
　　The　rules　of　conduct　are　just　an　outer　show　of　devotion　and　loyalty　？quite　confusing　to　the　heart
　　And　when　men　rely　on　these　rules　for　guidance　？br》　Oh；　what　ignorance　abounds！
　　The　great　master　follows　his　own　nature　and　not　the　trappings　of　life
　　It　is　said；　揌e　stays　with　the　fruit　and　not　the　fluff？揌e　stays　with　the　firm　and　not　the
　　flimsy？揌e　stays　with　the　true　and　not　the　false？br》
　　39

　　From　ancient　times　till　now　the　One　has　been　the　source　of　all　attainments
　　By　realizing　One　Heaven　becomes　clear；　Earth　becomes　still　spirits　gain　power　and　hearts　fill　up　with　joy
　　By　realizing　the　One　kings　and　lords　become　instruments　of　peace　and　creatures　live　joyfully　upon　this　earth
　　Without　the　One　Heaven　ahs　no　clarity　and　would　crack　Earth　has　no　peace　and　would　crumble　spirits　have　no　power　and　would　lose　their　charm
　　Without　the　One　hearts　would　dry　up；　empires　would　fall；　all　things　would　go　lifelessly　upon　this　earth
　　Long　ago　kings　and　lords　called　themselves　搊rphaned；？搇onely；？and　搖nworthy？br》　What　honour　can　there　be　without　humility？
　　What　heights　can　be　reached　without　being　low？
　　The　pieces　of　a　chariot　are　useless　unless　they　work　in　accordance　with　the　whole
　　A　man抯　life　brings　nothing　unless　he　lives　in　accordance　with　the　whole　universe
　　Playing　one抯　part　in　accordance　with　the　universe　is　true　humility
　　So　whether　you抮e　a　gem　in　the　royal　court　or　a　stone　on　the　common　path
　　If　you　accept　your　part　with　humility　the　glory　of　the　universe　will　be　yours

　　40

　　The　movement　of　Tao　is　to　return
　　The　way　of　Tao　is　to　yield
　　Heaven；　Earth；　and　all　things　are　born　of　the　existent　world
　　The　existent　world　is　born　of　the　nothingness　of　Tao

　　41

　　When　the　best　seeker　hears　of　Tao　he　strives　with　great　effort　to　know　it
　　When　an　average　seeker　hears　of　Tao　he　thinks　of　it　now　and　again
　　When　the　poorest　seeker　hears　of　Tao　he　laughs　out　loud
　　Tao　is　always　becoming　what　we　have　need　for　it　to　become
　　If　it　could　not　do　this　it　would　not　be　Tao
　　There　is　an　old　saying；
　　The　clear　way　seems　clouded
　　The　straight　way　seems　crooked
　　The　sure　way　seems　unsteady
　　The　greatest　power　seems　weak
　　The　purest　white　seems　tainted
　　The　abundant　seems　empty
　　The　stable　seems　shaky
　　The　certain　seems　false
　　The　Great　Square　has　no　corners
　　The　Great　Vessel　is　never　filled
　　A　beginner　may　be　clumsy　but　after　practice　？what　talent！
　　A　large　drum　may　sit　silently　but　when　banged　？what　noise！
　　Tao　lies　hidden　yet　it　alone　is　the　glorious　light　of　this　world

　　42

　　Tao　gives　life　to　the　one
　　The　one　gives　life　to　the　two
　　The　two　gives　life　to　the　three
　　The　three　give　life　to　ten　thousand　things
　　All　beings　support　yin　and　embrace　yang　and　the　interplay　of　these　two　forces　fills　the　universe
　　Yet　only　at　the　still…point；　between　the　breathing　in　and　the　breathing　out；　can　one　capture　these　two　in　perfect　harmony
　　People　suffer　at　the　thought　of　being　without　parents；　without　food；　or　without　worth
　　Yet　this　is　the　very　way　that　kings　and　lords　once　described　themselves
　　Who　knows　what　fate　may　bring　？one　day　your　loss　may　be　your　fortune　one　day　your　fortune　may　be　your　loss
　　The　age…old　lesson　that　others　teach；　I　also　teach　？揂s　you　plant；　so　you　reap？揂s　you　live；　so　you　die？br》　Know　this　to　be　the　foundation　of　my　teachings

　　43

　　The　most　yielding　thing　in　the　world　will　overcome　the　most　rigid
　　The　most　empty　thing　in　the　world　will　overcome　the　most　full
　　From　this　comes　a　lesson　？br》　Stillness　benefits　more　than　action
　　Silence　benefits　more　than　words
　　Rare　indeed　are　those　who　are　still
　　Rare　indeed　are　those　who　are　silent
　　And　so　I　say；
　　Rare　indeed　are　those　who　obtain　the　bounty　of　this　world

　　44

　　One抯　own　reputation　？why　the　fuss？
　　One抯　own　wealth　？why　the　concern？
　　I　say；　what　you　gain　is　more　trouble　than　what　you　lose
　　Love　is　the　fruit　of　sacrifice
　　Wealth　is　the　fruit　of　generosity
　　Be　content；　rest　in　your