04道德经英译本85种-第487章
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There was no occasion for their employment。
Being simple;
The commerce of the community required
no greater means than knotted cords
to ease the accounting of transactions。
Thus the people were:
… Satisfied with their food。
… Content with their clothing。
… Comfortable with their shelter。
… Happy with their customs and traditions。
Even though neighboring communities
were within sight and earshot of cocks and barking dogs;
They would leave each other in peace while they would grow old and die。
81
IN CONCLUSION
Truthful words are rarely pleasant and fine sounding。
Pleasant and fine sounding words are rarely truthful。
The good need not prove by argument。
To prove by argument is rarely good。
True wisdom rarely springs from learning。
Learning rarely is indicative of true wisdom。
The sage need never hoard。
Doing more for others; The more he gains。
Giving more to others; The greater is his abundance。
The Tao of heaven benefits without injury or harm。
The Tao of the Sage accomplishes without striving or contention。
?Copyright 1997 Alan B。 Taplow
First published in 1982 … ISBN 0…941758…01…X
All Rights Reserved … This complete heading must appear on all copies
Permission given to freely copy and distribute as long as not for commercial gain。
If sold for profit; permission must be obtained from:
Alan B。 Taplow
844 John Fowler Road
Plainfield; VT 05667
English_Trottier_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
John Louis Albert Trottier; 1994
1
TAO (THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE) can be talked about;
but not the Eternal Tao (Laws of the Universe)。
Names can be named;
but not the Eternal Name。
(You cannot name the unknown。)
As the origin of heaven…and…earth;
it is not describable:
As 〃the Mother〃 of all things;
it is describable。
(You cannot describe the unknown origin。)
As it is always hidden;
We should look at its Inner Sum and Substance (through philosophy
and poetry):
As always visible;
We should look at its Outer Form (through science and obsevation)。
These two flow from the same source
(the Laws of the Universe;)
though differently named;
And both are called mysteries。
The Mystery of mysteries is the Gate of all sum and substance。
(Beyond the gate of experience is the Way。
It is in all ways greater and more subtle than the world。)
2
When all the world recognizes beauty as beauty;
this in itself is ugliness;
(for it lacks a seeing of the Truth。)
(When all of humankind abstracts beauty there is no beauty)。
When all the world recognizes good as good; this in itself is
destruction。;
(for it lacks a seeing of the Truth。)
(What is good in one circumstance is bad in another)。
Indeed; the hidden and the visible give birth to each other。
Hard and easy balance each other。
Long and short give measure to each other。
High and low set measure to each other。
Voice and sound give wholeness each other。
Back and front follow each other。
Therefore; the Complete Thinker
experiences without abstraction
and accomplishes without visible action;
Yet spreads their teaching by actions。
Accepting the ebb and flow of
the many living things。
Raises them;
but makes no claim of them。
Does his work;
but does not brag about it。
Finishing tasks;
and moves on。
And yet it is just because
of moving on。
That nobody can take
works away。
3
By not making great the worthy
you will cause the people
to stop from having enemies and fighting。
(When everyone is equal; each is rewarded fairly。)
By not giving value to
goods hard to get;
you will cause the people
to stop from robbing and stealing。
(When material goods have no value there is no temptation to steal。)
By not showing
what people would like to have;
you will cause the people's hearts
to remain undisturbed。
(When people are not tempted to own things they do not desire things。)
Therefore; the Complete Thinker's way of governing begins by
Emptying the heart of wants;
Filling the belly with food;
Relaxing the ambitions; (not creating a temptation);
Toughening the bones; (guiding a healthful life)。
In this way will cause
the people to remain
without strategy
and without desire;
and prevent the knowing ones
from causing any trouble。
Practice doing things at the Proper Speed; and everything
will be in order。
4
The Tao (the Law of the Universe) is like
an empty bowl。
Which in being used
can never be filled up
。 So deep it
cannot be measured;
it is the
origin of all things。
It blurs
all sharp edges;
It unties
all tangles;
It blends
all lights;
It unites the world
into one whole。
Hidden
in the depths;
Yet it seems to
exist for ever。
I do not know
whose child it is;
It is the common ancestor
of all;
the father of all things。
(It is the Universal Laws from the beginning of our Universe);
To live by these Laws is to
live in harmony with our
True Nature。
5
Heaven…and…Earth is
not sentimental;
It treats all things
like straw dogs
(equal)。
The Complete Thinker is
not sentimental;
Treats all people
as straw dogs
( equally)。
Between Heaven and Earth;
There seems to be
a Bellows:
It is empty;
yet it can
not be emptied;
The more it works;
the more comes
out of it。
The Complete Thinker
draws upon the universal experience
thus cannot be exhausted。
Better look for it
within you。
The Tao (the Laws of the Universe) is
in all that exists。
6
The Spirit of
the Valley dies not。
It is called
the Secret
which is Filled with
womanly qualities。
The Gateway of the
Secret is
Filled with womanly qualities
Is called
the Womb of Heaven…and…Earth。
Staying like
a fog;
it has only a
hint that it is there;
And yet when you
use it;
it is always there
without end。
7
Heaven lasts long; and
Earth lasts。
What is the secret of
their lasting?
Is it not because
they do not live for themselves
That they can
live so long?
The Complete Thinker wants to
remain behind;
But is found at
the head of others;
Ignores his desires;
But is found
content。
Is it not because
of selflessness
That True Self is realized?
8
The highest form of
goodness is like water。
Water knows how to
benefit all things
without contention。
It flows to places
others disdain。
It comes near the Tao (the Laws of the Universe)。
In choosing your dwelling;
know how to keep the ground。
In cultivating your mind;
know how to dive
in the hidden depths。
In dealing with others;
know how to be
gentle and kind。
Speak within
trust。
In governing;
know how to
maintain order。
In transacting business;
know how to
be efficient。
In making a move;
know how to
choose the right moment。
If you
do not contend;
none contend
against you。
9
Fill a cup
to its brim;
it is easy
to spill。
Do not
over do the task;
close it。
Temper a sword throughout
to its hardest;
and it is easily broken。
Fill your house
with gold and
jade;
it can not
be guarded。
(Do not tempt
others for
someone will
give in to temptation。)
Set store
by your riches and
honor;
you easily fall。
This is the Tao
(the Laws of the Universe):
When your purpos