04道德经英译本85种-第52章
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shment; which can never be destroyed。
3
A great man who doesn抰 display his talent has no rivals。 A wealthy man who doesn抰 flaunt his wealth sees no thieves。 The master teaches the value of humility and the futility of ambition。 He empties their minds of all they know and helps them extinguish desires。 Those who think they know cannot understand him。 Don抰 work at anything; and everything will work。
4
The Tao is always used; but never empties。 It is eternal and infinite but is nothing。 You can抰 find it even though it is always here。 Since it creates everything how can we know who created it。
5
The Tao is impartial; good and evil both reside herein。 The master is impartial; and regards all as equal。 The Tao contains nothing but is able to create anything。 As it is used; it produces。 If you talk of it your understanding will grow dim。 Remain impartial。
6
The Tao is like a valley; receptive。 Your true essence is the Tao; mysterious。 Because it never dies it is mysterious。 As it receives all we say it is feminine。 From it arise all dreams。 It continues without end and death cannot stop it。
7
As the Tao can never die; we call it eternal。 Receiving all; we call it infinite。 The birthless is eternal。 The desireless is infinite。 Seeing this; a master seeks nothing so he has everything。 He doesn抰 nourish the ego; so his nourishment it total。
8
To be truly good; be like water which benefits all without knowing。 Men who aspire to ascend benefit no being。 But all are benefited by the natural descent of water。 This is like the Tao。 So seek a dwelling for shelter。 Think when the need arises。 When you deal with others; do so with compassion。 When you speak to others; don抰 lie。 Work at a profession for self…refinement as well as livelihood。 Lead your family by simply following them。 When you follow the natural path no mistake can be made。
9
Acting naturally; also know when to stop naturally。 Balance is lost if you would continue。 Base your achievement not on results; but on whether you followed the act。 When the act is complete; it is gone。 This is serene。
10
To keep the mind balanced use the body。 Breathe like an infant。 Then cleanse the mind by letting go of ideas。 Love people without interfering。 Allow events to take their natural course。 Detached from comings and goings the mind is clear。 Don抰 bullshit yourself! By balancing it you nurture it; but it is not yours。 Acting through it; but expecting no results。 Perfection comes of its own accord。
11
Without the hole in the tap; the water cannot flow。 A cup has form for the emptiness inside。 Houses have four walls and a roof; but the space inside is where we live。 Things seem to exist; but arise from non…existence。
12
If you look at bright light; you go blind。 If you listen to loud noise; you go deaf。 Tasting many flavours reduces the tongue抯 sensitivity。 Many thoughts confuse the mind。 Many desires break your heart。 Don抰 crave anything。 Simply fulfil your needs。
13
A man hopes to be successful and fears failure。 Why? Because he is someone important。 Neither hope nor fear can sway a master though。 Why? Because a master knows he is no one important。 Free from ideas of self…importance even life and death matter not。 Success and failure lose all meaning。 Here; how can hope and fear touch you? Seeing all things as equal you love all things as yourself。
14
The Tao cannot be seen; so don抰 look for it。 You can抰 hear it; so don抰 listen for it。 It is no…thing; so don抰 try to touch it。 Timeless and dimensionless; it cannot be named。 But all things are contained in it。 Subtle beyond understanding。 It is a beginningless and endless present。 Not trying to find it; you can be it。 Look; here you are!
15
All past masters of the Tao had deep penetration of the subtle。 This subtlety cannot be understood。 Therefore the masters seem mysterious。 All we can describe is their manner。 They took care with every action; Watched like a hawk; Respected all; Adapted to every situation; and were firm inside so their clarity was always evident。 Practice stilling the mind amidst everyday life; till it clears。 Remain unmoved till the movement comes of its own accord。
Don抰 try to fulfill the Tao; but remain empty。 Only by being empty can you be filled。
16
Empty the mind by not thinking of gain or loss。 Follow your heart in all matters and the mind isn抰 stirred。 Even though the misery of others is apparent; you contemplate their ultimate destiny。 That destiny is enlightenment。 Being one with the Tao is enlightenment。 Here you are serenely impartial。 Being someone is a delusion。 Here you are separate and confused。 Impartial; you shine on existence like the sun; caring not what or who you shine on。 At one with the Tao; birth and death cannot touch you。
17
The master of the Tao is the highest。 The next is the person who causes others to love him。 The next is the person who causes others to fear him。 The lowest is the person who causes others to despise him。 The master trusts in the Tao; therefore doesn抰 try to improve others。 Limited in his words; he lets his actions speak loudly。 Others begin following his actions and success comes naturally。
18
When people are separated from the Tao; they are taught to be kind and ethical。 Given intellectual knowledge they lose their intelligence。 They are trained to be obedient and polite to make them consistent。 Only by suppressing their individuality will they serve abstract concepts; such as a country。
19
Ideas of holiness and wisdom will hamper your progress。 Ideas of morality and justice cannot replace what is written on people抯 hearts。 The idea of profiting off others causes thieves to appear。 Since these three ideas are man made; they are not eternal。 Therefore they should be avoided。 Patient; compassionate; and desireless; you are in step with the Tao。
20
Without thinking; you cannot worry。 There is nothing good or bad。 You can neither succeed nor fail。 The master may still think of good or bad; but he is aware that it is a thought and simply watches it pass。 An ordinary man thinks of good or bad and believes it。 This is the difference between enlightenment and delusion。 Ordinary people try different hobbies in the pursuit of happiness。 The master drifts around doing nothing in particular; indifferent like a baby before it can smile。 Ordinary people have an identity。 The master has none。 Therefore he seems like an idiot。 Ordinary people try to shine outwardly through their achievements。 The master抯 achievements are not known by others。 The intentions of ordinary people are evident。 The master has no intentions。 Ordinary people know what to do。 The master doesn抰。 He drifts along like a cloud in the sky。 He is different from ordinary people。 He is nourished by the Tao。
21
The master has separated from mind; and the great virtuous Tao is。 The mind is like a foot。 If it follows that which is greater it is useful。 If it tries to lead of its own volition it will lead to disaster。 The Tao is beyond conception; so drop all ideas。 If you cling to anything it cannot provide nourishment。 Neither inside nor outside; the Tao is non…dual。 It can only be known by not knowing。
22
Separate yourself and become whole。 Yield and become firm。 Be empty so you can be filled。 Die so you can be reborn。 Lose everything you have; and have it all。 The master through the Tao sets and example for all。 He doesn抰 show off so his depth is evident。 Free from ambition; he can be trusted。 Having lost his identity; people can identify with him。 Never disagreeing; no one can disagree with him。 When the ancient masters said: 揝eparate yourself and become whole? they weren抰 doing so lightly。 Trust the masters and become whole。
23
To be limited in speech is natural。 Clouds may come; but when they pass the sun shines through。 Your words may come; but when they pass there is silence。 This is the natural way of the Tao。 When things come; let them。 When things pass; let them。 Following the natural flow you will embody the T