04道德经英译本85种-第53章

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　things　come；　let　them。　When　things　pass；　let　them。　Following　the　natural　flow　you　will　embody　the　Tao。　Virtue　can　be　experienced　by　the　virtuous。　Those　who　lose　the　natural　way　become　lost。　If　you　don抰　trust　in　your　natural　responses；　you　make　yourself　untrustworthy。

　　24

　　Strive　for　more；　and　you　lose　what　you　have。　Hurry　ahead　and　you　will　miss　something；　and　then　have　to　go　back。　Boast　of　achievements；　and　they　will　be　lost。　Define　who　you　are；　and　you　will　lose　your　true　self。　Try　to　control　others；　and　you　will　be　controlled　by　them。　These　traits　represent　wasted　energy　spent　on　the　ego。　The　master　has　long　done　away　with　them。

　　25

　　Before　the　universe　was　manifest　a　perfect　emptiness　abided。　It　is　eternally　still　and　silent；　but　creates　infinite　things。　Not　having　a　name；　I　call　it　the　Tao。　Being　indescribable；　I　call　it　great。　Infinite　things　constantly　flow　through　it；　never　ceasing。　The　Tao　is　great；　The　universe　is　great；　The　earth　is　great；　Man　is　great。　Man　must　follow　the　natural　laws　of　the　earth；　The　earth　must　follow　the　natural　laws　of　the　universe；　The　universe　must　follow　the　natural　laws　of　the　Tao；　The　Tao　simply　is。

　　26

　　Something　can　only　be　heavy　relative　to　something　lighter。　Movement　can　only　occur　relative　to　something　unmoved。　The　master　may　travel　all　day；　but　remains　motionless。　There　may　be　amazing　sights；　but　he　never　looks。　A　father　shouldn抰　act　the　fool；　and　ignore　the　needs　of　his　family。　If　you　take　your　responsibilities　lightly；　you　lose　the　basis　of　your　being。　If　you　fall　prey　to　restlessness　you　cannot　be　relaxed。

　　27

　　The　master　travels　the　natural　path；　which　has　no　destination；　and　on　which　no　tracks　can　be　left。　A　good　trader　follows　the　market　wherever　it　goes。　A　good　teacher　lets　the　students　guide　him。　A　master　is　present　for　all；　both　saints　and　sinners。　All　situations　are　used　and　nothing　is　dismissed。　This　is　called　spreading　the　light。　A　man；　who　considers　himself　good；　must　be　intimate　with　that　which　is　bad。　A　man；　who　considers　himself　bad；　must　know　the　good。　Therefore　the　master　sees　no　distinction　between　the　two。　For　this　reason　the　master　and　disciple　are　equal。

　　28

　　Know　how　to　be　assertive　but　remain　passive。　Be　receptive　towards　all　situations　and　you　will　be　in　accordance　with　them；　like　a　little　child。　Understanding　the　conditionality　of　opposites；　you　can　avoid　all　opposition。　Never　in　error；　you　are　virtuous。　People　are　bound　to　follow　such　and　example。　Know　the　personal；　but　keep　to　the　impersonal：　Accept　the　world　as　it　is。　If　you　accept　the　world　as　it　is　you　will　naturally　be　humble。　How　can　the　impersonal　be　arrogant？　In　this　way　the　master　is　like　a　block　of　wood；　which　can　be　carved　into　any　shape。

　　29

　　You　cannot　change　the　world；　only　yourself。　The　world　is　in　constant　natural　change；　how　could　you　add　to　it？　If　you　try　to　change　it　you　will　ruin　yourself。　If　you　treat　it　like　an　object；　you　objectify　yourself。　Simply　follow　the　natural　flow　of　the　changes：　Sometimes　lead；　Sometimes　follow；　Sometimes　move；　Sometimes　stop；　Sometimes　be　active；　Sometimes　be　at　rest；　Sometimes　be　safe；　Sometimes　be　in　danger。　The　master　knows　the　world　is　beyond　his　control；　so　lets　things　come　and　go　without　interfering。　He　is　like　a　blade　of　grass：　When　the　wind　blows　it　bends　with　it。　This　way　he　is　always　centered　and　keeps　his　energy。

　　30

　　A　father　who　trusts　in　the　Tao　doesn抰　force　his　children　to　do　anything；　and　doesn抰　discipline　them。　He　knows　this　would　be　against　the　natural　way　and　would　damage　the　children　as　well　as　himself。　The　master　knows　if　force　is　used　on　a　child；　weeds　will　grow　in　the　child抯　mind。　Achievements　may　be　apparent；　but　he　will　not　boast　or　take　pride　in　them。　He　knows　they　are　attributed　to　the　Tao；　and　no　claimant　exists。　From　here　he　simply　moves　on。　This　is　the　natural　way。

　　31

　　Weapons　generate　fear；　real　humans　loath　them。　Peace　is　the　highest　value。　If　it　has　been　destroyed；　utmost　restraint　is　needed　to　restore　it。　Your　enemies　are　people　as　well；　so　any　battle　is　entered　into　gravely。　Do　not　wish　them　personal　harm。　Do　not　rejoice　in　victory。　Who　would　rejoice　in　the　killing　of　men？　Conduct　a　war　as　you　would　a　funeral；　it　is　a　time　of　mourning。　Weep　for　your　enemy　as　you　would　for　your　friend。

　　32

　　The　Tao　is　not　big；　but　it　contains　all。　If　a　father　could　follow　the　Tao；　the　children　will　be　naturally　compliant。　Everything　will　be　in　perfect　accord；　and　life　will　be　sweet。　If　you　create　laws；　you　create　lawlessness。　If　you　trust　the　people　the　law　will　be　written　on　their　hearts。　When　you　name　something；　you　create　division。　Institutions　are　created　to　serve　a　common　purpose。　When　the　purpose　is　served　they　are　no　longer　needed。　Know　when　to　stop　to　avoid　conflicts。　Everything　flows　into　the　Tao；　as　all　rivers　flow　into　the　ocean。

　　33

　　With　intellect；　you　have　knowledge　of　others。　Enlightened　there　is　no　self。　With　force　you　can　master　others。　By　yielding　you　master　the　Tao。　In　striving　to　accumulate　wealth；　you　become　poor。　In　accepting　what　you　have；　you　become　rich。　Do　only　what　needs　to　be　done　and　relax。　If　you　accept　death；　you　will　live　in　eternity。

　　34

　　The　Tao　flows　constantly　like　a　river。　All　things　arise　in　it；　but　are　not　separate。　It　brings　about　the　natural　sequence　of　things；　but　makes　no　effort。　It　nourishes　the　whole　universe；　but　claims　no　reward。　Everything　relies　on　it；　but　it　does　not　rely　on　anything。　All　things　come　and　go；　but　it　alone　is；　that　is　its　greatness。　It　has　no　desire　to　be　great；　so　its　greatness　is　complete。

　　35

　　The　master　being　at　one　with　the　Tao　doesn抰　feel　threatened　when　in　danger。　Even　if　surrounded　by　misery　he　is　perfectly　peaceful。　People　are　excited　by　the　sound　of　music　or　the　taste　of　food。　But　they　find　words　which　try　to　point　out　the　Tao　flavourless。　If　you　try　to　look　for　it；　it　cannot　be　seen。　If　you　try　to　listen　for　it；　it　cannot　be　heard。　Experience　it；　and　it　never　ceases。

　　36

　　For　something　to　expand；　first　it　must　shrink。　To　strengthen　something；　first　it　must　be　weakened。　To　raise　something；　first　it　must　be　lowered。　To　receive　something；　first　you　must　give。　This　subtlety　can　be　seen　in　all　matters。　The　soft　overcomes　the　hard。　The　subtle　penetrates　the　obvious。　Keep　your　inner　development　a　secret；　and　the　results　will　be　clear。

　　37

　　The　Tao　never　does　anything；　yet　there　is　nothing　it　doesn抰　do。　If　a　father　instills　this　virtue　into　his　being；　the　children　will　be　transformed　by　themselves；　in　accordance　with　their　nature。　Following　their　nature；　their　contentment　is　total　and　no　desires　would　arise。　When　no　desire　arises；　bliss　and　tranquility　abide。

　　38

　　The　master　needs　no　satisfaction；　so　his　acts　are　always　pure。　An　ordinary　man　demands　satisfaction；　so　his　acts　are　always　tainted。　The　master　is　not　a　doer；　so　nothing　is　to　be　done。　An　ordinary　man　is　a　doer；　so　many　things　need　doing。　A　man　who　tries　to　do　the　right　thing　creates　more　problems。　A　man　who　tries　to　do　the　moral　thing　will　use　force。　If　people　can抰　act　naturally；　they　may　try　to　be　good。　If　they　can抰　be　good；　they　may　try　to　be　moral。　If　they　can抰　be　moral；　they　may　try　to　be　fair。　If　they　can抰　be　fair　they　will　conform。　Conformity　appears　to　be　politeness　and　sincerity；　but　is　really　the　realm　of　confusion　and　folly。　The　master　dwells　in　the　depths　of　reality。　He　considers　the　use　of　occult　powers　as　foolishness。　The　miracle　is　the　flower。　The　Tao　is　the　fruit。　Dwell　in　the　fruit；　for　nourishment　can　only　be　found　there。

　　39

　　The　Tao　is　not　separate　from　mind；　body　and　spirit。　But　mind；　body　and　spirit　can　separate　from　the　Tao。　A　clear　mind　and　you　are　as　open　as　the　sky。　A　healthy　body　and　you　are　as　vital　as　the　earth。　A　free　spirit　and　you　are　bound　to　nothing。　A　mind　which　is　divided　by　thoughts　lacks　clarity。　A　body　which　indulges　the　senses　becomes　ill。　A　spirit　which　is　chained　to　the　world　will　break。　The　master　serves　his　mind；　body　and　spirit　all　they　require；　and　asks　not　a　thing　in　return。　With　no　will　of　his　own；　the　Tao　leads　him　to　an　unknown　destination。　How　could　this　not　be　the　greate