04道德经英译本85种-第536章
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Therefore; those who maintain peace and harmony
acknowledge Infinity and remember their
oneness;
not because it is demanded;
but because it is the essence of
all things。
Infinity manifests all things;
rears them;
nurtures them;
clothes them;
feeds them;
protects them;
and comforts them。
Infinity manifests all things without possessing
them;
shows them the way without interfering;
assists them without taking credit。
This is the nature of Infinity。
52
Infinity is the mother of all things。
Remembering Infinity; one knows
the nature of children。
Knowing the nature of the children
keeps one focused on the oneness of
Infinity。
Remembering your oneness with Infinity
and the immortality of Infinity
overcomes the fear of death。
Contemplate Infinity;
accept all things without distinctions and
judgments;
and life will be peaceful and
harmonious。
Think about reality;
distinguish and judge all things;
and life degenerates into confusion。
Seeing differences is called distinguishing。
Remaining indifferent manifests peace and
harmony。
Understanding the nature of oneness
focuses one on Infinity
and away from the confusion of
misfortune。
This is called abiding in the constant。
53
If I possess just a bit of insight;
I will remember my oneness with Infinity;
and I will only be concerned that I may
become confused with distinctions and
judgment。
The path of Infinity is easy and peaceful。
But the majority of people cannot
help becoming confused in the manifestations
of the Infinite。
When rulers and leaders are confused
in pomp and circumstance;
the fields are overgrown with weeds
and the granaries are empty。
When leaders and rulers
wear extravagant clothing and manipulate the
law
while attending endless banquets
and accumulating wealth for
the sake of wealth;
they are confused and behave like
bandits and thieves。
This is not the path of peace and harmony。
54
The essence of Infinity can be ignored but never
uprooted。
If it is acknowledged; it cannot be lost
and it will manifest peace and harmony
from parents to children forever。
Acknowledge it in yourself
and peace and harmony will become real。
Acknowledge it in your family
and peace and harmony will grow。
Acknowledge it in your town
and peace and harmony will influence your
teachers。
Acknowledge it in your nation
and peace and harmony will displace war。
Acknowledge it in the universe
and peace and harmony will be everywhere。
Therefore;
see others as yourself;
see other families as your family;
see other towns as your town;
see other nations as your nation;
see the universe as a manifestation
of the Infinite。
How do I know this is the way things are?
Because I am at one with Infinity。
55
A person who flows in peace and harmony
is like a newborn baby。
Poisonous insects and reptiles do not sting or
bite it。
Wild animals do not stalk it。
Raptors do not attack it。
Its bones are soft and it muscles are weak
yet its grip is secure。
It is not aware of male and female
yet its genitals are aroused。
Its oneness is perfect。
It screams all day without becoming hoarse。
This is the perfection of harmony。
Knowing harmony is acknowledging
the oneness of Infinity。
Knowing the oneness of Infinity is the
experience of peace。
Manipulating one's life force results in confusion。
Controlling the breath interrupts the harmony of
the body。
Increasing the natural pace of life creates
exhaustion
and is therefore not the path of harmony。
Anything that remains out of harmony is short
lived。
56
Those who know have no need to speak。
Those who speak are searching for peace and
harmony。
Do not speak。
Ignore your senses。
Blunt your sharpness。
Unravel your knots。
Dim your light。
Become one with all things。
This is the primal essence。
Those who flow in the peace and harmony of Infinity
make no distinctions。
They are therefore indifferent to friend and foe;
to good and bad; to honor and infamy。
This is the natural state of human beings。
57
Govern a nation with fairness。
In war do the unexpected。
Lead the nation by becoming one with it。
Why do I say this?
Because:
The more rules and regulations;
the more oppressed the citizens。
The more energy used to develop weapons;
the more tension in the land。
The more clever and manipulative the leaders
become;
the more agitated and unpredictable
the population。
The more religious morals and restrictions;
the more depression and self…hatred
manifests。
Therefore;
when the ruler is at one with the population
she says:
I take no action and the citizens
govern themselves。
I flow in peace and harmony
and the people follow in my footsteps。
I refuse to manipulate and control
and the population becomes predictable。
I ignore religion
and tolerance replaces judgment。
58
When the country is ruled with indifference;
the people flow in peace and harmony。
When the country is ruled with purpose;
the people become tense and circumvent the
law。
When distinctions are made;
good fortune is the harbinger of disaster
and adversity is the foundation of
prosperity。
The only known is change and the limits of
change are unpredictable。
Because everything changes; nothing seems real。
The reliable becomes questionable
and the questionable becomes familiar。
The confusion created by distinctions
is ever present。
Therefore the sage is:
upright but not judgmental;
to the point but not arrogant;
straightforward but not offensive;
is a light but not blinding。
59
In leading people and manifesting Infinity;
there is nothing as essential as
indifference。
Refusing to distinguish the self is the crucial
requirement
of indifference。
Indifference is the product of maintaining one's
focus
on the oneness of all things。
If you are at one with Infinity and the potential
of all things;
then you have no limitations。
If one has no limitations;
she is qualified to rule the world。
If she is at one with the world;
and consequently indifferent;
she will endure。
This is the manifestation of deep roots and a firm
foundation;
a oneness with Infinity;
immortality and perfect vision。
60
Ruling a country is like cooking a small fish。
If you forget your oneness with the fish;
you become confused in what you are
doing。
See the world as one with Infinity
and evil will be impotent。
Not that evil does not exist;
but because it is not distinguished
people harmonize with it。
If all of humanity is in harmony with the
oneness of Infinity;
not only will evil not confuse the people;
the sage himself will not confuse the people。
They will not confuse each other
and the oneness in each will harmonize
both。
61
The great nation is like the ocean;
at one with Infinity;
it receives all waters in peace and harmony。
The female integrates the male
by residing in peace and harmony。
Therefore; if the great nation does not
distinguish
the small nation as separate from itself;
it will integrate the smaller nation
into its oneness。
If a small nation does not distinguish itself as
different from
from the great nation;
it will incorporate the peace and
harmony
of the great nation。
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