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04道德经英译本85种-第544章

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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  There might be weapons enough; but no one would use them or displaythem
  All would regard fighting as a serious; unpleasant affair
  They might have boats and carriages enough; but no one would ride them
  All would be content with what they see and know
  There might be laws and contracts; but no one would write them
  All would pay their debts as they could; because no one would careif they didn't

  Such a land would delight in their food; their clothing; their traditions
  And feel safe and secure in their homes
  Though neighboring lands might be close enough that their songs areheard
  One could grow old without ever having the urge to visit them

  81

  It is one thing to speak elegantly and another to speak sincerely
  Knowledge and insight are different things
  The first accumulates fine distinctions; precise statements
  And the other; well; it sees all as essentially the same

  Whoever follows the way hoards nothing
  Life is too long a journey to carry excess weight
  He uses what he has for others
  And finds his spirit lighter and his heart enriched

  The tao sustains all without fear of exhaustion
  And virtue lies in letting it。  




 

  
English_Wu_TTK
  Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
  Chinese … English by
  John C。 H。 Wu

  1

  TAO can be talked about; but not the Eternal Tao。
  Names can be named; but not the Eternal Name。

  As the origin of heaven…and…earth; it is nameless:
  As 〃the Mother〃 of all things; it is nameable。

  So; as ever hidden; we should look at its inner essence:
  As always manifest; we should look at its outer aspects。

  These two flow from the same source; though differently named;
  And both are called mysteries。

  The Mystery of mysteries is the Door of all essence。

  2

  WHEN all the world recognises beauty as beauty; this in itself is ugliness。
  When all the world recognises good as good; this in itself is evil。

  Indeed; the hidden and the manifest give birth to each other。
  Difficult and easy complement each other。
  Long and short exhibit each other。
  High and low set measure to each other。
  Voice and sound harmonize each other。
  Back and front follow each other。

  Therefore; the Sage manages his affairs without ado;
  And spreads his teaching without talking。
  He denies nothing to the teeming things。
  He rears them; but lays no claim to them。
  He does his work; but sets no store by it。
  He accomplishes his task; but does not dwell upon it。

  And yet it is just because he does not dwell on it
  That nobody can ever take it away from him。

  3

  BY not exalting the talented you will cause the people to cease from rivalry and contention。
  By not prizing goods hard to get; you will cause the people to cease from robbing and stealing。
  By not displaying what is desirable; you will cause the people's hearts to remain undisturbed。

  Therefore; the Sage's way of governing begins by

  Emptying the heart of desires;
  Filling the belly with food;
  Weakening the ambitions;
  Toughening the bones。

  In this way he will cause the people to remain without knowledge and without desire; and prevent the knowing ones from any ado。
  Practice Non…Ado; and everything will be in order。

  4

  THE Tao is like an empty bowl;
  Which in being used can never be filled up。
  Fathomless; it seems to be the origin of all things。
  It blunts all sharp edges;
  It unties all tangles;
  It harmonizes all lights;
  It unites the world into one whole。
  Hidden in the deeps;
  Yet it seems to exist for ever。
  I do not know whose child it is;
  It seems to be the common ancestor of all; the father of things。

  5

  HEAVEN…and…Earth is not sentimental;
  It treats all things as straw…dogs。
  The Sage is not sentimental;
  He treats all his people as straw…dogs。

  Between Heaven and Earth;
  There seems to be a Bellows:
  It is empty; and yet it is inexhaustible;
  The more it works; the more comes out of it。
  No amount of words can fathom it:
  Better look for it within you。

  6

  THE Spirit of the Fountain dies not。
  It is called the Mysterious Feminine。
  The Doorway of the Mysterious Feminine
  Is called the Root of Heaven…and…Earth。

  Lingering like gossamer; it has only a hint of existence;
  And yet when you draw upon it; it is inexhaustible。

  7

  HEAVEN lasts long; and Earth abides。
  What is the secret of their durability?
  Is it not because they do not live for themselves
  That they can live so long?

  Therefore; the Sage wants to remain behind;
  But finds himself at the head of others;
  Reckons himself out;
  But finds himself safe and secure。
  Is it not because he is selfless
  That his Self is realised?

  8

  THE highest form of goodness is like water。
  Water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them。
  It stays in places loathed by all men。
  Therefore; it comes near the Tao。

  In choosing your dwelling; know how to keep to the ground。
  In cultivating your mind; know how to dive in the hidden deeps。
  In dealing with others; know how to be gentle and kind。
  In speaking; know how to keep your words。
  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 strive with others;
  You will be free from blame。

  9

  As for holding to fullness;
  Far better were it to stop in time!

  Keep on beating and sharpening a sword;
  And the edge cannot be preserved for long。

  Fill your house with gold and jade;
  And it can no longer be guarded。

  Set store by your riches and honour;
  And you will only reap a crop of calamities。

  Here is the Way of Heaven:
  When you have done your work; retire!

  10

  IN keeping the spirit and the vital soul together;
  Are you able to maintain their perfect harmony?
  In gathering your vital energy to attain suppleness;
  Have you reached the state of a new…bom babe?
  In washing and clearing your inner vision;
  Have you purified it of all dross?
  In loving your people and governing your state;
  Are you able to dispense with cleverness?
  In the opening and shutting of heaven's gate;
  Are you able to play the feminine part?
  Enlightened and seeing far into all directions;
  Can you at the same time remain detached and non…active?

  Rear your people!
  Feed your people!
  Rear them without claiming them for your own!
  Do your work without setting any store by it!
  Be a leader; not a butcher!
  This is called hidden Virtue。

  11

  THIRTY spokes converge upon a single hub;
  It is on the hole in the center that the use of the cart hinges。

  We make a vessel from a lump of clay;
  It is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful。

  We make doors and windows for a room;
  But it is these empty spaces that make the room livable。

  Thus; while the tangible has advantages;
  It is the intangible that makes it useful。

  12

  THE five colours blind the eye。
  The five tones deafen the ear。
  The five flavours cloy the palate。
  Racing and hunting madden the mind。
  Rare goods tempt men to do wrong。

  Therefore; the Sage takes care of the belly; not the eye。
  He prefers what is within to what is without。

  13

  〃WELCOME disgrace as a pleasant surprise。
  Prize calamities as your own body。〃

  Why should we 〃welcome disgrace as a pleasant surprise〃?
  Because a lowly state is a boon:
  Getting it is a pleasant surprise;
  And so is losing it!
  That is why we should 〃welcome disgrace as a pleasant surprise。〃

  Why should we 〃prize calamities as our own body〃?
  Because our body is the very source of our calamities。
  If we have no body; what calamities can we have?

  Hence; only he who

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