04道德经英译本85种-第96章
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But death draws near the strong
The hard and stiff are bound to break
The supple bends and goes along
77
Nature's way of doing
Is like the bending of a bow
For pulling on a bow you see
The low go high and the high go low
Nature takes from those who have
And gives to those who lack
When nature takes from human beings
They fight to get it back
But if you see you have it all
You're not afraid to give away
Expecting nothing in return
It all comes back with no delay
78
Water is so very soft
It overcomes because it yields
By wearing down the hardest rock
It shows what power weakness wields
The weak can overcome the strong
The soft can overcome the hard
Everybody knows it's true
So hold the low in high regard
The seer sees serenity
Where others see affliction
The seer sees the inner truth
Where others only see a fiction
79
There's little good in making peace
If resentment lingers
You'll never see an end to blame
If everyone is pointing fingers
It's better to be pointing
At the peaceful and creative place
Where you see naught but emptiness
And others say they see your face
80
If a land is small and the people few
And the rulers recognize what's needed
The simple ways of courtesy
Are happily and gladly heeded
For people need so little
To live their lives aright
Are food and home and clothing
Not enough for pure delight?
Though nearby lands are close enough
To hear their roosters crow
The people will be so content
That not a one will want to go
81
Truth need not be eloquent
And eloquence may not be true
There is no need to argue
When truth is shining through
Those who see may not be learned
The learned may not see
To see you merely need to look
In pure simplicity
The seer doesn't have to hoard
And does not fear to lose
The more you give; the more you have
So why should you refuse?
Why not give it all away?
For emptiness brings benefit
And as the seers always say
The more you give; the more you get
English_Cleary_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Thomas Cleary; 1991
1
A way can be a guide; but not a fixed path; names can be given; but not permanent labels。
Nonbeing is called the beginning of heaven and earth; being is called the mother of all things。
Always passionless; thereby observe the subtle; ever intent; thereby observe the apparent。
These two come from the same source but differ in name;
both are considered mysteries。 The mystery of mysteries is the gateway of marvels。
2
When everyone knows beauty is beauty; this is bad。
When everyone knows good is good; this is not good。
So being and nonbeing produce each other: difficulty and ease complement each other; long and short shape each other;
high and low contrast with each other; voice and echoes conform to each other; before and after go along with each other。
So sages manage effortless service and carry out unspoken guidance。
All beings work; without exception: if they live without possessiveness;
act without presumption; and do not dwell on success; then by this very nondwelling success will not leave。
3
Not exalting cleverness causes the people not to contend。
Not putting high prices on hard…to…get goods causes the people not to steal。
Not seeing anything to want causes the mind not to be confused。
Therefore the government of sages empties the mind and fills the middle; weakens the ambition and strengthens the bones;
always keeping the people innocent and passionless。 It makes the sophisticated not dare to contrive;
action being without contrivance; nothing is disordered。
4
The Way is unimpeded harmony; its potential may never be fully exploited。
It is as deep as the source of all things;
it blunts the edges; resolves the complications; harmonizes the light; assimilates to the world。
Profoundly still; it seems to be there:
I don't know whose child it is; before the creation of images。
5
Heaven and earth are not humane; they regard all beings as straw dogs。
Sages are not humane; they see all people as straw dogs。。
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows and pipes; empty yet inexhaustible; producing more with each movement。
The talkative reach their wits' end again and again; that is not as good as keeping centered。
6
The valley spirit not dying is called the mysterious female。
The opening of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth。
Continuous; on the brink of existence; to put in into practice; don't try to force it。
7
Heaven is eternal; earth is everlasting。
The reason they can be eternal and everlasting is that they do not foster themselves; that is why they can live forever。
For this reason sages put themselves last; and they were first;
they excluded themselves; and they survived。
Was it not by their very selflessness that they managed to fulfill themselves?
8
Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all; and does so without contention。 It rests where people dislike to be; so it is close to the Way。
Where it dwells becomes good ground; profound is the good in its heart; benevolent the good it bestows。 Goodness in words is trustworthiness;
goodness in government is order; goodness in work is ability; goodness in action is timeliness。
But only by non…contention is there nothing extreme。
9
To keep on filling is not as good as stopping。
Calculated sharpness cannot be kept for long。
Though gold and jewels fill their house; no one can keep them。
When the rich upper classes are haughty; their legacy indicts them。
When one' work is accomplished honorably; to retire is the Way of heaven。
10
Carrying vitality and consciousness; embracing them as one; can you keep from parting?
Concentrating energy; making it supple; can you be like an infant?
Purifying hidden perception; can you make it flawless?
Loving the people; governing the nation; can you be uncontrived?
As the gate of heaven opens and closes; can you be impassive?
As understanding reaches everywhere; can you be innocent?
Producing and developing; producing without possessing; growing without domineering: this is called mysterious power。
11
Thirty spokes join at a hub: their use for the cart is where they are not。
When the potter's wheel makes a pot; the use of the pot is precisely where there is nothing。
When you open the doors and windows for a room; it is where there is nothing that they are useful to the room。
Therefore being is for benefit; nonbeing is for usefulness。
12
Colors blind people's eyes; sounds deafen their ears; flavors spoil people's palates;
the chase and the hunt craze people's minds; goods hard to obtain make people's actions harmful。
Therefore sages work for the middle and not the eyes; leaving the latter and taking the former。
13
Favor and disgrace seem alarming; high status greatly afflicts your person。
What are favor and disgrace? Favor is the lower: get it and you're surprised; lose it and you're startled。 This means favor and disgrace are alarming。
Why does high status greatly afflict your person? The reason we have a lot of trouble is that we have selves。 If we had no selves what troubles would we have?
Therefore those who embody nobility to act for the sake of the world seem to be able to draw the world to them; while those who embody love to act for the sake of the world seem to be worthy of the trust of the world。
14
What you don't see when you look is called the unobtrusive。 What you don't hear when you listen is called the rarefied。 What you don't get when you grasp is called the subtle。
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