《04道德经英译本85种》

下载本书

添加书签

04道德经英译本85种- 第409部分


按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!

  53

  If Ego had even the slightest knowledge of traveling the Path;
  it's only 'fear' would be of going 'astray。'
  The Path is quite level; but Egos LOVE mountain trails!

  The court may be thoroughly deserted;
  the fields all choked with weeds;
  the granaries; totally empty;

  YET there may still be some who wear bright; fancy clothing;
  sharp swords hanging at their sides;
  they walk around gorged with food
  and overflowing with possessions and wealth:

  This is BRAZEN BANDITRY。
  This is surely NOT the Path!

  54

  What is firmly established cannot be uprooted;
  what is tightly embraced cannot slip away。

  Thus; the prayers of sons and grandsons will never end!

  Cultivated in the person; DEI is true。
  Cultivated in the family; DEI is ample。
  Cultivated in the village; DEI lasts long。
  Cultivated in the state; DEI is abundant。
  Cultivated everywhere under heaven; DEI is vast。

  Observe other people through your own person。
  Observe other families through your own family。
  Observe other villages through your own village。
  Observe other states through your own state。
  Observe all under heaven through all of these。

  How do I know the nature of all under heaven??By LOOKING!

  55

  One who fully embodies DEI is like a ruddy infant。

  Wasps; spiders; scorpions and snakes
  do not sting or bite them;
  Rapacious birds and fierce beasts
  do not seize them。

  Their bones are weak and their sinews; soft
  yet their grip is tight。
  They have not known the joining of male and female;
  yet they are sexually aroused!
  Their Libido is at it's peak。

  They can scream all day long without becoming hoarse;
  Their harmony has reached it's perfection。

  Striving to increase one's life is ominous;
  to control one's vital breath with the mind entails force。

  Something that grows old in it's prime
  is said to not be in accord with the Path。
  Not being in accord with the Path leads to an early demise。

  56

  One who knows does not label with words;
  one who labels with words does not really know。

  ONE WHO
  quiets the portals of their heart;
  stops beckoning from that door;
  diffuses their light;
  mingles with dust;
  files away their sharp edges and
  unravels their tangles

  HAS 〃MYSTICAL SELF…IDENTITY。〃

  Because of it;
  neither can one be fully 'intimate' with them
  nor can one remain distant from them;
  neither can one profit from them
  nor can one be harmed by them;
  neither can one achieve honor though them
  nor can one be dishonored through them。

  Because of this; they are esteemed by all under heaven。

  57

  Rule your state with uprightness;
  deploy your troops with craft;
  gain all under heaven through noninterference。

  How do I actually KNOW this is right?

  WELL;

  the more 'taboos' or prohibitions under heaven
  the poorer the people are。
  The more clever the devices the people have
  the more confused the state and the ruling house。
  The more scientific knowledge there is
  the stranger the anomalies that spring up。
  The more laws there are in the land
  the more bandits and thieves。

  Therefore; Sages say:
  〃I Do Nothing Much Personally
  yet the people transform themselves。
  I am fond of stillness
  yet the people correct their own ways。
  I do not interfere in affairs
  yet the people enrich themselves。
  I desire not to 'desire' it
  yet the people of their own accord
  are become as simple as un…hewn logs。〃

  58

  When a society is composed of free; self…governing individuals;
  the people are honest;
  when there is a 'legalistic' government 'ruling' the people;
  a true society is lacking。

  Disaster brings…forth the best in people; and new innovations;
  having more than one's own share is that wherein Disaster lurks!
  Who knows where this will end?!

  When there is no uprightness;
  correctness reverts to craftiness;
  goodness reverts to the gruesome。

  The delusion of mankind;
  how LONG has been it's Reign!

  For this reason; be:

  Solid but not abrasive;
  Pointed but not agressive;
  Right…On but not arrogant;
  Bright but not dazzling。

  59

  To organize mankind and serve heaven;
  there is nothing like 'thrift!'

  Now; only through thriftiness
  can one be prepared;
  being prepared
  means having a large store of DEI。
  With a large store of DEI
  one can overcome anything。
  Being able to overcome anything;
  爊o one knows your limits!
  If no one knows what you are capable of;
  you may have your Kingdom。
  Being the Mother of a Kingdom;
  one can long endure。

  This is called 〃planting your roots firm and deep;
  the Path of long life and lasting vision。〃

  60

  Properly ruling a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish。

  If one oversees all under heaven in partnership with THOU;
  'monsters' do not exist。
  Not only that; but
  their 'existance' could not harm anyone!
  Not only could they not harm anyone;
  but the ruling Sage does them no harm either。

  Now; when neither scorches the other;
  merit in nourished in both: (and the fish is DONE!)

  61

  A large state is like a great river valley;
  the Mother of all under heaven。
  In the union of all under heaven
  she conquers her ravisher by stillness。
  Because she is still;
  it is fitting for her to lie low。

  By lying beneath a small state;
  a large state can take over the smaller。
  By lying beneath a large state;
  a smaller one can take over the larger state。

  Therefore; one may either take over or be taken over; by lying low。

  Thus; a large state wishes only to annex and nurture others;
  a small state wishes only to join…with and serve others。
  Now; since both get what they seek;
  it is fitting for the larger state to lie low。

  62

  The Path is the Alembic of the myriad creatures;
  it is the treasure of the good person;
  and that which is treasured BY the 'bad。'

  Beautiful words can be traded;
  Noble deeds can be used as gifts of honor。
  Why should we reject even the 'bad' others offer us?!

  Therefore; when a Child Of Heaven is enthroned;
  or a Triune Ministry installed;
  although they may have large and valuable ornaments
  and be preceded by teams of four horses;
  it would be better for them to sit down
  and make progress in THIS!

  Why did the ancients value THIS so highly?
  Did they not say;
  〃Seek and ye shall find;
  Repent and thou shalt be forgiven〃?

  Therefore THIS is valued by all under heaven。

  63

  Act by Doing Nothing Much Personal;
  handle affairs through noninterference。
  Taste what has no flavor;
  regard the small as great; the few as many。
  Repay resentment with DEI…ty's virtues。

  Undertake difficult tasks
  by appreciating what is easy about them。
  Do great deeds
  by focusing on their little details。

  All difficulties under heaven arise from what is simple;
  all great things under heaven depend upon little details。

  Thus; Sages never strive to do what is great;
  therefore they can achieve greatness。

  One who lightly agrees
  is seldom believed;
  One who thinks everything is going to be easy
  encounters many problems!

  Consequently; even Sages consider things difficult;
  and thus; find them easier than they thought; in the end。

  64

  What is secure is easily grasped;
  what has no omens is easily forestalled;
  what is brittle is easily split;
  what is diffuse is easily dispersed。

  Act before need arises;
  Bring order before disorder begins。

  A tree you could barely wrap your arms around
  began as a downy shoot;
  A terrace nine layers tall
  began with a single basketful of earth;
  An ascent of a hundred steps
  begins beneath one's foot。

  Who 'acts' fails。
  Who grasps…on loses。
  Sages do not 'act'
  therefore they do not fail;
  they do not grasp…on
  and therefore they do not lose。

  In pursuing their affairs;
  people often fail when close to success。
  Therefore; if one is cautious at both end and beginning;
  there will be no failures。

  Thus Sages desire to be free of avarice;
  and do not prize goods that are hard to come by。
  They learn not to be 'learned'
  and return to what others leave behind。

  Thus they can help the myriad creatures to be natural;
  for they dare not 'act!'

  65

  The ancients who walked the Path
  did not seek to enlighten people with it;
  they used it; rather; to relax them。

  The people are hard to 'rule' if they are too 'sophisticated。'
  Therefore; ruling a state through 'information' actually weakens thestate;
  ruling a state through natural simplicity brings DEI…ty into the state。

  One who is always mindful of these two types grasps a great paradigm;
  mindfulness of this paradigm is 〃mystical virtue。〃

  Deep and far runs this Mystical Virtue!
  It runs counter to worldly things。。?until they reach the greatSea!

  66

  The River and the Sea can be Kings
  over a hundred valley…streams
  because they are good at lying below them。

  If Sages want to be be over the people; in teachings;
  they must put themselves beneath them。
  If one wishes to lead the people;
  one must stand behind them。

  Thus; one may lead the people without offending them;
  one may oversee the people with one's teachings without burdening them;
  everyone will happily push one forward without tiring of one's example;
  and is this not because one is free of competition?

  Because one does not compete with the people; none can oppose you。

  67

  Everybody say I am great;
  great but 'quirky。'

  Now; precisely because I am 'quirky' I can BE great;
  were I 'c
小提示:按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目,按 ← 键 返回上一页, 按 → 键 进入下一页。 赞一下 添加书签加入书架