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04道德经英译本85种-第128节

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  Your true self gives; and claims no credit。
  Its work furthers all; without attaching to the results。
  It conceals its worth;
  Which is therefore felt by all。
  This is the way of complementarity。 
  The Tao Te Ching as a work of significant environmental awareness is again highlighted in this verse。 Lao Tzu uses the image of a bow that draws itself; without the need of arrows; to describe the operations of Nature: it continually adjusts and maintains its balance when it 〃draws off excess〃 to 〃provide for what is depleted。〃 This metaphor was copied; probably by a Confucian writer; into the Image of Hexagram 15; Modesty; of the I Ching:

  Thus the superior man reduces that which is too much;

  And augments that which is too little。 (Wilhelm/Baynes; p。 64)。

  However; Lao Tzu points out that there is no need for a 〃superior〃 or 〃cultivated〃 man to achieve this balance。 Indeed; fixed notions of superiority and inferiority; higher and lower; are certain to disrupt and distort the way of Nature。 All that is needed is the presence of the true self; unencumbered by false notions of superiority or acculturation。 Our natural being knows exactly how to accord with the cosmic principle of inner balance: simply allow the long and the short to complement and support one another; because they are truly equal。 For the bow is drawn; after all; with but one string。
  78

  Is there anything in all of Nature
  As adaptable and as shapeless as water?
  But for wearing down what抯 fixed and rigid;
  No power on earth can match it。
  Thus; it is unique。

  When an amorphous presence
  Meets adamantine resistance;
  The amorphous prevails。
  When the supple meets the obdurate;
  Suppleness prevails。

  There are none who can deny this;
  But no one seems able to live by it。

  Thus the Sage teaches that
  The humiliation of one抯 country
  Is not to be taken upon one抯 self;
  Nor are environmental disasters
  To be conquered as enemies。

  But we can; with subtle understanding;
  Communicate with them。

  79

  A great conflict; even when resolved;
  Leaves behind a bitter taste。
  How can the residue of enmity be cleansed?

  The teaching of the Sage is this:
  Hold not to your claim; but to your contract。
  Abandon entitlement and accept obligation。
  Trust in the virtues of the Cosmic Way:
  Disperse guilt and depart from blame。

  The Tao plays no favorites;
  But calls upon the inner truth of all。

  80

  Diminish the size of your inner nation;
  Let it become as small as is needed。

  Let its talents be manifold and diverse;
  But never used or displayed。
  Naturally treasure the life of your humanity;
  But do not let death pursue you。

  You have boats for sailing;
  Wagons for loading;
  But no need to guide them。

  You have weapons to attack and defend;
  Yet no need to bear them before others。

  In communicating with people;
  Return to the simplest means。

  Eat well; and enjoy it;
  Dress both for comfort and beauty。
  Nurture harmony in your dwelling space。
  Know the daily joy of simplicity。

  You will see and be seen by others:
  There may be crowing and barking among you;
  As between roosters and dogs。

  But you need not be trapped in this commerce;
  For to the end of your days; 
  You will be completely sufficient unto yourself。 
  Discovering the essence through discarding the excessive is a recurring theme in the Tao Te Ching; and it applies to both inner and outer government。 Chapter 48 pictured the growth of the natural personality as a process of diminishment and disburdening; which is contrasted with the commerce of ego…activity。 Here; in Chapter 80; a different set of metaphors for this process is presented。 Lao Tzu wants us to know not merely what Te is not; but what it is: what it feels like; how it manifests itself in society; and how entirely sufficient it is to the management of a natural life。

  The expression; Po chi抙 chi; here rendered as 〃Let your talents be manifold and diverse;〃 is often translated as 〃labor saving devices。〃 I was led to understand this expression as a metaphor for cleverness; or the agile use of the intellect。 Lao Tzu is saying that cleverness is not a quality to be demonized or despised; but rather to be transformed by placing it at the service of one's feeling nature; it is not to be put on display or used to humiliate or debase others。

  〃Wagons for loading〃 is another I Ching metaphor that Lao Tzu draws upon; it comes from Hexagram 14; line 2。 In The Oracle of the Cosmic Way text; this is found to be a metaphor for the Helper of Transformation。 (p。 206)梩hat is; a transformative energy that creates enduring change within a person or situation。

  〃There may be crowing and barking among you〃 refers to the activity of ego; both in conflict; self…display; and the egotistical commerce referred to in Chapter 48。 However; in this poem; Lao Tzu assures us that we have the inner wherewithal to recognize such error and go on without becoming trapped in its contentious snares。
  81

  Words that resonate may not be eloquent;
  But eloquence may never resonate。

  Pure being does not argue;
  Those who argue pervert pure being。

  Understanding is not scholarly;
  A scholar抯 way lacks understanding。

  The Sage does not hoard its teaching:
  The more it gives us;
  The more it is fulfilled。
  For giving is the way of true increase。

  The way of Tao is benevolent:
  It does not harm or punish。
  The Tao brings all things to completion;
  In the endless dance of its Harmony。  




 

  
English_Duyvendak_TTK
  Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
  Chinese … Dutch by
  Jan Julius Lodewijk Duyvendak
  Dutch … English by
  Unknown; 1954

  1

  The Way that may truly be regarded as the Way is other than a permanent way。
  The terms that may truly be regarded as terms are other than permanent terms。
  The term Non…being indicates the beginning of heaven and earth; the term Being indicates the mother of the ten thousand things。
  For; indeed; it is through the constant alteration between Non…being and Being that the wonder of the one and the limitation of the other will be seen。
  These two; having a common origin; are named with different terms。
  What they have in common is called the Mystery; The Mystery of Mysteries; the Gate of all Wonders。

  2

  Everybody in the world recognizes beauty as beauty; and thus ugliness (is known)。
  Everybody recognizes the good as good; and thus what is not good (is known)。
  For indeed:。
  Being and Non…being produce one another;。
  Hard and easy complete one another;。
  Long and short are relative to one another;。
  High and low depend on one another;。
  Tone and voice harmonize with one another;。
  First and last succeed one another。

  3

  Not exalting ability ensures that the people do not strive。
  Not prizing goods that are difficult to obtain ensures that the people do not become robbers。
  Not showing them what they might desire ensures that the people do not feel disturbed in their hearts。
  Therefore the Saint; in the exercise of government; empties their hearts and fills their bellies; weakens their wills and strengthens their bones; thus constantly ensuring that the people are without knowledge and without desires and that those who have knowledge dare not act。 He practices Non…action and consequently there is nothing that is not well governed。

  4

  The Way is like an empty vessel which; in spite of being used; is never filled。 How bottomless it is; like the progenitor of the ten thousand things! How deep it is; as if it will last forever!
  Generated by I know not what; it is the Image of what was before the 〃Emperors〃。

  5

  Heaven and earth are not humane: they treat the ten thousand things like (sacrificial) straw dogs。
  The Saints are not humane: they treat the people like (sacrificial) straw dogs。
  The space between heaven and earth; … how like a bellows it is! It is emptied without being exhausted。 It is put in motion and it brings forth more and more。
  A multiplicity of words is soon exhausted; better it is to preserve a middle course。

  6

  〃The valley spirit never dies〃; this refers to the dark female。
  〃The gate of the dark female〃; this refers to the root of heaven and earth。
  In fibrous ramifications it is ever present; its activity never ceases。

  7

  Heaven is longeval and earth is long lasting。 The reason why heaven and earth and longeval and long lasting is because they do not reproduce themselves; therefore they are able to be longeval and long lasting。
  That is why the Saint puts himself behind and yet he comes to the fore。 He puts himself outside and yet he is preserved。 Is it not because he is without personal preference that his personal preference is fulfilled?

  8

  The highest goodness is like water。 The goodness of water consists in benefiting the ten thousand things without ever str

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