04道德经英译本85种-第187节

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　　47

　　The　wise　leader　knows　what　is　happening　in　a　group　by　being　aware　of　what　is　happening　here　and　now。　This　is　more　potent　than　wandering　off　into　various　theories　or　making　complex　interpretations　of　the　situation　at　hand。
　　Stillness；　clarity；　and　consciousness　are　more　immediate　than　any　number　of　expeditions　into　the　distant　lands　of　one's　mind。
　　Such　expeditions；　however　stimulating；　distract　both　the　leader　and　the　group　members　from　what　is　actually　happening。
　　By　staying　present　and　aware　of　what　is　happening；　the　leader　can　do　less　yet　achieve　more。

　　48

　　Beginners　acquire　new　theories　and　techniques　until　their　minds　are　cluttered　with　options。
　　Advanced　students　forget　their　many　options。　They　allow　the　theories　and　techniques　that　they　have　learned　to　recede　into　the　background。
　　Learn　to　unclutter　your　mind。　Learn　to　simplify　your　work。
　　As　you　rely　less　and　less　on　knowing　just　what　to　do；　your　work　will　become　more　direct　and　more　powerful。　You　will　discover　that　the　quality　of　your　consciousness　is　more　potent　than　any　technique　or　theory　or　interpretation。
　　Learn　how　to　be　fruitful　the　blocked　group　or　individual　suddenly　becomes　when　you　give　up　trying　to　do　just　the　right　thing。

　　49

　　The　wise　leader　does　not　impose　a　personal　agenda　or　value　system　on　the　group。
　　The　leader　follows　the　group's　lead　and　is　open　to　whatever　emerges。　The　leader　judges　no　one　and　is　attentive　to　both　'good'　and　'bad'　people。　It　does　not　even　matter　whether　a　person　is　telling　the　truth　or　lying。
　　Being　open　and　attentive　is　more　effective　than　being　judgmental。　This　is　because　people　naturally　tend　to　be　good　and　truthful　when　they　are　being　received　in　a　good　and　truthful　manner。
　　Perhaps　the　leader　seems　na飗e　and　childlike　in　this　uncritical　openness　to　whatever　emerges。　But　openness　is　simply　more　potent　than　any　system　of　judgements　ever　devised。

　　50

　　Existence　consists　of　both　life　and　death。　Favouring　either　life　or　death　denies　existence　and　creates　tension。　Tension　causes　people　to　make　mistakes　in　critical　situations。　Mistakes　are　far　more　deadly　than　existence　itself。
　　Thirty　percent　of　the　people　love　life　and　fear　death。
　　Another　thirty　percent　prefer　death　and　avoid　life。
　　Another　thirty　percent　fear　both　life　and　death。
　　Ninety　percent　of　the　people　suffer　the　tension　that　comes　from　the　tension　that　comes　from　ignorance　of　how　polarities　work。　Even　though　life　and　death　are　opposites；　they　are　inseparable。　Preferences　are　futile。
　　Only　ten　percent　have　the　wisdom　to　accept　both　life　and　death　as　facts　and　simply　enjoy　the　dance　of　existence。　After　all；　growth　and　decay　are　everywhere；　all　the　time。
　　The　wise　leader　knows　that　everything　comes　and　goes。　So　why　grasp　or　cling？　Why　worry　or　cringe？　Why　live　in　a　fantasy　of　what　might　happen？
　　The　ferocious　dog　bites　the　excited　person。　The　conscious　and　centered　person　walks　by　unharmed。
　　The　wise　leader　exists　without　either　loving　death　or　fearing　death。　This　freedom　keeps　the　leader　safe　from　harm。

　　51

　　Everything；　every　behaviour；　is　a　vibratory　pattern　or　process。　Such　process　emerges；　develops；　and　decays；　according　to　the　single　principle。
　　People　have　a　natural　reverence　for　the　principle；　and　they　naturally　love　the　vibratory　energy　which　obeys　the　principle。
　　The　vibratory　energy　and　the　principle　make　a　partnership；　which　produces　an　infinite　variety　of　forms。　But　the　partnership　takes　no　profit　from　its　productivity。　Neither　does　it　get　its　power　by　making　things　happen　in　a　coercive　manner。　There　are　simply　no　alternatives；　there　is　no　other　way。
　　This　partnership　between　principle　and　process　is　the　first　fact　of　life　and　of　our　work。

　　52

　　All　creation　consists　of　polarities。　The　fundamental　polarity　of　creation　is　called　Plus/Minus。　Yin/Yang；　or　Feminine/Masculine。
　　This　fundamental　polarity　is　self…impregnating。　It　is　an　androgynous　womb　which　produces　everything。
　　Everything　includes　me。　I　am　a　process　consisting　of　polarities；　which　develop　according　to　the　single　principle。　I　am　a　child　of　God。　I　come　from　the　womb　of　creation。
　　This　knowledge　gives　me　stability。
　　If　I　were　to　put　my　faith　in　some　thing　or　person　or　creed；　I　would　have　no　stability。　People　and　things　and　creeds　come　and　go　and　change　all　the　time。　I　would　live　in　fear　that　the　thing　I　adore　would　be　lost；　or　the　person　I　obeyed　would　die；　or　the　creed　I　followed　would　be　altered。
　　So　my　only　allegiance　is　to　the　single　principle。
　　I　can　look　at　a　person　and　see　both　principle　and　process　in　them。　I　can　see　how　they　work。　I　can　see　them　actually　working。　That　is　the　basis　of　my　ability　as　a　group　leader。
　　From　knowing　how　things　work；　I　also　know　the　importance　of　staying　flexible。　Everything　that　grows　is　flexible。　All　enduring　strength　is　flexible。
　　I　know　too　that　my　allegiance　to　principle　and　process　means　that　I　am　not　afraid　of　dying。　I　have　nothing　to　lose。　I　know　that　I　am　an　aspect　of　the　Eternal。　My　home　is　the　womb　of　creation。　Dying　is　going　home。

　　53

　　The　wise　leader　leads　a　quiet　and　meditative　life。　But　most　people　are　busy　getting　as　many　possessions　as　they　can。
　　The　quiet　path　leads　toward　a　more　conscious　existence。　The　busy　path　creates　an　exaggerated　materialism。
　　Becoming　more　conscious　leads　toward　God　and　a　sense　of　the　unity　of　all　creation。　But　excessive　consumption　is　only　possible　by　exploiting　someone。
　　The　world's　goods　are　unevenly　distributed。　Some　have　a　great　deal。　Most　have　very　little。　We　are　running　out　of　enough　resources　to　go　around。　Everyone　knows　that。
　　Yet　those　who　are　already　encumbered　by　possessions　get　more　and　more。　They　even　brag　about　how　much　they　have。　Don't　they　know　what　stealing　is？
　　Owning　lots　of　possessions　does　not　come　from　God。　People　get　it　by　manipulating　other　people。

　　54

　　Do　you　want　to　be　a　positive　influence　in　the　world？　First；　get　your　own　life　in　order。　Ground　yourself　in　the　single　principle　so　that　your　behaviour　is　wholesome　and　effective。　If　you　do　that；　you　will　earn　respect　and　be　a　powerful　influence。
　　Your　behaviour　influences　others　through　a　ripple　effect。　A　ripple　effect　works　because　everyone　influences　everyone　else。　Powerful　people　are　powerful　influences。
　　If　your　life　works；　you　influence　your　family。
　　If　your　family　works；　your　family　influences　the　community。
　　If　your　community　works；　your　community　influences　the　nation。
　　If　your　nation　works；　your　nation　influences　the　world。
　　If　your　world　works；　the　ripple　effect　spreads　throughout　the　cosmos。
　　Remember　that　your　influence　begins　with　you　and　ripples　outward。　So　be　sure　that　your　influence　is　both　potent　and　wholesome。
　　How　do　I　know　all　this　works？
　　All　growth　spreads　outward　from　a　fertile　and　potent　nucleus。　You　are　a　nucleus。

　　55

　　People　who　surrender　all　their　blocks　and　conflicts　experience　a　free　flow　of　vital　energy。
　　They　look　as　radiant　as　a　baby；　and　they　employ　a　childlike　immunity　to　injury。　Bugs　don't　bite　them。　Dogs　don't　attack　them。　Trouble…makers　leave　them　alone。
　　Their　bodies　seem　relaxed　and　pliant；　but　their　stamina　and　strength　are　remarkable。　They　are　sexually　moving　without　being　overly　erotic。　They　can　sing　or　even　yell　for　a　long　time　and　never　get　hoarse。
　　It　is　as　if　they　were　newly　in　love；　not　with　one　person；　but　with　all　creation；　and　their　energies　are　as　abundant　as　all　creation。
　　It　is　a　mistake　to　confuse　excitement　or　arousal　with　the　vital　flow　of　enlightenment。　Stimulants　and　emotional　adventures　arouse　people；　but　such　arousal　does　not　enhance　one's　energies。　On　the　contrary；　excitement　spends　energy　and　exhausts　vitality。
　　Think　of　excitement　as　tension　that　comes　when　stimulation　meets　resistance。　The　exciting　experience　ends　when　the　stimulation　stops　or　when　a　person　wears　out。
　　But　the　vitality　of　enlightenment　is　a　continuous　flow。　It　meets　no　resistance　and　goes　on　and　on　without　stress。
　　Excitement　is　rooted　in　passing　desires。　Vital　energy　springs　from　the　eternal。

　　56

　　The　wise　leader　knows　that　the　true　nature　of　events　cannot　be　captured　in　words。　So　why　pretend？
　　Confusing　jargon　is　one　sure　sign　of　a　leader　who　does　not　know　how　things　happen。
　　But　what　cannot　be　said　can　be　demonstrated：　be　silent；　be　conscious。　Consciousness　works。　It　sheds　light　on　what　in　happening。　It　clarifies　conflicts　and　harmonizes　the　agitated　individual　or　group　field。
　　The　leader　also　knows　that　all　existence　is　a　single　whole。　Therefore；　the　leader　is　a　neutral　observer　who　takes　no　sides。
　　The　leader　cannot　be　seduced　by　offers　or　threats。　Money；　love；　or　fame　…　whether　gained　or　lost　…　do　not　sway　the　leader　from　center。
　　The　leader's　integrity　is　not　idealistic。　It　rests　on　a　pragmatic　knowledge　of　how　things　work。

　　57

　　Run　an　honest；　open　group。　Your　job　is　to　facilitate　and　illuminate　what　is　happening。　Interfere　as　little　as　possible。　Interference；　however　brilliant；　creates　a　dependency　on　the　leader。
　　The　fewer　the　rules　the　better。　Rules　reduce　freedom　and　res