04道德经英译本85种-第188节

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　　The　fewer　the　rules　the　better。　Rules　reduce　freedom　and　responsibility。　Enforcement　of　rules　is　coercive　and　manipulative；　which　diminishes　spontaneity　and　absorbs　group　energy。
　　The　more　coercive　you　are；　the　more　resistant　the　group　will　become。　Your　manipulations　will　only　breed　evasions。　Every　law　creates　an　outlaw。　This　is　no　way　to　run　a　group。
　　The　wise　leader　establishes　a　clear　and　wholesome　climate　in　the　group　room。　In　the　light　of　awareness；　the　group　naturally　acts　in　a　wholesome　manner。
　　When　the　leader　practices　silence；　the　group　remains　focused。　When　the　leader　does　not　impose　rules；　the　group　discovers　its　own　goodness。　When　the　leader　acts　unselfishly；　the　group　simply　does　what　is　to　be　done。
　　Good　leadership　consists　of　doing　less　and　being　more。

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　　Group　process　evolves　naturally。　It　is　self…regulating。　Do　not　interfere。　It　will　work　itself　out。
　　Efforts　to　control　process　usually　fail。　Either　they　block　process　or　make　it　chaotic。
　　Learn　to　trust　what　is　happening。　If　there　is　silence；　let　it　grow；　something　will　emerge。　If　there　is　a　storm；　let　it　rage；　it　will　resolve　into　calm。
　　Is　the　group　discontented？　You　can't　make　it　happy。　Even　if　you　could；　your　efforts　might　well　deprive　the　group　of　a　very　creative　struggle。
　　The　wise　leader　knows　how　to　facilitate　the　unfolding　group　process；　because　the　leader　is　also　a　process。　The　group's　process　and　the　leader's　process　unfold　in　the　same　way；　according　to　the　same　principle。
　　The　leader　knows　how　to　have　a　profound　influence　without　making　things　happen。
　　For　example；　facilitating　what　is　happening　is　more　potent　than　pushing　for　what　you　wish　were　happening。　Demonstrating　or　modeling　behaviour　is　more　potent　than　imposing　morality。　Unbiased　positions　are　stronger　than　prejudice。　Radiance　encourages　people；　but　outshining　everyone　else　inhibits　them。

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　　Whether　you　are　leading　a　group　or　going　about　your　daily　life；　you　need　to　be　conscious。　You　need　to　be　aware　of　what　is　happening　and　how　things　happen。　If　you　are　aware　of　what　is　happening　and　how　things　happen；　you　can　act　accordingly。　You　can　stay　clear　of　trouble；　and　be　both　vital　and　effective。
　　Remember　that　you　too　are　a　natural　process。　Being　aware　of　how　things　happen　includes　being　aware　of　yourself。　Your　life　unfolds　according　to　the　same　principle　that　governs　every　other　unfolding。　You　are　rooted　in　the　common　ground　of　all　creation。
　　Being　like　everything　else　means　that　you　are　ordinary。　But　consciously　knowing　that　you　are　like　everything　else　is　extraordinary。　And　knowing　how　that　universality　works　and　having　the　sense　to　act　accordingly　is　the　source　of　your　power；　your　endurance；　and　your　excellence。
　　Consciousness　or　awareness；　then；　is　the　source　of　your　ability。　Learn　to　become　increasingly　conscious。

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　　Run　the　group　delicately；　as　if　you　were　cooking　small　fish。
　　As　much　as　possible；　allow　the　group　process　to　emerge　naturally。　Resist　any　temptation　to　instigate　issues　or　elicit　emotions　which　have　not　appeared　on　their　own。
　　If　you　stir　things　up；　you　will　release　forces　before　their　time　and　under　unwarranted　pressure。　They　may　be　emotions　that　belong　to　other　people　or　places。　They　may　be　unspecific　or　chaotic　energies；　which　in　response　to　your　pressure；　strike　out　and　hit　any　available　target。
　　These　forces　are　real　and　exist　within　the　group。　But　do　not　push。　Allow　them　to　come　out　when　they　are　ready。
　　When　hidden　issues　and　emotions　emerge　naturally；　they　resolve　themselves　naturally。　They　are　not　harmful。　In　fact；　they　are　no　different　from　any　other　thoughts　or　feelings。
　　All　energies　naturally　arise；　take　form；　grow　strong；　come　to　a　new　resolution；　and　finally　pass　away。

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　　It　is　a　mistake　to　believe　that　a　great　leader　is　above　others。　Paradoxically；　greatness　comes　from　knowing　how　to　be　lowly　and　empty　and　receptive　and　of　service。
　　Imagine　that　the　life　force　is　like　water　in　the　river　and　in　the　sea。　The　sea；　greater　than　the　river；　lies　below；　open　and　receptive。　The　busy；　rushing　river　enters　the　sea；　is　absorbed；　and　is　transformed。
　　Or　imagine　that　the　leader　is　the　feminine；　lying　below　and　open；　empty；　and　receptive。　The　feminine　receives　the　masculine　and　absorbs　the　masculine　vibration。　Soon　the　feminine　has　encompassed　the　masculine；　the　masculine　has　spent　itself；　become　soft　and　resolved。
　　The　wise　leader　is　of　service：　receptive；　yielding；　following。　The　group　member's　vibrations　dominates　and　leads；　while　the　leader　follows。　But　soon　it　is　the　member's　consciousness　which　is　transformed；　the　member's　vibration　which　is　resolved
　　The　relationship　is　reciprocal。　It　is　the　job　of　the　leader　to　be　aware　of　the　group　member's　process；　it　is　the　need　of　the　group　member　to　be　received　and　paid　attention　to。
　　Both　get　what　they　need；　if　the　leader　has　the　wisdom　to　serve　and　follow；　to　be　open　and　below。

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　　A　person　does　not　have　to　join　a　group　or　be　a　wise　leader　to　work　things　out。　Life's　process　unfolds　naturally。　Conflicts　resolve　themselves　sooner　or　later；　whether　or　not　a　person　knows　how　things　happen。
　　It　is　true　that　being　aware　of　how　things　happen　makes　one's　words　more　potent　and　one's　behaviour　more　effective。
　　But　even　without　the　light　of　consciousness；　people　grow　and　improve。　Being　unconscious　is　not　a　crime；　it　is　merely　a　lack　of　a　very　helpful　ability。
　　Knowing　how　things　work　gives　the　leader　more　real　power　and　ability　than　all　the　degrees　or　titles　the　world　can　offer。
　　That　is　why　people　in　every　era　and　in　every　culture　have　honoured　those　who　know　how　things　happen。

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　　The　wise　leader　knows　how　to　act　effectively。
　　To　act　effectively；　be　aware　and　unbiased。　If　you　are　aware；　you　will　know　what　is　happening；　you　will　not　act　rashly。　If　you　are　unbiased；　you　can　react　in　a　balanced　and　centered　manner。
　　Have　respect　for　every　person　and　every　issue　directed　at　you。　Do　not　dismiss　any　encounter　as　insignificant。　But　neither　should　you　become　anxious　or　afraid　of　being　overwhelmed　or　embarrassed。
　　If　you　are　attacked　or　criticized；　react　in　a　way　that　will　shed　light　on　the　event。　This　is　a　matter　of　being　centered　and　of　knowing　that　an　encounter　is　a　dance　and　not　a　threat　to　your　ego　or　existence。　Tell　the　truth。
　　If　you　are　conscious　of　what　is　happening　in　a　group；　you　will　recognize　emerging　situations　long　before　they　have　gotten　out　of　hand。　Every　situation；　no　matter　how　vast　or　complex　it　may　become；　begins　both　small　and　simple。
　　Neither　avoid　nor　seek　encounters；　but　be　open　and　when　an　encounter　arises；　respond　to　it　while　it　is　still　manageable。　There　is　no　virtue　in　delaying　until　heroic　action　is　needed　to　set　things　right。　In　this　way；　potentially　difficult　situations　become　simple。
　　If　you　have　not　bragged　about　your　abilities　or　tried　to　make　people　be　the　way　you　think　they　ought　to　be；　very　few　group　members　will　want　to　encounter　you　anyway。

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　　Learn　to　recognize　beginnings。　At　birth；　event　are　relatively　easy　to　manage。　Slight　interventions　shape　and　guide　easily。　Potential　difficulties　can　be　avoided。　The　greatest　danger　lies　in　disrupting　the　emerging　process　by　using　too　much　force。
　　The　wise　leader　sees　things　almost　before　they　happen。　A　tree　that　is　stiff　and　rigid　begins　as　a　pliant　sapling。　A　great　construction　project　begins　with　one　shovelful　of　earth。　A　journey　of　a　thousand　miles　begins　with　a　single　step。
　　Once　an　event　is　fully　energized　and　formed；　stand　back　as　much　as　possible。　Needless　interventions　will　only　confuse　or　block　what　is　happening。　Especially；　do　not　try　to　make　an　event　conform　to　any　predetermined　plan　or　model。
　　Many　leaders　spoil　the　work　just　as　it　nears　completion。　They　get　eager。　They　get　interested　in　certain　outcomes。　They　become　anxious　and　make　mistakes。　This　is　a　time　for　care　and　consciousness。　Don't　do　too　much。　Don't　be　too　helpful。　Don't　worry　about　getting　credit　for　having　done　something。
　　Because　the　wise　leader　has　no　expectations；　no　outcome　can　be　called　a　failure。　Paying　attention；　allowing　a　natural　unfolding；　and　standing　back　most　of　the　time；　the　leader　sees　the　event　arrive　at　a　satisfactory　conclusion。

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　　The　teacher's　leaders　did　not　emphasize　complex　theories。　The　practiced　and　taught　a　way　of　life　based　on　consciousness　and　wisdom。
　　People　who　see　the　world　in　terms　of　theories　often　have　a　very　intricate　view　of　what　is　happening。　Clarity　is　difficult　for　them。　They　are　very　hard　to　work　with。
　　If　you　teach　a　group　by　making　complex　explanations；　you　will　confuse　people。　They　will　take　notes　and　fill　their　minds　with　opinions。
　　But　if　you　return　again　and　again　to　an　awareness　of　what　is　actually　happening；　you　will　both　clarify　and　enlighten。
　　The　ability　to　distinguish　between　theory　and　practice　will　save　you　much　trouble。
　　Practice　a　way　of　life；　and　demonstrate　conscious　cooperation　with　the　single　principle。　If　you　cooperate　with　Tao；　you　will　experience　the　power　of　universal　harmony。

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　　Why　is　the　ocean　the　greatest　body　of　water？　Because　it　lies　below　a