04道德经英译本85种-第189节
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
66
Why is the ocean the greatest body of water？ Because it lies below all the rivers and streams and is open to them all。
What we call leadership consists mainly of knowing how to follow。 The wise leader stays in the background and facilitates other people's process。 The greatest things the does go largely unnoticed。 Because the leader does not push or shape or manipulate； there is no resentment or resistance。
Group members genuinely appreciate a leader who facilitates their lives rather than promoting some personal agenda。 Because the leader is open； any issue can be raised。 Because the leader has no position to defend and shows no favouritism； no one feels slighted； no one wishes to quarrel。
67
Here is a paradox： even though the single principle of how everything happens is great； those who follow the principle know that they are ordinary。
Great egocentricity does not make a person great。 The common ground of all creation is a greater source of life than any exalted isolation。
These three qualities are invaluable to the leader：
… Compassion for all creatures
… Material simplicity or frugality
… A sense of equality or modesty
A compassionate person acts in behalf off everyone's right to life。 Material simplicity gives on an abundance to share。 A sense of equality is； paradoxically； one's true greatness。
It is a mistake to consider a person whose only interest is self…interest as being either caring or courageous。 It is a mistake to rationalize that excessive consumption contributes to the well…being of others by giving them employment。 It is a mistake to imagine that a person who acts immodestly or in a superior way is in fact； a genuinely superior person。
These are all egocentric behaviours。 They isolate a person from the common ground of existence。 They produce rigidity and death。
Compassion； sharing； and equality； on the one hand； sustain life。 This is because we are all one。 When I care for you； I enhance the harmonious energy of the whole。 And that is life。
68
The greatest martial arts are the gentlest。 They allow an attacker the opportunity to fall down。
The greatest generals do not rush into every battle。 They offer the enemy many opportunities to make self…defeating errors。
The greatest administrators do not achieve production through constraints and limitations。 They provide opportunities。
Good leadership consists of motivating people to their highest levels by offering them opportunities； not obligations。
That is how things happen naturally。 Life is an opportunity and not an obligation。
69
If a group member wants to fight with you； consider the strategy of the guerrilla commander： Never seek a fight。 If it comes to you； yield； step back。 It is far better to step back than to overstep yourself。
Your strength is good intelligence： be aware of what is happening。 Your weapon is not a weapon at all。 It is the light of consciousness。
Advance only where you encounter no resistance。 If you make a point； do not cling to it。 If you win； be gracious。
The person who initiates the attack is off center and easily thrown。 Even so； have respect for any attacker。 Never surrender your compassion or use your skill to harm another needlessly。
In any event； the more conscious force will win。
70
This way of living and leading groups is easy to understand。 It is easy to do。
But not many leaders understand this approach。 Very few use it in their work。
Frankly； it is too simple and ancient to attract much attention。 As a rule； the greatest interest goes to the greatest novelty。
The wise leader； sticking to the single principle of how everything happens； does nothing new or original。
The wise leader appeals to a very few followers； to those who recognize that traditional wisdom is a treasure which often lies hidden beneath an ordinary appearance。
71
Nobody has all the answers。 Knowing that you do not know everything is far wiser than thinking that you know a lot when you really don't。
Phony expertise is neurotic。 Fortunately； once the symptoms are recognized； the sure is easy： stop it。
Probably every leader has tried this form of pretense at one time or another。
The wise leader has learned how painful it is to fake knowledge。 Being wise and not wanting the pain； the leader does no indulge in pretending。
Anyway； it is a relief to be able to say： 〃I don't know。〃
72
Group work must include spiritual awareness if it is to touch the existential anxiety of our times。 Without awe； the awful remains unspoken； a diffuse malaise remains。
Be willing to speak of traditional religion； no matter how offended some group members may be。 Overcome the bias against the word of God。 The great force of our spiritual roots lies in tradition； like it or not。
The wise leader models spiritual behaviour and lives in harmony with spiritual values。 There is a way of knowing； higher than reason； there is a self； greater than egocentricity。
The leader demonstrates the power of selflessness and the unity of all creation。
73
Imagine that there are two kinds of courage。 One is an active courage that gets people killed。 The other is an inner courage that keeps people alive。 Which of these two is better？
No one can answer that for you。 Each has its benefits and its drawbacks。 Tao has no preferences。
Keeping in mind that Tao means how： how things happen。 But how…things…happen is not the same as what…should…I…do。 No one can tell you what to do。 That is your freedom。 That is your responsibility。
Instead of asking for advice； learn to become more conscious of what is actually happening。 Then you will be able to see for yourself how things happen。 You can make your own decisions about what to do。
Tao does not preach sermons or dictate behaviour。 What people do is their own responsibility。 But the pattern of their behaviour follows natural law。
This law is so general； it covers every possible event。 It is so specific； it applies to every instance of every event。
But no one can decide for you what to do in a given situation。 That is up to you。
74
It is not the leader's role to play judge and jury； to punish people for 'bad' behaviour。 In the first place； punishment does not effectively control behaviour。
But even if punishment did work； what leader would dare to use fear as a teaching method？
The wise leader knows that there are natural consequences for every act。 The task is to shed light on these natural consequences； not to attack the behaviour itself。
If the leader tries to take the place of nature and act as judge and jury； the best you can expect is a crude imitation of a very subtle process。
At the very least； the leader will discover that the instrument of justice cuts both ways。 Punishing others in punishing work。
75
The group will not prosper if the leader grabs the lion's share of the credit for the good work that has been done。
The group will rebel and resist if the leader relies on strict controls in an effort to make things come out a certain way。
The group members will become deadened and unresponsive if the leader is critical and harsh。
The wise leader is not greedy； selfish； defensive； or demanding。 That is why the leader can be trusted to allow any event to unfold naturally。
76
At birth； a person is flexible and flowing。 At death a person becomes rigid and blocked。
Consider the lives of plants and trees： during their time of greatest growth； they are relatively tender and pliant。 But when they are full grown or begin to die； they become tough and brittle。
The tree which has grown up and become rigid is cut into lumber。
The rigid group leader may be able to lead repetitious and structured exercises but can't cope with the lively group process。
Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow。 Whatever is rigid and blocked will atrophy and die。
77
Natural events are cyclical； always changing from one extreme toward an opposite。
Imagine a bow and arrow。 As the archer draws the bow； the two tips of the bow； which were far apart； come close together； the narrow space between string and wood becomes wide； the bow string； which was at rest； becomes taut。
When the archer releases the arrow； once again the process reverses itself； as the tension relaxes。
That is the way of inner nature： to relax what is tense； to fill what is empty； to reduce what is overflowing。
But a society based on materialism and the conquest of nature works to overcome these cycles。 If some is good； more must be better； and an absolute glut seems best。 At the same time； those who have little get even less。
The wise leader follows the natural order of events and does not take the consumer society for a model。
By serving others and being generous； the leader knows abundance。 By being selfless； the leader helps others realize themselves。 By being a disinterested facilitation； unconcerned with praise or pay； the leader becomes potent and successful。
The leader's behaviour works because
