04道德经英译本85种-第194节
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It acts on their behalf but doesn't make them dependent;
It matures them but doesn't rule them。
This we call Profound Virtue。
52
The world had a beginning;
Which can be considered the mother of the world。
Having attained the mother; in order to understand her children。
If you return and hold on to the mother; till the end of your life you'll suffer no harm。
Block up the holes;
Close the doors;
And till the end of your life you'll not labor。
Open the holes;
Meddle in affairs;
And till the end of your life you'll not be saved。
To receive the small is called 〃discernment。〃
To hold on to the pliant is called 〃strength。〃
If you use the rays to return to the bright light;
You'll not abandon your life to peril。
This is called Following the Constant。
53
Were I to have the least bit of knowledge; in walking on a Great
Rod; it's only going astray that I would fear。
The Great Way is very level;
But people greatly delight in tortuous paths。
The courts are swept very clean;
While the fields are full of weeds;
And the granaries are all empty。
Their clothing梤ichly embroidered and colored;
While at their waists they carry sharp swords。
They gorge themselves on food; and of possessions and goods they have plenty。
This is called thievery!
And thievery certainly isn't the Way!
54
What is firmly set up can't be pulled down;
What is firmly embraced cannot slip free。
And your sons and grandsons; as a result; will sacrifice without end。
When you cultivate it in your person; your virtue will then be genuine;
When you cultivate it in your family; your virtue will then be overflow;
When you cultivate it in your village; your virtue will then be long lasting;
When you cultivate it in your state; your virtue will then be abundant;
And when you cultivate it throughout the world; your virtue will then be widespread。
Use the individual to examine the individual;
Use the family to examine the family;
'Use the village to examine the village;'
Use the state to examine the state;
And use the world to examine the world;
How do I know that the world is so?
By this。
55
One who embraces the fullness of Virtue;
Can be compared to a newborn babe。
Wasps and scorpions; snakes and vipers do not sting him;
Birds of prey and fierce beasts do not seize him;
His bones and muscles are weak and pliant; yet his grasp is firm;
He does not yet know the meeting of male and female; yet his organ is aroused?br》 This is because his essence is at its height。
He can scream all day; yet he won't become hoarse?br》 This is because his harmony is at its height。
To know harmony is called 〃the constant〃;
To know the constant is called 〃being wise〃;
To add on to life is called a 〃bad omen〃;
For the mind to control the breath梩hat's called 〃forcing things。〃
When things reach their prime they get old;
This is called 〃not the Way。〃
What is not the Way will come to an early end。
56
Those who know don't talk about it; those who talk don't know it。
He blocks up his holes;
Closes his doors;
Softens the glare;
Settles the dust;
Files down the sharp edges;
And unties the tangles。
This is called Profound Union。
Therefore; there is no way to get intimate with him;
But there is also no way to shun him。
There is no way to benefit him;
But there is also no way to harm him。
There is no way to ennoble him;
But there is also no way to debase him。
For this very reason he's the noblest thing in the world。
57
Use the upright and correct to order the state;
Use surprise tactics when you use troops;
Use unconcern with affairs to take control of the world。
How do I know that this is so?
Well; the more taboos and prohibitions there are in the world; the poorer the people will be;
The more sharp weapons the people possess; the more muddled the states will be;
The more knowledge and skill people have; the more novel things will appear;
The more legal matters are made prominent; the more robbers and thieves there will be。
Therefore; the words of the Sage say:
I do nothing; and the people of themselves are transformed;
I love tranquility; and the people of themselves are upright;
I'm unconcerned with affairs; and the people of themselves become rich。
I desire not to desire; and the people of themselves are 'genuine and simple; like' uncarved wood。
58
When the government is muddled and confused;
The people are genuine and sincere。
When the government is discriminate and clear;
The state is crafy and cunning。
'Disaster is that on which good fortune depends。'
Good fortune is that in which disaster's concealed。
Who knows where it will end?
For there is no 'fixed' 〃correct。〃
The 〃correct〃 turns into the 〃deviant〃;
And 〃good〃 turns into 〃evil。〃
People's state of confusion
Has certainly existed for a long time。
Therefore be square but don't cut;
Be sharp but don't stab;
Be straightforward but not unrestrained;
Be bright but don't dazzle。
59
For ordering humanity and serving Heaven; nothing's so good as being sparing。
For only if you are sparing can you; therefore; early submit 'to the Way'。
Early submission梩his is called to repeatedly accumulate Virtue。
If you repeatedly accumulate Virtue; then there is nothing you can't overcome。
When there is nothing you can't overcome; no one knows where it will end。
When no one knows where it will end; you can possess the state。
And when you possess the mother of the state; you can last a very long time。
This is called 'having' deep roots and a firm base;
It's the Way of long life and long…lasting vision。
60
Ruling a large state is like cooking small fish。
When you use the Way to govern the world; evil spirits won't have godlike power。
Actually; it's not that evil spirits won't have godlike power;
It's that their power will not harm men。
But it's not 'just' that their power won't harm men;
The Sage; also; will not harm them。
Since these two do not harm others;
Therefore their Virtues intermingle and return to them。
61
The large state is like the lower part of a river;
It is the female of the world;
It is the meeting point of the world。
The female constantly overcomes the male with tranquility。
Because she is tranquil; therefore she is fittingly underneath。
The large state梚f it is below the small state; then it takes over
the small state;
The small state梚f it is below the large state; then it is taken over by the large state。
Therefore some by being low take over;
And some by being low are taken over。
Therefore the large state merely desires to unite and rear others;
While the small state merely desires to enter and serve others。
If both get what they want;
Then the large state should fittingly be underneath。
62
The Way is that toward which all things flow。
It is the treasure of the good man;
And that which protects the bad。
Beautiful words can be bought and sold;
Honored deeds can be presented to others as gifts;
'Even with' things that people regard as no good梬ill they be rejected?
Therefore; when the So of Heaven is being enthroned or the Three Ministers installed;
Though you might salture them which disks of jade preceded by teams of four horses;
That's not so good as sitting still and offering this。
The reason why the ancients valued this梬hat was it?
Did they not say; 〃Those who seek; with this will attain; and those who commit offenses; with this will escape〃?!
Therefore; it's the most valued thing in the world。
63
Act without acting;
Serve without concern for affairs;
Find flavor in what has no flavor。
Regard the small as large and the few as many;
And repay resentment with kindness。
Plan for the difficult while it is easy;
Act on the large while it's minute。
The most difficult things in the world begin as things that are easy;
The largest things in the world arise from the minute。
Therefore the Sage; to the end does not strive to do the great;
And as a result; he is able to accomplish the great;
Those who too lightly agree will necessarily be trusted by few;
And those who regard many things as easy will necessarily 'end up' with many difficulties。
Therefore; even the Sage regards things as difficult;
And as a result; in the end he has no difficulty。
64
What is at rest is easy to hold;
What has not yet given a sign is easy to plan for;
The brittle is easily shattered;
The minute is easily scattered;
Act on it before it comes into being;
Order it before it turns into chaos。
A tree 'so big' that it takes both arms t