04道德经英译本85种-第211节
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Help them to grow； but don't rule them；
This is called the Profound Virtue。
11
Wealth and worth
Thirty spokes unite in the wheel's hub；
It is precisely where there is nothing；
that makes the wheel so useful。
We shape and fire clay into a vessel；
It is precisely the space within that makes the clay pots so useful。
We chisel out the doors and windows for a room；
It is precisely in these empty spaces that makes the room so useful。
Therefore benefit comes from what is there；
Usefulness comes from what is not there。
12
Distraction
The five colors causes one's eyes to become blind。
Racing horses and hunting causes one's mind to go mad。
Goods that are hard to obtain； pose an obstacle to one's travels。
The five flavors confuses one's palate。
The five tones causes one's ears to go deaf。
Therefore； in the government of the sage：
He is for the belly and not for the eyes。
Thus he rejects that and takes this。
The five colors
green； red； yellow； white and black
The five flavors
sweet； bitter； salty； sour and pungent
The five tones
C； D； E； G and A
13
Anxiety
Regard favor and disgrace with alarm。
Respect great distress as you do your own person。
What do I mean when I say
〃Regard favor and disgrace with alarm？〃
Favor is inferior。
If you get it … be alarmed！
If you lose it … be alarmed！
That is what I mean when I say
〃Regard favor and disgrace with alarm。〃
What do I mean when I say
〃Respect great distress as you do your own person？〃
The reason that I have great distress
Is that I have a body
Without a body； what distress would I have？
Therefore； to one who values acting for himself
over acting on behalf of the world；
you can entrust the world。
And to one who in being parsimonious
Regards his person as equal to the world；
you can turn over the world。
14
The continuity of Tao
We look at it； but do not see it；
We name this 〃the minute。〃
We listen to it； but do not hear it；
We name this 〃the rarified。〃
We touch it； but do not hold it；
We name this 〃the level and smooth。〃
These three cannot be examined to the limit。
Thus they are merged as one。
One … there is nothing more encompassing above it；
and nothing smaller below it。
Boundless； formless！ It cannot be named；
and returns to the state of no…thing。
This is called the formless form；
The substanceless image。
This is called the subtle and indistinct。
Follow it and you won't see it back；
Greet it and you won't see its head。
Hold on to the Way of the present …
To manage the things of the present；
And know the ancient beginning。
This is called the beginning of the thread of Tao
15
The Saints
The one who was skilled at practicing Tao in antiquity；
was subtle； mysterious； profound； and penetratingly wise。
His depth cannot be known。
It is only because he cannot be known；
That therefore； were I forced to describe him； I'd say：
Hesitant was he！；
Like someone crossing a winter stream。
Undecided was he！；
As though he was in fear of neighbors on all four sides。
Solemn and polite was he；
Like a visiting guest。
Scattered and dispelled was he！
Like ice that is about to melt。
Genuine unformed was he；
Like uncarved blocks of wood。
Merged； undifferentiated was he；
Opaque； like a muddy pool。
Broad and expansive was he；
Like a valley。
If you take a muddy pool and still it；
It gradually becomes clear。
If you bring something to rest in order to move it；
It gradually comes alive。
The one who preserves this Tao does not desire to become fulfilled。
Therefore he can wear out with no need to be renewed。
16
Trancending nature
To reach Emptyness is what we mean by the extreme。
To maintain tranquility is what we mean by the center
Side by side； the ten thousand things rise and fall
And by this I see their return。
Things come forth in great numbers；
Each one returns to its source。
This is called tranquility；
〃Tranquility〃 … This mean to return to your fate。
To return to your fate is to be constant。
To know the constant is to be wise。
Not to know the constant is to be reckless and wild。
If you're reckless and wild；
Your actions will lead to misfortune。
To know the constant； is to be open…minded。
To be open…minded； is to be impartial。
To be impartial； is to act royally。
To be royal； is to be like Heaven。
To be like Heaven is to be ＇one with＇ the Tao。
If you are one with the Tao；
You will suffer no harm till the end of your days；
17
Rulers
With the highest rulers …
Those below simply know they exist。
With those one step down …
They love and praise them。
With those one further step down …
They fear them。
And with those at the bottom …
They ridicule and insult them。
Who does not trust enough
will not be trusted。
Hesitant and undecided！
Like this is his respect for speaking。
He completes his tasks and finishes his affairs
Yet the common people say；
〃These things all happened by nature。〃
18
The loss of Tao
Therefore When the great Tao is rejected；
the virtues of humanity and righteousness arise。
When knowledge and wisdom appear；
It is then that the great hypocricy begins。
When the six relations are not in harmony；
Filial piety and compassion arise。
And when the country is in chaos and confusion；
it is then that Virtuous officials appear。
The six relations
Father； sun； older brother；
younger brother； husband and wife
19
Simplicity
Give up sainthood； renounce knowledge；
And the people will benefit a hundredfold。
Eliminate humanity； renounce righteousness；
And people will return to filial piety and compassion。
Give up ingenuity； renounce profit；
And bandits and thieves will disappear。
These three sayings …
Regarded as a text are yet not complete。
Thus we must see to it
That they have the following appended：
Manifest plainness and embrace the genuine；
Lessen selfinterest and make your desires few；
Eliminate learning and have no undue concern。
20
Oneness
Agreement and angry rejection；
How great is the difference between them？
Beautiful and ugly；
What is it like … the difference between them？
The one who is feared by others；
Must I also fear what others fear？
Wild； unrestrained。 It will ever come to an end。
The multitudes are peaceful and happy；
Like climbing a terrace in springtime；
enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox。
But I alone am calm and quiet …
not yet having given any sign。
Like a newborn baby before it learns to smile；
Tired and exhausted；
As though I have no place to return。
The multitudes all have more than they need；
I alone seem to have nothing。
Mine is the mind of a fool … ignorant and stupid！
The common people see things clearly；
I alone am in the dark。
The common people discriminate and make fine distinctions；
But I alone am muddled and confused。
Oh； I am formless！
Like the ocean；
Oh I am shapeless！
As though I have nothing in which I can rest。
The masses all have their reasons for acting；
I alone am stupid and obstinatie like a rustic。
But my desires alone differ from those of others …
For I am nourished by the Mother。
21
Expressions of Tao
The character of great Virtue
Follows only from the Way。
As for the nature of the Way …
It is without shape or form。
Formless！ Shapeless！ Inside there are images。
Shapeless！ Formless！ Inside there are things。
Hidden！ Obscure！ Inside are there essences。
These essences are very real；
Inside them is the proof。
From the present back to the past；
its name has never gone away。
It is by this that we comply
with the father of the multitude of things。
How do I know the father of the multitude is so？
By this。
22
Expressions of Tao
Bent over； you will be preserved whole；
When twisted； you will be upright；
When hollowed out； you will be full；
When Worn out； you will be renewed；
When you have little； you will attain much；
With much； you will be confused。
Therefore the Sage embrace the One
and in this way becomes shepherd of the World。
He does not show himself off；
Therefore he becomes prominent。
He does not put himself on a display；
Therefore he brightly shines。
He does not brags about himself；
Therefore he receives credit。
He does not praise his own deeds；
Therefore he can long endure。
It is only because he does not compete；
Th
