04道德经英译本85种-第236节
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The atheist who knows atheism does not talk；
and those who talk about it don't know it。
Quit talking about
quit searching
quit your logic
quit trying to win
quit trying to impress
get down to the very basics
of existence。
This is the mystic way to understanding。
Then there are no friends or enemies；
no benefits； no disgrace
no rewards； no losses。
This is human being
simply
being。
57
Order is only maintained through law and justice。
Battles are only won by ignoring rules and propriety。
But the universe can only be understood by
letting…go
leaving…alone。
How do I know？
Because 。。。
the more restrictions placed on people；
the more people will evade them； the poorer the people become。
The more weapons； the smarter people become；
the darker the land becomes。
The greater the science；
the deadlier the inventions。
The more laws；
the more criminals and jails。
Therefore； I do nothing；
and people are naturally transformed。
I love peace and quiet；
and people naturally become better。
I do nothing；
and people have more than enough。
I want nothing； and people naturally return to
the simple life。
58
When politicians look depressed and inactive
people are satisfied and happy。
When politicians look happy and active
people are dissatisfied and depressed。
Bad times come after good times； good times after bad。
Few have found it； but there is a creek that runs
neither hot nor cold； good nor bad； right nor wrong。
For every straight there are two crookeds；
for every good two bads
what is the purpose of choosing one over the other？
who can make the necessary corrections？
Wise person
reach the end without resorting to means
shape without cutting
mold without pressure
straighten without pulling
illumine without shining。
59
No person has power to lead others or to serve the world
unless one has a store of energy。
Storing energy is done through breathing
breathing is done through meditation
Meditate
breathe
and your power cannot be overcome。
If your power cannot be overcome
it is boundless
Only what is boundless
is large enough to understand the full dimensions of reality。
Only what is rooted deep within the earth
can keep the understanding of the full dimensions of reality。
Being rooted deep in the earth takes letting go；
living long necessitates long meditation。
60
Thinking big thoughts
of religion the dao atheism
is like cooking small fish
the less handled
the more remains。
Following the way
no force is used no bad
no coaxing is used no good
both merge
to the same end。
61
Religion should be like low land
everything flowing towards it
all ideas converging on it。
By receiving it absorbs
by absorbing it becomes more basic。
When religion becomes more basic
it will be followed by others。
Large religions absorb small ones
by conquering and converting with force and argument
small ones absorb large ones
by being underneath。
Large ideas； small followings；
small ideas； large followings
one serves the other。
62
Atheism； like a fireplace；
offers warmth in the cold
to the good and bad person alike。
Arguing for or against god is a profitable business
charismatic speakers and serious writers are well respected
even bad people buy their books and attend their talks。
Therefore
for your brother's wedding or sister's graduation
instead of offering money or a vcr
sit
and send your reflections on the way。
About the way the elders of the past have said
Seek； and you will find
Apologize； and you will be
doned。
These are benefits of the way
better than anything else。
63
You
do without working
work without doing
find flavor in water
make the small big
the few into many
turn the other cheek
reward bad actions with good
mold the hard while it is still soft
create the great while it is still small。
Wise person
deal with the microcosm；
never the macrocosm；
the individual not the group；
and thus succeed。
Little commitment creates little faith
and many easy little things create one big difficult thing。
The wise person knows how to make
the simple
complicated；
and by knowing this
avoids complications。
64
Silence is easy to break
future is easy to plan
gentle is easy to hurt
tiny is easy to lose
Look ahead； see forms before they become things
deal with them before they become
set them in order before they collide
See
the sequoia began as small as a bean sprout
the skyscraper began as a hole in the earth
the longest trip begins with the first step。
Act； and you hurt
grab； and it slips away
own； and it is stolen
believe； and it is shown false。
The wise
do not act； and nothing is hurt
do not grab； and nothing slips
do not own； and nothing is lost
do not believe； and nothing is false
Others fall short right before their long…awaited success。
The end is as important as the beginning；
thus the wise person
wants only the unwanted；
values the common； not the scarce；
teaches the things that others don't；
returns others to the past they left behind；
such that everything is valued for itself by itself
all done by not doing。
65
In the past； when the path has been walked well
the walkers not only
did not show others the way
but even made others more ignorant about it
because
the smarter people become
the harder they are to control。
People who want to lead by promoting higher intelligence
and higher educational standards and harder tests
are thieves stealing from farmers and factories。
People who lead without pushing education
bless the people and the land。
Education causes discontent for what one has；
creates desire for more and better and higher
ignorance makes people feel good where they are。
To understand the difference here is to know quality
to be able to apply this quality in life is to be on the path
This path 。。。
so long so old so deep so mysterious
going all the way back
to when all was one。
66
Why are oceans greater than creeks and rivers and lakes？
Because they lay lower than the rest
because gravity carries the high to the low
because they are the lowest they are the greatest。
Wise one
to speak to people you must be lower than them；
to lead people you must be behind them；
to be first you must be last；
so that people will listen without feeling alienated ；
so that people will follow without feeling like sheep；
so that your quality can shine without contention。
This way the whole earth will feel your push
and not be bothered with the direction。
Without pushing
and without pushing
no one pulls back。
67
People say that this path is so easy；
simply the way things go
naturally
without trying。
Exactly
because it is so simple； so basic； so minimal
it is so great。
Religion
created from wants and desires； from miracles and visions；
from conflict between mortal and immortal；
is not normal； not natural。
From its ancient manufacture and people's need of it
you can see its smallness。
I have three commandments
compassion； simplicity； and humility
because
only with compassion is a person able to be truly brave
only by living simply can one be truly generous
only by humility does one become the leader。
Today your courage is based on the ease of attack and victory； yourgenerosity on your wealth； not poverty； and your humility on being thefirst； not the last。 You will die； and it will all pass。
But compassion cannot fight without winning； or give without gaining；or be nobody without being somebody。
Nature gives a natural defense of lowliness like the 〃death〃 of thepossum； or the bared neck of the wolf； the sea depths of the ancient coelacanth to that which it wants to protect。
68
The best leaders stay with their local people
the best fighters are cool and calm
the best commanders win without engaging the enemy
the best supervisors act like the lowest employees
the best healers cure without medicine
the best laws have no transgressors
the best priests have no faith。
This is called power
power that comes with flowing with the way
power that is able to guide people
power that is mate to the universe
the oldest power。
69
Military strategists have said
When you don't think you have a good defense；
tak
