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第239节

04道德经英译本85种-第239节

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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  ministers mouth empty promises。

  19

  If the sage could abandon his wisdom andskill;
  Then everyone would be a hundred timesbetter off。

  If the sage could let go of holdingthe scales;
  Then everyone would flow in the webof harmony。。。

  And if the sage can give up lookingto gain;
  Then there will be no theft or exploitation。

  Now while these three things are important
  they are not enough:

  The people themselves need to learnsimplicity。

  They shouldn't need to know more thanthey do;
  And should have as few things as possible。

  20

  Listen; give up trying to be so learned
  And things will be a lot easier。

  Is there really any difference betweena yes
  And a no said insincerely?

  Is there really much of a difference
  Between being angry and pretendingnot to be?

  What the people are afraid of I alsoneed to fear。

  And what do most people do? They go
  looking for a good time。

  They go looking for fool's gold
  and auspicious signs。

  Only; you see; I am lazy
  And I don't give a damn about fameor money。
  I am like a child who cannot bringhimself to smile。

  What do that people want? Money andthings。
  And yet I find I have nothing; andI don't care。
  I am as unambitious as any fool。

  Most people seem to be bright and sharp
  And how do I feel? Like a bluntedsword。

  The people; the people are like wavesof sea
  And I am drifting between them whereverthey are blown。

  And the people; the people are so busy!
  But I have nothing to bother about。I am a bumpkin; a lout。

  I am different; I am strange。
  I live for the Mother。

  21

  The Body of The Tao
  is a mist beyond your eyes

  Tao of No Body;
  and yet within it is All Creation。

  Like a seed in the dark; and a dimlight
  And from it; comes everything。

  Root; stem; leaf 。 。 。 its essenceis in everything。

  Everything is born from this Tao
  I say so; and I can prove it!

  From the beginning of time until now
  the Tao is eternal because it is Creation。

  How do I know the Tao is the root ofall being?

  Because
  I know this。

  22

  Learn to yield and be soft
  If you want to survive。

  Learn to bow
  And you will stand in your full height。

  Learn to empty yourself
  and be filled by the Tao

  。 。 。 the way a valley empties itselfinto a river。

  Use up all you are
  And then you can be made new。

  Learn to have nothing
  And you will have everything。

  Sages always act like this;
  and are Children of the Tao。

  Never trying to impress; their beingshines forth
  Never saying 'this is it'; peoplesee what the truth is …

  Never boasting; they leave the spacethey can be valued in
  And never claiming to be who theyare; people can see them

  And since they never argue; no oneargues with them either 。 。 。

  So the ancient ones say
  'Bend; and you will rule'。

  Is this a lie? You'll find it is true。

  Be true to yourself; and all will gowell with you。

  23

  It is a natural thing
  to talk sparingly。

  And surely; this is right … becauseeven a great wind
  and lashing rain do not go on forever。

  It is naturally so。 Both Heaven andEarth know it。

  And if neither can hold on to suchan outpouring for long
  what makes people think they can?

  If you follow the Tao;
  all you do will belong to it。

  If you act with Virtue;
  All you do will have its power。

  If you lose these …
  Then everyway you will be lost。

  If you go the Way of Tao; it can onlybe with you。
  If you go the Way of Virtue; its puritywill sustain you。

  But if you go the way of loss; thenthat will be your name;
  And if you cannot trust; no one willtrust you。

  24

  A man on tiptoe
  can't walk easily。

  The man who strides on ahead is boundto tire。

  The kind of person who always insists
  on his way of seeing things
  can never learn anything from anyone。

  Those who always want to be seen
  will never help others to be。

  The showman is never
  secretly respected by anyone。

  People like these; say the Wise Ones
  are as useless as the left…over foodat the feast:

  No true follower can relate to them。

  25

  Before the world was

  And the sky was filled with stars 。。 。

  There was a strange; unfathomable Body。

  This Being; this Body is silent

  and beyond all substance and sensing。

  It stretches beyond everything
  spanning the empyrean。

  It has always been here; and it alwayswill be。

  Everything comes from it; and then
  it is the Mother of Everything。

  I do not know its name。 So I call itTAO。

  I am loath to call it 'greater thaneverything';
  but it is。

  And being greater; it infuses all things
  moving far out and returning to theSource。

  Tao is Great;
  Tao; the Great!

  It is greater than Heaven;
  Greater than the Earth …
  Greater than the king。

  These are the four great things;
  and the ruler is the least of them。

  Humanity is schooled by the Earth;

  Earth is taught by Heaven;

  And Heaven is guided by the Tao。

  And the Tao
  goes with what is absolutely natural。

  26

  What holds; what you can trust
  Is the same as this quietness …
  And it is light…hearted。

  This quiet light…hearted silence
  Is the key to being free from emotion。

  The sage never abandons the Tao;
  HE never lets its weight out of hissight。

  He may live in a fabulous house
  But he never gets caught up wantingto …

  And though there are always temptations;
  He stays unswayed; and smiles。

  So why is it that our rulers
  Seem so bright; but are
  Glib and insubstantial?

  Losing the weight of the Tao
  Means you lose your root;

  And when you can't sit still
  You lose
  the source。

  27

  The sage who goes by the way leaves notraces
  The sage who speaks the true law neverslips up …
  He never calculates what profit hecan make from what he does。

  He keeps out thieves with wisdom! He'snever robbed …
  He makes sure the rules are binding;then no one can undo them:

  He is aware of everyone; leaving noone uncounted;
  He cares like a parent; and wastesnothing。

  This is the essence of harmony。

  So; a good man is a model for a badone
  And; misguided; he is touched by hisgoodness。

  Not to follow a teacher here
  Or to love his precious message
  Is to lose the Way; however cleveryou are …

  This is the essence of the matter。

  28

  Understand the thrust of the yang …
  But be more like the yin in your being。

  Be like a valley
  that parts to its stream;

  Be like a stream
  for the earth 。 。 。

  And channel it;
  so it flows … to the sea。

  Be newborn … be free of yourself;
  be humble;
  be earthy;
  be a valley for the whole world。

  Be a channel for the energies here…
  weave them in a true and practicalway
  so they can link up with the Way andbecome one again。

  Oneness generates everything:

  When the sage rules in the light ofit;
  He rules everything。

  A wise man never tries to break upthe Whole。

  29

  If a rules behaves as if he's inventedthe world;
  He will do no good at all。

  The earth is a sacred vessel …
  and it cannot be owned or improved。

  If you try to possess it; you willdestroy it:
  If you try to hold on to it … youwill lose it。

  Some are leaders; then; and other follow。
  Some drift like the wind; and otherdrive hard。
  Some are thick…skinned; and otherhave no armour;
  And some are the destroyers; and othersthey destroy。

  So now you know why

  the sage abandons greed;
  all false charm …
  and every last iota of pride。

  30

  The Emperor's advisors will never recommendviolence
  if they know what the Tao is。
  If you use the strategy of warfare
  it can only result in revenge。

  After troops have tramped by
  only weeds and nettles grow in thebroken ground。
  There can be no harvest;
  and everyone is left starving。

  If you need to take action; only dowhat is necessary。
  Never abuse your power。

  And if you're successful; don't besmug;
  If you are a success; don't trumpetit …
  If you think you've won; never overdoit …

  Those who use force soon end up withoutit …

  And this is not the Way。

  And if you do not follow the Way; youwill die。

  31

  The guide who walks the Way
  Never resorts to violence。

  The sage goes to the left side of theEmperor;
  while the man of war goes to the right。

  Weapons are terrible things …
  and no sage will have anything todo with them;
  unless there is no alternative。

  The sage wants peace and quiet。

  No victory is free of grief;
  and so to celebrate one is to glory
  in the death of innocent peopl

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