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第272节

04道德经英译本85种-第272节

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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t display its weapons and inner workings to the people; a sage remains deeply immersed in the Tao and does not utilize his or her insights against people who are more shallow。
  37

  The Tao is constant in non…action
  Yet there is nothing it does not do
  If the sovereign can hold on to this
  All things shall transform themselves
  Transformed; yet wishing to achieve
  I shall restrain them with the simplicity of the nameless
  The simplicity of the nameless
  They shall be without desire
  Without desire; using stillness
  The world shall steady itself 
  The Tao is the eternal; unchanging principle of effortless achievements。 Within the workings of the Tao there is no strife and no struggle。
  The Tao is both eternally devoid of action and the ultimate cause of all actions。 The Tao makes no attempt to achieve; and yet nothing is beyond its powers to achieve。 The Tao doesn't try to do anything; it simply does everything。
  If a ruler (anything from the leader of a nation to the master of one's own self) is able to hold on to this principle and embody it; then everything around him or her (people; circumstances; relationships) will naturally transform themselves into alignment with him or her。
  Once transformed in this manner and aligned with the ruler; the people may want to move ahead with action which; if unchecked; can lead to chaos。 Similarly; those who become allies in our cause may do more harm than good out of zeal; or a strong desire to take some sort of action。 Our own thoughts and emotions; once aligned with a personal goal; may also get away from us out of sheer enthusiasm。
  In these situations; we can restore balance by applying the concept of p'u; or the principle of plainness and simplicity。 The fundamental nature of the nameless Tao is plain and simple。 This total absence of contrivance and complexity; if understood; can lead to a lessening of the urge to overact。 This moderating effect can in turn lead to stillness。
  This stillness; quietness and tranquility will bring everything and everyone back into balance。 Thus the environment becomes naturally settled and peaceful … in tune with the Tao。
  38

  High virtue is not virtuous
  Therefore it has virtue
  Low virtue never loses virtue
  Therefore it has no virtue
  High virtue takes no contrived action
  And acts without agenda
  Low virtue takes contrived action
  And acts with agenda
  High benevolence takes contrived action
  And acts without agenda
  High righteousness takes contrived action
  And acts with agenda
  High etiquette takes contrived action
  And upon encountering no response
  Uses arms to pull others
  Therefore; the Tao is lost; and then virtue
  Virtue is lost; and then benevolence
  Benevolence is lost; and then righteousness
  Righteousness is lost; and then etiquette
  Those who have etiquette
  Are a thin shell of loyalty and sincerity
  And the beginning of chaos
  Those with foreknowledge
  Are the flowers of the Tao
  And the beginning of ignorance
  Therefore the great person:
  Abides in substance; and does not dwell on the thin shell
  Abides in the real; and does not dwell on the flower
  Thus they discard that and take this 
  Those who possess the higher form of virtue are not intentionally virtuous。 Their actions are natural and unforced。 This is why we say they have true virtue。
  There are also those who possess a lower kind of virtue。 They never lose sight of virtue because they have to constantly remind themselves to be virtuous。 This is why we say they have no true virtue。
  Those who possess the higher form of virtue do not act with contrivance。 Their actions are without ulterior movies。 They act out of virtue because it is natural; not because they want to 〃look good〃 doing it。
  Those with the lower form of virtue are the opposite。 When they act in ways that seem virtuous; they do so for a specific personal agenda … perhaps improving their image; assuaging guilty feelings; etc。
  Those who possess a higher form of benevolence are a bit different。 They contrive to act in benevolent ways; but because they do so out of love and compassion for others; their actions are free of personal agenda。
  Those who possess the higher form righteousness are similar to those who possess the lower form of virtue in that they also take contrived actions。 They do so out of a powerful sense of self…righteousness; and because they feel so strongly justified in themselves; their actions always reflect their own motives。
  Those who posses the higher form of etiquette are yet another step down。 They act with contrived politeness and propriety。 They fall back on protocol and rules to mask their true intentions; and if they fail to elicit from others the response they are looking for; they will use physical means to force their views upon others aggressively。
  From these observations; the sages conclude that when people lose the naturalness of the Tao; they resort to virtue。 Virtuous practices allow people to approximate the goodness that flow naturally from the Tao。
  If people lose their virtues; then the next best thing would be benevolence。 If people can still hold on to the mindset of love; compassion and kindness; then they can at least treat one another in a way that is gentle and humane。
  What if people lose their benevolence too? Then they will have no choice but to resort to righteousness。 Their actions can no longer be guided by love; compassion and kindness。 Instead; they will act; choose and decide based on correctness or a sense of justice。 Everything becomes more muddled because right and wrong can often be so subjective。
  Finally; what if people can no longer rely on righteousness? Then etiquette is all that's left。 Following etiquette; customs and propriety may or may not be right; benevolent; or virtuous。。。 but at least there is something to follow。
  This sort of etiquette is artificial and disingenuous。 Those who practice it are little more than thin shells without substance; pretending to be loyal and sincere while possessing neither quality。 Such people are the source of chaos; discord and strife。
  In a similar way; people who possess knowledge without righteousness; benevolence or virtue are also thin shells lacking substance。 Like flowers; they give a pleasing appearance but possess none of the satisfying goodness of fruits。 That's what we mean when we call them the flowers of the Tao。 Such people may project a knowledgeable appearance; but are in fact ignorant in basic; fundamental ways。
  To summarize; the truly great person would be the antithesis of the above。 That is; they focus on substance instead of the thin veneer of superficiality。 Their emphasis is on the real inner self; and not on the facade of external appearance。 They discard the fakery of etiquette and knowledge; and reach for benevolence; justice; virtues。。。 and finally the Tao。
  39

  Those that attained oneness since ancient times:
  The sky attained oneness and thus clarity
  The earth attained oneness and thus tranquility
  The gods attained oneness and thus divinity
  The valley attained oneness and thus abundance
  The myriad things attained oneness and thus life
  The rulers attained oneness and became the standard for the world
  These are all from oneness
  The sky; lacking clarity; would break apart
  The earth; lacking tranquility; would erupt
  The gods; lacking divinity; would vanish
  The valley; lacking abundance; would wither
  Myriad things; lacking life; would be extinct
  The rulers; lacking standard; would be toppled
  Therefore; the honored uses the lowly as basis
  The higher uses the lower as foundation
  Thus the rulers call themselves alone; bereft; and unworthy
  Is this not using the lowly as basis? Is it not so?
  Therefore; the ultimate honor is no honor
  Do not wish to be shiny like jade
  Be dull like rocks 
  The Tao is the central principle at the core of everything between Heaven and Earth。 〃Oneness〃 is where the Tao resides; it can also be a synonym for the Tao。 This oneness manifests itself in many different ways: clarity; tranquility; divinity; life; and more。
  Oneness manifests clarity in Heaven; tranquility on Earth; divinity in gods; and abundant life in all living things。 In the same way; when we connect with the Tao described by Lao Tzu; we gain clarity in the mind; tranquility in the heart; divine power in spirituality; and abundant energy to live life to the fullest。 Those who wish to lead must have this oneness in order to establish the standard of leadership。
  Conversely; when we lack that connection; our experience is quite the opposite。 We struggle with confusion in the mind; we feel unsettled and ill at ease; the spiritual strength we enjoyed before has become an empty void; we are tired; listless; and unable to stir ourselves into action。 Whatever leadership we may want to establish collapses with nothing to hold it up。
  How can we gain this oneness? How can we lead with the Tao; if called upon to lead? The clues are everywhere。 Nature show

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