04道德经英译本85种-第283节

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ather　than　the　process　of　crafting　a　bow。　All　four　lines　refer　to　aiming：　the　archer　adjusts　the　vertical　angle　of　the　arrow　as　well　as　the　amount　of　force　invested　in　it。
　　In　this　chapter　Lao　Tzu　offers　a　penetrating　insight　into　human　nature：　rather　than　moving　toward　balance；　people　often　go　contrary　to　the　Tao　in　unbalancing　their　lives　even　more。
　　For　instance；　note　what　happens　when　people　overindulge。　They　do　not　reduce　the　indulgence　as　they　should。　Instead；　they　feed　it　even　more。　This　is　how　addictions　begin。
　　Also　note　how　people　jump　on　bandwagons　when　it　comes　to　beliefs；　attitudes；　trends　and　fads。　Rather　than　to　think　for　themselves；　they　jump　on　the　bandwagon　because　so　many　other　people　are　already　on　it。
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　　Nothing　in　the　world　is　softer　or　weaker　than　water
　　Yet　nothing　is　better　at　overcoming　the　hard　and　strong
　　This　is　because　nothing　can　replace　it
　　That　the　weak　overcomes　the　strong
　　And　the　soft　overcomes　the　hard
　　Everybody　in　the　world　knows
　　But　cannot　put　into　practice
　　Therefore　sages　say：
　　The　one　who　accepts　the　humiliation　of　the　state
　　Is　called　its　master
　　The　one　who　accepts　the　misfortune　of　the　state
　　Becomes　king　of　the　world
　　The　truth　seems　like　the　opposite　
　　Water　appears　to　be　the　weakest　and　softest　thing　in　the　world。　It　always　conforms　to　the　shape　of　its　container。　Pour　it　into　a　bottle；　it's　a　bottle；　pour　it　into　a　cup；　it's　a　cup。　Water　is　the　ultimate　symbol　of　the　yielding　and　flexible　aspect　of　the　Tao。
　　At　the　same　time；　there　is　also　nothing　better　than　water　at　dissolving　the　hardest　and　most　unyielding　rocks。　We　only　have　to　look　around　to　see　how　water　has　carved　ravines　and　canyons　out　of　mountains　all　over　the　world。　Water　is　the　universal　solvent。　Nothing　can　replace　it。
　　This　observation　of　water　teaches　us　that　despite　a　yielding；　humble　appearance；　the　weak　overcomes　the　strong　and　the　soft　overcomes　the　hard。　This　is　a　principle　that　we　can　all　understand；　but　somehow　cannot　put　into　practice　in　real　life。　We　still　have　a　tendency　to　meet　force　with　force。　When　someone　yells　at　us；　we　yell　back　louder；　when　someone　trespasses　against　us；　we　retaliate　in　full　measure。。。　plus　interest！
　　Thus；　the　sages　teach　us　that　those　who　have　the　strength　to　accept　humiliation　are　extremely　rare。　Such　individuals　possess　the　power　embodied　in　water　…　seemingly　soft　and　weak；　and　yet　able　to　overcome　the　hard　and　strong。　If　they　apply　this　power　to　society；　they　would　achieve　complete　mastery　of　leadership　at　the　national　level。
　　Such　individuals　also　have　the　ability　to　accept　misfortunes。　Like　water；　they　have　the　depth　of　character　to　contain　adversities　and　difficulties。　If　they　apply　this　ability　to　handle　negativity　at　the　national　level；　they　would　achieve　preeminence　on　a　global　scale。
　　Thus；　by　embracing　the　seemingly　weak　and　soft；　one　gains　personal　power。　This　is　a　truth　that；　at　first　glance；　would　appear　to　be　contrary　to　our　expectations！
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　　After　settling　a　great　dispute
　　There　must　be　remaining　resentments
　　How　can　this　be　considered　good？
　　Therefore　the　sage　holds　the　left　part　of　the　contract
　　But　does　not　demand　payment　from　the　other　person
　　Those　who　have　virtue　hold　the　contract
　　Those　without　virtue　hold　the　collections
　　The　Heavenly　Tao　has　no　favorites
　　It　constantly　gives　to　the　kind　people　
　　It　doesn't　matter　how　we　say　〃no　hard　feelings；〃　after　a　bitter　dispute；　there's　bound　to　be　ill…will　and　negative　feelings。　This　cannot　be　a　good　thing。
　　Sages　don't　get　into　disputes　in　the　first　place　because　they　give　to　others　without　expecting　anything　in　return。　It　is　as　if　they　hold　the　left　half　of　the　lending　agreement　…　the　lender's　copy　…　but　do　not　use　it　to　extract　loan　payments　from　the　borrower。
　　Those　who　possess　virtue　are　like　the　sages。　Metaphorically　speaking；　they　also　hold　the　left　half　of　the　lending　agreement。　They　give；　they　do　not　take。
　　Those　who　lack　virtue　are　like　the　tax　collectors。　It　is　as　if　they　hold　the　collections　notice　over　other　people。　They　take　from　everyone　and　give　to　no　one。
　　Given　this　is　the　case；　how　can　it　be　that　generous　souls　prosper　while　misers　seem　to　be　forever　pinching　pennies？　Shouldn't　those　who　only　take　end　up　with　more　than　those　who　only　give？
　　It　is　not　because　the　Tao　plays　favorites　and　treats　giving　people　better。　It　is　because　the　karmic　principle　…　the　Law　of　Cause　and　Effect　…　ensures　that　those　who　give　in　accordance　with　the　Tao　will　always　receive　abundantly。
　　Notes
　　When　the　ancient　Chinese　people　began　building　their　civilization　some　five　thousand　years　ago；　they　found　themselves　in　need　of　a　way　to　keep　track　of　debts。
　　The　method　had　to　somehow　be　proof　against　forgery；　so　less　trustworthy　individuals　wouldn't　borrow　funds　and　then　deny　it　or　claim　a　smaller　amount。　Also；　this　was　back　in　the　days　before　the　invention　of　paper；　so　that　made　the　problem　even　more　difficult。
　　What　they　came　up　with　was　clever。　Lender　and　borrower　would　get　a　piece　of　wood　or　tree　bark；　and　carve　the　record　of　their　transaction　and　agreement　on　it。　Then；　this　contract　would　be　split　apart　in　the　middle。　The　left　part　goes　to　the　lender；　the　right　to　the　borrower。
　　Thus；　the　left　side　of　the　contract　is　the　lender's　proof　that　he　has　a　right　to　demand　payments。　When　the　loan　has　been　paid；　the　lender　gives　the　left　side　to　the　borrower；　thus　making　the　contract　whole。
　　Because　the　tear　in　the　wood　or　bark　is　uneven；　it　serves　as　the　perfect　and　natural　way　to　authenticate。　A　forged　left　side　will　never　be　able　to　match　the　right　side　…　a　brilliant　solution。
　　The　Tao　of　Giving
　　Someone　who　gives　in　accordance　with　the　Tao　observes　the　following　guidelines：
　　1）　Appropriate　amount。　Tao　cultivators　would　not　give　so　much　that　they　damage　their　own　ability　to　continue　giving　in　the　future。　The　important　thing　is　to　be　like　a　small　stream　that　keeps　flowing；　as　opposed　to　an　upended　barrel　that　splashes　water　everywhere　and　has　no　more　to　give。
　　2）　Detachment。　Tao　cultivators　give　with　no　expectations　or　attachments。　They　give　only　for　the　sake　of　giving；　not　to　win　recognition　or　showcase　their　generosity。
　　3）　Based　on　need。　Tao　cultivators　look　for　opportunities　where　giving　would　make　the　most　significant　difference　for　someone　in　need。　In　a　snowstorm；　they　would　deliver　coal　to　someone　who　has　trouble　staying　warm。　This　may　not　be　very　expensive　to　do；　but　it　has　meaning　for　the　recipient　that　is　priceless。
　　4）　Not　necessarily　tangible。　Tao　cultivators　recognize　that　material　things　and　monetary　values　are　not　the　only　ways　to　give。　They　are　also　ready　to　give　an　encouraging　word；　a　cheery　greeting；　a　smile；　a　blessing；　a　pat　on　the　back；　a　helping　hand；　recognition；　forgiveness；　courtesy；　praise。。。。　The　world　is　full　of　wonderful　ways　to　give。
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　　Small　country；　few　people
　　Let　them　have　many　weapons　but　not　use　them
　　Let　the　people　regard　death　seriously
　　And　not　migrate　far　away
　　Although　they　have　boats　and　chariots
　　They　have　no　need　to　take　them
　　Although　they　have　armors　and　weapons
　　They　have　no　need　to　display　them
　　Let　the　people　return　to　tying　knots　and　using　them
　　Savor　their　food；　admire　their　clothes
　　Content　in　their　homes；　happy　in　their　customs
　　Neighboring　countries　see　one　another
　　Hear　the　sounds　of　roosters　and　dogs　from　one　another
　　The　people；　until　they　grow　old　and　die
　　Do　not　go　back　and　forth　with　one　another　
　　The　ideal　place　is　a　small　country　with　few　people　in　it。　This　place　is　free　of　conflict　and　strife。　Even　though　they　have　hundreds　of　military　instruments；　they　don't　need　to　use　them。　The　people　treat　life…and…death　issues　with　serious　regard；　and　do　not　need　to　risk　their　lives　in　a　dangerous　migration　to　faraway　places。
　　Peace　prevails　in　such　a　place；　so　even　though　the　people　have　boats　and　chariots；　they　have　no　need　to　use　them　to　get　away　from　this　country。　Similarly；　even　though　they　are　no　pacifists　and　possess　armors　and　weapons；　they　have　no　need　to　show　aggression　by　putting　them　on　display。
　　The　people　live　simply　and　return　to　the　old　way　of　life。　They　make　full　use　of　simple　solutions；　such　as　tying　knots　to　record　events。　Their　food　is　not　elaborate；　but　they　find　it　delicious；　their　clothes　are　not　extravagant；　and　yet　beautiful　in　their　elegant　simplicity。　Their　homes　are　not　luxurious；　but　they　feel　content；　safe　and　comfortable　in　them。　Their　customs　are　down…to…earth；　and　yet　they　find　them　sincere；　direct；　and　joyful。
　　This　country　and　its　neighbors　are　not　far　apart。　They　are　within　visual　range　of　one　another；　as　well　as　hearing　range。　While　in　one　country；　one　can　hear　the　dogs　and　roosters　of　a　neighboring　country。
　　Despite　the　close　distance　between　them；　there　is　no　friction　among　these　countries。　The　people　of　the　region　grow　old　and　die　without　ever　getting　into　petty　squabbles　with　one　another。　Because　they　are　content　and　peaceful；　they　simply　do　not　engage　in　back…and…forth　deception；　contention　and　retribution　with　their　neighbors。
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　　True　word