04道德经英译本85种-第349节
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Give birth to it and nourish it。
Produce it but don't possess it。
Act without expectation。
Excel; but don't take charge。
This is called Mysterious Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes join together in the hub。
It is because of what is not there that the cart is useful。
Clay is formed into a vessel。
It is because of its emptiness that the vessel is useful。
Cut doors and windows to make a room。
It is because of its emptiness that the room is useful。
Therefore; what is present is used for profit。
But it is in absence that there is usefulness。
12
The five colors blind our eyes。
The five tones deafen our ears。
The five flavors confuse our taste。
Racing and hunting madden our minds。
Possessing rare treasures brings about harmful behavior。
Therefore the sage regards his center; and not his eyes。
He lets go of that and chooses this。
13
Accept humiliation as a surprise。
Value great misfortune as your own self。
What do I mean by 〃Accept humiliation as a surprise〃?
When you are humble
Attainment is a surprise
And so is loss。
That's why I say; 〃Accept humiliation as a surprise。〃
What do I mean by 〃Value great misfortune as your own self〃?
If I have no self; how could I experience misfortune?
Therefore; if you dedicate your life for the benefit of the world;
You can rely on the world。
If you love dedicating yourself in this way;
You can be entrusted with the world。
14
Look for it; it cannot be seen。
It is called the distant。
Listen for it; it cannot be heard。
It is called the rare。
Reach for it; it cannot be gotten。
It is called the subtle。
These three ultimately cannot be fathomed。
Therefore they join to become one。
Its top is not bright;
Its bottom is not dark;
Existing continuously; it cannot be named and it returns to no…thingness。
Thus; it is called the formless form;
The image of no…thing。
This is called the most obscure。
Go to meet it; you cannot see its face。
Follow it; you cannot see its back。
By holding to the ancient Tao
You can manage present existence
And know the primordial beginning。
This is called the very beginning thread of the Tao。
15
The ancient masters of the Tao
Had subtle marvelous mystic penetration
A depth that cannot be known。
It is exactly because that they are unknowable
That we are forced to pay attention to their appearance。
Hesitant; like one crossing an ice…covered river。
Ready; like one afraid of his neighbors on all sides。
Dignified; like a guest。
Loose; like ice about to melt。
Straightforward; like an uncarved block of wood。
Open; like a valley。
Obscure; like muddy water。
Who can be muddled; and use clarity to gradually become lucid?
Who can be calm; and use constant application for eventual success?
The one who holds to this path does not crave fulfillment。
Precisely because he does not crave fulfillment
He can be shattered
And do without quick restitution。
16
Effect emptiness to the extreme。
Keep stillness whole。
Myriad things act in concert。
I therefore watch their return。
All things flourish and each returns to its root。
Returning to the root is called quietude。
Quietude is called returning to life。
Return to life is called constant。
Knowing this constant is called illumination。
Acting arbitrarily without knowing the constant is harmful。
Knowing the constant is receptivity; which is impartial。
Impartiality is kingship。
Kingship is Heaven。
Heaven is Tao
Tao is eternal。
Though you lose the body; you do not die。
17
From great antiquity forth they have known and possessed it。
Those of the next level loved and praised it。
The next were in awe of it。
And the next despised it。
If you lack sincerity no one will believe you。
How careful she is with her precious words!
When her work is complete and her job is finished;
Everybody says: 〃We did it!〃
18
When the great Tao perishes
There is jen and justice。
When intelligence is manifest
There is great deception。
When the six relationships are not in harmony
There is filial piety and compassion。
When the country is in chaos
Loyal ministers appear。
19
Get rid of 〃holiness〃 and abandon 〃wisdom〃 and the people will benefita hundredfold。
Get rid of 〃altruism〃 and abandon 〃Justice〃 and the people will returnto filial piety and compassion。
Get rid of cleverness and abandon profit; and thieves and gangsterswill not exist。
Since the above three are merely words; they are not sufficient。
Therefore there must be something to include them all。
See the origin and keep the non…differentiated state。
Lessen selfishness and decrease desire。
20
Get rid of 〃learning〃 and there will be no anxiety。
How much difference is there between 〃yes〃 and 〃no〃?
How far removed from each other are 〃good〃 and 〃evil〃?
Yet what the people are in awe of cannot be disregarded。
I am scattered; never having been in a comfortable center。
All the people enjoy themselves; as if they are at the festival ofthe great sacrifice;
Or climbing the Spring Platform。
I alone remain; not yet having shown myself。
Like an infant who has not yet laughed。
Weary; like one despairing of no home to return to。
All the people enjoy extra
While I have left everything behind。
I am ignorant of the minds of others。
So dull!
While average people are clear and bright; I alone am obscure。
Average people know everything。
To me alone all seems covered。
So flat!
Like the ocean。
Blowing around!
It seems there is no place to rest。
Everybody has a goal in mind。
I alone am as ignorant as a bumpkin。
I alone differ from people。
I enjoy being nourished by the mother。
21
The form of great virtue is something that only the Tao can follow。
The Tao as a 〃thing〃 is only vague and obscure。
How obscure! How vague! In it there is form。
How vague! How obscure! In it are things。
How deep! How dark! In it there is an essence。
The essence is so realtherein is belief。
From the present to antiquity; its name has never left it; so we canexamine all origins。
How do I know the form of all origins?
By this。
22
The imperfect is completed。
The crooked is straightened。
The empty is filled。
The old is renewed。
With few there is attainment。
With much there is confusion。
Therefore the sage grasps the one and becomes the model for all。
She does not show herself; and therefore is apparent。
She does not affirm herself; and therefore is acknowledged。
She does not boast and therefore has merit。
She does not strive and is therefore successful。
It is exactly because she does not contend; that nobody can contendwith her。
How could the ancient saying; 〃The imperfect is completed〃 be regardedas empty talk?
Believe in the complete and return to it。
23
To speak little is natural。
Therefore a gale does not blow a whole morning
Nor does a downpour last a whole day。
Who does these things? Heaven and Earth。
If even Heaven and Earth cannot force perfect continuity
How can people expect to?
Therefore there is such a thing as aligning one's actions with the Tao。
If you accord with the Tao you become one with it。
If you accord with virtue you become one with it。
If you accord with loss you become one with it。
The Tao accepts this accordance gladly。
Virtue accepts this accordance gladly。
Loss also accepts accordance gladly。
If you are untrustworthy; people will not trust you。
24
Standing on tiptoe; you are unsteady。
Straddle…legged; you cannot go。
If you show yourself; you will not be seen。
If you affirm yourself; you will not shine。
If you boast; you will have no merit。
If you promote yourself; you will have no success。
Those who abide in the Tao call these
Leftover food and wasted action
And all things dislike them。
Therefore the person of the Tao does not act like this。
25
There is something that is perfect in its disorder
Which is born before Heaven and Earth。
So silent and desolate! It establishes itself without renewal。
Functions universally without lapse。
We can regard it as the Mother of Everything。
I don't know its name。
Hence; when forced to name it; I call it 〃Tao。〃
When forced to categorize it; I call it 〃great。〃
Greatness entails transcendence。
Transcendence entails going…far。
Going…far entails return。
Hence; Tao is great; Heaven is great; the Earth is great
And the human is also great。
Within our realm there are four