04道德经英译本85种-第351节
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If the ruler lacks nobility and loftiness he will be tripped up。
Hence
Nobility has lowliness as its root
The High has the Low as its base。
Thus the kings call themselves 〃the orphan； the lowly； the unworthy。〃
Is this not taking lowliness as the fundamental？ Isn't it？
In this way you can bring about great effect without burden。
Not desiring the rarity of gems
Or the manyness of grains of sand。
40
Return is the motion of the Tao。
Softening is its function。
All things in the cosmos arise from being。
Being arises from non…being。
41
When superior students hear of the Tao
They strive to practice it。
When middling students hear of the Tao
They sometimes keep it and sometimes lose it。
When inferior students hear of the Tao
They have a big laugh。
But 〃not laughing〃 in itself is not sufficient to be called the Tao；and therefore it is said：
The sparkling Tao seems dark
Advancing in the Tao seems like regression。
Settling into the Tao seems rough。
True virtue is like a valley。
The immaculate seems humble。
Extensive virtue seems insufficient。
Established virtue seems deceptive。
The face of reality seems to change。
The great square has no corners。
Great ability takes a long time to perfect。
Great sound is hard to hear。
The great form has no shape。
The Tao is hidden and nameless。
This is exactly why the Tao is good at developing and perfecting。
42
The Tao produces one； one produces two。
The two produce the three and the three produce all things。
All things submit to yin and embrace yang。
They soften their energy to achieve harmony。
People hate to think of themselves as 〃orphan；〃 〃lowly；〃 and 〃unworthy〃
Yet the kings call themselves by these names。
Some lose and yet gain；
Others gain and yet lose。
That which is taught by the people
I also teach：
〃The forceful do not choose their place of death。〃
I regard this as the father of all teachings。
43
The softest thing in the world
Will overcome the hardest。
Non…being can enter where there is no space。
Therefore I know the benefit of unattached action。
The wordless teaching and unattached action
Are rarely seen。
44
Which is dearer； fame or your life？
Which is greater； your life or possessions？
Which is more painful； gain or loss？
Therefore we always pay a great price for excessive love
And suffer deep loss for great accumulation。
Knowing what is enough； you will not be humiliated。
Knowing where to stop； you will not be imperiled
And can be long…lasting。
45
Great perfection seems flawed； yet functions without a hitch。
Great fullness seems empty； yet functions without exhaustion。
Great straightness seems crooked；
Great skill seems clumsy；
Great eloquence seems stammering。
Excitement overcomes cold； stillness overcomes heat。
Clarity and stillness set everything right。
46
When the Tao prevails in the land
The horses leisurely graze and fertilize the ground。
When the Tao is lacking in the land
War horses are bred outside the city。
Natural disasters are not as bad as not knowing what is enough。
Loss is not as bad as wanting more。
Therefore the sufficiency that comes from knowing what is enough isan eternal sufficiency。
47
Without going out the door； knowing everything；
Without peaking out the windowshades； seeing the Way of Heaven。
The further you go； the less you know。
The sage understands without having to go through the whole process。
She is famous without showing herself。
Is perfected without striving。
48
In studying； each day something is gained。
In following the Tao； each day something is lost。
Lost and again lost。
Until there is nothing left to do。
Not…doing； nothing is left undone。
You can possess the world by never manipulating it。
No matter how much you manipulate
You can never possess the world。
49
The sage has no fixed mind；
She takes the mind of the people as her mind。
I treat the good as good； I also treat the evil as good。
This is true goodness。
I trust the trustworthy； I also trust the untrustworthy。
This is real trust。
When the sage lives with people； she harmonizes with them
And conceals her mind for them。
The sages treat them as their little children。
50
Coming into life and entering death；
The followers of life are three in ten。
The followers of death are three in ten。
Those whose life activity is their death ground are three in ten。
Why is this？
Because they live life grasping for its rich taste。
Now I have heard that those who are expert in handling life
Can travel the land without meeting tigers and rhinos；
Can enter battle without being wounded。
The rhino has no place to plant its horn；
The tiger has no place to place its claws；
Weapons find no place to receive their sharp edges。
Why？
Because he has no death…ground。
51
Tao gives birth to it；
Virtue rears it；
Materiality shapes it；
Activity perfects it。
Therefore； there are none of the myriad things who do not veneratethe Tao or esteem its virtue。
This veneration of the Tao and esteeming of its virtue is somethingthey do naturally； without being forced。
Therefore； Tao gives birth。
Its virtue rears； develops； raises； adjusts and disciplines；
Nourishes； covers and protects；
Produces but does not possess；
Acts without expectation；
Leads without forcing。
This is called 〃Mysterious Virtue。〃
52
All things have a beginning； which we can regard as their Mother。
Knowing the mother； we can know its children。
Knowing the children； yet still cleaving to the mother
You can die without pain。
Stop up the holes
Shut the doors；
You can finish your life without anxiety。
Open the doors；
Increase your involvements；
In the end you can't be helped。
Seeing the subtle is called illumination。
Keeping flexible is called strength。
Use the illumination； but return to the light。
Don't bring harm to yourself。
This is called 〃practicing the eternal。〃
53
If I had just a little bit of wisdom
I should walk the Great Path and fear only straying from it。
Though the Way is quite broad
People love shortcuts。
The court is immaculate；
While the fields are overgrown with weeds；
And the granaries are empty。
They wear silk finery；
Carry sharp swords；
Sate themselves on food and drink
Having wealth in excess。
They are called thieving braggarts。
This is definitely not the Way。
54
The well…established cannot be uprooted。
The well…grasped does not slip away。
Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship withoutbreak。
Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real。
Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow。
Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great。
Cultivate it in the country and virtue will abundant。
Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere。
Therefore； take yourself and observe yourself。
Take the family and observe the family。
Take the town and observe the town。
Take the country and observe the country。
Take the world and observe the world。
How do I know the world as it is？
By this。
55
One who remains rich in virtuous power
Is like a newborn baby。
Bees； scorpions and venomous snakes do not bite it；
The wild beasts do not attack it；
Birds of prey do not sink their claws into it。
Though its bones are weak
And muscles soft；
Its grip is strong。
Without knowing of the blending of male and female
S/he is a perfect production；
The ultimate in vitality。
S/he cries all day without getting hoarse。
S/he is the ultimate in harmony。
Understanding harmony is called the Constant。
Knowing the Constant is called illumination。
Nourishing life is called blessing。
Having control of your breath is called strength。
After things blossom they decay； and
This is called the non…Tao。
The non…Tao expires quickly。
56
She who knows does not speak。
She who speaks does not know。
Close your holes； shut your doors；
Soften your sharpness； loosen your knots。
Soften your glare and merge with the everyday。
This is called mysteriously attaining oneness。
Though you cannot possess it； you are intimate with it
And at the same time； distant。
Though you cannot possess it； you are benefitted by it；
And harmed by it。
You cannot possess it； but are esteemed through it
And humbled by it。
Therefore the world values you。
57
*** Use fairness in governing the state。
Use su
