04道德经英译本85种-第394节
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Indeed； we have heard of people who are good at sustaining life。
On land they travel and do not encounter rhinoceroses。
Tigers enter the battlefield and they do not need to wear armor or carry weapons。
Rhinoceroses have no place to butt with their horns。
Tigers have no place to put their claws。
Soldiers have no place to thrust their blades。
How can this be so？
Because of the not…dying** Earth。
* The life force energy from the Source penetrates what is dead and brings it more alive。
** Not…dying means the absence of death； as not…doing means the absence of doing。
51
The Tao gives life to them。
The action of the soul nourishes them。
The material world shapes them。
Circumstances perfect them。
The ten…thousand things （everything） all honor the Tao and favor the action of the soul。
They revere the Tao。
The action of the soul is their treasure。
Above all； it is without destiny； yet always is as it is。
Hence； the Tao gives life to them。
The action of the soul
… gives birth to them
… sustains them
… nurtures them
… protects them
… prepares them
… feeds them
… shelters them
… gives them life and does not possess them
… acts and does not presume
… develops and does not rule
This is called the mystery of the action of the soul。
52
Heaven below （the sacred body） has a beginning that was made by Heaven below抯 mother。
When the mother finished； she recognized her child。
When she recognized her child； she held it again。
Till the end the body is not in danger。
Close your openings； shut your gates； to the end of your days your body will not be exhausted。
Open your mouth； meddle in your affairs； to the end of your days； your body will not be taken care of。
Recognize that what is subtle is called the light。
Put its brilliance to use。
Return to the original state of the light。
The body is not in danger。
This is called the eternal practice。
53
Because I lack importance； I have perception。
I walk with the glorious Tao。
I dread straying from its path。
The path of the great Tao is deceptively smooth and the people are liable to take side paths。
Palaces will have excess splendor。
Fields will have excess weeds。
Granaries will be very empty。
People will be dressed in elegant clothes。
People will have excessive food and drink。
They will have a surplus of wealth and possessions。
This is called stealing and exaggeration； not the Tao！
54
If it is well established； it cannot be uprooted。
If you skillfully embrace it； it will not leave。
For generations； yearly offerings to it have not ceased。
Cultivate it in your body。
The action of the soul is then real。
Cultivate it in the family （clans）。
The action of the soul is then in surplus。
Cultivate it in the village。
The action of the soul lasts a long time。
Cultivate it in the country。
The action of the soul is in abundance。
Cultivate it in Heaven below （the sacred body）。
The action of the soul is universal。
The body recognizes the body。
The family recognizes the family。
The village recognizes the village。
The country recognizes the country。
Heaven below recognizes Heaven below。
How do I perceive Heaven below being so？
I perceive it through this。
55
Embody the action of the soul in its fullness。
Join with it to be as open as a newborn infant。
The bee； scorpion； serpent； and snake； will not bite。
Wild animals will not attack。
Birds of prey will not strike。
Even with weak bones and tender muscles you will be able to stand firm。
It does not know male…female union； yet the whole comes into being。
The life force is at its height！
You can cry all day and you are not hoarse。
Harmony is at its height！
You know that harmony is known as the eternal。
You know that the eternal is called the light。
The increase in your life force is a blessing。
Directing the chi with your mind is violent。
Things overdevelop； which is followed by exhaustion。
This is not the Tao。
What is not the Tao soon ends。
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One who knows； does not speak。
One who speaks； does not know。
Shut your mouth。
Close your gates。
Blunt your sharpness。
Unravel your tangles。
Harmonize your brilliance。
Join with your dust。
This is called the mystery of the One （the Source）。
You will not be possessed by love。
You will not be possessed by hate。
You will not be possessed by profit。
You will not be possessed by loss。
You will not be possessed by honor。
You will not be possessed by disgrace。
This makes Heaven below （the sacred body） a treasure。
57
Connect Heaven and Earth to govern the country。
Disconnect Heaven and Earth to use your weapons。
By means of not working； you can take hold of Heaven below （the sacred body）。
I know this to be so！
In Heaven below； excess restrictions and prohibitions increase poverty。
People have an excess of sharp weapons； the country's families are in great disorder。
If people are more skillful at being cunning； more abnormal things arise。
Law and order become more and more prominent。
Robbers and thieves appear。
Thus the sage speaks：
I practice not doing （wu wei） and the people naturally transform。
I welcome peace and the people naturally create a connection between Heaven and Earth。
I do not interfere and the people are naturally wealthy。
I am without desires and the people are naturally pure like uncarved wood or uncut jade。
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When the government is dull； dull； the people are pure； pure。
When the government is sharp； sharp； the people are broken； broken。
Bad fortune！ There is good fortune to lean on。
Good Fortune！ There is bad fortune concealed within it。
Who can know the end？
There is no normal。
The normal； in turn； becomes the abnormal。
The good； in turn； becomes evil。
The people are confused and try many paths。
The sun is strong and enduring。
The sage is square* and the corners do not injure。
They have corners and do not pierce。
They have truth and do not overreach。
They have the light that does not blind。
* The square is the planar form of the cube which is the Platonic Solid that represents the energetic structure of SoulType 4。
59
Heaven governs humanity's affairs and resembles the harvest。
For this reason the master is frugal and is correct to call for morning clothes。
Morning clothes show the importance of accumulating soulful experiences。
The important accumulation of soulful experiences emulates emptiness。
It does not control。
Emptiness that does not control follows no one。
Experiencing this is the highest。
Not experiencing this causes the emergence of rulers； the emergence of kingdoms。
The mother is able to long endure which shows a deep foundation。
The strengthened foundation increases life and brings an enduring recognition of the Tao。
60
Govern a great state as carefully as you would fry a small fish。
The Tao can govern Heaven below （the sacred body）。
You are lost in a field without direction when you are not with your soul。
Surely being lost in a field without direction happens when you are not with your soul。
The soul does not enter the people like an arrow。
The soul surely does not enter the people like an arrow。
The sage does not enter the people like an arrow。
Both together will not enter the people like an arrow。
The action of the soul unifies and restores the path； indeed。
61
A great state lies below the river and unites with Heaven below （the sacred body）。
Heaven below is female。
The female is eternal and tranquil which sustains the male。
Through peacefulness and acting below； a great country has the means to receive a petty country。
Thus they can govern a petty country。
By means of being below； a great country thus governs itself。
The capacity to be below is the means to govern。
A great country's tendency is to unite and nourish the people。
A petty country's tendency is to penetrate the people's activities。
Above all； they both have a tendency。
For the great it is proper to act below。
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The ten…thousand things （everything） follow the Tao。
Its mystery is the good person's treasure。
It protects the bad person。
Pleasing words can be used to sell。
Honorable actions bring people together。
Why reject the essence of people who are not good？
The emperor who appoints three ministers to bring precious jade preceded by a team of four horses is not equal to the stillness of advancing the Tao。
We honor the Tao because it came first。
Does it not say that those who seek to attain reality
