04道德经英译本85种-第454节
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Through this； no action is left undone。
Should one aspire to attain the Cosmos；
one should remain ever free of Ego…involvements；
For；
just as surely as one becomes Ego…involved；
one becomes unfit to attain the Cosmos。
49
Sages never have a mind of their own；
they consider the minds of the common people to be their mind。
Treat well those who are 'good。'
Also treat well those who are 'not good。'
This is Goodness ATTAINED。
Be sincere to the sincere。
Also be sincere to the insincere。
This is Sincerity ATTAINED。
Sages are self…effacing in their dealings with all under heaven；
and bemuddle their own minds for the sake of others。
The common people all rivet their eyes and ears upon them；
and Sages make them giggle like children！
50
A person comes forth into Life and passes into Death。
Three out of ten are partners of Life；
Three out of ten are partners of Death；
And those whose every act leads them to Death
because they cling desperately to Life are also three in ten。
Now； what is the Reason for this？！
It is because all of these CLING。
Indeed； I have heard it said that those who can save life
do not avoid tigers or rhinoceroses
when out walking in the hills；
nor do they put on armor and take up weapons
when they approach a battlefield。
The rhinoceros has no place to jab it's horn；
the tiger has no place to fasten it's claws；
and weapons have no place to put their blades。
Now； what is the Reason for this？！
Because in them there is no remaining Mortality。
51
THOU gives birth to them； and DEI nurtures them。
Matter forms them and functionality completes them。
Because of this； the myriad creatures respect THOU and esteem DEI…ty。
Respect for THOU and esteem for DEI…ty are by no means 'conferred'on them；
but always occurs naturally。
THOU gives birth to them；
nurtures them
rears them
shelters them
toughens them up
sustains them
protects them。
It gives birth but does not 'claim' them；
acts but does not 'intend；'
rears but does not 'control。'
This is 〃Mysterious DEI…ty。〃
52
Everything under heaven has a beginning
which may be thought of as the mother of everything。
Having realized the mother； you thereby know her children。
Knowing her children； go back and abide with the mother：
To the end of your days； you will not be imperiled！
Quiet the orifices of your heart； stop beckoning at that door：
and for the rest of your days you will not suffer。
Arouse your passions； meddle with affairs：
and your life will be beyond helping。
Seeing what is small is called 'insight。'
Abiding in serenity is 'strength。'
Use ANKH your light to return to 'insight。'
Be not an inheritor of personal calamity！
This is 〃remaining constant。〃
53
If Ego had even the slightest knowledge of traveling the Path；
it's only 'fear' would be of going 'astray。'
The Path is quite level； but Egos LOVE mountain trails！
The court may be thoroughly deserted；
the fields all choked with weeds；
the granaries； totally empty；
YET there may still be some who wear bright； fancy clothing；
sharp swords hanging at their sides；
they walk around gorged with food
and overflowing with possessions and wealth：
This is BRAZEN BANDITRY。
This is surely NOT the Path！
54
What is firmly established cannot be uprooted；
what is tightly embraced cannot slip away。
Thus； the prayers of sons and grandsons will never end！
Cultivated in the person； DEI is true。
Cultivated in the family； DEI is ample。
Cultivated in the village； DEI lasts long。
Cultivated in the state； DEI is abundant。
Cultivated everywhere under heaven； DEI is vast。
Observe other people through your own person。
Observe other families through your own family。
Observe other villages through your own village。
Observe other states through your own state。
Observe all under heaven through all of these。
How do I know the nature of all under heaven？？By LOOKING！
55
One who fully embodies DEI is like a ruddy infant。
Wasps； spiders； scorpions and snakes
do not sting or bite them；
Rapacious birds and fierce beasts
do not seize them。
Their bones are weak and their sinews； soft
yet their grip is tight。
They have not known the joining of male and female；
yet they are sexually aroused！
Their Libido is at it's peak。
They can scream all day long without becoming hoarse；
Their harmony has reached it's perfection。
Striving to increase one's life is ominous；
to control one's vital breath with the mind entails force。
Something that grows old in it's prime
is said to not be in accord with the Path。
Not being in accord with the Path leads to an early demise。
56
One who knows does not label with words；
one who labels with words does not really know。
ONE WHO
quiets the portals of their heart；
stops beckoning from that door；
diffuses their light；
mingles with dust；
files away their sharp edges and
unravels their tangles
HAS 〃MYSTICAL SELF…IDENTITY。〃
Because of it；
neither can one be fully 'intimate' with them
nor can one remain distant from them；
neither can one profit from them
nor can one be harmed by them；
neither can one achieve honor though them
nor can one be dishonored through them。
Because of this； they are esteemed by all under heaven。
57
Rule your state with uprightness；
deploy your troops with craft；
gain all under heaven through noninterference。
How do I actually KNOW this is right？
WELL；
the more 'taboos' or prohibitions under heaven
the poorer the people are。
The more clever the devices the people have
the more confused the state and the ruling house。
The more scientific knowledge there is
the stranger the anomalies that spring up。
The more laws there are in the land
the more bandits and thieves。
Therefore； Sages say：
〃I Do Nothing Much Personally
yet the people transform themselves。
I am fond of stillness
yet the people correct their own ways。
I do not interfere in affairs
yet the people enrich themselves。
I desire not to 'desire' it
yet the people of their own accord
are become as simple as un…hewn logs。〃
58
When a society is composed of free； self…governing individuals；
the people are honest；
when there is a 'legalistic' government 'ruling' the people；
a true society is lacking。
Disaster brings…forth the best in people； and new innovations；
having more than one's own share is that wherein Disaster lurks！
Who knows where this will end？！
When there is no uprightness；
correctness reverts to craftiness；
goodness reverts to the gruesome。
The delusion of mankind；
how LONG has been it's Reign！
For this reason； be：
Solid but not abrasive；
Pointed but not agressive；
Right…On but not arrogant；
Bright but not dazzling。
59
To organize mankind and serve heaven；
there is nothing like 'thrift！'
Now； only through thriftiness
can one be prepared；
being prepared
means having a large store of DEI。
With a large store of DEI
one can overcome anything。
Being able to overcome anything；
爊o one knows your limits！
If no one knows what you are capable of；
you may have your Kingdom。
Being the Mother of a Kingdom；
one can long endure。
This is called 〃planting your roots firm and deep；
the Path of long life and lasting vision。〃
60
Properly ruling a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish。
If one oversees all under heaven in partnership with THOU；
'monsters' do not exist。
Not only that； but
their 'existance' could not harm anyone！
Not only could they not harm anyone；
but the ruling Sage does them no harm either。
Now； when neither scorches the other；
merit in nourished in both： （and the fish is DONE！）
61
A large state is like a great river valley；
the Mother of all under heaven。
In the union of all under heaven
she conquers her ravisher by stillness。
Because she is still；
it is fitting for her to lie low。
By lying beneath a small state；
a large state can take over the smaller。
By lying beneath a large state；
a smaller one can take over the larger state。
Therefore； one may either take over or be taken over； by lying low。
Thus； a large state wishes only to annex and nurture others；
a small state wishes only to join…with and serve others。
Now； since both get what they seek；
it is fitting for the larger state to lie low。
62
The Path is the Alembic of the myriad creatures；
