04道德经英译本85种-第48节
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will use force。 If people can抰 act naturally; they may try to be good。 If they can抰 be good; they may try to be moral。 If they can抰 be moral; they may try to be fair。 If they can抰 be fair they will conform。 Conformity appears to be politeness and sincerity; but is really the realm of confusion and folly。 The master dwells in the depths of reality。 He considers the use of occult powers as foolishness。 The miracle is the flower。 The Tao is the fruit。 Dwell in the fruit; for nourishment can only be found there。
39
The Tao is not separate from mind; body and spirit。 But mind; body and spirit can separate from the Tao。 A clear mind and you are as open as the sky。 A healthy body and you are as vital as the earth。 A free spirit and you are bound to nothing。 A mind which is divided by thoughts lacks clarity。 A body which indulges the senses becomes ill。 A spirit which is chained to the world will break。 The master serves his mind; body and spirit all they require; and asks not a thing in return。 With no will of his own; the Tao leads him to an unknown destination。 How could this not be the greatest journey of man?
40
All things return to the Tao。 The Tao yields to receive them all。 Everything appears to be something。 Something arises out of nothing。
41
One; who upon hearing of the Tao is immediately transformed; is superior。 One; who upon hearing of the Tao; half doubts it; is average。 One; who upon hearing of the Tao laughs at it; is inferior。 If fools didn抰 scoff at it; it wouldn抰 be great。 Thus it is said: Light seems to arise out of darkness。 To go forward appears to be going in reverse。 To be simple seems complicated。 Real compassion seems harsh。 Real strength seems weak。 The unchanged seems to change。 Great love seems indifferent。 The master seems like a fool。 The Tao is nothing; but through it everything is。
42
The Tao gave birth to the universe。 The universe gave birth to the earth。 The earth gave birth to man。 Man gave birth to everything。 Everything is experience; but receives a name。 There is total harmony when name and experience combine。 An ordinary man seeks a name in the eyes of others; but at their expense。 The master experiences for himself。 A violent man will not enjoy a natural death。
43
The softest overcomes the hardest; by yielding。 Emptiness can enter where there is no space。 The value of non…action is in acting naturally。 Therefore the master teaches of what is beyond words。 And his acts carry no expectations。
44
Is fame more important than living? Is money more important than happiness? What do you consider success or failure? Fame fulfils the lives of others。 Happiness cannot be bought。 Living is a celebration of the way things are。 Happiness is wanting no more。
45
Although things appear imperfect; herein lies their perfection。 Fullness appears empty; herein lies its fullness。 That which is straight appears bent。 The wise appear foolish。 The talented appear unskilled。 That which is still appears to move。 By not moving; the master can move into any situation。
46
With the Tao; everything serves a natural creative function。 With man; weapons are made to destroy。 Desire creates fear and violence。 Without desire there is no fear。 Free from fear you are eternal。
47
You cannot go anywhere to experience the Tao。 It can only be experienced here。 The more knowledge you have; the less you know。 The master knows without knowledge; and sees without eyes。 Without thinking of success is his eternal success。
48
You learn something everyday through knowledge。 You unlearn something everyday experiencing the Tao。 Unlearn more and more until you know。 Then there is no doer; thus nothing to do。 Doing nothing; let things take their natural course。 Try to do something and you will miss。
49
The master has no fixed ideas; but accepts whatever comes his way。 His is an unbending trust in existence; so he treats all the same。 He trusts that a good man is doing the right thing。 He also trusts that a bad man is doing the right thing。 He keeps his trust a secret; knowing others cannot understand。 He appears to be like a child。
50
Ordinary people revolve in the misery of birth and death。 The master is free from birth and death。 A person is not born of existence; but born of societal conditioning。 Ordinary people are like water which fears the death of freezing。 The master is like H2O and welcomes the movement of one state to another as the natural course of things。 Because he accepts death; he is always safe。 Wild beasts or weapons cannot harm him。
51
For every being; the Tao is。 Conscious existence comes naturally。 Physical appearance is determined by circumstances。 Therefore; the Tao is honoured by all without effort。 All are born of it; and it provides their livelihood。 It is the safe haven of life and the destination of death。 It produces everything; but possesses nothing。 Through it all opportunities arise; but it isn抰 involved。 Its virtue is total; and its function is mysterious。
52
Everything begins with the Tao and ends with the Tao。 To know it retrace the steps of your life。 When you reach back to the beginning; the Tao lies herein。 Then you will realise there is no death。 Without desire your heart is at peace。 Without judgment your mind is clear。 See who it is that sees。 Witness thoughts come and go。 Turn the light around and find its source。 Practicing this leads to enlightenment。
53
Freedom lies in the Tao。 Habits are binding。 There is freedom in moderation; and bondage in excess。 When the wealthy thrive at the expense of others; is this not theft? Is it not chaotic for a rich man to flaunt his money; when those around have barely enough? The violence of excess will end in disaster。
54
If you are rooted in the Tao; you cannot be moved。 If you hold to the Tao; time won抰 pass。 You endlessly abide in the virtue of the Tao。 When your life isn?t separate from the Tao; your true self is。 When your family isn抰 separate; they will flower。 When the earth isn抰 separate; it is abundant。 When the universe isn?t separate; it is harmonious。 From an atom; to the universe; there is no inside or outside。 How do I know? By hearing with my eyes。
55
The master抯 virtue is to be like a newborn child。 Its connection to the physical body is weak; but its hold on the Tao is strong。 Therefore it is free from all physical dangers。 It hasn抰 been conditioned; so its energy is whole。 At one with nature; it can scream all day and never becomes hoarse。 If you follow the natural flow there will be no desire。 Without desire there is no expectation。 Without expectation there is no disappointment。 Without disappointment there is serenity。 In serenity abides the true breath; which is the gateway to enlightenment。
56
If you know; you don抰 talk。 If you talk; you don抰 know。 Don抰 speak of the Tao。 Don抰 indulge your senses。 Don抰 be arrogant。 Drop all beliefs。 Lose self…importance。 Dismiss all knowledge。 Here you reach non…duality。 Once enlightened; you have no friends or enemies。 You cannot be rewarded or punished。 You cannot be honoured or disgraced。 Detached from self; you can be called a real human。
57
To be a good father; you must follow the natural way。 There can be no static ideas。 The children are allowed to follow their own course。 The more rules you have; the less they will obey。 The more punishment you give; the less happy they will be。 The more you interfere; the less self…reliant they are。 Therefore a master says: I do not create rules and the children act truthfully。 I do not punish; and the children are happy。 I do not interfere; and the children develop naturally。 If a father has no desires for his children; their fulfilment is guaranteed。
58
A father that is understanding and kind has children who are honest and content。 A father that is strict and harsh has children who are deceitful and cunning。 The higher the standard a farther expects; the lower the results for the child。 Try to make a child happy and you will bring about his misery。 Force morals on a child; and he will become immoral。 Realise that every coin has two sides。 All a father can do is set an example which he would be happy for his children to mimic。
59
A father who is moderate is able to be a genuine support。 Because he doesn抰 consider himself; his acts are full of virtue。 Having no vision of the future; he is totally present。 Without fixed ideas; he can fit perfectly to any situation。
The master has no self; therefore knows no limits。 Even death cannot stop him。
60
In fathering; care must be taken not to spoil a child。 If you give more than is asked; this is excessive。 When you follow the natural way; good or bad cannot sway you。 You realise that which is considered bad; may be good; and visa versa。 Dropping ideas of good or bad; your actions are natural。
61
A great master is prepared for nothing; so is ready for anything。 He trusts in the Tao and accepts he cannot control its movement。 Realising its greatness; he serves it。 Thus he is humble and feminine。 Hu