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第241节

04道德经英译本85种-第241节

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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  and go the whole way。

  45

  A great thing done is never perfect …
  But that doesn't mean it fails: itdoes what it is。

  Real richness means to act as if youhad nothing;
  Because then you will never be drainedof it。

  The greatest straightness seems bend;
  The greatest ability seems awkward;
  And the greatest speech; like a stammering。

  Act calmly; not coldly。
  Peace is greater than anger。
  Tranquillity and harmony

  are the true order of things。

  46

  'When the Tao runs the world;
  the horses work the farms。'
  Without Tao

  the horses are led into war along theborders。

  You see; if people want more and more
  it can only lead to disaster。

  Greed

  is the seed of apocalypse …
  it is the rocket…fuel of selfishness:
  me; me; me!

  If people could only be glad with allthey have;
  if they only knew it; they'd be happy。

  47

  Without going anywhere;
  you can know the whole world。
  Without even opening your window;
  you can know the ways of Heaven。

  You see: the further away you go; theless you know

  The sage doesn't need to travel around:
  Why? Because he can still understand。

  He sees without needing 'to see';
  He never does anything; and yet
  it all happens。

  48

  Usually; people read because they wantto know …
  but the more you study the Tao; theless you want knowledge。

  And as you want less and less; youcome closer to not…doing。
  Wu…wei … this is the way to get thingsdone。

  The best way to run the world
  is to let it take its course
  … and to get yourself
  out of the way of it!

  49

  'The sage is never opinionated;
  He listens to the mind of the people。'

  I am kind to people when they are kindto me。
  I am kind to them even if they hateme。
  Virtue … te … is its own reward。

  I trust those who trust me;
  I also trust those who have no faithin me:
  What I give; I receive。

  A sage is self…effacing and mindfulof offence。
  He sets himself as his own example。
  How shall I treat you; my son?

  Like a child。

  50

  In the normal way of things
  every three in ten live long;
  while every three in ten die young…
  and for those just passing throughtheir lives
  (that is; every three in ten) thechances are the same。

  Why is this?
  Well; it all depends on how identified
  they are with the mundane world ofmatter。

  People who know how to live
  will never do things that threatentheir lives;
  any more than a traveler who knows
  will run into a tiger or a wild buffalo。

  Living well is like wearing
  a kind of armour that nothing canpenetrate。

  Living badly is like being attacked!

  A practiced sage is invulnerable toattacks
  that punch like a buffalo's horn;
  that claw like a leaping tiger …
  or that stab like a knife in the back。

  And why is this?

  Because he is impeccable。

  51

  Everything streams from the Tao;
  Everything is nurtured by Te
  Everything is made out of substance。

  Everything is created by the Tao ofNature
  … and from everything on earth thatsurrounds it。

  So every living thing
  should bow to the Tao;
  the Tao and its Virtue

  because they are what it is。

  Everything that breathes comes fromthe Tao;
  And the Virtue feeds and takes careof it。

  They grace things without possessingthem;
  They benefit everything but ask fornothing back;
  They give themselves into everythingwithout seeking control。

  This is the essence
  of the original intention。

  52

  Every living thing
  Comes from the Mother of Us All:

  If we can understand the Mother
  Then we can understand her children;

  And if we know ourselves as children
  We can see the source is Her。

  And; well; if your body dies …
  there's nothing to be frightened about。

  If you keep your mouth shut
  And stay inside …
  Then you'll live a long time。

  If you blurt out
  What you think to everyone;
  Then you won't last long。

  Value littleness。 This wisdom。

  To bend like a reed
  in the wind
  … that is real strength。

  Use your mind; but stay close to thelight
  And it will lengthen its glow
  right through your life。

  53

  If all I know is a fraction …
  then all my only fear is of losingthe thread 。 。 。

  The Great Way is easy
  but people are forever being takendown sidetracks。

  They look after the palaces;
  But ignore the fields!

  The granaries are empty
  … but they wear wonderful clothes!

  They go about with arms
  and gorge themselves on find foodand drink。

  How rich they are …
  and they have stolen it all from thepoor。

  They are the robber barons of now …

  This is not the real Tao!

  54

  What is build on rock
  cannot be pulled down;
  What is held lightly
  can never be lost。

  Meditate on virtue within yourself;
  and you will find the benefit of virtue。

  Use it as the ground for the family;
  and your virtue will last for generations。

  Take it as your guidance for the village;
  and the place will blossom for yearsto come。

  Use it to guide the nation;
  and that nation will create abundance。

  Be guided by it for the Whole;
  and it will flood its way over theworld。

  So; look at someone else as you wouldyourself
  And treat other families as you wouldyour own;
  See your community in other communities;
  Think of all countries as part ofyour being
  And treasure the world as the roundcentre of everything。

  How can I see the would like this?
  Because I have eyes。

  55

  'Those who have true te
  Are like a newborn baby。'

  … and if they seem like this; theywill not be stung
  by wasps or snakes; or pounced on
  by animals in the wild or birds ofprey。

  A baby is weak and supple; but hishand can grasp your finger。
  He has no desire as yet; and yet hecan be erect …
  he can cry day and night without evengetting hoarse
  such is the depth of his harmony。

  It's stupid to rush around。
  When you fight against yourself; itshows in your face。
  But if you draw your sap
  from your heart
  then you will be truly strong。

  You will be great。

  56

  If you know what it is; don't talk itaway:
  If you do; then you don't understand。

  Hush; keep it in; and your doorwayshut …
  Steer clear of sharpness and untanglethe knots。

  Feel your lightness and let it mergewith others;
  This; we say; is our basic oneness。

  The sage who does this doesn't haveto worry
  about people called 'friends' or 'enemies';
  with profit or loss; honour or disgrace…

  He is a Master of Life; instead。

  57

  To rules a nation; use justice
  To win a battle … cunning;
  But remember: wu…wei is the only trueway。
  How do I know this?
  I will explain:

  The more rules you have; the more unhappypeople are;
  And the more weapons there are; theworse things happen。
  The more we want luxuries; the morewe abandon simplicity …
  And the more laws you pass; the morewe will break them。

  So the sage says: I do nothing; andthe people come together;
  By leaving them alone I let them beon the path …
  By not using my power; they becomerich in themselves。
  And if I want to nothing; they willreturn to the essence of their being。

  58

  'If you govern with a generous hand …
  then your people will be good people。
  But if your system is too constricting
  then your people will outwit you 。。 。'

  Good fortune; we say; can come fromdisaster:
  And the reverse is true as well。

  Who knows where all this will lead?

  Honesty can flip into deceit in a moment;
  People trying to be good can fallinto the dark
  And it can take them years to getout of it。

  So the sage is like a razor; but hedoesn't cut
  He is straight as a die; but not pointedlyso …
  He is bright; but not blindingly so。 。 。

  59

  When ruling the world and serving Heaven;
  The sage uses simplicity in everythinghe does。

  Simplicity comes from letting go ofwhat you want。

  If you've been true to yourself earlierin your life
  Then te builds up in you like a wellthat never fails。
  Nothing is impossible; then … andnothing can stop you。
  And if you have no limits … then youcan hold the State。

  If the sage can find the Mother ofa Nation
  Then he will govern for a long; longtime。

  All this comes form his rootednessin the Tao;
  The Tao of Ages; the Mountain of VisionAnd Of Wings。

  60

  Ruling a big country
  Is like cooking a small fish:
  You have to handle it with care。

  If a sage uses the Tao
  Then evil forces have no power:
  He doesn't harm people either。

  Through te; you see
  We have harmony。

  61

  A great country is like a low…lying estuary…
  It is a place wh

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