04道德经英译本85种-第248部分

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　　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。〃
　　When　the　Tao　produces　and　its　energy　nourishes；
　　nature　forms　and　natural　forces　establish。　On　this　account　there　is　nothing　that　does　not　honor　the　Tao　and　reverence　its　energy。　This　honor　and　reverence　are　spontaneous；　not　the　result　of　a　mandate。
　　So　the　Tao　produces。　Its　energy　nourishes；　increases；　feeds；　establishes；　matures；　controls；　broods　over。
　　It　produces；　but　keeps　nothing　for　itself；　acts；　but　does　not　depend　on　its　action；　increases；　but　does　not　insist　on　having　its　own　way。　This　indeed　is　the　mystery　of　energy。
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　　The　world　has　a　beginning
　　We　regard　it　as　the　mother　of　the　world
　　Having　its　mother
　　We　can　know　her　children
　　Knowing　her　children
　　Still　holding　on　to　the　mother
　　Live　without　danger　all　through　life
　　Close　the　mouth
　　Shut　the　doors
　　Live　without　toil　all　through　life
　　Open　the　mouth
　　Meddle　in　the　affairs
　　Live　without　salvation　all　through　life
　　Seeing　details　is　called　clarity
　　Holding　on　to　the　soft　is　called　strength
　　Utilize　the　light
　　Return　to　the　clarity
　　Leaving　no　disasters　for　the　self
　　This　is　called　following　constancy

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　　If　I　have　a　little　knowledge
　　Walking　on　the　great　Tao
　　I　fear　only　to　deviate　from　it
　　The　great　Tao　is　broad　and　plain
　　But　people　like　the　side　paths
　　The　courts　are　corrupt
　　The　fields　are　barren
　　The　warehouses　are　empty
　　Officials　wear　fineries
　　Carry　sharp　swords
　　Fill　up　on　drinks　and　food
　　Acquire　excessive　wealth
　　This　is　called　robbery
　　It　is　not　the　Tao！

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　　That　which　is　well　established　cannot　be　uprooted
　　That　which　is　strongly　held　cannot　be　taken
　　The　descendants　will　commemorate　it　forever

　　Cultivate　it　in　yourself；　its　virtue　shall　be　true
　　Cultivate　it　in　the　family；　its　virtue　shall　be　abundant
　　Cultivate　it　in　the　community；　its　virtue　shall　be　lasting
　　Cultivate　it　in　the　country；　its　virtue　shall　be　prosperous
　　Cultivate　it　in　the　world；　its　virtue　shall　be　widespread

　　Therefore　observe　others　with　yourself
　　Observe　other　families　with　your　family
　　Observe　other　communities　with　your　community
　　Observe　other　countries　with　your　country
　　Observe　the　world　with　the　world
　　With　what　do　I　know　the　world？

　　With　this
　　The　well…established　cannot　be　uprooted。
　　The　well…grasped　does　not　slip　away。
　　Generation　after　generation　carries　out　the　ancestor　worship　without　break。

　　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。
　　Who　plants　well　will　not　have　his　work　uprooted；　who　embraces　well　will　not　lose　what　he　holds；
　　the　offerings　of　his　sons　and　grandsons　will　never　end。
　　Who　thus　regulates　himself　has　virtue　which　is　genuine；　who　thus　regulates　his　household　has　virtue　which　overflows；　who　thus　regulates　his　neighborhood　has　virtue　which　excels；　who　thus　regulates　the　state　has　virtue　which　abounds；　who　thus　regulates　the　world　has　virtue　which　is　universal。

　　Therefore　let　every　man　prove　himself；　let　each　household；　neighborhood；　and　state　do　the　same；　let　the　world　also　follow　the　same　course。
　　How　do　I　know　that　it　must　be　thus　with　the　world？　By　this　same　（which　has　been　just　said）。

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　　Those　who　hold　an　abundance　of　virtue
　　Are　similar　to　newborn　infants
　　Poisonous　insects　do　not　sting　them
　　Wild　beasts　do　not　claw　them
　　Birds　of　prey　do　not　attack　them
　　Their　bones　are　weak；　tendons　are　soft
　　But　their　grasp　is　firm
　　They　do　not　know　of　sexual　union　but　can　manifest　arousal
　　Due　to　the　optimum　of　essence
　　They　can　cry　the　whole　day　and　yet　not　be　hoarse
　　Due　to　the　optimum　of　harmony
　　Knowing　harmony　is　said　to　be　constancy
　　Knowing　constancy　is　said　to　be　clarity
　　Excessive　vitality　is　said　to　be　inauspicious
　　Mind　overusing　energy　is　said　to　be　aggressive
　　Things　become　strong　and　then　grow　old
　　This　is　called　contrary　to　the　Tao
　　That　which　is　contrary　to　the　Tao　will　soon　perish　
　　Tao　cultivators　wish　to　return　to　a　purer　and　simpler　state　of　mind。　It　is　a　state　full　of　bliss　and　grace。　We　have　all　experienced　it　as　infants；　but　have　forgotten　as　we　grew　up　and　became　more　and　more　affected　by　the　material　world。
　　Infants　are　protected　from　danger。　Someone　who　has　cultivated　much　virtue　and　thus　become　more　child…like　is　likewise　protected。　Just　as　infants　are　protected　by　their　loving　parents；　virtuous　cultivators　are　protected　by　the　all…nurturing　mother；　the　Tao。　By　following　the　Tao；　they　cannot　be　stung　by　poisonous　insects　of　malicious　gossip；　clawed　by　the　wild　beasts　of　fear　and　anger；　or　attacked　by　the　vicious　birds　of　greed　and　envy。
　　Such　virtuous　cultivators　may　appear　soft　and　yielding；　and　yet　they　have　a　firm　handle　on　their　goals　and　objectives。　They　are　flexible　in　their　approach；　and　unwavering　in　their　determination。
　　They　live　life　with　energy　and　vitality。　They　possess　the　optimum　essence　of　health；　so　that　every　day　is　exciting；　fun；　and　creative。　Just　as　babies　cry　all　day　without　getting　hoarse；　they　can　concentrate　on　difficult　tasks　for　an　extended　period　of　time　without　getting　tired。
　　Their　energy　works　in　perfect　harmony　with　their　surroundings。　This　harmonious　interaction　arises　from　their　constant　purpose　and　sense　of　mission。　They　understand　the　meaning　of　life　…　why　they　are　here　and　what　they　are　here　to　do　…　and　this　clarity　of　vision　powers　their　every　thought　and　action。
　　They　can　endure　the　test　of　time　because　they　never　overdo　anything。　They　do　not　cultivate　physical　vitality　to　excess；　nor　do　they　overtax　the　mind。　If　life　is　a　race；　then　they　are　marathon　runners；　not　sprinters。　Sprinters　may　be　able　to　surge　forward　in　an　explosive　burst　of　speed；　but　within　minutes　their　strength　is　depleted。　Soon　after；　they　collapse　in　a　heap　of　exhaustion。　It　is　inevitable　and　contrary　to　the　lasting　and　enduring　Tao　of　the　true　cultivators。
　　Notes
　　The　ancient　sages　spoke　of　sexuality　in　an　open　and　direct　manner　because　they　saw　it　as　part　of　nature；　and　not　something　about　which　to　feel　shame　or　guilt。　They　see　nothing　〃filthy〃　or　〃disgusting〃　about　it。　Instead；　they　acknowledge　and　utilize　its　vast　creative　powers。
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　　Those　who　know　do　not　talk
　　Those　who　talk　do　not　know
　　Close　the　mouth
　　Shut　the　doors
　　Blunt　the　sharpness
　　Unravel　the　knots
　　Dim　the　glare
　　Mix　the　dust
　　This　is　called　mystic　oneness
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　closer
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　distant
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　benefited
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　harmed
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　valued
　　They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　degraded
　　Therefore；　they　become　honored　by　the　world　
　　The　truly　wise　understand　the　Tao；　so　they　know　that　actions　speak　louder　than　words。　Rather　than　to　talk　endlessly　about　what　they　should　do　or　how　they　should　be；　they　put　their　time　and　effort　into　the　actual　doing　and　being。
　　On　the　other　hand；　those　who　prattle　on　and　on　only　demonstrate　that　they　know　little　about　the　Tao。　They　spend　so　much　time　talking　about　what　they　think　they　know　that　they　end　up　not　putting　any　of　it　into　actual　practice。　Without　real…life　applications；　the　Tao　means　nothing。
　　Tao　cultivators　close　openings　and　doors　…　the　passages　that　lead　to；　or　allow　in；　the　many　temptations　and　distractions　of　the　material　world。　They　realize　that　the　sensory　thrills　of　such　distractions　are　short…lived　and　ultimately　illusory；　so　they　prefer　to　stick　to　the　real　and　practical。
　　When　interacting　with　others；　they　are　gentle　and　compassionate；　because　caustic　and　abrasive　words　can　form　a　sharp　edge　that　hurts　people。　Their　gentle　approach　unravels　the　complexities　of　personal　interactions；　so　they　can　enjoy　a　simple；　direct　connection　with　fellow　human　beings　that　is　mutually　enriching。
　　They　are　also　humble　and　full　of　self…effacing　humor；　because　those　who　like　to　show　off　their　mental　brilliance　end　up　alienating　people　with　the　blinding　glare　of　their　arrogance。
　　True　Tao　cultivators　do　not　try　to　set　themselves　apart　from　the　rest　of　humanity。　They　do　not　go　into　hermitage　far　away　from　civilization。　Instead；　they　are　fully　immersed　in　the　dust　of　the　material　world　where　they　can　really　put　their　spiritual　cultivation　to　the　test。
　　All　of　the　above　are　aspects　of　what　we　call　〃Mystic　Oneness。〃　It　is　a　crucial　element　in　any　spiritual　path。
　　Those　who　achieve　true　understanding　of　Mystic　Oneness　（whether　they　call　it　by　that　name　or　not）　are　the　ones　who　can　be　fully　involved　with　life　in　the　material　world。。。　and　yet　transcend　beyond　it。　One　cannot　influence　them　by　getting　close　to　them　or　treating　them　in　a　cold　and　distant　manner。　They　are　unmoved　by　the　promise　of　benefits　or　threats　of　injury。　It　is　equally　useless　to　flatter　them；　feed　their　ego；　or　attempt　to　pummel　them　into　submission　by　degrading　or　condemning　them。
　　Such　people　are　truly　exceptional；　and　that　is　why　they　will　invariably　become　honored　by　the　entire　world。
　　Notes
　　If　the　above　descriptions　are　too　vague　or　abstract；　think　of　Gandhi；　Nelson　Mandela；　and　the　Dalai　Lama。　These　are　concrete；　real…life　examples　of　human　beings　who　have　attained　the　level　of　Mystic　Oneness。　Read　the　interpretation　above　with　these　exceptional　individuals　in　mind；　and　you　will　find　th