04道德经英译本85种-第251部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　The　one　who　grasps　will　lose
　　Therefore；　sages　do　not　meddle　and　thus　do　not　fail
　　They　do　not　grasp　and　thus　do　not　lose
　　People；　in　handling　affairs
　　Often　come　close　to　completion　and　fail
　　If　they　are　as　careful　in　the　end　as　the　beginning
　　Then　they　would　have　no　failure
　　Therefore；　sages　desire　not　to　desire
　　They　do　not　value　goods　that　are　hard　to　acquire
　　They　learn　to　unlearn
　　To　redeem　the　fault　of　the　people
　　To　assist　the　nature　of　all　things
　　Without　daring　to　meddle　
　　It　is　relatively　easy　to　maintain　the　situation　when　everything　is　peaceful　and　quiet。　When　the　possibility　for　chaos　is　small　or　nearly　non…existent；　it　is　a　simple　task　to　keep　it　in　check。
　　Generally　speaking；　it　is　always　easier　to　act　on　something　effectively　when　it　is　small。　Take　care　of　an　issue　as　early　as　possible；　before　it　really　becomes　an　issue。　Nip　a　potential　problem　in　the　bud　so　it　doesn't　get　the　chance　to　grow　into　something　serious。
　　This　same　principle　extends　to　many　aspects　of　life。　The　mightiest　trees　started　as　a　small　and　delicate　shoot；　barely　noticeable　in　the　ground。　The　tallest　building　we　have　had　to　be　built　from　the　ground　up。　There　was　a　time　when　it　was　nothing　more　than　a　pile　of　dirt　brought　to　the　site　in　preparation　for　construction　to　begin。
　　The　greatest；　most　epic　journey　one　can　undertake　still　must　begin　where　you　stand。　Similarly；　great　deeds　can　have　a　small；　indeed　humble；　beginning。　A　vast　accumulation　of　knowledge　starts　somewhere；　with　the　turning　of　one　page　in　a　particular　book。　When　we　keep　this　great　wisdom　in　mind；　it　becomes　easier　for　us　to　overcome　inertia　and　take　that　first　step。
　　Notes
　　The　ancient　Chinese　measurement　of　distance；　li；　is　loosely　translated　as　〃mile。〃　One　li　is　about　half　a　kilometer；　and　roughly　a　third　of　a　mile。
　　Many　people　know　the　expression；　〃A　journey　of　a　thousand　miles　begins　with　one　step。〃　However；　most　of　them　probably　have　no　idea　that　it　originally　came　from　this　chapter　of　the　Tao　Te　Ching。　Some　are　aware　that　it's　Chinese　in　origin；　but　mistaken　it　attribute　it　to　Confucius。　So　now　you　know　something　they　do　not。
　　Another　interesting　thing　to　note　is　that　the　popular　expression　is　in　fact　a　mistranslation。　The　original　contains　no　character　for　〃one〃　or　〃step。〃　Nor　does　it　imply　the　taking　of　that　first　step。　What　it　says　is　that　the　little　piece　of　ground　beneath　your　feet　is　the　starting　point　of　even　the　longest　journeys。　That's　all　it　says。　The　taking　of　that　first　step　is　certainly　a　legitimate　interpretation　and　amplification　of　this　passage；　but　it　definitely　does　not　qualify　as　a　translation。
　　65

　　Those　of　ancient　times　who　were　adept　at　the　Tao
　　Used　it　not　to　make　people　brighter
　　But　to　keep　them　simple
　　The　difficulty　in　governing　people
　　Is　due　their　excessive　cleverness
　　Therefore；　using　cleverness　to　govern　the　state
　　Is　being　a　thief　of　the　state
　　Not　using　cleverness　to　govern　the　state
　　Is　being　a　blessing　of　the　state
　　Know　that　these　two　are　both　standards
　　Always　knowing　these　standards
　　Is　called　Mystic　Virtue
　　Mystic　Virtue　is　so　profound；　so　far…reaching
　　It　goes　opposite　to　material　things
　　Then　it　reaches　great　congruence　
　　The　sage　kings　of　ancient　China　were　masterful　in　applying　the　Tao。　They　did　not　use　it　to　make　people　more　clever　and　more　knowledgeable。　Instead；　they　used　it　to　guide　people　toward　simplicity。
　　These　sages　understood　very　well　that　cleverness　and　knowledge　would　bring　with　them　greater　desires；　deceit；　and　devious　tricks。　This　would　lead　to　complexities　and　chaos；　thus　making　things　difficult　not　only　for　them；　but　also　for　the　people。
　　They　came　to　the　conclusion　long　ago　that　using　guile；　manipulation；　and　contrivance　to　govern　would　do　great　harm　to　the　country　…　really　not　so　different　than　stealing　from　it　like　a　thief。　On　the　other　hand；　not　using　these　tricks　and　guiding　the　people　toward　simplicity　would　lead　to　benefits　for　all；　and　would　therefore　be　a　great　blessing　to　the　country　as　a　whole。
　　Both　of　these　approaches　…　shrewd　cunning　versus　straightforward　plainness　…　are　standards；　and　it　is　important　to　know　both。　The　ancient　masters　made　it　a　point　to　understand　Machiavellian　methods　thoroughly；　while　embracing　upright；　honest　simplicity　in　actual　practice。　This　mindset　of　never　losing　sight　of　both　is　known　as　Mystic　Virtue。
　　The　power　of　Mystic　Virtue　is　beyond　measure。　It　is　both　profound　in　its　implications　and　far…reaching　in　its　effects。　It　runs　counter　to　the　tendency　to　pursue　material　things；　and　opposite　the　typical　person's　desire　for　short…term　gains。　We　see　it　as　achieving　a　state　of　great　congruence；　because　Mystic　Virtue　follows　nature　and　is　therefore　perfectly　congruent　with　the　Tao。
　　Notes
　　Your　life　is　a　sovereign　state　in　its　own　right；　and　you　are　the　ruler　of　this　state。　If；　like　many　people；　you　run　your　life　with　a　measure　of　clever　duplicity　and　contrived　craftiness；　you　will　also　make　everything　more　complex　and　difficult　to　manage。　A　complicated　life　filled　with　tension　and　stress　is　one　where　the　joy　has　been　taken　away　…　by　yourself。　You　would　then　be　the　thief　who　robs　your　own　life　of　happiness。
　　Lao　Tzu　advises　you　to　cultivate　Mystic　Virtue　instead。　That　is；　be　fully　aware　of　all　the　deceptive　tricks　and　meddlesome　cunning　that　can　manifest　in　your　life；　but　at　the　same　time　hold　on　to　P'u；　the　ultimate　principle　of　simplicity　and　plainness。　This　will　be　a　great　blessing　in　your　life；　and　as　you　continue　living　this　way　…　in　total　congruence　with　the　Tao　…　you　will　feel　profound　and　far…reaching　effects　of　Mystic　Virtue　in　every　aspect　of　living；　resulting　in　a　life　filled　with　joy　and　peace　of　mind。
　　66

　　Rivers　and　oceans　can　be　the　kings　of　a　hundred　valleys
　　Because　of　their　goodness　in　staying　low
　　So　they　can　be　the　kings　of　a　hundred　valleys
　　Thus　if　sages　wish　to　be　over　people
　　They　must　speak　humbly　to　them
　　If　they　wish　to　be　in　front　of　people
　　They　must　place　themselves　behind　them
　　Thus　the　sages　are　positioned　above
　　But　the　people　do　not　feel　burdened
　　They　are　positioned　in　front
　　But　the　people　do　not　feel　harmed
　　Thus　the　world　is　glad　to　push　them　forward　without　resentment
　　Because　they　do　not　contend
　　So　the　world　cannot　contend　with　them　
　　Rivers　and　oceans　receive　everything　from　the　streams　and　rivulets　of　a　hundred　valleys。　It　is　as　if　they　are　the　rulers　of　all　these　valleys；　receiving　their　tributes　and　offerings　into　the　royal　treasury。
　　The　reason　that　rivers　and　oceans　have　dominion　over　the　valleys　is　simple：　It　is　their　nature　to　occupy　the　lowest　position。　All　the　streams　and　rivulets　of　the　valleys　naturally　flow　into　them。
　　Tao　sages　emulate　nature。　So　when　they　observe　the　above；　they　realize　that　the　principle　applies　equally　well　to　human　beings。　If　they　wish　to　have　influence　over　other　people；　they　must　occupy　the　lowest　position　like　rivers　and　oceans。　In　other　words；　they　must　possess　true　humility　and　speak　humbly　to　everyone。
　　Similarly；　if　the　sages　wish　to　lead　people　and　be　in　front　of　them；　they　must　place　themselves　behind　them　out　of　the　same　sense　of　humility。　Because　the　sages　are　self…effacing　and　wish　only　to　serve　the　greater　good；　people　thrust　them　forward　into　positions　of　leadership。
　　As　leaders；　sages　utilize　the　Tao　rather　than　force　or　domination。　People　serve　and　assist　them　voluntarily；　without　coercion　or　pressure。　Therefore；　although　the　position　of　a　sage　ends　up　being　above　the　followers；　people　do　not　feel　burdened　or　oppressed。　Although　the　sage　is　ahead　of　the　masses；　people　do　not　feel　threatened　or　harmed。
　　This　Tao　leadership　builds　relationships　and　promotes　harmony；　so　people　are　happy　to　follow　the　sage　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　They　do　not　resent　the　power　wielded　by　the　sages。　In　fact；　they　push　the　sages　forward　and　urge　that　they　accept　the　the　mantle　of　power。
　　This　is　a　very　different　concept　from　the　conventional　〃might　makes　right〃　paradigm；　where　one　seizes　power　by　force　and　bullies　others　with　it。　The　sages　are　the　exact　opposite。　They　have　no　need　to　seize　anything　or　fight　against　anyone。　Because　of　this；　no　one　fights　with　them。　Instead；　the　people　support　Tao　leadership　from　the　heart；　and　of　their　own　free　will！
　　67

　　Everyone　in　the　world　calls　my　Tao　great
　　As　if　it　is　beyond　compare
　　It　is　only　because　of　its　greatness
　　That　it　seems　beyond　compare
　　If　it　can　be　compared
　　It　would　already　be　insignificant　long　ago
　　I　have　three　treasures
　　I　hold　on　to　them　and　protect　them
　　The　first　is　called　compassion
　　The　second　is　called　conservation
　　The　third　is　called　not　daring　to　be　ahead　in　the　world
　　Compassionate；　thus　able　to　have　courage
　　Conserving；　thus　able　to　reach　widely
　　Not　daring　to　be　ahead　in　the　world
　　Thus　able　to　assume　leadership
　　Now　if　one　has　courage　but　discards　compassion
　　Reaches　widely　but　discards　conservation
　　Goes　ahead　but　discards　being　behind
　　Then　death！
　　If　one　fights　with　compassion；　then　victory
　　With　defense；　then　security
　　Heaven　shall　save　them
　　And　with　compassion　guard　them　
　　The　reason　people　call　the　Tao　great　is　because　there　is　nothing　quite　like　it。　The　Tao　is　an　infinite　concept　that　has　no　form；　shape；　substance；　limit　or　boundaries。　If　it　were　finite；　then　no　matter　how　big　it　is；　there　will　always　be　something　far　bigger　that　dwarfs　it　into　insignificance。
　　Tao　cultivators　have　three　treasures　that　they　cherish。　The　first　is　compassion　…　a　love　and　kindness　toward　all　things。　The　second　is　conservation　…　knowing　when　and　how　to　avoid　wasting　one's　time　and　energy；　and　direct　them　in　a　meaningful　way；　in　accordance　with　one's　purpose　in　life。　The　third　is　humility　…　the　awareness　that　seeing　oneself　as　being　above　or　ahead　of　other　people　can　only　lead　to　failure。
　　By　having　compassion；　one　gains　courage。　True　courage　doesn't　come　from　macho　posturing　or　false　bravado。　Rather；　it　comes　from　love　and　commitment　to　something　greater　than　oneself。
　　By　having　the　min