04道德经英译本85种-第253部分

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　　Respect　themselves　but　do　not　praise　themselves
　　Thus　they　discard　that　and　take　this　
　　When　people　no　longer　fear　the　dominating　force　of　authority；　they　will　bring　about　greater　force　against　the　authority　in　an　uprising。
　　Thus　the　wise　ruler　would　not　attempt　to　limit　the　people　in　their　living　space　or　their　thoughts。　Nor　would　the　wise　ruler　deny　the　people　their　means　of　livelihood。
　　If　the　ruler　does　not　oppress　the　people　in　these　ways；　the　people　also　will　not　reject　the　leadership。
　　Therefore；　when　interacting　with　people；　the　sages　are　accepting　and　humble。　They　possess　the　clarity　of　self…knowledge；　so　they　have　no　need　to　put　themselves　on　a　pedestal　to　seek　external　validation。　They　possess　the　confidence　of　self…respect；　so　they　have　no　need　to　praise　themselves　and　highlight　their　own　achievements。
　　Thus；　the　sages　discard　arrogance　and　pomposity　while　embracing　self…knowledge　and　self…respect。
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　　The　bold　in　daring　will　be　killed
　　The　bold　in　not　daring　will　survive
　　Of　these　two；　one　may　benefit；　the　other　may　harm
　　The　one　hated　by　heaven　…　who　knows　the　reason？
　　Even　the　sages　still　find　this　difficult
　　The　Tao　of　heaven：
　　Does　not　contend　and　yet　excels　in　winning
　　Does　not　speak　and　yet　excels　in　responding
　　Is　not　summoned　and　yet　comes　on　its　own
　　Is　unhurried　and　yet　excels　in　planning
　　The　heavenly　net　is　vast
　　Loose；　and　yet　does　not　let　anything　slip　through　
　　Those　who　are　bold　and　forward　in　being　reckless　tend　to　take　unnecessary　risks。　Sooner　or　later；　these　risks　catch　up　with　them　and　cause　their　demise。
　　Those　who　are　resolute　in　being　cautious　tend　to　be　much　more　sensible。　They　advance　while　managing　their　risk　exposure；　so　they　can　conserve　their　resources　while　continuing　to　thrive。
　　We　can　see　that　these　two　approaches　yield　very　different　results。　The　careful　resolve　may　bring　benefits；　while　the　reckless　charge　may　bring　harm。
　　It　seems　as　if　heaven　dislikes　those　who　are　rash　and　thoughtless；　and　punish　them　accordingly。　It　is　as　if　it　has　a　preference　for　courageous　rationality。　We　do　not　know　why　this　should　be　the　case。
　　Even　the　sages　still　have　a　difficult　time　explaining　it；　because　they　have　always　known　the　Tao　to　be　impartial　and　unbiased。　Natural　forces；　being　without　human　emotions；　do　not　have　likes　or　dislikes。
　　Perhaps　it　is　all　due　to　the　nature　of　the　heavenly　Tao。　For　instance；　we　can　see　that　the　Tao　contends　with　no　one；　and　yet　invariably　wins　out　in　the　end。　Water　flows　around　an　obstructing　rock　without　challenging　it　or　fighting　it；　but　in　time　it　is　certain　that　the　water　will　reduce　the　rock　to　nothing　and　wash　it　away。
　　The　Tao　does　not　speak　as　humans　do；　and　yet　it　is　infinitely　responsive。　For　every　action　we　impose；　nature　responds　with　an　equal　and　opposite　reaction。　The　response　of　the　Tao　is　swift　and　certain。
　　We　cannot　summon　the　Tao；　but　no　matter　what　we　do；　the　Tao　comes　of　its　own　accord。　Whether　good　or　bad；　the　Tao　manifests　itself　in　all　of　our　endeavors。　Good　deeds　bring　positive　karma；　malice　invokes　negative　karmic　consequences。
　　The　Tao　process　proceeds　at　a　natural　pace。　The　Tao　is　never　rushed　or　frantic；　and　yet　its　infinite　organizing　power　coordinates　every　event　in　the　cosmos　regardless　of　scale　or　distance。　The　universe　is　a　pageantry　of　unimaginable　complexity　and　precision；　all　choreographed　by　Tao；　the　ultimate　planner。
　　The　Tao　can　be　likened　to　a　net　that　stretches　across　the　universe。　All　things　exist　within　the　meshes　of　its　natural　laws。　This　matrix　of　existence　is　loose　and　relaxed；　and　yet　takes　everything　into　account　and　does　not　leave　anything　out。
　　Notes
　　The　final；　unsaid　element　of　this　chapter　is　that　those　who　possess　courageous　resolve　but　advance　with　caution　are　congruent　with　the　Tao；　and　that　is　why　they　seem　to　be　favored　by　the　heavenly　powers。
　　Note　that　this　chapter　makes　an　interesting　distinction　between　courage　and　daring。　Courage　means　being　resolute；　dauntless　and　firm；　daring　means　throwing　caution　to　the　winds；　full　speed　ahead　and　damn　the　torpedoes。　One　is　an　inner　quality　born　of　conviction；　the　other　is　an　external　display　of　bravado。
　　Those　who　possess　this　inner　quality　are　similar　to　the　Tao　in　the　following　ways：
　　1。　Because　they　are　unadventurous；　they　do　not　struggle　against　others；　just　as　the　Tao　contends　against　no　one。　But　despite　this　seemingly　yielding　nature；　they　consistently　achieve　their　objectives　in　the　long　run。
　　2。　They　are　quiet　and　unassuming；　just　as　the　Tao　does　not　speak。　However；　they　remain　ever　responsive　to　changing　conditions　out　of　their　sense　of　caution。　When　circumstances　change；　they　are　ready　to　alter　their　approach　to　better　aim　for　a　moving　target。
　　3。　They　are　also　fully　present　in　all　of　their　activities；　just　as　the　Tao　is　present　in　all　things。　They　bring　mindfulness　to　their　work。　By　being　totally　aware　in　each　moment　of　life；　they　enhance　and　deepen　everything　they　do。
　　4。　They　are　composed　and　prepared；　just　as　the　Tao　plans　and　coordinates　its　myriad　movements　in　a　relaxed　and　unhurried　way。　They　see　how　flowers　bloom　when　the　season　is　right　and　not　a　moment　sooner；　so　they　also　take　their　time　in　thoughtful　planning。　By　being　well…prepared；　they　are　able　to　act　with　composure　and　maximize　their　chances　of　success。。。　when　the　time　is　right；　and　not　a　moment　sooner。
　　74

　　People　do　not　fear　death
　　How　can　they　be　threatened　with　death？
　　If　people　are　made　to　constantly　fear　death
　　Then　those　who　act　unlawfully
　　I　can　capture　and　kill　them
　　Who　would　dare？
　　There　exists　a　master　executioner　that　kills
　　If　we　substitute　for　the　master　executioner　to　kill
　　It　is　like　substituting　for　the　great　carpenter　to　cut
　　Those　who　substitute　for　the　great　carpenter　to　cut
　　It　is　rare　that　they　do　not　hurt　their　own　hands　
　　People　seem　to　have　no　fear　of　death；　so　how　can　they　be　scared　by　the　threat　of　execution？　Wouldn't　it　be　futile　for　us　to　use　death　as　a　deterrent？
　　If；　for　the　sake　of　argument；　we　say　that　people　have　a　constant　fear　of　death；　and　we　capture　and　kill　anyone　who　acts　in　a　strange　and　unlawful　manner；　then　who　would　dare　to　be　an　outlaw？
　　（But　since　there　are　still　many　outlaws；　it　does　look　as　if　the　death　penalty　…　capital　punishment　…　is　not　very　effective！）
　　There　is　a　master　executioner　who　is　always　present。　Call　it　Karma；　or　Nature；　or　the　Law　of　Reciprocity。　This　executioner　is　perfectly　impartial　and　never　fails　to　dispense　the　appropriate　punishment；　including　death。
　　There　is　no　need　for　human　beings　to　assume　the　role　of　this　master　executioner；　to　enact　what　they　perceive　to　be　justice。　Trying　to　do　so　is　similar　to　a　novice　trying　to　cut　wood　like　an　expert　carpenter。
　　When　novices　clumsily　pretend　to　be　masters　of　wood　cutting；　it　would　be　rare　for　them　to　not　accidentally　cut　their　own　hands。　Similarly；　those　who　think　they　can　kill　on　behalf　of　the　master　executioner　would　likely　end　up　harming　themselves。
　　（Thus；　a　society　that　avidly　supports　capital　punishment　hurts　itself。　Aside　from　the　observation　that　the　death　penalty　doesn't　seem　effective；　we　should　also　consider　the　possibility　that　innocents　may　be　executed　by　mistake　…　and　certainly　those　who　are　killed　can　no　longer　make　amends　and　repay　their　debt　to　society。）
　　Notes
　　The　concept　of　the　〃master　executioner〃　in　this　chapter　is　a　continuation　of　the　〃heavenly　net〃　concept　from　the　previous　chapter。　They　are　different　ways　to　describe　the　same　karmic　mechanism　that　seems　to　pervade　reality。
　　At　first　glance；　this　chapter　appears　to　be　directed　at　the　ruler。　Whenever　we　see　this　in　the　Tao　Te　Ching；　we　know　that　the　teaching　operates　on　multiple　levels。　Not　only　is　it　a　social　commentary；　but　it　is　also　a　recommendation　on　how　we　can　conduct　our　lives。
　　The　central　idea　is　that　the　negative　approach　is　rarely　effective。　The　use　of　the　death　penalty　does　not　necessarily　improve　society。　If　we　execute　everyone　on　death　row　today；　we　would　feel　no　safer　tomorrow。　The　more　we　resort　to　killing　as　a　response　to　our　frustration　and　anger　with　violence；　the　more　violent　society　becomes。
　　Similarly；　the　use　of　threats　and　punishment　is　far　less　effective　than　positive　reinforcement　in　the　Tao　of　interpersonal　relationships。　Thus；　sages　do　not　criticize　or　accuse。　Instead；　they　guide　and　nurture　through　sincere　praise　and　approval。
　　The　lesson　also　applies　to　the　ruling　of　one's　inner　kingdom。　While　it　is　important　for　us　to　recognize　our　past　mistakes；　it　is　futile　for　us　to　dwell　on　them　and　beat　ourselves　up。　Blaming　ourselves　will　not　move　us　closer　to　our　goals。　Proactive；　positive　actions　will　do　a　far　better　job　of　that。
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　　The　people's　hunger
　　Is　due　to　the　excess　of　their　ruler's　taxation
　　So　they　starve
　　The　people's　difficulty　in　being　governed
　　Is　due　to　the　meddling　of　their　ruler
　　So　they　are　difficult　to　govern
　　The　people's　disregard　for　death
　　Is　due　to　the　glut　in　their　ruler's　pursuit　of　life
　　So　they　disregard　death
　　Therefore　those　who　do　not　strive　for　living
　　Are　better　than　those　who　value　living　
　　When　people　are　hungry　…　when　their　basic　survival　needs　are　in　question　…　it　is　because　the　ruler　overzealously　imposes　ever　increasing　taxes；　leaving　very　little　for　them　to　sustain　themselves。　As　a　result；　the　people　starve。
　　When　people　are　difficult　to　control　…　when　they　are　openly　rebellious　and　refuse　to　obey　orders　…　it　is　because　the　ruler　constantly　meddles　in　their　livelihood　with　more　and　more　restrictive　rules。　In　reaction；　the　people　become　defiant　against　authority。
　　When　people　disregard　death　…　when　they　no　longer　care　if　they　live　or　die　…　it　is　because　the　ruler　pursues　an　extravagant　lifestyle；　indulging　in　ever　more　luxuries　while　the　people　suffer　hardship。　Seeing　this；　the　people　brave　death　to　rise　against　the　ruler。
　　Therefore；　we　can　see　from　the　above　that　a　ruler　who　does　not　obsessively　focus　on　〃the　good　life〃　would　be　much　better　than　the　ruler　who　values　the　mindless　pursuit　of　luxurious　living。
　　Under　such　a　wise　rul