04道德经英译本85种-第240部分

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o　we　don't　have　to　reinvent　the　wheel。　We　stand　on　the　shoulders　of　giants　from　the　ancient　beginnings　of　the　Tao　in　order　to　see　further。　This　is　the　most　basic　axiom　…　the　foundation　in　our　work　to　build　a　better　understand　of　spirituality。
　　15

　　The　Tao　masters　of　antiquity
　　Subtle　wonders　through　mystery
　　Depths　that　cannot　be　discerned
　　Because　one　cannot　discern　them
　　Therefore　one　is　forced　to　describe　the　appearance
　　Hesitant；　like　crossing　a　wintry　river
　　Cautious；　like　fearing　four　neighbors
　　Solemn；　like　a　guest
　　Loose；　like　ice　about　to　melt
　　Genuine；　like　plain　wood
　　Open；　like　a　valley
　　Opaque；　like　muddy　water
　　Who　can　be　muddled　yet　desist
　　In　stillness　gradually　become　clear？
　　Who　can　be　serene　yet　persist
　　In　motion　gradually　come　alive？
　　One　who　holds　this　Tao　does　not　wish　to　be　overfilled
　　Because　one　is　not　overfilled
　　Therefore　one　can　preserve　and　not　create　anew　
　　We　can　learn　much　from　the　ancient　masters。　Their　understanding　of　the　Tao　was　so　advanced　that　it　may　seem　too　subtle　and　profound　for　us。　Rather　than　to　force　ourselves　to　understand　them；　we　can　learn　by　observing　and　emulating　their　behavior。
　　They　lived　life　in　a　cautious　way；　not　given　to　frivolous　or　reckless　acts。　They　resolved　issues　by　carefully　considering　all　sides；　and　would　never　jump　to　conclusions。　They　handled　responsibilities　with　serious　regard；　and　would　never　do　anything　in　a　perfunctory　way。
　　This　does　not　mean　the　masters　were　uptight。　Quite　the　contrary。　They　were　always　relaxed　and　unattached　as　they　went　about　their　activities。　This　took　nothing　away　from　their　serious　concern　for　others　and　their　careful　handling　of　life's　challenges。　These　ancient　masters　could　be　relaxed　without　being　lax；　and　thus　achieve　excellence　effortlessly。　They　could　be　unattached　without　being　uncaring；　and　thus　focus　on　the　process　instead　of　the　end　product。
　　Another　defining　characteristic　of　the　masters　is　the　simplicity　they　practiced　in　every　aspect　of　life。　In　their　words；　actions；　and　surroundings；　simple　and　uncluttered　plainness　is　the　rule　rather　than　the　exception。　By　keeping　everything　simple；　they　gained　peace　of　mind　as　well　as　the　joie　de　vivre。
　　The　ancient　sages　were　also　known　for　their　openness　of　mind　and　heart。　They　gladly　considered　new　ideas　and　would　never　dismiss　anything　out　of　hand。　They　treated　everyone；　even　difficult　people；　with　infinite　patience　and　would　never　prejudge　them。
　　Despite　their　spiritual　and　mental　refinements；　these　masters　never　put　themselves　on　display。　They　had　no　interest　in　showing　off　their　brilliance。　Instead；　they　were　humble　and　fully　of　self…effacing　humor。
　　People　who　did　not　know　the　sages　very　well　would　never　see　through　the　outward　appearance　to　perceive　their　high　levels　of　intelligence　and　capabilities。　It　was　only　in　the　course　of　time　that　people　gradually　saw　the　true　picture；　like　muddy　water　slowly　becoming　clear。
　　The　composure　and　serenity　of　these　masters　could　be　easily　mistaken　for　passivity　or　apathy。　This　was　because　most　people　could　not　understand　how　anyone　could　embody　both　tranquility　and　dynamism　simultaneously。
　　The　ancient　sages　did　nothing　to　clarify　whatever　misconceptions　people　around　them　might　have。　This　was　because　they　were　never　full　of　themselves。　They　never　assumed　they　knew　it　all。　Their　definite　preference　was　to　cultivate　quietly　to　preserve　a　sense　of　calmness　in　everything　they　did；　without　drawing　attention　to　themselves；　or　creating　a　disturbance。
　　16

　　Attain　the　ultimate　emptiness
　　Hold　on　to　the　truest　tranquility
　　The　myriad　things　are　all　active
　　I　therefore　watch　their　return
　　Everything　flourishes；　each　returns　to　its　root
　　Returning　to　the　root　is　called　tranquility
　　Tranquility　is　called　returning　to　one's　nature
　　Returning　to　one's　nature　is　called　constancy
　　Knowing　constancy　is　called　clarity
　　Not　knowing　constancy；　one　recklessly　causes　trouble
　　Knowing　constancy　is　acceptance
　　Acceptance　is　impartiality
　　Impartiality　is　sovereign
　　Sovereign　is　heaven
　　Heaven　is　Tao
　　Tao　is　eternal
　　The　self　is　no　more；　without　danger　
　　Reach　for　a　state　of　ultimate　emptiness。　Maintain　a　state　of　the　utmost　stillness　and　tranquility。
　　All　living　things　rise　up　in　lively　activity。　I　watch　them　and　observe　their　return　in　the　endless　natural　process　of　life。
　　Everything　is　thriving　and　flourishing；　and　eventually　everything　will　return　to　its　origin　in　the　recurrent　cycles　of　nature。
　　Returning　to　the　point　of　origin　leads　to　a　state　of　peaceful　and　serene　tranquility。
　　This　tranquility　and　quietude　leads　to　a　return　to　one's　true　nature。
　　The　return　to　one's　true　self　and　fulfillment　of　one's　true　nature；　is　a　constant；　unchanging　principle。
　　Understanding　this　constant；　unchanging　principle　leads　to　clarity；　illumination　and　enlightenment。
　　Those　who　do　not　understand　the　principle　of　constancy　tend　to　bring　upon　themselves　problems　and　disasters　in　a　chaotic　way。
　　Knowledge　of　this　constant；　unchanging　principle　leads　to　an　acceptance　that　encompasses　everything。
　　Such　an　all…encompassing　acceptance　and　tolerance　leads　to　an　objective；　impartial　frame　of　mind。
　　This　objectivity　leads　to　authentic　personal　power　…　power　over　one's　own　destiny。
　　Authentic　power　…　sovereignty　over　oneself　…　leads　to　a　heavenly　divinity　and　a　oneness　with　nature。　This　heavenly　oneness　leads　to　the　Tao。　The　Tao；　in　turn；　leads　to　everlasting　eternity。
　　Knowing　this；　one　can　live　out　an　entire　lifetime　in　harmony　and　safety。　You　will　be　free　from　worldly　hazards　until　your　body　no　longer　exists。
　　17

　　The　highest　rulers；　people　do　not　know　they　have　them
　　The　next　level；　people　love　them　and　praise　them
　　The　next　level；　people　fear　them
　　The　next　level；　people　despise　them
　　The　rulers'　trust　is　insufficient；　have　no　trust　in　them
　　Proceeding　calmly；　valuing　their　words
　　Task　accomplished；　matter　settled
　　The　people　all　say；　〃We　did　it　naturally〃　
　　At　the　highest　level；　the　ideal　rulers　are　the　ones　who　are　so　good　at　what　they　do　that　they　can　achieve　their　objectives　quickly；　silently　and　effectively。　They　do　not　glory　in　their　achievements；　so　the　people　are　not　even　aware　that　such　rulers　exist。
　　At　the　next　level　down；　we　have　rulers　whose　benevolent　actions　can　be　seen；　so　that　people　are　aware　of　them。　The　people　feel　close　to　such　rulers　and　they　give　much　praise　for　the　benevolent；　positive　rule。
　　At　the　next　level　down；　we　have　rulers　who　resort　to　intimidation　and　heavy…handed　policies。　People　fear　such　rulers。
　　At　the　next　level　down；　we　have　rulers　who　are　incompetent　or　seek　to　deceive　the　people　through　trickery。　People　despise　such　rulers。　They　insult　the　leadership　and　rise　up　in　opposition。
　　If　such　rulers　cannot　have　sufficient　trust　the　people；　then　how　can　the　people　have　trust　in　them？
　　The　ideal　way　is　to　govern　in　an　unhurried；　easy　manner　where　rulers　greatly　values　their　words。　This　means　they　do　more　and　talk　less。
　　Because　things　are　done　this　way；　without　anyone　being　aware　of　all　the　work　that　go　into　governing；　when　important　tasks　are　completed　and　major　issues　are　settled；　the　people　all　say　that　they　did　it　themselves；　and　that　it　was　naturally　so。
　　Notes
　　The　original　Chinese　is　not　gender　specific　in　referring　to　the　ruler。　It　does　not　assert　in　any　way　that　the　ruler　must　be　male。　Most　translators　arbitrarily　force　the　gender　to　either　male　or　female；　which　distorts　the　original　meaning。
　　Like　several　other　passages　from　the　Tao　Te　Ching；　this　chapter　seems　to　be　aimed　at　the　ancient　kings　of　China。　It　is　as　if　Lao　Tzu　was　asked　to　advise　the　Emperor　on　the　best　way　to　rule。　How　can　such　passages　apply　to　us；　who　are　not　necessarily　in　exalted　positions　of　political　power？
　　Do　not　think　of　ruling　in　the　literal　way　that　only　applies　to　governance　of　a　nation。　Look　at　your　own　life　and　note　all　the　settings　and　circumstances　where　leadership　plays　a　role。　Most　of　us　will；　at　some　point；　start　our　own　families；　and　we　may　be　called　upon　to　assume　the　responsibility　of　leadership　in　social　settings；　community　activities；　or　the　workplace。
　　The　Tao　of　leadership　remains　constant　in　any　context。　Whether　you　find　yourself　having　to　deal　with　your　children；　neighbors　or　coworkers；　you'll　find　the　distinctions　in　this　chapter　a　useful　guide。
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　　The　great　Tao　fades　away
　　There　is　benevolence　and　justice
　　Intelligence　comes　forth
　　There　is　great　deception
　　The　six　relations　are　not　harmonious
　　There　is　filial　piety　and　kind　affection
　　The　country　is　in　confused　chaos
　　There　are　loyal　ministers　
　　When　people　forsake　the　great　Tao；　so　that　it　fades　away　and　perishes　in　their　thoughts；　concepts　like　benevolence；　compassion；　justice　and　righteousness　appear　in　the　world。
　　When　intelligence；　book　knowledge　and　cleverness　become　widespread　in　the　world；　we　end　up　with　great　hypocrisy　and　deception　everywhere
　　When　the　six　family　relationships　…　parent；　child；　older　sibling；　younger　sibling；　husband；　wife　…　are　in　a　state　of　disharmony；　concepts　like　filial　piety；　obedience；　and　the　kind　affection　of　parental　love　become　important　and　significant。
　　When　the　country　is　in　a　state　of　chaos　and　anarchy；　it　becomes　crucial　to　make　the　distinction　between　ministers　who　are　loyal；　and　those　who　are　not。
　　19

　　Discontinue　sagacity；　abandon　knowledge
　　The　people　benefit　a　hundred　times
　　Discontinue　benevolence；　abandon　righteousness
　　The　people　return　to　piety　and　charity
　　Discontinue　cunning；　discard　profit
　　Bandits　and　thieves　no　longer　exist
　　These　three　things　are　superficial　and　insufficient
　　Thus　this　teaching　has　its　place：
　　Show　plainness；　hold　simplicity
　　Reduce　selfishness；　decrease　desires　
　　This　chapter　presents　one　of　the　more　difficult　teachings　to　understand；　because　we　have　a　strong　tendency　to　worship　knowledge。　We've　all　been　conditioned　to　believe　that　knowledge　is　power；　and　having　more　can't　possibly　be　a　bad　thing。
　　La