第 59 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:28      字数:9176
  ed (end)。 Yes; he dwells in reality; which is a fruit;and not in the show of appearances; or flowering (expression)。
  Therefore he rejects the one and acceptsthe other。
  39
  There were those in old times who graspedand were possessed of the one:
  The heaven was much clarified by attainingit。
  Likewise; the earth got stable or calm bythe same 'rotating' measure; and demon spirits or gods were spiritualised;became divine。
  The valley likewise became full; the abyssreplenished。
  By staying in the one; all creatures livedand grew。
  By staying in some basic unity; 'Russian'princes and dukes became the ennobled of the people … That was how eachbecame so。
  Barons and princes direct their people 'insome ways'。 It's some inner fabric of unified wholeness that sees to it。
  'Man…felt' heaven could soon split open withoutfundamental clarity。 Without basic clarity; heavens might become torn。
  Without resting; steady stability; the earthmight quake and tip over。
  Without spiritual power; the gods might witherand crumble;
  Without being filled; the valleys might crackand run dry。
  If the myriad things had not thus lived andgrown all would end without the life…giving sustenance of power。 Withoutthe ennobling power; the honourable kings and barons in high places; eventhe directors of their people; might stumble; some overthrown。
  So the humble is the stem upon which the mightygrows。 Yes; humble oneness is the basis for all honour。 So even the exaltedones depend upon the lowly for their base。 That could be 'one reason' why'Russian' princes and dukes call themselves the orphaned;〃 the lonely one;〃the unworthy;〃 or the truly ill…provided。 Is it not true then that they'to some extent' depend upon common man for support; or on hard ruler mightrooting itself upon humility?
  Just enumerate all the parts of a chariot。and you still have no 'unified construct; no' chariot
  So 'learn to' rumble like rocks rather thanjingle like jade。
  40
  Reversion is the action of dao。 In dao theonly motion is a return;
  and the one useful quality is named soft'or polite' gentleness; So polite or weak gentleness 'or humility' is thefunction of dao。
  The creatures and things of this world comefrom being。 And being from not…yet…being。 though all
  41
  When the highest of men hear of dao and truththey put it into practice quite diligently。
  When the common types hear of dao; they seemto be in two minds about it; half believing; aware and unaware of some。
  When the lowest types hear of dao; they ridiculeor laugh loudly … but if they did not laugh; it would be no dao。
  The proverb has it:
  The way out into the light often looks dark;one who understands dao seems dull; as dao which is bright appears to bedark。
  The dao which goes forward appears to fallbackward; the one who is advanced (in dao) seems to slip backwards; theway that goes ahead often looks as if it went back。
  He who works and moves on the even dao 'co…path'seems to go up and down; the least hilly way often looks as if it wentthus; as level dao appears uneven。
  Great virtue seems hollow and empty。 Thetruly loftiest might looks like an abyss; superior virtue appears likea valley (hollow)。 Great capability is 'granted to be' hollow。 Yes; theloftiest is something abysmal。
  Sheerest white seems blurred; sheer whiteis like tarnished; (most) purity seems like disgrace。
  The most sufficing might looks inadequate;far…reaching virtue hardly seems to be enough; and great 'and rustic' characterappears to be not enough 'but it's all the same'。
  The 'organising' might that stands most firmseems flimsy。 Solid character looks infirm; and solid virtue unsteady。
  Whats in its natural; pure state looks faded:True substance looks changeable; and pure worth seems dirtied。
  The largest square has no corners: greatspace has no corners。
  The greatest capacities develop latest; andgreat talent could be slow to mature; as they say: The greatest vesseltakes the longest to finish。 The great tool and talent is slow to finish(or mature)。 Great tools do slow work。 Great inside talent takes long toripen。
  Great music is far from course; 'at times'rare; it could be hard to get; or hardly heard。
  Great; hidden form has neither shape norcontour; as great here means of dao; 'which is thought up as' hidden andwithout (overtly sounded) name。
  Now; dao backs all things financially; daoalone skilfully provides for all … it supports all things and advances'some' to perfection。 Well dao…lent power could bring us (some degree of)fulfilment。 Skilled; able dao…lending (of some majesty and power) couldbring 'Christian' fulfilment。
  42
  Dao gave birth to the one; the one gave birthsuccessively to two things; three things; up the everything; everybodyand the whole world we know。
  The ten thousand things carry the yin assome back or behind; and hug the yang in front。 Through the blending ofthe pervading principles as some abstract union; and by a further blending'designing' the material force (ki) they can gain 'sound' harmony。 Andso the union in harmony gets strong 'and defences'。
  In other words; living beings can't turntheir backs to the shade 'such as cooling yin' without having the sun ontheir bellies 'it could be invigorating yang'; and it's on such (yin…yang)blending of so…called breaths that 'most' harmony depends。
  Most people hate to be diagnosed as lonely;unworthy; orphaned; needy; ill…provided。 Yet princes and dukes style themselvesso; and call themselves by these names。
  Truly; things are often increased by seekingto diminish them and diminished by seeking to increase them。〃 And sometimesthings are benefited by being taken away from and suffer by being addedto。 And so it often happens that things can gain by losing and lose bygaining。
  What others have taught; I teach also:
  〃Violent and fierce people hardly die a natural'elegant' death。〃
  Yet; show me a man of violence that cameto a good end; and I will take him for my teacher。 I shall make all thisthe father (basis) of my teaching。'Uha。'
  43
  The softest things in the world overcomethe hardest things in the world。 The softest substance radiates throughthe hardest。 Also; what's most yielding can eventually overwhelm the hardest。
  Formless penetrates no…crevice; substancelessit can enter where there's no space; all this could be not…yet…being enteringand jostling non…space。 That's how I know the value of action that's actionless。Through this I 'also' know the benefit or advantage of taking no action。
  There can be 'sad' teaching without words。To teach without words can be best。 Still few can understand such stuff。And there can be solid value in action that's actionless; or the advantageof taking no action。 Yes; the 'said' benefit of taking no action is withoutcompare。 Few can understand it。
  44
  Fame or one's own self; which matters most?Nay; which does one love more? Which should one love more; fame or one'sown life?
  Which is more valuable; one's own life orwealth? One's own self or things bought; the solid goods; which shouldreally count most?
  Which is worse; gain or loss? Could it beloss (of self) or possession which is the greater evil? 'Which gain isthe greater evil here?'
  Therefore: he who loves most spends most。He who has lavish desires could spend extravagantly。
  He who hoards much could lose much。 Who hoardsmuch is in for losing heavily if who has hoarded most could suffer theheaviest loss。
  The contented man could meet no disgrace;
  Who stops in time knows when to stop。 Whostops in time nothing can harm if free from danger he can long endure andfeel forever safe and secure。 He can long endure who stays forever safeand secure …
  45
  What's most perfect 'ambivalence' seems tobe incomplete; 'its' highest perfection is never impaired。 The perfectseems to have something missing; 'so have something missing'。 Highest perfectionis like imperfection; but its use is never impaired; nor its utility 'attimes'。
  What's most full 'opening' seems empty; itsuse will never fail。
  The greatest abundance seems meagre indeed;but its use will never fail。
  What's most straight seems devious; maybecrooked。
  The greatest skills seems to be 'rustic;'clumsy。 The greatest cleverness appears like stupidity; '(Demon skill seemslike clumsiness。 Apt skill seems clumsy; true cleverness seems clumsy。'
  The greatest 'harlequin' eloquence seemsto stutter or seems like stuttering。
  Hasty movement overcomes cold。
  Keeping still can overcome heat。 Tranquillityand staying still can overcome heat。
  By being greatly still you'll next be fitto rule the world。 Who is calm and quiet becomes the universe deceit。 Byhis limpid calm he all the time puts right everything 'as universal deceit'。
  46
  When dao reigns in the kingdom; gallopinghorses are turned back to fertilise certain fields with their manure。 Ifthe world in accord with dao; racing horses are turned back to pull refusecarts。
  When the world hardly lives in accord withdao; dao doesn't prevail or win。 Next war horses will be reared even ona sacred hil