第 90 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:29      字数:9040
  So the virtuous see to their promises; while the virtueless look after precedents。
  The Way of heaven is impersonal; it is always with good people。
  80
  A small state has few people。 It has the people keep arms but not use them。 It has them regard death gravely and not go on distant campaigns。
  Even if they have vehicles; they have nowhere to drive them。 Even if they have weapons; they have nowhere to use them。
  It has the people go back to simple techniques; relish their food; like their clothes; be comfortable in their ways; and enjoy their work。
  Neighboring states may be so close they can hear each other's dogs and roosters; but they make it o that the people have never gone back and forth。
  81
  True words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not true。
  The good are not argumentative; the argumentative are not good。
  Knowers do not generalize; generalists do not know。
  Sages do not accumulate anything but give everything to others; having more the more they give。
  The Way of heaven helps and does not harm。 The Way for humans is to act without contention。
  English_Correa_TTK
  Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
  Chinese … English by
  Nina Correa; 2005
  Vorwort/Foreword
  MY DAO DE JING
  (The Path of Love and Happiness)
  Attempting my own translation of the Dao De Jing has been a daunting task。 Every time I came up with an understanding of a specific chapter (based on the Chinese characters); when I read through it again a few months later I found how wrong I had been。 How could I ever expect to write an interpretation that I抎 be satisfied with?
  As I looked into my own heart; I found a temporary answer。 One thing that抯 always stayed with me about the essence of the DDJ is the message of Love and Happiness。 So; that抯 the way I抳e approached my own translation and commentary。
  Throughout the years; many people have asked: 揥hich translation of the Dao De Jing is the most accurate … the closest to what Laozi was actually saying??I fall back on Zhuangzi抯 words: 揌ow could I know that??br》
  The Dao De Jing has been translated many times; and it抯 amazing to me how many of the translators claim to be providing a literal or definitive translation。 If there was actually a possibility of interpreting Laozi抯 words accurately; then why would all the scholars and sinologists have come up with such a variety of interpretations?
  I don抰 claim to know what Laozi was actually saying; but I do know what his words are saying to me。 There抯 a sense of warmth in that; and all I can offer is my own warmth to you。
  1
  Dao may be accepted as 〃Dao〃; that conflicts with the constant motion of Dao。
  A name may be accepted as a 〃Name〃; that conflicts with the constant motion of what is named。
  Nameless … all living things began in the womb。
  Named … all living things were born from the womb。
  Therefore:
  Constant motion without desires; this enables contemplation of what is yet to come。
  Constant motion with desires; this enables contemplation of where it will all end up。
  These both fit together while emanating by different names。
  Fitting them together is said to be a mystery。
  In addition to being mysterious; the many things that are not yet born provide an entrance。
  comment
  2
  When everyone in the world knows that beauty is exemplified by beautiful actions; what is seen as ugliness will end。
  When everyone knows how pleasant it can be; they will no longer be cruel。
  There would be nothing to prevent mutual enjoyment of life。
  Success can be reached whether the process is difficult or easy。
  Shapes are formed by both long and short lines。
  A pit is filled by what is on the bottom and what is on the top。
  Harmony is reached by using both the sound of individual notes and a blend of notes。
  What is in the lead or what is in the rear are following something。
  It's naturally right for a wise person:
  Not to interfere with another's performance in their affairs; and not to use demanding words。
  Then all living things will naturally arise on their own; and won't be given a starting point。
  They will take actions but won't depend on the results。
  They will succeed but won't dwell on their success。
  You see; it is only by not dwelling on their success
  That they won't depart from what they already have。
  comment
  3
  Don't place a lot of value on being superior; then that will cause people not to argue with each other。
  Don't hold as precious objects that are hard to come by; that will cause people not to steal from one another。
  Don't be willing to pay too much attention to those desires; that will cause people not to be confused。
  It's just natural for a wise person to rule by:
  Emptying their hearts;
  Satisfying their stomachs;
  Weakening their determination;
  Strengthening their bones;
  Constantly reminding people to accept ignorance while eliminating their desires。
  That causes the kind of understanding that doesn't require being foolishly adventurous;
  Not being willing to act; but to contentedly stop。
  Follow that procedure and there will be nothing that doesn't cure problems。
  comment
  4
  Dao is constantly being emptied; and its usefulness comes from the fact that it can never be completely filled。
  Bottomless!
  It began before any living cell。
  It smoothes down the sharp edges。
  It unties what is tangled。
  It softens the harsh glare。
  It settles the dust。
  It makes all the pieces of daily life in this world fit together。
  Unfathomable!
  It had a beginning or perhaps it has always existed。
  My intellect doesn't understand whose child it could be。
  It seems to have preceded the first concept of existence。
  comment
  5
  The universe doesn't have compassion for living things that act like straw dogs。
  The wise person doesn't have compassion for the general public who act like straw dogs。
  Isn't the vast space of the universe like a bagpipe?
  It can be empty; yet it doesn't collapse。
  As it changes position; even more seems to issue out from it。
  Many theories are given as to how it could eventually come to an end。
  It doesn't seem to guard what is in its middle。
  comment
  6
  The spiritual valley can never be extinguished。
  It is correctly refered to as the mysteries of the receptive。
  The entrance to mysterious receptivity is correctly refered to as the origin of the whole universe。
  It is continuous and unbroken!
  Its usefulness seems to persevere without effort。
  comment
  7
  The heavens increase; the earth endures。
  The universe in this way has the ability to increase; and at the same time be something which endures。
  Because it doesn't exist solely for itself; it therefore has the ability to increase life。
  It is natural for the wise person to:
  Refuse to take her physical body any further; yet her body still moves forward。
  Remain outside of her body; yet her body perseveres。
  Doesn't she seem to be unselfish?
  That's how she can attain true selfishness。
  comment
  8
  The foremost goodness is like water。
  Water is good at benefiting all living things; even though there are arguments about how it could reside in places that most people hate。
  In that way it is very close to being like Dao。
  It is good at residing in the earth; the mind sees that goodness as bottomless。
  It is good at giving through nature; words express that goodness with sincerity。
  It is good at showing the right course of governing。
  It is good at enabling all work to be completed; through motion goodness adjusts to the time。
  Well then; there is really no reason for arguments。
  Because there is nothing that is at fault。
  comment
  9
  Try to become prosperous; and the process of accumulation will never come to an end。
  Try to keep moving swiftly; and not even a crowd of people will be able to provide protection。
  Try to fill up a room with treasures; and no one would be able to guard them。
  Someone who values their good luck and becomes arrogant will not be able to notice their own faults。
  By working hard to try to satisfy your cravings; you will remove yourself even further from nature's Dao。
  comment
  10
  By being loaded down with trying to manage your base instincts yet embracing your unity with all things; will you be able to not depart from either of them?
  By focusing on the energy of your spirit until it becomes gentle; will you be able to be like an infant?
  By eliminating the need to carefully examine every mystery you come upon; can you stop looking for flaws?
  By loving people as though you were administering to them; can you be able to not expect to understand them?
  By letting your spiritual gateway open and close; can you act with femininity?
  By seeing clearly in every direction you might travel; can you still realize that you know very litt