第 153 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:29      字数:8976
  The greatest fullness seems crude。
  The greatest eloquence seems stuttering。
  Activity overcomes cold。
  Tranquillity overcomes heat。
  Peace and quiet is the true path in the world。
  46
  When Tao prevails in the world; stray horses are kept away from tilled fields。
  When Tao does not prevail in the world; warhorses breed in fields grown wild。
  No disaster is greater than not knowing what is sufficient。
  No crime is greater than avarice。
  No defect is worse than the desire to achieve。
  One who knows sufficiency will always have enough。
  47
  Without leaving his door one can understand the world。
  Without glancing out the window one can see the Tao of heaven。
  The further one travels the less one knows。
  That is why the Sage does not travel and yet understands。
  Does not look and yet names。
  Does not act and yet completes。
  48
  In pursuing knowledge; one accumulates daily。
  In practicing Tao; one loses daily。
  Lose and lose and lose; until one reaches Non…action。
  Non…action; yet there is nothing left undone。
  To win the world one must not act for gain。
  If one acts for gain; one will not be able to win the world。
  49
  The Sage is without a set mind。
  He makes the mind of the people his own。
  I am kind。
  I am also kind to the unkind。
  Thus kindness is attained。
  I believe those who believe。
  I believe also those who do not believe。
  Thus faith is attained。
  The Sage; when in the midst of the worldly; does it calmly and slowly; and his mind merges with the world。
  The Sage treats everyone as his children。
  50
  In circumstances of life and death; the chances of living are three out of ten; the chances of dying are three out of ten。
  In ordinary conditions; where activity is the province of death; the chances are also three out in ten。
  Why is this so?
  Because of the propagative force of the life principle。
  It is said that those who cultivate the life principle can travel without encountering a tiger or wild buffalo。
  In battle; no weapon can penetrate their armour。
  The wild buffalo's horns find nothing to gore; the tigers claws nothing to flay; and weapons find no place for their points to penetrate。
  Why is this so?
  Because for them; there is no province of death。
  51
  Tao propagates life; Te provides fecundity; species shapes life; affinity brings to completion。
  That is why all living things revere Tao and kneel down to Te。
  Tao inspires reverence and Te inspires awe because they give no commands and yet nature continues on and on。
  Thus Tao creates life; and Te conceives; grows; fosters; shelters; comforts; nurtures and protects it。
  Producing but not possessing;
  Acting but not controlling;
  Growing but not slaughtering;
  These are Mysterious Te。
  52
  The beginning of the world may be called the Mother of the world。
  Once we discover the Mother; we can know the children。
  Once we know the children; we should return and cleave to the mother。
  Even though the body may die; there is no danger。
  Close the mouth; shut the door; and to the end of life do not strain。
  Open the mouth; increase involvements; and be helpless to the end of life。
  To value the lesser is enlightenment。
  To cleave to the gentle is steadfastness。
  Use bright intellect; but return to enlightenment。
  Do not ask for trouble。 This is 〃practicing longevity。〃
  53
  I have cause to know that; though I possess great wisdom; to preach it while traveling on the highway is dangerous。 Though the highway is smooth and straight;
  The common people prefer the byways。
  The ruler's court is well tended; but the fields are neglected。
  The granaries are empty; but garments are gorgeous。
  Men carry sharp swords; but food and drink satiate them。
  There is a surplus of money and merchandise; 〃temptation for bandits〃
  Alas; it is not Tao。
  54
  The well established cannot be uprooted。
  The well embraced cannot be lost。
  Descendants will continue ancestral sacrifices for generations without end。
  Cultivate in yourself; and its Te will become real。
  Cultivate in the family; and its Te will become abundant。
  Cultivate in the community; and Te will have an enduring effect。
  Cultivate in the nation; and Te will flourish。
  Cultivate in the world; and Te will become ubiquitous。
  Hence; judge a person as a person; a family as a family; a community as a community and a nation as a nation; the world as a world。
  How do I know about the world?
  By this。
  55
  Measure the fullness of one's virtue against an infants:
  Neither scorpion nor snake will attack it。
  Nor does the tiger maul it。
  Nor do the birds of prey clutch it。
  Its bones and sinews soft;
  Yet its grip is firm。
  It does not know the union of male and female;
  Yet its reproductive organ is fully formed:
  Its essence is whole。
  It can cry all day without getting hoarse;
  This is total harmony。
  To know harmony is constancy。
  To know constancy is enlightening。
  That which is beneficial to life is auspicious。
  To direct ch'i by heart is steadfastness。
  Things mature and then decay。
  This is contra…Tao。
  That which runs counter to the Tao is soon finished。
  56
  One who knows does not speak。
  One who speaks does not know。
  Close the mouth。
  Shut the door。
  Blunt the sharp edge。
  Untie the knot。
  Harmonise with others' light。
  Merge with the mundane world。
  This is 〃mysterious assimilation。〃
  When one acquires it;
  One is neither familiar with it nor escapes it。
  Neither takes advantage of it nor harms it;
  Neither increases it nor cheapens it。
  Therefore; it is the most precious thing in the world。
  57
  Use the orthodox to govern the state;
  Use the unorthodox to wage war。
  Use non…involvement to win the world。
  How do I know it is so?
  By this;
  The more restrictions and prohibitions there are; the poorer the people become。
  The sharper the people's weapons are; the more national confusion increases。
  The more skill artisans require; the more bizarre their products are。
  The more precisely the laws are articulated; the more thieves and criminals increase。
  Therefore the Sage says; I practice non…action; and the people gradually transform themselves。
  I love tranquillity; and the people gradually become orthodox by themselves。
  I do not interfere; and the people gradually become wealthy by themselves。
  I am without desires; and the people gradually return to simplicity。
  58
  If the government is muffled and subdued; the people will be simple and sincere。
  If the government is strict and exacting; the people will be lax and indifferent。
  Good fortune depends on bad fortune; bad fortune lurks behind good fortune。
  Who know where this process will end?
  If there is no orthodoxy; the orthodox will return to the unorthodox。
  Good becomes perverse。
  Mankind's state of confusion has continued for a long time。
  That is why the Sage squares up but doesn't cut; is sharp but not injurious; is straightforward but not unrestrained; and is bright but doesn't dazzle。
  59
  In governing people and in serving heaven; nothing compares with frugality。
  Frugality is 〃to acquire the habit early。〃
  〃To acquire the habit early〃 stresses accumulating Te。
  There is nothing which cannot be overcome; by stressing the accumulation of Te。
  If there is nothing which cannot be overcome;
  Then one's limits are unfathomable。
  If one's limits are unfathomable; one can rule a state。
  If one can arrive at the Mother of the State; one can endure。
  This is called 〃deeply rooted and firmly seated。〃
  It is the Tao of longevity and lasting vision。
  60
  Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish。
  When the world is ruled by Tao; spirits do not haunt。
  It is not that Spirits are no longer numinous; but that their powers do not harm men。
  It is not just that their powers do not harm men; the Sage also does not harm men。
  If neither side harms the other; Te spreads throughout。
  61
  A great nation receives all that flows into it。
  It the place of intercourse with world; the Feminine of the world。
  The feminine always conquers the masculine through tranquillity。
  Tranquillity is the lower position。
  Hence; if a large country take a position under a small country; it can win over the small country。
  If a small country takes a position under a large country; it will win over the large country。
  In the first case the large country purposely takes the lower position;
  In the other case the small country simply remains in the lower position。
  A large country wants no more than to protect its people and provide the environment for growth。
  A small country wants no more than to enter into the service of a patron。
  Thus; each party gets i