第 469 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:32      字数:9128
  〃Returning Home。〃
  The path of TAO is a return to The Source。
  Gentleness is its characteristic。
  All things under heaven derive their being from the manifestation of TAO; and TAO the Manifest is born in TAO the Unmanifest。
  〃The Origin of Form。〃
  The spirit in the Void never dies。 It is called the Mother…Deep。
  The openings of the Mother…Deep are called the Root of The Universe and Our World。
  Ceaselessly; ceaselessly; It nourishes and preserves: Inexhaustible; without effort。
  〃Self…Manifestation through Contraries。〃
  In the manifested world all people; by knowing the splendor of beauty; know also ugliness。 When beauty is absent: by knowing the excellence of goodness; they recognize also that which is not good。
  Therefore; contraries give rise to the idea of each other:… existence implies non…existence; That which is difficult implies that which is easy to achieve; that which is long implies that which is short in measurement; that which is high implies that which is low in elevation; that which is shrill implies that which is bass in musical tone; that which is before implies that which is behind in priority。
  Therefore; the self…controlled person dwells in the balance that is beyond the action of contraries; they teach without words; they inspire to action; but appear not to act; they produce but do not possess; they work without regard to the fruit of labor; they bring their work to perfection but do not claim reward。
  Holding nothing as their own; their own can never pass away。
  〃The Purpose of the Void。〃
  The Universe and Our World are impartial; and for their dispensations; they use all things without distinction。
  A very wise person is impartial; they act without deliberation and regard all beings as sacred and alike。
  The Void between The Universe and Our World is like a bellows。 It is empty; yet not to be exhausted。 It moves and produces more and more。
  It does not take long before many words lead to exhaustion: do not be like that; walk the middle way。
  〃The Hidden Radiance。〃
  The Universe is eternal: Our World is perpetual。
  They live not for themselves; so they are able to endure。
  A very wise person places their presence behind; yet it is found in the foremost place。 They live not for themselves; yet their person is preserved。 Being the most unselfish of all; they endure and fulfill their prime purpose。
  〃Compensation's Secret。〃
  If there is contraction; then before there was expansion。
  If there is weakness; then before there was strength。 If there is strength; then before there was weakness。
  If you aspire to exalted places; then first learn what lowly stations to take。
  If you would receive; then first learn how to give。
  This is called 〃Compensation's Secret;〃where the soft overcomes the hard; the weak prevails against the strong。
  As a fish out of water is in danger; so to a nation is in peril when its weapons of strife are paraded。
  〃Returning to the Root。〃
  The void is to be filled; the tranquil essence steadfastly guarded。
  All things arise into existence; yet pass on again to their source。 They blossom into perfect form and return again to their root。
  Returning to the Root is called Tranquillity; by which the Void is filled。
  Those who fill the void; knows the nature of Eternity。 Realizing the Eternal is called Illumination。
  Not knowing the Eternal is the cause of misery and error。
  Knowing the Eternal leads to the Integral。
  Those who are Integral are just。
  Those who are just are like the Universe。
  Those who are of The Universe are close to TAO。
  And those who are of TAO endure forever: though their body vanishes they do not perish。
  〃Tracing the Origin。〃
  From the past there are those possessing Unity。
  The Universe; possessing Unity; is bright and pure。 Our World; possessing Unity; is stable and secure。 The Spirit; possessing Unity; is beyond all bodily form。 Space; in possessing Unity; is made full。 All creatures; in possessing Unity; are endowed with life。 Rulers and Leaders; possessing Unity; are models of the world。
  The Unity of all these is identical essence。 The Universe; without purity; would be divided。 Our world; without stability; would disintegrate。
  The Spirit; with bodily form; would be subject to corruption。 Space; without its fullness; would soon be fathomed and exhausted。 All creatures; without life; would vanish from existence。 Governors and Leaders; without dignity; would lose their influence。
  The root of dignity is in humility: the foundation of the exalted is in lowliness。
  Therefore; Governors and Leaders speak of themselves in lowly terms; as 〃alone;〃〃rejected;〃〃unworthy;〃do they not acknowledge by this the root of their Unity is in humility?
  The several parts of a vehicle do not produce its Unity; and those who find Unity neither wish to be isolated like a single gem; nor lost in the medley of common pebbles。
  〃Aspects of TAO。〃
  That which people dislike is called 〃alone;〃〃rejected;〃and 〃unworthy;〃yet these are the names taken by Governors and Leaders。
  So it is that some are increased by being diminished; and some are diminished by being increased。
  That which people teach by their actions; I make use of to instruct。
  So; those who are violent and headstrong do not reach their normal end。
  This is the foundation of my Doctrine。
  〃The Use of Non…Existence。〃
  Thirty spokes unite in the hub of a wheel; but the usefulness of the wheel depends on the empty inner center。 Molded clay is fashioned into a vessel; but the usefulness of the vessel depends on the empty inner center。 Doors and windows are cut to make a dwelling…place; but the usefulness of the house depends on its empty inner space。
  The value of existent things comes from the use of non…existence。
  〃Emptiness and Nothingness。〃
  Moderate your speech and attain spontaneity。
  A gust of wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day。
  To what power are these things due?
  The inner…relations of The Universe and Our World。
  Even The Universe and Our World do not persist in the same action; so; how much can people?
  〃Practicing Serenity。〃
  It is better to withhold than to fill to overflowing: it is better to refrain than to push to the extreme。
  Continual excess wears away the keenest instrument。
  You may fill your house with gold and precious stones; but who can guard them with security? Wealth and glory lead to vanity; to cares that spoil your peace。
  To accomplish great deeds; to merit honor; and then to retire into oneself… this is the way of The Universe。
  〃Reverting to Simplicity。〃
  Those who knows paternal strength but still retain maternal greatness becomes a universal channel of Everlasting Grace。
  As a universal channel; this Grace will never leave; so they regain the innocence of pure childhood。
  Those who know the Light of The Universe but still remain obscure in Our World becomes a universal model。
  As a universal model; Eternal Grace will never fail them; they thus regain pristine freedom。
  Those who know their inner glory; but still keeps their lowliness; become a universal chalice。
  As a universal chalice; the Eternal Grace will fill them; they regains their simple essence。
  By the spreading of their simple essence; the very wise person makes a useful vessel; that with wise administration bless all beings impartially。
  〃Going back to the Cause。〃
  In manifesting the world; TAO becomes the Universal Mother。
  In the knowledge of the mother is the knowledge of her children。
  And this childhood being known; there is access to the Mother。
  So life is unaffected though body fades away。
  Those who close their lips and shut the doors of their senses; all their life are free from turmoil。
  Those who open their mouth and spend their breath in vain pursuits; all their life cannot be kept safe。
  In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength。
  Those who neglect the Inner Light are lost in body's darkness。
  Those who follow the light of The Universe forever reflect its radiance。
  This is called the Eternal Heritage。
  〃Holding on to TAO。〃
  In the regulation of people and in the serving of The Universe; there is nothing that surpasses Moderation。
  In this economy of action is the secret of foresight。
  From the following of this foresight comes continual storing of merits。
  From this abundance of inner Grace comes the power that none can conquer。
  If the inner power cannot be conquered; then its limits are unknown。
  To have the power that knows no limits is to gain the leadership of nations。
  He who; by moderation; has gained the root of sovereignty; will surely endure。
  This it is deep rooted and has a firm foundation in the lasting life and the vision of the Everlasting TAO。
  〃The Virtue of Hum