04道德经英译本85种-第249部分

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ind；　and　you　will　find　that　this　chapter　is　an　incredibly　accurate　and　exact　description　of　their　true　character。
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　　Govern　a　country　with　upright　integrity
　　Deploy　the　military　with　surprise　tactics
　　Take　the　world　with　non…interference
　　How　do　I　know　this　is　so？
　　With　the　following：
　　When　there　are　many　restrictions　in　the　world
　　The　people　become　more　impoverished
　　When　people　have　many　sharp　weapons
　　The　country　becomes　more　chaotic
　　When　people　have　many　clever　tricks
　　More　strange　things　occur
　　The　more　laws　are　posted
　　The　more　robbers　and　thieves　there　are
　　Therefore　the　sage　says：
　　I　take　minimal　action；　and　the　people　transform　themselves
　　I　prefer　quiet；　and　the　people　right　themselves
　　I　do　not　interfere；　and　the　people　enrich　themselves
　　I　have　no　desires；　and　the　people　simplify　themselves　
　　Ruling　a　country　and　using　the　military　are　two　sides　of　the　coin；　and　require　two　different　approaches。　Using　clever　tactics　to　surprise　and　confuse　the　enemy　is　extremely　advantageous　in　that　victory　can　be　quickly　achieved　with　minimal　loss　of　troops。　Ruling　a　country　is　just　the　opposite。　You　wouldn't　want　to　use　clever　tactics　to　surprise　and　confuse　your　own　people。　Instead；　you　want　to　treat　them　with　straightforward　honesty；　and　communicate　in　a　way　that　is　clear　and　easy　to　understand。
　　The　ruler　who　meddles　always　ends　up　with　poor　results。　Therefore；　wise　rulers　refrain　from　interference。　They　don't　try　to　change　people　…　it　is　an　impossible　and　thankless　task。　Instead；　they　let　nature　take　its　course。　Their　role　is　to　provide　gentle　guidance。
　　Throughout　history；　sages　have　studied　human　society　and　made　careful　observations。　They　note　that　the　more　rules　and　regulations　there　are；　the　poorer　people　become。　This　in　turn　weakens　the　ruler's　power　base　…　exactly　the　opposite　of　what　the　ruler　tried　to　achieve　with　rules　and　regulations　in　the　first　place。
　　In　such　a　restrictive　and　impoverished　environment；　many　people　turn　to　crime　as　a　way　to　survive。　They　take　up　weapons　to　steal　or　rob；　violence　and　chaos　increase　as　a　result。　They　also　become　increasingly　tricky　in　attempts　to　get　around　restrictions　or　exploit　loop　holes。　Their　cunning　will　often　yield　surprising　and　even　bizarre　results。
　　The　above　is　why　the　sage　would　advise　the　emperor　as　follows：
　　If　I　were　you；　I　would　not　take　actions　with　any　attachments　or　expectations　of　some　specific　outcome。　This　lack　of　contrivance　will　naturally　lead　the　people　toward　self…transformation。
　　I　would　clear　my　mind　and　quiet　the　internal　chatter　before　attending　to　the　affairs　of　the　people。　My　calmness　and　serenity　can't　help　but　have　an　effect　on　people　so　that　they　will　wish　to　straighten　things　out　themselves。
　　I　would　interfere　as　little　as　possible。　Without　interference；　people　can　freely　express　their　enterprising　nature。　Trade　and　commerce　blossom；　and　before　too　long　the　people　will　be　wealthy　by　their　own　efforts。
　　I　would　demonstrate　by　example　my　own　relinquishing　of　excess　desires。　When　people　see　how　joyously　my　life　becomes　when　it　is　totally　free　of　clutter　and　the　blind　pursuit　of　material　things；　they　too　will　want　to　practice　simplicity　in　everything　they　do。
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　　When　governing　is　lackluster
　　The　people　are　simple　and　honest
　　When　governing　is　scrutinizing
　　The　people　are　shrewd　and　crafty
　　Misfortune　is　what　fortune　depends　upon
　　Fortune　is　where　misfortune　hides　beneath
　　Who　knows　their　ultimate　end？
　　They　have　no　determined　outcome
　　Rightness　reverts　to　become　strange
　　Goodness　reverts　to　become　wicked
　　The　confusion　of　people
　　Has　lasted　many　long　days
　　Therefore　the　sages　are：
　　Righteous　without　being　scathing
　　Incorruptible　without　being　piercing
　　Straightforward　without　being　ruthless
　　Illuminated　without　being　flashy　
　　From　the　perspective　of　Tao　sages；　the　ideal　way　to　govern　is　one　that　rules　without　excessive　interference　in　people's　lives。　A　government　that　follows　this　does　not　put　a　spotlight　on　itself；　but　the　peace　and　freedom　it　provides　allow　the　people　to　live　the　simple　and　honest　life。
　　The　opposite　to　this　would　be　a　government　that　is　severe；　one　that　scrutinizes　the　people's　every　move。　Such　a　government　may　appear　to　be　very　capable　and　brutally　effective；　but　because　it　burdens　the　people　with　restrictions　and　intrudes　upon　their　privacy；　it　creates　an　environment　where　people　are　forced　to　become　ever　more　evasive；　resorting　to　trickery　to　hide　their　activities。
　　Therefore；　it　is　hard　to　say　what　is　good　fortune　and　what　is　bad。　A　ruler　may　think　it's　a　good　thing　to　be　able　to　spy　on　people；　without　realizing　that　this　leads　to　ever　more　complications　and　alienation。　What　seems　like　a　good　idea　can　turn　into　a　disaster　and　vice　versa。　Who　can　predict　how　things　will　ultimately　turn　out？
　　It　is　because　worldly　affairs　are　unpredictable；　and　can　suddenly　change　without　notice；　that　it　can　be　very　confusing　for　anyone　to　know　what　to　do。　This　is　why　sages　say　the　best　idea　to　follow　the　Tao　and　not　try　to　analyze　every　little　detail。　Logical；　rational　analyses　can；　and　often　does；　yield　the　wrong　conclusion；　but　the　true　Tao　will　never　lead　you　astray。
　　Specifically；　the　Tao　would　guide　you　as　follows：
　　1。　Be　forthright；　correct；　and　just　in　your　actions；　but　do　not　become　self…righteous　and　condemn　those　who　fail　to　live　up　to　your　standards　in　a　scathing　way。
　　2。　Be　honest　in　your　dealings；　resist　the　temptation　of　briberies；　and　maintain　the　integrity　of　your　honor。　However；　do　not　seek　to　impose　the　same　discipline　upon　others　in　a　piercing　way。
　　3。　Be　direct　and　straightforward　in　your　communication。　Say　what　you　mean　and　mean　what　you　say；　but　keep　in　mind　that　this　does　not　mean　being　unfeeling　and　cold…blooded。　Be　strict　with　yourself　but　forgiving　with　others。
　　4。　Be　enlightened；　see　things　clearly　for　what　they　are；　not　what　you　wish　them　to　be。　You　can　have　a　light　that　illuminates　those　around　you；　without　turning　it　on　them　and　blind　them　with　its　glare。
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　　In　governing　people　and　serving　Heaven
　　There　is　nothing　like　conservation
　　Only　with　conservation　is　it　called　submitting　early
　　Submitting　early　is　called　emphasis　on　accumulating　virtues
　　Accumulating　virtues　means　there　is　nothing　one　cannot　overcome
　　When　there　is　nothing　that　one　cannot　overcome
　　One's　limits　are　unknown
　　The　limitations　being　unknown；　one　can　possess　sovereignty
　　With　this　mother　principle　of　power；　one　can　be　everlasting
　　This　is　called　deep　roots　and　firm　foundation
　　The　Tao　of　longevity　and　lasting　vision　
　　When　it　comes　to　serving　the　natural　laws　of　Heaven；　managing　others　as　well　as　yourself；　there　is　nothing　like　the　principle　of　conservation　…　the　principle　of　valuing　and　using　efficiently　your　time；　energy；　mind　and　spirit。
　　The　best　way　to　conserve　your　inner　resources　is　to　surrender　to　the　flow　of　the　Tao。　It　is　in　your　best　interest　to　give　up　rebelling　and　moving　against　the　flow　as　soon　as　possible。　The　sooner　you　stop　wasting　time　and　energy　in　useless　debates　and　intellectualizations；　the　sooner　you　can　start　accumulating　virtues　…　positive　things　and　life…affirming　values　…　in　your　life。
　　When　you　accumulate　virtues　by　directing　your　time；　energy；　mind　and　spirit　toward　worthwhile　cultivation；　there　are　no　obstacles　you　cannot　overcome。　The　focus　that　is　possible　when　you　consciously　conserve　and　direct　your　inner　resources　makes　you　powerful　spiritually。　It　allows　you　to　become；　quite　literally；　an　unlimited　individual。
　　Once　you　move　beyond　the　limits　that　hamper　most　people；　you　gain　power　over　yourself；　as　well　as　a　natural　authority　that　people　respond　to。　You　are　able　to　influence　them　effortlessly　because　their　respect　for　you　flows　naturally。　This　is　the　mother　principle　of　true　authority。　Unlike　the　transient　power　achieved　through　force　or　domination；　it　is　a　positive　force　that　lasts。
　　With　this　lasting　power；　you'll　have　a　firm　foundation　upon　which　to　build　harmonious　relationships　with　others。　This　positive　force　takes　root　deeply　in　the　hearts　of　people　and　also　in　yourself。　It　is　the　Tao　of　longevity　…　a　vision　of　everlasting　harmony　and　leadership。
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　　Ruling　a　large　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish
　　Using　the　Tao　to　manage　the　world
　　Its　demons　have　no　power
　　Not　only　do　its　demons　have　no　power
　　Its　gods　do　not　harm　people
　　Not　only　do　its　gods　not　harm　people
　　The　sages　also　do　not　harm　people
　　They　both　do　no　harm　to　one　another
　　So　virtue　merges　and　returns　
　　Governing　a　great　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish。　If　you　use　too　much　heat；　you　will　overcook　it；　if　you　keep　turning　the　fish　over　and　over；　it　will　fall　apart。　Similarly；　if　a　ruler　constantly　meddles　in　the　affairs　of　the　people　with　excessive　rules　and　regulations；　the　country　becomes　chaotic　and　everyone　suffers。
　　When　the　Tao　has　arrived　and　is　present　in　the　world；　peace　and　harmony　prevail　so　that　the　demons　of　the　world　lose　the　power　to　exert　their　negative　influence。　Similarly；　when　the　Tao　is　present　in　your　heart；　your　inner　demons　have　no　power　over　you。
　　It　is　not　that　the　demons　are　rendered　powerless　by　the　prevailing　peace　of　the　Tao；　but　that　their　powers　have　no　harmful　effect　on　people。　Similary；　a　true　sage　isn't　someone　who　harbors　absolutely　no　negativity　in　the　heart；　but　someone　who　sees　that　negativity　clearly　so　that　it　cannot　exert　a　harmful　influence　on　life。
　　The　gods　of　the　world　also　keep　to　their　proper　places　and　do　not　disrupt　the　people's　lives。　When　we　apply　this　concept　to　practical；　everyday　cultivation；　it　means　the　wisdom　of　the　Tao　prevents　one　from　taking　foolish　actions　out　of　positive　intentions　…　actions　that；　although　well…intended；　still　end　up　making　things　more　complicated　and　more　difficult。
　　Not　only　do　the　gods　refrain　from　harming　people　out　of　misguided　benevolence；　the　sages　also　refrain　from　meddling　in　people's　lives。　Acting　in　congruence　with　the　Tao；　the　sages　relax；　let　things　be；　and　simply　enjoy　the　process。
　　This　gives　us　a