04道德经英译本85种-第255部分

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ow　cannot　put　into　practice　in　real　life。　We　still　have　a　tendency　to　meet　force　with　force。　When　someone　yells　at　us；　we　yell　back　louder；　when　someone　trespasses　against　us；　we　retaliate　in　full　measure。。。　plus　interest！
　　Thus；　the　sages　teach　us　that　those　who　have　the　strength　to　accept　humiliation　are　extremely　rare。　Such　individuals　possess　the　power　embodied　in　water　…　seemingly　soft　and　weak；　and　yet　able　to　overcome　the　hard　and　strong。　If　they　apply　this　power　to　society；　they　would　achieve　complete　mastery　of　leadership　at　the　national　level。
　　Such　individuals　also　have　the　ability　to　accept　misfortunes。　Like　water；　they　have　the　depth　of　character　to　contain　adversities　and　difficulties。　If　they　apply　this　ability　to　handle　negativity　at　the　national　level；　they　would　achieve　preeminence　on　a　global　scale。
　　Thus；　by　embracing　the　seemingly　weak　and　soft；　one　gains　personal　power。　This　is　a　truth　that；　at　first　glance；　would　appear　to　be　contrary　to　our　expectations！
　　79

　　After　settling　a　great　dispute
　　There　must　be　remaining　resentments
　　How　can　this　be　considered　good？
　　Therefore　the　sage　holds　the　left　part　of　the　contract
　　But　does　not　demand　payment　from　the　other　person
　　Those　who　have　virtue　hold　the　contract
　　Those　without　virtue　hold　the　collections
　　The　Heavenly　Tao　has　no　favorites
　　It　constantly　gives　to　the　kind　people　
　　It　doesn't　matter　how　we　say　〃no　hard　feelings；〃　after　a　bitter　dispute；　there's　bound　to　be　ill…will　and　negative　feelings。　This　cannot　be　a　good　thing。
　　Sages　don't　get　into　disputes　in　the　first　place　because　they　give　to　others　without　expecting　anything　in　return。　It　is　as　if　they　hold　the　left　half　of　the　lending　agreement　…　the　lender's　copy　…　but　do　not　use　it　to　extract　loan　payments　from　the　borrower。
　　Those　who　possess　virtue　are　like　the　sages。　Metaphorically　speaking；　they　also　hold　the　left　half　of　the　lending　agreement。　They　give；　they　do　not　take。
　　Those　who　lack　virtue　are　like　the　tax　collectors。　It　is　as　if　they　hold　the　collections　notice　over　other　people。　They　take　from　everyone　and　give　to　no　one。
　　Given　this　is　the　case；　how　can　it　be　that　generous　souls　prosper　while　misers　seem　to　be　forever　pinching　pennies？　Shouldn't　those　who　only　take　end　up　with　more　than　those　who　only　give？
　　It　is　not　because　the　Tao　plays　favorites　and　treats　giving　people　better。　It　is　because　the　karmic　principle　…　the　Law　of　Cause　and　Effect　…　ensures　that　those　who　give　in　accordance　with　the　Tao　will　always　receive　abundantly。
　　Notes
　　When　the　ancient　Chinese　people　began　building　their　civilization　some　five　thousand　years　ago；　they　found　themselves　in　need　of　a　way　to　keep　track　of　debts。
　　The　method　had　to　somehow　be　proof　against　forgery；　so　less　trustworthy　individuals　wouldn't　borrow　funds　and　then　deny　it　or　claim　a　smaller　amount。　Also；　this　was　back　in　the　days　before　the　invention　of　paper；　so　that　made　the　problem　even　more　difficult。
　　What　they　came　up　with　was　clever。　Lender　and　borrower　would　get　a　piece　of　wood　or　tree　bark；　and　carve　the　record　of　their　transaction　and　agreement　on　it。　Then；　this　contract　would　be　split　apart　in　the　middle。　The　left　part　goes　to　the　lender；　the　right　to　the　borrower。
　　Thus；　the　left　side　of　the　contract　is　the　lender's　proof　that　he　has　a　right　to　demand　payments。　When　the　loan　has　been　paid；　the　lender　gives　the　left　side　to　the　borrower；　thus　making　the　contract　whole。
　　Because　the　tear　in　the　wood　or　bark　is　uneven；　it　serves　as　the　perfect　and　natural　way　to　authenticate。　A　forged　left　side　will　never　be　able　to　match　the　right　side　…　a　brilliant　solution。
　　The　Tao　of　Giving
　　Someone　who　gives　in　accordance　with　the　Tao　observes　the　following　guidelines：
　　1）　Appropriate　amount。　Tao　cultivators　would　not　give　so　much　that　they　damage　their　own　ability　to　continue　giving　in　the　future。　The　important　thing　is　to　be　like　a　small　stream　that　keeps　flowing；　as　opposed　to　an　upended　barrel　that　splashes　water　everywhere　and　has　no　more　to　give。
　　2）　Detachment。　Tao　cultivators　give　with　no　expectations　or　attachments。　They　give　only　for　the　sake　of　giving；　not　to　win　recognition　or　showcase　their　generosity。
　　3）　Based　on　need。　Tao　cultivators　look　for　opportunities　where　giving　would　make　the　most　significant　difference　for　someone　in　need。　In　a　snowstorm；　they　would　deliver　coal　to　someone　who　has　trouble　staying　warm。　This　may　not　be　very　expensive　to　do；　but　it　has　meaning　for　the　recipient　that　is　priceless。
　　4）　Not　necessarily　tangible。　Tao　cultivators　recognize　that　material　things　and　monetary　values　are　not　the　only　ways　to　give。　They　are　also　ready　to　give　an　encouraging　word；　a　cheery　greeting；　a　smile；　a　blessing；　a　pat　on　the　back；　a　helping　hand；　recognition；　forgiveness；　courtesy；　praise。。。。　The　world　is　full　of　wonderful　ways　to　give。
　　80

　　Small　country；　few　people
　　Let　them　have　many　weapons　but　not　use　them
　　Let　the　people　regard　death　seriously
　　And　not　migrate　far　away
　　Although　they　have　boats　and　chariots
　　They　have　no　need　to　take　them
　　Although　they　have　armors　and　weapons
　　They　have　no　need　to　display　them
　　Let　the　people　return　to　tying　knots　and　using　them
　　Savor　their　food；　admire　their　clothes
　　Content　in　their　homes；　happy　in　their　customs
　　Neighboring　countries　see　one　another
　　Hear　the　sounds　of　roosters　and　dogs　from　one　another
　　The　people；　until　they　grow　old　and　die
　　Do　not　go　back　and　forth　with　one　another　
　　The　ideal　place　is　a　small　country　with　few　people　in　it。　This　place　is　free　of　conflict　and　strife。　Even　though　they　have　hundreds　of　military　instruments；　they　don't　need　to　use　them。　The　people　treat　life…and…death　issues　with　serious　regard；　and　do　not　need　to　risk　their　lives　in　a　dangerous　migration　to　faraway　places。
　　Peace　prevails　in　such　a　place；　so　even　though　the　people　have　boats　and　chariots；　they　have　no　need　to　use　them　to　get　away　from　this　country。　Similarly；　even　though　they　are　no　pacifists　and　possess　armors　and　weapons；　they　have　no　need　to　show　aggression　by　putting　them　on　display。
　　The　people　live　simply　and　return　to　the　old　way　of　life。　They　make　full　use　of　simple　solutions；　such　as　tying　knots　to　record　events。　Their　food　is　not　elaborate；　but　they　find　it　delicious；　their　clothes　are　not　extravagant；　and　yet　beautiful　in　their　elegant　simplicity。　Their　homes　are　not　luxurious；　but　they　feel　content；　safe　and　comfortable　in　them。　Their　customs　are　down…to…earth；　and　yet　they　find　them　sincere；　direct；　and　joyful。
　　This　country　and　its　neighbors　are　not　far　apart。　They　are　within　visual　range　of　one　another；　as　well　as　hearing　range。　While　in　one　country；　one　can　hear　the　dogs　and　roosters　of　a　neighboring　country。
　　Despite　the　close　distance　between　them；　there　is　no　friction　among　these　countries。　The　people　of　the　region　grow　old　and　die　without　ever　getting　into　petty　squabbles　with　one　another。　Because　they　are　content　and　peaceful；　they　simply　do　not　engage　in　back…and…forth　deception；　contention　and　retribution　with　their　neighbors。
　　81

　　True　words　are　not　beautiful
　　Beautiful　words　are　not　true
　　Those　who　are　good　do　not　debate
　　Those　who　debate　are　not　good。
　　Those　who　know　are　not　broad　of　knowledge
　　Those　who　are　broad　of　knowledge　do　not　know
　　Sages　do　not　accumulate
　　The　more　they　assist　others；　the　more　they　possess
　　The　more　they　give　to　others；　the　more　they　gain
　　The　Tao　of　heaven
　　Benefits　and　does　not　harm
　　The　Tao　of　sages
　　Assists　and　does　not　contend　
　　Sincere　words；　spoken　honestly；　may　be　blunt　and　direct。　People　who　wish　to　avoid　the　truth　will　not　find　them　pleasant。
　　Soothing；　flowery　words　that　appeal　to　vanity　are　not　truthful。　Such　words　distort　reality　in　order　to　deceive　or　manipulate。
　　Those　who　are　good　in　the　art　of　living　recognize　the　futility　of　arguments；　and　therefore　wisely　refrain　from　engaging　in　debates。　Sages　who　possess　Te　let　actions　reveal　their　virtues；　they　have　no　need　to　explain　themselves　with　words。
　　Conversely；　someone　who　is　overly　argumentative　…　and　thus　constantly　debates　against　others　…　is　a　person　lacking　the　skill　to　live　a　life　free　of　anger　and　stress。　We　should　also　beware　of　those　who　constantly　explain　themselves　with　glib　words；　for　they　do　not　possess　real　virtue。
　　Those　who　possess　true　mastery　of　knowledge　have　no　wish　to　acquire　shallow　learning　in　a　broad　spectrum　of　subjects。　Someone　who　really　knows；　understands　that　the　great　Tao　lives　in　the　heart。　There　is　no　need　to　search　for　the　Tao　all　over　the　place。
　　Conversely；　if　someone　claims　to　know　something　about　everything；　then　chances　are　excellent　that　this　person　has　little　mastery　of　any　one　subject。　Being　obsessed　with　a　wide　variety　of　book　knowledge　is　a　sign　of　someone　who　has　not　yet　found　the　Tao　within。
　　Sages　have　no　need　to　accumulate　worldly　knowledge　or　goods；　because　they　find　contentment　and　abundance　in　helping　and　giving。　The　more　they　render　assistance；　the　more　fulfillment　they　possess；　the　more　they　give　to　people；　the　more　blessings　and　wisdom　they　acquire。
　　Sages　recognize　that　the　positive；　uplifting　Tao　of　heaven　benefits　all　living　things　and　does　not　harm　them。　In　emulating　this；　sages　also　seek　to　benefit　others　by　helping　them；　and　refrain　from　harming　them　with　contention。
　　Notes
　　The　first　two　lines；　True　words　are　not　beautiful　/　Beautiful　words　are　not　true；　can　be　misused。　Sometimes；　people　who　want　to　criticize　others　out　of　malice　may　use　them　as　justification。
　　The　difference　between　such　people　and　sages　is　in　terms　of　intention。　When　sages　speak　plainly　and　truthfully；　they　do　so　out　of　the　intention　to　assist　or　benefit　others　…　sages　have　no　wish　to　harm　other　people　with　words；　or　initiate　an　argument　with　them。
　　Oftentimes　we　think　we　are　helping　friends　by　arguing　with　them　（to　〃make　them　see〃）；　but　because　this　brings　contention　into　the　relationship；　it　is　usually　more　harmful　than　helpful。　People　are　hardly　at　their　best　when　a　debate　causes　them　to　become　defensive　and　unyielding。
　　Another　impo