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04道德经英译本85种-第375部分

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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  He who cherishes this Reason is not anxious to be filled。 Since he is not filled; therefore he may grow old; without renewal he is complete。

  16

  Returning to the Root

  By attaining the height of abstraction we gain fulness of rest。

  All the ten thousand things arise; and I see them return。 Now they bloom in bloom but each one homeward returneth to its root。

  Returning to the root means rest。 It signifies the return according to destiny。 Return according to destiny means the eternal。 Knowing the eternal means enlightenment。 Not knowing the eternal causes passions to rise; and that is evil。

  Knowing the eternal renders comprehensive。 Comprehensiveness renders broad。 Breadth renders royal。 Royalty renders heavenly。 Heaven renders Reason…like。 Reason renders lasting。 Thus the decay of the body implies no danger。

  17

  Simplicity In Habits

  Of great rulers the subjects do not notice the existence。 To lesser ones people are attached; they praise them。 Still lesser ones people fear; and the meanest ones people despise。

  For it is said:

  〃If your faith be insufficient; verily; you will receive no faith。〃

  How reluctantly they 'the great rulers' considered their words! Merit they accomplished; deeds they performed; and the hundred families thought: 〃We are independent。〃

  18

  The Palliation of Vulgarity

  When the great Reason is obliterated; we have benevolence and justice。 Prudence and circumspection appear; and we have much hypocrisy。

  When family relations no longer harmonize; we have filial piety and paternal devotion。 When the country and the clans decay through disorder; we have loyalty and allegiance。

  19

  Returning to Simplicity

  Abandon your saintliness; put away your prudence; and the people will gain a hundredfold!

  Abandon your benevolence; put away your justice; and the people will return to filial piety and paternal devotion。

  Abandon smartness; give up greed; and thieves and robbers will no longer exist。

  These are three things for which culture is insufficient。 Therefore it is said:

  〃Hold fast to that which will endure;
  Show thyself simple; preserve thee pure;
  And lessen self with desires fewer。〃

  20

  Different from the Vulgar

  Abandon learnedness; and you have no vexation。 The 〃yes〃 compared with the 〃yea;〃 how little do they differ! But the good compared with the bad; how much do they differ!

  If what the people dread cannot be made dreadless; there will be desolation; alas! and verily; there will be no end of it。

  The multitudes of men are happy; so happy; as though celebrating a great feast。 They are as though in springtime ascending a tower。 I alone remain quiet; alas! like one that has not yet received an omen。 I am like unto a babe that does not yet smile。

  Forlorn am I; O so forlorn! It appears that I have no place whither I may return home。

  The multitude of men all have plenty and I alone appear empty。 Alas! I am a man whose heart is foolish。

  Ignorant am I; O; so ignorant! Common people are bright; so bright; I alone am dull。

  Common people are smart; so smart; I alone am confused; so confused。

  Desolate am I; alas! like the sea。 Adrift; alas! like one who has no place where to stay。

  The multitude of men all possess usefulness。 I alone am awkward and a rustic too。 I alone differ from others; but I prize seeking sustenance from our mother。

  21

  Emptying the Heart

  〃Vast virtue's form
  Follows Reason's norm。

  〃And Reason's nature
  Is vague and eluding。

  〃How eluding and vague
  All types including!
  How vague and eluding;
  All beings including!
  How deep and how obscure。
  It harbors the spirit pure;
  Whose truth is ever sure;
  Whose faith abides for aye
  From of yore until to…day。

  〃Its name is never vanishing;
  It heeds the good of everything。〃

  Through what do I know that 〃it heeds the good of everything〃? In this way; verily: Through IT。

  22

  Humility's Increase

  〃The crooked shall be straight;
  Crushed ones recuperate;
  The empty find their fill。
  The worn with strength shall thrill;
  Who little have receive;
  And who have much will grieve。〃

  Therefore

  The holy man embraces unity and becomes for all the world a model。

  Not self…displaying he is enlightened;

  Not self …approving he is distinguished;

  Not self…asserting he acquires merit;

  Not self…seeking he gaineth life。

  Since he does not quarrel; therefore no one in the world can quarrel with him。

  The saying of the ancients: 〃The crooked shall be straight;〃 is it in any way vainly spoken? Verily; they will be straightened and return home。

  23

  Emptiness and Non…Existence

  To be taciturn is the natural way。 A hurricane: does not outlast the morning。 A cloudburst does not outlast the day。

  Who causes these events but heaven and earth? If even heaven and earth cannot be unremitting; will not man be much less so?

  Those who pursue their business in Reason; men of Reason; associate in Reason。 Those who pursue their business in virtue associate in virtue。 Those who pursue their business in ill luck associate in ill luck。 When men associate in Reason; Reason makes them glad to find companions。 When men associate in virtue; virtue makes them glad to find companions。 When men associate in ill luck; ill luck makes them glad to find companions。

  〃If your faith is insufficient; verily shall ye receive no faith。〃

  24

  Trouble From Indulgence

  One on tiptoe is not steady;
  One astride makes no advance。
  Seff…displayers are not enlightened;
  Self…asserters lack distinction;
  Self…approvers have no merit;
  And self…seekers stunt their lives。

  Before Reason this is like surfeit of food; it is like a wen on the body with which people are apt to be disgusted。

  Therefore the man of reason will not indulge in it。

  25

  Imaging the Mysterious

  There is a Being wondrous and complete。 Before heaven and earth; it was。 How calm it is! How spiritual!

  Alone it standeth; and it changeth not; around it moveth; and it suffereth not; yet therefore can it be the world's mother。

  Its name I know not; but its nature I call Reason。

  Constrained to give a name; I call it the great。 The great I call the departing; and the departing I call the beyond。 The beyond I call home。

  The saying goes: 〃Reason is great; heaven is great; earth is great; and royalty also is great。'There are four things in the world that are great; and royalty is one of them。'

  Man's standard is the earth。 The earth's standard is heaven。 Heaven's standard is Reason。 Reason's standard is intrinsic。

  26

  The Virtue of Gravity

  The heavy is of the light the root; and rest is motion's master。

  Therefore the holy man in his daily walk does not depart from gravity。 Although he may have magnificent sights; he calmly sits with liberated mind。

  But how is it when the master of the ten thousand chariots in his personal conduct is too light for the empire? If he is too light he will lose his vassals。 If he is too passionate he will lose the throne。

  27

  The Function of Skill

  〃Good travelers leave no trace nor track;
  Good speakers; in logic show no lack;
  Good counters need no counting rack。

  〃Good lockers bolting bars need not;
  Yet none their locks can loose。
  Good binders need no string nor knot;
  Yet none unties their noose。〃

  Therefore the holy man is always a good saviour of men; for there are no outcast people。 He is always a good saviour of things; for there are no outcast things。 This is called applied enlightenment。

  Thus the good man does not respect multitudes of men。 The bad man respects the people's wealth。 Who does not esteem multitudes nor is charmed by their wealth; though his knowledge be greatly confused; he must be recognized as profoundly spiritual。

  28

  Returning to Simplicity

  〃Who his manhood shows
  And his womanhood knows
  Becomes the empire's river。
  Is he the empire's river;
  He will from virtue never deviate;
  And home he turneth to a child's estate。

  〃Who his brightness shows
  And his blackness knows
  Becomes the empire's model。
  Is he the empire's model;
  Of virtue ne'er shall he be destitute;
  And home he turneth to the absolute。

  〃Who knows his fame
  And guards his shame
  Becomes the empire's valley。
  Is he the empire's valley;
  For e'er his virtue will sufficient be;
  And home he turneth to simplicity。〃

  Simplicity; when scattered; becomes a vessel of usefulness。 The holy man; by using it; becomes the chief leader; and truly; a great principle will never do harm。

  29

  Non…Assertion

  When one desires to take in hand the empire and make it; I see him not succeed。 The empire is a divine vessel which cannot be made。 One who makes it; mars it。 One who takes it; loses it。

  And it is said of beings:
  〃Some are obsequious; others move boldly;
  Some breathe warmly; others coldly;
  Some are strong and others weak;
  Some rise proudly; others sneak。〃

  Therefore the holy man abandons excess; he abandons extravagance; he abandons indulgence。

  30

  Be Chary of War

  He who with Reason assists the master of mankind will not with arms strengthen the empire。 His methods invite requital。

  Where armies are quartered briars and thorns grow。 Great wars unfailingly are followed by famines。 A good man acts resolutely and then stops。 He ventures not to take by force。

  Be resolute but not boastful; resolute but not haughty; resolute but not arrogant; resolute because you cannot avoid it; resolute but not violent。

  Things thrive and then grow old。 This is called un…Reason。 Un…Reason soon ceases。

  31

  Quelling War

  Even victorious arms are unblest among tools; and people had better shun them。 Therefore he who has Reason does not rely on them。

  T

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