04道德经英译本85种-第427部分
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Become self…righteous and others will avoid you。
Boasting impresses no one。
Brag and you may be put to the test。
Within the oneness of Infinity；
all these are delusions of the physical
world。
They do not bring peace and harmony。
Be at one with Infinity and keep these in
perspective。
They are transient excesses in a transient
universe。
25
Before the physical universe existed；
the potential of all things
permeated time and space。
It was silent and empty； loud and pregnant。
Solitary in its oneness； crowded in its potential；
static and dynamic； hot and cold； light and
dark。
The potential of all things；
for lack of another name；
I call it Infinity。
It permeates all things and non…things。
It manifests realities and disintegrates those
realities。
All things are birthed from it
and all things return to it。
Infinity is marvelous。
The physical universe is marvelous。
The earth is marvelous。
Human beings are marvelous。
These are the four realities。
Human beings are a manifestation of the
earth；
the earth； a manifestation of the physical
universe；
the physical universe； a manifestation of
Infinity；
Infinity； the potential of all things。
26
Infinity is the source of all physical
manifestations。
The Infinite stillness is the creator of the
churning
universe。
The sage travels all day over the land and sea
but does not lose sight of Infinity。
Though the manifestations of the earth are
wondrous and beautiful；
she remains indifferent because she remains
centered
in the Infinite oneness。
The leader of multitudes cannot afford to
lose her perspective。
Indulging in the physical manifestations
results in a loss of focus on the
Infinite。
To be caught up in distinguishing things；
narrows the leader's perspective
to that of her followers。
27
A proficient traveler leaves no evidence of his
journey。
A proficient speaker is impeccable in his
presentation。
A proficient accountant needs no tally sheet。
A functional door has no lock
but can only opened by the owner。
A perfect binding has no knots
yet only the binder can loosen it。
The sage is the light of all human beings
and rejects no one。
She efficiently uses all things
and discards nothing。
This is called manifesting Infinity。
What is a sage but a guide to peace and harmony？
What is a materialistic traveler but the
sage's focus？
For the student not to value the teacher
or the teacher not to love the student
or for the followers not to acknowledge the
leader
or the leader not to care for the
followers；
is the cause of great confusion。
This is a key to peace and harmony；
teachers and leaders remind others of who
they are
and their oneness with Infinity。
28
Integrate the male and the female
and travel the peaceful path of oneness。
Be at one with Infinity。
Being at one with Infinity；
do not become confused
in distinctions of male and female。
Experience the oneness
as an undistinguishing child。
See the white and the black as one。
Be a guiding light to the world。
As a guiding light to the world；
standing firm in the truth of oneness；
mirror Infinity for all to see。
Remember that honor and humility are one。
Be a vessel of Infinity。
As a vessel of Infinity；
be a resource to all beings。
Become as a piece of uncarved wood；
available for any purpose。
When a piece of wood is carved； it becomes useful。
When the sage flows in oneness； he becomes useful
as king。
Therefore； the sage is careful in using what he
needs
but avoiding kingship。
29
Do you think you can control the world？
I do not believe it can be done。
The world is a manifestation of change
and cannot be controlled。
If you try to control it； you will end up deceiving
yourself。
If you treat it like an object； it will overwhelm
you。
The world is a manifestation of change；
sometimes ahead； sometimes behind；
sometimes dynamic； sometimes static；
sometimes vigorous； sometimes feeble；
sometimes manifesting； sometimes
disintegrating。
Therefore； refuse to distinguish excesses and
extremes。
See only oneness。
Flow with Infinity
and exist in peace and harmony。
30
Whenever you have an opportunity to advise a
leader
regarding Infinity； advise her not to use
force
to try to gain control of the world。
Why？
Because force attracts resistance
and the greater the force
the greater the resistance。
Briars grow where armies have been
and hard times are the legacy of a great war。
Conclude hostilities as soon as possible
and do not continue to use excessive force
after victory。
Fulfill your purpose but never glory in inhumane
acts。
Fulfill your purpose but never boast of
bloodletting。
Fulfill your purpose but never take pride in
killing。
Fulfill your purpose but avoid violence。
Fulfill your purpose by flowing within
the oneness of Infinity。
The use of force dissipates life。
Force is not the way of peace and harmony。
That which goes against peace and harmony
is short lived。
31
Weapons of war are instruments of death。
All people fear them。
Therefore； all men of peace avoid them。
The sage prefers Infinity。
The man of war prefers the earth。
Weapons are instruments of death
and the tools of a warrior。
The sage avoids them at all cost；
and sometimes prefers death rather
than touching them。
Peace and harmony are the sage's reality。
She considers victory to be the bastard
child of war。
If you revel in victory；
then you sanction war and the killing of
human beings。
If you accept killing；
you have forgotten your oneness with all
beings。
In time of celebration the left is the dominant
position；
In times of grief the right。
During wartime the general always stands on the
left
and the king on the right。
If even one person is killed in war；
it is cause for great grief and mourning。
Victory is simply the maker of widows and orphans。
32
Infinity can never be defined in words。
Smaller than an atom； greater than forever；
it can never be comprehended。
If kings would stay centered in the Infinite；
they would not try to control the
uncontrollable；
Heaven and earth would be seen as a manifestation
of the oneness of Infinity；
as harmonious as dew accumulating on the
ground。
The people would recognize Infinity manifesting
in their king and all things would be
in harmony。
When the whole is distinguished into parts；
and parts into more parts
and more parts into even more parts
a myriad names are required。
There are already too many distinctions and
names。
The naming of things focuses on the manifestations
of Infinity
and too much distinguishing can result in one
becoming confused in the manifestations and
oblivious to
the oneness of all things。
Refuse to distinguish the components of the whole。
See the oneness of Infinity；
and see the earth as a manifestation
disintegrating back into Infinity。
33
Knowing others is impossible。
Knowing one's self requires only a remembering
of one's unity with all things。
Conquering others requires force。
Conquering one's self requires letting go。
He who understands his oneness with Infinity
resides in peace。
Living one day at a time is the essence of harmony。
One who lives in harmony endures。
Passing through death's door is immortality。
34
Infinity permeates everything in every direction；
to the left as well as to the right。
It is the potential of all things；
and the manifestation of all things。
Its total essence resides in all things。
It has no purpose。
It is complete in its indifference。
It manifests and disintegrates all things forever。
It sustains all things；
yet it is the god of no thing。
It has no purpose。
It is Infinitely insignificant。
All manifestations after a time disintegrate back
into It；
yet It is the god of no thing。
It permeates everything
and so there is nothing outside its realm。
It cannot appear great
because it is at one with everything。
35
All beings are drawn to those who stay centered
in their oneness with Infinity
because they flow in peace and
harmony。
The manifestations of music and delicious food
catch the attention of those passing by。
But the essence of Infinity goes unnoticed。
It makes no sound and has no flavor
and yet It is the inexhaustible source
of the manifestations of all sounds
and all flavors。
36
All manifestations that expand will eventually
shrink。
All manifestations that strengthen will eventually
weaken。
All manifestations that are lifted up will
eventually be
cast down。
Nothing can be received unless it is given。
This is called distinguishing the oneness of
Infinity。
Soft and weak forever disintegrate the hard and
strong。
Hard and strong forever disintegrate the soft and
weak。
This is called the nature of Infinity。
Fish are at one with water；
undistinguished by Infinity。
A nation and its weapons
cannot be distinguished。
37
Infinity is the essence of all things。
Without intention； It manifests all things。
If leaders and kings
remain focused on the oneness of Infinity；
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