第 49 节
作者:
九米 更新:2021-02-19 21:28 字数:9210
nnot control its movement。 Realising its greatness; he serves it。 Thus he is humble and feminine。 Humble and feminine; he allows himself to be nourished by the Tao。 Being nourished by the Tao; he himself becomes great。 Greatness can only be achieved through humility。
62
Everything springs from the Tao。 It shelters both the good and the bad。 Men may try to succeed through their words and actions; but they are of benefit only if they lead to the Tao。 There is little value in travelling a lifetime gathering wealth。 Ultimately value can only be found in the Tao。 Why did the ancient masters value the Tao so highly? Because with the Tao; what you need; you get。 Acting in accord with the Tao you are infallible。 That is why its value is beyond measure。
63
Act without expecting results。 Let the Tao do your work。 Taste without tasting。 Look at the big as small; think of the many as few。 Have compassion for petty tyrants。 Deal with things when they arise。 Complete great works by gradually fulfilling them。 To become a master of the Tao; take one step at a time。 When your foothold is firm; the next step will come naturally。 The master never aspires to greatness; but is immersed in every step。 This is his greatness。 Promises can be broken。 What is easy can become difficult。 The master realises he must ground his step before he can take another。 For this reason; he never falls。
64
A tall tree requires deep roots; otherwise it will topple。 If a problem is prevented; it doesn抰 arise。 If your attainment is brittle it will easily shatter。 Small things are easily lost。 Don抰 take short cuts; but deal with everything fully before moving on。 If you do this your progress will be steady。 A mighty oak rises out of an acorn。 A human develops out of a microscopic egg。 A thousand mile journey starts with one step。 These processes cannot be completed in one act。 If you try to make something great happen and overlook the processes involved; you will fail。 Only by letting the process play out naturally can you achieve the Tao。 Therefore the master doesn抰 try to achieve。 He simply follows the process calmly from start to finish。 Death is stalking him; so he has nothing to cling to。 His only desire is non…desire; his only learning is to unlearn。 He shows people what they have always been。 He loves nothing except the Tao。 Therefore he can love everything。
65
A master doesn抰 teach; but shows his disciples that what they think they know; they don抰。 If a person thinks they know; they are trapped in that knowledge。 Once the master shows them not…knowing; they can guide themselves。 At this stage the master抯 task is completed。 The master doesn抰 try to show his prowess; but lets his disciples discover theirs。 Therefore his disciples never resent him and simple allow him to point out their true essence。
66
The ocean is the destination of all rivers。 Why? Because it is placed below them。 This shows the value of humility。 A father; who parents his children with humility; follows them。 By following them they will never feel oppressed and can develop naturally。 His humility allows them to express themselves fully。 He is beyond gratitude。
67
The Tao may appear to be idealistic; but if you can put it into practice; you realise its greatness。 There are three traits which are required。 1。 Compassion。 2。 Patience。 3。 Humility Compassionate and you can face things the way they are。 Thus you can forgive yourself of any mistake。 Patient and you remain unmoved until the right opportunity arises。 Humble and you overcome self…importance; thus the ego。 In following the Tao; these are your three most valuable treasures。
68
The best warrior isn抰 intent on killing。 The best sportsman isn抰 concerned about winning。 The best tactician enters the mind of his opponent。 A true businessman works for the good of the community; not to rape them of their wealth and destroy the earth。 A true leader has no agenda。 Competition breeds violence。 Peace can only be had by doing away with it。
69
There is a saying:擨t is sometimes better to wait and see than to act first。 It is safer to retreat a foot; than to advance and inch。?br》
Following this saying; energy is conserved。 When the correct course of action becomes apparent; you are able to act。 In trying to overcome the ego; it can抰 be defeated directly。 Don抰 see it as bad; and there will be no conflict in you。 If you create conflict; your three treasures will be lost; and you will become an enemy to yourself。 To overcome the ego; yield to it; and simply be aware of its motivations。 Once its motivations are apparent; it is discredited and will lose all power over you。
70
The way of the master is simple; and easy to practice。 But your mind cannot understand; and you can抰 try to attain it。 Ordinary people are interested in the mundane world; and even if they hear of the Tao they don抰 grasp its depth。 Few and far between are those who follow the way。 They realise those who don抰 follow; aren抰 ready; so don抰 try to persuade them。 Those who become ready have to lose all hope。 Once all hope is lost; there is hope。
71
You can only know when there is no knowing。 Thinking you know is a delusion。 If you realise the delusion is your own; it can be cleared。 The master has rejected all knowing; and his delusion has cleared。 He is now enlightened。
72
The master抯 sense of wonder is constant; like a d閖?vu that never ends。 He realises this wonder is missing from others; but leaves them be unless they ask for help。 Having no self; he understands them。 If he would push or prod; they would distance themselves。 He has let go of the idea that people can be helped。
73
Acting passionately can lead to trouble。 Being indifferent; there is no trouble。 The reasons why things happen can hardly be known; so we can抰 know if something is good or bad。 By not trying to succeed; everything is successful。 Without speaking; everything is said。 By not seeking; it can be found。 The natural way covers everything and every event like a net。 Though its meshes may be wide; nothing slips through。
74
Death is a natural part of life; and it is your fate。 If you accept this fully; there is no fear。 Having no fear; your actions are powerful。 If you try to manage your life; you won抰 live。 Because of death there is no risk; hence nothing to manage。 A life based on death will be fulfilling。 A life based on life will lead to death。
75
If you require many concessions from children; they won抰 be able to fulfil their own hearts。 Give them many rules to follow and they will rebel。 When people outwardly value life; death is taken lightly。 If death is taken lightly; life will easily be sacrificed。
76
When a baby is born; it is soft and flexible。 When a man dies he is static and stiff。 A living plant bends and flowers。 Dead; it is brittle and barren。 Stiff and static; you are as if dead。 Flexible and soft; you are a beacon of life。 That which is stiff and brittle will easily snap; and be destroyed。 That which is soft and flexible will bend; and endure。
77
The Tao functions like a bending bow。 When something is gained; something else is lost。 If there is excess here; there will be deficiency there。 A rich man; who takes more from those who are lacking; will become deficient in the Tao。 The master gives; therefore he has。 He doesn抰 need recognition and acts with no thought of reward。 With no thought of reward; everything he does is rewarding。
78
Water is the softest thing in the world。 But in dissolving things that are hard; nothing can better it。 This is because it can抰 be broken; thus it endures。 Everybody knows the soft is stronger than the hard; and the passive overcomes the aggressive; but few put this into practice。 The master is humble; therefore he is great。 Because he can follow; he is able to lead。 Truth is paradoxical。
79
Behind every failure; is a success。 If you blame; you will be blamed。 The master takes responsibility for himself and is not concerned with the actions of others。 He expects nothing from them; and doesn抰 rely on them。 If a mistake is made he accepts it。 Through this he avoids disturbance。
80
When happy: Even if you have occult powers; they will not be used; You can achieve great works; but there is no need; You can travel far and wide; but you stay at home; You can become a great man; but you remain unknown; You can control people; but you leave them be。 Joy is found in ordinary goings on。 Even though you may be able to see the border to the next country; you are content to die of old age never having been there。
81
True words aren抰 beautiful。 Beautiful words are not truthful。 The wise do not argue。 Those who argue are not wise。 Those who know have no knowledge。 Those with knowledge don抰 know。 The master has nothing; but gives everything he has。 The more he gives; the happier he is。 Only with the Tao can you be fulfilled。 The beginning doesn抰 exist; the end doesn抰 exist; except through the other。 Is finishing verse eighty…one; the end; or the beginning? If you think it is the end; you need