第 166 节
作者:
九米 更新:2021-02-19 21:29 字数:9031
Though there are machines that can work ten or hundred times fasterthan man;
they are not needed。
The people want to be buried home; not travel far。
Though they have boats and carriages; no one uses them。
Though they have armor and weapons; no one displays them。
Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing。
Their food is good; their clothes fine; their homes secure;
they are happy in their traditions。
Though they live within sight of their neighbors;
and crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way;
they will not engage (visit) each other in their entire life。
81
Truthful words are not beautiful。
Beautiful words are often not truthful。
Good man do not argue。
Those who argue are not good。
Those who know; do not know everything。
Those who know everything; do not know。
The sage never tries to store things up。
The more he does for others; the more he has。
The more he gives to others; the greater his abundance。
Tao of heaven benefits; not harms。
Tao of the sage is working without claiming。
English_GornOld_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Walter Gorn…Old; 1904
1
The Tao that is the subject of discussion is not the true Tao。
The quality which can be named is not its true attribute。
That which was before Heaven and Earth is called the Non…Existent。
The Existent is the mother of all things。
Therefore doth the wise man seek after the first mystery of the Non…Existent; while seeing in that which exists the Ultimates thereof。
The Non…Existent and Existent are identical in all but name。
This identity of apparent opposites I call the profound; the great deep; the open door of bewilderment。
2
When the world speaks of beauty as being beautiful; ugliness is at once defined。
When goodness is seen to be good; evil is at once apparent。
So do existence and non…existence mutually give rise to one another; as that which is difficult and that which is easy; distant and near; high and low; shrill and bass; preceding and following。
The Sage therefore is occupied only with that which is without prejudice。
He teaches without verbosity; he acts without effort; he produces with possessing; he acts without regard to the fruit of action; he brings his work to perfection without assuming credit; and claiming nothing as his own; he cannot at any time be said to lose。
3
Avoiding distinctions of merit among the people prevents jealousy。
Not setting a value on rare things prevents theft。
Not seeking the things of peace keeps the mind in peace。
Thus the Sage governs by ridding the heart of its desires; giving the stomach due satisfaction; by resting the muscles and strengthening the bones; by preserving the world from a knowledge of evil and hence from its desire; and by making those who have such knowledge afraid to use it。
He cacts by non…action; and by this he governs all。
4
Tao is without limitation; its depth is the source of whatsoever is。
It makes shard things round; it brings order out of chaos; it obscures the brilliant; it is wholly without attachment。
I do not know who gave it birth; it is more ancient than God。
5
Neither Heaven nor Earth has any predilections; they regard all persons and things as sacrificial images。
The wise man knows no distinctions; he beholds all men as things made for holy uses。
The celestial space is like unto bellows though containing nothing that is solid; it does not at any time collapse; and the more it is set in motion; the more does it produce。
The inflated man; however; is soon exhausted。
Than self…restraint there is nothing better。
6
Like the river in the valley; the spirit is never dried up。
I call it the Mother…Deep。
The motion of the Mother…Deep I regard as the origin of the Heaven and the Earth。
Forever it endures and moves without design。
7
Both Heaven and Earth endure a long time。
The cause of their endurance is their indifference to long life。
This is why the subsist。
Thus the wise man; indifferent to himself; is the greatest among men; and taking no care for himself; he is nevertheless preserved。
By being the most unselfish he is the most secure of all。
8
The greatest virtue is like water; it is good to all things。
It attains the most inaccessible places without strife。
Therefore it is like Tao。
It has the virtue of adapting itself to its place。
It is virtuous like the heart by being deep。
It is virtuous like speech be being faithful。
It is virtuous like government in regulating。
It is virtuous like a servant in its ability。
It is virtuous like action by being in season。
And because it does not strive it has no enemies。
9
It is advisable to refrain from continual reaching after wealth。
Continual handling and sharpening wears away the most durable thing。
If the house be full of jewels; who shall protect it?
Wealth and glory bring care along with pride。
To stop when good work is done and honour advancing is the way of Heaven。
10
By conserving the natural and spiritual powers it is possible to escape dissolution。
By restraining the passions and letting gentleness have its sway it is possible to continue as a child。
By purging the mind of impurities it is possible to remain untainted。
By governing the people with love it is possible to remain unknown。
By continual use of the Gates of Heaven it is possible to preserve them from rust。
By transparency on all sides it is possible to remain unrecognized。
o bring forth and preserve; to produce without possessing; to act without hope of reward; and to expand without waste; this is the supreme virtue。
11
The thirty spokes of a carriage wheel uniting at the nave are made useful by the hole in the centre; where nothing exists。
Vessels of moulded earth are useful by reason of their hollowness。
Doors and windows are useful by being cut out。
A house is useful because of its emptiness。
Existence; therefore; is like unto gain; but Non…Existence to use。
12
Light will blind a man; sound will make him deaf; taste will ruin his palate; the chase will make him wild; and precious things will tempt him。
Therefore soes the wise man provide for the soul and not for the senses。
He ignores the one and takes the other with both hands。
13
Honour and shame are the same as fear。
Fortune and disaster are the same as the person。
What is said of honour and shame is this: shame is abasement; which is feared whether is be absent or present。
So dignity and shame are inseparable from the fear which both occasion。
What is said of fortune and disaster is this: fortune and disaster are things which befall the person。
So without personality how should I suffer disaster or the reverse?
Therefore by the accident of good fortune a man may rule the world for a time。
But by virtue of love he may rule the world for ever。
14
Ie。 Plainness is that which cannot be seen by looking at it。
He。 Stillness is that which cannot be heard by listening to it。
We。 Rareness is that which cannot be felt by handling it。
These; being indiscernible; may be regarded as an unity … I H W; Tao。
It is not bright above nor dark beneath。
Infinite in operation; it is yet without name。
Issuing forth it enters into Itself。
This is the appearance of the Non…Apparent; the form of the Non…Existent。
This is the unfathomable mystery。
Going before; its face is not seen; following after; its back is not observed。
Yet to regulate one's life by the ancient knowledge of Tao is to have found the path。
15
The ancient wise men were skilful in their mysterious acquaintance with profundities。
They were fathomless in their depths; so profound; that I cannot bring them forth to my mind。
They were cautious; like one who crosses a swollen river。
They were reserved; like one who doubts his fellows。
They were watchful; like one who travels abroad。
They were retiring; like snow beneath the sun。
They were simple; like newly felled timber。
They were lowly; like the valley。
They were obscure; like muddy water。
May not a man take muddy water and make it clear by keeping still?
May not a man take a dead thing and make it alive by continuous motion?
Those who follow this Tao have no need of replenishing; and being devoid of all properties; they grow old without need of being filled。
16
Having emptied yourself of everything; remain where you are。
All things spring forth into activity with one accord; and wither do we see them return?
After blossoming for a while; everything dies down to its root。
This going back to one's origin is called peace: it is the giving of oneself over to the inevitable。
This giving of oneself over to the inevitable is called pre