按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s repressed or denied； we are abdicating an essential aspect of our true and complete nature； and this alienates us from ourselves and our cosmic home。
But when we open ourselves to the inner feminine； suddenly our understanding widens； and our ability to act in harmony with our true nature and its Source is furthered。 This is the unforced action of Modesty （Te） as a Cosmic principle applied to human life： when you draw energy from this fertile valley of Modesty； then your action returns that energy back； pure and undistorted； to the Cosmic Whole。 This； indeed； is how life is meant to be lived梐s a beneficent cycle of being； in which a person uses the gift of his life…force （chi） to further the strength and purity of the Source from which he has drawn his being。
29
To those who would alter Nature；
Or spread reform upon the earth；
I say this： though your efforts be endless；
You will not succeed。
Alteration； control； improvement：
They are repugnant to Nature；
For perfection requires no refinement。
The impulse to control
Only deforms what you wish to manage。
Thus； it is lost to you。
This is a principle that all can use：
Sometimes it leads and sometimes follows；
Sometimes it breathes in and sometimes out；
Sometimes it is growing； sometimes diminishing；
Sometimes it builds up； sometimes it collapses。
This is the way things are。
Thus the Sage withdraws from excess；
And retreats from display。
Where arrogance boasts；
Where pride struts；
The Sage will never be found。
30
Leaders； rulers； governors of the people：
The Cosmos offers you helping Presences；
Whose essence dwells in harmony；
And not in the use of force or weaponry。
Natural law decrees that violence backfires
Upon all who resort to its means。
Armed forces camp and crawl
Amid thorns and brambles；
Which grow like cancer and close like traps。
Wherever group violence is done；
Desolation walks in its wake。
Truly； the harvest of violence is misery。
The best leader is himself led…
He builds consensus； achieves his aim；
And then departs。
Force and intimidation
Are neither his means nor his end。
He is inwardly firm； without display。
He is inwardly firm； without arrogance。
He is inwardly firm； without contempt。
He is inwardly firm； without demand。
He is inwardly firm； without violence。
Aggrandize yourself or your group；
And you have chosen the path of decadence。
This is called separation from the Source。
To separate from the Source
Is the way of swift and certain death。
Chapters 30 and 31 may be read as a unit； for they comprise the poet's teaching on violence； in the context of war and battle。 Lao Tzu begins with a critical point； which distinguishes him and his teaching from the position of mere pacifism。 As always with Lao Tzu； the point has a practical direction。 He is not simply waving a flower and saying； 〃war is bad； man； and peace is good〃； he is saying 〃war is totally unnecessary； because there's a natural way of resolving conflict that is far more effective。〃 If those with the power to govern people and send armies into harm's way would simply recognize the helping presences of the invisible realm of being； then they would instantly realize that those presences are a far more practical alternative than the most powerful army imaginable。
This leads the poet into a discussion of natural law： violence inevitably finds its way back to those who use it to achieve the delusory goals of group allegiance。 This is the law of the fall of empires and the death of civilizations guided by the use of power and aggrandizement。 The natural leader is himself a follower梐 follower of the Sage； thus his action is guided by Modesty； and his inner firmness is made manifest； yet without force； display； or violence。 He does not set himself or his nation against the Source of their being； for the natural leader understands that tyranny and murder are relentlessly suicidal； for both the leader and his nation。
31
Of all the instruments of human ego；
Weapons of war are the most horrible。
The teaching Heart of the Cosmos
Turns away in revulsion from these；
And from those that use them。
The student of the Sage
Embraces the supple form of truth。
The student of war
Hides beneath the stiff shield of delusion。
The former walks in blessing；
The latter strides toward Fate。
When the infantile lord descends
To playing with his toys of war；
He must be resolutely answered
With a calm and firm rejection。
And should he kill and conquer；
Let him not revel in his hideous slaughter；
Let him not exult in extermination。
For he who delights in destruction
Shall never live in the Way of Nature。
Celebrate the living body of truth；
Mourn the madness that is power：
The latter is the seat of appearances；
Where the dead figurehead resides。
Let a dirge of sorrow be sung
For the victorious commander…in…chief。
Lament as well the grievous slaughter he has wrought。
Though we may weep for all his seeming victims；
It is the patriot…that power…drunk demon…
For whom the funeral rites must be observed。
Lao Tzu had no doubt noticed something that we may observe today in our world： those who enjoy the greatest safety from the danger of battle seem to cry the loudest for war。 Let them be in governmental offices； in a posh bunker somewhere in a fortified countryside； sitting before a bank of television cameras； or residing in the editorial office of a tabloid newspaper梩hese are the most likely sources for the call of the hawk。 These are the self…styled patriots； the 〃power drunk demons；〃 as Lao Tzu refers to them； or the 〃walking dead；〃 as they are referred to by Carol Anthony and Hanna Moog in I Ching： The Oracle of the Cosmic Way：
〃卆 person who has totally separated from his feeling consciousness； disdaining his feelings and his body。 His chi energy is decreased by ignoring and suppressing his true feelings； and by rejecting the Cosmic gift of love。 If neglected long enough； his inner light dwindles to a mere set of coals。。。the Sage calls such a person one 憌ithout head？＇in Hexagram 8＇ because he lacks the ability to further connect with the Cosmic Whole。 （p。 731）。〃
Lao Tzu says that such a person 〃may be safely met with a calm and firm detachment；〃 and this advice is echoed again in The Oracle of the Cosmic Way：
＇A walking dead person＇ may continue in this state for many years； stealing chi energy from other people。 When a person realizes that he is being drained of chi energy in this way； he needs to inwardly disconnect from and remain neutral in the presence of a walking dead person ＇and＇ that he not view that person as a culprit； as that too would give him energy。 （p。 731）。
Thus； the walking dead person； who has killed his own inner truth to feed his ego upon the lives of others； is the very person 〃for whom the funeral rites must be observed；〃 for he