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！
Te is That Which acts and drives。 It is as mysterious and hidden as Tao。 Yet It also exists！
It can have form。
It possesses power。 Its Power surpasses everything existing in this world。
Te can be seen。 From ancient times till present； the voice of Te sounds and tells the Will of the Creator to the entire material world。
Where can I see the countenance of Te？ Everywhere！
22
Being satisfied with little； you can gain much。 Seeking much you will go astray。 The wise heeds this precept。 If it could be so with all people！
The wise trusts not only to his physical eyes ？thus he can see clearly。
The wise does not think that only he is right 梩hus he knows the truth。
He does not seek glory ？yet people respect him。
He does not seek power ？yet people follow him。
He does not struggle with anyone ？thus no one can vanquish him。
He does not feel pity for himself ？thus he can successfully develop。
Only he who does not seek to be ahead of others is capable of living in harmony with everyone。
The wise cares about everyone； and he becomes an example to all。
He does not praise himself ？yet he is respectable。
He does not elevate himself ？yet he is esteemed by others。
In ancient times； people said that imperfect moves to becoming perfect。 Are these words vain？ No！ Truly； by gaining Unity you come to Perfection！
23
Speak less and be simple！
Strong wind does not blow all the morning； strong rain does not continue all day long。 What does this depend on？ On the sky and earth。
The sky and earth； though large； cannot give birth to anything eternal。 Neither can man。 Therefore； it is better to serve Eternal Tao。
He who serves Tao with his deeds receives the right to attain Mergence with It。
He who refined himself* to the state of Te becomes coessential to Te。
He who refined himself to the state of Tao becomes coessential to Tao。
He who is coessential to Te gains the bliss of Te。
He who is coessential to Tao gains the bliss of Tao。
Yet if he ceases to be deserving ？he is deprived of this。
It is unwise to doubt this truth！
* Refined the consciousness （soul）。
24
He who stands on tiptoes cannot stand for long。
He who walks with long strides cannot walk for long。
He who is seen by everyone cannot keep power for long。
He who praises himself cannot win glory。
He who lives pitying himself becomes weak and cannot develop。
He who is envious cannot achieve success by himself。
He who praises himself cannot gain prestige。
He who indulges in gluttony does meaningless things； everything irritates him。 Such a person cannot find peace。
Looking from Tao one can see that all this is caused by vicious desires。 All this is absurd behavior。 Everyone turns away from such people。
Man who aspires to mergence with Tao does not do anything like that。
25
Oh； That Which is born before sky and earth； living in calm； having no form； the subtlest； the only existing； abiding everywhere； boundless； invincible； the Mother of everything！ You are called Tao。 I call You also the Greatest； That Which is eternal in Its infinite development！
Man； earth； sky depend on Tao。 But Tao exists by Itself。
26
Hard work allows one to achieve easy life in future。
Yet we know also that the calm is the main thing in movement。
Therefore； the wise works hard all day long and does not avoid hard work。 Nevertheless； he stays in the state of perfect calm。
He can even live in luxury and does not become deprived by it。
Why the owner of 10 000 chariots is haughty and disdains the entire world？ Disdain destroys the soul！
And the absence of calm leads to the loss of the Base！？br》
27
He who knows the Path can find the right direction even if there are no traces。 He who can speak does not make mistakes。 He who can count does not miscount。 The best treasury has no lock； yet no one can open it。 The best fetters are those which bind by nothing material yet cannot be broken。
The wise can save people； and he saves them constantly。 He can help and does not leave anyone in trouble without help。 Thus acts the deep wisdom！
He also instructs the people of evil； and they with his help can find the Base。
But if the people of evil do not value his help and do not like the Base ？the wise leaves them： he does not value communication with such people。
This principle is very important！
28
If you are brave ？be humble！ And then the entire nation will follow you。
If you became a leader among people； let Great Te be your Guide。 And be pure； gentle； and subtle in the soul ？like a child！
Abiding in the good； do not forget about the existence of evil！ And be an example of righteousness for everyone。
He who became such an example for everyone does not differ by the quality of soul from Great Te。 He moves then to the Mergence with the Eternal Tao。
Such a person； though knowing about his own achievements and merits； stays unknown ？and he becomes a wise leader。
It is favorable that such a wise person be a leader among people ？then there will be order in the state。
29
Some people have a great desire to rule the entire world； and they try to succeed in this aspiration。 I do not see how it can be possible； since the world is a container of wonderful； invincible Tao！ And no one can rule Tao！
He who anyway aspires to this surely will fail！
Everyone has a choice： to oppose harmonious flow of the events of beingness or to follow it。 The former will struggle and lose strength； the latter will bloom in harmony and strengthen。
The wise never aspires to power； glut； luxuries； prodigality。
30
Ruler faithful to Tao will not send the army to a foreign country。 This would incur calamity onto him； first of all。*
The land where an army passed becomes desolated。 After war； lean years come。
A wise commander is never bellicose。 A wise warrior never gets angry。 He who can defeat the enemy does not attack。 He who achieved victory stops and does not do violence to the defeated enemies。 The victorious does not praise himself。 He wins； but does not feel proud。 He does not like wage wars。 He wins because he is forced to fight。 Though he wins； he is not bellicose。
If man in the prime of life begins to weaken and gets ill ？this happens only because he has lived not in the harmony with Tao。 The life of such a person ends before a due time。
* At least； according to the law of karma。
31
Weapon is a means that cause affliction； it should be discarded。
Therefore； he who follows Tao does not use weapon。
A good leader is yielding。 He uses power only for defense。 He exerts every effort to maintain peace。
To glorify oneself with military victory means to rejoice at killing of people。 Is it right to respect him who is glad about killing？
Respect leads to wellbeing。 Wellbeing contributes to the creative process。
Violence leads to afflicti