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！
and then you'll find your strength。
You can go far
if you don't have anything to carry。
The more you acquire；
the less you can really see。
A Master takes this to heart
and sets an example
for everybody else。
She doesn't show off
so people take notice。
She's not out to prove anything
so people take her at her word。
She doesn't brag about herself
but people know what she's done。
She hasn't got an agenda
but people know what she can do。
She's not out to get anybody
so nobody can get in her way。
〃Learn how to stand still
if you want to go places。〃
That's not as crazy as it sounds。
Get in touch with Tao；
and you'll see what I mean。
23
When you have nothing to say；
you may as well keep your mouth shut。
The wind and the rain
don't go on forever。
If nature knows enough
to give it a rest sometimes；
so should you。
If you're ready for Tao；
you can live with Tao。
If you're ready to succeed；
you can live with success。
If you're ready to fail；
you can live with failure。
Trust your instincts；
and others will trust you。
24
Keep your feet firmly planted
unless you want to fall on your face。
Learn how to pace yourself
if you want to get anywhere。
Don't call attention to yourself
if you want people to notice your work。
Nobody respects people
who always have excuses。
Nobody gives credit to people
who always take it。
People who hype themselves
have nothing else to offer。
Think of being in touch with Tao
like eating at a buffet：
Take only what you need。
Save some for everybody else。
25
Something perfect
has existed forever；
even longer than the universe。
It's a vast； unchanging void。
There's nothing else like it。
It goes on forever and never stops；
and everything else came from it。
I don't know what else to call it
so I'll call it Tao。
What's it like？
I can tell you this much： it's great。
So great that it endures。
Something that endures
goes a long way。
And something that goes a long way
always comes back to the beginning。
Tao's great。
Heaven's great。
Earth's great。
And someone in touch with Tao
is great； too。
Those are the four greatest things
in the universe。
Someone who's in touch with Tao
is in touch with the earth。
The earth is in touch with heaven。
Heaven's in touch with Tao。
Tao's in touch with the way things are。
26
To be light on your feet；
you need a steady mind。
If your body is active；
your mind should be relaxed。
A Master can travel long distances
and still see everything she owns。
She may be surrounded by beauty
but she isn't caught up in it。
Why run around thoughtlessly？
If you act lightly；
you lose your bearings。
If you act recklessly；
you lose your self…control。
27
With enough practice；
you could come and go without a trace；
speak without stumbling over words；
do complicated math problems
in your head。
You could build a door with no lock
that nobody could open。
You could tie something down
with no knots；
without even a rope；
and nobody could pry it loose。
Masters have time to help everybody；
and ignore nobody。
They use their resources wisely；
wasting nothing。
Some people call this
〃following the light。〃
Good people teach others
because they have the potential
to be good too。
Brains count for nothing
if you fail to respect your teachers
or to honor the potential in others。
That's one of the most important lessons of Tao。
28
If you are strong；
but remain sensitive；
power will flow through you。
With that power；
you'll always be right with Tao：
It's like a whole new life。
If you are idealistic；
but stay rooted in reality；
you are an example to others。
Set that example；
and you'll always be right with Tao：
There is no limit to what you can do。
If you are honorable；
but remain humble；
you will see things as they are。
If you see things as they are；
you'll always be right with Tao：
Your life will become simple；
yet full of potential。
Let Tao show you
how to get right with Tao；
so your slightest gesture
can change the world。
29
Want to take over the world？
Think again。
The world's a holy place。
You can't just fuck around with it。
Those who try to change it destroy it。
Those who try to possess it lose it。
With Tao； you push forward；
or maybe you stay behind。
Sometimes you push yourself；
other times you rest。
Sometimes you're strong；
sometimes you're weak。
Sometimes you're up；
and sometimes you're down。
A Master lives simply；
avoiding extravagance and excess。
30
Listen up：
If you want to be a leader
who's in touch with Tao；
never use violence
to achieve your goals。
Every act of violence backfires。
An army on the move
leaves a trail of tears；
and a military victory
always lies in ruins。
The Masters do what needs doing
and that's all they do。
Do what you have to do
without arrogance or pride。
Get the job done
and don't brag about it afterwards。
Do what you have to do；
not for your own benefit；
but because it needs to be done。
And don't do it the way
you think it should be done；
do it the way it needs to be done。
The mighty will always lose their power
and any connection
they ever had to Tao。
They will not last long；
if you're not right with Tao；
you might as well be dead。
31
Weapons are terrible things。
If you want to get right with Tao；
reject weapons。
The Master；
knowing all things came from Tao；
recognizes what he has in common
with his enemies
and always tries to avoid conflict。
But when there is no other choice；
he uses force reluctantly。
He does so with great restraint；
and never celebrates a victory；
to do so would be to rejoice in killing。
A person who would rejoice in killing
has completely lost touch with Tao。
When you win a war；
you preside over a funeral。
Pay your respects to the dead。
32
Tao is an eternal mystery；
so small you can never take hold of it。
If a leader gets right with Tao；
people will follow him on instinct。
All will be right with the world。
People will do the right thing
without being told。
Everything that comes from Tao
needs a name。
But once everything has its name；
you should make no other distinction between things。
This prevents you
from becoming trapped by them。
Everything in the universe is full of