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！
but it is the space inside
that is empty
that makes them
useful。
Houses and skyscrapers are built
and cut open with doors and windows
because it is the space inside
that is empty
that makes the buildings
useful。
Being and profit come from
what is there；
usefulness from
what is not。
12
All together
colors blind the eyes
sounds deafen the ears
tastes deaden the palate。
Seeking and pursuing and looking for and chasing
make for
insanity。
Expensive tastes
make one a slave。
Wise people
attend to the intuition
of stomach and feelings
rather than the desires of eye； ear and hand。
Let go of that
take this。
13
Both favor and disgrace are disruptive。
Fortune and privilege cause physical pain。
What does it mean： favor and disgrace are both disruptive？
Favor impresses and disgrace depresses。 Trying to get favor makes oneanxious； losing it makes one anxious。
What does it mean： fortune and privilege cause physical pain？
The reason we feel pain is because we have material bodies。
If we didn't have bodies； how could we feel pain？
Fortune and privilege have material realities； too。
Without class rank or privilege； how could we feel loss？
Thus； persons who deal with the world and others
as they deal with their own bodies；
living simply；
accepting both joy and pain equally；
are the best people to be entrusted with leadership。
The persons who love and care for the earth
as they do their own bodies；
living simply；
are the best people to entrust with the care of the earth。
14
Because the eye cannot see it
it is called invisible。
Because the ear cannot hear it
it is called silent。
Because the hand cannot touch it
it is called vacuum。
These three absences point to
the empty way。
Its height does not illuminate；
its depth does not obscure。
It is infinite and beyond human terms；
collapsing in upon itself as it began。
Matter within vacuum
forms within the formless。
Facing it there is no front
behind it there is no back。
Knowing the past；
move with the present。
To know the past
of the universe
is to become
its essence。
15
Wise people
are so very subtle； deep； penetrating and mysterious
that they are
too profound to be understood。
Because they cannot be understood
one can only try to describe them。
They are
cautious； like a cat entering a strange house
alert； like a person walking through a strange city at midnight
reserved； like an invited guest
yielding； like lake ice in the spring
simple； like a block of wood
spacious； like night on the plains
obscure； like a muddied stream。
Can you wait quietly
or the muddy to become clear？
Can you calm yourself
in order to later become active？
Following the path of natural atheism
one has no desire for heaven or to believe。
When a person is not swayed by desire or belief；
one is able to remain one with the universe
without changing。
16
Sit next to the void
become empty
quiet and still
at peace。
Years go by
you contemplate your return。
You see the years；
they shrink and return。
Everything returns to its origin。
This return to origin is called stillness；
stillness is called accepting the natural laws of the universe。
Accepting the way of the universe
is enlightenment。
Not to know the nature of the universe is to wander aimlessly。
Knowing； one has room for everyone and everything。
Having room for all； one is without prejudice。
Without prejudice； one can be a leader。
To lead is to be of the earth。
To be of the earth is to be one with nature。
Being one with nature
is to be transformed。
Though the body falls
nothing is destroyed。
17
A master's existence
is rarely known。
A good person's presence
is widely known
and praised and imitated。
A person who collects power
scares others and makes them fearful； small and hateful。
Without total trust
there is no trust。
Better to have
no trust
and accept everything。
Without talking…about
without writing…about
a master takes action。
When it is done
everyone says
it just happened
naturally。
18
When nature is forgotten and abandoned；
goodness； justice and morality are created；
and theisms flourish。
When intelligence and knowledge appear；
great advertising campaigns are created；
and religions compete。
When partners and family members are not at peace
they begin talking about relationships and
duties and responsibilities
and spiritual needs。
When there is tension； distrust；
and revolution
in a community；
we hear calls for
loyal followers。
19
Give up knowledge and wisdom
give up tests and degrees
and it will be a better for everyone。
Renounce kindness； morality； and justice；
and people will return to love and mercy。
Get rid of professionalism； eliminate profit； give up luxuries；
and theft and embezzlement will disappear。
If this advice is too complicated
then follow
simplicity
selflessness
and the lessening of desires。
20
Give up morality and social conventions
and be free of your problems。
What is really the difference between social classes？
Is it like the difference between good and bad？
between theism and atheism？
〃That's the way it's always been done〃
〃Everybody else is doing it〃
how artificial！
Everyone else is happy
celebrating the sacrifice of the lamb or the Son
or going to the opening party。
Yet I am alone and motionless
like a baby that has yet to smile
like an old man on a park bench。
Everyone else has more than enough to eat and
pay the rent and dream and take trips；
I alone have nothing。
My mind is so confused；
I must be stupid。
Everyone else can see the light；
I alone am blind。
Everyone else is happy and well…adjusted；
I alone am depressed。
Yet I am in motion like the bottom cycles of the ocean tides；
like flotsam and jetsam； never to rest。
Everyone else has a career or a job；
I alone am useless。
But I am also different from everyone else；
because the earth itself feeds me。
21
The universe acts only according to the laws of nature
even though such laws may seem chaotic and elusive。
Chaotic
still there are patterns。
Elusive
still there is life。
Mysterious and obscure
still it contains the essential。
Power that is immeasurable
still is true and active
from before the beginning
til after the end；
through the next beginning and ending。
How do any of us know th