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！
The ordinary person seeks to do good things；
and finds that they can not do them continually。
The Master does not force virtue on others；
thus she is able to accomplish her task。
The ordinary person who uses force；
will find that they accomplish nothing。
The kind person acts from the heart；
and accomplishes a multitude of things。
The righteous person acts out of pity；
yet leaves many things undone。
The moral person will act out of duty；
and when no one will respond
will roll up his sleeves and uses force。
When the Tao is forgotten； there is righteousness。
When righteousness is forgotten； there is morality。
When morality is forgotten； there is the law。
The law is the husk of faith；
and trust is the beginning of chaos。
Our basic understandings are not from the Tao
because they come from the depths of our misunderstanding。
The master abides in the fruit and not in the husk。
She dwells in the Tao；
and not with the things that hide it。
This is how she increases in wisdom。
39
The masters of old attained unity with the Tao。
Heaven attained unity and became pure。
The earth attained unity and found peace。
The spirits attained unity so they could minister。
The valleys attained unity that they might be full。
Humanity attained unity that they might flourish。
Their leaders attained unity that they might set the example。
This is the power of unity。
Without unity； the sky becomes filthy。
Without unity； the earth becomes unstable。
Without unity； the spirits become unresponsive and disappear。
Without unity； the valleys become dry as a desert。
Without unity； human kind can't reproduce and becomes extinct。
Without unity； our leaders become corrupt and fall。
The great view the small as their source；
and the high takes the low as their foundation。
Their greatest asset becomes their humility。
They speak of themselves as orphans and widows；
thus they truly seek humility。
Do not shine like the precious gem；
but be as dull as a common stone。
40
All movement returns to the Tao。
Weakness is how the Tao works。
All of creation is born from substance。
Substance is born of nothing…ness。
41
When a superior person hears of the Tao；
She diligently puts it into practice。
When an average person hears of the Tao；
he believes half of it； and doubts the other half。
When a foolish person hears of the Tao；
he laughs out loud at the very idea。
If he didn't laugh；
it wouldn't be the Tao。
Thus it is said：
The brightness of the Tao seems like darkness；
the advancement of the Tao seems like retreat；
the level path seems rough；
the superior path seems empty；
the pure seems to be tarnished；
and true virtue doesn't seem to be enough。
The virtue of caution seems like cowardice；
the pure seems to be polluted；
the true square seems to have no corners；
the best vessels take the most time to finish；
the greatest sounds cannot be heard；
and the greatest image has no form。
The Tao hides in the unnamed；
Yet it alone nourishes and completes all things。
42
The Tao gave birth to One。
The One gave birth to Two。
The Two gave birth to Three。
The Three gave birth to all of creation。
All things carry Yin
yet embrace Yang。
They blend their life breaths
in order to produce harmony。
People despise being orphaned； widowed and poor。
But the noble ones take these as their titles。
In losing； much is gained；
and in gaining； much is lost。
What others teach I too will teach：
〃The strong and violent will not die a natural death。〃
43
That which offers no resistance；
overcomes the hardest substances。
That which offers no resistance
can enter where there is no space。
Few in the world can comprehend
the teaching without words；
or understand the value of non…action。
44
Which is more important； your honor or your life？
Which is more valuable； your possessions or your person？
Which is more destructive； success or failure？
Because of this； great love extracts a great cost
and true wealth requires greater loss。
Knowing when you have enough avoids dishonor；
and knowing when to stop will keep you from danger
and bring you a long； happy life。
45
The greatest accomplishments seem imperfect；
yet their usefulness is not diminished。
The greatest fullness seems empty；
yet it will be inexhaustible。
The greatest straightness seems crooked。
The most valued skill seems like clumsiness。
The greatest speech seems full of stammers。
Movement overcomes the cold；
and stillness overcomes the heat。
That which is pure and still is the universal ideal。
46
When the world follows the Tao；
horses run free to fertilize the fields。
When the world does not follow the Tao；
war horses are bread outside the cities。
There is no greater transgression
than condoning peoples selfish desires；
no greater disaster than being discontent；
and no greater retribution than for greed。
Whoever knows contentment will be at peace forever。
47
Without opening your door；
you can know the whole world。
Without looking out your window；
you can understand the way of the Tao。
The more knowledge you seek；
the less you will understand。
The Master understands without leaving；
sees clearly without looking；
accomplishes much without doing anything。
48
One who seeks knowledge learns something new every day。
One who seeks the Tao unlearns something new every day。
Less and less remains until you arrive at non…action。
When you arrive at non…action；
nothing will be left undone。
Mastery of the world is achieved
by letting things take their natural course。
You can not master the world by changing the natural way。
49
The Master has no mind of her own。
She understands the mind of the people。
To those who are good she treats as good。
To those who aren't good she also treats as good。
This is how she attains true goodness。
She trusts people who are trustworthy。
She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy。
This is how she gains true trust。
The Master's mind is shut off from the world。
Only for the sake of the people does she muddle her mind。
They look to her in anticipation。 Yet she treats them all as her children。
50
Those who leave the womb at birth
and those who enter their source at death；
of these； three out of ten celebrate life；
three out of ten celebrate death；
and three out of ten simply go from life to death。
What is the reason for this？
Because they are afraid of dying；
therefore they can not live。
I have heard that those who celebrate life
w