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！
Line your home with treasures and you won't be able to defend it。
Amass possessions； establish positions； display your pride： Soon enough disaster drives you to your knees。
This is the way of heaven： do your work； then quietly step back。
10
Can you marry your spirit and body to the oneness and never depart from it？
Can you ride your breath until your entire being is as supple as the body of an infant？
Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see heaven in every direction？
Can you love the people and govern them without conniving and manipulating？
Can you bear heaven's children in all that you do and are？
Can you give the wisdom of your heart precedence over the learning of your head？
Giving birth； nourishing life； shaping things without possessing them； serving without expectation of reward； leading without dominating： These are the profound virtues of nature； and of nature's best things。
11
Thirty spokes meet at a hollowed…out hub； the wheel won't work without its hole。
A vessel is moulded from solid clay； its inner emptiness makes it useful。
To make a room； you have to cut doors and windows； without openings； a place isn't livable。
To make use of what is here； you must make use of what is not。
12
The five colours blind the eye。 The five tones deafen the ear。 The five flavours overwhelm the palate。
Fancy things get in the way of one's growth。 Racing here and there； hunting for this and that … Good ways to madden your mind； that's all。
Relinquish what is without。 Cultivate what is within。 Live for your center； not your senses。
13
Favour and disgrace are equally problematic。 Hope and fear are phantoms of the body。
What does it mean the 〃favour and disgrace are equally problematic〃？ Favour lifts you up； disgrace knocks you down。 Either one depends on the opinions of others and causes you to depart from your center。
What does it mean that 〃hope and fear are phantoms of the body〃？ When you regard your body as your self； hope and fear have real power over you。 If you abandon the notion of body as self； hope and fear cannot touch you。
Know the universe as your self； and you can live absolutely anywhere in comfort。 Love the world as your self； and you'll be able to care for it properly。
14
Looked at but not seen； listened to but not heard； grasped for but not held； formless； soundless； intangible：
the Tao resists analysis and defies comprehension。
Its rising is not about light； its setting not a matter of darkness。 Unnameable； unending； emerging continually； and continually pouring back into nothingness；
It is formless form； unseeable image； elusive； evasive unimaginable mystery。 Confront it； and you won't see its face。 Follow it and you can't find an end。
Perceive its ancient subtle heart； however； and you become master of the moment。 Know what came before time； and the beginning of wisdom is yours。
15
A sage is subtle； intuitive； penetrating； profound。 His depths are mysterious and unfathomable。
The best one can do is describe his appearance： The sage is alert as a person crossing a winter stream； as circumspect as a person with neighbours on all four sides； as respectful as a thoughtful guest；
as yielding as melting ice； as simple as uncarved wood； as open as a valley； as chaotic as a muddy torrent。
Why 〃chaotic as a muddy torrent〃？ Because clarity is learned by being patient in the heart of chaos。 Tolerating disarray； remaining at rest； gradually one learns to allow muddy water to settle and proper responses to reveal themselves。
Those who aspire to Tao don't long for fulfillment。 They selflessly allow the Tao to use and deplete them； They calmly allow the Tao to renew and complete them。
16
Work toward emptiness and openness。 Cultivate stillness。 Breathe harmony。 Become tranquility。
As the ten thousand things rise and fall； rise and fall； just witness their return to the root。
Everything that flourishes dissolves again into the source。 To dissolve back into the source is to find peace。 To find peace is to recover your true nature。 To recover your true nature is to know the constancy of Tao。 To know the constancy of Tao is insight。
Insight opens your mind。 An open mind leads to an open heart。 Openheartedness leads to justice。 Justice is an expression of divinity。 Divinity is oneness with Tao。
Oneness with Tao is freedom from harm； indescribable pleasure； eternal life。
17
The best leader is one whose existence is barely known。 Next best is one who is lived and praised。 Next is one who is feared。 Worst of all is a leader who is despised。
If you fail to trust people； they won't turn out to be trustworthy。
Therefore； guide others by quietly relying on Tao。 Then； when the work is done； the people can say； 〃We did this ourselves。〃
18
When people lose sight of the Tao； codes of morality and justice are created。
When cleverness and strategies are in use； hypocrites are everywhere。
When families forego natural harmony； parents become pious and children become dutiful。
When the nation is reigned by darkness； patriotic advisers abound。
19
Give up religiosity and knowledge； and the people will benefit a hundredfold。
Discard morality and righteousness； and the people will return to natural love。
Abandon shrewdness and profiteering； and there won't be any robbers or thieves。
These are external matters； however。
What is most important is what happens within： look to what is pure； hold to what is simple； let go of self…interest； temper your desires。
20
Be done with knowing and your worries will disappear。 How much difference is there between yes and no？ How much distinction between good and evil？
Fearing what others fear； admiring what they admire…nonsense。
Conventional people are jolly and reckless； feasting on worldly things and carrying on as though every day were the beginning of spring。 I alone remain uncommitted； like an infant who hasn't yet smiled： lost； quietly drifting； unattached to ideas and places and things。
Conventional people hoard more than they need； but I possess nothing at all； know nothing at all； understand nothing at all。
They are bright； I am dark。 They are sharp； I am dull。 Like the sea； I am calm and indifferent。 Like the wind I have no particular direction。
Everyone else takes his place and does his job； I alone remain wild and natural and free。 I am different from others； my sustenance comes directly from the Mother。
21
The greatest virtue is to follow Tao； and only Tao。
You might say； 〃But Tao is illusive！ Evasive！ Mysterious！ Dark！ How can one follow that？〃 By following this： Out of silent subtle mystery emerge images。 These images coalesce into forms。 Within each form is contained the seed and essence of life。 Thus do all things emerge and expand out of darkness and emptiness。
Because its essence is real and evident in the origins of all things； the name of the Tao has survived since the beginning of time。
How can I know the ci