友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

04道德经英译本85种-第356章

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!



to know what to do。 This is why sages say the best idea to follow the Tao and not try to analyze every little detail。 Logical; rational analyses can; and often does; yield the wrong conclusion; but the true Tao will never lead you astray。
  Specifically; the Tao would guide you as follows:
  1。 Be forthright; correct; and just in your actions; but do not become self…righteous and condemn those who fail to live up to your standards in a scathing way。
  2。 Be honest in your dealings; resist the temptation of briberies; and maintain the integrity of your honor。 However; do not seek to impose the same discipline upon others in a piercing way。
  3。 Be direct and straightforward in your communication。 Say what you mean and mean what you say; but keep in mind that this does not mean being unfeeling and cold…blooded。 Be strict with yourself but forgiving with others。
  4。 Be enlightened; see things clearly for what they are; not what you wish them to be。 You can have a light that illuminates those around you; without turning it on them and blind them with its glare。
  59

  In governing people and serving Heaven
  There is nothing like conservation
  Only with conservation is it called submitting early
  Submitting early is called emphasis on accumulating virtues
  Accumulating virtues means there is nothing one cannot overcome
  When there is nothing that one cannot overcome
  One's limits are unknown
  The limitations being unknown; one can possess sovereignty
  With this mother principle of power; one can be everlasting
  This is called deep roots and firm foundation
  The Tao of longevity and lasting vision 
  When it comes to serving the natural laws of Heaven; managing others as well as yourself; there is nothing like the principle of conservation … the principle of valuing and using efficiently your time; energy; mind and spirit。
  The best way to conserve your inner resources is to surrender to the flow of the Tao。 It is in your best interest to give up rebelling and moving against the flow as soon as possible。 The sooner you stop wasting time and energy in useless debates and intellectualizations; the sooner you can start accumulating virtues … positive things and life…affirming values … in your life。
  When you accumulate virtues by directing your time; energy; mind and spirit toward worthwhile cultivation; there are no obstacles you cannot overcome。 The focus that is possible when you consciously conserve and direct your inner resources makes you powerful spiritually。 It allows you to become; quite literally; an unlimited individual。
  Once you move beyond the limits that hamper most people; you gain power over yourself; as well as a natural authority that people respond to。 You are able to influence them effortlessly because their respect for you flows naturally。 This is the mother principle of true authority。 Unlike the transient power achieved through force or domination; it is a positive force that lasts。
  With this lasting power; you'll have a firm foundation upon which to build harmonious relationships with others。 This positive force takes root deeply in the hearts of people and also in yourself。 It is the Tao of longevity … a vision of everlasting harmony and leadership。
  60

  Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish
  Using the Tao to manage the world
  Its demons have no power
  Not only do its demons have no power
  Its gods do not harm people
  Not only do its gods not harm people
  The sages also do not harm people
  They both do no harm to one another
  So virtue merges and returns 
  Governing a great country is like cooking a small fish。 If you use too much heat; you will overcook it; if you keep turning the fish over and over; it will fall apart。 Similarly; if a ruler constantly meddles in the affairs of the people with excessive rules and regulations; the country becomes chaotic and everyone suffers。
  When the Tao has arrived and is present in the world; peace and harmony prevail so that the demons of the world lose the power to exert their negative influence。 Similarly; when the Tao is present in your heart; your inner demons have no power over you。
  It is not that the demons are rendered powerless by the prevailing peace of the Tao; but that their powers have no harmful effect on people。 Similary; a true sage isn't someone who harbors absolutely no negativity in the heart; but someone who sees that negativity clearly so that it cannot exert a harmful influence on life。
  The gods of the world also keep to their proper places and do not disrupt the people's lives。 When we apply this concept to practical; everyday cultivation; it means the wisdom of the Tao prevents one from taking foolish actions out of positive intentions … actions that; although well…intended; still end up making things more complicated and more difficult。
  Not only do the gods refrain from harming people out of misguided benevolence; the sages also refrain from meddling in people's lives。 Acting in congruence with the Tao; the sages relax; let things be; and simply enjoy the process。
  This gives us a world where gods and demons do no harm; whether to one another or anyone else。 The rulers and the people also coexist peacefully。 The goodness of this worldly manifestation lets the virtue and inherent power in everyone merge together and return to the Tao。
  Notes
  In this chapter as well as other chapters of the Tao Te Ching; governing a country serves as a metaphor for running one's life。 Thus; we can also apply 〃cooking a small fish〃 to practical; everyday Tao cultivation。
  Just as constantly changing rules and regulations disrupt people's lives; in governing your own life you also need to be careful not to second…guess yourself too much。 People who succeed tend to make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly; if at all。 Conversely; people who fail in life are the ones who decide slowly but change their minds at the drop of a hat。
  Once you cultivate the Tao to a certain point and get in touch with your inner self; you learn to trust and rely on the power of your intuition。 It is capable of leading you to the correct decision in the blink of an eye。 By contrast; dwelling on too much information has a way of leading to analysis paralysis rather than better decisions。
  Next time you have a hunch or a gut feeling; go with it。 The more you use your intuition; the more powerful and accurate it will become。
  61

  The large country is like the lowest river
  The converging point of the world
  The receptive female of the world
  The female always overcomes the male with serenity
  Using serenity as the lower position
  Thus if the large country is lower than the small country
  Then it can take the small country
  If the small country is lower than the large country
  Then it can be taken by the large country
  Thus one uses the lower position to take
  The other uses the lower position to be taken
  The large country only wishes to gather and protect people
  The small country only wishes to join and serve people
  So that both obtain
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!