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 Two gives birth to the Three。
The Three gives birth to the Ten Thousand Things。
The Ten Thousand Things are supported by Yin；
and embraced by Yang。
These energies blending in harmony。
This is what all people dread： to be widowed；
to be orphaned； and to go hungry。
Yet royalty identify themselves with these people。
What declines then increases； and what increases then declines。
I teach what everyone else teaches：
Those who rule by force will surely die。
I will take this as the root of my teaching。
43
Subtlety： The power of the soft and the small
The softest thing in the world；
can leap over the hardest thing in the world。
What has no existence can enter where there are no spaces。
This is how I know that not…doing is of benefit。
To teach without words； and to help without interfering。
In all the world； this is attained by few people。
44
Your Money or Your Life： Too much of a good thing
Fame or life； which is closer to our heart？
Life or possessions； which is more important？
Gain or loss； which is more harmful？
Excessive passions are very costly。
Those who hoard greatly will lose much。
By knowing when we have had enough； we avoid disgrace。
Those who know when to stop will come to no harm；
and will long continue。
45
Almost Perfect： Perfection ain抰 what it抯 cracked up to be
Absolute perfection appears to be lacking something；
and yet its use is not impaired。
Great abundance seems empty；
and yet it is inexhaustible。
True directness seems crooked。
True skill appears awkward。
Accomplished debate sounds inarticulate。
Movement overcomes cold。
Stillness overcomes heat。
Clarity and tranquillity make everything right in the world。
46
Dissatisfaction： Being at peace
When Tao rules in the world； work…horses manure the fields。
When Tao does not rule in the world；
war…horses are bred outside the city。
There is no greater disaster than not
knowing when we have had enough。
There is no greater fault than the desire for gain。
Therefore those who know when enough is enough；
always have enough。
47
Seclusion： The further we go the less we know
Without going out our door we can know the whole world。
Without peering out our window we can see the Tao of Heaven。
The further we go the less we know。
This is why wise ones：
Do not have to go anywhere to know everything。
Do not have to see something to understand it。
Do not have to do anything to achieve everything。
48
Spontaneous Action： Unlearning is the way of the Tao
In the act of learning there are daily increases。
In enacting the Tao there are daily decreases。
Decrease； and decrease again until we reach
the not…doing of effortless spontaneous action。
In not…doing； nothing is left undone。
In dealing with worldly affairs； resist getting caught up in them。
If we do get entangled； we will not be as effective。
49
Love： Goodness and honesty
The wise ones are not concerned with themselves；
and so are able to embrace others？concerns。
To those who are good； I am good。
To those who are not good； I am also good。
Our essential nature is good。
To those who are honest； I am honest。
To those who are not honest； I am also honest。
Our essential nature is honest。
When wise people appear in the world they are at peace。
When they act in the world they are wholehearted。
All people focus their eyes and ears on them。
For to the wise they are all their children。
50
Death： The way of death
When life leaves； death enters in。
The avenues of life are thirteen；
and the avenues of death are thirteen。
And for those who are alive and moving towards the place of death； there are also thirteen avenues。
Why is this so？
It is because they use up their energies on the luxuries of life。
One hears of those who are good at staying alive。
When living in the hills they encounter no rhinoceros or tigers。
When going into battle they wear no armor nor carry any weapons。
The rhinoceros has nowhere to thrust its horn。
The tiger has nowhere to strike with its claws。
Weapons have nowhere to insert their blades。
Why is this so？
It is because they have no place in them for death。
51
At Play in the Fields of the Tao： What we are made of
Tao gives us life。 The life force nourishes us。
Matter gives us our form。 Environment completes us。
This is why there is nothing that does not
venerate the Tao and honor the life force。
Venerating the Tao and honoring the life force isn抰 demanded：
it arises naturally and spontaneously in everything。
So the Tao gives us life； and the life force nourishes us。
By them we are encouraged； nurtured； shaped；
ripened； provided for； and protected。
To give life without being possessive； to act without exploiting；
and to encourage without dominating； is called：
揾aving a profound spirit。？br》
52
Source： If we understand the origin； we see the outcome
The world has a source which is the mother of the world。
When we know the mother； we will understand her children。
In understanding her children we will regain the protection of the mother； and until our death we will suffer no harm。
If we cease our idle chatter and close the door；
then we will have an easy life。
If we抮e engaged in endless chatter； and crave many things；
then we will have a difficult life。
Noticing the subtle signs is to have understanding。
Keeping our sensitivity is to have strength。
By developing our clarity； we find wisdom。
If we don抰 bring trouble into our lives；
we are able to practice equanimity。
53
Boasting： Straying from the Tao
If I know anything at all it is that I will walk the Way of the Tao；
and straying from it will be my only fear。
The Great Way is completely safe； but most people prefer side paths。
The royal court is extremely wasteful；
yet the fields are completely overgrown。
The storehouse is quite empty；
yet their clothing is rich and bright。
They carry sharp swords
and gorge themselves on food and drink。
They have more money and possessions
than they know what to do with。
These people are called swaggering bandits。
This is not the Tao！
54
Empathy： It takes a village
What is well established will not be uprooted。
What is well embraced will not be renounced。
Then generation after generation will offer thanks without cease。
Cultivate this in self and our spirit will be real。
Cultivate this in family and its spirit will be overflowing。
Cultivate this in our village and its spirit will endure。
Cultivate this in our nations and their spirits will be plentiful。
Cultivate this