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！
Long and short define each other。
High and low depend on each other。
Before and after follow each other。
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything。
Things arise and she lets them come；
things disappear and she lets them go。
She has but doesn't possess；
acts but doesn't expect。
When her work is done； she forgets it。
That is why it lasts forever。
3
If you overesteem great men；
people become powerless。
If you overvalue possessions；
people begin to steal。
The Master leads
by emptying people's minds
and filling their cores；
by weakening their ambition
and toughening their resolve。
He helps people lose everything
they know； everything they desire；
and creates confusion
in those who think that they know。
Practice not…doing；
and everything will fall into place。
4
The Tao is like a well：
used but never used up。
It is like the eternal void：
filled with infinite possibilities。
It is hidden but always present。
I don't know who gave birth to it。
It is older than God。
5
The Tao doesn't take sides；
it gives birth to both good and evil。
The Master doesn't take sides；
she welcomes both saints and sinners。
The Tao is like a bellows：
it is empty yet infinitely capable。
The more you use it； the more it produces；
the more you talk of it； the less you understand。
Hold on to the center。
6
The Tao is called the Great Mother：
empty yet inexhaustible；
it gives birth to infinite worlds。
It is always present within you。
You can use it any way you want。
7
The Tao is infinite； eternal。
Why is it eternal？
It was never born；
thus it can never die。
Why is it infinite？
It has no desires for itself；
thus it is present for all beings。
The Master stays behind；
that is why she is ahead。
She is detached from all things；
that is why she is one with them。
Because she has let go of herself；
she is perfectly fulfilled。
8
The supreme good is like water；
which nourishes all things without trying to。
It is content with the low places that people disdain。
Thus it is like the Tao。
In dwelling； live close to the ground。
In thinking； keep to the simple。
In conflict； be fair and generous。
In governing； don't try to control。
In work； do what you enjoy。
In family life； be completely present。
When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete；
everybody will respect you。
9
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill。
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt。
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench。
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner。
Do your work； then step back。
The only path to serenity。
10
Can you coax your mind from its wandering
and keep to the original oneness？
Can you let your body become
supple as a newborn child's？
Can you cleanse your inner vision
until you see nothing but the light？
Can you love people and lead them
without imposing your will？
Can you deal with the most vital matters
by letting events take their course？
Can you step back from you own mind
and thus understand all things？
Giving birth and nourishing；
having without possessing；
acting with no expectations；
leading and not trying to control：
this is the supreme virtue。
11
We join spokes together in a wheel；
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move。
We shape clay into a pot；
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want。
We hammer wood for a house；
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable。
We work with being；
but non…being is what we use。
12
Colors blind the eye。
Sounds deafen the ear。
Flavors numb the taste。
Thoughts weaken the mind。
Desires wither the heart。
The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision。
He allows things to come and go。
His heart is open as the sky。
13
Success is as dangerous as failure。
Hope is as hollow as fear。
What does it mean that success is a dangerous as failure？
Whether you go up the ladder or down it；
you position is shaky。
When you stand with your two feet on the ground；
you will always keep your balance。
What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear？
Hope and fear are both phantoms
that arise from thinking of the self。
When we don't see the self as self；
what do we have to fear？
See the world as your self。
Have faith in the way things are。
Love the world as your self；
then you can care for all things。
14
Look； and it can't be seen。
Listen； and it can't be heard。
Reach； and it can't be grasped。
Above； it isn't bright。
Below； it isn't dark。
Seamless； unnamable；
it returns to the realm of nothing。
Form that includes all forms；
image without an image；
subtle； beyond all conception。
Approach it and there is no beginning；
follow it and there is no end。
You can't know it； but you can be it；
at ease in your own life。
Just realize where you come from：
this is the essence of wisdom。
15
The ancient Masters were profound and subtle。
Their wisdom was unfathomable。
There is no way to describe it；
all we can describe is their appearance。
They were careful
as someone crossing an iced…over stream。
Alert as a warrior in enemy territory。
Courteous as a guest。
Fluid as melting ice。
Shapable as a block of wood。
Receptive as a valley。
Clear as a glass of water。
Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear？
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself？
The Master doesn't seek fulfillment。
Not seeking； not expecting；
she is present； and can welcome all things。
16
Empty your mind of all thoughts。
Let your heart be at peace。
Watch the turmoil of beings；
but contemplate their return。
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source。
Returning to the source is serenity。
If you don't realize the source；
you stumble in confusion and sorrow。
When you realize where you come from；
you naturally become tolerant；
disinterested； amused；
kindhearted as a grandmother；
dignified as a king。
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao；
you can deal with whatever life brings you；
and when death comes； you are ready。
17
When the Master governs； the people
are hardly aware that he exists。
Next best is a leader who is loved。
Next； one who is feared。
The worst is one who is