Cary Chan

第四十一章上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑，不足以为道。故建言有之，明道若昧，进道若退，夷道若纇，上德若谷，大白若辱，广德若不足，建德若偷，质真若渝，大方无隅，大器晚成，大音希声，大象无形，道隐无名。夫唯道，善贷且成。Chapter 41When a superior man hears of the Tao,he immediately begins to embody it.When an average man hears of the Tao,he half believes it, half doubts it.When a foolish man hears of the Tao,he laughs out loud.If he didn't laugh,it wouldn't be the Tao.Thus it is said:The path into the light seems dark,the path forward seems to go back,the direct path seems long,true power seems weak,true purity seems tarnished,true steadfastness seems changeable,true clarity seems obscure,the greatest art seems unsophisticated,the greatest love seems indifferent,the greatest wisdom seems childish.The Tao is nowhere to be found.Yet it nourishes and completes all things.

第四十章反者道之动，弱者道之用。天下万物生于有，有生于无。Chapter 40Return is the movement of the Tao.Yielding is the way of the Tao.All things are born of being.Being is born of non-being.

第三十九章昔之得一者，天得一以清，地得一以宁，神得一以灵，谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下正。其致之，天无以清将恐裂，地无以宁将恐废，神无以灵将恐歇，谷无以盈将恐竭，万物无以生将恐灭，侯王无以贵高将恐蹶。故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以侯王自称孤、寡、不谷。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？故致数舆无舆，不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。Chapter 39In harmony with the Tao,the sky is clear and spacious,the earth is solid and full,all creature flourish together,content with the way they are,endlessly repeating themselves,endlessly renewed.When man interferes with the Tao,the sky becomes filthy,the earth becomes depleted,the equilibrium crumbles,creatures become extinct.The Master views the parts with compassion,because he understands the whole.His constant practice is humility.He doesn't glitter like a jewelbut lets himself be shaped by the Tao, as rugged and common as stone.

第三十八章上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。上礼为之而莫之应， 则攘臂而扔之。故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。Chapter 38The Master doesn't try to be powerful;thus he is truly powerful.The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;thus he never has enough.The Master does nothing,yet he leaves nothing undone.The ordinary man is always doing things,yet many more are left to be done.The kind man does something,yet something remains undone.The just man does something,and leaves many things to be done.The moral man does something,and when no one respondshe rolls up his sleeves and uses force.When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.When goodness is lost, there is morality.When morality is lost, there is ritual.Ritual is the husk of true faith,the beginning of chaos.Therefore the Master concerns himself with the depths and not the surface,with the fruit and not the flower.He has no will of his own.He dwells in reality,and lets all illusions go.

第三十七章道常无为，而无不为。侯王若能守之，万物将自化。化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。无名之朴，夫亦将无欲。不欲以静，天下将自定。Chapter 37The Tao never does anything,yet through it all things are done.If powerful men and womencould venter themselves in it,the whole world would be transformed by itself, in its natural rhythms.People would be contentwith their simple, everyday lives,in harmony, and free of desire.When there is no desire,all things are at peace.

第三十六章将欲歙之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲夺之，必固与之。是谓微明。柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。Chapter 36If you want to shrink something,you must first allow it to expand.If you want to get rid of something,you must first allow it to flourish.If you want to take something,you must first allow it to be given.This is called the subtle perceptionof the way things are.The soft overcomes the hard.The slow overcomes the fast.Let your workings remain a mystery.Just show people the results.

第三十五章执大象，天下往。往而不害，安平太。乐与饵，过客止。道之出口，淡乎其无味，视之不足见，听之不足闻，用之不可既。Chapter 35She who is centered in the Taocan go where she wishes, without danger.She perceives the universal harmony,even amid great pain,because she has found peace in her heart.Music or the smell of good cookingmay make people stop and enjoy.But words that point to the Taoseem monotonous and without flavor.When you look for it, there is nothing to see.When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear.When you use it,it is inexhaustible.

第三十四章大道泛兮，其可左右。万物恃之而生，而不辞，功成而不有。衣养万物而不为主，常无欲，可名于小；万物归焉而不为主，可名为大。以其终不自为大，故能成其大。Chapter 34The great Tao flows everywhere.All things are born from it,yet it doesn't create them.It pours itself into its work,yet it makes no claim.It nourishes infinite worlds,yet it doesn't hold on to them.Since it is merged with all thingsand hidden in their hearts,it can be called humble.Since all things vanish into itand it alone endures,it can be called great.It isn't aware of its greatness;thus it is truly great.

第三十三章知人者智，自知者明。胜人者有力，自胜者强。知足者富。强行者有志。不失其所者久。死而不亡者寿。Chapter 33Knowing others is intelligence;knowing yourself is true wisdom.Mastering others is strength;mastering yourself is true power.If you realize that you have enough,you are truly rich.If you stay in the centerand embrace death with your whole heart,you will endure forever.

第三十二章道常无名，朴虽小，天下莫能臣也。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止所以不殆。 譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。Chapter 32The Tao can't be perceived.Smaller than an electron,it contains uncountable galaxies.If powerful men and womencould remain centered in the Tao,all things would be in harmony.The world would become a paradise.All people would be at peace,and the law would be written in their hearts.When you have names and forms,know that they are provisional.When you have institutions,know where their functions should end.Knowing when to stop,you can avoid any danger.All things end in the Taoas rivers flow into the sea.

第三十一章夫佳兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。兵者，不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上。胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者，则不可以得志于天下矣。吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏将军居左，上将军居右，言以丧礼处之。杀人之众，以哀悲泣之，战胜，以丧礼处之。Chapter 31Weapons are the tools of violence;all decent men detest them.Weapons are the tools of fear;a decent man will avoid themexcept in the direst necessityand, if compelled, will use themonly with the utmost restraint.Peace is his highest value.If the peace has been shattered,how can he be content?His enemies are not demons,but human beings like himself.He doesn't wish them personal harm.Nor does he rejoice in victory.How could he rejoice in victoryand delight in the slaughter of men?He enters a battle gravely,with sorrow and with great compassion,as if he were attending a funeral.

第三十章以道佐人主者，不以兵强天下。其事好还。师之所处，荆棘生焉。大军之后，必有凶年。善有果而已，不敢以取强。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿骄，果而不得已，果而勿强。物壮则老，是谓不道，不道早已。Chapter 30Whoever relies on the Tao in governing mendoesn't try to force issuesor defeat enemies by force of arms.For every force there is a counterforce.Violence, even well intentioned,always rebounds upon oneself.The Master does his job and then stops.He understands that the universeis forever out of control,and that trying to dominate eventsgoes against the current of the Tao.Because he believes in himself,he doesn't try to convince others.Because he is content with himself,he doesn't need others' approval.Because he accepts himself,the whole world accepts him.

第二十九章将欲取天下而为之，吾见弗得已。夫天下，神器也，非可为者也。为者败之，执者失之。 是以圣人无为，故无败；无执，故无失。故物或行或随，或嘘或吹。或强或羸，或挫或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。Chapter 29Do you want to improve the world?I don't think it can be done.The world is sacred.It can't be improved.If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.There is a time for being ahead,a time for being behind;a time for being in motion,a time for being at rest;a time for being vigorous,a time for being exhausted;a time for being safe,a time for being in danger.The Master sees things as they are,without trying to control them.She lets them go their own way,and resides at the center of the circle.

第二十八章知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。朴散则为器， 圣人用之，则为官长，故大制不割。Chapter 28Know the male,yet keep to the female:receive the world in your arms.If you receive the world,the Tao will never leave youand you will be like a little child.Know the white,yet keep to the black:be a pattern for the world.If you are a pattern for the world,the Tao will be strong inside youand there will be nothing you can't do.Know the personal,yet keep to the impersonal:accept the world as it is.If you accept the world,the Tao will be luminous inside youand you will return to your primal self.The world is formed from the void,like utensils from a block of wood.The Master knows the utensils,yet keeps to the block:thus she can use all things.

第二十七章善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪；善数不用筹策；善闭无关楗，而不可开，善结无绳约，而不可解。是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物，是谓袭明。故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。 不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。 Chapter 27A good traveler has no fixed plansand is not intent upon arriving.A good artist lets his intuitionlead him wherever it wants.A good scientist has freed himself of conceptsand keeps his mind open to what is.Thus the Master is available to all peopleand doesn't reject anyone.He is ready to use all situationsand doesn't waste anything.This is called embodying the light.What is a good man but a bad man's teacher?What is a bad man but a good man's job?If you don't understand this, you will get lost,however intelligent you are.It is the great secret.

第二十六章重为轻根，静为躁君。 是以圣人终日行，不离辎重。虽有荣观，燕处超然。奈何万乘之主，而以身轻天下？轻则失本，躁则失君。Chapter 26The heavy is the root of the light.The unmoved is the source of all movement.Thus the Master travels all daywithout leaving home.However splendid the views,she stays serenely in herself.Why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool?If you let yourself be blown to and fro,you lose touch with your root.If you let restlessness move you,you lose touch with who you are.

第二十五章有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母。吾不知其名，强字之曰道，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。Chapter 25There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born.It is serene. Empty.Solitary. Unchanging.Infinite. Eternally present.It is the mother of the universe.For lack of a better name,I call it the Tao.It flows through all things,inside and outside, and returnsto the origin of all things.The Tao is great.The universe is great.Earth is great.Man is great.These are the four great powers.Man follows the earth.Earth follows the universe.The universe follows the Tao.The Tao follows only itself.

第二十四章企者不立，跨者不行，自见者不明，自是者不彰 自伐者无功，自矜者不长。其在道也，曰余食赘行。物或恶之，故有道者不处。Chapter 24He who stands on tiptoedoesn't stand firm.He who rushes aheaddoesn't go far.He who tries to shinedims his own light.He who defines himselfcan't know who he really is.He who has power over otherscan't empower himself.He who clings to his workwill create nothing that endures.If you want to accord with the Tao,just do your job, then let go.

第二十三章希言自然。故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。孰为此者？天地。天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？故从事于道者同于道，德者同于德，失者同于失。同于道者，道亦乐得之；同于德者，德亦乐得之；同于失者，失亦乐得之。 信不足焉，有不信焉。Chapter 23Express yourself completely,then keep quiet.Be like the forces of nature:when it blows, there is only wind;when it rains, there is only rain;when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.If you open yourself to the Tao,you are at one with the Taoand you can embody it completely.If you open yourself to insight,you are at one with insightand you can use it completely.If you open yourself to loss,you are at one with lossand you can accept it completely.Open yourself to the Tao,then trust your natural responses;and everything will fall into place.

第二十二章曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。是以圣人抱一为天下式。不自见故明，不自是故彰，不自伐故有功，不自矜故长。夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。古之所谓曲则全者，岂虚言哉！诚全而归之。Chapter 22If you want to become whole,let yourself be partial.If you want to become straight,let yourself be crooked.If you want to become full,let yourself be empty.If you want to be reborn,let yourself die.If you want to be given everything,give everything up.The Master, by residing in the Tao,sets an example for all beings.Because he doesn't display himself,people can see his light.Because he has nothing to prove,people can trust his words.Because he doesn't know who he is,people recognize themselves in him.Because he has no goad in mind,everything he does succeeds.When the ancient Masters said,"If you want to be given everything,give everything up,"they weren't using empty phrases.Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.