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道德经英文版（一） |
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ssence of Infinity.
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2
Only when one distinguishes beauty
does one create the unattractive.
Only when one distinguishes good
does one create evil.
Also by distinction,
Tangible and intangible create each other,
Difficult and easy define each other,
Long and short measure each other,
High and low determine each other,
Sound and silence echo each other,
Beginning and end follow each other.
Therefore, the sage goes about living in the
oneness of
all things,
teaching without speaking,
accepting and dismissing all things with
indifference,
creating without attachment,
working without credit.
Acts and deeds are completed and forgotten.
Because the sage is at one with Infinity,
she is immortal.
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3
Exalting people creates the desire in others
to be exalted and therefore creates tension.
Overvaluing goods creates the desire for
ownership
and therefore creates the temptation to
steal.
When people do not distinguish things as valuable,
they remain focused on the oneness of all
things
and do not become confused in the material
world.
Therefore, harmonious leaders empty the people''s
minds
but nourish their bodies.
They undermine desires
and improve endurance.
They keep the people focused on their oneness with
Infinity
and free them from attachments to material
things.
They redirect the energies of those
who would manipulate others.
If you remember your oneness with Infinity,
and flow with life by refusing to distinguish
good and bad,
you will flow in the peace and harmony
that is the essence of Infinity.
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Infinity is an empty vessel enveloping all
manifestations,
yet it can never be filled.
It is the potential of all things tangible and
intangible.
It blunts the sharp and hones the blunt,
unravels knots and binds all things,
dulls the glare and shines the mundane,
manifests the dust and clears the air.
It is the essence of all things.
No one can comprehend its origin.
It is older than the concept of God.
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Heaven and earth are indifferent.
All creatures are considered straw dogs;
not distinguished, not judged.
The sage is indifferent.
All people are one;
not distinguished, not judged.
Infinity is like a bellows,
empty yet encompassing the potential
of all things.
In time all potentials manifest.
Words are straw in the wind.
The more one talks, the less one says.
Keep focused on Infinity.
Remain centered in the oneness of
all things.
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The manifestations of Infinity never cease
manifesting.
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male
and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven
and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses,
yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available
for any purpose.
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Heaven and earth will pass away
but Infinity endures forever.
It had no beginning and so It can never end.
It is the inexhaustible essence of all things.
Because the sage remains behind
in her oneness with all things,
she anticipates all manifestations.
Being at one with Infinity,
she is indifferent.
Because she does not distinguish herself from
other beings,
she is completely fulfilled.
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8
Water is like Infinity,
it gives itself to all things
without distinction or judgment
and settles into the lowest places
without deliberation.
In dwelling, live in harmony with the land.
In meditation, remember your oneness with the
Infinite.
In dealing with others, do not judge.
In communicating, relate the truth.
In governing, be fair.
In daily life, be in harmony with all things
and at peace with all people.
In action, be mindful that there is a time
and a season for all things.
Avoid judging and its legacy contention
and flow in the peace and harmony
of the oneness of humanity.
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9
Fill anything to the brim and the contents will spill
out.
Hone a sharpened blade and it will become blunt.
Accumulate great wealth, but be aware that you
cannot keep it.
When a task is complete, move on.
Change is the harmony of Infinity.
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Manifesting body, mind and spirit,
can you stay centered in the oneness of
Infinity?
Fully manifesting and remaining flexible,
can you experience all manifestations
as a newborn baby?
Can you maintain the Infinite vision of oneness
by ignoring distinctions.
Remaining centered in oneness and leading others,
can you avoid manifesting arrogance?
Entering and exiting the gates of manifestations,
can you harmonize with Infinity?
Realizing your oneness with Infinity,
can you flow in harmony with It
by indifferently allowing things to come and
go?
Can you create and sustain things,
and yet remain unattached to them?
Can you work in harmony with all things,
without desiring acknowledgment for your
deeds?
Exemplifying oneness,
flowing in peace and harmony,
not distinguishing, not judging,
is the nature of Infinity.
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Thirty spokes converge on the wheel''s hub.
But the center hole which receives the axle
makes it useful.
Clay is shaped into a pot.
But the inner space which receives whatever
one puts into it makes it useful.
Wood is cut and joined to build a house.
But the windows and doors which allow
things to enter and leave make it
useful.
The potential utility resides in the tangible.
But true usefulness is a manifestation of
the intangible.
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The oneness of the five colors blind the eyes.
The oneness of the five tones deafens the ears.
The oneness of the five flavors dull the tongue.
Racing ahead of change
and pursuing the illusion of reality
promotes confusion.
Therefore, the sage is in harmony with what she is
and does not distinguish what she sees.
She chooses oneness and distinguishes nothing.
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Accept disgrace indifferently.
Acknowledge misfortune as one of the human
conditions.
What does it mean to "accept disgrace
indifferently"?
Honor and disgrace are one in the Infinite.
Only by making distinctions does one
manifest disgrace.
Refusing to make distinctions
merges honor and disgrace into the
oneness of circumstances
which creates harmony.
What is meant by "acknowledging misfortune
as one of the human conditions"?
The body is a manifestation of Infinity
and the body is subject to being
affected by the other manifestations
of Infinity.
Misfortune is one of those other
manifestations.
However, as with disgrace,
refusing to distinguish misfortune and
fortune
creates indifference which keeps one
focused
on the oneness of Infinity
and creates peace in the self.
Stay centered in
your oneness with Infinity
and you can be entrusted with leadership.
See the world as yourself
and you will care for all things.
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Look and see the manifestations of the Infinite
but not its essence.
Listen and hear the manifestations of the Infinite
but not its essence.
Reach out and touch the manifestations of the
Infinite
but not its essence.
These three are one in their inability to relate
the essence of Infinity.
Above it is not light.
Below it is not dark.
It is neither light nor dark.
Infinity is the potential manifestation of all
things
and the essence into which all
manifestations
disintegrate.
Yet it is inconceivable and indescribable;
intangible but the essence of all
manifestations.
You cannot confront what has no head
and you cannot follow what has no tail.
Remember your oneness,
flow in the peace and harmony of Infinity,
live in the now, changing and flowing with
change.
There was no beginning.
This is the mystery of Infinity.
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Those who live in oneness manifest the Infinite
in simple ways.
Their awareness is the awareness of Infinity.
Their knowing cannot be described but only
experienced.
All that can be described is their acts and their
appearance and the perception of them.
They are;
alert when crossing unfamiliar space,
cautious in hostile lands,
humble as a guest,
indifferently transforming as melting ice,
possessing the infinite potential of
an unremarkable piece of uncarved
wood,
mysterious as an unexplored valley,
perplexing as muddy water.
Can you see the calm in turbulent waters;
the clarity in murky water?
Can you allow the tides of Infinite change
to move you from stillness to motion
and action to inaction;
experiencing but not contemplating the
change?
Those who live in oneness do not seek
fullness because at every moment they
are aware of their infinite fullness and
the infinite pregnancy of all things.
They are aware of their infinite potential
within which the limitations of fullness
resides.
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Contemplate Infinity and become peaceful as the
mind becomes lost.
The self perceives the never ending
manifestations of
the potential of Infinity as well as the
disintegration
of all those manifestations.
Within Infinity all things manifest
and disintegrate.
Disintegration is a returning to the Infinite
potential.
Disintegration is the destiny of all
manifestations.
Manifesting is the nature of Infinity.
Change is the Infinite constant.
Acknowledging change is the key to understanding
the harmony of never ending change.
Acknowledging change within the Infinite potential
of which every creature is a manifestation,
unique, yet bound to all things in
disintegration,
gives one a perspective regarding life.
Possessing perspective, one becomes impartial,
openhearted, tolerant, compassionate
and indifferent to judging others.
These are foundations of harmony.
The manifestation of the body disintegrates
but Infinity can never disintegrate into
itself.
There is nothing to fear.
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The best leaders are in harmony with their
followers.
The next best are those who are respected.
Then comes those who are feared.
The worst are those who are despised.
If one perceives others as untrustworthy,
then that will be the experience that
one acknowledges.
The selective acknowledgment of
untrustworthiness
verifies one''s perception of the
untrustworthiness
of others.
When the leaders are in harmony with their
followers,
few laws are necessary
and all tasks are accomplished with ease.
The followers, not perceiving the
administration
of leadership, marvel at the
manifestations
of harmony and experience a sense of
self worth.
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When the oneness of Infinity is forgotten,
judgment appears and people are
distinguished as good and righteous.
When the illusion of knowledge and understanding
appear,
the physical reality has been confused with
Infinity.
When there is no peace and harmony within the
family,
a facade of devotion and obedience is
perceived.
When a nation manifests great change,
patriots step forward
to attempt to resurrect the past.
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Quit distinguishing the wise and their wisdom,
the saints and their holiness,
and the people will be a hundred times better
off.
Quit distinguishing morality, righteousness and
benevolence
and humanity will stay centered in its
oneness.
Abandon the pursuit of commercial profit
and the number of thieves and robbers will be
greatly reduced.
These are just three impediments to peace and
harmony
and abandoning them is not enough.
Peace and harmony reside in the simplicity
of an uncarved piece of wood.
Quit distinguishing the self and reside in oneness.
Curb your desires and aspirations
and experience the peace and harmony of
simplicity.
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Give up the pursuit of knowledge and live in peace
and harmony.
Without knowledge there is no difference
between good and evil.
Is it necessary to learn to fear what others
perceive should be feared? Nonsense!
Other people are excited, joyous and festive
as if enjoying a holiday.
I alone am indifferent, without emotion
or expression; like a baby
before it has learned to smile.
Others have things they feel they need.
I alone own nothing.
I am like a fool unfettered by knowledge.
Other people are intelligent. I alone am ignorant.
Others are shrewd and cunning.
I alone am untouched and moronic.
I aimlessly drift on the great tides of the endless
seas
at the mercy of the indifferent winds.
Others have direction, goals and purposes.
I alone flow within the harmony of Infinity.
I am different from others.
I reside in the peace and harmony of
the Infinite oneness of all things.
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