Verse 11
Thirty spokes connect to the wheel’s hub;
yet, it is the centre hole that makes it useful.
Clay is shaped into a vessel;
yet, it is the emptiness within that makes it useful.
Doors and windows are cut for a room;
yet it is the space where there is nothing that makes it useful.
Therefore, though advantage comes from what is;
usefulness comes from what is not.
Verse 12
The five colours blind the eye.
The five notes deafen the ear.
The five flavours dull the palate.
Racing and hunting drive the heart wild.
Goods that are hard to obtain hinder the journey.
Therefore, the True Person
is guided more by the belly than the eye,
and prefers this within to that without.
Verse 13
Both favour and disgrace bring fear.
Great trouble comes from having a body.
What is meant by: “Both favour and disgrace bring fear”?
Favour leads to a fear of losing it and
disgrace leads to a fear of greater trouble.
What is meant by: “Great trouble comes from having a body”?
The reason you have trouble is that you are self-conscious.
No trouble can befall a self-free person.
Therefore, surrender your self-interest.
Love others as much as you love yourself.
Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
Verse 14
Look at it, you cannot see it. It is invisible.
Listen to it, you cannot hear it. It is inaudible.
Reach for it, you cannot grasp it. It is intangible.
These three qualities are unfathomable
and so they fuse together and become one.
The upper part is not bright.
The lower part is not dark.
Ceaselessly the Unnamed moves back to nothingness.
It has the form of the formless,
the image of the imageless.
It is indefinable and shadowy.
Go up to it and you will not see its front.
Follow it and you will not see its back.
Yet, hold fast to this ancient Tao
and you will experience the present now-moment.
Know its beginnings and you can follow the path of the Tao.
Verse 15
The ancient followers of the Tao
were subtle, mysterious, and penetrating.
They were too deep to be fathomed.
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Hesitant, as if crossing a winter stream.
Watchful, as if aware of neighbours on all sides.
Respectful, like a visiting guest.
Yielding, like ice beginning to melt.
Simple, like an Uncarved Block.
Open, like a valley.
Obscure, like muddy water.
Who else can be still and let the muddy water
slowly become clear?
Who else can remain at rest and slowly come to life?
Those who hold fast to the Tao
do not try to fill themselves to the brim.
Because they do not try to be ful.
they can be worn out and yet ever new.
Verse 16
Empty everything out; hold fast to your stillness.
Even though all things are stirring together,
watch for the movement of return.
The ten thousand things flourish and then
each returns to the root from which it came.
Returning to the root is stillness.
Through stillness each fulfils its destiny.
That which has fulfilled its destiny
becomes part of the Always-so.
To be aware of the Always-so is to awaken.
Those who innovate while in ignorance of the Always-so
move toward disaster.
Those who act with awareness of the Always-so
embrace all, are not possessed by particular desire,
and move toward the Tao.
Those who are at one with the Tao abide forever.
Even after their bodies waste away, they are safe and whole.
Verse 17
The best leader is one whose existence is barely known by the people.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one they fear.
Next comes one they defy.
If you do not trust enough, you will not be trusted.
True Persons do not offer words lightly.
When their task is accomplished
and their work is completed,
the people say, “It happened to us naturally.”
Verse 18
When the great Tao is forgotten,
benevolence and moral codes arise.
When shrewdness and cleverness appear,
great hypocrisy follows.
When there is no harmony in the family,
filial manners are developed
When the country is in disorder,
ministers appear as loyal servants.
Verse 19
Stop being learned and your troubles will end.
Give up wisdom, discard cleverness,
and the people will benefit a hundredfold.
Give up benevolence, discard moral judgements,
and the people will rediscover natural compassion.
Give up shrewdness, discard gain,
and thieves and robbers will disappear.
These three false adornments are not enough to live by.
They must give way to something more solid.
Look for what is simple and hold onto the Uncarved Block.
Diminish thoughts of self and restrain desires.
Verse 20
How great is the difference between “yea” and “yeah”?
How great is the distinction between “good” and “evil”?
Must I fear what others fear? How silly!
Everyone else is joyous as if enjoying the greatest feast,
or going up the terraces in spring.
I alone am drifting without direction, like a baby who has not yet smiled.
I alone am moping as if I had no home.
Everyone else has more than they need,
I alone seem in want.
I have the mind of a fool, how confused I am!
Other people are bright and clever,
I alone am dark.
Other people are alert and self-assured,
I alone am dull and muddled.
I am unsettled like the waves of the sea, like the restless wind.
Everyone else has a purpose,
I alone am stubborn and awkward.
I am different from other people,
Even so, I am nourished by the Great.
Thirty spokes connect to the wheel’s hub;
yet, it is the centre hole that makes it useful.
Clay is shaped into a vessel;
yet, it is the emptiness within that makes it useful.
Doors and windows are cut for a room;
yet it is the space where there is nothing that makes it useful.
Therefore, though advantage comes from what is;
usefulness comes from what is not.
Verse 12
The five colours blind the eye.
The five notes deafen the ear.
The five flavours dull the palate.
Racing and hunting drive the heart wild.
Goods that are hard to obtain hinder the journey.
Therefore, the True Person
is guided more by the belly than the eye,
and prefers this within to that without.
Verse 13
Both favour and disgrace bring fear.
Great trouble comes from having a body.
What is meant by: “Both favour and disgrace bring fear”?
Favour leads to a fear of losing it and
disgrace leads to a fear of greater trouble.
What is meant by: “Great trouble comes from having a body”?
The reason you have trouble is that you are self-conscious.
No trouble can befall a self-free person.
Therefore, surrender your self-interest.
Love others as much as you love yourself.
Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
Verse 14
Look at it, you cannot see it. It is invisible.
Listen to it, you cannot hear it. It is inaudible.
Reach for it, you cannot grasp it. It is intangible.
These three qualities are unfathomable
and so they fuse together and become one.
The upper part is not bright.
The lower part is not dark.
Ceaselessly the Unnamed moves back to nothingness.
It has the form of the formless,
the image of the imageless.
It is indefinable and shadowy.
Go up to it and you will not see its front.
Follow it and you will not see its back.
Yet, hold fast to this ancient Tao
and you will experience the present now-moment.
Know its beginnings and you can follow the path of the Tao.
Verse 15
The ancient followers of the Tao
were subtle, mysterious, and penetrating.
They were too deep to be fathomed.
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Hesitant, as if crossing a winter stream.
Watchful, as if aware of neighbours on all sides.
Respectful, like a visiting guest.
Yielding, like ice beginning to melt.
Simple, like an Uncarved Block.
Open, like a valley.
Obscure, like muddy water.
Who else can be still and let the muddy water
slowly become clear?
Who else can remain at rest and slowly come to life?
Those who hold fast to the Tao
do not try to fill themselves to the brim.
Because they do not try to be ful.
they can be worn out and yet ever new.
Verse 16
Empty everything out; hold fast to your stillness.
Even though all things are stirring together,
watch for the movement of return.
The ten thousand things flourish and then
each returns to the root from which it came.
Returning to the root is stillness.
Through stillness each fulfils its destiny.
That which has fulfilled its destiny
becomes part of the Always-so.
To be aware of the Always-so is to awaken.
Those who innovate while in ignorance of the Always-so
move toward disaster.
Those who act with awareness of the Always-so
embrace all, are not possessed by particular desire,
and move toward the Tao.
Those who are at one with the Tao abide forever.
Even after their bodies waste away, they are safe and whole.
Verse 17
The best leader is one whose existence is barely known by the people.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one they fear.
Next comes one they defy.
If you do not trust enough, you will not be trusted.
True Persons do not offer words lightly.
When their task is accomplished
and their work is completed,
the people say, “It happened to us naturally.”
Verse 18
When the great Tao is forgotten,
benevolence and moral codes arise.
When shrewdness and cleverness appear,
great hypocrisy follows.
When there is no harmony in the family,
filial manners are developed
When the country is in disorder,
ministers appear as loyal servants.
Verse 19
Stop being learned and your troubles will end.
Give up wisdom, discard cleverness,
and the people will benefit a hundredfold.
Give up benevolence, discard moral judgements,
and the people will rediscover natural compassion.
Give up shrewdness, discard gain,
and thieves and robbers will disappear.
These three false adornments are not enough to live by.
They must give way to something more solid.
Look for what is simple and hold onto the Uncarved Block.
Diminish thoughts of self and restrain desires.
Verse 20
How great is the difference between “yea” and “yeah”?
How great is the distinction between “good” and “evil”?
Must I fear what others fear? How silly!
Everyone else is joyous as if enjoying the greatest feast,
or going up the terraces in spring.
I alone am drifting without direction, like a baby who has not yet smiled.
I alone am moping as if I had no home.
Everyone else has more than they need,
I alone seem in want.
I have the mind of a fool, how confused I am!
Other people are bright and clever,
I alone am dark.
Other people are alert and self-assured,
I alone am dull and muddled.
I am unsettled like the waves of the sea, like the restless wind.
Everyone else has a purpose,
I alone am stubborn and awkward.
I am different from other people,
Even so, I am nourished by the Great.
.....................................................................Neelanjan
No comments:
Post a Comment