《道德經》— 2021 年 6 月 24 日

古之善為士者，微妙玄通，深不可識。

夫唯不可識，故強為之容。

豫兮若冬涉川；猶兮若畏四鄰；儼兮其若容；渙兮若冰之將釋；敦兮其若樸；曠兮其若谷；混兮其若濁；孰能濁以靜之徐清？孰能安以久動之徐生？保此道者，不欲盈。

夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成。

Dào De Jing — June 24, 2021

“The great masters of ancient times

focused on the indiscernible

and penetrated the dark

you would never know them

and because you would not know them

I describe them with reluctance

they were careful as if crossing a river in winter

cautious as if worried about neighbours

reserved like a guest

ephemeral like melting ice

simple like uncarved wood

open like a valley

and murky like a puddle

but those who can be like a puddle

become clear when they’re still

and those who can be at rest

become alive when they’re roused

those who treasure this Way

do not try to be seen

not trying to be seen

they can hide and stay hidden”

老子 Laozi

(《道經》第15節，紅松譯 Daodejing, verse 15, translation by Red Pine)

曹道中 Cao Dao-Zhong says, “Although the ancient masters lived in the world, no one thought they were special.”

蘇軾 Su Shi says, “Darkness is what penetrates everything but what cannot itself be perceived. To be careful means to act only after taking precautions. To be cautious means to refrain from acting because of doubt or suspicion. Melting ice reminds us how the myriad things arise from delusion and never stay still. Uncarved wood reminds us to put an end to human fabrication and return to our original nature. A valley reminds us how encompassing emptiness is. And a puddle reminds us that we are no different from anything else.”

黃元志 Huang Yuanzhi says, “老子 expresses reluctance at describing those who succeed in cultivating the Tao because he knows the inner truth cannot be perceived, only the outward form. The essence of the Tao consists in nothing other than taking care. If people took care to let each thought be detached and each action well-considered, where else would they find the Tao? Hence, those who mastered the Tao in the past were so careful they waited until a river froze before crossing. They were so cautious, they waited until the wind died down before venturing forth at night. They were orderly and respectful as if they were guests arriving from a distant land. They were relaxed and detached as if material forms didn’t matter. They were as uncomplicated as uncarved wood and as hard to fathom as murky water. They stilled themselves to concentrate their spirit, and they roused themselves to strengthen their breath. In short, they guarded the centre.”

王弼, Wang Bi, says, “All of these similes are meant to describe without actually denoting. By means of intuitive understanding, the dark becomes bright. By means of tranquillity, the murky becomes clear. By means of movement, the still becomes alive. This is the natural Way.”

王辰 Wang Chen says, “All those who treasure the Way fit in without making a show and stay forever hidden. Hence, they don’t leave any tracks.”

And 紅鬆, Red Pine adds, “It would seem that 老子Laozi is also describing himself here.”

15 — Arthur Waley 

Of old those that were the best officers of Court

Had inner natures subtle, abstruse, mysterious, penetrating,

Too deep to be understood.

And because such men could not be understood

I can but tell of them as they appeared to the world:

Circumspect they seemed, like one who in winter crosses a stream,

Watchful, as one who must meet danger on every side.

Ceremonious, as one who pays a visit;

Yet yielding, as ice when it begins to melt.

Blank, as a piece of uncarved wood;

Yet receptive as a hollow in the hills.

Murky, as a troubled stream —–

(Tranquil, as the vast reaches of the sea,

Drifting as the wind with no stop.)

Which of you an assume such murkiness,

To become in the end still and clear?

Which of you can make yourself insert,

To become at the end full of life and stir?

Those who possess this Tao do not try to fill themselves to the brim,

And because they do not try to fill themselves to the brim,

They are like a garment that endures all wear and need never be renewed.