《道德經第十章》

MoonSun Vagus snake

The Power of the Serpent

載營魄抱一，能無離乎？

專氣致柔，能嬰兒乎？

滌除玄覽，能無疵乎？

愛民治國，能無知乎？

天門開闔，能為雌乎？

明白四達，能無知乎？

生之、畜之，生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂玄德。

Dao De jing Chapter Ten 一 C. Ganson

10

Can you control your mind

so that it never strays from the way of Dao?

Can you control your breathing

so that it is soft and gentle

like a newborn babe?

Can you purify yourself

so that you are perfect?

Can you love all the people,

rule them, and remain unknown?

And do so without interference?

Can you play the same role always?

Give birth, provide nourishment;

do this without being possessive.

Give help without obligation.

Lead without dominating.

This is the Mystic Virtue (德).

Dao De jing Chapter Ten 一 Arthur Waley 1934

The Way and its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching and its Place in Chinese Thought, 1934

10

Can you keep the unquiet physical soul from straying,

Hold fast to the Unity, and never quit it?

Can you, when concentrating your breath,

Make it soft like that of a little child?

Can you wipe and cleanse your vision of the Mystery till all is without blur?

Can you love the people and rule the land,

Yet remain unknown?

Can you in opening and shutting the heavenly gates play always the female part?

Can your mind penetrate every corner of the land,

But you yourself never interfere?

Rear them, then, feed them,

Rear them, but do not lay claim to them.

Control them, but never lean upon them;

Be chief among them, but do not manage them.

This is called the Mysterious Power.