Wednesday, February 9, 2022 (XVII/八)

"Karma can be met in the ideal and — as a law — changed from law — as penal law — to grace, mercy. But this we show, this we manifest not by bragging, not applauding, but by daily living."   Edgar Cayce reading 5224-1

道德經

《道德經》第七章

天長地久.

天地所以能長且久者.

以其不自生.

故能長生.

是以聖人後其身而身先.

外其身而身存.

非以其無私耶.

故能成其私.

Dao De Jing Chapter Seven — Ron Hogan

7.

Tao never stops. Why?

Because it isn't trying to accomplish anything.

The Masters hang back.

That's why they're ahead of the game.

They don't hang on to things.

That's how they manage to keep them.

They don't worry

about what they can't control.

That's why they're always satisfied.

"Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides.

What is the secret of their durability?

Is it not because they do not live for themselves

That they can live so long?

Therefore, the Sage wants to remain behind,

But finds himself at the head of others;

Reckons himself out,

But finds himself safe and secure.

Is it not because he is selfless

That his Self is realized?"

— Translated by John C. H. Wu, Chapter 7   

"Both Heaven and Earth endure a long time.

The cause of their endurance is their indifference to long life.

This is why they subsist.

Thus the wise man, indifferent to himself, is the greatest among men,

and taking no care for himself, he is nevertheless preserved.

By being the most unselfish he is the most secure of all."

— Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 7

"As the Dào can never die, we call it eternal.

Receiving all, we call it infinite.

The birthless is eternal.

The desireless is infinite.

Seeing this, a master seeks nothing so he has everything.

He doesn't nourish the ego, so his nourishment is total." 

— Translated by David Bullen, Chapter 7

"The Dào is infinite and eternal.

Why is it eternal?

It was never born;

thus it can never die.

Why is it infinite?

It has no desires for itself;

thus it is present for all beings.

The Master stays behind;

that is why he is ahead.

He is removed from all things;

that is why he is one with them.

Because he has let go of himself,

he is perfectly fulfilled."

— Translated by John Dicus, 2002, Chapter 7

"The heavens increase; the earth endures.

The universe in this way has the ability to increase, and at the same time be something that endures.

Because it doesn’t exist solely for itself, it, therefore, has the ability to increase life. 

It is natural for the wise person to:

Refuse to take her physical body any further, yet her body still moves forward.

Remain outside of her body, yet her body perseveres.

Doesn’t she seem to be unselfish?

That’s how she can attain true selfishness."

— Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 7

"Heaven, earth, last forever.

Why? They are selfless, so forevermore.

Thus, sages stay behind, yet ahead,

detached, yet with all.

Being selfless, his Self is fulfilled."

— Translated by Gong Tienzen, Chapter 7 

"Heaven is eternal: the Earth is ever-renewing.

Why?

Surely it is because they do not live for themselves:

That is why they endure.

And so it is with the Sage.

He keeps himself in the background,

And yet he is always to be found in the forefront.

He is ever unmindful of himself,

And yet he is preserved.

Is it not because he seeks no personal success that all his aims are fulfilled?"

— Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 7 

"Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.

The sage places himself after and finds himself before,

Ignores his desire and finds himself content.

He is complete because he does not serve himself."

— Translated by Peter A. Merel, Chapter 7