承接上篇,本篇译文从道德经第10章至第18章。
此文每一章分为三段:
老子《道德经》原文;英文翻译改成了引用Stephen Mitchell的版本基础作调整,更加直观符合个人体验;由我翻译现代中文注释版本。发表纯为和几个朋友研习道德经交流使用。
10. Practices of Dao 道的练习
载营魄抱一能无离乎?专气致柔能如婴儿乎?涤除玄览能无疵乎?爱民治国能无为乎?天门开阖能为雌乎?明白四达能无知乎?生之、畜之,生而不有为、而不恃长、而不宰,是谓玄德。
Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness? Can you concentrate your Qi and let your body become supple as a newborn baby? Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course? Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things? Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting without expectations, leading without controlling, this is the supreme virtue and the power of Dao.
你能够让四散的魂魄心绪专心回到当下,而不和“道”分离吗?你能练习专注气,让身体变得柔软的像是婴儿一样吗?你可以清除头脑内的各种幻视,而只剩下光吗?你能够爱你的人民和领导他们,但不施加自己的妄尊意志吗?如果面对处理最生死交关的事情,你能让事情就按照它们的阴性定律自然发展不干预吗?你能明白宇宙所有的事情,但不从头脑思考吗?去创造、去滋养,在有的状态但没有占有的欲望,不带着期望去行动,领导但不控制,这就是“道”至高神秘的德性和力量。
11. The Power of Non-being 无的力量
三十辐共一毂,当其无,有车之用。埏埴以为器,当其无,有器之用。凿户牖以为室,当其无,有室之用。故有之以为利,无之以为用。
We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable. We work with being, but non-being is what we use.
我们把三十个辐条组合成为车轮,但是它辐条中间的空隙,让车能往前进。我们将陶土捏成罐子,但是罐子中间的空间,让它成为有用的器皿。我们用木头建筑房屋,但是房子内部的空间,让它可以为人居住。我们将有形物质作为工具,但是实际我们是使用那些无形的存在。
12. Danger of Desires 欲望的危险
五色令人目盲;五音令人耳聋;五味令人口爽;驰骋田猎,令人心发狂;难得之货,令人行妨。是以圣人为腹不为目,故去彼取此。
Colors blind the eye. Sounds deafen the ear. Flavors numb the taste. Thoughts weaken the mind. Desires wither the heart. The master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go.
太多的色彩让眼睛盲目。太多的声音让震耳欲聋。太多的味道麻痹味蕾。忙乱的思想像是在田野里骑马穿梭打猎,让心智衰弱,欲望使心变得狂乱。有觉知的人相信自己腹中的内在智慧,但不跟随眼前世界的空幻思想,他只专注于前者而不在乎后者,让事情来来去去。
13. World and Self 世界和自我
宠辱若惊,贵大患若身。何谓宠辱若惊?宠为下,得之若惊,失之若惊,是谓宠辱若惊。何谓贵大患若身?吾所以有大患者,为吾有身,及吾无身,吾有何患?故贵以身为天下,若可寄天下;爱以身为天下,若可托天下。
Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear. What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, your position is shaky. When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance. What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear? Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear? See the world as your self. Have faith in the way things are. Love the world as your self, then you can care for all things.
成功和失败一样危险。希望和恐惧一样空洞。什么意思是成功和失败一样危险呢?就像爬梯子一样,当你心态上觉得成功在上,失败在下,不管爬上爬下,都是摇摇欲坠的。只有你离开梯子,两脚踏地,才能站稳。什么意思是希望和恐惧一样空洞?希望和恐惧,就像幽灵一样,都是来自于自体的思想的幻觉起伏。但我们看待自己再也不是那个被思绪左右的小我,那么又有什么好恐惧的?把世界看待成自己,对于事情自然的状态充满信念,就像把自我完全交付给世界一样。爱世界就像爱自己,那么就能自然关爱所有的事情。
14. Essence of Dao 道的本质规律
视而不见,名曰夷;听之不闻,名曰希;搏之不得,名曰微。此三者不可致诘,故混而为一。其上不徼,其下不昧,绳绳兮不可名,复归于无物。是谓无状之状,无物之象,是谓惚恍。迎之不见其首,随之不见其后。执古之道,以御今之有。能知古始,是谓道纪。
Look, and it can't be seen, as Yi. Listen, and it can't be heard, as Xi. Reach, and it can't be grasped, as Wei. The three are beyond our comprehension, they all come from oneness. Above, it isn't bright. Below, it isn't dark. Seamless, unnameable, it returns to the realm of nothing. Form that includes all forms, image without an image. Subtle, beyond all conception. Approach it and there is no beginning; follow it and there is no end. You can't know it, but you can be it, at ease in your own life. Just realize where you come from: this is the essence of Dao.
道的规律本质是什么呢?看它,但是看不到,这种特质叫夷。听它,但是不能听见,这种特质叫希。接近它,但抓取不了,这种特质叫微。这三者超越了人们的理解能力范围,都是来自于合一的道。在它之上,没有光明;在它之下,没有黑暗。没有缝隙。没有办法被名称定义解释。它回归到一切空无的领域。它的形体包含一切形体。它的样貌包含一切样貌。精微的程度,超越一切概念。接近它,看不到起始。跟随它,找不到终点。你不能明白它,但你可以成为它,而且在自我人生中就能轻轻松松的成为它了。只要了明你最初是从哪里来的:这就是道的本质规律。
15. Qualities of Dao 道的气质
古之善为道者,微妙玄通,深不可识。夫不唯不可识,故强为之容;豫兮若冬涉川;犹兮若畏四邻;俨兮其若客;涣兮其若凌释;敦兮其若朴;旷兮其若谷;混兮其若浊;孰能浊以静之徐清?孰能安以静之徐生?保此道者,不欲盈。夫唯不盈,故能蔽而新成。
The ancient masters were profound and subtle. Their wisdom was unfathomable. There is no way to describe it; all we can describe is their appearance. They were careful as someone crossing an iced-over stream. Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. Courteous as a honorable guest. Fluid as melting ice. Shapable as a block of wood. Receptive as a valley. Clear as a glass of water. Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water in clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? The master doesn't seek fulfillment. Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.
古代那些理解道的大师,他们的智慧非常深邃精微,不能够用任何形态去揣测。因为无法形容,所以我们勉强用一些头脑能理解的样貌来描述:他们像是冬天跨越在结冻河流薄冰上行走的人一样谨慎;就像在敌对阵营中的战士一样警醒;生活像是一个客人一样有礼貌;像是融化的冰一样流动;可雕塑性如同一块木头一样;像是山谷一样容纳一切;像是一杯水一样清澄;你能有耐心,让你的污泥缓慢沉淀在水底,等待水变得清澄吗?你能保持安定不动,直到真实的行动它自己从环境中升起吗?这些了解道的大师,不寻求满足。因为不寻求、没有期待、所以她在当下,而可以欢迎所有的一切来到生命中。
16. Returning to Origin 回到源头
致虚极,守静笃;万物并作,吾以观复。夫物芸芸,各复归其根。归根曰静,静曰复命。复命曰常,知常曰明。不知常,妄作凶。知常容,容乃公,公乃全,全乃天,天乃道,道乃久,没身不殆。
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Dao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.
完全清空你那虚无思绪构成的心智,让心在完全的平静中。观察着混乱发展的万物,但勾勒着它们的回归。每一种与宇宙分离的存在回到它们共同的最初源头。回到源头就是宁静。如果你不了解源头,你就会在困惑和悲伤中跌跌撞撞。当你了解你从哪里来,你自然就会变得包容、无私、完整、神圣。沉浸在道的美好之中,你可以应对生活中带给你的一切,就算死亡来临,你知道你的存在也是恒久消灭的。
17. The Natural Order 自然治理
太上,不知有之;其次,亲而誉之;其次,畏之;其次,侮之。信不足焉,有不信焉。悠兮,其贵言。功成事遂,百姓皆谓“我自然”。
When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. Next best is a leader who is loved. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised. If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy. The Master doesn't talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves! "
当一个大师在治理一群人时,人们几乎感受不到他的存在。次好的领导是受到跟随者爱戴的。再次等的领导是让人畏惧的。最差的领导是让人鄙视的。如果你不信赖人们,你会让他们的行为变得不值得信任。大师不说话,他行动。当大师完成自己的领导任务时,人们会说:太美好了!我们全靠着自己就自然完成了所有事情!
18. If Dao is neglected 如果道荒废了
大道废,有仁义;智慧出,有大伪;六亲不和,有孝慈;国家昏乱,有忠臣。
When the great Dao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body's intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born.
如果伟大的道被遗忘荒废了,善行和仁慈才有必要存在;如果身体的天然智慧衰退离开了,那么聪明才智才需要运用;如果家人间没有和平,那么才需要彰显孝顺和慈爱的重要;当国家陷入混乱纷争时,爱国的大臣才就此诞生。
下篇将翻译从第19到27章的内容
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