英文版
Tao Te Ching 道德經英文版
The infinity that can be conceived is not the
everlasting Infinity.
The infinity that can be described is not the
perpetual Infinity.
The inconceivable indescribable is the essence
of the all encompassing Infinite.
Conceiving and describing applies only to the
manifestations of Infinity.
Free from distinctions, experience the oneness of
Infinity.
Focus on distinctions and see only the
manifestations
of Infinity.
Yet distinction and non-distinction are one within
Infinity.
Potential within potential is
the essence of Infinity.
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Only when one distinguishes beauty
does one create the unattractive.
Only when one distinguishes good
does one create evil.
Also by distinction,
Tangible and intangible create each other,
Difficult and easy define each other,
Long and short measure each other,
High and low determine each other,
Sound and silence echo each other,
Beginning and end follow each other.
Therefore, the sage goes about living in the
oneness of
all things,
teaching without speaking,
accepting and dismissing all things with
indifference,
creating without attachment,
working without credit.
Acts and deeds are completed and forgotten.
Because the sage is at one with Infinity,
she is immortal.
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Exalting people creates the desire in others
to be exalted and therefore creates tension.
Overvaluing goods creates the desire for
ownership
and therefore creates the temptation to
steal.
When people do not distinguish things as valuable,
they remain focused on the oneness of all
things
and do not become confused in the material
world.
Therefore, harmonious leaders empty the people's
minds
but nourish their bodies.
They undermine desires
and improve endurance.
They keep the people focused on their oneness with
Infinity
and free them from attachments to material
things.
They redirect the energies of those
who would manipulate others.
If you remember your oneness with Infinity,
and flow with life by refusing to distinguish
good and bad,
you will flow in the peace and harmony
that is the essence of Infinity.
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Infinity is an empty vessel enveloping all
manifestations,
yet it can never be filled.
It is the potential of all things tangible and
intangible.
It blunts the sharp and hones the blunt,
unravels knots and binds all things,
dulls the glare and shines the mundane,
manifests the dust and clears the air.
It is the essence of all things.
No one can comprehend its origin.
It is older than the concept of God.
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Heaven and earth are indifferent.
All creatures are considered straw dogs;
not distinguished, not judged.
The sage is indifferent.
All people are one;
not distinguished, not judged.
Infinity is like a bellows,
empty yet encompassing the potential
of all things.
In time all potentials manifest.
Words are straw in the wind.
The more one talks, the less one says.
Keep focused on Infinity.
Remain centered in the oneness of
all things.
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The manifestations of Infinity never cease
manifesting.
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male
and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven
and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses,
yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available
for any purpose.
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Heaven and earth will pass away
but Infinity endures forever.
It had no beginning and so It can never end.
It is the inexhaustible essence of all things.
Because the sage remains behind
in her oneness with all things,
she anticipates all manifestations.
Being at one with Infinity,
she is indifferent.
Because she does not distinguish herself from
other beings,
she is completely fulfilled.
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Water is like Infinity,
it gives itself to all things
without distinction or judgment
and settles into the lowest places
without deliberation.
In dwelling, live in harmony with the land.
In meditation, remember your oneness with the
Infinite.
In dealing with others, do not judge.
In communicating, relate the truth.
In governing, be fair.
In daily life, be in harmony with all things
and at peace with all people.
In action, be mindful that there is a time
and a season for all things.
Avoid judging and its legacy contention
and flow in the peace and harmony
of the oneness of humanity.
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Fill anything to the brim and the contents will spill
out.
Hone a sharpened blade and it will become blunt.
Accumulate great wealth, but be aware that you
cannot keep it.
When a task is complete, move on.
Change is the harmony of Infinity.
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Manifesting body, mind and spirit,
can you stay centered in the oneness of
Infinity?
Fully manifesting and remaining flexible,
can you experience all manifestations
as a newborn baby?
Can you maintain the Infinite vision of oneness
by ignoring distinctions.
Remaining centered in oneness and leading others,
can you avoid manifesting arrogance?
Entering and exiting the gates of manifestations,
can you harmonize with Infinity?
Realizing your oneness with Infinity,
can you flow in harmony with It
by indifferently allowing things to come and
go?
Can you create and sustain things,
and yet remain unattached to them?
Can you work in harmony with all things,
without desiring acknowledgment for your
deeds?
Exemplifying oneness,
flowing in peace and harmony,
not distinguishing, not judging,
is the nature of Infinity.
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Thirty spokes converge on the wheel's hub.
But the center hole which receives the axle
makes it useful.
Clay is shaped into a pot.
But the inner space which receives whatever
one puts into it makes it useful.
Wood is cut and joined to build a house.
But the windows and doors which allow
things to enter and leave make it
useful.
The potential utility resides in the tangible.
But true usefulness is a manifestation of
the intangible.
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The oneness of the five colors blind the eyes.
The oneness of the five tones deafens the ears.
The oneness of the five flavors dull the tongue.
Racing ahead of change
and pursuing the illusion of reality
promotes confusion.
Therefore, the sage is in harmony with what she is
and does not distinguish what she sees.
She chooses oneness and distinguishes nothing.
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Accept disgrace indifferently.
Acknowledge misfortune as one of the human
conditions.
What does it mean to "accept disgrace
indifferently"?
Honor and disgrace are one in the Infinite.
Only by making distinctions does one
manifest disgrace.
Refusing to make distinctions
merges honor and disgrace into the
oneness of circumstances
which creates harmony.
What is meant by "acknowledging misfortune
as one of the human conditions"?
The body is a manifestation of Infinity
and the body is subject to being
affected by the other manifestations
of Infinity.
Misfortune is one of those other
manifestations.
However, as with disgrace,
refusing to distinguish misfortune and
fortune
creates indifference which keeps one
focused
on the oneness of Infinity
and creates peace in the self.
Stay centered in
your oneness with Infinity
and you can be entrusted with leadership.
See the world as yourself
and you will care for all things.
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Look and see the manifestations of the Infinite
but not its essence.
Listen and hear the manifestations of the Infinite
but not its essence.
Reach out and touch the manifestations of the
Infinite
but not its essence.
These three are one in their inability to relate
the essence of Infinity.
Above it is not light.
Below it is not dark.
It is neither light nor dark.
Infinity is the potential manifestation of all
things
and the essence into which all
manifestations
disintegrate.
Yet it is inconceivable and indescribable;
intangible but the essence of all
manifestations.
You cannot confront what has no head
and you cannot follow what has no tail.
Remember your oneness,
flow in the peace and harmony of Infinity,
live in the now, changing and flowing with
change.
There was no beginning.
This is the mystery of Infinity.
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Those who live in oneness manifest the Infinite
in simple ways.
Their awareness is the awareness of Infinity.
Their knowing cannot be described but only
experienced.
All that can be described is their acts and their
appearance and the perception of them.
They are;
alert when crossing unfamiliar space,
cautious in hostile lands,
humble as a guest,
indifferently transforming as melting ice,
possessing the infinite potential of
an unremarkable piece of uncarved
wood,
mysterious as an unexplored valley,
perplexing as muddy water.
Can you see the calm in turbulent waters;
the clarity in murky water?
Can you allow the tides of Infinite change
to move you from stillness to motion
and action to inaction;
experiencing but not contemplating the
change?
Those who live in oneness do not seek
fullness because at every moment they
are aware of their infinite fullness and
the infinite pregnancy of all things.
They are aware of their infinite potential
within which the limitations of fullness
resides.
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Contemplate Infinity and become peaceful as the
mind becomes lost.
The self perceives the never ending
manifestations of
the potential of Infinity as well as the
disintegration
of all those manifestations.
Within Infinity all things manifest
and disintegrate.
Disintegration is a returning to the Infinite
potential.
Disintegration is the destiny of all
manifestations.
Manifesting is the nature of Infinity.
Change is the Infinite constant.
Acknowledging change is the key to understanding
the harmony of never ending change.
Acknowledging change within the Infinite potential
of which every creature is a manifestation,
unique, yet bound to all things in
disintegration,
gives one a perspective regarding life.
Possessing perspective, one becomes impartial,
openhearted, tolerant, compassionate
and indifferent to judging others.
These are foundations of harmony.
The manifestation of the body disintegrates
but Infinity can never disintegrate into
itself.
There is nothing to fear.
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The best leaders are in harmony with their
followers.
The next best are those who are respected.
Then comes those who are feared.
The worst are those who are despised.
If one perceives others as untrustworthy,
then that will be the experience that
one acknowledges.
The selective acknowledgment of
untrustworthiness
verifies one's perception of the
untrustworthiness
of others.
When the leaders are in harmony with their
followers,
few laws are necessary
and all tasks are accomplished with ease.
The followers, not perceiving the
administration
of leadership, marvel at the
manifestations
of harmony and experience a sense of
self worth.
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When the oneness of Infinity is forgotten,
judgment appears and people are
distinguished as good and righteous.
When the illusion of knowledge and understanding
appear,
the physical reality has been confused with
Infinity.
When there is no peace and harmony within the
family,
a facade of devotion and obedience is
perceived.
When a nation manifests great change,
patriots step forward
to attempt to resurrect the past.
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Quit distinguishing the wise and their wisdom,
the saints and their holiness,
and the people will be a hundred times better
off.
Quit distinguishing morality, righteousness and
benevolence
and humanity will stay centered in its
oneness.
Abandon the pursuit of commercial profit
and the number of thieves and robbers will be
greatly reduced.
These are just three impediments to peace and
harmony
and abandoning them is not enough.
Peace and harmony reside in the simplicity
of an uncarved piece of wood.
Quit distinguishing the self and reside in oneness.
Curb your desires and aspirations
and experience the peace and harmony of
simplicity.
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Give up the pursuit of knowledge and live in peace
and harmony.
Without knowledge there is no difference
between good and evil.
Is it necessary to learn to fear what others
perceive should be feared? Nonsense!
Other people are excited, joyous and festive
as if enjoying a holiday.
I alone am indifferent, without emotion
or expression; like a baby
before it has learned to smile.
Others have things they feel they need.
I alone own nothing.
I am like a fool unfettered by knowledge.
Other people are intelligent. I alone am ignorant.
Others are shrewd and cunning.
I alone am untouched and moronic.
I aimlessly drift on the great tides of the endless
seas
at the mercy of the indifferent winds.
Others have direction, goals and purposes.
I alone flow within the harmony of Infinity.
I am different from others.
I reside in the peace and harmony of
the Infinite oneness of all things.
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To attain peace and harmony,
stay focused on the oneness of Infinity.
Infinity is the intangible potential of all things;
intangible yet manifesting all images,
intangible yet manifesting all substance.
Within the Infinite void resides the
Infinite potential of all things.
All tangible things are a manifestation of the
Infinite essence.
From the present, forever into the past,
forever into the future,
Infinity is the homogenous essence.
The potential of all things forever manifest
and forever disintegrate within the Infinite.
How can I know the manifestations of Infinity?
Because I am at one with Infinity.
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If you accept all things by refusing to distinguish
good and bad,
you overcome the confusion of the physical
reality
and live in harmony with the Infinite
manifestations.
If you bend as you are impacted by manifestations,
your path of peace and harmony
will remain straight and true.
If you empty your mind of knowledge,
you will fill with the experience
of oneness with the Infinite.
All manifestations constantly disintegrate and
remanifest.
As your body wears out, your spirit is
reborn.
Possess little in goods and thoughts and
maintain your vision of oneness with
Infinity.
Possess much and become lost in the confusion
that the physical reality is the true reality.
Therefore, remain focused on the oneness of
Infinity
and become a beacon for all beings.
Do not distinguish the self
and manifest the oneness of Infinity for all
to see.
Do not assert the self and others will follow.
Do not bolster the self and other will give their
respect.
Do not allow the self to brag
and others will bestow their praise.
Do not allow the self to be quarrelsome
and experience peace with all beings.
Is not it true that if you accept all things
by refusing to distinguish good and bad,
you overcome the confusion of the physical
reality and live in harmony with
the Infinite manifestations?
Flow with the peace and harmony of the oneness
of Infinity and experience immortality.
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To seldom speak is the essence of simplicity.
The winds do not last all morning.
The rain does not last all day.
The earth that manifests the winds and the rain
is itself a manifestation of change.
All things change, nothing is eternal but change.
All the manifestations of humanity are fleeting
as is the entire physical universe.
Keep your focus on the oneness of Infinity,
manifesting the potential of all things
and disintegrating all the manifestations.
Flow in the peace and harmony of eternal
change.
Focus on goodness and virtue and you lose
sight of the oneness of all people.
Focus on failure and your life becomes failure.
Focus on peace and harmony, the essence of
Infinity, and experience peace and harmony.
Embrace change and live in peace.
Embrace the experience of the moment,
refuse to distinguish good and bad,
happy and sad, difficult and easy.
What you distinguish comes to you for a time.
When it comes embrace it
and when it leaves let it go.
This is living within the oneness of the Infinite.
This is the key to peace and harmony.
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Stand on your toes and you will not maintain your
balance.
Run and you will have to rest.
Keep a harmonious pace
and you can circumnavigate the earth.
Draw attention to yourself and others may
consider you a fool.
Become self-righteous and others will avoid you.
Boasting impresses no one.
Brag and you may be put to the test.
Within the oneness of Infinity,
all these are delusions of the physical
world.
They do not bring peace and harmony.
Be at one with Infinity and keep these in
perspective.
They are transient excesses in a transient
universe.
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Before the physical universe existed,
the potential of all things
permeated time and space.
It was silent and empty, loud and pregnant.
Solitary in its oneness, crowded in its potential,
static and dynamic, hot and cold, light and
dark.
The potential of all things,
for lack of another name,
I call it Infinity.
It permeates all things and non-things.
It manifests realities and disintegrates those
realities.
All things are birthed from it
and all things return to it.
Infinity is marvelous.
The physical universe is marvelous.
The earth is marvelous.
Human beings are marvelous.
These are the four realities.
Human beings are a manifestation of the
earth;
the earth, a manifestation of the physical
universe;
the physical universe, a manifestation of
Infinity;
Infinity, the potential of all things.
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Infinity is the source of all physical
manifestations.
The Infinite stillness is the creator of the
churning
universe.
The sage travels all day over the land and sea
but does not lose sight of Infinity.
Though the manifestations of the earth are
wondrous and beautiful,
she remains indifferent because she remains
centered
in the Infinite oneness.
The leader of multitudes cannot afford to
lose her perspective.
Indulging in the physical manifestations
results in a loss of focus on the
Infinite.
To be caught up in distinguishing things,
narrows the leader's perspective
to that of her followers.
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A proficient traveler leaves no evidence of his
journey.
A proficient speaker is impeccable in his
presentation.
A proficient accountant needs no tally sheet.
A functional door has no lock
but can only opened by the owner.
A perfect binding has no knots
yet only the binder can loosen it.
The sage is the light of all human beings
and rejects no one.
She efficiently uses all things
and discards nothing.
This is called manifesting Infinity.
What is a sage but a guide to peace and harmony?
What is a materialistic traveler but the
sage's focus?
For the student not to value the teacher
or the teacher not to love the student
or for the followers not to acknowledge the
leader
or the leader not to care for the
followers,
is the cause of great confusion.
This is a key to peace and harmony,
teachers and leaders remind others of who
they are
and their oneness with Infinity.
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Integrate the male and the female
and travel the peaceful path of oneness.
Be at one with Infinity.
Being at one with Infinity,
do not become confused
in distinctions of male and female.
Experience the oneness
as an undistinguishing child.
See the white and the black as one.
Be a guiding light to the world.
As a guiding light to the world,
standing firm in the truth of oneness,
mirror Infinity for all to see.
Remember that honor and humility are one.
Be a vessel of Infinity.
As a vessel of Infinity,
be a resource to all beings.
Become as a piece of uncarved wood;
available for any purpose.
When a piece of wood is carved, it becomes useful.
When the sage flows in oneness, he becomes useful
as king.
Therefore, the sage is careful in using what he
needs
but avoiding kingship.
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Do you think you can control the world?
I do not believe it can be done.
The world is a manifestation of change
and cannot be controlled.
If you try to control it, you will end up deceiving
yourself.
If you treat it like an object, it will overwhelm
you.
The world is a manifestation of change;
sometimes ahead, sometimes behind,
sometimes dynamic, sometimes static,
sometimes vigorous, sometimes feeble,
sometimes manifesting, sometimes
disintegrating.
Therefore, refuse to distinguish excesses and
extremes.
See only oneness.
Flow with Infinity
and exist in peace and harmony.
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Whenever you have an opportunity to advise a
leader
regarding Infinity, advise her not to use
force
to try to gain control of the world.
Why?
Because force attracts resistance
and the greater the force
the greater the resistance.
Briars grow where armies have been
and hard times are the legacy of a great war.
Conclude hostilities as soon as possible
and do not continue to use excessive force
after victory.
Fulfill your purpose but never glory in inhumane
acts.
Fulfill your purpose but never boast of
bloodletting.
Fulfill your purpose but never take pride in
killing.
Fulfill your purpose but avoid violence.
Fulfill your purpose by flowing within
the oneness of Infinity.
The use of force dissipates life.
Force is not the way of peace and harmony.
That which goes against peace and harmony
is short lived.
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Weapons of war are instruments of death.
All people fear them.
Therefore, all men of peace avoid them.
The sage prefers Infinity.
The man of war prefers the earth.
Weapons are instruments of death
and the tools of a warrior.
The sage avoids them at all cost;
and sometimes prefers death rather
than touching them.
Peace and harmony are the sage's reality.
She considers victory to be the bastard
child of war.
If you revel in victory,
then you sanction war and the killing of
human beings.
If you accept killing,
you have forgotten your oneness with all
beings.
In time of celebration the left is the dominant
position;
In times of grief the right.
During wartime the general always stands on the
left
and the king on the right.
If even one person is killed in war,
it is cause for great grief and mourning.
Victory is simply the maker of widows and orphans.
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Infinity can never be defined in words.
Smaller than an atom, greater than forever,
it can never be comprehended.
If kings would stay centered in the Infinite,
they would not try to control the
uncontrollable;
Heaven and earth would be seen as a manifestation
of the oneness of Infinity,
as harmonious as dew accumulating on the
ground.
The people would recognize Infinity manifesting
in their king and all things would be
in harmony.
When the whole is distinguished into parts,
and parts into more parts
and more parts into even more parts
a myriad names are required.
There are already too many distinctions and
names.
The naming of things focuses on the manifestations
of Infinity
and too much distinguishing can result in one
becoming confused in the manifestations and
oblivious to
the oneness of all things.
Refuse to distinguish the components of the whole.
See the oneness of Infinity,
and see the earth as a manifestation
disintegrating back into Infinity.
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Knowing others is impossible.
Knowing one's self requires only a remembering
of one's unity with all things.
Conquering others requires force.
Conquering one's self requires letting go.
He who understands his oneness with Infinity
resides in peace.
Living one day at a time is the essence of harmony.
One who lives in harmony endures.
Passing through death's door is immortality.
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Infinity permeates everything in every direction;
to the left as well as to the right.
It is the potential of all things,
and the manifestation of all things.
Its total essence resides in all things.
It has no purpose.
It is complete in its indifference.
It manifests and disintegrates all things forever.
It sustains all things,
yet it is the god of no thing.
It has no purpose.
It is Infinitely insignificant.
All manifestations after a time disintegrate back
into It,
yet It is the god of no thing.
It permeates everything
and so there is nothing outside its realm.
It cannot appear great
because it is at one with everything.
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All beings are drawn to those who stay centered
in their oneness with Infinity
because they flow in peace and
harmony.
The manifestations of music and delicious food
catch the attention of those passing by.
But the essence of Infinity goes unnoticed.
It makes no sound and has no flavor
and yet It is the inexhaustible source
of the manifestations of all sounds
and all flavors.
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All manifestations that expand will eventually
shrink.
All manifestations that strengthen will eventually
weaken.
All manifestations that are lifted up will
eventually be
cast down.
Nothing can be received unless it is given.
This is called distinguishing the oneness of
Infinity.
Soft and weak forever disintegrate the hard and
strong.
Hard and strong forever disintegrate the soft and
weak.
This is called the nature of Infinity.
Fish are at one with water;
undistinguished by Infinity.
A nation and its weapons
cannot be distinguished.
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Infinity is the essence of all things.
Without intention, It manifests all things.
If leaders and kings
remain focused on the oneness of Infinity,
nations will flow in peace and harmony.
If leaders and kings are compelled to act,
they should focus on Infinity
and refuse to manifest desire.
If there is no desire for action,
the world would flow in the peace and harmony
of the oneness of Infinity.
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A good person is not focused on her goodness
because she is centered in oneness.
A confused person is focused on goodness
and consequently has difficulty obtaining it.
A person centered in oneness
flows with life and appears to do nothing;
yet because she is in harmony
with the oneness of Infinity
she leaves nothing undone.
A confused person is focused on achievements
and consequently never truly achieves
anything.
A caring person is caring all the time
and therefore leaves nothing unnurtured.
When the righteous person does something,
he leaves things in turmoil.
When a person of great discipline does something
and others do not follow,
he attempts to force them to conform to his
perception of reality.
When the oneness of humanity is forgotten,
a distinction is made between good and evil.
Focusing on goodness leads one down the
path of self-righteousness which
separates a person from others.
Self-righteousness leads to justice
and since justice is as arbitrary as
goodness
and righteousness, it degenerates into
a facade of justice or ritual.
Ritual is the backbone of religion
and religion is the harbinger of
judgment
and judgment is the backbone of
conflict.
Therefore, a centered person dwells upon the
oneness of Infinity and not on
distinguishing which leads to confusion;
on the plant and not on the flower.
A centered person embraces oneness
and rejects distinctions.
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All things are at one with Infinity.
When humanity is centered in this oneness:
the sky remains clear and beautiful,
the earth remains pure and sustains life,
the spirit of humanity is in harmony,
the valley is the source of abundance,
all creatures reproduce, regenerate and
replenish the earth,
leaders and kings are in harmony
and nations are at peace.
When humanity focuses on the manifestations of
Infinity,
distinguishes and judges all things
and thereby forgets the oneness of Infinity:
the sky becomes cloudy with pollution,
the earth becomes a cesspool
unable to easily neutralize the many
poisons,
the spirit of humanity becomes confused
and accepts conflict as the nature of
humanity,
the valley no longer produces abundance
and what it does produce is tainted.
Leaders and kings take their nations to war
in order to control the untainted
lands,
creatures no longer reproduce, species die
out
and parts of the earth, unattended by
the myriad creatures, no longer
regenerate or replenish themselves,
the people of all nations live in conflict,
fear, hunger and depression.
Therefore, never forget that oneness is the
essence of harmony; the simple is the way of
peace.
Leaders and kings consider themselves, alone,
ridiculed
and misunderstood when they forget their
oneness with Infinity.
In confusion, they inevitably lead their nations to
war.
In order to maintain peace and harmony in the land,
they must flow in the peace and harmony
of the oneness of all things.
Too much success is a sign that one has
begun to focus on manifestations and
not on Infinity, the essence of all
manifestations.
Do not distinguish precious jade.
Remain centered in the peace and harmony
of the oneness of all things.
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Manifesting and disintegrating is the
activity of Infinity.
Yielding to manifestations, yielding to
disintegration
is the nature of peace and harmony.
Things are manifested from the tangible.
The tangible is manifested from the intangible.
總結
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