道者萬物之奧。善人之寶,不善人之所保。 美言可以市, 尊行可以加人。人之不善,何棄之有?故立天子,置三公,雖有拱璧以先駟馬,不如坐進此道。 古之所以貴此道者何?不曰:求以得,有罪以免邪?故為天下貴。
[譯文]
道化生滋養(yǎng)萬物,是萬物的根本。它既是悟道的人生存珍寶,也是迷失物欲的人賴以生存根基。
華麗的語言僅能取悅于人,高尚的品行僅能贏得尊敬。 但如何用德治從根本上去除人們身上的私心貪欲而符合本源的仁善呢?所以立位天子,設立三公施行教化,擁有稀世寶玉,驅乘駟馬之車而顯赫一時,也不如坐忘進入道德本原意識能中去。
古往今來人們?yōu)楹巫鸬蕾F德呢?還不要誠心去求才可以獲得道德的滋養(yǎng),并去除所造下的罪因嗎?正因為有如此功效,道才受天下人珍愛。
The Root of the Universe
Tao is the mysterious secretof the universe, The good man's treasure, And the bad man's refuge.
Honours can be bought withfine words, respect can be won with good deeds; but if a man is straying fromthe right path out of greed, is there a way of avoid him being cast away?
Therefore, when the king iscrowned and the state officials are sworn in, do not send them gifts of jadedishes or a team of four horses. Instead flow in peace and harmony and remindthem of their oneness with humanity.
It is for that reason (Tao isthe creator of all)that t it is better to lead your nation meditating to be inaccordance with Tao Principles. It is much more fundamental than the emperorinstituting great ministers to lead the people; owning precious jades and four-horsedchariot to show their statuses.
Why did the ancients highlyvalue this Tao? Did they not say, "Those who seek shall have it and thosewho sin shall be freed"? That is why it is such a treasure to the world.