第四十六章
中文原文
天下有道，却走马以粪；天下无道，戎马生于郊。
祸莫大于不知足，咎莫大于欲得。
故知足之足，常足矣。
English Translation
When the Dao prevails in the world,
Warhorses are used to plow fields with manure.
When the Dao is absent,
Warhorses breed in the suburbs.
No disaster is greater than not knowing contentment.
No fault is greater than desire for gain.
Thus, the contentment of contentment
Is everlasting contentment.
问答讲解
问：为什么用“马”来比喻有道和无道？
答：因为马既能用于农耕，也能用于战争。有道时，马服务于生养；无道时，马被养来打仗。
Q: Why use “horses” as a metaphor for Dao or its absence?
A: Because horses can serve peace or war. With Dao, they plow fields; without Dao, they are bred for battle.
第四十七章
中文原文
不出户，知天下；不窥牖，见天道。
其出弥远，其知弥少。
是以圣人不行而知，不见而明，不为而成。
English Translation
Without going out the door, one knows the world.
Without looking out the window, one sees the Dao of Heaven.
The farther one goes, the less one knows.
Therefore the sage knows without traveling,
Sees without looking,
Accomplishes without doing.
问答讲解
问：为什么“不出户，知天下”？
答：因为大道无处不在，真正的智慧来自内心体悟，而不是外在奔波。
Q: Why does it say “without leaving the house, one knows the world”?
A: Because Dao is everywhere, and true wisdom arises from inner insight, not restless wandering.
第四十八章
中文原文
为学日益，为道日损。
损之又损，以至于无为。
无为而无不为。
取天下常以无事，及其有事，不足以取天下。
English Translation
In learning, one increases daily.
In following Dao, one decreases daily.
Decrease and decrease again,
Until one reaches non-action.
Through non-action, nothing is left undone.
The world is obtained through letting things be.
If one interferes,
It is not enough to gain the world.
问答讲解
问：“为学日益，为道日损”是什么意思？
答：学习是不断积累知识；修道则是不断减少执念，直到回归自然无为。
Q: What does “in learning one increases daily, in Dao one decreases daily” mean?
A: Learning adds knowledge; Dao practice removes attachments, until one reaches effortless action.
第四十九章
中文原文
圣人无常心，以百姓心为心。
善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之，德善。
信者，吾信之；不信者，吾亦信之，德信。
圣人在天下歙歙焉，为天下浑其心。
百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。
English Translation
The sage has no constant mind;
He takes the people’s heart as his own.
To the good, I am good;
To the not-good, I am also good—thus virtue is good.
To the trustworthy, I am trusting;
To the untrustworthy, I am also trusting—thus virtue is trust.
The sage is broad-minded in the world,
Blending his heart with all under Heaven.
The people focus their eyes and ears,
While the sage treats them all like children.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“圣人无常心”？
答：圣人没有固定的偏私，他的心随民众而转，以无差别的善意与信任对待一切人。
Q: Why is it said “the sage has no constant mind”?
A: Because the sage is impartial, treating all with equal kindness and trust, without fixed bias.
第五十章
中文原文
出生入死。
生之徒，十有三；死之徒，十有三；人之生，动之于死地，亦十有三。
夫何故？以其生生之厚。
盖闻善摄生者，陆行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵。
兕无所投其角，虎无所措其爪，兵无所容其刃。
夫何故？以其无死地。
English Translation
From birth to death—
Of those who live, one-third are followers of life;
Of those who die, one-third are followers of death;
Of those who live but move toward death, also one-third.
Why is this?
Because they cling too heavily to life.
I have heard that those who are skilled in nurturing life
Do not meet rhinoceroses or tigers on land,
Nor are touched by weapons in battle.
The rhinoceros finds no place to thrust its horn;
The tiger finds no place to use its claws;
Weapons find no place to strike.
Why is this?
Because such people dwell in no place of death.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“善摄生者无死地”？
答：因为真正懂得养生的人顺应自然，不执着贪求，所以无论环境如何，都能避开灾祸，保持安宁。
Q: Why does it say “the one skilled in nurturing life has no place of death”?
A: Because those who live in harmony with nature, free from excess desire, avoid danger—thus, they do not dwell in a place of death.
Discover more from Geoffrey Chen
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.