第六章
谷神不死，是谓玄牝。
玄牝之门，是谓天地根。
绵绵若存，用之不勤。
English Translation
The valley spirit never dies;
It is called the mysterious feminine.
The gateway of the mysterious feminine
Is called the root of Heaven and Earth.
Soft and continuous, seeming to exist,
Its use is inexhaustible.
问答讲解
问：为什么用“谷神”“玄牝”来比喻道？
答：“谷”象征空而能容，“牝”象征生育之母。道就像空谷，永远充盈生命力；又像母性，孕育天地万物。
Q: Why does Laozi use “valley spirit” and “mysterious feminine” as metaphors for Dao?
A: The “valley” symbolizes emptiness that can contain all; the “feminine” symbolizes the mother that gives birth. Dao is like an empty valley yet full of life, like the mother of all beings.
第七章
天长地久。
天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。
是以圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存。
非以其无私耶？故能成其私。
English Translation
Heaven is everlasting, Earth is enduring.
The reason Heaven and Earth endure
Is that they do not live for themselves;
Thus they can live long.
Therefore, the sage puts himself behind, yet finds himself in front.
He regards himself as external, yet his life is preserved.
Is it not because he is selfless
That he fulfills his true self?
问答讲解
问：天地为什么能长久？
答：因为天地不为自己存在，而是无私地运行万物，所以得以恒久。圣人效法天地，舍己为公，反而能保存自身。
Q: Why can Heaven and Earth last long?
A: Because they do not live for themselves, but act selflessly for all beings. The sage follows this: by putting himself behind, he is preserved at the front.
第八章
上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。
居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。
夫唯不争，故无尤。
English Translation
The highest goodness is like water.
Water benefits all things without competing,
Dwelling in places that others disdain—
Therefore it is close to Dao.
In dwelling, be good at choosing the ground;
In heart, be deep like an abyss;
In relationships, be kind;
In words, be sincere;
In governance, be orderly;
In affairs, be capable;
In action, be timely.
Because it does not contend,
It is without blame.
问答讲解
问：“上善若水”是什么意思？
答：水滋养万物而不与之争，常居低处，象征谦卑与包容。最高的善就应该像水一样。
Q: What does “The highest goodness is like water” mean?
A: Water nourishes all things without competing, always flowing to the low places. It symbolizes humility and inclusiveness. The greatest virtue should be like water.
第九章
持而盈之，不如其已；
揣而锐之，不可长保。
金玉满堂，莫之能守；
富贵而骄，自遗其咎。
功遂身退，天之道也。
English Translation
To hold and fill to overflowing is not as good as stopping in time.
To sharpen something to the utmost cannot last long.
A hall full of gold and jade cannot be preserved.
Wealth and arrogance bring one’s own ruin.
When success is achieved, withdraw—
This is the Way of Heaven.
问答讲解
问：为什么要“功遂身退”？
答：因为盛极必衰。事物发展到极点就会转向衰败，所以成功之后懂得退让，才符合天道。
Q: Why should one “withdraw after success”?
A: Because extremes lead to decline. When something reaches its peak, it begins to fall. Knowing when to withdraw after achievement aligns with the Way of Heaven.
第十章
载营魄抱一，能无离乎？
专气致柔，能婴儿乎？
涤除玄览，能无疵乎？
爱民治国，能无知乎？
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。
English Translation
Carrying the soul and embracing the One, can you remain undivided?
Concentrating your breath and achieving softness, can you be like an infant?
Purifying your vision of the mysterious, can you be without flaws?
Loving the people and governing the state, can you act without knowledge (arrogance)?
Opening and closing the gate of Heaven, can you act in the female’s role?
Understanding all directions clearly, can you act without cunning?
To give life and to nurture it,
To create but not to possess,
To act but not to depend on it,
To lead but not to dominate—
This is called profound virtue.
问答讲解
问：这一章为什么有很多问句？
答：这是老子对修行者的提醒——修炼应保持单纯、柔和、无私，不倚仗权力与智慧。最终达到“生而不有、为而不恃、长而不宰”的玄德境界。
Q: Why are there so many questions in this chapter?
A: They serve as reminders to the practitioner—cultivation requires simplicity, softness, and selflessness, without clinging to power or knowledge. The ultimate goal is “to give life without possessing, to act without relying, to lead without dominating”—this is profound virtue.
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