Tao Teh Ching Chapter 15
古之善为士者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容：豫焉若冬涉川；犹兮若畏四邻；俨兮其若客；涣兮其若冰之将释；敦兮其若朴；旷兮其若谷；混兮其若浊。
孰能浊以静之徐清？孰能安以动之徐生？保此道者不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。
Translation
People who have the Tao from ancient times are very subtle, mystic and understands all, their personality is so deep that it is not possible to be recognized. Since is cannot be recognized, here I strive my best to describe it: He is so cautious as if he is crossing a frozen river in the winter; He is so hesitate as if he is afraid the neighbors; He is respectful (to everyone) as if he is a guest; He readily disperses, just as ice about to thaw; He is as unpolished as the raw wood; He is as empty as a valley, he looks as if he is stupid, just like muddy water.
Who can clarify the troubled waters by allowing it to settle down quietly? Who can give life to the motionless by gently stirring? He who preserves this method does not want to be full. It is because he is not full; he is always protected and appears anew.
Comments
In this Chapter, we learned what it would be look like when a person possesses the Tao. Look around, I think I actually know one who seem very close to it. By looking at these properties of the master of Tao, we do not seem ability, charisma, energy, and greatness. We see instead seemingly dull, cautious even monotonous attributes. He we understand to have the Tao, you have passed the stage of being sharp, clever. You are only shrewd, you know it, but you never show it to other people. That is why the masters appear to be just normal persons, however inside they only know too well.
The second paragraph is hard to understand. Again, this personal interpretation is very different from all other translations. I believe the key word here is 徐, slowly. This slowness indicates the saint do not want to interfere with natural process. The best way to clarify the muddy water is to allow it to settle. You cannot pull a plant to make it grow faster. If you have wound to your hand, don't mess around with it. Nature takes care of it. Therefore, by allowing nature to take its own cause, one naturally doesn’t want to be completely full.
Here are some words and meanings.
俨, respect
涣, Disperse
敦, without flare or garnish
孰能浊以静之徐清？孰能安以动之徐生？保此道者不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。
Translation
People who have the Tao from ancient times are very subtle, mystic and understands all, their personality is so deep that it is not possible to be recognized. Since is cannot be recognized, here I strive my best to describe it: He is so cautious as if he is crossing a frozen river in the winter; He is so hesitate as if he is afraid the neighbors; He is respectful (to everyone) as if he is a guest; He readily disperses, just as ice about to thaw; He is as unpolished as the raw wood; He is as empty as a valley, he looks as if he is stupid, just like muddy water.
Who can clarify the troubled waters by allowing it to settle down quietly? Who can give life to the motionless by gently stirring? He who preserves this method does not want to be full. It is because he is not full; he is always protected and appears anew.
Comments
In this Chapter, we learned what it would be look like when a person possesses the Tao. Look around, I think I actually know one who seem very close to it. By looking at these properties of the master of Tao, we do not seem ability, charisma, energy, and greatness. We see instead seemingly dull, cautious even monotonous attributes. He we understand to have the Tao, you have passed the stage of being sharp, clever. You are only shrewd, you know it, but you never show it to other people. That is why the masters appear to be just normal persons, however inside they only know too well.
The second paragraph is hard to understand. Again, this personal interpretation is very different from all other translations. I believe the key word here is 徐, slowly. This slowness indicates the saint do not want to interfere with natural process. The best way to clarify the muddy water is to allow it to settle. You cannot pull a plant to make it grow faster. If you have wound to your hand, don't mess around with it. Nature takes care of it. Therefore, by allowing nature to take its own cause, one naturally doesn’t want to be completely full.
Here are some words and meanings.
俨, respect
涣, Disperse
敦, without flare or garnish
posted by Eugene Chen | 6:30 PM
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