Tao Teh Ching Chapter 20
绝学无忧。唯之与阿，相去几何？美之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮，其未央哉！
众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮其未兆；沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；累累兮，若无所归。众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷闷。澹兮其若海，飙兮若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽且鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母
Translation
Abolish learnedness and there will not be worries. What is the difference between the formal “yes” and the informal “yeah”? However, what is the huge difference between the good and the evil? What people fear should be feared. Alas! There is no end to this.
The multitudes of people are enjoying the sun, as if they are having a great feast, as if they are on a high ground enjoying the spring. I only appear to be quiet as if my future is not certain. I am like a baby who hasn’t learned to smile; I am listless as if nowhere that I belong. Everyone have spares, but I seem to have relinquished everything. I have the heart of a fool! The vulgar are informed, but I seem confused; they have sharp understandings, however I alone seem to be bored. I am tossed around by the water and wind. Everyone has a function, but I alone seem stubborn and useless. I alone am different from the rest in that I value the nursing mother (The Tao).
Comments
To possess the Tao means you are different from ordinary people. In this chapter, Lao Tsu describes his image in the eyes of the public. First, he says do not learn, as it will give you anxiety. This seems odd at first glance, but think more thoroughly it is the truth.
In the second paragraph, Lao describe what the public looks like. They are enjoying themselves; completely satisfied, at least appears to be so. Everyone accumulate a fortune, everyone seem to understand the politics, the economy and every aspect that there is knowledge. However, Lao has relinquished all of these, of course he will appear to be stupid and useless to the ordinary eye. The last sentence however is the key to this chapter. The difference between the public and the saint is the TAO.
In here, I would like to take a look at 俗人察察，我独闷闷. We see smart people all the times. Do they just appears to be smart? The wisest man always seems stupid, this is the old Chinese saying.
众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮其未兆；沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；累累兮，若无所归。众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷闷。澹兮其若海，飙兮若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽且鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母
Translation
Abolish learnedness and there will not be worries. What is the difference between the formal “yes” and the informal “yeah”? However, what is the huge difference between the good and the evil? What people fear should be feared. Alas! There is no end to this.
The multitudes of people are enjoying the sun, as if they are having a great feast, as if they are on a high ground enjoying the spring. I only appear to be quiet as if my future is not certain. I am like a baby who hasn’t learned to smile; I am listless as if nowhere that I belong. Everyone have spares, but I seem to have relinquished everything. I have the heart of a fool! The vulgar are informed, but I seem confused; they have sharp understandings, however I alone seem to be bored. I am tossed around by the water and wind. Everyone has a function, but I alone seem stubborn and useless. I alone am different from the rest in that I value the nursing mother (The Tao).
Comments
To possess the Tao means you are different from ordinary people. In this chapter, Lao Tsu describes his image in the eyes of the public. First, he says do not learn, as it will give you anxiety. This seems odd at first glance, but think more thoroughly it is the truth.
In the second paragraph, Lao describe what the public looks like. They are enjoying themselves; completely satisfied, at least appears to be so. Everyone accumulate a fortune, everyone seem to understand the politics, the economy and every aspect that there is knowledge. However, Lao has relinquished all of these, of course he will appear to be stupid and useless to the ordinary eye. The last sentence however is the key to this chapter. The difference between the public and the saint is the TAO.
In here, I would like to take a look at 俗人察察，我独闷闷. We see smart people all the times. Do they just appears to be smart? The wisest man always seems stupid, this is the old Chinese saying.
posted by Eugene Chen | 10:46 PM
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