Chapter 53
使我介然有知，行于大道，唯施是畏。大道甚夷，而人好径。
朝甚除，田甚芜，仓甚虚；服文采，带利剑，厌饮食，财货有馀；是为盗夸。非道也哉！
Translation
If I was to possess the all-embracing knowledge and carry on my life within the great Tao, I would only be afraid to impart this knowledge (to other people). The Tao is indeed very flat (unfashioned), and yet the people likes the by ways.
The court of government is devoid of merits, the field left unattended, the granaries are empty. (On the other hand,) People wear sumptuous garments, carry sharp swards, waste food and drinks and accumulate more material wealth than they ever need; this is indeed not Tao.
Notes
One of the interesting one in this chapter is 唯施是畏. There are various translations, but I have believed that Lao Tzu means he is afraid of imparting the Tao for fear of misunderstanding. This can be proved the by sentence immediately after, 大道甚夷， 而人好径. It is fascinating that the only fear he has was to teach other people the Tao, maybe that is why he only leave this work when he retires into the oblivion.
The development of good and bad has complicated this world, and to fulfil certain functions, numerous ways was invented. Inevitably the simple ones are lost. As such, the ignorance of people cannot be forced to awaken from the outside. Lao Tzu must have tried it and it must have failed and that is why he is afraid. The result is that the known men keep the knowledge within themselves. This is reflected by Chuang Tzu in his Levelling of All Beings (齊物論), 聖人懷之，眾人辯之以相示也。 This means that the sage hold the truth within him whereas others debate to convince each other.
When imparting the knowledge to someone, one first needs to convince that person. The person doubts and you debate. Once you debate, you don’t possess the Tao. That is why the real knower doesn’t talk. If you find some “spiritual teacher” who is on the talk all the times, take note that he is not the real deal.
朝甚除，田甚芜，仓甚虚；服文采，带利剑，厌饮食，财货有馀；是为盗夸。非道也哉！
Translation
If I was to possess the all-embracing knowledge and carry on my life within the great Tao, I would only be afraid to impart this knowledge (to other people). The Tao is indeed very flat (unfashioned), and yet the people likes the by ways.
The court of government is devoid of merits, the field left unattended, the granaries are empty. (On the other hand,) People wear sumptuous garments, carry sharp swards, waste food and drinks and accumulate more material wealth than they ever need; this is indeed not Tao.
Notes
One of the interesting one in this chapter is 唯施是畏. There are various translations, but I have believed that Lao Tzu means he is afraid of imparting the Tao for fear of misunderstanding. This can be proved the by sentence immediately after, 大道甚夷， 而人好径. It is fascinating that the only fear he has was to teach other people the Tao, maybe that is why he only leave this work when he retires into the oblivion.
The development of good and bad has complicated this world, and to fulfil certain functions, numerous ways was invented. Inevitably the simple ones are lost. As such, the ignorance of people cannot be forced to awaken from the outside. Lao Tzu must have tried it and it must have failed and that is why he is afraid. The result is that the known men keep the knowledge within themselves. This is reflected by Chuang Tzu in his Levelling of All Beings (齊物論), 聖人懷之，眾人辯之以相示也。 This means that the sage hold the truth within him whereas others debate to convince each other.
When imparting the knowledge to someone, one first needs to convince that person. The person doubts and you debate. Once you debate, you don’t possess the Tao. That is why the real knower doesn’t talk. If you find some “spiritual teacher” who is on the talk all the times, take note that he is not the real deal.
posted by Eugene Chen | 6:33 PM
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