Chuang Tzu Chapter 7, Section D

[Marblehead]

Section D

 

Yang Zi-ju, having an interview with Lao Dan, said to him, 'Here is a man, alert and vigorous in responding to all matters, clearsighted and widely intelligent, and an unwearied student of the Dao - can he be compared to one of the intelligent kings?' The reply was, 'Such a man is to one of the intelligent kings but as the bustling underling of a court who toils his body and distresses his mind with his various contrivances. And moreover, it is the beauty of the skins of the tiger and leopard which makes men hunt them; the agility of the monkey, or (the sagacity of) the dog that catches the yak, which make men lead them in strings; but can one similarly endowed be compared to the intelligent kings?' Yang Zi-ju looked discomposed and said, 'I venture to ask you what the government of the intelligent kings is.' Lao Dan replied, 'In the governing of the intelligent kings, their services overspread all under the sky, but they did not seem to consider it as proceeding from themselves; their transforming influence reached to all things, but the people did not refer it to them with hope. No one could tell the name of their agency, but they made men and things be joyful in themselves. Where they took their stand could not be fathomed, and they found their enjoyment in (the realm of) nonentity.'

[ChiDragon]

陽 子居拜見老聃，說：“倘若現在有這樣一個人，他辦事迅疾敏捷、強乾果決，對待事物洞察準確、了解透徹，學'道'專心勤奮從不厭怠。像這樣的人，可以跟聖哲 之王相比而並列嗎？”

 

Yang Zi-ju went to visit Lao Dan(Lao Tze) and said: "Suppose there is such a person, he take cares matters in a timely manner and quickly, strife for the works and predetermine for completion, observation with precision, explicit with clarity, with devotion in learning 'Tao' without weary nor delay. With this kind of person, can he be compared with a sagacious wise person on an equal level...???

 

老聃說：“這樣的人在聖人看來，只不過就像聰明的小吏供職辦事時為技能所拘系、勞苦身軀​​擔驚受怕的情況。況且虎豹因為毛色美麗而 招來眾多獵人的圍捕，獼猴因為跳躍敏捷、狗因為捕物迅猛而招致繩索的拘縛。像這樣的動物，也可以拿來跟聖哲之王相比而並列嗎？”

 

Lao Dan said: "This kind of person from the point of view of a sage, he is nothing but a small talented staff member with special skills which were limited to his duty; and he was working in situations constantly under pressure with intimidation.

 

陽子居聽了這番話臉色頓 改，不安地說：“冒昧地請教聖哲之王怎麼治理天下。”

Yang Zi-ju heard these words became uncomfortably and said: "May I ask how does a sagacious wise person govern the world?"

 

老聃說：“聖哲之王治理天下，功績普蓋天下卻又像什麼也不曾出自自己的努力，教化施及萬物而百姓卻不 覺得有所依賴；功德無量沒有什麼辦法稱述讚美，使萬事萬物各居其所而欣然自得；立足於高深莫測的神妙之境，而生活在什麼也不存在的世界裡。”

 

Lao Dan said: "This is the way how a sagacious wise person governs the world, his overwhelming achievements were above all expectations but it seems like nothing was emerged from his own effort. He provides everything and educated the people that they did not feel as dependents of any kind. With infinite accomplishments, but there was no word given to be vainglorious about. Just let things be the way as they are; standing tall in a realm of wonders, and living in a world where nothing was ever existed.

Edited September 12, 2012 by ChiDragon

[ChiDragon]

Yang Zi-ju went to visit Lao Dan(Lao Tze) and said: "Suppose there is such a person, he take cares matters in a timely manner and quickly, strife for the works and predetermine for completion, observation with precision, explicit with clarity, with devotion in learning 'Tao' without weary nor delay. With this kind of person, can he be compared with a sagacious wise person on an equal level...???

 

Lao Dan said: "This kind of person from the point of view of a sage, he is nothing but a small talented staff member with special skills which were limited to his duty; and he was working in situations constantly under pressure with intimidation.

 

Yang Zi-ju heard these words became uncomfortably and said: "May I ask how does a sagacious wise person govern the world?"

 

Lao Dan said: "This is the way how a sagacious wise person governs the world, his overwhelming achievements were above all expectations but it seems like nothing was emerged from his own effort. He provides everything and educated the people that they did not feel as dependents of any kind. With infinite accomplishments, but there was no word given to be vainglorious about. Just let things be the way as they are; standing tall in a realm of wonders, and living in a world where nothing was ever existed.