dawei

[DDJ Meaning] Chapter 60

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David Hinton 2002
60

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish.
Use Way to rule all beneath heaven and spirits never become ghosts.
When spirits don't become ghosts, ghosts do people no harm.
When ghosts do people no harm, sages do them no harm.
And once humans and ghosts do each other no harm, they return together to Integrity.

 

 

Chad Hansen 2009
60
Ruling a large state 
Is like grilling a small bit of fresh food. 
Using a guide to manage the social world 
Its ghost does not energize. 
If it is not that its ghost does not energize, 
Its energy does not harm humans. 
If it is not that its energy does not harm humanity, 
Sages also do not harm humans. 
In general, when both of these do not mutually harm, 
Then virtuosity exchanges and returns in it. 

 


Moss Roberts 2001

60

Rule a great state as you cook a small fish.
Through the Way take a ruler’s place in the world,
And the ghosts of the dead shall have no force.
Is it that they have no force?
Or that their force can do no harm?
That their force can do no harm?
Or that the wise lord does no harm?
Nor ghosts nor wise lords doing harm
To their joint virtue thus rebounds.
 
 

Lok Sang Ho 2002
60

To govern a great nation
Is not much different from frying a small fish.
To govern a nation according to the Dao,
Even the demons will not show their influences.
Not that they have lost all their influences,
 But their influences will do people no harm.
Not only do the influences of the evil spirits do people no harm.
The Sage will also do people no harm.
Since demons at one extreme,
 through the Sage at the other extreme,
All do people no harm.
We can conclude that the Virtue has perfected its job. 

 

 

Gu Zhengku 1993
60

Ruling a large state resembles frying a small fish
(It is inappropriate to turn it over frequently).
When the Tao prevails in the world,
Even ghosts and spirits become harmless.
It is not that ghosts become harmless
But that their potencies can no longer harm people.
Not only ghosts become harmless,
Sages harm no people either.
Hence neither does any harm to the people
And both sages and ghosts help the people to enjoy the benefit of virtue.

 


Lin Yutang 1948
60

Rule a big country as you would fry small fish. 
Who rules the world in accord with Tao 
   Shall find that the spirits lose their power. 
It is not that the spirits lose their power, 
   But that they cease to do people harm. 
It is not (only) that they cease to do people harm, 
   The Sage (himself) also does no harm to the people. 
When both do not do each other harm, 
   The original character is restored.

 

 

Flowing Hands 1987
60

In dealing with evil, let Heaven do the biding. For Heaven can see all things,
and everything will find its just reward.
In dealing with evil, seek for the Daoist Shaman.
For he is in touch with Heaven and so is able to deal with evil.
Evil is powerful, so avoid any conflict and leave well alone.
Those who dabble in such things will only harm themselves and others.
Then the Shaman's job is made more difficult and he may lose his life.
The Shaman is a treasure to the people, for he calls
up Saints and Immortals, and when the people are starving,
he opens up Heaven and beautiful rain will follow.
He protects all things within a balance and performs selfless actions.
He is a Sage and is treasured by Heaven.

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I am not sure what to make of this chapter. Only the first line makes much sense ... seems to stand alone from the rest of the text.

 

All of the discussion about ghosts vs spirits and their affect on the wworld of man does not seem to have much meaning ... at lest to this western mind. I've always been of the mind that ghosts and spirits, if they exist at all, dwell in their own realm and have little cause to interact with the world we know. Only occasionally do they appear to interact. But then I've always said I am not sensitive to such things. 

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The Feng version is very good for this chapter...

 

SIXTY

 

Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish.

Approach the universe with Tao, And evil will have no power.

Not that evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others.

Not only will it do no harm to others, But the wise will also be protected.

We will not hurt one another, And the Virtue in each one of us refreshes everyone.

 

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You cook small fish delicately ,in a big batch, and you dont mess with it much , intending to  eat them whole ,bones and all. If you think youre going to fillet them all individually its both a waste of time and food. 

Doesnt anybody cook anymore?

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7 hours ago, OldDog said:

I am not sure what to make of this chapter. Only the first line makes much sense ... seems to stand alone from the rest of the text.

 

All of the discussion about ghosts vs spirits and their affect on the wworld of man does not seem to have much meaning ... at lest to this western mind. I've always been of the mind that ghosts and spirits, if they exist at all, dwell in their own realm and have little cause to interact with the world we know. Only occasionally do they appear to interact. But then I've always said I am not sensitive to such things. 

 

Great observations.  Big Country vs Small Fish... so a stark comparison...

 

Continued to the spirit world influence.... 

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On 15/10/2018 at 8:47 PM, OldDog said:

I am not sure what to make of this chapter. Only the first line makes much sense ... seems to stand alone from the rest of the text.

 

All of the discussion about ghosts vs spirits and their affect on the wworld of man does not seem to have much meaning ... at lest to this western mind. I've always been of the mind that ghosts and spirits, if they exist at all, dwell in their own realm and have little cause to interact with the world we know. Only occasionally do they appear to interact. But then I've always said I am not sensitive to such things. 

 

No, because of non-dualism in Daoism. Spirit and ghost is everywhere and their influence manifests in humans, as seen by their actions.

 

Cultivate, and settle the ghosts. Don't cultivate and watch how the mind becomes possessed, and the words become coarse....and the actions become disturbed.

Edited by Rara
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  • Verse Sixty

 

Ruling a large country

Is like cooking a small fresh fish

Do too much and you ruin it’s best qualities.

 

This is the trail marker to follow 

In these matters.

 

Messing around with ceremonies 

Creates the possibility of getting the ceremonies wrong - 

Possibly invoking the bad luck 

And evil intention of forces that may not even exist!

 

This isn’t getting into the nature of

Spirits or ghosts or gods 

Or flying immortals or whatever, 

we’re not playing with ontologies here. 

 

The wise person doesn’t 

Hurt anyone, real or imagined.

 

The Grownup Mommies and Daddies

Don’t get hurt or scared or cursed 

Or demonically possessed

Or have the ground to do these kinds of

Harmful activities to one another.

 

Don’t play stupid games,

You won’t win stupid prizes.

 

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