dawei Posted November 2, 2018 David Hinton 2002 67 People throughout all beneath heaven say my Tao is so vast it's like nothing at all. But it's only vast because it's like nothing at all: if it were like anything else it would have long since become trifling. There are three treasures I hold and nurture: The first is called compassion, the second economy, and the third never daring to lead all beneath heaven. Courage comes of compassion, generosity comes of economy, and commanding leadership comes of never daring to lead all beneath heaven. But these days it's all courage without compassion, generosity without economy, and leading without following. There's nothing but death in that. To overcome, attack with compassion. To stand firm, defend with compassion. Whatever heaven sustains it shelters with compassion. Dwight Goddard 1919 67 All the world calls Tao great, yet it is by nature immaterial. It is because a thing is seemingly unreal that it is great. If a man affects to be great, how long can he conceal his mediocrity? Tao has three treasures which he guards and cherishes. The first is called compassion; the second is called economy; the third is called humility. A man that is compassionate can 'be truly brave; if a man is economical he can be generous; if he is humble he can become a useful servant. If one discards compassion and is still brave, abandons economy and is still generous, forsakes humility and still seeks to be serviceable, his days are numbered. On the contrary if one is truly compassionate, in battle he will be a conqueror and in defence he will be secure. When even Heaven helps people it is because of compassion that she does so. Bradford Hatcher 2005 67 Everyone in the world admits our way is great (And) resembles no likeness It is insofar as it is great That it resembles no likeness Had it a likeness Surely after so long It might have diminished a little Here I have three treasures Take and keep them safe: The first, call compassion The second, call economy The third, call never presuming to act as the world’s leader Compassion confers a capacity for courage Economy confers a capacity for breadth Never presuming to act as the world’s leader confers a capacity to develop enduring talents To right away set aside compassion in order to be more courageous To set aside economy in order to be more expansive To set aside following in order to be more advanced Is truly deadly Now compassion used in combat means triumph Used in defense means security Those whom heaven would redeem With compassion it protects them Wing-Tsit Chan 1963 67 All the world says that my Tao is great and does not seem to resemble (the ordinary). It is precisely because it is great that it does not resemble (the ordinary). If it did resemble, it would have been small for a long time. I have three treasures. Guard and keep them: The first is deep love, The second is frugality, And the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world. Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world. Now, to be courageous by forsaking deep love, To be generous by forsaking frugality, And to be ahead of the world by forsaking following behind - This is fatal. For deep love helps one to win in the case of attack, And to be firm in the case of defense. When Heaven is to save a person, Heaven will protect him through deep love. Gu Zhengku 1993 67 The whole world says that my Tao is great, Resembling nothing concrete, Resembling nothing concrete, Just because it is great. If it resembled anything concrete, It would have long become minute. I have three magic weapons Which I hold and treasure: The first is mercy; The second is thrift; The third is unwillingness to take the lead in the world. Being merciful, one can be brave; Being thrifty, one can be generous; Being unwilling to take the lead in the world, one can become the leader of the world. Now seeking bravery by giving up mercy, Seeking generosity by giving up thrift, Seeking advance by giving up retreat, One is bound to end in death. Being merciful, one will triumph in the offensive And be impregnable in defense. If heaven wants to save one, It must save him with mercy. Ch'u Ta-Kao 1904 67 All the world says to me: 'Great as Tao is, it resembles no description (form).' Because it is great, therefore it resembles no description. If it resembled any description it would have long since become small. I have three treasures, which I hold and keep safe: The first is called love; The second is called moderation; The third is called not venturing to go ahead of the world. Being loving, one can be brave; Being moderate, one can be ample; Not venturing to go ahead of the world, one can become the chief of all officials. Instead of love, one has only bravery; Instead of moderation, one has only amplitude; Instead of keeping behind, one goes ahead: These lead to nothing but death. For he who fights with love will win the battle; He who defends with love will be secure. Heaven will save him, and protect him with love. Flowing Hands 1987 CHAPTER 67 All under Heaven say that my Dao is beyond compare. Because it is different, it has lasted a long time. I have three treasures which I keep in my heart. The first is mercy, the second is economy, and the third is being at one with the Dao. From mercy springs life and strength. From economy comes generosity. From the Dao comes the knowledge of all things. Today men shun mercy and take life without care. They abandon economy and seek to enrich themselves. They do not know of or follow the Dao, and so they are naive of the ways of all things. Having compassion and strength and knowing the way of all things, Heaven knows how to act. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted November 9, 2018 This is one of the most mentioned but again, no takers.. so let's start it. The three Treasures ! While most are trying to translate, I find Flowing Hands says a direct point on the last very difficult of the three... why difficult ? Most who study the chinese are confronted with a very non parallel pattern of characters for the three traits 1. One word: Compassion, mercy, love 2. One word: Economy, frugality, thrift 3. Six words: Only Goddard is trying a single word, 'humility'. So while most try a direct translation, 'not to dare to be ahead of the world' (Chan) , Flowing Hands says, 'being at one with the Dao' Who would of thought that not to dare to be... is to be one with the Dao 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted November 9, 2018 (edited) Yeah, who wooda thought? Well, I still prefer "Humility". And while most of our members would question it, I do try to practice humility. The Christians need ten commandments. Lao Tzu covered it with three words of guidance. Edited November 9, 2018 by Marblehead 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted November 9, 2018 The three treasures can also be translated as... Compassion - Open heart, which is the beginning of feeling energy and all higher states. Economy, frugality - of “mind”, quieting of mind leads greater clarity and connecting to all at higher states. Humility - Dropping or emptiness of individual self - beginning of “light level” and the possible formation of the “golden child”. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted November 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Jeff said: The three treasures can also be translated as... Exactly. Although I prefer Conservative over Economy. For me it better defines the concept. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sketch Posted November 14, 2020 Verse Sixty Seven I have three treasures which I cherish. One is called compassion. Kindness, pity, Mercy. The second is called thrift. Cheapness. The ability to travel far On a shoestring. The third is called not daring to be First under Heaven. The kind develop the ability To be brave. The thrifty Develop the ability To be expansive. Not daring to be first under heaven Develops the ability to survive And thrive. Show your kindness and your courage. Show that you are cheap And generous. Show that you are not afraid To be the next to die! Win the war by kindness. With solid observation, discern Where the protection of Heaven Provides a merciful haven. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
