[DDJ Meaning] Chapter 70

[dawei]

David Hinton 2002
70

My words are so simple to understand
and so easily put into practice
that no one in all beneath heaven understands them
and no one puts them into practice.
Words have their ancestral origins and actions their sovereign:
it's only because people don't understand this that they don't understand me.
And the less people understand me the more precious I become.
So it is that a sage wears sackcloth, keeping pure jade harbored deep.

 

Dwight Goddard 1919
70

My words are very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice, yet in all the world no one appears to understand them or to practice them.
Words have an ancestor (a preceding idea), deeds have a master (a preceding purpose), and just as these are often not understood, so I am not understood.
They who understand me are very few, and on that account I am worthy of honor. The wise man wears wool (rather than silk) and keeps his gems out of sight.

 

 

Bradford Hatcher 2005

70

My words are very easy to understand
Very easy to practice
(But) nobody in the world can understand
Nobody can practice
Expressions presume a lineage
Endeavors presume a master
Insofar as these are unknown
So it is that we are not known
Those who know me are few
Accordingly I am valued
This is why wise ones wear common cloth
Concealing jade in the heart

 

 

Wing-Tsit Chan 1963
70 

My doctrines are easy to understand and very easy to practice, But none in the world can understand or practice them. 
My doctrines have a source (Nature); my deeds have a master (Tao). It is because people do not understand this that they do not understand me. Few people know me, and therefore I am highly valued. 
Therefore the sage wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade within his bosom. 

 

 

Gu Zhengku 1993
70

My words are very easy to understand,
And very easy to put into practice,
Yet there should have been no one in the world
Who can understand them
Or can put them into practice.
Words must be purpose-oriented,
Deeds must be reasonably grounded.
People cannot understand me
Because they fail to understand what is said above.
Those who understand me are few;
Those who can follow my advice are even less.
That is why the sage
Is always dressed in coarse cloth
But conceals about him a beautiful piece of jade (the Tao).

 

Ch'u Ta-Kao 1904
70

Words have an ancestor; deeds have a governor.
My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practise,
Yet all men in the world do not know them nor practise them.
It is because they have knowledge that they do not know me.
When those who know me are few, eventually I am beyond all praise.
Therefore the Sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels in his bosom;
He knows himself but does not display himself;
He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem.
Thus he rejects the latter and takes the former.

 

Flowing Hands 1987
70
My words have ancient and mysterious beginnings,
yet they can be easily understood and performed.
Yet no man on the Earth and under Heaven knows of them, or tries to practise them.
My words are yielding, but yet there is discipline within.
Because men do not understand them,
they have no knowledge of the Dao.
Those that know of the Dao, are just a few, those that think they know, are many.
Therefore I wear simple clothing, and hold my treasure in my heart.
By holding my treasure in my heart, I am at one with the Dao.

[OldDog]

What does it mean to understand?  Real understanding of Dao is not just a cognitive thing. When the words are really understood the take root deeply in the heart and mind. Then in ones dealings with the world one is always aware of understanding and actions are natural and in accord with the times. This is practice in understanding.

 

Elsewhere it is said:

 

When the highest type of men hear the Tao (truth),

They try hard to live in accordance with it. (Ch 41)

 

One that understands the words has taken them to heart and lives by them and proceeds in his actions in humility. This is what is meant by wearing coarse on the outside but guarding the jade within.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2018 by OldDog
Misqoute

[dawei]

On 11/3/2018 at 12:03 PM, OldDog said:

What does it mean to understand?  Real understanding of Dao is not just a cognitive thing. When the words are really understood the take root deeply in the heart and mind. Then in ones dealings with the world one is always aware of understanding and actions are natural and in accord with the times. This is practice in understanding.

 

Elsewhere it is said:

 

When the highest type of men hear the Tao (truth),

They try hard to live in accordance with it. (Ch 41)

 

One that understands the words has taken them to heart and lives by them and proceeds in his actions in humility. This is what is meant by wearing coarse on the outside but guarding the jade within.

 

The word is to know but in context 'understand' makes sense.  Knowing Dao is not cognitive, that might be the student or academic.  Knowing Dao is the inner heart sense. 

 

On 11/2/2018 at 5:58 PM, dawei said:

Flowing Hands 1987
70
Those that know of the Dao, are just a few, those that think they know, are many.
 

 

I could not pass up a point that this is like Jesus who said, "many are called but few are chosen".  

[OldDog]

2 hours ago, dawei said:

Knowing Dao is the inner heart sense.

 

I believe this to be true also.

 

2 hours ago, dawei said:

this is like Jesus who said, "many are called but few are chosen".  

 

Glad you did not pass it up.

[Marblehead]

On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 5:58 PM, dawei said:

So it is that a sage wears sackcloth, keeping pure jade harbored deep.

In real life I am very good at practicing this.

 

Sit down and shut up.

 

[Sketch]

• Verse Seventy

 

What I’m telling you

Is easy to understand

And VERY easy to follow.

 

But I look around and everywhere, 

There is misunderstanding.

 

I’m giving you what we knew 

In ancient times.

 

I’m telling you how it is.

 

But even the so called grownups in charge

Have no idea, they’re ignorant.

 

My ideas are unknown.

 

There is hope, I suppose, for the person

Reading this, learning my ideas.

 

But people who even take the time to understand

Are becoming rare.

So there’s plenty of room

Under the faded, patched brown quilt

That my Mother In Law, the Holy Person, who I try to emulate (Grandmother to Lao Tzu’s kids, and all)

 made.