Neiye - Section 3: The Dao

[dawei]

Section 3: The Dao

 

Eno
By means of the Dao forms are made full,
yet men are not able to cleave firmly to it.
Once gone it may not return,
Once come it may not remain.
So silent! None hears its sound.
So compact! It resides in the heart [xin].
So dark! Invisible of form.
So overflowing! It is born along with me.
Its form unseen,
Its sound unheard,
Yet its doings perfectly ordered.
Such we call: the Dao.

 

The Dao has no fixed place;
it dwells at peace in a good heart [Xin]
When the heart is tranquil and the qi aligned,
the Dao may be made to stay.
The Dao is not distant,
people gain it in being born.

 

The Dao never departs,
people rely on it for awareness.
How compact! As though it could be bound up.
How remote! As though exhausting all nothingness.
The natural being of the Dao
abhors thought and voice.
Refine the heart [xin] and calm thoughts,
and the Dao may be grasped.

 

The Dao
Is what the mouth cannot speak,
Is what the eye cannot see,
Is what the ear cannot hear.
It is the means to refine the heart and rectify the form.
Men die when they lose it.
Men live when they gain it.
Affairs fail when they lose it.
Affairs succeed when they gain it.

 

The Dao has neither root not stalk,
nor leaves, nor blossoms.
Yet the things of the world gain it and are born;
the things of the world gain it and mature.
This is termed: the Dao.

 

Linnell
夫 道 者 所 以 充 形 也 Now : Dao is the reason that the form [of the heart/mind] is full!
而 人 不 能 固 But people can not be strong enough to keep it –
其 往 不 復 It goes and does not return,
其 來 不 舍 It arrives but does not dwell.

 

寂 乎 Is it silent?
莫 聞 其 音 There is no one who can hear its sound.
卒 乎 Is it close?
乃 在 於 心 It is residing in the heart/mind [xin]
冥 冥 乎 Is it very dim and obscure?
不 見 其 形 You can not see its form.
淫 淫 乎 Is it very prolific?
與 我 俱 生 It gives us all life.

 

不 見 其 形 You can not see its form,
不 聞 其 聲 You can not hear its voice,
而 序 其 成 Yet there is an order to its accomplishments.
謂 之 道 We call it Dao.

 

凡 道 無 所 Always : Dao is nowhere to be found,
善 心 安 處 But in a virtuous heart/mind [xin] it can calmly dwell.
心 靜 氣 理 When the heart/mind [xin] is still and Qi is regulated,
道 乃 可 止 Dao can then stay there.

 

彼 道 不 遠 That Dao is not remote :
民 得 以 產 Citizens attain it by being born.

彼 道 不 離 That Dao does not depart :

民 因 以 知 Citizens rely on it for understanding.

 

是 故 卒 乎 Thus : is it close?
其 如 可 與 索 As though it could be tied together with you.
眇 眇 乎 Is it very minute and subtle?
其 如 窮 無 所 As though it is utterly nowhere to be found.

 

彼 道 之 情 The nature of that Dao
惡 意 與 聲 Detests thoughts and words about it.
修 心 靜 意 But when you cultivate your heart/mind [xin] and still your thoughts,
道 乃 可 得 Dao can then be attained.

 

道 也 者 Dao –
口 之 所 不 能 言 也 That which your mouth can not speak!
目 之 所 不 能 視 也 That which your eyes can not see!
耳 之 所 不 能 聽 也 That which your ears can not hear!
所 以 修 心 而 正 形 也 It is the reason that we cultivate the heart/mind and properly align [its] form!
人 之 所 失 以 死 That which when people lose, thus they die.
所 得 以 生 也 That which when attained, thus they are born!
事 之 所 失 以 敗 That which when duties lose, thus they fail.
所 得 以 成 也 That which when attained, thus they are completed!

 

凡 道 Always : Dao is
無 根 無 莖 Without root, without stalk,
無 葉 無 榮 Without leaves, without flowers.
萬 物 以 生 By means of it the ten thousand creatures are born,
萬 物 以 成 By means of it the ten thousand creatures are made complete.
命 之 曰 道 This [natural] order, it is called Dao.

 

Roth
-- Section 4 --
[First 5 lines in previous section]
6. The Way [Dao] is what infuses the body,
7. Yet people are unable to fix it in place.
8. It goes forth but does not return,
9. It comes back but does not stay.
10. Silent! none can hear its sound.
11. Suddenly stopping! it abides within the mind [xin].
12. Obscure! we do not see its form.
13. Surging forth! it arises with us.
14. We do not see its form,
15. We do not hear its sound,
16. Yet we can perceive an order to its accomplishments.
17. We call it "the Way." [Dao]
-- Section 5 --
1. The way [Dao] has no fixed position;
2. It abides within the excellent mind [xin].
3. When the mind is tranquil and the vital breath [Qi] is regular,
4. The Way [Dao] can thereby be halted.
5. That Way [Dao] is not distant from us;
6. When people attain it they are sustained
7. That Way [Dao] is not separated from us;
8. When people accord with it they are harmonious.
9. Therefore: Concentrated! as though you could be roped together with it.
10. Indiscernible! as though beyond all locations.
11. The true state of that Way [Dao] :
12. How could it be conceived of and pronounced upon?
13. Cultivate your mind [xin], make your thoughts tranquil,
14. And the Way [Dao] can thereby be attained.
-- Section 6 --
1. As for the way [Dao] :
2. It is what the mouth cannot speak of,
3. The eyes cannot see,
4. And the ears cannot hear.
5. It is that with which we cultivate the mind [Xin] and align the body.
6. When people lose it they die;
7. When people gain it they flourish.
8. When endeavours lose it they fail;
9. When they gain it they succeed.
10. The way [Dao] never has a root or trunk,
11. It never has leaves or flowers.
12. The myriad things are generated by it;
13. The myriad things are completed by it.
14. We designate it "the Way." [Dao]

Shazi Daoren
-- Section 4 --
[First 5 lines in previous section]
The Way [Dao] is what fills the body,
yet people are unable to fix it in place.
It goes forth but does not return;
it comes back but does not stay.
Silent! None can hear its sound.
Present! It exists within the heart [xin].
Obscure! We do not see its form.
Manifest! It arises with us.
Look at it and not see its form,
listen to it and not hear its sound.
Yet there is a course to its accomplishments.
We call it the Way [Dao] .
-- Section 5 --
The Way [Dao] has no fixed position;
in the cultivated Heart, it gracefully abides.
When the heart is calm and Energy [Qi] aligned,
the Way [Dao] can thereby repose.
The Way [Dao] is not distant from us,
when people attain it they are fruitful
The Way [Dao] does not leave,
when people are in tune with it, they understand.
Thus it is present! As if you need but ask for it.
Remote! As if dissipated and is nowhere to be found.
The Way's [Dao] sensation:
How can you be in tune with its sound?
Cultivate your Heart [xin] and you will resonate in tune.
The Way [Dao] thereby can be attained
-- Section 6 --
As for Dao,
the mouth is not able to speak of it,
the eyes are not able to see it,
the ears are not able to hear it,
it is that which cultivates the Heart [xin] and aligns the body.
When people lose it they die,
when they attain it they flourish,
when endeavors lose it they fail,
when they attain it they succeed,
thus Dao is always without root without trunk.
Without leaves without flowers,
the myriad things are generated by it;
the myriad things are completed by it.
We declare it 'Dao'.

Yueya
-- Section 4 --
[First 5 lines in previous section]
The Dao is what infuses the body,
Yet people are unable to fix it in place.
It goes forth but does not return;
It comes back but does not stay.
Silent! no one can hear its sound.
Suddenly at rest, it resides in the heart-mind [xin].
Obscure! we do not see its form;
Surging forth! it arises within us.
We do not see its form;
We do not hear its sound.
Yet there is order to its accomplishments.
We refer to it as “Dao.”
— Section 5—
Now then, the Dao is without a set place;
But the calmness of an adept heart-mind makes a place.
When the heart-mind is still and qi is regular,
The Dao may then come to rest.
Such a way [Dao] is not remote from us –
When people cultivate it, they are thereby sustained.
Such a way [Dao] is not separate from us –
When people accord with it, they are thereby harmonious.

 

Thus, become concentrated as though roped together by it.
Become indiscernible as though beyond all location.
Considering the disposition of this Dao,
How can it be conceived of or discussed?
Cultivate the heart-mind [xin] and still your thinking;
The Dao may then be realized.
— Section 6—
Let us consider the Dao—
It is what the mouth cannot express;
It is what the eyes cannot perceive;
It is what the ears cannot hear.
It is that through which we cultivate the heart-mind [xin]
and align the body.
When humans lose it, they die;
When they attain it, they flourish.
When endeavours lose it, they fail;
When endeavours attain it, they succeed.
Now then, the Dao is without root or trunk;
It is without leaves or flowers.
The ten thousand things are generated because of it;
The ten thousand things are completed because of it.
This natural order, we designate as “Dao.”
 

Reid:

39 夫道者所以充形也,
It is Dao which fills the body,
40 而人不能固。
Yet people are unable to secure it.
41 其往不復,
It leaves without returning;
42 其來不舍。
It arrives without remaining;
43 謀乎莫聞其音,
Strategic! No one hears its voice;
44 卒乎乃在於心,
Suddden! Right away it is within your heart-mind;
45 冥冥乎不見其形,
Dark and obscured! Its form cannot be seen;
46 淫淫乎與我俱生。
Immense and overflowing! It rises within all of us.
47 不見其形,
We do not see its form
48 不聞其聲,
We do not hear its voice
49 而序其成,
Yet its sequence of development
50 謂之道。
We call “Dao”
51 凡道無所,
At all times, the Dao is without a single location.
52 善心安愛,
(Yet) in a heart of goodness, where tranquility is cherished, {8}
53 心靜氣理,
In a peaceful heart, where the energy-breath is balanced,
54 道乃可止。
Dao may linger.
55 彼道不遠,
For Dao is not far away.
56 民得以產。
When the people attain it, they are fruitful;
57 彼道不離,
When Dao does not leave,
58 民因以知。
The people become knowledgeable.

59 是故卒乎其如可與索。
Thus, it is sudden! As though capturing;
60 眇眇乎其如窮無所。
Minute! As though devoid of any location.
61 被道之情,
The nature of Dao
62 惡音與聲。
Is averse to clamorous noise.
63 脩心靜音,
By bringing the heart to a tranquil resonance (intention), {9}
64 道乃可得。
Dao may be obtained.
65 道也者,
As for Dao,
66 口之所不能言也,
It is that which the mouth cannot speak of;
67 目之所不能視也,
It is that which the eyes cannot see;
68 耳之所不能聽也,
It is that which the ears cannot hear;
69 所以脩心而正形也。
It is that by which the heart-mind is enhanced, {10} and the body is aligned;
70 人之所失以死,
It is that which, when people lose it, they die;
71 所得以生也。
It is that which, when they obtain it, they live;
72 事之所失以敗,
It is that which, when endeavours lose it, they fail;
73 所得以成也。
It is that which, when they obtain it, they succeed.
74 凡 道: 無根無莖,
Invariably, Dao is without root {11} and without stem;
75 無葉無榮,
Without leaves and without flowers.
76 萬物以生,
The myriad things are given life by it;

77 萬物以成,
The myriad things are completed by it.
78 命之曰道。
On account of this, it is called “The Path”

 

{8} In most translations, “愛 love, cherish, ai” is replaced here with “處 dwell, chu” to say “it dwells in a good heart.”

{9} “音 tone” is usually replaced here again with “意 intent.”
{10} “脩 dried meat used to pay teachers” is a variant of “修 study; cultivate”
{11} Dao is without root because Dao is the root. Please see DDJ4, “It is older than the primordial ruler (God).”

[Taoist Texts]

Linnel's transl is more or less correct, so there is not much to comment on

[dawei]

14 hours ago, Taoist Texts said:

Linnel's transl is more or less correct, so there is not much to comment on

 

So maybe a few questions to you:

 

1. How would you translate Shan (善) ... and what would it mean if Dao cannot stay there?  Is that justmean the heart is not still and Qi not regulated (so the condition of the heart and Qi is a reference to how naturally one exists)?  

凡 道 無 所 Always : Dao is nowhere to be found,
善 心 安 處 But in a virtuous heart/mind [xin] it can calmly dwell.
心 靜 氣 理 When the heart/mind [xin] is still and Qi is regulated,
道 乃 可 止 Dao can then stay there.

 

I think says same here:

彼 道 之 情 The nature of that Dao
惡 意 與 聲 Detests thoughts and words about it.
修 心 靜 意 But when you cultivate your heart/mind [xin] and still your thoughts,
道 乃 可 得 Dao can then be attained.

 

2. So we have Ren (民) again, yet Ren (人) is in previous sections.   So why differ here ?

彼 道 不 遠 That Dao is not remote :
民 得 以 產 Citizens attain it by being born.

彼 道 不 離 That Dao does not depart :

民 因 以 知 Citizens rely on it for understanding.

 

3. A few parts sound almost like LZ talking... but here so much is given to Dao and previously it sounds like Jing (or in LZ, De) are responsible for...  so this sounds like just a high level clearance understanding that it all beings with Dao ?

凡 道 Always : Dao is
無 根 無 莖 Without root, without stalk,
無 葉 無 榮 Without leaves, without flowers.
萬 物 以 生 By means of it the ten thousand creatures are born,
萬 物 以 成 By means of it the ten thousand creatures are made complete.
命 之 曰 道 This [natural] order, it is called Dao.

[Taoist Texts]

13 hours ago, dawei said:

So maybe a few questions to you:

sure

13 hours ago, dawei said:

 

1. How would you translate Shan (善) ... and what would it mean if Dao cannot stay there?  Is that justmean the heart is not still and Qi not regulated (so the condition of the heart and Qi is a reference to how naturally one exists)?  

凡 道 無 所 Always : Dao is nowhere to be found,
善 心 安 處 But in a virtuous heart/mind [xin] it can calmly dwell.
心 靜 氣 理 When the heart/mind [xin] is still and Qi is regulated,
道 乃 可 止 Dao can then stay there.

Shan is obedience. The text actually says that in an obedient heart Dao can stay

[Taoist Texts]

14 hours ago, dawei said:

2. So we have Ren (民) again, yet Ren (人) is in previous sections.   So why differ here ?

彼 道 不 遠 That Dao is not remote :
民 得 以 產 Citizens attain it by being born.

彼 道 不 離 That Dao does not depart :

民 因 以 知 Citizens rely on it for understanding.

the last line is wrong. The meaning is 'Dao is in people, and if you want to understand people in order to rule them, then you need to understand Dao first'. Last line says 'people can be understood by means of Dao'

[Taoist Texts]

14 hours ago, dawei said:

so this sounds like just a high level clearance understanding that it all beings with Dao ?

to me it seems that all begins with jing which produces qi and qi is manifested as Dao. It will be cleared up in next chapters.