『道德经 第十章』（生而不有，为而不恃）

 道德经上篇：《道经》

 

 第十章

 

【原文】

载营魄抱一①，能无离乎？专气致柔②，能如婴儿乎？涤除玄鉴③，能无疵（cī）乎？爱民治国，能无为乎？天门开阖（hé）④，能为雌乎？明白四达，能无知乎⑤？生之畜之⑥。生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰，是谓“玄德”⑦。

 

【注释】　　

①营魄；即魂魄。魂属灵，魄属血，在此连用，指灵肉相连。抱一：合抱为一。

②专气：志气专一。致柔：调合到柔和的境地。

③涤除：清除。玄鉴：形容心地如宽广的明镜。玄，形容人心的深邃灵妙。鉴，镜子。

④天门：这里指耳目口鼻等感官。阖(hé)：关闭。

⑤无知：即不用智谋。知，作“智”讲。

⑥生之畜之：使它生，使它繁殖。

⑦玄德：极大极深远的“德”。

 

【译文】

灵魂与肉体融为一体，能永不分离吗？聚集精气达到柔和，能像初生的婴儿一样吗？洗尽思想上的尘垢，能让心地宽广得如一尘不染的明镜吗？热爱百姓，按照道的法则来治国，能保持“无为”的境地吗？口鼻自然地开闭，呼吸吐纳，能绵绵细静地雌守吗？通达四方，能不玩弄权术和心智吗？生养抚育了万物却并不据为已有，为世间立下了卓越功勋但并不自恃有功，滋养了万物但并不居于主宰地位，这就是最高深的“德”。

 

English Translation

Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen

 

Who can unite his heart with Tao to achieve a seamless union?
Who can overcome his flesh to be meek and gentle as an infant?
Who can purify his heart to be clear like a mirror?
In loving the ruled and ruling the state,

Who can rule without effort, denying himself to follow Tao?
In applying wisdom,

Who can follow the will of Heaven, as females follow males?
In exercising discernment,
Who can transcend understanding and knowledge?
The Creator and Sustainer of the world does not impose his ownership.
He works in all things without claiming his power.
The ruler of all does not govern capriciously.
What profound grace and virtue!

 

Version 2：by John C. H. Wu