SELECTIONS TRANSLATED BY ROSE SHAO-CHIANG LI,
2
Be natural –
practice the religion which is not lip-service.
Be creative –
yet not possessive.
Be diligent –
yet not resting on merit.
Because one does not
set one’s delight on one’s own success,
therefore one’s
success will remain for ever.
3
Empty self.
Fill in knowledge,
inner light.
Control self-will,
ambition.
Enrich in the essence
of life, vitality.
Because one does not
encourage being superior to others,
therefore people live
in peace.
8
The superior should be
like water.
Good water: all things
have equal benefit, therefore there is no argument.
Not to gain whatever
everybody wants: this is the Way.
Choose the proper
place to live and be friends with the good,
be magnanimous, keep
promises and good order, be compatible in work.
Every move must
consider the "right time".
Not only peace, but a blessing
to live such a life – inner life.
12
Blinded by colours,
deafened by sounds,
indulged in tastes,
and excited in
hunting-games.
The rare treasure
entices robbery.
Therefore enriching
one’s inner life,
and doing away with
all the sensory delights –
It is the Way.
18
The sight sees the
right side of the
coin.
The insight sees the
other side of the
coin.
Two extremes are
equally
apart from the centre.
22
Imperfect – room to
perfect;
wrong – to right;
empty – to fill;
old – to renew;
not enough – to gain;
too much – to become
confused.
Therefore,
simplicity is the Way.
Not being blinded by "self", one can be enlightened.
Not being
self-righteous, one can be accepted by others.
Not boasting,
therefore one’s merit prevails.
Not conceited, one can
grow.
One who does not
argue, never quarrels with anybody.
One who has no
intention to gain, never experiences the sense of loss.
28
Perceptive,
yet not be hurt or
hurt others.
Know all evils,
yet remain good.
Be natural.
Be the real being,
real self.
33
Understanding others –
wisdom.
Understanding self –
enlightenment.
Defeating others –
victory.
Defeating self –
virtue.
Contentment makes one
rich;
endeavour strengthens
the will.
The homeless have
permanent residence;
and changing yet not
dying is immortality.
38
When the Way is lost,
virtues prevail.
When the virtues are
disregarded,
charity is emphasised.
When charity can’t
function,
justice is used to
keep peace and order.
When peace and order
are out of sight,
people begin to
chatter about politeness and properness.
These are the pettiest
things
which cause chaotic
conditions –
The beginning of
confusion.
Those who have sight
blossom in the Way,
but it is the
beginning of simplicity.
41
The highest
enlightenment is like an empty cave.
The purest, as the
humblest.
The broadest
generosity looks incomplete.
Real good deeds are
done in secret.
Genuine matter looks
like change.
The vast square
doesn’t show its corners.
The great virtue takes
time to mature.
45
Silence is most
eloquent!
58
A tolerant government
cultivates sincere citizens;
an efficient one makes
people hypercritical.
Disaster usually comes
from much blessing;
and blessings are
hidden behind hardship and suffering.
Who claims to know
what is what?
There is no absolute "Right".
The other side of
right is wrong;
the other side of
goodness is wickedness.
People have been in
the dark too long.
How could they be
enlightened overnight?
The other side of the
coin should not be disregarded.
Therefore, the
enlightened live a principled way of life, but don’t impose on others.
Thrifty, yet not depriving
others – direct, frank, yet not rude.
Bright, yet not
glamourizing – influential, yet not glowing in the spotlight.
63
Anything has to start
from an insignificant beginning.
Therefore the
enlightened do not expect to be "great"; that is why they are great.
One who makes numerous
promises lightly, never can fulfill their promises.
One who expects things
easy, usually meets much difficulty.
The enlightened don’t,
therefore they can master life smoothly.
64
Prevention is better
than cure.
Cells build a body
every minute of the day.
Failure usually
arrives in the last minute before the completion.
Starting from "easy",
the ending will be difficult.
But smallness builds
up bigness.
67
Three treasures.
Compassion:
magnanimity, kindness.
Economy:
self-discipline, simplicity.
Humility: self-knowledge,
stillness.
Compassion produces
courage.
Economy produces
generosity.
Humility produces
authority.
68
The really courageous
ones never demonstrate their vigour.
The good fighters
never get angry.
The victors never let
their enemies know their weakness.
The good leaders
always remain humble.
The virtuous do not
labour for influence.
Virtue and influence
arrive in due course –
This is the
Way.
