『道德經 第十章』（生而不有，為而不恃）

 道德經上篇：《道經》

 

 第十章

 

【原文】

載營魄抱一①，能無離乎？專氣致柔②，能如嬰兒乎？滌除玄鑒③，能無疵（cī）乎？愛民治國，能無為乎？天門開闔（hé）④，能為雌乎？明白四達，能無知乎⑤？生之畜之⑥。生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂“玄德”⑦。

 

【注釋】　　

①營魄；即魂魄。魂屬靈，魄屬血，在此連用，指靈肉相連。抱一：合抱為一。

②專氣：誌氣專一。致柔：調合到柔和的境地。

③滌除：清除。玄鑒：形容心地如寬廣的明鏡。玄，形容人心的深邃靈妙。鑒，鏡子。

④天門：這裏指耳目口鼻等感官。闔(hé)：關閉。

⑤無知：即不用智謀。知，作“智”講。

⑥生之畜之：使它生，使它繁殖。

⑦玄德：極大極深遠的“德”。

 

【譯文】

靈魂與肉體融為一體，能永不分離嗎？聚集精氣達到柔和，能像初生的嬰兒一樣嗎？洗盡思想上的塵垢，能讓心地寬廣得如一塵不染的明鏡嗎？熱愛百姓，按照道的法則來治國，能保持“無為”的境地嗎？口鼻自然地開閉，呼吸吐納，能綿綿細靜地雌守嗎？通達四方，能不玩弄權術和心智嗎？生養撫育了萬物卻並不據為已有，為世間立下了卓越功勳但並不自恃有功，滋養了萬物但並不居於主宰地位，這就是最高深的“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