道德經聚會主題（16）- 民之不畏（72,73,74）

聚會日期：2013年28日，12點 探討內容： The nature of self (life vs. ego) Power vs. Force The ultimate judge 帛本： 民之不畏畏，則大畏將至矣。毋狎其所居，毋厭其所生。夫唯弗厭，是以不厭。是以聖人自知而不自見也，自愛而不自貴也。故去彼取此。 勇於敢則殺，勇於不敢則栝。此兩者或利或害，天之所惡，孰知其故？天之道，不戰而善勝，不言而善應，弗召而自來，繟而善謀。天網恢恢，疏而不失。 若民恒且不畏死，奈何以殺懼之也？若民恒且畏死，而為奇者吾得而殺之，夫孰敢矣！若民恒且必畏死，則恒有司殺者。夫代司殺者殺，是代大匠斲也。夫代大匠斲者，則希不傷其手矣。 參照其他本: 民不畏威，則大威至。無狎其所居，無厭其所生。夫唯不厭，是以不厭。是以聖人自知不自見，自愛不自貴。故去彼取此。 勇於敢則殺，勇於不敢則活。此兩者，或利或害。天之所惡，孰知其故？是以聖人猶難之。天之道，不爭而善勝，不應而善應，不召而自來，繟然而善謀。天網恢恢，疏而不失。 民不畏死，奈何以死懼之。若使民常畏死，而為奇者，吾得執而殺之，孰敢？常有司殺者殺。夫代司殺者殺，是謂代大匠斫，希有不傷其手者矣。

英文對照 1:

72.1 When people have nothing more to lose, Then revolution will result. 
72.2 Do not take away their lands, And do not destroy their livelihoods; If your burden is not heavy then they will not shirk it. 
72.3 The sage maintains himself but exacts no tribute, Values himself but requires no honours; He ignores abstraction and accepts substance. 

73.1 Who is brave and bold will perish; Who is brave and subtle will benefit. 
73.2 The subtle profit where the bold perish For Fate does not honour daring. And even the sage dares not tempt fate. 
73.3 Fate does not attack, yet all things are conquered by it; It does not ask, yet all things answer to it; It does not call, yet all things meet it; It does not plan, yet all things are determined by it. 
73.4 Fate's net is vast and its mesh is coarse, Yet none escape it. 

74.1 If people were not afraid of death, Then what would be the use of an executioner? 
74.2 If people were only afraid of death, And you executed everyone who did not obey, No one would dare to disobey you. Then what would be the use of an executioner? 
74.3 People fear death because death is an instrument of fate. When people are killed by execution rather than by fate, This is like carving wood in the place of a carpenter. Those who carve wood in place of a carpenter Often injure their hands.  

英文對照 2:

72.1Those (who expose themselves to danger through curiosity, love of gain, or ambition) should be afraid when they are not afraid. For they are lost. 
72.2 Do not consider your place of birth too restricting, do not become dissatisfied with the condition in which you were born. (Stay what you are and where you are. The effort to seek for better could perhaps cause you to lose you way). One does not become dissatisfied, if one does not wish to become so. (Dissatisfaction is always voluntary, coming from preparing one's situation with another, and having preference for the other).
72.3 The Sage knows his worth but does not show it, (he does not feel the need to show it off). He respects himself but does not try to be esteemed. He discerns, adopting this, and rejecting that (after the light of his wisdom). 

73.1 Active (warlike) courage procures death. Passive courage (patience, endurance) conserves life. 
73.2 Therefore there are two courages, one harmful, the other beneficial. (Patience and forbearance are always worth more than incisive action, even in government, in politics). For does heaven wish harm, or not, to this or that man, or nation? ... And why? ... Who knows? - Therefore the Sage always acts as though embarrasses, (hesitating, making up his mind with difficulty before any active intervention). 
73.3 For the way of heaven (its constant conduct), is not to intervene positively. It wins without fighting. It makes things obey without giving orders. It makes them come without calling them. It brings everything to its conclusion whilst having the appearance of letting everything drag. 
73.4 The heavenly net catches all. Its mesh is wide, but no one escapes it. 

74.1 If the people do not fear death, what is the good of trying to control them by the threat of death? 
74.2 If they fear death, then only capture and execute those who cause disorder, turning the others away from doing likewise. (The legalists who are lavish with the death penalty and believe it will sort everything out, are therefore wrong). 
74.3 The servant of death (heaven), kills, (let him do it. Let us not do his work. He alone is capable of it). The man who wants to kill may end up like those who play with the carpenter's tools, and often lose a finger in their play.