老子《道德经》英译第十五章

【原文】

古之善为道者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容：

豫兮若冬涉川；

犹兮若畏四邻；

俨兮其若客；

涣兮其若凌释；

敦兮其若朴；

旷兮其若谷；

混兮其若浊；

澹(dàn)兮其若海；

飂(liù)兮若无止。

孰能浊以静之徐清？孰能安以动之徐生？

保此道者，不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。

【现代汉语】

自古以来善于学习和应用'道'的人，能够深刻理解并实践'道'的微妙玄通，所以他们表现的深不可测。因为他们深不可测，所以我们只能用以下的语言来勉强地形容他们：

他们处事谨慎而不冒进，就像冬天行走在江河之上；警觉而不放肆，就像时刻处于危机四伏的环境中。

他们的为人庄重严谨，总是遵从作客一样的礼节；和蔼有亲和力，就像正在消融的冰雪；敦厚质朴就像未经雕琢的素材。

他们的心态旷达如同空旷的的山谷；浑厚深沉像幽深的水；沉静如同无垠的大海；形迹飘逸而没有止境。

谁能够在动荡中使自己内心沉静而清澈，谁能在安逸中爆发激情与生命力。他们就是那些善于学习和应用'道'的人。他们能够不求自满，所以能够不断地推陈出新。

【英译】

The people who are good at study and fulfill 'Tao' can understand deeply and practise Tao's subtle principle. So they appear so profound and immesurable that we just picture them constrainedly in following words:

They handle matters prudently like those who wade through a stream in winter; they are vigilant like those who are in the riskful area.

They treat other people gravely like those who always obey the proprieties of guest; they are kind and amiable just like melting ice; they are honest and sincere as wood that has not been fashioned into anything.

They are broad-minded like vacant valley; profound like deep water; still like serene ocean. Their movement and expression are elegant and no limit.

They are people who can make heart calm and limpid in roily environment; can create passion and vitality in easeful environment. They never are self-satisfied in studying and fulfilling 'Tao'. Therefore they could get rid of the stale and bring forth the fresh constantly.

【备注】

"不欲盈"，太难解释了。虽然还没有悟老子之道，但甚能体会类似佛教中"不可说"这样的道理了。"为学日益，为道日损"。"为道"也是"为学"，那到底是"益"还是"损"呢？还得说"不可说"（或者说还未悟道），真正得道，才能既"不欲盈"，同时还能"新成"。

但作为凡夫俗子，并未被圣人遗弃，他们给我们指出了所谓"速成"之路："浊以静之徐清，安以动之徐生"，引用古代文人的书房对联来解释："刚日读经，柔日读史"--偏激、乖张之时，读经典，心平气和；沉沦、涣散之日，看史书，激发热情。
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