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Secret Six: Peace |
Chapter 73 |
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Sentence for Sentence Translation:
勇于敢则杀: He who is courageous out of daring is to be killed.
勇于不敢则活: He who is courageous out of compassion survives.
此两者，或利或害: Of these two kinds of courageous people, one is beneficial and the other is harmful.
天之所恶，孰知其故: What Heaven hates; who would know the reason?
是以圣人犹难之: Therefore, Shengren acts cautiously in dealing with this difficult matter.
天之道，不争而善胜: The Tao of Heaven does not compete but always wins.
不言而善应: It does not speak, but always responds.
不召而自来: It does not summon, but things come voluntarily.
繟然而善谋: It acts calmly but it is good in planning.
天网恢恢，疏而不失: Heaven’s net is vast and wide but nothing can slip through.
Interpretational Translation of Tao Te Ching Chapter 73：
He who is courageous but reckless is killed.
He who is courageous and compassionate survives.
Of these two kinds of courageous men, the first is harmful and the second is beneficial.
Why does Heaven favor compassion?
Who knows for sure?
Thus the sage avoids reckless actions.
The Tao of Heaven does not compete, but it is always good at winning.
It does not speak, but it always responds.
It does not summon, but things come voluntarily.
It does not hurry, but it completes everything on time.
Oh comes spring, all plants sprout and flowers bloom!
Oh comes autumn, all fruits and crops mature!
Yes, Heaven’s net is ever present.
It casts fast and vast.
Its meshes are wide but nothing can hide.
Oh man! Be courageous! Yet be aware of your actions! Heaven’s net is watching:
Reckless action leads to death!
Compassionate action leads to life!
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Chapter 79 |
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Sentence for Sentence Translation:
和大怨，必有余怨: After settling a great dispute, some resentment must remain.
安可以为善: How can one make it good?
是以圣人执左契: Therefore, Shengren keeps the left side of the contract for peace,
而不责于人: And he does not blame others.
有德司契: A man of Te performs his contract of peace.
无德司彻: A man without Te blames others for his failures.
天道无亲，常与善人: Tao of Heaven is impartial, yet it is always on the side of the good man.
Interpretational Translation of Tao Te Ching Chapter 79：
After settling a great dispute, some resentment must remain.
Oh revenge! The root of the hatred remains.
How can this be a good way of settling things?
Therefore the sage keeps the left contract for peace and does not blame others.
Oh what is the left contract? It’s a commitment to act according to the Tao of Heaven.
Oh prevention! Act before the dispute appears!
Oh forgive! For the sake of peace!
Yes, he who possesses the Te of forgiveness performs his contract of peace according to the Tao of Heaven.
He who does not possess the Te of forgiveness seeks revenge and blames others for his failure.
The Tao of Heaven is impartial. Yet it is always on the side of the good man.
Why?
Like attracts like! The good man who has the Te of forgiveness attracts the Tao of Heaven.
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Chapter 74 |
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Sentence for Sentence Translation:
民不畏死: If people do not fear death,
奈何以死惧之: Why threaten them with death?
若使民常畏死: If I make the people always in fear of death
而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢: And if there is any violator, I will make the arrest and kill him. Who would dare?
常有司杀者杀: There is always a natural executioner that kills.
夫代司杀者杀，是谓代大匠斫: If you try to replace the executioner to kill, it is like replacing a master carpenter to cut wood.
夫代大匠斫者，稀有不伤其手矣: If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you can hardly escape the injury to your hands.
Interpretational Translation of Tao Te Ching Chapter 74：
Oh egoistic ruler! If the people do not fear death, why threaten them with it? Don’t you know mercy is always better than killing?
Oh the humble one! I don’t rule the people with mercy but I rule them with fear. If someone is bold enough to do something odd, I will kill him to warn others. Who will dare to oppose my orders?
Oh proud man! Little authority! Exists only for a brief instant yet howling and rumbling like thunder and lightning!
Don’t you know that there is always a higher natural executioner? If you replace him, you will be like replacing a master carpenter to cut wood.
If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you are sure to cut your own hands.
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Chapter 68 |
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Sentence for Sentence Translation:
善为士者不武: A good general is not warlike.
善战者不怒: A good fighter does not get angry.
善胜敌者不与争: A good winner does not contend.
善用人者为之下: A good manager lowers himself to serve others.
是谓不争之德: This is called Te of not contending.
是谓用人之力: This is called using the strength of others.
是谓配天: This is called matching Heaven,
古之极: The best of the ancient.
Interpretational Translation of Tao Te Ching Chapter 68：
A good general is not warlike.
Oh war is a bad choice for peace!
A good fighter is not angry.
Oh anger is a tool for the fool!
A good fighter in combat is not contentious.
Oh he does not give his enemy a chance to contend!
A good employer places himself below others.
Oh the master is a humble servant!
This is called the peaceful Te of competing without competing.
This is called the ability to use the strength of others.
Oh cooperation without competition! Fighting without fighting! Peace without war!
Oh matching the Tao of Heaven! This is the best ancient remedy for all!
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Chapter 62 |
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Sentence for Sentence Translation:
道者万物之奥: Tao is the sanctuary for all things，
善人之宝: The treasure of the good man,
不善人之所保: And the protector of the bad.
美言可以市: Beautiful words can sell things,
尊行可以加人: Respectful deeds can gain honor.
人之不善，何弃之有: If a man is no good, is this a reason to abandon him?
故立天子: Therefore when the emperor is crowned,
置三公: And the three ministers installed,
虽有拱璧以先驷马，不如坐进此道: Though there are gifts of large jades preceding four-horse carriages, it is not as good as to sit calmly to advance in this Tao.
古之所以贵此道者何: Why do the ancients treasure this Tao so much?
不曰求以得，有罪以免耶: Isn’t it because when one seeks and obtains Tao, one is freed from sufferings?
故为天下贵: Therefore it is treasured by the world.
Interpretational Translation of Tao Te Ching Chapter 62：
Oh Tao is the sanctuary for all things.
It’s the treasure for the good man, and the protector of the bad man.
Beautiful words can sell things in the market.
Respectful deeds can gain praise from others.
If everything has its place in Tao, why should you abandon a man just because you think he is bad?
Therefore when the emperor is crowned or the three ministers installed, they receive gifts of precious jade and beautiful horses.
Offer Tao! Is it not better to offer them the quiet and peaceful way of Tao?
Why does everyone from the ancient times till now like this Tao so much?
Isn’t it because you find what you seek and are forgiven when you err?
Oh free connection! Tao has it all and is free for all. Therefore you can find anything you seek if you can connect to it.
Oh free attraction! You can attract anything you want if you follow Tao without a doubt.
Therefore Tao is greatly treasured by the world.
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