<< Dao De Jing / 道德經 >>
Chapter 19
绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。此三者，以为文不足，故令有所属，见素抱朴，少私寡欲。
Stop holding high the banner of holiness and wisdom
And it will benefit everyone a hundred times better
Stop holding high the banner of morality and justice
And people will rediscover love
Give up trickery, renounce profit
And there won’t be bandits and thieves
These three practices alone are not enough
What’s more essential is to realize one’s true nature
Temper your desires, embrace simplicity
Stay at the center of the circle, let all things take their course
Chapter 20
绝学无忧。唯之与阿，相去几何？善之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮其未央哉！众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮其未兆，如婴儿之未孩。傫傫兮若无所归。众人皆有余，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！沌沌兮！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏；俗人察察，我独闷闷。澹兮其若海，飂兮若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽似鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母。
Stop thinking, and put an end to all your problems
Is there really a difference between yes and no?
Good and bad go hand in hand, so how much difference is there?
Must I follow what others follow, and avoid what they avoid? How ridiculous!
The people of the world are restless and excited
As though they were feasting or at a parade
I alone am unmoved and expressionless
Like a newborn that has yet to learn to smile
Everyone has more than what they need, still they want more
I alone have nothing, like the only one left out
Not having anywhere in particular to go, I am unattached, like a homeless
My mind is so empty, I am an idiot
While other people are bright and clever, all knowing and self-assured
I alone am dull and slow
Drifting like a wave on the ocean, as aimless as the wind
While the people of the world all have a purpose, and everyone is busy
I alone am stubborn and awkward
I am really different from others
Because I obey my own nature
Chapter 21
孔德之容，惟道是从。道之为物，惟恍惟惚。惚兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮惚兮，其中有物。窈兮冥兮，其中有精；其精甚真，其中有信。自古及今，其名不去，以阅众甫。吾何以知众甫之状哉？以此。
The all-embracing character of a Master comes alone from following the Dao
The Dao is invisible and intangible, how can one follow it?
One follows it by not clinging to ideas
The Dao is elusive and evasive, yet there is light in the dark
How faintly and obscurely is the light, yet hidden inside is the essence of all things
This essence is the true life-force, which is at one with the trusting mind
Ever since the beginning, the Dao has been this way
Nothing is excluded, yet the Dao is beyond name and form
How do I figure it out?
I look inside myself and just see
Chapter 22
曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。是以圣人抱一，为天下式。不自见故明，不自是故彰，不自伐故有功，不自矜故长。夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。古之所谓曲则全者，岂虚言哉！诚全而归之。
To yield is to keep intact
To bend is to straighten
To unload is to fulfill
To die down is to start anew
To lose is to gain
Yet to pursue gain is to get lost
Therefore the masters practice nonduality
And their wisdom is the light-post for us all
Not putting on a display, their light is clear and self-illuminating
Not justifying themselves, the truth they speak is self-evident
Not defending, they simply reside undisturbed in the Way
Striving to no goals, they are invincible
Those are not empty words when the ancient said, “To yield is to keep intact!”
Only by returning to the Dao can you truly be yourself
Chapter 23
希言自然。故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。孰为此者？天地。天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？故从事于道者，道者同于道，德者同于德，失者同于失。同于道者，道亦乐得之；同于德者，德亦乐得之；同于失者，失亦乐得之。信不足焉，有不信焉。
One who realizes the nature of things says very few words
High wind doesn’t blow a whole morning
Big storm doesn’t last all day long
Why? It is just the way the Nature is
Follow the nature of things, be at one with the Dao
Accept everything as it is
And everything will fall into place
Once you develop this trusting mind
Life in true faith is possible
Chapter 24
企者不立，跨者不行，自见者不明，自是者不彰，自伐者无功，自矜者不长。其在道也，曰余食赘行。物或恶之，故有道者不处。
Those who tiptoe do not stand firm
Those who stride cannot journey far
Those who put on a show do not realize
Those who justify themselves fail to be justified
Those who boast are to be unmasked
Those who cling to power will lose power
Excessive eating and unnecessary doing are not conducive to wellbeing
Therefore, the master of Dao turns away from them
Buddha Mind 