Daodejing - Chapter Twenty

 

道德經  - 第二十章

絕學無憂，唯之與阿，相去幾何？

善之與惡，相去若何？

人之所畏，不可不畏。

荒兮其未央哉！

衆人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登臺。

我獨怕兮其未兆；

如嬰兒之未孩；

儽儽兮若無所歸。

衆人皆有餘，而我獨若遺。

我愚人之心也哉！

沌沌兮，俗人昭昭，我獨若昏。

俗人察察，我獨悶悶。

澹兮其若海，飂兮若無止，衆人皆有以，而我獨頑似鄙。

我獨異於人，而貴食母。

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty

Stop thinking, and end your problems.

What difference between yes and no?

What difference between success and failure?

Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid?  How ridiculous! 

Other people are excited as though they were at a parade; I alone don't care;

I alone am expressionless; like an infant before it can smile.

Other people have what they need; I alone possess nothing.

I alone drift about, like someone without a home.

I am like an idiot; my mind is so empty.

Other people are bright; I alone am dark.

Other people are sharp; I alone am dull.

Other people have a purpose; I alone don't know. 

I drift like a wave on the ocean;  I blow as aimless as the wind.

I am different from ordinary people; I drink from the great mother's breasts.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu:  https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=1778
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 29.35 and ends at 31.42.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing