Sunday 24 March 2024

Daodejing - Chapter 34

 道德經  - 第三十四章

大道汎兮,其可左右

萬物恃之而生而不辭,功成不名有。

衣養萬物而不為主,常無欲,可名於小;

萬物歸焉,而不為主,可名為大。

以其終不自為大,故能成其大。

Daodejing - Chapter Thirty Four

The great Dao flows everywhere. 

All things are born from it, yet it doesn't create them. 

It pours itself into its work, yet it makes no claim.

It nourishes infinite worlds, yet it doesn't hold on to them.

Since it is merged with all things, and hidden in their hearts, it can be called

humble. 

Since all things vanish into it, and it alone endures, it can be called great.

it isn't aware of its greatness, thus it is truly great.

References

  1. The English translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell, with some changes.  
  2. The Chinese text is based on the Daodejing (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website : https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing.

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