第三十五章    執象安泰

執大象，天下往。往而不害，安平泰。 樂與餌，過客止。道之出口，淡乎其無味，視之不足見，聽之不足聞，用之不足既。

Following the Natural Cycle to Gain Peace

She who follows the way of the Tao will draw the world to her steps. Shecan go without fear of being injured, because she has found peace andtranquillity in her heart.

Hold fast to the great form (Tao), And all the world will come. They comeand will encounter no harm; But enjoy comfort, peace, and health.

She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.She perceives the universal harmony, even amid great pain, because she hasfound peace in her heart.

Music and delicacies to eat induce travelers to stay.

Where there is music and good food, people will stop to enjoy it.

Hold fast to thPattern of the Nature,

and a person cantravel wherever.

He goes without anyharm,

therefore embracespease and order.

Music or deliciousfood

may attract peopleto stop and enjoy.

But when the Tao isexpressed,

it seems to be monotonous andout of flavor.

Observe and there is nothingto see,

listen and there is nothingto hear,

use it is inexhaustible.

But words spoken of the Tao seem to them boring and stale. When lookedat, there is nothing for them to see. When listen for, there is nothing forthem to hear. Yet if they put it to use, it would never be exhausted.

But words that point to the Tao seem monotonous and without flavour. Whenyou look for it, there is nothing to see. When you listen for it, there isnothing to hear. When you use it, it is inexhaustible.

 [譯文]

通曉宇宙物質的萬象之源，就可以通行于天下。生息而遠離傷害，平和安泰。

音樂和美食，能使過路的人停步。

道說出來淡而無味，又無法看到，也聽不到，然而其功用卻用之不絕。