第五十五章     知和曰常

含德之厚，比于赤子。蜂蠆虺蛇不螫，猛兽不据，攫鸟不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而全作，精之至也。终日号而不嗄，和之至也。知和曰常，知常曰明。益生曰祥。心使气曰强。物壮则老，谓之不道，不道早已。

Knowing the Harmony

Hewho possess the virtues of the Tao,

Islike a newborn baby.

Poisonousinsects do not sting it,

Fiercebeasts do not seize it,

Birdsof prey do not strike it.

Itsbones are yielding, its muscles are relaxed,

Butits grip is firm.

They have never known the union of man and woman, but the organis fully formed, meaning that the vital essence is strong.

He may cry all day without becoming hoarse, This means that his(natural) harmony is perfect. To know harmony means to be in accord with theeternal. To be in accord with the eternal means to be enlightened.

To try to force life isominous. To force the vital essence with the mind is violence. After all thingsreach their prime, they begin to grow old, Which means being contrary to Tao.Whatever is contrary to Tao will soon perish. [译文]

含德深厚的人，就如同出生婴儿无私无欲的状态一样。 毒蛇不蛰他，猛兽不扑他，恶鸟不搏击他。他骨弱筋柔，拳头却攥得很紧。他不懂阴阳交合之欲，小生殖器自然勃起。整天号哭，声音却不沙哑，这是其体内阴阳淳和的缘故。 知道阴阳平衡才真正明白万物化生之根源；知道万事万物之根源才能做到一切了然于胸。有益于生灵的叫祥和。 后天心术主使和气就注定要为物役而逞强。