Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Des Himmels Weise ist wolthun


Celestis Tao natura diat omnes,

Nemini nocet.: Jesuit version.

Il est utile aux etres,

et ne leur nuit point.: Julien version –page 124.

Des Himmels Weise ist wolthun

und nicht beschadigen : V.von Strauss version.


‘The sage does not accumulate (for himself)

The more that he expends for others

The more does he possess of his own;

With all the sharpness of the Way of Heaven

It injures not; with all the doing in the

Way of the Sage, he does not strive’ –page 122


The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu translated by James Legge,

first published in 1891,Graham Bash Ltd, Singapore


Kao Wan’s playing on the Lute,

Shih Kwang’s indicating Time with his staff,

And Hui Tze giving his insights while leaning

Against a Tree (were all extraordinary).

The knowledge of the three men was nearly perfect.

Therefore the scintillations of light from the midst

Of confusion and perplexity are indeed valued

By the sagely man.

Who knows the argument that need not words,

And the Way that is not to be trodden ?

1 comment:

Ajzu said...

MasyaAllah I do enjoy reading your blogs particularly because I worked in a place surrounded by Chiness, Korean and some other eastern nationalities. Knowing their background does help me to communicate and behave appropriately. And by virtue of Nur Muhammad s.a.w, insyaAllah may Allah grant them guidance and show them the majestic beauty of being the ummah of the most beloved, most beautiful, Rasul s.a.w.