道廿八 - Tao Chapter 28

知其雄 守其雌 为天下溪

为天下溪 恒德不离

恒德不离 复归于婴儿

知其白 守其辱 为天下谷

为天下谷 恒德乃足

恒德乃足 复归于朴

知其白 守其黑 为天下式

为天下式 恒德不貣

恒德不貣 复归于无极

朴散则为器 圣人用则为官长

夫大制无割

从溪流汇聚成河流一路积聚力量奔腾到海，知道那下游的雄浑，但仍然安守柔弱的本分，这就是天下溪流的共性。 世间所有的溪流，都沿着水道持久的流淌着。持续前进不离开道路，回归到婴儿纯真柔和、全身心投入的状态。 黑色的布帛是从对白色上色反复印染而成。安守住这个上色的过程，知道这一切的起源是从白色而来。这就是汇聚溪流形成山谷间河流的积累过程。汇聚成河流，是溪流持久流淌的结果。溪流汇入河流，是一个新的起点，又回归到好像没有经过雕琢的木材一样。 获得黑色的布帛裁剪成衣冠并穿上身，安守住黑色的高贵，但是也知道这是从白色而来（正视源头不自卑，以德配位不自负），以此心态才可以作为天下人的表率。作为表率督促和带领大家，需要保持持续进步，不可以推卸责任。承担起带领大家持续前进的责任，这样获得的进步也是没有尽头的。 把原木切割开，可以打造出不同作用的器物。通达事理的人则以此为新的起点和榜样，培养出更多有表率作用和治理能力的人来。因此，要达成治理天下的大目标，不在切割。 以白造缁曰辱。 夏尚黑，周传袭。周人平民冠、婚大礼时服“缁布冠”；周天子冬季“居玄堂左个，乘玄路，驾铁骊，载玄旗，衣黑衣，服玄玉”

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A river starts as a small stream and gathers strength as it flows, eventually reaching the sea. It knows the power of its downstream flow, but still stays true to its humble origins. This is the nature of all rivers.

All streams in the world flow continuously along their paths. They keep moving forward without deviating from the path and return to the pure and gentle state of a baby.

A black cloth is made by repeatedly dyeing white fabric. By staying true to the dyeing process, one knows that the origin of all things is white. This is the process of how streams gather to form rivers in valleys. Gathering to form a river is the result of the continuous flow of streams. When streams flow into rivers, it's a new beginning, and it's like returning to undressed wood.

When the black cloth is cut and made into clothes and worn, one should appreciate the nobility of black, but also know that it comes from white (face the source without humility, match position with virtue without arrogance), this attitude can be a model for the world. As a model to supervise and lead others, we need to maintain continuous progress and not shirk responsibility. Taking on the responsibility of leading others to progress continuously, the progress we achieve will be endless.

When a log is cut, it can be made into different tools. The person who understands the principles takes this as a new starting point and model, and trains more people with exemplary performance and governance capabilities. Therefore, achieving the great goal of governing the world is not in cutting.