Extensive interpretation of Tao Te Ching (42)
道德經演義（四十二）
Out of Tao, One is born;
道生一，
out of One, Two; out of Two, three; out of
Three, the created universe.
一生二，二生三，三生萬物。
The created universe carries the yin at
its back and the yang in front;
萬物負陰而抱陽，
through the union of the pervading principles
it reaches harmony.
沖氣以為和。
To be “orphaned,” “lonely” and
“unworthy” is what men hate most.
人之所惡，為孤寡不榖，
Yet the princes and dukes call
themselves by such names.
而侯王以為稱。
For sometimes things are benefited by
being taken away from, and suffer by being added to.
故物，或損之而益，或益之而損。
Others have taught this maxim, which I
shall teach also:
人之所教，我亦教之。
“The violent man shall die a
violent death.” This I shall regard as my spiritual teacher.
強梁者，不得其死，吾將以為教父。
Xianchi’s interpretation of Tao Te ching (42) a。42
咸池評述道德經演義（四十二）a。42
1 Rush is a movement, we
often say “rushing to soar” or “rushing with rage”. So rushing Qi can be
explained as the operation of Qi, such as: roaming, permeating and going through.
“沖”是一種運動，我們常說一飛沖天、怒氣沖沖。所以我們可以將“沖氣” 解釋為氣的運作、遊走、以及貫穿、滲透等。
2 In this chapter Laotse
told us that Qi could shuttle between Yin and Yang to coordinate the occupation
rate of Yin and Yang in a space so as to make an amiable, stable and peaceful
environment.
從老子這篇文章中，我們可以瞭解到，氣的功能是在遊走於陰陽之間，從而調節陰陽的成份，務使達到平衡，並借著陰陽調和的作用，從而形成一個和諧、穩定的祥和之境。
3 Chinese often say that Qi is obstructed when they are sick. The right saying
is that the roaming of Qi is obstructed. Dysfunction of Qi coordination results
in sickness.
中國人一般上對身體不適解釋為氣不順。其實，正確的說法應該是: 氣走得不順暢，是因為氣調和陰陽的功能不彰，所以身體才會覺得不舒服。
4 Let’s watch land. Yin and Yang are eternal in land. There are drought and
flood because temperature and humidity is unbalanced in their distribution.
我們只要看看大地就能明白。陰陽在大地中是永恆存在的，至於我們的生活環境之中之所以會有乾旱、水災發生，其真正的原因就在於溫度的分佈以及潮濕水氣的分佈無法達致均衡所致。
5 Desert results from high maintain blocking moisture air and cloud which can’t
reach the sky over desert.
沙漠形成的原因，大致上是出於高山的阻隔，造成潮濕的空氣以及雲層無法越過重重障礙，以到達沙漠上空所致。
6 When drought happened in
2006年四川鬧旱災，這時大家所亟亟期盼的是一個強而有力的風面，能夠為四川地區帶來充沛的雨量，以緩解旱情。
7 In
南洋地區，氣溫高得嚇人。在新加坡，往往午後會降下一陣雷雨，而只要雨一下，空氣也就令人覺得清新而涼爽了。
8 Su Dongpo’s poem has it: it is sincerely helpful to rain last
在蘇東坡的詩裡，他說: 殷勤昨夜三更雨，又得浮生一日涼。這種種的現象，都在在地說明了氣流對大地環境調節所產生的作用。從這裡我們可以知道，如果沒有氣來沖和陰陽，調節陰陽的話，我們地球是不可能會適合萬物生存的。
9 Also, the principle is suitable for body. In large environment, we people are
just tiny cells and can do little things. When drought and flood happen, we
have to pray in silence for more rain or less rain. Nobody knows if heaven
agrees with us or not. We have to endure it in most of time. We console
ourselves that wind and rain will not last for a long time, anyway. Only heaven
have the decision right, we can’t put a finger on it.
將這個道理引用到身體的各個部分當然也是適用的。我們必須明白，在大的環境之中，人類只是一個小細胞而已，對自然災害根本就無法起到任何作用。只要一碰到旱災、水災，我們就只能默默的祈禱; 祈求雨下得多一點或別再下了; 至於老天是否會合作，誰也搞不清楚。因此，我們絕大部分時間內就只能乖乖忍耐了，我們充其量也只能安慰自己說，飄風不終期，驟雨不終日; 反正老天玩夠了就會自動停止。在大自然的威力之下，我們人類根本就沒有任何置喙的餘地。
10 However, to our body, we are like God somewhat. We are the dominator of our
body. If we were too angry to eat and drink, our body would die and nobody
could save it.
然而，假如是針對我們的身體而言，我們就有點類似上帝一樣，因為我們是自己這個環境的主導者。如果我們生氣不吃飯、不喝水，我們這個小天地就會準死無疑，誰也無法救得了它。
11 When we meet out fair-weather friends, we order
a table of dishes and then drink together. When we are drunk as a lord, our
body will sink into sickness. Some people like playing card overnight and
giving no rest to body. After playing for three days and nights, our body will
be on the verge of collapse.
當我們在街上遇到幾個酒肉朋友，免不了會叫一桌酒席，幾個人痛飲幾杯。就在我們喝的酩酊大醉時，我們的身體也就陷入了天昏地暗之中。另有一些人喜歡熬夜打牌，不肯讓身體有休息的機會，而三天三夜不睡覺的結果，我們的身體就立刻會瀕臨崩潰的邊緣。
12 So, we have fairly domination of our body in certain conditions, especially
in doing yoga, Qigong and practice of Zen. These activities can improve the
function of Qi in coordinating and harmonizing Yin and Yang.
所以，對自己的身體在某種情況下，我們是具有相當程度的主導權的，特別是在瑜伽、氣功、禪修等的練習上。它們都能夠提昇氣的功能，甚至讓氣調和陰陽的功能能夠進一步獲得加強。
13 Smooth Qi improves
health, as if we were in good weather environment. It is this blending of the
breath that their harmony depends on, which is widely recognized when people
practice yoga, Qigong and Zen.
當氣的功能順暢無阻後，就像風調雨順的環境一樣，我們的身體也就恢復健康了，毛病自然的也就減少了。瑜伽、氣功、禪修等對身體所帶來的好處，使得我們對“沖氣以為和”這樣的原理擁有了更加深層的瞭解與感受。