Extensive
interpretation of Tao Te Ching (61)
道德經演義（六十一）
A big country should be like the delta low-regions, being the concourse of the
world, and the Female of the world.
大國者下流，天下之交。天下之牝，
The
Female overcomes the Male by quietude, and achieves the lowly position by
quietude.
牝常以靜勝牡，以靜為下。
Therefore
if a big country places itself below a small country, it absorbs the small
country;
故大國以下小國，則取小國;
and if a small country places itself below a big country, it
absorbs the big country.
小國以下大國，則取大國。
Therefore
some place themselves low to absorb others, some are naturally low and absorb
others.
故或下以取，或下而取。
What
a big country wants is but to shelter others and what a small country wants is
but to be able to come in and be sheltered.
大國不過欲兼畜人，小國不過欲入事人。
Thus
considering that both may have what they want; a big country ought to place
itself low.
夫兩者各得其所欲，大者宜為下。
Xianchi’s interpretation of Tao Te Ching (61) a。61
咸池評述道德經演義（六十一）a。61
1 This chapter seems to be written for leaders of both sides of Taiwan Straits.
Mainland
這篇文章好像是為了寫給海峽兩岸的為政者看的。在此，大陸是謂大，台灣是謂小，大的政策思維是如何保護、造福小的; 而小的政策宗旨是如何納入大的防護網，以成為其防禦體系的一環。
2 Mainland recently (Jan. 2003) tempered its policy to
大陸最近(2003年 元月)的對台政策頗有點緩和的趨勢，開始逐漸地步入大國的範疇;
而台灣則將其大國的指標瞄向美國，想要進入美國的保護網。
3 The main idea of this chapter by Laotse is applied to analyze the issue of
Taiwan Straits. We find that the sticking point is that mainland is not humble,
though it starts to be humble. Its degree is not enough.
由老子這一章的主旨來分析兩岸問題，我們不難發現，其癥結主要還在於大陸表現得還不夠下，雖然已經是在走下的路，可是卻下得不夠低。
4 Taiwan’s problem is that it mistakes its
protectorate.
台灣的問題是在認錯了保護國。美國沒錯是一個大國，可是因為地緣的關係，他的“兼畜人”的地位、他的保護網對台灣而言可以說是不夠堅實、不夠穩定、更是不可靠的。
5 Someday, when
當有一天，美國因為本身的利益必須與中國妥協時，台灣就極可能成為他的談判籌碼而被犧牲掉。就以朝鮮核武威脅這件事來說吧！沒有中國的協助，美國根本就沒有解決朝鮮問題的本錢; 而在解決朝鮮問題的基礎上，美國就有將台灣推給大陸的可能。如果是這樣的話，那麼，為什麼台灣不直接去找中國作為他的保護國呢？
6 In the viewpoint of Yoga doer, it is true that a big power must be like the
low ground towards which all streams flow down. Jingkong Master ever narrated
that after Samantabhadra enlightened, he changed the supply to the masses into
consecrate them. He was successful and stood at the top of the masses. Why was
he humbler instead? Why did he consecrate the masses? This should be the
principle that a big power must be like the low ground towards which all the
small powers flow down.
站在一位瑜伽修行者的立場，大國者下流也是有其真實性的。淨空法師就曾經說過，在普賢菩薩得道之後，他便將對眾生的布施全部改為供養。一位得道的菩薩應該是高高在上的成為大國了，為什麼他反而顯得更加謙卑恭順，對眾生生供養之心呢？這應該就是大國以下小國的道理了。
7 After practicing supreme yoga, the doer becomes very reverent to everyone in
his association when he enters Samadhi. In curing, teaching yoga and assisting
others, he is very solemn and humble, saluting to others frequently.
在修煉無上瑜伽之後，每當進入三昧與人交往時，行者對所有的人都變得異常恭敬有禮。不論是為人加持、為人治病、教人瑜伽，在整個過程中都是極其莊嚴謙卑，並且頻頻對人行最高敬禮。
8 If a man of
practice knows that when he succeeds in practice and gains the right
achievement, he never is like those men, once they are on a high position and
will be complacent, arrogant and boisterous; instead, his attitude will be
humbler and more reverent, saluting to everyone with a bow. Knowing these,
maybe he would give up practice. Nevertheless, I want to tell all of you that
it is real. A man of practice, who gains right achievement, sees the true image
that everyone is Buddha and has Buddha nature. We should be reverent with a bow
before Buddha. Who dare to behave in a haughty and impolite manner before
Buddha? Who dare bully Buddha?
修行者如果知道，當修道成功，得到正果之後，修行者的態度會更謙卑、恭敬，逢人就鞠躬敬禮，絕不像世間一朝得勢，就自以為高高在上，作威作福者的模樣時，他們極有可能會因此而放棄修煉也不一定。可是我要告訴各位的是，事實真的就是如此。一位因修行而得到正果的人，他們所看到的皆是實相，而實相所呈現出的就是每位眾生皆是佛，皆具佛性;
因而，在佛面前我們必恭必敬，彎腰鞠躬，在佛面前誰敢傲慢無禮，誰又敢欺侮佛呢！