大道廢有仁義

　　When the Great Way Declines, Humaneness and Righteousness Arise

　　當大道沒有了，才講仁義；有大道時，仁義一點也顯不出來，

　　因爲仁義都在「道」裏邊包括著。

　　When the great Way disappears, people start talking about humaneness and righteousness.

　　When the great Way prevails, humaneness and righteousness are not obvious

　　because everyone takes them for granted.

　　人心不古，道德淪亡。

　　People no longer follow ancient ways;

　　Moral values have declined.

　　世界一天比一天往下流，而不知往上達。以前沒有這麼多學校，沒有這麼多人讀書，人反而沒有這麼顛倒卑劣；現在學校多了，讀書人也多了，世界壞人反而一天比一天多。

　　The world continues to decline, and there”s no sign of improvement. Although education is more widespread than before, people seem more confused and depraved than ever. Even with more schools and students, there are more wicked people.

　　古來的人讀書是要明理，明白做人的道理，怎樣諸惡莫作，衆善奉行，學習孝悌忠信、禮義廉恥；現在的讀書人都爲名利。「明理」與「名利」兩個音差不多，但是做起來是大相徑庭，相離十萬八千裏。

　　The ancients studied in order to understand principles. They wished to understand how to be human, and how to refrain from evil and to practice good. They learned the virtues of filial piety, fraternity, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, incorruptibility, and a sense of shame. Nowadays, people study in order to attain fame and profit. In Chinese, the phrases "to understand principles" and "fame and profit" sound similar (both are pronounced ming li), but their meanings are vastly different.

　　爲名利而讀書的人，只想著要讀什麼書才可以賺大錢，譬如讀醫學或科學，都可以賺大錢，而沒有想，我讀書是將來要爲人群謀幸福，學醫是要濟世救人，利人利己。現在的讀書人只會利己，而不知利人。甚至有一些教授學者公開鼓勵學生吃迷幻藥、行淫欲，或做種種擾人亂世的事，所以將世界弄得一天不如一天。老子說：

　　Those who crave fame and profit study medicine or science in order to make lots of money. They don”t think, "I”m studying so that I can benefit society. I”m studying medicine in order to save lives and benefit others." Nowadays, many students are self-centered. They don”t think about benefiting others. Some professors even encourage students to take drugs, be promiscuous, or take part in socially disruptive activities. As a result, the world grows worse day by day. Lao Zi said,

　　大道廢，有仁義；

　　智慧出，有大僞；

　　六親不和，有孝慈；

　　國家昏亂，有忠臣。

　　When the great Way declines,

　　there is humaneness and righteousness.

　　When wisdom appears,

　　 there is great deceit.

　　When the six types of relatives are not

　　in harmony, there are filial children

　　and caring parents.

　　When the country is in chaos,

　　 loyal ministers come forth.

　　當大道沒有了，才講仁義；若有大道時，仁義一點也顯不出來，因爲仁義都在「道」裏邊包括著。當有智慧的人出現時，也就有虛僞的人同時出現，他會欺騙其他的人。

　　When the great Way disappears, people start talking about humaneness and righteousness. When the great Way prevails, humaneness and righteousness are not obvious because everyone takes them for granted. When wise people appear, charlatans also show up.

　　六親和睦，家庭不爭，父慈子孝，兄友弟恭，這才是和樂的家庭。但若六親不和，父不慈、子不孝，兄弟不友愛時，這時就有真正的孝子顯現出來。就好像大舜：

　　When the six types of relatives are in harmony, there is no fighting in the family. Parents are loving and children are filial; elder siblings are friendly and younger siblings are respectful. Families are truly happy and harmonious. However, during a time when relatives are not harmonious, when parents are uncaring, children are unfilial, elder siblings are mean, and younger siblings are disrespectful, then truly caring parents and filial children will appear. Consider the case of Great Shun [Emperor of China 2255-2205 b.c.]:

　　父頑、母囂、弟傲，

　　舜爲克盡孝道。

　　His father was foolish, his mother licentious,

　　and his younger brother arrogant,

　　Yet Shun was able to fulfill his filial duties

　　to perfection.

　　大舜的父親頑古不化，名叫瞽叟，意謂他雖然有眼睛，但如同瞎子一樣，不認識黑白是非、曲直善惡，自己有個好兒子，卻不知道。大舜的後母，淫亂陰險，不講道理，很偏見的。大舜的後弟(象)，非常傲慢，不恭敬大舜。大舜雖然生在這樣的家庭中，但他還是盡孝道，孝順父母，友愛弟弟。

　　The Great Shun”s father was an obstinate and bigoted man named Gu Sou (Blind Old Man), meaning that even though he had eyes, he was just like a blind man. He couldn”t tell white from black, right from wrong, straight from crooked, or good from bad. He didn”t realize what…

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