道德经若水章第八这样说:
上善若水。
水善利万物而不争,处众人之所恶,故几於道。
居善地,心善渊,与善仁,言善信,正善治,事善能,动善时。
夫唯不争,故无尤。
我的粗浅理解:
世界上最善良的莫过于水.水有利万物却与世无争,能够包容众人无法容忍之恶(恶况,恶行,恶言..),其德行近于道.
细细数来,水有七善:
- 喜欢居住在善地(安静祥宁的地方)
- 心胸犹如深渊般的宽厚
- 仁慈的施舍,不求功利不求回报
- 言出必信,答应了万物的索取就必定实践
- 治理万物,通过水的轮回来管理自然界
- 其去垢除污和滋润万物的能力,是世间少有的能力
- 举动往往顺应天时
Water
The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.
So the sage:
Lives within nature,
Thinks within the deep,
Gives within impartiality,
Speaks within trust,
Governs within order,
Crafts within ability,
Acts within opportunity.
He does not contend, and none contend against him.
很喜欢这篇里做人的道理。如果人人能够明白此道,世间会少了多少纠纷和困扰。可惜能够做到7善的,要先有善能,才有可能执行其余的六善。如果自己都没有的东西,又如何能够施于人? 正是因为缺乏了水得天独厚的广阔资源,这篇里说的道理,对世人就有点空中楼阁的味道. 不过拿来修身养性,还是不错的.