Tao Te Ching on Enlightened People

Saint Laozi describes how enlightened beings carry themselves.

How do enlightened individuals carry themselves? I used Saint Laozi's annotations to help me with the translation of Tao Te Ching, verse 56.

Enlightened people - -- The Chapter about the Value of Tao, 56

People who truly understand Tao often find it hard to put into words. But those who talk about it just to get attention do not truly know it.

The truly wise curb their tongues, seeing no need to argue. They close the doors to unhelpful emotions and thoughts that might throw them off balance. They do not try to stand out or make themselves look better than others. Instead, they quietly work through their troubles and find peace. They blend in with those around them and make others feel welcome. This deep sense of connection is called mystical oneness.

Such people are hard to fully understand because they have no selfish desires. Yet it is also hard to stay away from them, because their kindness draws others near. Praise or rewards do not change what they do, because their goal is to help, not to gain.

Since they see life from a higher view, no harm can touch them. They are not tempted by high status, because they care little for fame or power. Low status does not trouble them either, because they already hold something truly precious inside.

These are the most dignified people in the world.

悟道的人--道貴章第五十六

知者不言。言者不知。塞其兌。閉其門。挫其銳。解其紛。和其光。同其塵。是謂玄同。故不可得而親。亦不可得而疏。不可得而利。亦不可得而害。不可得而貴。亦不可得而賤。故為天下貴。

Here is Saint Laozi's annotations:

Truly enlightened individuals have minds and hearts in harmony with Tao, though they often find it hard to express in words. This is why Shakyamuni Buddha said, "When there is nothing to teach, that is a teaching in itself."

In the same spirit, Bodhidharma once said, "I came from the West and never preached a single word. Instead, I showed how to practice within the mind. If you try to find the Buddha's teachings only through words, you would need more water than there is in Dongting Lake just to make the ink to write them all down."

This shows the wondrous nature of Tao. Yet some people speak of it only to draw attention to themselves, showing off their so-called insight to others. Their actions often seem strange, and their pride is easy to see. Such people do not truly understand Tao.

That is why the enlightened remain silent—there is no need to argue. They close the doors to the seven emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hate, and desire) and the six desires (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought). In doing so, they tame the roots of pride and arrogance. This is how they free themselves from trouble and worry. (Source)

真正悟道的人，心與道合，可是卻難以用言語表達，就像釋迦佛所說：「無法可說，是名說法。」達摩祖師所說：「達摩東來一字無，全憑心意用工夫，若要紙上尋佛法，筆尖醮乾洞庭湖。」可見「道」是如何的微妙了。可是偏有一些好於炫耀自己的人，喜歡在大庭廣眾之前高談闊論，行為乖張，高傲自取，其實這種人，反而是不知「道」的人。所以有道的人，他首先塞住了他的口舌紛爭。關閉他的七情 ( 喜、怒、哀、樂、愛、惡、慾 ) 六慾 ( 色、聲、香、味、觸、法 ) 之門。折挫自己鋒芒又高傲的銳氣。這一切才是解脫紛擾煩惱的方法。