Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The Art of War
The Art of War
© 1998 by Thomas Cleary translation
More than 2000 years ago a mysterious Indian philosopher taught his methods to an obscure herdsman soldier. The herdsman soldier rose in the world and ultimately succeeded in founding the greatest Indian empire in history. He incorporated much of Kashmir and Afghanistan driving invading Greeks in Alexander’s wake back as far as Persia. The dynasty ruled for one and a half century from about 325 to 182 B.C. Emperor Ashoka grandson of the founder reigned further eventually converting to Buddhism and renouncing warfare Emperor Ashoka became a distinguished patron of culture. The ethics of Ashoka pious exhortations inscribed on stone pillars throughout the empire are one of the great monuments of the old world.
There is no wealth like intelligence and no poverty like ignorance. Sovereignty begins with the self with self-mastery the sovereignty extending to the social and material environment in proportion to inherent element of the human faculty. The root of sovereignty is control of the faculty. Self-control enables the individual to work in the world with a blank heart not subject to deviation by temporary attraction or diversion. Self-mastery enables one to avoid being deviated from long term goals by the seduction of short-term gains. Setbacks can actually stimulate determination and improvement. There is no task like fulfillment one who walks with fools will follow a long way.
Successful warriors are those who secure victory first and only then go into battle. A single wheel does not make it possible to move around. Strategy of headquarters determines success abroad.
Cooperation focus determination and efforts are all elements of the king’s success. When the mind is calm and quiet then brilliant measures are conceived. When thought is deep and far reaching then strategic plans are perfected. When brilliant measures are conceived then the world cannot be disturbed. When strategic plans are perfected then achievements amass these laws.
One who is attached to lust does not accomplish what has to be done. Violence of speech is worst than the burning of fire by harassment and punishment one becomes odious to all people. Prosperity abandons one who is satisfied by material wealth. People refrain from what they should not do on account of a punishment.
Action results from power. Acquisition of wealth is rooted in action. Do the great while it is still small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy. The greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
Waste of an opportunity is torment. The unfocused cannot act decide first then set to work. Focus is practical action. Ideal people are consistent in their deeds. The most massive tree grows from a sprout. Highest building rises from a pile of earth. A journey of ten thousand leaps begins with a single step.
One who knows the right timing will get the job done. Everyone who has been overtaken by death asks for more time or everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination. It is the accomplished work that is being made known. A change is believed on the day of completion. If an undertaking is announced and then fails the effect on general morale is more negative. If an undertaking is accomplished and then announced the effect on general morale is more positive.
One who seeks to accomplish something must be ruthless. One who does not seek work to be done is blind. The mouth is the door of calamity. The essence of Taoist philosophy is balancing flexibility and firmness. The world does not think much of one with little strength even if he is learned. Someone who has lots of ideas but never accomplishes anything rarely gained popular respect.
A single fault eclipses a multitude of virtue. Don’t be aggressive toward a great adversary. The suspicious are not to be trusted poison is always poison. Until you see an adversary’s weakness action or combat are to be avoided. One should strike an enemy’s weak spots but should not reveal one’s own weakness. Adversaries aim at weak spots. A skillful attack is one against which an enemy does not know where to defend while a skillful defense is one against which an enemy does not know where to attack.
Work that is to be done by oneself alone is to be examined. The first thing to examine is whether a particular task could be delegated or calls for cooperation of others or should be done by oneself alone. Evil people look for people’s faults ignoring their good qualities just as flies look for rotten parts of a body ignoring the wholesome. Aristotle said a malicious person is an enemy to himself then how can he be a friend to another.
Those who have accomplished their purpose have no fear of death. No interest should be taken in the possession of others. Interest in others’ property is the root of ruination.
Knowledge is better than wealth. Wealth is diminished by funding while knowledge grows by you. Confucius said he could find a teacher even in a group of three people. When he found something good he would emulate it himself and when something bad he would correct it in himself. One who is himself impure is suspicious of others.
The one free of anger overcomes all. In Buddhist philosophy anger is considered one of most basic poisons of the human mind. When angry at a wrongdoer there would be anger at which one should be angry.
Build up virtue and master all. Don’t cast your lot with bad people don’t join up with the successful if they are waste minded. That enemies and illnesses should be eliminated completely. One who speaks prudently has no enemy.
If you know others and know yourself you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. Pride is not a basis of virtue. Virtue means efficacy a small scale operation may be more efficient than a large one. Society does along with what has already happened. The essence of discipline is control of the faculty. Liberation is the cure of sorrows.
Buddha said be free of the past be free of the future be free of the meantime be transcendent. When your mind is completely liberated you no longer suffer birth and old age. There is no greater pleasure than contact with one’s children.
It is often hard to think straight when hard pressed. That is no doubt why it is better to think ahead when with free time. The company of the good is paradise. The noble ones think of others himself. One’s place is where one can live happily. An irrational man is equivalent to a demon. One should not reveal one’s own weakness. Do tomorrow’s tasks today do the afternoons in the morning. Do it before it exists govern it before there is disorder.
When a man wants to do a task great or small let him do it with all dispatch. This is called the one thing learned from the lion. Lao Tzu speaks of doing the great while it is small even of doing things before they exist. A ruler who has suffered misfortune should not be anguished.
Untrained employees, ill-bred ruler, false friends and an immodest wife these four are painful sorrows spikes to the head. A ruler should give up indulgence and diversion those who are devoted to pleasure are manipulated by existing enemies. Gambling, hunting, women, drinks, touring and slumber a king perishes quickly through addictions. One should abide in a place where there is abundant respect and abandon where there is lack of respect.
Association with good people is the basis of success above all. Ability to survive destruction regains equilibrium and ultimately prevails by adapting to changing conditions depends upon the capacity to perceive and predict situations and possibilities accurately and to act in such a way as to effectively make best of each time and condition.
Do not let another know your own shortcomings and note others’ shortcomings. The deed conceived in the mind should not be revealed in words. The secret should be preserved in code and applied in action. One should abandon a wife with an angry face.
Without associates no undertaking derives success therefore association is the way for a ruler to deal in all endeavors. Hope evaded people consider problems and present them. Buddha said if you do not find a prudent companion a wise associate leading a good life then journey alone like a king abandoning the domain he has concurred like an elephant roaming the forest. Walk alone like an elephant in the forest who desires doing no evil.
Those who overcome others are powerful, those who overcome themselves are strong. Whatever the personal conducts of the rulers so does the conduct of the populace become. The quality of the leader is like wind the quality of the people is like grass. When the wind blows the grass bends. An ideal mentality combines firmness with flexibility.
One should tolerate minor errors and be satisfied with a small income. Tolerating minor errors increases the capacity to progress on overall aim. Do the great while it is still small the most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy. The greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
There is hardly one amongst thousands who can be a leader. One should always associate with those who advance in discipline in order to develop discipline for that is the root of discipline. Keeping the company of people who are more accomplished or more developed is the fundamental educational strategy based upon the principle of learning by osmosis as well as formal instructions and informal conversations.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1590300548
© 1998 by Thomas Cleary translation
More than 2000 years ago a mysterious Indian philosopher taught his methods to an obscure herdsman soldier. The herdsman soldier rose in the world and ultimately succeeded in founding the greatest Indian empire in history. He incorporated much of Kashmir and Afghanistan driving invading Greeks in Alexander’s wake back as far as Persia. The dynasty ruled for one and a half century from about 325 to 182 B.C. Emperor Ashoka grandson of the founder reigned further eventually converting to Buddhism and renouncing warfare Emperor Ashoka became a distinguished patron of culture. The ethics of Ashoka pious exhortations inscribed on stone pillars throughout the empire are one of the great monuments of the old world.
There is no wealth like intelligence and no poverty like ignorance. Sovereignty begins with the self with self-mastery the sovereignty extending to the social and material environment in proportion to inherent element of the human faculty. The root of sovereignty is control of the faculty. Self-control enables the individual to work in the world with a blank heart not subject to deviation by temporary attraction or diversion. Self-mastery enables one to avoid being deviated from long term goals by the seduction of short-term gains. Setbacks can actually stimulate determination and improvement. There is no task like fulfillment one who walks with fools will follow a long way.
Successful warriors are those who secure victory first and only then go into battle. A single wheel does not make it possible to move around. Strategy of headquarters determines success abroad.
Cooperation focus determination and efforts are all elements of the king’s success. When the mind is calm and quiet then brilliant measures are conceived. When thought is deep and far reaching then strategic plans are perfected. When brilliant measures are conceived then the world cannot be disturbed. When strategic plans are perfected then achievements amass these laws.
One who is attached to lust does not accomplish what has to be done. Violence of speech is worst than the burning of fire by harassment and punishment one becomes odious to all people. Prosperity abandons one who is satisfied by material wealth. People refrain from what they should not do on account of a punishment.
Action results from power. Acquisition of wealth is rooted in action. Do the great while it is still small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy. The greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
Waste of an opportunity is torment. The unfocused cannot act decide first then set to work. Focus is practical action. Ideal people are consistent in their deeds. The most massive tree grows from a sprout. Highest building rises from a pile of earth. A journey of ten thousand leaps begins with a single step.
One who knows the right timing will get the job done. Everyone who has been overtaken by death asks for more time or everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination. It is the accomplished work that is being made known. A change is believed on the day of completion. If an undertaking is announced and then fails the effect on general morale is more negative. If an undertaking is accomplished and then announced the effect on general morale is more positive.
One who seeks to accomplish something must be ruthless. One who does not seek work to be done is blind. The mouth is the door of calamity. The essence of Taoist philosophy is balancing flexibility and firmness. The world does not think much of one with little strength even if he is learned. Someone who has lots of ideas but never accomplishes anything rarely gained popular respect.
A single fault eclipses a multitude of virtue. Don’t be aggressive toward a great adversary. The suspicious are not to be trusted poison is always poison. Until you see an adversary’s weakness action or combat are to be avoided. One should strike an enemy’s weak spots but should not reveal one’s own weakness. Adversaries aim at weak spots. A skillful attack is one against which an enemy does not know where to defend while a skillful defense is one against which an enemy does not know where to attack.
Work that is to be done by oneself alone is to be examined. The first thing to examine is whether a particular task could be delegated or calls for cooperation of others or should be done by oneself alone. Evil people look for people’s faults ignoring their good qualities just as flies look for rotten parts of a body ignoring the wholesome. Aristotle said a malicious person is an enemy to himself then how can he be a friend to another.
Those who have accomplished their purpose have no fear of death. No interest should be taken in the possession of others. Interest in others’ property is the root of ruination.
Knowledge is better than wealth. Wealth is diminished by funding while knowledge grows by you. Confucius said he could find a teacher even in a group of three people. When he found something good he would emulate it himself and when something bad he would correct it in himself. One who is himself impure is suspicious of others.
The one free of anger overcomes all. In Buddhist philosophy anger is considered one of most basic poisons of the human mind. When angry at a wrongdoer there would be anger at which one should be angry.
Build up virtue and master all. Don’t cast your lot with bad people don’t join up with the successful if they are waste minded. That enemies and illnesses should be eliminated completely. One who speaks prudently has no enemy.
If you know others and know yourself you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. Pride is not a basis of virtue. Virtue means efficacy a small scale operation may be more efficient than a large one. Society does along with what has already happened. The essence of discipline is control of the faculty. Liberation is the cure of sorrows.
Buddha said be free of the past be free of the future be free of the meantime be transcendent. When your mind is completely liberated you no longer suffer birth and old age. There is no greater pleasure than contact with one’s children.
It is often hard to think straight when hard pressed. That is no doubt why it is better to think ahead when with free time. The company of the good is paradise. The noble ones think of others himself. One’s place is where one can live happily. An irrational man is equivalent to a demon. One should not reveal one’s own weakness. Do tomorrow’s tasks today do the afternoons in the morning. Do it before it exists govern it before there is disorder.
When a man wants to do a task great or small let him do it with all dispatch. This is called the one thing learned from the lion. Lao Tzu speaks of doing the great while it is small even of doing things before they exist. A ruler who has suffered misfortune should not be anguished.
Untrained employees, ill-bred ruler, false friends and an immodest wife these four are painful sorrows spikes to the head. A ruler should give up indulgence and diversion those who are devoted to pleasure are manipulated by existing enemies. Gambling, hunting, women, drinks, touring and slumber a king perishes quickly through addictions. One should abide in a place where there is abundant respect and abandon where there is lack of respect.
Association with good people is the basis of success above all. Ability to survive destruction regains equilibrium and ultimately prevails by adapting to changing conditions depends upon the capacity to perceive and predict situations and possibilities accurately and to act in such a way as to effectively make best of each time and condition.
Do not let another know your own shortcomings and note others’ shortcomings. The deed conceived in the mind should not be revealed in words. The secret should be preserved in code and applied in action. One should abandon a wife with an angry face.
Without associates no undertaking derives success therefore association is the way for a ruler to deal in all endeavors. Hope evaded people consider problems and present them. Buddha said if you do not find a prudent companion a wise associate leading a good life then journey alone like a king abandoning the domain he has concurred like an elephant roaming the forest. Walk alone like an elephant in the forest who desires doing no evil.
Those who overcome others are powerful, those who overcome themselves are strong. Whatever the personal conducts of the rulers so does the conduct of the populace become. The quality of the leader is like wind the quality of the people is like grass. When the wind blows the grass bends. An ideal mentality combines firmness with flexibility.
One should tolerate minor errors and be satisfied with a small income. Tolerating minor errors increases the capacity to progress on overall aim. Do the great while it is still small the most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy. The greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
There is hardly one amongst thousands who can be a leader. One should always associate with those who advance in discipline in order to develop discipline for that is the root of discipline. Keeping the company of people who are more accomplished or more developed is the fundamental educational strategy based upon the principle of learning by osmosis as well as formal instructions and informal conversations.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1590300548
