道德经 第三十四章 大道泛兮

大道

泛兮
其可左右
万物恃之而生
而不辞功成

不名有
衣养万物而不为主

常无欲

可名于小
万物归焉而不为主

可名为大
以其终不自大故能成其大

This chapter has many kinds of understandings. These understands are very different. I am here proposing a new seperations of sentences and paragraphs. So it is very clear that meanings of the Great State. Its three principles of the great states are now clearly shown on this chapter.

The three principles of the great state are that (1) it exists everywhere; (2) it is non-possessive; and (3) it is without desires.

Here is my translation:

The great state flows everywhere. It can be on the left or it can be one the right. Everything in the world is depending on it to survive. Yet it claims no success.

The great state is not named for being possessive. It nurtures all things in the world without being their owners.

The great state is without desires.

Its desire can be named as small. Every thing in the world converges to it. Yet it claims no ownership.

Its desire can be imagined as large. Because it never considers itself as the great, it indeed becomes the greatest.