第九章
原文：持而盈之，不如其已。揣而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守。富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功遂身退，天之道也。
罗汉乱弹琴：上一章讲了一个人要怎样做才会被大家公认并简选为贤能的途径和方法。这一章老子就接着讲真正被推举出来为大家做事之后，又该怎样做人。
持而盈之，不如其已——这两句是很形象的描述：当你的手已经捧持了满满的东西，若还要拿，就必然会拿一个掉两个啦，在这种情况还不如好好地保持住已经拿到手的，不要再贪拿了。
揣而锐之，不可长保——这也是一句很形象的描述：当你往口袋里揣东西，若已经把口袋揣得又鼓又突（锐）的了，你还想揣，就肯定不能长保口袋不被撑破了。
金玉满堂，莫之能守——即使你让自己家堆金满玉，你也不能一辈子守住。
富贵而骄，自遗其咎——若再因为富了贵了而骄奢淫逸，就是给自己造孽，留下后患。
功遂身退，天之道也——应当是在把大家委托、希望的事做成功之后，自己救退下来，这才符合自然的规律。就好比我在前面对“帝”字的解释，花开花谢，是一轮生命现象的自然轮回。
我在这一章，与其他名家解说不同，乱弹琴的地方有“揣而锐之，不可长保”。比如我手里现持的这个版本，对这一句的解释就是：“锤炼金属使其锋芒毕露，锐利的势头难以保持长久”。如此翻译，十分牵强，因为这个“揣”字，无论怎么看，都与金属无关。于是就为了“锐”字与金有关，牵强为磨砺锐器了。如此牵强，更完全违背了老子全章举例比喻具有递进特点的良苦用心。请看我的解释：老子在这一章主要是讲人不能贪得无厌。第一个比喻是用双手拿东西，已经拿满了还拿；反而就会掉，即使是用袋子揣（这个动作多形象），如果把口袋都揣得鼓突突的了，就容易爆；如果是用房子装。即使装得金玉满堂了，也不能永保。若再骄奢淫逸，就更会酿下后患。所以，人如果是“功遂身退”，顺自然之道，就会永葆令名。
Luohan comprehension：
In the last chapter we learn about how to become a sage and become the custodians of society. In this chapter we will learn from Lao-Tzu to know how to be a real man.
持而盈之，不如其已——These sentences are vividly presented：when your hands are full of things and want to get more，you may drop down one or two，in that case，you can not greed and all you can do is hold on to it.
揣而锐之，不可长保——This sentence is also vividly presented：When the pocket have been stuffed then we continue to pack so the pocket will be break.
金玉满堂，莫之能守——When gold and jade fill the hall，their possessor cannot keep them safe.
富贵而骄，自遗其咎——When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy，this brings its evil on itself.
功遂身退，天之道也——When the work is done，and one's name is becoming distinguished，to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven. This is like as I mentioned earlier，the flower bloo and fade is“帝”，this is the alternate life.
In this chapter，the different explanation from the other is“揣而锐之，不可长保”. For example，the version in my hand，explain the meaning of this sentence is“If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened，the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.”. This explaination is compelling because the word“揣”is independent of the metal. They called“锐”as“金” and explained it as sharpen the metal. So it against the intention of Lao-Tzu. And my comprehension is：in this chapter we know that man should not be too greedy，as your hands are full of things and want to get more，you may drop down one or two，also the pocket have been stuffed then we continue to pack so the pocket will be break. When gold and jade fill the hall，their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy，this brings its evil on itself. So it should be the perfect opportunity to quit while at the top，and conform the natural law，then we can enjoy a high reputation.
2011年12月24日星期六于富力湾
