Following an 81-day meditation on each of the 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching, I minted NFTs for each chapter which contain a link to a secret Telegram group.
51% of the first sale price of each NFT will be donated to GiveWell's Maximum Impact Fund.
Verse 1
A way that can be walked
is not The Way
A name that can be named
is not The Name
Tao is both Named and Nameless
As Nameless, it is the origin of all things
As Named, it is the mother of all things
A mind free of thought,
merged within itself,
beholds the essence of Tao
A mind filled with thought,
identified with its own perceptions
beholds the mere forms of this world
Tao and this world seem different
but in truth they are one and the same
The only difference is in what we call them
How deep and mysterious is this unity
How profound, how great!
It is the truth beyond the truth,
the hidden within the hidden
It is the path to all wonder,
the gate to the essence of everything!
is not The Way
A name that can be named
is not The Name
Tao is both Named and Nameless
As Nameless, it is the origin of all things
As Named, it is the mother of all things
A mind free of thought,
merged within itself,
beholds the essence of Tao
A mind filled with thought,
identified with its own perceptions
beholds the mere forms of this world
Tao and this world seem different
but in truth they are one and the same
The only difference is in what we call them
How deep and mysterious is this unity
How profound, how great!
It is the truth beyond the truth,
the hidden within the hidden
It is the path to all wonder,
the gate to the essence of everything!
Verse 2
Everyone recognises beauty
only because of ugliness
Everyone recognises virtue
only because of sin
Life and death are born together
Difficult and easy
Long and short
High and low—
all these exist together
Sound and silence blend as one
Before and after arrive as one
The Sage acts without action
and teaches without talking
All things flourish around him
and he does not refuse any one of them
He gives but not to receive
He works but not for reward
He completes but not for results
He does nothing for himself in this passing world
so nothing he does ever passes
only because of ugliness
Everyone recognises virtue
only because of sin
Life and death are born together
Difficult and easy
Long and short
High and low—
all these exist together
Sound and silence blend as one
Before and after arrive as one
The Sage acts without action
and teaches without talking
All things flourish around him
and he does not refuse any one of them
He gives but not to receive
He works but not for reward
He completes but not for results
He does nothing for himself in this passing world
so nothing he does ever passes
Verse 3
Putting a value of status
will cause people to compete
Hoarding treasure
will turn them into thieves
Showing off possessions
will disturb their daily lives
Thus the Sage rules
by stilling minds and opening hearts
by filling bellies and strengthening bones
He shows people how to be simple
and live without desires
To be content
and not look for other ways
With the people so pure
Who could trick them?
What clever ideas could lead them astray?
When action is pure and selfless
everything settles into its own perfect place
will cause people to compete
Hoarding treasure
will turn them into thieves
Showing off possessions
will disturb their daily lives
Thus the Sage rules
by stilling minds and opening hearts
by filling bellies and strengthening bones
He shows people how to be simple
and live without desires
To be content
and not look for other ways
With the people so pure
Who could trick them?
What clever ideas could lead them astray?
When action is pure and selfless
everything settles into its own perfect place
Verse 4
Tao is empty
yet it fills every vessel with endless supply
Tao is hidden
yet it shines in every corner of the universe
With it, the sharp edges become smooth
the twisted knots loosen
the sun is softened by a cloud
the dust settles into place
So deep, so pure, so still
It has been this way forever
You may ask, "Whose child is it?"—
but I cannot say
This child was here before the Great Ancestor
yet it fills every vessel with endless supply
Tao is hidden
yet it shines in every corner of the universe
With it, the sharp edges become smooth
the twisted knots loosen
the sun is softened by a cloud
the dust settles into place
So deep, so pure, so still
It has been this way forever
You may ask, "Whose child is it?"—
but I cannot say
This child was here before the Great Ancestor
Verse 5
Heaven and Earth have no preference
A man may choose one over another
but to Heaven and Earth all are the same
The high, the low, the great, the small—
all are given light
all get a place to rest
The Sage is like Heaven and Earth
To him none are especially dear
nor is there anyone he disfavours
He gives and gives without condition
offering his treasures to everyone
The universe is like a bellows
It stays empty yet is never exhausted
It gives out yet always brings forth more
Man is not like this
When he blows out air like a bellows
he becomes exhausted
Man was not made to blow out air
He was made to sit quietly and find the truth within
A man may choose one over another
but to Heaven and Earth all are the same
The high, the low, the great, the small—
all are given light
all get a place to rest
The Sage is like Heaven and Earth
To him none are especially dear
nor is there anyone he disfavours
He gives and gives without condition
offering his treasures to everyone
The universe is like a bellows
It stays empty yet is never exhausted
It gives out yet always brings forth more
Man is not like this
When he blows out air like a bellows
he becomes exhausted
Man was not made to blow out air
He was made to sit quietly and find the truth within
Verse 6
Endlessly creating
Endlessly pulsating
The Spirit of the Valley never dies
She is called the Hidden Creator
Although She becomes the whole universe
Her immaculate purity is never lost
Although She assumes countless forms
Her true identity remains intact
Whatever we see or don't see
Whatever exists or doesn't exist
Is nothing but the creation of this Supreme Power
Tao is limitless, unborn, eternal—
It can only be reached through the Hidden Creator
She is the very face of the Absolute
The gate to the source of all things eternal
Listen to Her voice
Hear it echo through creation
Without fail, She reveals her presence
Without fail, She brings us to her own perfection
Endlessly pulsating
The Spirit of the Valley never dies
She is called the Hidden Creator
Although She becomes the whole universe
Her immaculate purity is never lost
Although She assumes countless forms
Her true identity remains intact
Whatever we see or don't see
Whatever exists or doesn't exist
Is nothing but the creation of this Supreme Power
Tao is limitless, unborn, eternal—
It can only be reached through the Hidden Creator
She is the very face of the Absolute
The gate to the source of all things eternal
Listen to Her voice
Hear it echo through creation
Without fail, She reveals her presence
Without fail, She brings us to her own perfection
Verse 7
Heaven is ancient
Earth is long-lasting
Why is this so?—
Because they have no claims to life
By having no claims to life
they cannot be claimed by death
The Sage puts his own views behind
so ends up ahead
He stays a witness to life
so he endures
What could he grab for
that he does not already have?
What could he do for himself
that the universe itself has not already done?
Earth is long-lasting
Why is this so?—
Because they have no claims to life
By having no claims to life
they cannot be claimed by death
The Sage puts his own views behind
so ends up ahead
He stays a witness to life
so he endures
What could he grab for
that he does not already have?
What could he do for himself
that the universe itself has not already done?
Verse 8
The best way to live
is to be like water
For water benefits all things
and goes against none of them
It provides for all people
and even cleanses those places
a man is loath to go
In this way it is just like Tao
Live in accordance with the nature of things:
Build your house on solid ground
Keep your mind still
When giving, be kind
When speaking, be truthful
When ruling, be just
When working, be one-pointed
When acting, remember—timing is everything
One who lives in accordance with nature
does not go against the way of things
He moves in harmony with the present moment
always knowing the truth of just what to do
is to be like water
For water benefits all things
and goes against none of them
It provides for all people
and even cleanses those places
a man is loath to go
In this way it is just like Tao
Live in accordance with the nature of things:
Build your house on solid ground
Keep your mind still
When giving, be kind
When speaking, be truthful
When ruling, be just
When working, be one-pointed
When acting, remember—timing is everything
One who lives in accordance with nature
does not go against the way of things
He moves in harmony with the present moment
always knowing the truth of just what to do
Verse 9
Grabbing and stuffing—
there is no end to it
Sharpen a blade too much
and its edge will soon be lost
Fill a house with gold and jade
and no one can protect it
Puff yourself with honor and pride
and no one can save you from a fall
Complete the task at hand
Be selfless in your actions
This is the way of Heaven
This is the way to Heaven
there is no end to it
Sharpen a blade too much
and its edge will soon be lost
Fill a house with gold and jade
and no one can protect it
Puff yourself with honor and pride
and no one can save you from a fall
Complete the task at hand
Be selfless in your actions
This is the way of Heaven
This is the way to Heaven
Verse 10
Hold fast to the Power of the One
It will unify the body
and merge it with the spirit
It will cleanse the vision
and reveal the world as flawless
It will focus the life-force
and make one supple as a newborn
As you love the people and rule the state
can you be free of self-interest?
As the gates of Heaven open and close
can you remain steadfast as a mother bird
who sits with her nest?
As your wisdom reaches the four corners of the world
can you keep the innocence of a beginner?
Know this Primal Power
that guides without forcing
that serves without seeking
that brings forth and sustains life
yet does not own or possess it
One who holds this Power
brings Tao to this very Earth
He can triumph over a raging fire
or the freeze of winter weather
Yet when he comes to rule the world
it's with the gentleness of a feather
It will unify the body
and merge it with the spirit
It will cleanse the vision
and reveal the world as flawless
It will focus the life-force
and make one supple as a newborn
As you love the people and rule the state
can you be free of self-interest?
As the gates of Heaven open and close
can you remain steadfast as a mother bird
who sits with her nest?
As your wisdom reaches the four corners of the world
can you keep the innocence of a beginner?
Know this Primal Power
that guides without forcing
that serves without seeking
that brings forth and sustains life
yet does not own or possess it
One who holds this Power
brings Tao to this very Earth
He can triumph over a raging fire
or the freeze of winter weather
Yet when he comes to rule the world
it's with the gentleness of a feather
Verse 11
Wu is nothingness, emptiness, non-existence
Thirty spokes of a wheel all join at a common hub
yet only the hole at the centre
allows the wheel to spin
Clay is moulded to form a cup
yet only the space within
allows the cup to hold to hold water
Walls are joined to make a room
yet only by cutting out a door and a window
can one enter the room and live there
Thus, when a thing has existence alone
it is mere dead-weight
Only when it has wu, does it have life
Thirty spokes of a wheel all join at a common hub
yet only the hole at the centre
allows the wheel to spin
Clay is moulded to form a cup
yet only the space within
allows the cup to hold to hold water
Walls are joined to make a room
yet only by cutting out a door and a window
can one enter the room and live there
Thus, when a thing has existence alone
it is mere dead-weight
Only when it has wu, does it have life
Verse 12
The five colours blind the eye
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavours dull the palate
Racing, hunting, and galloping about
only disturb the mind
Wasting energy to obtain rare objects
only impedes one's growth
So the Sage is led by his inner truth
and not his outer eye
He holds to what is deep
and not what lies on the surface
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavours dull the palate
Racing, hunting, and galloping about
only disturb the mind
Wasting energy to obtain rare objects
only impedes one's growth
So the Sage is led by his inner truth
and not his outer eye
He holds to what is deep
and not what lies on the surface
Verse 13
"Be wary of both honour and disgrace"
"Endless affliction is bound to the body"
What does it mean,
"Be wary of both honour and disgrace"?
Honour is founded on disgrace
and disgrace is rooted in honour
Both should be avoided
Both bind a mind to this world
That's why it says,
"Be wary of both honour and disgrace"
What does it mean,
"Endless affliction is bound to the body"?
Man's true self is eternal
yet he thinks, "I am this body, I will soon die"
This false sense of self
is the cause of all his sorrow
When a person does not identity himself with the body
tell me, what troubles could touch him?
One who sees himself as everything
is fit to be guardian of the world
One who loves himself as everyone
is fit to be teacher of the world
"Endless affliction is bound to the body"
What does it mean,
"Be wary of both honour and disgrace"?
Honour is founded on disgrace
and disgrace is rooted in honour
Both should be avoided
Both bind a mind to this world
That's why it says,
"Be wary of both honour and disgrace"
What does it mean,
"Endless affliction is bound to the body"?
Man's true self is eternal
yet he thinks, "I am this body, I will soon die"
This false sense of self
is the cause of all his sorrow
When a person does not identity himself with the body
tell me, what troubles could touch him?
One who sees himself as everything
is fit to be guardian of the world
One who loves himself as everyone
is fit to be teacher of the world
Verse 14
Eyes look but cannot see it
Ears listen but cannot hear it
Hands grasp but cannot hear it
Beyond the senses lies this great Unity—
invisible, inaudible, intangible
What rises up appears bright
What settles down appears dark
Yet there is neither darkness nor light
just an unbroken dance of shadows
From nothingness to fullness
and back again to nothingness
This formless form
This imageless image
cannot be grasped by mind or might
Try to face it
In what place will you stand?
Try to follow it
To what place will you go?
Know That which is beyond all beginnings
and you will know everything here and now
Know everything in this moment
and you will now the Eternal Tao
Ears listen but cannot hear it
Hands grasp but cannot hear it
Beyond the senses lies this great Unity—
invisible, inaudible, intangible
What rises up appears bright
What settles down appears dark
Yet there is neither darkness nor light
just an unbroken dance of shadows
From nothingness to fullness
and back again to nothingness
This formless form
This imageless image
cannot be grasped by mind or might
Try to face it
In what place will you stand?
Try to follow it
To what place will you go?
Know That which is beyond all beginnings
and you will know everything here and now
Know everything in this moment
and you will now the Eternal Tao
Verse 15
The masters of this ancient path
are mysterious and profound
Their inner state baffles all inquiry
Their depths go beyond all knowing
Thus, despite every effort,
we can only tell of their outer signs—
Deliberate, as if treading over the stones of a winter brook
Watchful, as if meeting danger on all sides
Reverent, as if receiving an honoured guest
Selfless, like a melting block of ice
Pure, like an uncarved block of wood
Accepting, like an open valley
Through the course of Nature
muddy water becomes clear
Through the unfolding of life
man reaches perfection
Through sustained activity
that supreme rest is naturally found
Those who have Tao want nothing else
Though seemingly empty
they are ever full
Though seemingly old
they are beyond the reach of birth and death
are mysterious and profound
Their inner state baffles all inquiry
Their depths go beyond all knowing
Thus, despite every effort,
we can only tell of their outer signs—
Deliberate, as if treading over the stones of a winter brook
Watchful, as if meeting danger on all sides
Reverent, as if receiving an honoured guest
Selfless, like a melting block of ice
Pure, like an uncarved block of wood
Accepting, like an open valley
Through the course of Nature
muddy water becomes clear
Through the unfolding of life
man reaches perfection
Through sustained activity
that supreme rest is naturally found
Those who have Tao want nothing else
Though seemingly empty
they are ever full
Though seemingly old
they are beyond the reach of birth and death
Verse 16
Become totally empty
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything
unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance
in endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness—
Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging, flourishing, dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return
To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster
Be still
Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity
Eternity embraces the all-possible
The all-possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao
Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything
unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance
in endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness—
Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging, flourishing, dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return
To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster
Be still
Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity
Eternity embraces the all-possible
The all-possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao
Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity
Verse 17
To know Tao alone,
without trace of your own existence,
is the highest
Next come loving and praising it
Then fearing it
Then despising it
If one doesn't trust himself
how can he trust anyone else?
The great ruler speaks little
and his words and priceless
He works without self-interest
and leaves no trace
When all is finished, the people say,
"It happened by itself"
without trace of your own existence,
is the highest
Next come loving and praising it
Then fearing it
Then despising it
If one doesn't trust himself
how can he trust anyone else?
The great ruler speaks little
and his words and priceless
He works without self-interest
and leaves no trace
When all is finished, the people say,
"It happened by itself"
Verse 18
When the greatness of Tao is present
action arises from one's own heart
When the greatness of Tao is absent
action comes from the rules
of "kindness" and "justice"
If you need rules to be kind and just,
if you act virtuous,
this is a sure sign that virtue is absent
Thus we see the great hypocrisy
Only when the family loses its harmony
do we hear of "dutiful sons"
Only when the state is in chaos
do we hear of "loyal ministers"
action arises from one's own heart
When the greatness of Tao is absent
action comes from the rules
of "kindness" and "justice"
If you need rules to be kind and just,
if you act virtuous,
this is a sure sign that virtue is absent
Thus we see the great hypocrisy
Only when the family loses its harmony
do we hear of "dutiful sons"
Only when the state is in chaos
do we hear of "loyal ministers"
Verse 19
Abandon holiness
Discard cleverness
and the people will benefit a hundredfold
Abandon the rules of "kindness"
Discard "righteous" actions
and the people will return
to their own natural affections
Abandon book learning
Discard the rules of behaviour
and the people will have no worries
Abandon plots and schemes
Discard profit-seeking
and the people will not become thieves
These lessons are mere elaborations
The essence of my teachings is this:
See with original purity
Embrace with original simplicity
Reduce what you have
Decrease what you want
Discard cleverness
and the people will benefit a hundredfold
Abandon the rules of "kindness"
Discard "righteous" actions
and the people will return
to their own natural affections
Abandon book learning
Discard the rules of behaviour
and the people will have no worries
Abandon plots and schemes
Discard profit-seeking
and the people will not become thieves
These lessons are mere elaborations
The essence of my teachings is this:
See with original purity
Embrace with original simplicity
Reduce what you have
Decrease what you want
Verse 20
The difference between a formal "yes"
and a casual "yeah"—how slight!
The difference between knowing the Truth
and not knowing it—how great!
Must I fear what others fear?
Should I fear desolation
when there is abundance?
Should I fear darkness
when that light is shining everywhere?
Nonsense!
The people of this world are steeped in their merrymaking
as if gorging at a great feast
or watching the sights of springtime
Yet here I sit, without a sign,
staring blank-eyed like a child
I am but a guest in this world
While others rush about to get things done
I accept what is offered
Oh, my mind is like that of a fool
aloof to the clamour of life around me
Everyone seems to bright and live
with the sharp distinctions of day
I appear dark and dull
with the blending of differences by night
I am drifting like an ocean, floating like the high winds
Everyone is so rooted in this world
yet I have no place to rest my head
Indeed I am different...
I have no treasure but the Eternal Mother
I have no food but what comes from her breast
and a casual "yeah"—how slight!
The difference between knowing the Truth
and not knowing it—how great!
Must I fear what others fear?
Should I fear desolation
when there is abundance?
Should I fear darkness
when that light is shining everywhere?
Nonsense!
The people of this world are steeped in their merrymaking
as if gorging at a great feast
or watching the sights of springtime
Yet here I sit, without a sign,
staring blank-eyed like a child
I am but a guest in this world
While others rush about to get things done
I accept what is offered
Oh, my mind is like that of a fool
aloof to the clamour of life around me
Everyone seems to bright and live
with the sharp distinctions of day
I appear dark and dull
with the blending of differences by night
I am drifting like an ocean, floating like the high winds
Everyone is so rooted in this world
yet I have no place to rest my head
Indeed I am different...
I have no treasure but the Eternal Mother
I have no food but what comes from her breast
Verse 21
Perfect action,
True virtue,
Supreme power,
This is how Tao is revealed
through those who follow it completely
Though formless and intangible
It gives rise to form
Though vague and elusive
It gives rise to shapes
Though dark and obscure
It is the spirit, the essence,
the life-breath of all things
"But is it real?" you ask—
I say its evidence is all of creation!
From the first moment to the present
The Name has been sounding
It is the gate
through which the universe enters
The witness
by which the universe sees
How have I come to know all this?
That very Name has told me,
That Name which is sounding right here,
right now
True virtue,
Supreme power,
This is how Tao is revealed
through those who follow it completely
Though formless and intangible
It gives rise to form
Though vague and elusive
It gives rise to shapes
Though dark and obscure
It is the spirit, the essence,
the life-breath of all things
"But is it real?" you ask—
I say its evidence is all of creation!
From the first moment to the present
The Name has been sounding
It is the gate
through which the universe enters
The witness
by which the universe sees
How have I come to know all this?
That very Name has told me,
That Name which is sounding right here,
right now
Verse 22
"Surrender brings perfection"
The crooked become straight
The empty become full
The worn become new
Have little and gain much
Have much and be confused
So the Sage embraces the One
and becomes a model for the world
Without showing himself, he shines forth
Without promoting himself, he is distinguished
Without claiming reward, he gains endless merit
Without seeking glory, his glory endures
The Sage knows how to follow
so he comes to command
He does not compete
so no one under Heaven can compete with him
The ancient saying,
"Surrender brings perfection,"
is not just empty words
Truly, surrender brings perfection
and perfection brings the whole universe
The crooked become straight
The empty become full
The worn become new
Have little and gain much
Have much and be confused
So the Sage embraces the One
and becomes a model for the world
Without showing himself, he shines forth
Without promoting himself, he is distinguished
Without claiming reward, he gains endless merit
Without seeking glory, his glory endures
The Sage knows how to follow
so he comes to command
He does not compete
so no one under Heaven can compete with him
The ancient saying,
"Surrender brings perfection,"
is not just empty words
Truly, surrender brings perfection
and perfection brings the whole universe
Verse 23
Speak little
Hold to your own nature
A strong wind does not blow all morning
A cloudburst does not last all day
The wind and rain are from Heaven and Earth
and even these do not last for long
How much less so the efforts of man?
One who lives in accordance with the Truth
becomes the embodiment of Tao
His actions become those of Nature
his ways those of Heaven
It is through such a one
that Heaven rejoices
that Earth rejoices
that all of life rejoices
Hold to your own nature
A strong wind does not blow all morning
A cloudburst does not last all day
The wind and rain are from Heaven and Earth
and even these do not last for long
How much less so the efforts of man?
One who lives in accordance with the Truth
becomes the embodiment of Tao
His actions become those of Nature
his ways those of Heaven
It is through such a one
that Heaven rejoices
that Earth rejoices
that all of life rejoices
Verse 24
On his tiptoes a man is not steady
Taking long strides he cannot keep pace
To the self-serving, nothing shines forth
To the self-promoting, nothing is distinguished
To the self-appointing, nothing bears fruit
To the self-righteous, nothing endures
From the viewpoint of Tao, this self-indulgence
is like rotting food and painful growths on the body—
Things that all creatures despise
So why hold onto them?
When walking the path of Tao
this is the very stuff
that must be uprooted, thrown out, and left behind
Taking long strides he cannot keep pace
To the self-serving, nothing shines forth
To the self-promoting, nothing is distinguished
To the self-appointing, nothing bears fruit
To the self-righteous, nothing endures
From the viewpoint of Tao, this self-indulgence
is like rotting food and painful growths on the body—
Things that all creatures despise
So why hold onto them?
When walking the path of Tao
this is the very stuff
that must be uprooted, thrown out, and left behind
Verse 25
Something formless, complete in itself
There before Heaven and Earth
Tranquil, vast, standing alone, unchanging
It provides for all things yet cannot be exhausted
It is the mother of the universe
I do not know its name
so I call it "Tao"
Forced to name it further
I call it
"The greatness of all things"
"The end of all endings"
I call it
"That which is beyond the beyond"
"That to which all things return"
From Tao comes all greatness—
It makes Heaven great
It makes Earth great
It makes man great
Mankind depends on the laws of Earth
Earth depends on the laws of Heaven
Heaven depends on the laws of Tao
But Tao depends on itself alone
Supremely free, self-so, it rests in its own nature
There before Heaven and Earth
Tranquil, vast, standing alone, unchanging
It provides for all things yet cannot be exhausted
It is the mother of the universe
I do not know its name
so I call it "Tao"
Forced to name it further
I call it
"The greatness of all things"
"The end of all endings"
I call it
"That which is beyond the beyond"
"That to which all things return"
From Tao comes all greatness—
It makes Heaven great
It makes Earth great
It makes man great
Mankind depends on the laws of Earth
Earth depends on the laws of Heaven
Heaven depends on the laws of Tao
But Tao depends on itself alone
Supremely free, self-so, it rests in its own nature
Verse 26
The inner is the foundation of the outer
The still is the master of the restless
The Sage travels all day
yet never leaves his inner treasure
Though the views are captivating and beg attention
he remains calm and uninvolved
Tell me, does the lord of a great empire
go out begging for rice?
One who seeks his treasure in the outer world
is cut off from his own roots
Without roots, he becomes restless
Being restless, his mind is weak
And with a mind such as this
he loses all command below Heaven
The still is the master of the restless
The Sage travels all day
yet never leaves his inner treasure
Though the views are captivating and beg attention
he remains calm and uninvolved
Tell me, does the lord of a great empire
go out begging for rice?
One who seeks his treasure in the outer world
is cut off from his own roots
Without roots, he becomes restless
Being restless, his mind is weak
And with a mind such as this
he loses all command below Heaven
Verse 27
A knower of the Truth
travels without leaving a trace
speaks without causing harm
gives without keeping an account
The door he shuts, though having no lock,
cannot be opened
The knot he ties, though using no cord,
cannot be undone
The Sage is always on the side of virtue
so everyone around him prospers
He is always on the side of truth
so everything around him is fulfilled
The path of the Sage is called
"The Path of Illumination"
He who gives himself to this path
is like a block of wood
that gives itself to the chisel–
Cut by cut it is honed to perfection
Only a student who gives himself
can receive the master's gift
If you think otherwise,
despite your knowledge, you have blundered
Giving and receiving are one
This is called
"The great wonder"
"The essential mystery"
"The very heart of all that is true"
travels without leaving a trace
speaks without causing harm
gives without keeping an account
The door he shuts, though having no lock,
cannot be opened
The knot he ties, though using no cord,
cannot be undone
The Sage is always on the side of virtue
so everyone around him prospers
He is always on the side of truth
so everything around him is fulfilled
The path of the Sage is called
"The Path of Illumination"
He who gives himself to this path
is like a block of wood
that gives itself to the chisel–
Cut by cut it is honed to perfection
Only a student who gives himself
can receive the master's gift
If you think otherwise,
despite your knowledge, you have blundered
Giving and receiving are one
This is called
"The great wonder"
"The essential mystery"
"The very heart of all that is true"
Verse 28
Hold your male side with your female side
Hold your bright side with your dull side
Hold your high side with your low side
Then you will be able to hold the whole world
When the opposing forces unite within
there comes a power abundant in its giving
and unerring in its effect
Flowing through everything
It returns one to the First Breath
Guiding everything
It returns one to No Limits
Embracing everything
It returns one to the Uncarved Block
When the Block is divided
it becomes something useful
and leaders rule with a few pieces of it
But the Sage holds the Block complete
Holding all things within himself
he preserves the Great Unity
which cannot be ruled or divided
Hold your bright side with your dull side
Hold your high side with your low side
Then you will be able to hold the whole world
When the opposing forces unite within
there comes a power abundant in its giving
and unerring in its effect
Flowing through everything
It returns one to the First Breath
Guiding everything
It returns one to No Limits
Embracing everything
It returns one to the Uncarved Block
When the Block is divided
it becomes something useful
and leaders rule with a few pieces of it
But the Sage holds the Block complete
Holding all things within himself
he preserves the Great Unity
which cannot be ruled or divided
Verse 29
Those who look down upon this world
will surely take hold and try to change things
But this is a plan
I've always seen fail
The world is Tao's own vessel
It is perfection manifest
It cannot be changed
It cannot be improved
For those who go on tampering, it's ruined
For those who try to grasp, it's gone
Allow your life to unfold naturally
Know that it too is a vessel of perfection
Just as you breathe in and breathe out
Sometimes you're ahead and other times behind
Sometimes you're strong and other times weak
Sometimes you're with people and other times alone
To the Sage
all of life is a movement toward perfection
So what need has he
for the excessive, the extravagant, or the extreme?
will surely take hold and try to change things
But this is a plan
I've always seen fail
The world is Tao's own vessel
It is perfection manifest
It cannot be changed
It cannot be improved
For those who go on tampering, it's ruined
For those who try to grasp, it's gone
Allow your life to unfold naturally
Know that it too is a vessel of perfection
Just as you breathe in and breathe out
Sometimes you're ahead and other times behind
Sometimes you're strong and other times weak
Sometimes you're with people and other times alone
To the Sage
all of life is a movement toward perfection
So what need has he
for the excessive, the extravagant, or the extreme?
Verse 30
Those who rule in accordance with Tao
do not use force against the world
For that which is forced is likely to return—
Where armies settle
Nature offers nothing but briars and thorns
After a great battle has been fought
the land is cursed, the crops fail,
the Earth lies stripped of its motherhood
A knower of the Truth does what is called for
then stops
He uses his strength but does not force things
In the same way
complete your task
seek no reward
make no claims
Without faltering
fully choose to do what you must do
This is to live without forcing
to overcome without conquering
Things that gain a place by force
will flourish for a time
but then fade away
They are not in keeping with Tao
Whatever is not in keeping with Tao
will come to an early end
do not use force against the world
For that which is forced is likely to return—
Where armies settle
Nature offers nothing but briars and thorns
After a great battle has been fought
the land is cursed, the crops fail,
the Earth lies stripped of its motherhood
A knower of the Truth does what is called for
then stops
He uses his strength but does not force things
In the same way
complete your task
seek no reward
make no claims
Without faltering
fully choose to do what you must do
This is to live without forcing
to overcome without conquering
Things that gain a place by force
will flourish for a time
but then fade away
They are not in keeping with Tao
Whatever is not in keeping with Tao
will come to an early end
Verse 31
Even the finest warrior is defeated
when he goes against natural law
By his own hand he is doomed
and all creatures are likely to despise him
One who knows Tao
never turns from life's calling
When at home he honours the side of rest
When at war he honours the side of action
Peace and tranquility are what he holds most dear
so he does not obtain weapons
But when their use is unavoidable
he employs them with fortitude and zeal
Do not flaunt your excellence
Do not rejoice over victory
With the loss of others
weep with sorrow and grief
After winning a battle
do not celebrate,
observe the rights of a funeral
One who is bound to action, proud of victory,
and delights in the misfortune of others
will never gain a thing
from this world below Heaven
when he goes against natural law
By his own hand he is doomed
and all creatures are likely to despise him
One who knows Tao
never turns from life's calling
When at home he honours the side of rest
When at war he honours the side of action
Peace and tranquility are what he holds most dear
so he does not obtain weapons
But when their use is unavoidable
he employs them with fortitude and zeal
Do not flaunt your excellence
Do not rejoice over victory
With the loss of others
weep with sorrow and grief
After winning a battle
do not celebrate,
observe the rights of a funeral
One who is bound to action, proud of victory,
and delights in the misfortune of others
will never gain a thing
from this world below Heaven
Verse 32
Tao is eternal, one without a second
Simple indeed
yet so subtle that no one can master it
If princes and kings could just hold it
All things would flock to their kingdom
Heaven and Earth would rejoice
with the dripping of sweet dew
Everyone would live in harmony,
not by official decree,
but by their own inner goodness
This world is nothing but the glory of Tao
expressed through different names and forms
One who sees the things of this world
as being real and self-existent
has lost sight of the truth
To him, every word becomes a trap
every thing becomes a prison
One who knows the truth
that underlies all things
lives in this world without danger
To him, every word reflects the universe
every moment brings enlightenment
Rivers and streams are born of the ocean
All creation is born of Tao
Just as all water flows back to become the ocean
All creation flows back to become Tao
Simple indeed
yet so subtle that no one can master it
If princes and kings could just hold it
All things would flock to their kingdom
Heaven and Earth would rejoice
with the dripping of sweet dew
Everyone would live in harmony,
not by official decree,
but by their own inner goodness
This world is nothing but the glory of Tao
expressed through different names and forms
One who sees the things of this world
as being real and self-existent
has lost sight of the truth
To him, every word becomes a trap
every thing becomes a prison
One who knows the truth
that underlies all things
lives in this world without danger
To him, every word reflects the universe
every moment brings enlightenment
Rivers and streams are born of the ocean
All creation is born of Tao
Just as all water flows back to become the ocean
All creation flows back to become Tao
Verse 33
One who knows others is intelligent
One who knows himself is enlightened
One who conquers others is strong
One who conquers himself is all-powerful
One who approaches life with force
surely gets something
One who remains content where he is
surely gets everything
One who gives himself to his position
surely lives long
One who gives himself to Tao
surely lives forever
One who knows himself is enlightened
One who conquers others is strong
One who conquers himself is all-powerful
One who approaches life with force
surely gets something
One who remains content where he is
surely gets everything
One who gives himself to his position
surely lives long
One who gives himself to Tao
surely lives forever
Verse 34
The great Tao flows everywhere
It fills everything to the left
and to the right
All things owe their existence to it
and it cannot deny any one of them
Tao is eternal
It does not favour one over the other
It brings all things to completion
without their even knowing it
Tao nourishes and protects all creatures
yet does not claim lordship over them
So we class it with the most humble
Tao is the home to which all things return
yet it wants nothing in return
So we call it "The Greatest"
The Sage is the same way–
He does not claim greatness over anything
He's not even aware of his own greatness
Tell me, what could be greater than this?
It fills everything to the left
and to the right
All things owe their existence to it
and it cannot deny any one of them
Tao is eternal
It does not favour one over the other
It brings all things to completion
without their even knowing it
Tao nourishes and protects all creatures
yet does not claim lordship over them
So we class it with the most humble
Tao is the home to which all things return
yet it wants nothing in return
So we call it "The Greatest"
The Sage is the same way–
He does not claim greatness over anything
He's not even aware of his own greatness
Tell me, what could be greater than this?
Verse 35
Hold fast to the Great Form within
and let the world pass as it may
Then the changes of life will not bring pain
but contentment, joy, and well-being
Music and sweets are passing pleasures
yet they cause people to stop
How bland and insipid are the things of this world
when one compares them with Tao!
One tastes, but the sweetness turns bitter
One sees, but the colours grow faint
One hears, but the sound fades into silence
One may look for fulfilment in this world
but his longings will never be exhausted
The only thing he ever finds
is that he himself is exhausted
and let the world pass as it may
Then the changes of life will not bring pain
but contentment, joy, and well-being
Music and sweets are passing pleasures
yet they cause people to stop
How bland and insipid are the things of this world
when one compares them with Tao!
One tastes, but the sweetness turns bitter
One sees, but the colours grow faint
One hears, but the sound fades into silence
One may look for fulfilment in this world
but his longings will never be exhausted
The only thing he ever finds
is that he himself is exhausted
Verse 36
Contraction pulls at that
which extends too far
Weakness pulls at that
which strengthens too much
Ruin pulls at that
which rises too high
Loss pulls at life
when you fill it with too much stuff
The lesson here is called
"The wisdom of obscurity"—
The gentle outlast the strong
The obscure outlast the obvious
Hence, a fish that ventures from deep water
is soon snagged by a net
A country that reveals its strength
is soon conquered by an enemy
which extends too far
Weakness pulls at that
which strengthens too much
Ruin pulls at that
which rises too high
Loss pulls at life
when you fill it with too much stuff
The lesson here is called
"The wisdom of obscurity"—
The gentle outlast the strong
The obscure outlast the obvious
Hence, a fish that ventures from deep water
is soon snagged by a net
A country that reveals its strength
is soon conquered by an enemy
Verse 37
Tao does not act
yet it is the root of all action
Tao does not move
yet it is the source of all creation
If princes and kings could hold it
everyone under them would naturally turn within
Should a doubt or old desire rise up
The Nameless Simplicity would push it down
The Nameless Simplicity frees the heart of desire
and reveals its inner silence
When there is silence
one finds peace
When there is silence
one finds the anchor of the universe within himself
yet it is the root of all action
Tao does not move
yet it is the source of all creation
If princes and kings could hold it
everyone under them would naturally turn within
Should a doubt or old desire rise up
The Nameless Simplicity would push it down
The Nameless Simplicity frees the heart of desire
and reveals its inner silence
When there is silence
one finds peace
When there is silence
one finds the anchor of the universe within himself
Verse 38
To give without seeking reward
To help without thinking it is virtuous—
therein lies the great virtue
To keep account of your action
To help with the hope of gaining merit—
therein lies no virtue
The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self
The highest kindness is to give without condition
The highest justice is to see without preference
When Tao is lost one must learn the rules of virtue
When virtue is lost, the rules of kindness
When kindness is lost, the rules of justice
When justice is lost, the rules of conduct
And when the high-blown rules of conduct are not followed
people are seized by the arm and it is forced on them
The rules of conduct
are just an outer show of devotion and loyalty—
quite confusing to the heart
And when men rely on these rules for guidance—
Oh, what ignorance abounds!
The great master follows his own nature
and not the trappings of life
It is said,
"He stays with the fruit and not the fluff"
"He stays with the firm and not the flimsy"
"He stays with the true and not the false"
To help without thinking it is virtuous—
therein lies the great virtue
To keep account of your action
To help with the hope of gaining merit—
therein lies no virtue
The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self
The highest kindness is to give without condition
The highest justice is to see without preference
When Tao is lost one must learn the rules of virtue
When virtue is lost, the rules of kindness
When kindness is lost, the rules of justice
When justice is lost, the rules of conduct
And when the high-blown rules of conduct are not followed
people are seized by the arm and it is forced on them
The rules of conduct
are just an outer show of devotion and loyalty—
quite confusing to the heart
And when men rely on these rules for guidance—
Oh, what ignorance abounds!
The great master follows his own nature
and not the trappings of life
It is said,
"He stays with the fruit and not the fluff"
"He stays with the firm and not the flimsy"
"He stays with the true and not the false"
Verse 39
From ancient times till now
the One has been the source of all attainments
By realising One
Heaven becomes clear, Earth becomes still
spirits gain power and hearts fill up with joy
By realising the One
kings and lords become instruments of peace
and creatures live joyfully upon this earth
Without the One
Heaven has no clarity and would crack
Earth has no peace and would crumble
spirits have no power and would lose their charm
Without the One
hearts would dry up, empires would fall,
all things would go lifelessly upon this earth
Long ago kings and lords called themselves
"orphaned," "lonely," and "unworthy"
What honour can there be without humility?
What heights can be reached without being low?
The pieces of a chariot are useless
unless they work in accordance with the whole
A man's life brings nothing
unless he lives in accordance with the whole universe
Playing one's part
in accordance with the universe
is true humility
So whether you're a gem in the royal court
or a stone on the common path
If you accept your part with humility
the glory of the universe will be yours
the One has been the source of all attainments
By realising One
Heaven becomes clear, Earth becomes still
spirits gain power and hearts fill up with joy
By realising the One
kings and lords become instruments of peace
and creatures live joyfully upon this earth
Without the One
Heaven has no clarity and would crack
Earth has no peace and would crumble
spirits have no power and would lose their charm
Without the One
hearts would dry up, empires would fall,
all things would go lifelessly upon this earth
Long ago kings and lords called themselves
"orphaned," "lonely," and "unworthy"
What honour can there be without humility?
What heights can be reached without being low?
The pieces of a chariot are useless
unless they work in accordance with the whole
A man's life brings nothing
unless he lives in accordance with the whole universe
Playing one's part
in accordance with the universe
is true humility
So whether you're a gem in the royal court
or a stone on the common path
If you accept your part with humility
the glory of the universe will be yours
Verse 40
The movement of Tao is to return
The way of Tao is to yield
Heaven, Earth, and all things
are born of the existent world
The existent world is born of the nothingness of Tao
The way of Tao is to yield
Heaven, Earth, and all things
are born of the existent world
The existent world is born of the nothingness of Tao
Verse 41
When the best seeker hears of Tao
he strives with great effort to know it
When an average seeker hears of Tao
he thinks of it now and again
When the poorest seeker hears of Tao
he laughs out loud
Tao is always becoming
what we have need for it to become
If it could not do this
it would not be Tao
There is an old saying,
The clear way seems clouded
The straight way seems crooked
The sure way seems unsteady
The greatest power seems weak
The purest white seems tainted
The abundant seems empty
The stable seems shaky
The certain seems false
The Great Square has no corners
The Great Vessel is never filled
A beginner may be clumsy
but after practice—what talent!
A large drum may sit silently
but when banged—what noise!
Tao lies hidden
yet it alone is the glorious light of this world
he strives with great effort to know it
When an average seeker hears of Tao
he thinks of it now and again
When the poorest seeker hears of Tao
he laughs out loud
Tao is always becoming
what we have need for it to become
If it could not do this
it would not be Tao
There is an old saying,
The clear way seems clouded
The straight way seems crooked
The sure way seems unsteady
The greatest power seems weak
The purest white seems tainted
The abundant seems empty
The stable seems shaky
The certain seems false
The Great Square has no corners
The Great Vessel is never filled
A beginner may be clumsy
but after practice—what talent!
A large drum may sit silently
but when banged—what noise!
Tao lies hidden
yet it alone is the glorious light of this world
Verse 42
Tao gives life to the one
The one gives life to the two
The two gives life to the three
The three give life to ten thousand things
All beings support yin and embrace yang
and the interplay of these two forces
fills the universe
Yet only at the still-point,
between the breathing in and the breathing out,
can one capture these two in perfect harmony
People suffer at the thought of being
without parents, without food, or without worth
Yet this is the very way that
kings and lords once described themselves
Who knows what fate may bring—
one day your loss may be your fortune
one day your fortune may be your loss
The age-old lesson that others teach, I also teach—
"As you plant, so you reap"
"As you live, so you die"
Know this to be the foundation of my teachings
The one gives life to the two
The two gives life to the three
The three give life to ten thousand things
All beings support yin and embrace yang
and the interplay of these two forces
fills the universe
Yet only at the still-point,
between the breathing in and the breathing out,
can one capture these two in perfect harmony
People suffer at the thought of being
without parents, without food, or without worth
Yet this is the very way that
kings and lords once described themselves
Who knows what fate may bring—
one day your loss may be your fortune
one day your fortune may be your loss
The age-old lesson that others teach, I also teach—
"As you plant, so you reap"
"As you live, so you die"
Know this to be the foundation of my teachings
Verse 43
The most yielding thing in the world
will overcome the most rigid
The most empty thing in the world
will overcome the most full
From this comes a lesson—
Stillness benefits more than action
Silence benefits more than words
Rare indeed are those who are still
Rare indeed are those who are silent
And so I say,
Rare indeed are those
who obtain the bounty of this world
will overcome the most rigid
The most empty thing in the world
will overcome the most full
From this comes a lesson—
Stillness benefits more than action
Silence benefits more than words
Rare indeed are those who are still
Rare indeed are those who are silent
And so I say,
Rare indeed are those
who obtain the bounty of this world
Verse 44
One’s own reputation—why the fuss?
One’s own wealth—why the concern?
I say, what you gain
is more trouble than what you lose
Love is the fruit of sacrifice
Wealth is the fruit of generosity
Be content,
rest in your own fullness—
You will not suffer from loss
You’ll avoid the snare of this world
You’ll have long life and endless blessings
One’s own wealth—why the concern?
I say, what you gain
is more trouble than what you lose
Love is the fruit of sacrifice
Wealth is the fruit of generosity
Be content,
rest in your own fullness—
You will not suffer from loss
You’ll avoid the snare of this world
You’ll have long life and endless blessings
Verse 45
The Great Perfection seems imperfect
yet this world it creates is never impaired
The Great Fullness seems empty
yet this world it creates is never lacking
Great truth seems false
Great skill seems clumsy
Great eloquence seems like babble
Keep moving and you'll miss the cold
Keep silent and you’ll beat the heat
Be tranquil like the rain of spring
Be pure like the sheen of silk
Then the Great Perfection will be perfect
and the Great Fullness will be full
yet this world it creates is never impaired
The Great Fullness seems empty
yet this world it creates is never lacking
Great truth seems false
Great skill seems clumsy
Great eloquence seems like babble
Keep moving and you'll miss the cold
Keep silent and you’ll beat the heat
Be tranquil like the rain of spring
Be pure like the sheen of silk
Then the Great Perfection will be perfect
and the Great Fullness will be full
Verse 46
When Tao is present in the empire
men follow their own nature
and riding horses work the fields
When Tao is absent from the empire
men go astray
and war horses breed on sacred ground
There is no greater loss than losing Tao
No greater curse than desire
No greater tragedy than discontentment
No greater fault than selfishness
Contentment alone is enough
Indeed, the bliss of eternity
can be found in your contentment
men follow their own nature
and riding horses work the fields
When Tao is absent from the empire
men go astray
and war horses breed on sacred ground
There is no greater loss than losing Tao
No greater curse than desire
No greater tragedy than discontentment
No greater fault than selfishness
Contentment alone is enough
Indeed, the bliss of eternity
can be found in your contentment
Verse 47
Without going outside
one can know the whole world
Without looking out the window
one can see the ways of Heaven
The farther one goes
the less one knows
Thus the Sage does not go, yet he knows
He does not look, yet he sees
He does not do, yet all is done
one can know the whole world
Without looking out the window
one can see the ways of Heaven
The farther one goes
the less one knows
Thus the Sage does not go, yet he knows
He does not look, yet he sees
He does not do, yet all is done
Verse 48
To become learned, gain daily
To obtain Tao, reduce daily
Reduce and reduce again
until all action is reduced to non-action
Then no one is left
Nothing is done
yet nothing is left undone
One who gives freely and without attachment
gets a full life in return
One who gives with the secret hope of getting
is merely engaged in business
Truly, they neither give nor receive
any of the treasure from this world below Heaven
To obtain Tao, reduce daily
Reduce and reduce again
until all action is reduced to non-action
Then no one is left
Nothing is done
yet nothing is left undone
One who gives freely and without attachment
gets a full life in return
One who gives with the secret hope of getting
is merely engaged in business
Truly, they neither give nor receive
any of the treasure from this world below Heaven
Verse 49
The Sage has no fixed heart of his own
Those who look at him
see their own hearts
Those who are good he treats with goodness
Those who are bad he also treats with goodness
because the nature of his being is good
Those who are truthful he treats with truth
Those who are not truthful he also treats with truth
because the nature of his being is truthful
The Sage lives in harmony with all below Heaven
He sees everything as his own self
He loves everyone as his own child
All people are drawn to him
every eye and ear is turned toward him
Those who look at him
see their own hearts
Those who are good he treats with goodness
Those who are bad he also treats with goodness
because the nature of his being is good
Those who are truthful he treats with truth
Those who are not truthful he also treats with truth
because the nature of his being is truthful
The Sage lives in harmony with all below Heaven
He sees everything as his own self
He loves everyone as his own child
All people are drawn to him
every eye and ear is turned toward him
Verse 50
Again and again
Men come in with birth
and go out with death
One in three are followers of life
One in three are followers of death
And those just passing from life to death
also number one in three
But they all die in the end
Why is this so?
Because they clutch to life
and cling to this passing world
I hear that one who lives by his own truth
is not like this
He walks without making footprints in this world
Going about, he does not fear the rhinoceros or tiger
Entering a battlefield, he does not fear sharp weapons
For in him the rhino can find no place to pitch its horn
The tiger no place to fix its claw
The soldier no place to thrust his blade
Why is this so?
Because he dwells in that place
where death cannot enter
Men come in with birth
and go out with death
One in three are followers of life
One in three are followers of death
And those just passing from life to death
also number one in three
But they all die in the end
Why is this so?
Because they clutch to life
and cling to this passing world
I hear that one who lives by his own truth
is not like this
He walks without making footprints in this world
Going about, he does not fear the rhinoceros or tiger
Entering a battlefield, he does not fear sharp weapons
For in him the rhino can find no place to pitch its horn
The tiger no place to fix its claw
The soldier no place to thrust his blade
Why is this so?
Because he dwells in that place
where death cannot enter
Verse 51
Tao gives all things life
Te gives them fulfilment
Nature is what shapes them
Living is what brings them to completion
Every creature honours Tao and worships Te
not by force
but through its own living and breathing
Though Tao gives life to all things
Te is what cultivates them
Te is that magic power that
raises and rears them
completes and prepares them
comforts and protects them
To create without owning
To give without expecting
To fill without claiming
This is the profound action of Tao
The highest expression of Te
Te gives them fulfilment
Nature is what shapes them
Living is what brings them to completion
Every creature honours Tao and worships Te
not by force
but through its own living and breathing
Though Tao gives life to all things
Te is what cultivates them
Te is that magic power that
raises and rears them
completes and prepares them
comforts and protects them
To create without owning
To give without expecting
To fill without claiming
This is the profound action of Tao
The highest expression of Te
Verse 52
That which created the universe
is the Mother of the world
By knowing the Mother
one knows her children
By knowing her children
one comes to know her
Such is their unity
that one does not exist without the other
Fully embrace your life
and you will share in the glory of creation
The Mother herself will be your guardian
And all her creation will be your guide
Stay with the Mother, shut the mouth, close the gates
and you are never in trouble
Abandon the Mother, open the mouth, be busy with others
and you are beyond all hope of rescue
Seeing your own smallness is called insight
Honouring your own tenderness is called strength
The sun in all its glory
reveals a passing world
Only the inner light illumines eternity
Only that light can guide us back home
Have faith
Follow your own shining
Be aware of your own awareness
On the darkest nights you will not stumble
On the brightest days you will not blink
This is called
“The Practice of Eternal Light”
is the Mother of the world
By knowing the Mother
one knows her children
By knowing her children
one comes to know her
Such is their unity
that one does not exist without the other
Fully embrace your life
and you will share in the glory of creation
The Mother herself will be your guardian
And all her creation will be your guide
Stay with the Mother, shut the mouth, close the gates
and you are never in trouble
Abandon the Mother, open the mouth, be busy with others
and you are beyond all hope of rescue
Seeing your own smallness is called insight
Honouring your own tenderness is called strength
The sun in all its glory
reveals a passing world
Only the inner light illumines eternity
Only that light can guide us back home
Have faith
Follow your own shining
Be aware of your own awareness
On the darkest nights you will not stumble
On the brightest days you will not blink
This is called
“The Practice of Eternal Light”
Verse 53
If I had the least bit of wisdom
I could follow the path of Tao quite well
My only fear would be trying to go my own way
The Great Path is simple and direct
yet people love to take the side-routes
See how magnificent the courts have become
The women are dressed in colourful gowns
The men carry well-crafted swords
Food and drink overflow
Wealth and finery abound
Yet in the shadow of all this splendour
the fields grow barren
the granaries are all buy empty
I say this pomp at the expense of others
is like boasting of thieves after a looting
Surely it is contrary to Tao
Surely it cuts against the grain of the whole empire
I could follow the path of Tao quite well
My only fear would be trying to go my own way
The Great Path is simple and direct
yet people love to take the side-routes
See how magnificent the courts have become
The women are dressed in colourful gowns
The men carry well-crafted swords
Food and drink overflow
Wealth and finery abound
Yet in the shadow of all this splendour
the fields grow barren
the granaries are all buy empty
I say this pomp at the expense of others
is like boasting of thieves after a looting
Surely it is contrary to Tao
Surely it cuts against the grain of the whole empire
Verse 54
Truth, once established, can never be uprooted
Goodness, once imbibed, can never be stripped away
A sacrifice to a higher cause is never lost
An offering to an ancestor never goes to waste
When a person embodies Tao
his heart becomes true
When a family embodies Tao
it thrives
When a village embodies Tao
it is protected
When a country embodies Tao
it prospers
When the world embodies Tao
it reveals its perfection
Tao is everywhere
it has become everything
To truly see it, see it as it is
In a person, see is as a person
In a family, see it as a family
In a country, see it as a country
In the world, see it as the world
How have I come to know all this?
Tao has shown me—
Tao as all this!
Goodness, once imbibed, can never be stripped away
A sacrifice to a higher cause is never lost
An offering to an ancestor never goes to waste
When a person embodies Tao
his heart becomes true
When a family embodies Tao
it thrives
When a village embodies Tao
it is protected
When a country embodies Tao
it prospers
When the world embodies Tao
it reveals its perfection
Tao is everywhere
it has become everything
To truly see it, see it as it is
In a person, see is as a person
In a family, see it as a family
In a country, see it as a country
In the world, see it as the world
How have I come to know all this?
Tao has shown me—
Tao as all this!
Verse 55
One who embraces Tao
will become pure and innocent
like a newborn babe
Deadly insects will not sting him
Wild beasts will not attack him
Birds of prey will not strike him
He is oblivious to the union of male and female
yet his vitality is full
his inner spirit is complete
He can cry all day without straining
so perfect is his harmony
so magically does he blend with this world
Know this harmony—it brings the Eternal
Know the Eternal—it brings enlightenment
A full life—this is your blessing
A gentle heart—this is your strength
Things in harmony with the Tao remain
Things that are forced, grow for a while
but then wither away
This is not Tao
Whatever is not Tao
comes to an early end
will become pure and innocent
like a newborn babe
Deadly insects will not sting him
Wild beasts will not attack him
Birds of prey will not strike him
He is oblivious to the union of male and female
yet his vitality is full
his inner spirit is complete
He can cry all day without straining
so perfect is his harmony
so magically does he blend with this world
Know this harmony—it brings the Eternal
Know the Eternal—it brings enlightenment
A full life—this is your blessing
A gentle heart—this is your strength
Things in harmony with the Tao remain
Things that are forced, grow for a while
but then wither away
This is not Tao
Whatever is not Tao
comes to an early end
Verse 56
One who speaks does not know
One who knows does not speak
Shut the mouth
Close the gates
Blunt the sharpness
Loosen the knots
Temper the glare
Become one with the dust of the world
This is called
“The Secret Embrace”
One who knows this secret
is not moved by attachment or aversion,
swayed by profit or loss,
nor touched by honour or disgrace
He is far beyond the cares of men
yet comes to hold the dearest place in their hearts
One who knows does not speak
Shut the mouth
Close the gates
Blunt the sharpness
Loosen the knots
Temper the glare
Become one with the dust of the world
This is called
“The Secret Embrace”
One who knows this secret
is not moved by attachment or aversion,
swayed by profit or loss,
nor touched by honour or disgrace
He is far beyond the cares of men
yet comes to hold the dearest place in their hearts
Verse 57
To rule the state, have a known plan
To win a battle, have an unknown plan
To gain the universe, have no plan at all
Let the universe itself
reveal to you its splendour
How do I know this should be so?
Because of this–
The more restrictions, the more poverty
The more weapons, the more fear in the land
The more cleverness, the more strange events
The more laws, the more lawbreakers
Thus the Sages say,
Act with a pure heart and the people will be transformed
Love your own life and the people will be uplifted
Give without conditions and the people will prosper
Want nothing and the people will find everything
To win a battle, have an unknown plan
To gain the universe, have no plan at all
Let the universe itself
reveal to you its splendour
How do I know this should be so?
Because of this–
The more restrictions, the more poverty
The more weapons, the more fear in the land
The more cleverness, the more strange events
The more laws, the more lawbreakers
Thus the Sages say,
Act with a pure heart and the people will be transformed
Love your own life and the people will be uplifted
Give without conditions and the people will prosper
Want nothing and the people will find everything
Verse 58
When the ruler knows his own heart
the people are simple and pure
When he meddles with their lives
they become restless and disturbed
Bad fortune, yes—
it rests upon good fortune
Good fortune, yes—
it hides within bad fortune
Oh the things that Heaven sends—
Who can know their final aim?
Who can tell of their endless ways?
Today the righteous turn to trickery
Tomorrow the good turn to darkness
Oh what delusion abounds
and every day it grows worse!
But the Sage is here upon the Earth
to gently guide us back
He cuts but does not harm
He straightens but does not disrupt
He illumines but does not dazzle
the people are simple and pure
When he meddles with their lives
they become restless and disturbed
Bad fortune, yes—
it rests upon good fortune
Good fortune, yes—
it hides within bad fortune
Oh the things that Heaven sends—
Who can know their final aim?
Who can tell of their endless ways?
Today the righteous turn to trickery
Tomorrow the good turn to darkness
Oh what delusion abounds
and every day it grows worse!
But the Sage is here upon the Earth
to gently guide us back
He cuts but does not harm
He straightens but does not disrupt
He illumines but does not dazzle
Verse 59
Rule the people and serve Heaven
yet hold nothing more dear than the Mother’s harvest
Let every thought and every breath
be the fruit of your offering—
Do it now
Let her power run thick in your blood
There will be no obstacle you cannot overcome
No limit you cannot surpass
No empire you cannot rule
Ah, but in all your glory
never lose sight of the Mother
Without her
your empire will crumble
your power will waste away
For the Mother brings the harvest
She alone causes all things to endure
We call this
“Deep roots and a solid trunk”
“The way of long life and lasting insight”
yet hold nothing more dear than the Mother’s harvest
Let every thought and every breath
be the fruit of your offering—
Do it now
Let her power run thick in your blood
There will be no obstacle you cannot overcome
No limit you cannot surpass
No empire you cannot rule
Ah, but in all your glory
never lose sight of the Mother
Without her
your empire will crumble
your power will waste away
For the Mother brings the harvest
She alone causes all things to endure
We call this
“Deep roots and a solid trunk”
“The way of long life and lasting insight”
Verse 60
Govern the nation as you would fry a small fish
When Tao is present in the empire
dark spirits lose their power
It’s not that they have no power
it’s that their power can’t harm anyone
When Tao is present
the people enjoy the blessing of Heaven
They find unity
They find peace
What’s this about spirits doing harm?
The Sage is approaching
and they are rushing in to sweep his path!
When Tao is present in the empire
dark spirits lose their power
It’s not that they have no power
it’s that their power can’t harm anyone
When Tao is present
the people enjoy the blessing of Heaven
They find unity
They find peace
What’s this about spirits doing harm?
The Sage is approaching
and they are rushing in to sweep his path!
Verse 61
A great state is like a river basin
that receives everything flowing into it
It is the place where all things come to rest
where all the world is welcomed
The low is greater than the high
The still is greater than the restless
The low country wins over its neighbour
The still female wins over the male
The Sage wants to uplift the people
The people want to follow the Sage
only by being low does this come to be
The Sage bows to the people
The people bow to the Sage
And when they lift up their heads
only greatness remains
that receives everything flowing into it
It is the place where all things come to rest
where all the world is welcomed
The low is greater than the high
The still is greater than the restless
The low country wins over its neighbour
The still female wins over the male
The Sage wants to uplift the people
The people want to follow the Sage
only by being low does this come to be
The Sage bows to the people
The people bow to the Sage
And when they lift up their heads
only greatness remains
Verse 62
Tao is the treasure-house
the true nature
the secret source of everything
It is the great wealth of those who are awake
the great protector of those still sleeping
If a person seems wicked
do not cast him away—
Awaken him with your words
Elevate him with your deeds
Requite his injury with your kindness
Do not cast him away
cast away his wickedness
When the emperor is crowned
or the three ministers installed
they receive a gift of jade and horses
But how can this compare
to sitting still and gaining the treasure of Tao
This is why the ancient masters
honoured the inward path of Tao
Did they not say
“Seek and you will find”?
“Err and you will be forgiven”?
Within, within
This is where the world’s treasure has always been
the true nature
the secret source of everything
It is the great wealth of those who are awake
the great protector of those still sleeping
If a person seems wicked
do not cast him away—
Awaken him with your words
Elevate him with your deeds
Requite his injury with your kindness
Do not cast him away
cast away his wickedness
When the emperor is crowned
or the three ministers installed
they receive a gift of jade and horses
But how can this compare
to sitting still and gaining the treasure of Tao
This is why the ancient masters
honoured the inward path of Tao
Did they not say
“Seek and you will find”?
“Err and you will be forgiven”?
Within, within
This is where the world’s treasure has always been
Verse 63
Act without acting
Give without giving
Taste without tasting
Tao alone becomes all things great and all things small
It is the One in many
It is the many in One
Let Tao become all your actions
then your wants will become your treasure
your injury will become your blessing
Take on difficulties while they are still easy
Do great things while they are still small
Step by step the world’s burden is lifted
Piece by piece the world’s treasure is amassed
So the Sage stays with his daily task
and accomplishes the greatest thing
Beware of those who promise a quick and easy way
for much ease brings many difficulties
Follow your path to the end
Accept difficulty as an opportunity
This is the sure way to end up
with no difficulties at all
Give without giving
Taste without tasting
Tao alone becomes all things great and all things small
It is the One in many
It is the many in One
Let Tao become all your actions
then your wants will become your treasure
your injury will become your blessing
Take on difficulties while they are still easy
Do great things while they are still small
Step by step the world’s burden is lifted
Piece by piece the world’s treasure is amassed
So the Sage stays with his daily task
and accomplishes the greatest thing
Beware of those who promise a quick and easy way
for much ease brings many difficulties
Follow your path to the end
Accept difficulty as an opportunity
This is the sure way to end up
with no difficulties at all
Verse 64
A still mind can easily hold the truth
The difficulties yet to come can easily be avoided
The feeble are easily broken
The small are easily scattered
Begin your task before it becomes a burden
Put your things in order before they get out of hand
Remember,
A tree that fills a man’s embrace grows from a seedling
A tower nine stories high starts with one brick
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Act and it’s ruined
Grab and it’s gone
People on the verge of success often lose patience
and fail in their undertakings
Be steady from the beginning to the end
and you won’t bring on failure
The Sage desires that which has no desires
and teaches that which cannot be taught
He does not value the objects held by a few
but only that which is held by everyone
He guides men back to their own treasure
and helps all things come to know
the truth they have forgotten
All this he does without a stir
The difficulties yet to come can easily be avoided
The feeble are easily broken
The small are easily scattered
Begin your task before it becomes a burden
Put your things in order before they get out of hand
Remember,
A tree that fills a man’s embrace grows from a seedling
A tower nine stories high starts with one brick
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Act and it’s ruined
Grab and it’s gone
People on the verge of success often lose patience
and fail in their undertakings
Be steady from the beginning to the end
and you won’t bring on failure
The Sage desires that which has no desires
and teaches that which cannot be taught
He does not value the objects held by a few
but only that which is held by everyone
He guides men back to their own treasure
and helps all things come to know
the truth they have forgotten
All this he does without a stir
Verse 65
The ancient ones were simple-hearted
and blended with the common people
They did not shine forth
They did not rule with cleverness
So the nation was blessed
Now the rulers are filled with clever ideas
and the lives of people are filled with hardship
So the nation is cursed
He who knows the play of Tao and Te
knows the nature of the universe
Tao brings forth Te from its own being
Te expands in all directions
filling every corner of the world
becoming the splendour of all creation
Yet at every moment Te seeks Tao
This is the movement that guides the universe
This is the impulse
that leads all things back home
and blended with the common people
They did not shine forth
They did not rule with cleverness
So the nation was blessed
Now the rulers are filled with clever ideas
and the lives of people are filled with hardship
So the nation is cursed
He who knows the play of Tao and Te
knows the nature of the universe
Tao brings forth Te from its own being
Te expands in all directions
filling every corner of the world
becoming the splendour of all creation
Yet at every moment Te seeks Tao
This is the movement that guides the universe
This is the impulse
that leads all things back home
Verse 66
Why do the hundred rivers
turn and rush toward the sea?
Because it naturally stays below them
He who wishes to rule over people
must speak as if below them
He who wishes to lead the people
must walk as if behind them
So the Sage rules over the people
but he does not weigh them down
He leads the people
but he does not block their way
The Sage stays low
so the world never tires of exalting him
He remains a servant
so the world never tires of making him its king
turn and rush toward the sea?
Because it naturally stays below them
He who wishes to rule over people
must speak as if below them
He who wishes to lead the people
must walk as if behind them
So the Sage rules over the people
but he does not weigh them down
He leads the people
but he does not block their way
The Sage stays low
so the world never tires of exalting him
He remains a servant
so the world never tires of making him its king
Verse 67
All the world talks about my Tao
with such familiarity—
What folly!
Tao is not something found at the marketplace
or passed on from father to son
It is not something to be gained by knowing
or lost by forgetting
If Tao were like this
It would have been lost and forgotten long ago
I have three treasures that I hold dear
the first is love
the second is moderation
the third is humility
With love one is fearless
With moderation one is abundant
With humility one can fill the highest position
Now if one is fearless but has no love
abundant but has no moderation
rises up but has no humility
Surely he is doomed
Love vanquishes all attackers
It is impregnable in defence
When Heaven wants to protect someone
does it send an army?
No, it protects him with love
with such familiarity—
What folly!
Tao is not something found at the marketplace
or passed on from father to son
It is not something to be gained by knowing
or lost by forgetting
If Tao were like this
It would have been lost and forgotten long ago
I have three treasures that I hold dear
the first is love
the second is moderation
the third is humility
With love one is fearless
With moderation one is abundant
With humility one can fill the highest position
Now if one is fearless but has no love
abundant but has no moderation
rises up but has no humility
Surely he is doomed
Love vanquishes all attackers
It is impregnable in defence
When Heaven wants to protect someone
does it send an army?
No, it protects him with love
Verse 68
The best warrior
leads without haste
fights without anger
overcomes without confrontation
He puts himself below
and brings out the highest in his men
This is the virtue of not confronting
of working with the abilities you have
of complying with the laws of Heaven
This is the ancient path that leads to perfection
leads without haste
fights without anger
overcomes without confrontation
He puts himself below
and brings out the highest in his men
This is the virtue of not confronting
of working with the abilities you have
of complying with the laws of Heaven
This is the ancient path that leads to perfection
Verse 69
The great warriors have a saying,
“I dare not act as host
but would rather be a guest
I dare not advance an inch
but would rather retreat a foot”
So advance but do not use your feet
Seize but do not use your arms
Cut but do not use your sword
Fight but do not use your own power
There is no greater misfortune than feeling
“I have an enemy”
For when “I” and “enemy” exist together
there is no room left for my treasure
Thus, when two opponents meet
the one without an enemy
will surely triumph
“I dare not act as host
but would rather be a guest
I dare not advance an inch
but would rather retreat a foot”
So advance but do not use your feet
Seize but do not use your arms
Cut but do not use your sword
Fight but do not use your own power
There is no greater misfortune than feeling
“I have an enemy”
For when “I” and “enemy” exist together
there is no room left for my treasure
Thus, when two opponents meet
the one without an enemy
will surely triumph
Verse 70
My teachings are very easy to understand
and very easy to practice
Yet so few in this world understand
and so few are able to practice
My words arise from that ancient source
My actions are those of the universe itself
If people do not know these
how can they know me?
Those who follow my ways are rare
and so I treasure them
Even if they wear the clothes of a beggar
they carry a priceless gem within
and very easy to practice
Yet so few in this world understand
and so few are able to practice
My words arise from that ancient source
My actions are those of the universe itself
If people do not know these
how can they know me?
Those who follow my ways are rare
and so I treasure them
Even if they wear the clothes of a beggar
they carry a priceless gem within
Verse 71
Knowing what cannot be known—
what a lofty aim!
Not knowing what needs to be known—
what a terrible result!
Only when your sickness becomes sick
will your sickness disappear
The Sage’s illness has become ill
his renunciation has been renounced
Now he is free
And every place in the world
is the perfect place to be
what a lofty aim!
Not knowing what needs to be known—
what a terrible result!
Only when your sickness becomes sick
will your sickness disappear
The Sage’s illness has become ill
his renunciation has been renounced
Now he is free
And every place in the world
is the perfect place to be
Verse 72
When the people do not fear worldly power
a greater power will arrive
Don’t limit the view of yourself
Don’t despise the conditions of your birth
Don’t resist the natural course of your life
In this way you will never weary of this world
The Sage knows himself, but not as himself
he loves himself, but not as himself
he honours himself, but not as himself
Thus, he discards the view of his own self
and chooses the view of the universe
a greater power will arrive
Don’t limit the view of yourself
Don’t despise the conditions of your birth
Don’t resist the natural course of your life
In this way you will never weary of this world
The Sage knows himself, but not as himself
he loves himself, but not as himself
he honours himself, but not as himself
Thus, he discards the view of his own self
and chooses the view of the universe
Verse 73
Bold action against others leads to death
Bold action in harmony with Tao leads to life
Good fortune, bad fortune
One seems to bring benefit
the other to cause harm
But Heaven rejects them both
Both, in the end, tether men to this world
Who can know the reasons of Heaven?
Who can know its endless ways?
Not even the Sage has an answer to this one
Heaven’s way does not strive
yet it always overcomes
It does not speak, yet it responds
It is not summoned, yet it appears
It does not hurry, yet it completes everything on time
The net of Heaven spans the universe
yet not the slightest thing ever slips by
Bold action in harmony with Tao leads to life
Good fortune, bad fortune
One seems to bring benefit
the other to cause harm
But Heaven rejects them both
Both, in the end, tether men to this world
Who can know the reasons of Heaven?
Who can know its endless ways?
Not even the Sage has an answer to this one
Heaven’s way does not strive
yet it always overcomes
It does not speak, yet it responds
It is not summoned, yet it appears
It does not hurry, yet it completes everything on time
The net of Heaven spans the universe
yet not the slightest thing ever slips by
Verse 74
If people do not fear death
why threaten them with it?
But suppose they did fear death
and this was the fate handed to lawbreakers
Who would dare to do the killing?
There is always a Lord of Death
He who takes the place of the Lord of Death
is like one who cuts with the blade
of a master carpenter
Whoever cuts with the blade of a master carpenter
is sure to cut his own hands
why threaten them with it?
But suppose they did fear death
and this was the fate handed to lawbreakers
Who would dare to do the killing?
There is always a Lord of Death
He who takes the place of the Lord of Death
is like one who cuts with the blade
of a master carpenter
Whoever cuts with the blade of a master carpenter
is sure to cut his own hands
Verse 75
Why are the people starving?—
Because their grain is being eaten up by taxes
That’s why they’re starving
Why are the people rebellious?—
Because those above them meddle in their lives
That’s why they’re rebellious
Why do people regard death so lightly?—
Because they are so involved with their own living
That’s why they regard death so lightly
In the end,
The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on
and gained by those who let go
Because their grain is being eaten up by taxes
That’s why they’re starving
Why are the people rebellious?—
Because those above them meddle in their lives
That’s why they’re rebellious
Why do people regard death so lightly?—
Because they are so involved with their own living
That’s why they regard death so lightly
In the end,
The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on
and gained by those who let go
Verse 76
When life begins
we are tender and weak
When life ends
we are stiff and rigid
All things, including the grass and trees,
are soft and pliable in life
dry and brittle in death
So the soft and supple
are the companions of life
While the stiff and unyielding
are the companions of death
An army that cannot yield
will be defeated
A tree that cannot bend
will crack in the wind
Thus by Nature’s own decree
the hard and strong are defeated
while the soft and gentle are triumphant
we are tender and weak
When life ends
we are stiff and rigid
All things, including the grass and trees,
are soft and pliable in life
dry and brittle in death
So the soft and supple
are the companions of life
While the stiff and unyielding
are the companions of death
An army that cannot yield
will be defeated
A tree that cannot bend
will crack in the wind
Thus by Nature’s own decree
the hard and strong are defeated
while the soft and gentle are triumphant
Verse 77
Heaven operates like the bending of a bow—
the high it pulls down
the low it brings up
It takes from that which has too much
And gives to that which has too little
The way of man is otherwise—
he takes from that which is depleted
and gives to that which has too much
Who can offer an abundance to the world?—
One who has Tao
Such a one can give like the heavens
The Sage gives
without relying on his own effort
He completes
without waiting for reward
He illumines
without stepping from the shadow
the high it pulls down
the low it brings up
It takes from that which has too much
And gives to that which has too little
The way of man is otherwise—
he takes from that which is depleted
and gives to that which has too much
Who can offer an abundance to the world?—
One who has Tao
Such a one can give like the heavens
The Sage gives
without relying on his own effort
He completes
without waiting for reward
He illumines
without stepping from the shadow
Verse 78
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water
Yet for attacking the hard and strong
none can triumph so easily
It is weak, yet none can equal it
It is soft, yet none can damage it
It is yielding, yet none can wear it away
Everyone knows that the soft overcomes the hard
and the yielding triumphs over the rigid
Why then so little faith?
Why can no one practice it?
So the Sages say,
fulfil even the lowest position
love even the weakest creature
Then you will be called
“Lord of every offering”
“King of all below Heaven”
is as soft and yielding as water
Yet for attacking the hard and strong
none can triumph so easily
It is weak, yet none can equal it
It is soft, yet none can damage it
It is yielding, yet none can wear it away
Everyone knows that the soft overcomes the hard
and the yielding triumphs over the rigid
Why then so little faith?
Why can no one practice it?
So the Sages say,
fulfil even the lowest position
love even the weakest creature
Then you will be called
“Lord of every offering”
“King of all below Heaven”
Verse 79
After settling a great dispute
some resentment is sure to remain
Being content with what you have
is always best in the end
The Sage always assumes the debt
as if holding the left side of a contract
He gives and gives, and wants nothing in return
One with true virtue
always seeks a way to give
One who lacks true virtue
always seeks a way to get
To the giver comes the fullness of life
to the taker just an empty hand
Though the Tao of Heaven has no favourites
it always sides with the one who has a pure heart
some resentment is sure to remain
Being content with what you have
is always best in the end
The Sage always assumes the debt
as if holding the left side of a contract
He gives and gives, and wants nothing in return
One with true virtue
always seeks a way to give
One who lacks true virtue
always seeks a way to get
To the giver comes the fullness of life
to the taker just an empty hand
Though the Tao of Heaven has no favourites
it always sides with the one who has a pure heart
Verse 80
Let every state be simple
like a small village with few people
There may be tools to speed things up
ten or a hundred times
yet no one will care to use them
There may be boats and carriages
yet they will remain without riders
There may be armour and weaponry
yet they will sit collecting dust
The people must take death seriously
and not waste their lives in distant lands
Let them return
to the knotting of cord
Let them enjoy their food
and care for their clothing
Let them be content in their homes
and joyful in the way they live
Neighbouring villages are within sight of each other
Roosters and dogs can be heard in the distance
Should a man grow old and die
without ever leaving his village
let him feel as though there was nothing he missed
like a small village with few people
There may be tools to speed things up
ten or a hundred times
yet no one will care to use them
There may be boats and carriages
yet they will remain without riders
There may be armour and weaponry
yet they will sit collecting dust
The people must take death seriously
and not waste their lives in distant lands
Let them return
to the knotting of cord
Let them enjoy their food
and care for their clothing
Let them be content in their homes
and joyful in the way they live
Neighbouring villages are within sight of each other
Roosters and dogs can be heard in the distance
Should a man grow old and die
without ever leaving his village
let him feel as though there was nothing he missed
Verse 81
Words born of the mind are not true
True words are not born of the mind
Those who have virtue do not look for faults
Those who look for faults have no virtue
Those who come to know It
do not rely on learning
Those who rely on learning
do not come to know It
The Sage sees the world
as an expansion of his own self
So what need has he to accumulate things?
By giving to others
he gains more and more
By serving others
he receives everything
Heaven gives,
and all things turn out for the best
The Sage lives,
and all things go as the Tao goes
all things move as the wind blows
True words are not born of the mind
Those who have virtue do not look for faults
Those who look for faults have no virtue
Those who come to know It
do not rely on learning
Those who rely on learning
do not come to know It
The Sage sees the world
as an expansion of his own self
So what need has he to accumulate things?
By giving to others
he gains more and more
By serving others
he receives everything
Heaven gives,
and all things turn out for the best
The Sage lives,
and all things go as the Tao goes
all things move as the wind blows
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