From 55e363fcff5a3261cbbef4436fa417a2ef60f3e4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: wassname Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:47:41 +0800 Subject: [PATCH] tao w 2 books --- source/content/tao/1972-gia-fu-feng.md | 1357 ++++++++++ source/content/tao/1988-stephen-mitchell.md | 1562 ++++++++++++ source/content/tao/1990-victor-h-mair.md | 1376 +++++++++++ source/content/tao/1993-addis-lombardo.md | 595 +++++ source/content/tao/1994-derek-lin.md | 1371 ++++++++++ source/content/tao/1996-j-h-mcdonald.md | 1556 ++++++++++++ source/content/tao/2000-jim-clatfelter.md | 1433 +++++++++++ source/content/tao/2002-david-hinton.md | 1150 +++++++++ source/content/tao/2004-ron-hogan.md | 1924 +++++++++++++++ source/content/tao/2005-agnieszka-solska.md | 1510 ++++++++++++ source/content/tao/2009-red-pine.md | 1253 ++++++++++ source/content/tao/2010-ames-and-hall.md | 2468 +++++++++++++++++++ source/content/tao/config.json | 21 + 13 files changed, 17576 insertions(+) create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1972-gia-fu-feng.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1988-stephen-mitchell.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1990-victor-h-mair.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1993-addis-lombardo.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1994-derek-lin.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/1996-j-h-mcdonald.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2000-jim-clatfelter.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2002-david-hinton.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2004-ron-hogan.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2005-agnieszka-solska.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2009-red-pine.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/2010-ames-and-hall.md create mode 100644 source/content/tao/config.json diff --git a/source/content/tao/1972-gia-fu-feng.md b/source/content/tao/1972-gia-fu-feng.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee68c11 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1972-gia-fu-feng.md @@ -0,0 +1,1357 @@ +Translator: Gia-Fu Feng +Year: 1972 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html) +Code: gff + +## 1 + +The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. +The name that can be named is not the eternal name. +The nameless is the beginning of heaven and Earth. +The named is the mother of the ten thousand things. +Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. +Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations. +These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. +Darkness within darkness. +The gate to all mystery. + +## 2 + +Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. +All can know good as good only because there is evil. + +Therefore having and not having arise together. +Difficult and easy complement each other. +Long and short contrast each other: +High and low rest upon each other; +Voice and sound harmonize each other; +Front and back follow one another. + +Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking. +The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease, +Creating, yet not possessing. +Working, yet not taking credit. +Work is done, then forgotten. +Therefore it lasts forever. + +## 3 + +Not exalting the gifted prevents quarreling. +Not collecting treasures prevents stealing. +Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart. + +The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones. +If men lack knowledge and desire, then clever people will not try to interfere. +If nothing is done, then all will be well. + +## 4 + +The Tao is an empty vessel; it is used, but never filled. +Oh, unfathomable source of ten thousand things! +Blunt the sharpness, +Untangle the knot, +Soften the glare, +Merge with dust. +Oh, hidden deep but ever present! +I do not know from whence it comes. +It is the forefather of the gods. + +## 5 + +Heaven and Earth are impartial; +They see the ten thousand things as straw dogs. +The wise are impartial; +They see the people as straw dogs. + +The space between heaven and Earth is like a bellows. +The shape changes but not the form; +The more it moves, the more it yields. +More words count less. +Hold fast to the center. + +## 6 + +The valley spirit never dies; +It is the woman, primal mother. +Her gateway is the root of heaven and Earth. +It is like a veil barely seen. +Use it; it will never fail. + +## 7 + +Heaven and Earth last forever. +Why do heaven and Earth last forever? +They are unborn, +So ever living. +The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead. +He is detached, thus at one with all. +Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment. + +## 8 + +The highest good is like water. +Water give life to the ten thousand things and does not strive. +It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao. + +In dwelling, be close to the land. +In meditation, go deep in the heart. +In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. +In speech, be true. +In ruling, be just. +In daily life, be competent. +In action, be aware of the time and the season. + +No fight: No blame. + +## 9 + +Better to stop short than fill to the brim. +Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. +Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. +Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. +Retire when the work is done. +This is the way of heaven. + +## 10 + +Carrying body and soul and embracing the one, +Can you avoid separation? +Attending fully and becoming supple, +Can you be as a newborn babe? +Washing and cleansing the primal vision, +Can you be without stain? +Loving all men and ruling the country, +Can you be without cleverness? +Opening and closing the gates of heaven, +Can you play the role of woman? +Understanding and being open to all things, +Are you able to do nothing? +Giving birth and nourishing, +Bearing yet not possessing, +Working yet not taking credit, +Leading yet not dominating, +This is the Primal Virtue. + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub; +It is the center hole that makes it useful. +Shape clay into a vessel; +It is the space within that makes it useful. +Cut doors and windows for a room; +It is the holes which make it useful. +Therefore benefit comes from what is there; +Usefulness from what is not there. + +## 12 + +The five colors blind the eye. +The five tones deafen the ear. +The five flavors dull the taste. +Racing and hunting madden the mind. +Precious things lead one astray. + +Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees. +He lets go of that and chooses this. + +## 13 + +Accept disgrace willingly. +Accept misfortune as the human condition. + +What do you mean by "Accept disgrace willingly"? +Accept being unimportant. +Do not be concerned with loss or gain. +This is called "accepting disgrace willingly." + +What do you mean by "Accept misfortune as the human condition"? +Misfortune comes from having a body. +Without a body, how could there be misfortune? + +Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things. +Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things. + +## 14 + +Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form. +Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound. +Grasp, it cannot be held - it is intangible. +These three are indefinable; +Therefore they are joined in one. + +From above it is not bright; +From below it is not dark: +An unbroken thread beyond description. +It returns to nothingness. +The form of the formless, +The image of the imageless, +It is called indefinable and beyond imagination. + +Stand before it and there is no beginning. +Follow it and there is no end. +Stay with the ancient Tao, +Move with the present. + +Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao. + +## 15 + +The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive. +The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable. +Because it is unfathomable, +All we can do is describe their appearance. +Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream. +Alert, like men aware of danger. +Courteous, like visiting guests. +Yielding like ice about to melt. +Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood. +Hollow, like caves. +Opaque, like muddy pools. + +Who can wait quietly while the mud settles? +Who can remain still until the moment of action? +Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment. +Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change. + +## 16 + +Empty yourself of everything. +Let the mind become still. +The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return. +They grow and flourish and then return to the source. +Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. +The way of nature is unchanging. +Knowing constancy is insight. +Not knowing constancy leads to disaster. +Knowing constancy, the mind is open. +With an open mind, you will be openhearted. +Being openhearted, you will act royally. +Being royal, you will attain the divine. +Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao. +Being at one with the Tao is eternal. +And though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away. + +## 17 + +The very highest if barely known. +Then comes that which people know and love. +Then that which is feared, +Then that which is despised. + +Who does not trust enough will not be trusted. + +When actions are performed +Without unnecessary speech, +People say, "We did it!" + +## 18 + +When the great Tao is forgotten, +Kindness and morality arise. +When wisdom and intelligence are born, +The great pretense begins. + +When there is no peace within the family, +Filial piety and devotion arise. +When the country is confused and in chaos, +Loyal ministers appear. + +## 19 + +Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, +And it will be a hundred times better for everyone. + +Give up kindness, renounce morality, +And men will rediscover filial piety and love. + +Give up ingenuity, renounce profit, +And bandits and thieves will disappear. + +These three are outward forms alone; they are not sufficient in themselves. +It is more important +To see the simplicity, +To realize one's true nature, +To cast off selfishness +And temper desire. + +## 20 + +Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles. + +Is there a difference between yes and no? +Is there a difference between good and evil? +Must I fear what others fear? What nonsense! +Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox. +In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace, +But I alone am drifting, not knowing where I am. +Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile, +I am alone, without a place to go. + +Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing. +I am a fool. Oh, yes! I am confused. +Others are clear and bright, +But I alone am dim and weak. +Others are sharp and clever, +But I alone am dull and stupid. +Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea, +Without direction, like the restless wind. + +Everyone else is busy, +But I alone am aimless and depressed. +I am different. +I am nourished by the great mother. + +## 21 + +The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone. +The Tao is elusive and intangible. +Oh, it is intangible and elusive, and yet within is image. +Oh, it is elusive and intangible, and yet within is form. +Oh, it is dim and dark, and yet within is essence. +This essence is very real, and therein lies faith. +From the very beginning until now its name has never been forgotten. +Thus I perceive the creation. +How do I know the ways of creation? +Because of this. + +## 22 + +Yield and overcome; +Bend and be straight; +Empty and be full; +Wear out and be new; +Have little and gain; +Have much and be confused. + +Therefore the wise embrace the one +And set an example to all. +Not putting on a display, +They shine forth. +Not justifying themselves, +They are distinguished. +Not boasting, +They receive recognition. +Not bragging, +They never falter. +They do not quarrel, +So no one quarrels with them. +Therefore the ancients say, "Yield and overcome." +Is that an empty saying? +Be really whole, +And all things will come to you. + +## 23 + +To talk little is natural. +High winds do not last all morning. +Heavy rain does not last all day. +Why is this? Heaven and Earth! +If heaven and Earth cannot make things eternal, +How is it possible for man? + +He who follows the Tao +Is at one with the Tao. +He who is virtuous +Experiences Virtue. +He who loses the way +Is lost. +When you are at one with the Tao, +The Tao welcomes you. +When you are at one with Virtue, +The Virtue is always there. +When you are at one with loss, +The loss is experienced willingly. + +He who does not trust enough +Will not be trusted. + +## 24 + +He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. +He who strides cannot maintain the pace. +He who makes a show is not enlightened. +He who is self-righteous is not respected. +He who boasts achieves nothing. +He who brags will not endure. +According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." +They do not bring happiness. +therefore followers of the Tao avoid them. + +## 25 + +Something mysteriously formed, +Born before heaven and Earth. +In the silence and the void, +Standing alone and unchanging, +Ever present and in motion. +Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things. +I do not know its name +Call it Tao. +For lack of a better word, I call it great. + +Being great, it flows +It flows far away. +Having gone far, it returns. + +Therefore, "Tao is great; +Heaven is great; +Earth is great; +The king is also great." +These are the four great powers of the universe, +And the king is one of them. + +Man follows Earth. +Earth follows heaven. +Heaven follows the Tao. +Tao follows what is natural. + +## 26 + +The heavy is the root of the light. +The still is the master of unrest. + +Therefore the sage, traveling all day, +Does not lose sight of his baggage. +Though there are beautiful things to be seen, +He remains unattached and calm. + +Why should the lord of ten thousand chariots act lightly in public? +To be light is to lose one's root. +To be restless is to lose one's control. + +## 27 + +A good walker leaves no tracks; +A good speaker makes no slips; +A good reckoner needs no tally. +A good door needs no lock, +Yet no one can open it. +Good binding requires no knots, +Yet no one can loosen it. + +Therefore the sage takes care of all men +And abandons no one. +He takes care of all things +And abandons nothing. + +This is called "following the light." + +What is a good man? +A teacher of a bad man. +What is a bad man? +A good man's charge. +If the teacher is not respected, +And the student not cared for, +Confusion will arise, however clever one is. +This is the crux of mystery. + +## 28 + +Know the strength of man, +But keep a woman's care! +Be the stream of the universe! +Being the stream of the universe, +Ever true and unswerving, +Become as a little child once more. + +Know the white, +But keep the black! +Be an example to the world! +Being an example to the world, +Ever true and unwavering, +Return to the infinite. + +Know honor, +Yet keep humility. +Be the valley of the universe! +Being the valley of the universe, +Ever true and resourceful, +Return to the state of the uncarved block. + +When the block is carved, it becomes useful. +When the sage uses it, he becomes the ruler. +Thus, "A great tailor cuts little." + +## 29 + +Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it? +I do not believe it can be done. + +The universe is sacred. +You cannot improve it. +If you try to change it, you will ruin it. +If you try to hold it, you will lose it. + +So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; +Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; +Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; +Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. + +Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency. + +## 30 + +Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao, +Counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe. +For this would only cause resistance. +Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed. +Lean years follow in the wake of a great war. +Just do what needs to be done. +Never take advantage of power. + +Achieve results, +But never glory in them. +Achieve results, +But never boast. +Achieve results, +But never be proud. +Achieve results, +Because this is the natural way. +Achieve results, +But not through violence. + +Force is followed by loss of strength. +This is not the way of Tao. +That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end. + +## 31 + +Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them. +Therefore followers of Tao never use them. +The wise man prefers the left. +The man of war prefers the right. + +Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools. +He uses them only when he has no choice. +Peace and quiet are dear to his heart, +And victory no cause for rejoicing. +If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing; +If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself. + +On happy occasions precedence is given to the left, +On sad occasions to the right. +In the army the general stands on the left, +The commander-in-chief on the right. +This means that war is conducted like a funeral. +When many people are being killed, +They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow. +That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral. + +## 32 + +The Tao is forever undefined. +Small though it is in the unformed state, it cannot be grasped. +If kings and lords could harness it, +The ten thousand things would come together +And gentle rain fall. +Men would need no more instruction and all things would take their course. + +Once the whole is divided, the parts need names. +There are already enough names. +One must know when to stop. +Knowing when to stop averts trouble. +Tao in the world is like a river flowing home to the sea. + +## 33 + +Knowing others is wisdom; +Knowing the self is enlightenment. +Mastering others requires force; +Mastering the self needs strength. + +He who knows he has enough is rich. +Perseverance is a sign of willpower. +He who stays where he is endures. +To die but not to perish is to be eternally present. + +## 34 + +The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right. +The ten thousand things depend upon it; it holds nothing back. +It fulfills its purpose silently and makes no claim. + +It nourishes the ten thousand things, +And yet is not their lord. +It has no aim; it is very small. + +The ten thousand things return to it, +Yet it is not their lord. +It is very great. + +It does not show greatness, +And is therefore truly great. + +## 35 + +All men will come to him who keeps to the one, +For there lie rest and happiness and peace. + +Passersby may stop for music and good food, +But a description of the Tao +Seems without substance or flavor. +It cannot be seen, it cannot be heard, +And yet it cannot be exhausted. + +## 36 + +That which shrinks +Must first expand. +That which fails +Must first be strong. +That which is cast down +Must first be raised. +Before receiving +There must be giving. + +This is called perception of the nature of things. +Soft and weak overcome hard and strong. + +Fish cannot leave deep waters, +And a country's weapons should not be displayed. + +## 37 + +Tao abides in non-action, +Yet nothing is left undone. +If kings and lords observed this, +The ten thousand things would develop naturally. +If they still desired to act, +They would return to the simplicity of formless substance. +Without form there is no desire. +Without desire there is tranquility. +And in this way all things would be at peace. + +## 38 + +A truly good man is not aware of his goodness, +And is therefore good. +A foolish man tries to be good, +And is therefore not good. + +A truly good man does nothing, +Yet leaves nothing undone. +A foolish man is always doing, +Yet much remains to be done. + +When a truly kind man does something, he leaves nothing undone. +When a just man does something, he leaves a great deal to be done. +When a disciplinarian does something and no one responds, +He rolls up his sleeves in an attempt to enforce order. + +Therefore when Tao is lost, there is goodness. +When goodness is lost, there is kindness. +When kindness is lost, there is justice. +When justice is lost, there ritual. +Now ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty, the beginning of confusion. +Knowledge of the future is only a flowery trapping of Tao. +It is the beginning of folly. + +Therefore the truly great man dwells on what is real and not what is on the surface, +On the fruit and not the flower. +Therefore accept the one and reject the other. + +## 39 + +These things from ancient times arise from one: +The sky is whole and clear. +The earth is whole and firm. +The spirit is whole and strong. +The valley is whole and full. +The ten thousand things are whole and alive. +Kings and lords are whole, and the country is upright. +All these are in virtue of wholeness. + +The clarity of the sky prevents its falling. +The firmness of the earth prevents its splitting. +The strength of the spirit prevents its being used up. +The fullness of the valley prevents its running dry. +The growth of the ten thousand things prevents their drying out. +The leadership of kings and lords prevents the downfall of the country. + +Therefore the humble is the root of the noble. +The low is the foundation of the high. +Princes and lords consider themselves "orphaned", "widowed" and "worthless". +Do they not depend on being humble? + +Too much success is not an advantage. +Do not tinkle like jade +Or clatter like stone chimes. + +## 40 + +Returning is the motion of the Tao. +Yielding is the way of the Tao. +The ten thousand things are born of being. +Being is born of not being. + +## 41 + +The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. +The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again. +The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud. +If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is. + +Hence it is said: +The bright path seems dim; +Going forward seems like retreat; +The easy way seems hard; +The highest Virtue seems empty; +Great purity seems sullied; +A wealth of Virtue seems inadequate; +The strength of Virtue seems frail; +Real Virtue seems unreal; +The perfect square has no corners; +Great talents ripen late; +The highest notes are hard to hear; +The greatest form has no shape; +The Tao is hidden and without name. +The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment. + +## 42 + +The Tao begot one. +One begot two. +Two begot three. +And three begot the ten thousand things. + +The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang. +They achieve harmony by combining these forces. + +Men hate to be "orphaned," "widowed," or "worthless," +But this is how kings and lords describe themselves. + +For one gains by losing +And loses by gaining. + +What others teach, I also teach; that is: +"A violent man will die a violent death!" +This will be the essence of my teaching. + +## 43 + +The softest thing in the universe +Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe. +That without substance can enter where there is no room. +Hence I know the value of non-action. + +Teaching without words and work without doing +Are understood by very few. + +## 44 + +Fame or self: Which matters more? +Self or wealth: Which is more precious? +Gain or loss: Which is more painful? + +He who is attached to things will suffer much. +He who saves will suffer heavy loss. +A contented man is never disappointed. +He who knows when to stop does not find himself in trouble. +He will stay forever safe. + +## 45 + +Great accomplishment seems imperfect, +Yet it does not outlive its usefulness. +Great fullness seems empty, +Yet cannot be exhausted. + +Great straightness seems twisted. +Great intelligence seems stupid. +Great eloquence seems awkward. + +Movement overcomes cold. +Stillness overcomes heat. +Stillness and tranquillity set things in order in the universe. + +## 46 + +When the Tao is present in the universe, +The horses haul manure. +When the Tao is absent from the universe, +War horses are bred outside the city. + +There is no greater sin than desire, +No greater curse than discontent, +No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself. +Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. + +## 47 + +Without going outside, you may know the whole world. +Without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. +The farther you go, the less you know. + +Thus the sage knows without traveling; +He sees without looking; +He works without doing. + +## 48 + +In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. +In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped. + +Less and less is done +Until non-action is achieved. +When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. + +The world is ruled by letting things take their course. +It cannot be ruled by interfering. + +## 49 + +The sage has no mind of his own. +He is aware of the needs of others. + +I am good to people who are good. +I am also good to people who are not good. +Because Virtue is goodness. +I have faith in people who are faithful. +I also have faith in people who are not faithful. +Because Virtue is faithfulness. + +The sage is shy and humble - to the world he seems confusing. +Others look to him and listen. +He behaves like a little child. + +## 50 + +Between birth and death, +Three in ten are followers of life, +Three in ten are followers of death, +And men just passing from birth to death also number three in ten. +Why is this so? +Because they live their lives on the gross level. + +He who knows how to live can walk abroad +Without fear of rhinoceros or tiger. +He will not be wounded in battle. +For in him rhinoceroses can find no place to thrust their horn, +Tigers no place to use their claws, +And weapons no place to pierce. +Why is this so? +Because he has no place for death to enter. + +## 51 + +All things arise from Tao. +They are nourished by Virtue. +They are formed from matter. +They are shaped by environment. +Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honor Virtue. +Respect of Tao and honor of Virtue are not demanded, +But they are in the nature of things. + +Therefore all things arise from Tao. +By Virtue they are nourished, +Developed, cared for, +Sheltered, comforted, +Grown, and protected. +Creating without claiming, +Doing without taking credit, +Guiding without interfering, +This is Primal Virtue. + +## 52 + +The beginning of the universe +Is the mother of all things. +Knowing the mother, one also knows the sons. +Knowing the sons, yet remaining in touch with the mother, +Brings freedom from the fear of death. + +Keep your mouth shut, +Guard the senses, +And life is ever full. +Open your mouth, +Always be busy, +And life is beyond hope. + +Seeing the small is insight; +Yielding to force is strength. +Using the outer light, return to insight, +And in this way be saved from harm. +This is learning constancy. + +## 53 + +If I have even just a little sense, +I will walk on the main road and my only fear +will be of straying from it. +Keeping to the main road is easy, +But people love to be sidetracked. + +When the court is arrayed in splendor, +The fields are full of weeds, +And the granaries are bare. +Some wear gorgeous clothes, +Carry sharp swords, +And indulge themselves with food and drink; +They have more possessions than they can use. +They are robber barons. +This is certainly not the way of Tao. + +## 54 + +What is firmly established cannot be uprooted. +What is firmly grasped cannot slip away. +It will be honored from generation to generation. + +Cultivate Virtue in your self, +And Virtue will be real. +Cultivate it in the family, +And Virtue will abound. +Cultivate it in the village, +And Virtue will grow. +Cultivate it in the nation, +And Virtue will be abundant. +Cultivate it in the universe, +And Virtue will be everywhere. + +Therefore look at the body as body; +Look at the family as family; +Look at the village as village; +Look at the nation as nation; +Look at the universe as universe. + +How do I know the universe is like this? +By looking! + +## 55 + +He who is filled with Virtue is like a newborn child. +Wasps and serpents will not sting him; +Wild beasts will not pounce upon him; +He will not be attacked by birds of prey. +His bones are soft, his muscles weak, +But his grip is firm. +He has not experienced the union of man and woman, but is whole. +His manhood is strong. +He screams all day without becoming hoarse. +This is perfect harmony. + +Knowing harmony is constancy. +Knowing constancy is enlightenment. + +It is not wise to rush about. +Controlling the breath causes strain. +If too much energy is used, exhaustion follows. +This is not the way of Tao. +Whatever is contrary to Tao will not last long. + +## 56 + +Those who know do not talk. +Those who talk do not know. + +Keep your mouth closed. +Guard your senses. +Temper your sharpness. +Simplify your problems. +Mask your brightness. +Be at one with the dust of the Earth. +This is primal union. + +He who has achieved this state +Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, +With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. +This therefore is the highest state of man. + +## 57 + +Rule a nation with justice. +Wage war with surprise moves. +Become master of the universe without striving. +How do I know that this is so? +Because of this! + +The more laws and restrictions there are, +The poorer people become. +The sharper men's weapons, +The more trouble in the land. +The more ingenious and clever men are, +The more strange things happen. +The more rules and regulations, +The more thieves and robbers. + +Therefore the sage says: +I take no action and people are reformed. +I enjoy peace and people become honest. +I do nothing and people become rich. +I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life. + +## 58 + +When the country is ruled with a light hand +The people are simple. +When the country is ruled with severity, +The people are cunning. + +Happiness is rooted in misery. +Misery lurks beneath happiness. +Who knows what the future holds? +There is no honesty. +Honesty becomes dishonest. +Goodness becomes witchcraft. +Man's bewitchment lasts for a long time. + +Therefore the sage is sharp but not cutting, +Pointed but not piercing, +Straightforward but not unrestrained, +Brilliant but not blinding. + +## 59 + +In caring for others and serving heaven, +There is nothing like using restraint. +Restraint begins with giving up one's own ideas. +This depends on Virtue gathered in the past. +If there is a good store of Virtue, then nothing is impossible. +If nothing is impossible, then there are no limits. +If a man knows no limits, then he is fit to be a ruler. +The mother principle of ruling holds good for a long time. +This is called having deep roots and a firm foundation, +The Tao of long life and eternal vision. + +## 60 + +Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish. +Approach the universe with Tao, +And evil is not powerful, +But its power will not be used to harm others. +Not only will it do no harm to others, +But the sage himself will also be protected. +They do not hurt each other, +And the Virtue in each one refreshes both. + +## 61 + +A great country is like low land. +It is the meeting ground of the universe, +The mother of the universe. + +The female overcomes the male with stillness, +Lying low in stillness. + +Therefore if a great country gives way to a smaller country, +It will conquer the smaller country. +And if a small country submits to a great country, +It can conquer the great country. +Therefore those who would conquer must yield, +And those who conquer do so because they yield. + +A great nation needs more people; +A small country needs to serve. +Each gets what it wants. +It is fitting for a great nation to yield. + +## 62 + +Tao is source of the ten thousand things. +It is the treasure of the good man, and the refuge of the bad. +Sweet words can buy honor; +Good deeds can gain respect. +If a man is bad, do not abandon him. +Therefore on the day the emperor is crowned, +Or the three officers of state installed, +Do not send a gift of jade and a team of four horses, +But remain still and offer the Tao. +Why does everyone like the Tao so much at first? +Isn't it because you find what you seek and are forgiven when you sin? +Therefore this is the greatest treasure of the universe. + +## 63 + +Practice non-action. +Work without doing. +Taste the tasteless. +Magnify the small, increase the few. +Reward bitterness with care. + +See simplicity in the complicated. +Achieve greatness in little things. + +In the universe the difficult things are done as if they are easy. +In the universe great acts are made up of small deeds. +The sage does not attempt anything very big, +And thus achieved greatness. + +Easy promises make for little trust. +Taking things lightly results in great difficulty. +Because the sage always confronts difficulties, +He never experiences them. + +## 64 + +Peace is easily maintained; +Trouble is easily overcome before it starts. +The brittle is easily shattered; +The small is easily scattered. + +Deal with it before it happens. +Set things in order before there is confusion. + +A tree as great as a man's embrace springs up from a small shoot; +A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth; +A journey of a thousand miles starts under one's feet. + +He who acts defeats his own purpose; +He who grasps loses. +The sage does not act, and so is not defeated. +He does not grasp and therefore does not lose. + +People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. +So give as much care to the end as to the beginning; +Then there will be no failure. + +Therefore the sage seeks freedom from desire. +He does not collect precious things. +He learns not to hold on to ideas. +He brings men back to what they have lost. +He help the ten thousand things find their own nature, +But refrains from action. + +## 65 + +In the beginning those who knew the Tao did not try to enlighten others, +But kept it hidden. +Why is it so hard to rule? +Because people are so clever. +Rulers who try to use cleverness +Cheat the country. +Those who rule without cleverness +Are a blessing to the land. +These are the two alternatives. +Understanding these is Primal Virtue. +Primal Virtue is deep and far. +It leads all things back +Toward the great oneness. + +## 66 + +Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? +Because it lies below them. +Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams. + +If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. +If he would lead them, he must follow behind. +In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed; +When he stands before them, they will not be harmed. +The whole world will support him and will not tire of him. + +Because he does not compete, +He does not meet competition. + +## 67 + +Everyone under heaven says that my Tao is great and beyond compare. +Because it is great, it seems different. +If it were not different, it would have vanished long ago. + +I have three treasures which I hold and keep. +The first is mercy; the second is economy; +The third is daring not to be ahead of others. +From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; +From humility comes leadership. + +Nowadays men shun mercy, but try to be brave; +They abandon economy, but try to be generous; +They do not believe in humility, but always try to be first. +This is certain death. + +Mercy brings victory in battle and strength in defense. +It is the means by which heaven saves and guards. + +## 68 + +A good soldier is not violent. +A good fighter is not angry. +A good winner is not vengeful +A good employer is humble. +This is known as the Virtue of not striving. +This is known as ability to deal with people. +This since ancient times has been known as the ultimate unity with heaven. + +## 69 + +There is a saying among soldiers: +I dare not make the first move but would rather play the guest; +I dare not advance and inch but would rather withdraw a foot. + +This is called marching without appearing to move, +Rolling up your sleeves without showing your arm, +Capturing the enemy without attacking, +Being armed without weapons. + +There is no greater catastrophe than underestimating the enemy. +By underestimating the enemy, I almost lost what I value. + +Therefore when the battle is joined, +The underdog will win. + +## 70 + +My words are easy to understand and easy to perform, +Yet no man under heaven knows them or practices them. + +My words have ancient beginnings. +My actions are disciplined. +Because men do not understand, they have no knowledge of me. + +Those that know me are few; +Those that abuse me are honored. +Therefore the sage wears rough clothing and holds the jewel in his heart. + +## 71 + +Knowing ignorance is strength. +Ignoring knowledge is sickness. + +If one is sick of sickness, then one is not sick. +The sage is not sick because he is sick of sickness. +Therefore he is not sick. + +## 72 + +When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster. + +Do not intrude in their homes. +Do not harass them at work. +If you do not interfere, they will not weary of you. + +Therefore the sage knows himself but makes no show, +Has self-respect but is not arrogant. +He lets go of that and chooses this. + +## 73 + +A brave and passionate man will kill or be killed. +A brave and calm man will always preserve life. +Of these two which is good and which is harmful? +Some things are not favored by heaven. Who knows why? +Even the sage is unsure of this. + +The Tao of heaven does not strive, and yet it overcomes. +It does not speak, and yet is answered. +It does not ask, yet is supplied with all its needs. +It seems to have no aim and yet its purpose is fulfilled. + +Heaven's net casts wide. +Though its meshes are course, nothing slips through. + +## 74 + +If men are not afraid to die, +It is no avail to threaten them with death. + +If men live in constant fear of dying, +And if breaking the law means that a man will be killed, +Who will dare to break the law? + +There is always an official executioner. +If you try to take his place, +It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. +If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand. + +## 75 + +Why are the people starving? +Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes. +Therefore the people are starving. + +Why are the people rebellious? +Because the rulers interfere too much. +Therefore they are rebellious. + +Why do the people think so little of death? +Because the rulers demand too much of life. +Therefore the people take death lightly. + +Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much. + +## 76 + +A man is born gentle and weak. +At his death he is hard and stiff. +Green plants are tender and filled with sap. +At their death they are withered and dry. + +Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. +The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life. + +Thus an army without flexibility never wins a battle. +A tree that is unbending is easily broken. + +The hard and strong will fall. +The soft and weak will overcome. + +## 77 + +The Tao of heaven is like the bending of a bow. +The high is lowered, and the low is raised. +If the string is too long, it is shortened; +If there is not enough, it is made longer. + +The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much and give to those who do not have enough. +Man's way is different. +He takes from those who do not have enough and give to those who already have too much. +What man has more than enough and gives it to the world? +Only the man of Tao. + +Therefore the sage works without recognition. +He achieves what has to be done without dwelling on it. +He does not try to show his knowledge. + +## 78 + +Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water. +Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better; +It has no equal. +The weak can overcome the strong; +The supple can overcome the stiff. +Under heaven everyone knows this, +Yet no one puts it into practice. +Therefore the sage says: +He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the people is fit to rule them. +He who takes upon himself the country's disasters deserves to be king of the universe. +The truth often sounds paradoxical. + +## 79 + +After a bitter quarrel, some resentment must remain. +What can one do about it? +Therefore the sage keeps his half of the bargain +But does not exact his due. +A man of Virtue performs his part, +But a man without Virtue requires others to fulfill their obligations. +The Tao of heaven is impartial. +It stays with good men all the time. + +## 80 + +A small country has fewer people. +Though there are machines that can work ten to a hundred times faster than man, they are not needed. +The people take death seriously and do not travel far. +Though they have boats and carriages, no one uses them. +Though they have armor and weapons, no one displays them. +Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing. +Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple, their homes secure; +They are happy in their ways. +Though they live within sight of their neighbors, +And crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way, +Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die. + +## 81 + +Truthful words are not beautiful. +Beautiful words are not truthful. +Good men do not argue. +Those who argue are not good. +Those who know are not learned. +The learned do not know. + +The sage never tries to store things up. +The more he does for others, the more he has. +The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance. +The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm. +The Tao of the sage is work without effort. diff --git a/source/content/tao/1988-stephen-mitchell.md b/source/content/tao/1988-stephen-mitchell.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1c0719 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1988-stephen-mitchell.md @@ -0,0 +1,1562 @@ +Translator: Stephen Mitchell +Year: 1988 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mitchell.html) +Code: sm + +## 1 + +The tao that can be told +is not the eternal Tao +The name that can be named +is not the eternal Name. + +The unnamable is the eternally real. +Naming is the origin +of all particular things. + +Free from desire, you realize the mystery. +Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations. + +Yet mystery and manifestations +arise from the same source. +This source is called darkness. + +Darkness within darkness. +The gateway to all understanding. + +## 2 + +When people see some things as beautiful, +other things become ugly. +When people see some things as good, +other things become bad. + +Being and non-being create each other. +Difficult and easy support each other. +Long and short define each other. +High and low depend on each other. +Before and after follow each other. + +Therefore the Master +acts without doing anything +and teaches without saying anything. +Things arise and she lets them come; +things disappear and she lets them go. +She has but doesn't possess, +acts but doesn't expect. +When her work is done, she forgets it. +That is why it lasts forever. + +## 3 + +If you overesteem great men, +people become powerless. +If you overvalue possessions, +people begin to steal. + +The Master leads +by emptying people's minds +and filling their cores, +by weakening their ambition +and toughening their resolve. +He helps people lose everything +they know, everything they desire, +and creates confusion +in those who think that they know. + +Practice not-doing, +and everything will fall into place. + +## 4 + +The Tao is like a well: +used but never used up. +It is like the eternal void: +filled with infinite possibilities. + +It is hidden but always present. +I don't know who gave birth to it. +It is older than God. + +## 5 + +The Tao doesn't take sides; +it gives birth to both good and evil. +The Master doesn't take sides; +she welcomes both saints and sinners. + +The Tao is like a bellows: +it is empty yet infinitely capable. +The more you use it, the more it produces; +the more you talk of it, the less you understand. + +Hold on to the center. + +## 6 + +The Tao is called the Great Mother: +empty yet inexhaustible, +it gives birth to infinite worlds. + +It is always present within you. +You can use it any way you want. + +## 7 + +The Tao is infinite, eternal. +Why is it eternal? + +It was never born; +thus it can never die. +Why is it infinite? +It has no desires for itself; +thus it is present for all beings. + +The Master stays behind; +that is why she is ahead. +She is detached from all things; + +that is why she is one with them. +Because she has let go of herself, +she is perfectly fulfilled. + +## 8 + +The supreme good is like water, +which nourishes all things without trying to. +It is content with the low places that people disdain. +Thus it is like the Tao. + +In dwelling, live close to the ground. +In thinking, keep to the simple. +In conflict, be fair and generous. +In governing, don't try to control. +In work, do what you enjoy. +In family life, be completely present. + +When you are content to be simply yourself +and don't compare or compete, +everybody will respect you. + +## 9 + +Fill your bowl to the brim +and it will spill. +Keep sharpening your knife +and it will blunt. +Chase after money and security +and your heart will never unclench. + +Care about people's approval +and you will be their prisoner. + +Do your work, then step back. +The only path to serenity. + +## 10 + +Can you coax your mind from its wandering +and keep to the original oneness? + +Can you let your body become +supple as a newborn child's? +Can you cleanse your inner vision +until you see nothing but the light? +Can you love people and lead them +without imposing your will? +Can you deal with the most vital matters +by letting events take their course? +Can you step back from you own mind +and thus understand all things? + +Giving birth and nourishing, +having without possessing, +acting with no expectations, +leading and not trying to control: +this is the supreme virtue. + +## 11 + +We join spokes together in a wheel, +but it is the center hole +that makes the wagon move. + +We shape clay into a pot, +but it is the emptiness inside +that holds whatever we want. + +We hammer wood for a house, +but it is the inner space +that makes it livable. + +We work with being, +but non-being is what we use. + +## 12 + +Colors blind the eye. +Sounds deafen the ear. +Flavors numb the taste. + +Thoughts weaken the mind. +Desires wither the heart. + +The Master observes the world +but trusts his inner vision. +He allows things to come and go. +His heart is open as the sky. + +## 13 + +Success is as dangerous as failure. +Hope is as hollow as fear. + +What does it mean that success is a dangerous as failure? +Whether you go up the ladder or down it, +you position is shaky. +When you stand with your two feet on the ground, +you will always keep your balance. + +What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear? +Hope and fear are both phantoms +that arise from thinking of the self. +When we don't see the self as self, +what do we have to fear? + +See the world as your self. +Have faith in the way things are. +Love the world as your self; +then you can care for all things. + +## 14 + +Look, and it can't be seen. +Listen, and it can't be heard. +Reach, and it can't be grasped. + +Above, it isn't bright. +Below, it isn't dark. +Seamless, unnamable, + +it returns to the realm of nothing. +Form that includes all forms, +image without an image, +subtle, beyond all conception. + +Approach it and there is no beginning; +follow it and there is no end. +You can't know it, but you can be it, +at ease in your own life. + +Just realize where you come from: +this is the essence of wisdom. + +## 15 + +The ancient Masters were profound and subtle. +Their wisdom was unfathomable. +There is no way to describe it; +all we can describe is their appearance. + +They were careful +as someone crossing an iced-over stream. +Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. +Courteous as a guest. +Fluid as melting ice. +Shapable as a block of wood. +Receptive as a valley. +Clear as a glass of water. + +Do you have the patience to wait +till your mud settles and the water is clear? +Can you remain unmoving +till the right action arises by itself? + +The Master doesn't seek fulfillment. +Not seeking, not expecting, +she is present, and can welcome all things. + +## 16 + +Empty your mind of all thoughts. +Let your heart be at peace. +Watch the turmoil of beings, +but contemplate their return. + +Each separate being in the universe +returns to the common source. +Returning to the source is serenity. + +If you don't realize the source, +you stumble in confusion and sorrow. +When you realize where you come from, +you naturally become tolerant, +disinterested, amused, +kindhearted as a grandmother, +dignified as a king. +Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, + +you can deal with whatever life brings you, +and when death comes, you are ready. + +## 17 + +When the Master governs, the people +are hardly aware that he exists. +Next best is a leader who is loved. +Next, one who is feared. +The worst is one who is despised. + +If you don't trust the people, +you make them untrustworthy. + +The Master doesn't talk, he acts. +When his work is done, +the people say, "Amazing: +we did it, all by ourselves!" + +## 18 + +When the great Tao is forgotten, +goodness and piety appear. +When the body's intelligence declines, +cleverness and knowledge step forth. +When there is no peace in the family, +filial piety begins. +When the country falls into chaos, +patriotism is born. + +## 19 + +Throw away holiness and wisdom, +and people will be a hundred times happier. +Throw away morality and justice, +and people will do the right thing. +Throw away industry and profit, +and there won't be any thieves. + +If these three aren't enough, +just stay at the center of the circle +and let all things take their course. + +## 20 + +Stop thinking, and end your problems. +What difference between yes and no? +What difference between success and failure? +Must you value what others value, +avoid what others avoid? + +How ridiculous! + +Other people are excited, +as though they were at a parade. +I alone don't care, +I alone am expressionless, +like an infant before it can smile. + +Other people have what they need; +I alone possess nothing. + +I alone drift about, +like someone without a home. +I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty. + +Other people are bright; +I alone am dark. +Other people are sharper; +I alone am dull. +Other people have a purpose; + +I alone don't know. +I drift like a wave on the ocean, +I blow as aimless as the wind. + +I am different from ordinary people. +I drink from the Great Mother's breasts. + +## 21 + +The Master keeps her mind + +always at one with the Tao; +that is what gives her her radiance. + +The Tao is ungraspable. +How can her mind be at one with it? +Because she doesn't cling to ideas. + +The Tao is dark and unfathomable. +How can it make her radiant? +Because she lets it. + +Since before time and space were, +the Tao is. +It is beyond is and is not. +How do I know this is true? +I look inside myself and see. + +## 22 + +If you want to become whole, +let yourself be partial. +If you want to become straight, +let yourself be crooked. +If you want to become full, +let yourself be empty. +If you want to be reborn, +let yourself die. +If you want to be given everything, +give everything up. + +The Master, by residing in the Tao, +sets an example for all beings. +Because he doesn't display himself, +people can see his light. +Because he has nothing to prove, +people can trust his words. +Because he doesn't know who he is, +people recognize themselves in him. +Because he has no goad in mind, +everything he does succeeds. + +When the ancient Masters said, +"If you want to be given everything, +give everything up," +they weren't using empty phrases. +Only in being lived by the Tao +can you be truly yourself. + +## 23 + +Express yourself completely, +then keep quiet. +Be like the forces of nature: +when it blows, there is only wind; +when it rains, there is only rain; +when the clouds pass, the sun shines through. + +If you open yourself to the Tao, +you are at one with the Tao +and you can embody it completely. +If you open yourself to insight, +you are at one with insight +and you can use it completely. +If you open yourself to loss, +you are at one with loss +and you can accept it completely. + +Open yourself to the Tao, +then trust your natural responses; +and everything will fall into place. + +## 24 + +He who stands on tiptoe +doesn't stand form. +He who rushes ahead +doesn't go far. +He who tries to shine +dims his own light. +He who defines himself +can't know who he really is. +He who has power over others +can't empower himself. + +He who clings to his work +will create nothing that endures. + +If you want to accord with the Tao, +just do your job, then let go. + +## 25 + +There was something formless and perfect +before the universe was born. + +It is serene. Empty. +Solitary. Unchanging. +Infinite. Eternally present. +It is the mother of the universe. +For lack of a better name, +I call it the Tao. + +It flows through all things, +inside and outside, and returns +to the origin of all things. + +The Tao is great. +The universe is great. +Earth is great. +Man is great. +These are the four great powers. + +Man follows the earth. +Earth follows the universe. + +The universe follows the Tao. +The Tao follows only itself. + +## 26 + +The heavy is the root of the light. +The unmoved is the source of all movement. + +Thus the Master travels all day +without leaving home. + +However splendid the views, +she stays serenely in herself. + +Why should the lord of the country +flit about like a fool? +If you let yourself be blown to and fro, +you lose touch with your root. +If you let restlessness move you, +you lose touch with who you are. + +## 27 + +A good traveler has no fixed plans +and is not intent upon arriving. +A good artist lets his intuition +lead him wherever it wants. +A good scientist has freed himself of concepts +and keeps his mind open to what is. + +Thus the Master is available to all people +and doesn't reject anyone. +He is ready to use all situations +and doesn't waste anything. +This is called embodying the light. + +What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? +What is a bad man but a good man's job? +If you don't understand this, you will get lost, +however intelligent you are. +It is the great secret. + +## 28 + +Know the male, +yet keep to the female: +receive the world in your arms. +If you receive the world, +the Tao will never leave you +and you will be like a little child. + +Know the white, +yet keep to the black: +be a pattern for the world. +If you are a pattern for the world, +the Tao will be strong inside you +and there will be nothing you can't do. + +Know the personal, +yet keep to the impersonal: +accept the world as it is. +If you accept the world, +the Tao will be luminous inside you +and you will return to your primal self. + +The world is formed from the void, +like utensils from a block of wood. +The Master knows the utensils, +yet keeps to the the block: +thus she can use all things. + +## 29 + +Do you want to improve the world? +I don't think it can be done. + +The world is sacred. +It can't be improved. + +If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it. +If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it. + +There is a time for being ahead, +a time for being behind; +a time for being in motion, +a time for being at rest; +a time for being vigorous, +a time for being exhausted; + +a time for being safe, +a time for being in danger. + +The Master sees things as they are, +without trying to control them. +She lets them go their own way, +and resides at the center of the circle. + +## 30 + +Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men +doesn't try to force issues +or defeat enemies by force of arms. +For every force there is a counterforce. +Violence, even well intentioned, +always rebounds upon oneself. + +The Master does his job +and then stops. + +He understands that the universe +is forever out of control, +and that trying to dominate events +goes against the current of the Tao. +Because he believes in himself, +he doesn't try to convince others. +Because he is content with himself, +he doesn't need others' approval. +Because he accepts himself, +the whole world accepts him. + +## 31 + +Weapons are the tools of violence; +all decent men detest them. + +Weapons are the tools of fear; +a decent man will avoid them +except in the direst necessity +and, if compelled, will use them +only with the utmost restraint. +Peace is his highest value. +If the peace has been shattered, +how can he be content? +His enemies are not demons, +but human beings like himself. +He doesn't wish them personal harm. +Nor does he rejoice in victory. + +How could he rejoice in victory +and delight in the slaughter of men? + +He enters a battle gravely, +with sorrow and with great compassion, +as if he were attending a funeral. + +## 32 + +The Tao can't be perceived. + +Smaller than an electron, +it contains uncountable galaxies. + +If powerful men and women +could remain centered in the Tao, +all things would be in harmony. +The world would become a paradise. +All people would be at peace, +and the law would be written in their hearts. + +When you have names and forms, +know that they are provisional. +When you have institutions, +know where their functions should end. +Knowing when to stop, +you can avoid any danger. + +All things end in the Tao +as rivers flow into the sea. + +## 33 + +Knowing others is intelligence; +knowing yourself is true wisdom. +Mastering others is strength; +mastering yourself is true power. + +If you realize that you have enough, +you are truly rich. + +If you stay in the center +and embrace death with your whole heart, +you will endure forever. + +## 34 + +The great Tao flows everywhere. +All things are born from it, +yet it doesn't create them. +It pours itself into its work, + +yet it makes no claim. +It nourishes infinite worlds, +yet it doesn't hold on to them. +Since it is merged with all things +and hidden in their hearts, +it can be called humble. +Since all things vanish into it +and it alone endures, +it can be called great. + +It isn't aware of its greatness; +thus it is truly great. + +## 35 + +She who is centered in the Tao +can go where she wishes, without danger. +She perceives the universal harmony, +even amid great pain, +because she has found peace in her heart. + +Music or the smell of good cooking +may make people stop and enjoy. +But words that point to the Tao +seem monotonous and without flavor. +When you look for it, there is nothing to see. +When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear. +When you use it, it is inexhaustible. + +## 36 + +If you want to shrink something, +you must first allow it to expand. +If you want to get rid of something, +you must first allow it to flourish. +If you want to take something, +you must first allow it to be given. +This is called the subtle perception +of the way things are. + +The soft overcomes the hard. +The slow overcomes the fast. +Let your workings remain a mystery. +Just show people the results. + +## 37 + +The Tao never does anything, +yet through it all things are done. + +If powerful men and women +could venter themselves in it, +the whole world would be transformed +by itself, in its natural rhythms. +People would be content +with their simple, everyday lives, +in harmony, and free of desire. + +When there is no desire, +all things are at peace. + +## 38 + +The Master doesn't try to be powerful; +thus he is truly powerful. +The ordinary man keeps reaching for power; +thus he never has enough. + +The Master does nothing, +yet he leaves nothing undone. +The ordinary man is always doing things, +yet many more are left to be done. + +The kind man does something, +yet something remains undone. +The just man does something, +and leaves many things to be done. + +The moral man does something, +and when no one responds +he rolls up his sleeves and uses force. + +When the Tao is lost, there is goodness. +When goodness is lost, there is morality. +When morality is lost, there is ritual. +Ritual is the husk of true faith, +the beginning of chaos. + +Therefore the Master concerns himself +with the depths and not the surface, +with the fruit and not the flower. +He has no will of his own. +He dwells in reality, +and lets all illusions go. + +## 39 + +In harmony with the Tao, +the sky is clear and spacious, +the earth is solid and full, +all creature flourish together, +content with the way they are, +endlessly repeating themselves, +endlessly renewed. + +When man interferes with the Tao, +the sky becomes filthy, +the earth becomes depleted, +the equilibrium crumbles, +creatures become extinct. + +The Master views the parts with compassion, +because he understands the whole. +His constant practice is humility. +He doesn't glitter like a jewel +but lets himself be shaped by the Tao, +as rugged and common as stone. + +## 40 + +Return is the movement of the Tao. +Yielding is the way of the Tao. + +All things are born of being. +Being is born of non-being. + +## 41 + +When a superior man hears of the Tao, +he immediately begins to embody it. +When an average man hears of the Tao, +he half believes it, half doubts it. +When a foolish man hears of the Tao, +he laughs out loud. +If he didn't laugh, +it wouldn't be the Tao. + +Thus it is said: +The path into the light seems dark, +the path forward seems to go back, +the direct path seems long, +true power seems weak, +true purity seems tarnished, +true steadfastness seems changeable, +true clarity seems obscure, +the greatest are seems unsophisticated, +the greatest love seems indifferent, +the greatest wisdom seems childish. + +The Tao is nowhere to be found. +Yet it nourishes and completes all things. + +## 42 + +The Tao gives birth to One. +One gives birth to Two. +Two gives birth to Three. +Three gives birth to all things. + +All things have their backs to the female +and stand facing the male. +When male and female combine, +all things achieve harmony. + +Ordinary men hate solitude. +But the Master makes use of it, +embracing his aloneness, realizing +he is one with the whole universe. + +## 43 + +The gentlest thing in the world +overcomes the hardest thing in the world. + +That which has no substance +enters where there is no space. +This shows the value of non-action. + +Teaching without words, +performing without actions: +that is the Master's way. + +## 44 + +Fame or integrity: which is more important? +Money or happiness: which is more valuable? +Success of failure: which is more destructive? + +If you look to others for fulfillment, +you will never truly be fulfilled. +If your happiness depends on money, +you will never be happy with yourself. + +Be content with what you have; +rejoice in the way things are. +When you realize there is nothing lacking, +the whole world belongs to you. + +## 45 + +True perfection seems imperfect, +yet it is perfectly itself. +True fullness seems empty, +yet it is fully present. + +True straightness seems crooked. +True wisdom seems foolish. +True art seems artless. + +The Master allows things to happen. +She shapes events as they come. +She steps out of the way +and lets the Tao speak for itself. + +## 46 + +When a country is in harmony with the Tao, +the factories make trucks and tractors. +When a country goes counter to the Tao, +warheads are stockpiled outside the cities. + +There is no greater illusion than fear, +no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, +no greater misfortune than having an enemy. + +Whoever can see through all fear +will always be safe. + +## 47 + +Without opening your door, +you can open your heart to the world. +Without looking out your window, +you can see the essence of the Tao. + +The more you know, +the less you understand. + +The Master arrives without leaving, +sees the light without looking, +achieves without doing a thing. + +## 48 + +In pursuit of knowledge, +every day something is added. +In the practice of the Tao, +every day something is dropped. +Less and less do you need to force things, +until finally you arrive at non-action. +When nothing is done, +nothing is left undone. + +True mastery can be gained +by letting things go their own way. +It can't be gained by interfering. + +## 49 + +The Master has no mind of her own. +She works with the mind of the people. + +She is good to people who are good. +She is also good to people who aren't good. +This is true goodness. + +She trusts people who are trustworthy. +She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy. +This is true trust. + +The Master's mind is like space. +People don't understand her. +They look to her and wait. +She treats them like her own children. + +## 50 + +The Master gives himself up +to whatever the moment brings. +He knows that he is going to die, +and her has nothing left to hold on to: +no illusions in his mind, +no resistances in his body. +He doesn't think about his actions; + +they flow from the core of his being. +He holds nothing back from life; +therefore he is ready for death, +as a man is ready for sleep +after a good day's work. + +## 51 + +Every being in the universe +is an expression of the Tao. + +It springs into existence, +unconscious, perfect, free, +takes on a physical body, +lets circumstances complete it. +That is why every being +spontaneously honors the Tao. + +The Tao gives birth to all beings, +nourishes them, maintains them, +cares for them, comforts them, protects them, +takes them back to itself, +creating without possessing, +acting without expecting, +guiding without interfering. +That is why love of the Tao +is in the very nature of things. + +## 52 + +In the beginning was the Tao. +All things issue from it; +all things return to it. + +To find the origin, +trace back the manifestations. +When you recognize the children +and find the mother, +you will be free of sorrow. + +If you close your mind in judgements +and traffic with desires, +your heart will be troubled. +If you keep your mind from judging +and aren't led by the senses, +your heart will find peace. + +Seeing into darkness is clarity. +Knowing how to yield is strength. + +Use your own light +and return to the source of light. +This is called practicing eternity. + +## 53 + +The great Way is easy, +yet people prefer the side paths. +Be aware when things are out of balance. +Stay centered within the Tao. + +When rich speculators prosper +While farmers lose their land; +when government officials spend money +on weapons instead of cures; +when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible +while the poor have nowhere to turn- +all this is robbery and chaos. +It is not in keeping with the Tao. + +## 54 + +Whoever is planted in the Tao +will not be rooted up. +Whoever embraces the Tao +will not slip away. +Her name will be held in honor +from generation to generation. + +Let the Tao be present in your life +and you will become genuine. +Let it be present in your family +and your family will flourish. +Let it be present in your country +and your country will be an example +to all countries in the world. +Let it be present in the universe +and the universe will sing. + +How do I know this is true? +By looking inside myself. + +## 55 + +He who is in harmony with the Tao +is like a newborn child. +Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, +but its grip is powerful. + +It doesn't know about the union +of male and female, +yet its penis can stand erect, +so intense is its vital power. +It can scream its head off all day, +yet it never becomes hoarse, +so complete is its harmony. + +The Master's power is like this. + +He lets all things come and go +effortlessly, without desire. +He never expects results; +thus he is never disappointed. +He is never disappointed; +thus his spirit never grows old. + +## 56 + +Those who know don't talk. +Those who talk don't know. + +Close your mouth, +block off your senses, +blunt your sharpness, +untie your knots, +soften your glare, +settle your dust. +This is the primal identity. + +Be like the Tao. +It can't be approached or withdrawn from, +benefited or harmed, +honored or brought into disgrace. +It gives itself up continually. +That is why it endures. + +## 57 + +If you want to be a great leader, +you must learn to follow the Tao. +Stop trying to control. +Let go of fixed plans and concepts, +and the world will govern itself. + +The more prohibitions you have, +the less virtuous people will be. +The more weapons you have, + +the less secure people will be. +The more subsidies you have, +the less self-reliant people will be. + +Therefore the Master says: +I let go of the law, +and people become honest. +I let go of economics, +and people become prosperous. + +I let go of religion, +and people become serene. +I let go of all desire for the common good, +and the good becomes common as grass. + +## 58 + +If a country is governed with tolerance, +the people are comfortable and honest. +If a country is governed with repression, +the people are depressed and crafty. + +When the will to power is in charge, +the higher the ideals, the lower the results. +Try to make people happy, +and you lay the groundwork for misery. +Try to make people moral, +and you lay the groundwork for vice. + +Thus the Master is content +to serve as an example +and not to impose her will. +She is pointed, but doesn't pierce. +Straightforward, but supple. +Radiant, but easy on the eyes. + +## 59 + +For governing a country well +there is nothing better than moderation. + +The mark of a moderate man +is freedom from his own ideas. +Tolerant like the sky, +all-pervading like sunlight, +firm like a mountain, +supple like a tree in the wind, +he has no destination in view +and makes use of anything +life happens to bring his way. + +Nothing is impossible for him. +Because he has let go, +he can care for the people's welfare +as a mother cares for her child. + +## 60 + +Governing a large country +is like frying a small fish. +You spoil it with too much poking. + +Center your country in the Tao +and evil will have no power. +Not that it isn't there, +but you'll be able to step out of its way. + +Give evil nothing to oppose +and it will disappear by itself. + +## 61 + +When a country obtains great power, +it becomes like the sea: +all streams run downward into it. +The more powerful it grows, +the greater the need for humility. +Humility means trusting the Tao, +thus never needing to be defensive. + +A great nation is like a great man: +When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. +Having realized it, he admits it. +Having admitted it, he corrects it. +He considers those who point out his faults +as his most benevolent teachers. +He thinks of his enemy +as the shadow that he himself casts. + +If a nation is centered in the Tao, +if it nourishes its own people +and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others, +it will be a light to all nations in the world. + +## 62 + +The Tao is the center of the universe, +the good man's treasure, +the bad man's refuge. + +Honors can be bought with fine words, +respect can be won with good deeds; +but the Tao is beyond all value, +and no one can achieve it. + +Thus, when a new leader is chosen, +don't offer to help him +with your wealth or your expertise. +Offer instead +to teach him about the Tao. + +Why did the ancient Masters esteem the Tao? +Because, being one with the Tao, +when you seek, you find; +and when you make a mistake, you are forgiven. +That is why everybody loves it. + +## 63 + +Act without doing; +work without effort. +Think of the small as large +and the few as many. +Confront the difficult +while it is still easy; +accomplish the great task +by a series of small acts. + +The Master never reaches for the great; +thus she achieves greatness. +When she runs into a difficulty, +she stops and gives herself to it. +She doesn't cling to her own comfort; +thus problems are no problem for her. + +## 64 + +What is rooted is easy to nourish. +What is recent is easy to correct. +What is brittle is easy to break. +What is small is easy to scatter. + +Prevent trouble before it arises. +Put things in order before they exist. +The giant pine tree +grows from a tiny sprout. +The journey of a thousand miles +starts from beneath your feet. + +Rushing into action, you fail. +Trying to grasp things, you lose them. +Forcing a project to completion, +you ruin what was almost ripe. + +Therefore the Master takes action +by letting things take their course. +He remains as calm +at the end as at the beginning. +He has nothing, +thus has nothing to lose. +What he desires is non-desire; +what he learns is to unlearn. +He simply reminds people +of who they have always been. +He cares about nothing but the Tao. +Thus he can care for all things. + +## 65 + +The ancient Masters +didn't try to educate the people, +but kindly taught them to not-know. + +When they think that they know the answers, +people are difficult to guide. +When they know that they don't know, +people can find their own way. + +If you want to learn how to govern, +avoid being clever or rich. +The simplest pattern is the clearest. +Content with an ordinary life, +you can show all people the way +back to their own true nature. + +## 66 + +All streams flow to the sea +because it is lower than they are. +Humility gives it its power. + +If you want to govern the people, +you must place yourself below them. +If you want to lead the people, +you must learn how to follow them. + +The Master is above the people, +and no one feels oppressed. +She goes ahead of the people, +and no one feels manipulated. +The whole world is grateful to her. +Because she competes with no one, +no one can compete with her. + +## 67 + +Some say that my teaching is nonsense. +Others call it lofty but impractical. +But to those who have looked inside themselves, +this nonsense makes perfect sense. +And to those who put it into practice, +this loftiness has roots that go deep. + +I have just three things to teach: +simplicity, patience, compassion. +These three are your greatest treasures. +Simple in actions and in thoughts, +you return to the source of being. +Patient with both friends and enemies, +you accord with the way things are. +Compassionate toward yourself, +you reconcile all beings in the world. + +## 68 + +The best athlete +wants his opponent at his best. +The best general +enters the mind of his enemy. +The best businessman +serves the communal good. +The best leader +follows the will of the people. + +All of the embody +the virtue of non-competition. +Not that they don't love to compete, +but they do it in the spirit of play. +In this they are like children +and in harmony with the Tao. + +## 69 + +The generals have a saying: +"Rather than make the first move +it is better to wait and see. +Rather than advance an inch +it is better to retreat a yard." + +This is called +going forward without advancing, +pushing back without using weapons. + +There is no greater misfortune +than underestimating your enemy. +Underestimating your enemy +means thinking that he is evil. +Thus you destroy your three treasures +and become an enemy yourself. + +When two great forces oppose each other, +the victory will go +to the one that knows how to yield. + +## 70 + +My teachings are easy to understand +and easy to put into practice. +Yet your intellect will never grasp them, +and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. + +My teachings are older than the world. +How can you grasp their meaning? + +If you want to know me, +look inside your heart. + +## 71 + +Not-knowing is true knowledge. +Presuming to know is a disease. + +First realize that you are sick; +then you can move toward health. + +The Master is her own physician. +She has healed herself of all knowing. +Thus she is truly whole. + +## 72 + +When they lose their sense of awe, +people turn to religion. +When they no longer trust themselves, +they begin to depend upon authority. + +Therefore the Master steps back +so that people won't be confused. +He teaches without a teaching, +so that people will have nothing to learn. + +## 73 + +The Tao is always at ease. +It overcomes without competing, +answers without speaking a word, +arrives without being summoned, +accomplishes without a plan. + +Its net covers the whole universe. +And though its meshes are wide, +it doesn't let a thing slip through. + +## 74 + +If you realize that all things change, +there is nothing you will try to hold on to. +If you aren't afraid of dying, +there is nothing you can't achieve. + +Trying to control the future +is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. +When you handle the master carpenter's tools, +chances are that you'll cut your hand. + +## 75 + +When taxes are too high, +people go hungry. +When the government is too intrusive, +people lose their spirit. + +Act for the people's benefit. +Trust them; leave them alone. + +## 76 + +Men are born soft and supple; +dead, they are stiff and hard. +Plats are born tender and pliant; +dead, they are brittle and dry. + +Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible +is a disciple of death. +Whoever is soft and yielding +is a disciple of life. + +The hard and stiff will be broken. +The soft and supple will prevail. + +## 77 + +As it acts in the world, the Tao +is like the bending of a bow. +The top is bent downward; +the bottom is bent up. +It adjusts excess and deficiency +so that there is perfect balance. +It takes from what is too much +and give to what isn't enough. + +Those who try to control, +who use force to protect their power, +go against the direction of the Tao. +They take from those who don't have enough +and give to those who have far too much. + +The Master can keep giving +because there is no end to her wealth. +She acts without expectation, +succeeds without taking credit, +and doesn't think that she is better +than anyone else. + +## 78 + +Nothing in the world +is as soft and yielding as water. +Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, +nothing can surpass it. + +The soft overcomes the hard; +the gentle overcomes the rigid. +Everyone knows this is true, +but few can put it into practice. + +Therefore the Master remains +serene in the midst of sorrow. +Evil cannot enter his heart. +Because he has given up helping, +he is people's greatest help. + +True words seem paradoxical. + +## 79 + +Failure is an opportunity. +If you blame someone else, +there is no end to the blame. + +Therefore the Master +fulfills her own obligations +and corrects her own mistakes. +She does what she needs to do +and demands nothing of others. + +## 80 + +If a country is governed wisely, +its inhabitants will be content. +They enjoy the labor of their hands +and don't waste time inventing +labor-saving machines. +Since they dearly love their homes, +they aren't interested in travel. +There may be a few wagons and boats, +but these don't go anywhere. +There may be an arsenal of weapons, +but nobody ever uses them. +People enjoy their food, +take pleasure in being with their families, +spend weekends working in their gardens, +delight in the doings of the neighborhood. +And even though the next country is so close +that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking, +they are content to die of old age +without ever having gone to see it. + +## 81 + +True words aren't eloquent; +eloquent words aren't true. +Wise men don't need to prove their point; +men who need to prove their point aren't wise. + +The Master has no possessions. +The more he does for others, +the happier he is. +The more he gives to others, +the wealthier he is. + +The Tao nourishes by not forcing. +By not dominating, the Master leads. diff --git a/source/content/tao/1990-victor-h-mair.md b/source/content/tao/1990-victor-h-mair.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..90eef8a --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1990-victor-h-mair.md @@ -0,0 +1,1376 @@ +Translator: Victor H. Mair +Year: 1990 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mair.html) +Code: vhm + +## 1 + +The ways that can be walked are not the eternal Way; +The names that can be named are not the eternal name. +The nameless is the origin of the myriad creatures; +The named is the mother of the myriad creatures. +Therefore, +Always be without desire in order to observe its wondrous subtleties; +Always have desire so that you may observe its manifestations. +Both of these derive from the same source; +They have different names but the same designation. +Mystery of mysteries, +The gate of all wonders! + +## 2 + +When all under heaven know beauty as beauty, already there is ugliness; +When everyone knows goodness, this accounts for badness. +Being and nonbeing give birth to each other, +Difficult and easy complete each other, +Long and short form each other, +High and low fulfill each other, +Tone and voice harmonize with each other, +Front and back follow each other - it is ever thus. +For these reasons, +The sage dwells in affairs of nonaction, carries out a doctrine without words. +He lets the myriad creatures rise up but does not instigate them; +He acts but does not presume; +He completes his work but does not dwell on it. +Now, +Simply because he does not dwell on them, his accomplishments never leave him. + +## 3 + +Not exalting men of worth prevents the people from competing; +Not putting high value on rare goods prevents the people from being bandits; +Not displaying objects of desire prevents the people from being disorderly. +For these reasons, +The sage, in ruling, +hollows their hearts, +stuffs their stomachs, +weakens their wills, +builds up their bones, +Always causing the people to be without knowledge and desire. +He ensures that the knowledgeable dare not be hostile, +and that is all. +Thus, +His rule is universal. + +## 4 + +The Way is empty, yet never refills with use; +Bottomless it is, like the forefather of the myriad creatures. +It files away sharp points, +unravels tangles, +diffuses light, +mingles with the dust. +Submerged it lies, +seeming barely to subsist. +I know not whose child it is, +only that it resembles the predecessor of God. + +## 5 + +Heaven and earth are inhumane; +they view the myriad creatures as straw dogs. +The sage is inhumane; +he views the common people as straw dogs. +The space between heaven and earth, how like a bellows it is! +Empty but never exhausted, +The more it pumps, the more comes out. +Hearing too much leads to utter exhaustion; +Better to remain in the center. + +## 6 + +The valley spirit never dies - +it is called "the mysterious female"; +The gate of the mysterious female +is called "the root of heaven and earth." +Gossamer it is, +seemingly insubstantial, +yet never consumed through use. + +## 7 + +Heaven is long and earth is lasting. +Heaven and earth can be long and lasting because they do not live for themselves. +Therefore, +They can be long-lived. +For this reason, +The sage withdraws himself but comes to the fore, +alienates himself but is always present. +Is this not because he is free of private interests? +Therefore, +He can accomplish his private interests. + +## 8 + +The highest good is like water; +Water is good at benefiting the myriad creatures +but also struggles to occupy the place loathed by the masses. +Therefore, +It is near to the Way. +The quality of an abode is in its location, +The quality of the heart is in its depths, +The quality of giving lies in trust, +The quality of correct governance lies in orderly rule, +The quality of an enterprise depends on ability, +The quality of movement depends on timing. +Now, +It is precisely because one does not compete that there is no blame. + +## 9 + +Instead of keeping a bow taut while holding it straight, better to relax. +You may temper a sword until it is razor sharp, but you cannot preserve the edge for long. +When gold and jade fill your rooms, no one will be able to guard them for you. +If wealth and honor make you haughty, you bequeath misfortune upon yourself. +To withdraw when your work is finished, +that is the Way of heaven. + +## 10 + +While you +Cultivate the soul and embrace unity, +can you keep them from separating? +Focus your vital breath until it is supremely soft, +can you be like a baby? +Cleanse the mirror of mysteries, +can you make it free of blemish? +Love the people and enliven the state, +can you do so without cunning? +Open and close the gate of heaven, +can you play the part of the female? +Reach out with clarity in all directions, +can you refrain from action? +It gives birth to them and nurtures them, +It gives birth to them but does not possess them, +It rears them but does not control them. +This is called "mysterious integrity." + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes converge on a single hub, +but it is in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the cart lies. +Clay is molded to make a pot, +but it is in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the clay pot lies. +Cut out doors and windows to make a room, +but it is in the spaces where there is nothing that the usefulness of the room lies. +Therefore, +Benefit may be derived from something, but it is in nothing that we find usefulness. + +## 12 + +The five colors +make a man's eyes blind; +Horseracing and hunting +make a man's mind go mad; +Goods that are hard to obtain +make a man's progress falter; +The five flavors +make a man's palate dull; +The five tones +make a man's ears deaf. +For these reasons, +In ruling, the sage +attends to the stomach, not to the eye. +Therefore, +He rejects the one and adopts the other. + +## 13 + +"Being favored is so disgraceful that it startles, +Being honored is an affliction as great as one's body." +What is the meaning of "Being favored is so disgraceful that it startles"? +Favor is debasing; +To find it is startling, +To lose it is startling. +This is the meaning of "Being favored is so disgraceful that it startles." +What is the meaning of "Being honored is an affliction as great as one's body"? +The reason I suffer great afflictions is because I have a body; +If I had no body, what affliction could I suffer? +Therefore, +When a man puts more emphasis on caring for his body than on caring for all under heaven, +then all under heaven can be entrusted to him. +When a man is sparing of his body in caring for all under heaven, +then all under heaven can be delivered to him. + +## 14 + +We look for it but do not see it; +we name it "subtle." +We listen for it but do not hear it; +we name it "rare." +We grope for it but do not grasp it; +we name it "serene." +These three cannot be fully fathomed, +Therefore, +They are bound together to make unity. +Of unity, +its top is not distant, +its bottom is not blurred. +Infinitely extended and unnameable, +It returns to nonentity. +This is called "the form of the formless, the image of nonentity." +This is called "the amorphous." +Following behind it, you cannot see its back; +Approaching it from the front, you cannot see its head. +Hold to the Way of today to manage the actualities of today, +thereby understanding the primeval beginning. +This is called "the thread of the Way." + +## 15 + +Those of old who were adept in the Way were subtly profound and mysteriously perceptive, +So deep they could not be recognized. +Now, +Because they could not be recognized, +One can describe their appearance only with effort: +hesitant, as though crossing a stream in winter; +cautious, as though fearful of their neighbors all around; +solemn, as though guests in someone else's house; +shrinking, as ice when it melts; +plain, as an unhewn log; +muddled, as turbid waters; +expansive, as a broad valley. +If turbid waters are stilled, +they will gradually become clear; +If something inert is set in motion, +it will gradually come to life. +Those who preserved this Way did not wish to be full. +Now, +Simply because they did not wish to be full, they could be threadbare and incomplete. + +## 16 + +Attain utmost emptiness, +Maintain utter stillness. +The myriad creatures arise side by side, thus I observe their renewal. +Heaven's creatures abound, +but each returns to its roots, which is called "stillness." +This is termed "renewal of fate." +Renewal of fate is perpetual - +To know the perpetual is to be enlightened; +Not to know the perpetual is to be reckless - recklessness breeds evil. +To know the perpetual is to be tolerant - +tolerance leads to ducal impartiality, +ducal impartiality to kingliness, +kingliness to heaven, +heaven to the Way, +the Way to permanence. +To the end of his days, +he will not be imperiled. + +## 17 + +Preeminent is one whose subjects barely know he exists; +The next is one to whom they feel close and praise; +The next is one whom they fear; +The lowest is one whom they despise. +When the ruler's trust is wanting, +there will be no trust in him. +Cautious, he values his words. +When his work is completed and his affairs finished, +the common people say, "We are like this by ourselves." + +## 18 + +Therefore, +When the great Way was forsaken, +there was humaneness and righteousness; +When cunning and wit appeared, +there was great falsity; +When the six family relationships lacked harmony, +there were filial piety and parental kindness; +When the state and royal house were in disarray, +there were upright ministers. + +## 19 + +"Abolish sagehood and abandon cunning, the people will benefit a hundredfold; +Abolish humaneness and abandon righteousness, the people will once again be filial and kind; +Abolish cleverness and abandon profit, bandits and thieves will be no more." +These three statements are inadequate as a civilizing doctrine; +Therefore, +Let something be added to them: +Evince the plainness of undyed silk, +Embrace the simplicity of the unhewn log; +Lessen selfishness, +Diminish desires; +Abolish learning +and you will be without worries. + +## 20 + +Between "yes sir" and "certainly not!" +how much difference is there? +Between beauty and ugliness, +how great is the distinction? +He whom others fear, +likewise cannot but fear others. +How confusing, +there is no end to it all! +Joyful are the masses, +as though feasting after the great sacrifice of oxen, or mounting a terrace in spring. +Motionless am I, without any sign, as a baby that has yet to gurgle. +How dejected! as though having nowhere to return. +The masses all have more than enough; +I alone am bereft. +I have the heart of a fool. +How muddled! +The ordinary man is luminously clear, I alone seem confused. +The ordinary man is searchingly exact, I alone am vague and uncertain. +How nebulous! as the ocean; +How blurred! as though without boundary. +The masses all have a purpose, I alone am stubborn and uncouth. +I desire to be uniquely different from others by honoring the mother who nourishes. + +## 21 + +The appearance of grand integrity is that it follows the Way alone. +The Way objectified is blurred and nebulous. +How nebulous and blurred! +Yet within it there are images. +How blurred and nebulous! +Yet within it there are objects. +How cavernous and dark! +Yet within it there is an essence. +Its essence is quite real; +Within it there are tokens. +From the present back to the past, +Its name has been imperishable. +Through it we conform to the father of the masses. +How do I know what the father of the masses is like? +Through this. + +## 22 + +If it +Is bent, it will be preserved intact; +Is crooked, it will be straightened; +Is sunken, it will be filled; +Is worn-out, it will be renewed; +Has little, it will gain; +Has much, it will be confused. +For these reasons, +The sage holds on to unity and serves as the shepherd of all under heaven. +He is not self-absorbed, therefore he shines forth; +He is not self-revealing, therefore he is distinguished; +He is not self-assertive, therefore he has merit; +He does not praise himself, therefore he is long-lasting. +Now, +Simply because he does not compete, +No one can compete with him. +The old saying about the bent being preserved intact is indeed close to the mark! +Truly, he shall be returned intact. + +## 23 + +To be sparing of speech is natural. +A whirlwind does not last the whole morning, +A downpour does not last the whole day. +Who causes them? +If even heaven and earth cannot cause them to persist, how much less can human beings? +Therefore, +In pursuing his affairs, +a man of the Way identifies with the Way, +a man of integrity identifies with integrity, +a man who fails identifies with failure. +To him who identifies with integrity, the Way awards integrity; +To him who identifies with failure, the Way awards failure. + +## 24 + +Who is puffed up cannot stand, +Who is self-absorbed has no distinction, +Who is self-revealing does not shine, +Who is self-assertive has no merit, +Who is self-praising does not last long. +As for the Way, we may say these are "excess provisions and extra baggage." +Creation abhors such extravagances. +Therefore, +One who aspires to the Way, does not abide in them. + +## 25 + +There was something featureless yet complete, +born before heaven and earth; +Silent - amorphous - it stood alone and unchanging. +We may regard it as the mother of heaven and earth. +Not knowing its name, +I style it the "Way." +If forced to give it a name, +I would call it "great." +Being great implies flowing ever onward, +Flowing ever onward implies far-reaching, +Far-reaching implies reversal. +The Way is great, +Heaven is great, +Earth is great, +The king, too, is great. +Within the realm there are four greats, and the king is one among them. +Man patterns himself on earth, +Earth patterns itself on heaven, +Heaven patterns itself on the Way, +The Way patterns itself on nature. + +## 26 + +Heavy is the root of light; +Calm is the ruler of haste. +For these reasons, +The superior man may travel the whole day without leaving his heavy baggage cart. +Though inside the courtyard walls of a noisy inn, +he placidly rises above it all. +How then should a king with ten thousand chariots conduct himself lightly before all under heaven? +If he treats himself lightly, +he will lose the taproot; +If he is hasty, +he will lose the rulership. + +## 27 + +He who is skilled at traveling leaves neither tracks nor traces; +He who is skilled at speaking is flawless in his delivery; +He who is skilled in computation uses neither tallies nor counters; +He who is skilled at closing things tightly has neither lock nor key, but what he closes cannot be opened; +He who is good at binding has neither cord nor string, but what he binds cannot be untied. +For these reasons, +The sage is always skilled at saving others and does not abandon them, +nor does he abandon resources. +This is called "inner intelligence." +Therefore, +Good men are teachers for the good man, +Bad men are foils for the good man. +He who values not his teacher +and loves not his foil, +Though he be knowledgeable, +is greatly deluded. +This is called "the wondrous essential." + +## 28 + +Know masculinity, +Maintain femininity, +and be a ravine for all under heaven. +By being a ravine for all under heaven, +Eternal integrity will never desert you. +If eternal integrity never deserts you, +You will return to the state of infancy. +Know you are innocent, +Remain steadfast when insulted, +and be a valley for all under heaven. +By being a valley for all under heaven, +Eternal integrity will suffice. +If eternal integrity suffices, +You will return to the simplicity of the unhewn log. +Know whiteness, +Maintain blackness, +and be a model for all under heaven. +By being a model for all under heaven, +Eternal integrity will not err. +If eternal integrity does not err, +You will return to infinity. +When the unhewn log is sawn apart, +it is made into tools; +When the sage is put to use, +he becomes the chief of officials. +For +Great carving does no cutting. + +## 29 + +Of those who wish to take hold of all-under-heaven and act upon it, +I have seen that they do not succeed. +Now, +All-under-heaven is a sacred vessel, +Not something that can be acted upon; +Who acts upon it will be defeated, +Who grasps it will lose it. +Of creatures, +some march forward, others follow behind; +some are shiveringly silent, others are all puffed up; +some are strong, others are meek; +some pile up, others collapse. +For these reasons, +The sage +rejects extremes, rejects excess, rejects extravagance. + +## 30 + +One who assists the ruler of men with the Way +does not use force of arms against all under heaven; +Such a course is likely to boomerang. +Where armies have been stationed, briars and brambles will grow. +A good general fulfills his purpose +and that is all. +He does not use force to seize for himself. +He fulfills his purpose, but is not proud; +He fulfills his purpose, but is not boastful; +He fulfills his purpose, but does not brag; +He fulfills his purpose only because he has no other choice. +This is called "fulfilling one's purpose without using force." +If something grows old while still in its prime, +This is called "not being in accord with the Way." +Not being in accord with the Way leads to an early demise. + +## 31 + +Now, +Weapons are instruments of evil omen; +Creation abhors them. +Therefore, +One who aspires to the Way does not abide in them. +The superior man at home honors the left, on the battlefield honors the right. +Therefore, +Weapons are not instruments of the superior man; +Weapons are instruments of evil omen, +to be used only when there is no other choice. +He places placidity above all and refuses to prettify weapons; +If one prettifies weapons, this is to delight in the killing of others. +Now, +One who delights in the killing of others +Cannot exercise his will over all under heaven. +For this reason, +On occasions for celebration, the left is given priority; +On occasions for mourning, the right is given priority. +Therefore, +A deputy general stands on the left, +The general-in-chief stands on the right. +In other words, +They stand in accordance with mourning ritual. +The killing of masses of human beings, +we bewail with sorrow and grief; +Victory in battle, +we commemorate with mourning ritual. + +## 32 + +The Way is eternally nameless. +Though the unhewn log is small, +No one in the world dares subjugate it. +If feudal lords and kings could maintain it, +The myriad creatures would submit of themselves. +Heaven and earth unite to suffuse sweet dew. +Without commanding the people, +equality will naturally ensue. +As soon as one begins to divide things up, there are names; +Once there are names, one should also know when to stop; +Knowing when to stop, one thereby avoids peril. +In metaphorical terms, +The relationship of all under heaven to the Way is like that of valley streams to the river and sea. + +## 33 + +Understanding others is knowledge, +Understanding oneself is enlightenment; +Conquering others is power, +Conquering oneself is strength; +Contentment is wealth, +Forceful conduct is willfulness; +Not losing one's rightful place is to endure, +To die but not be forgotten is longevity. + +## 34 + +Rippling is the Way, flowing left and right! +Its tasks completed, its affairs finished, +Still it does not claim them for its own. +The myriad creatures return to it, +But it does not act as their ruler. +Eternally without desire, +It may be named among the small; +The myriad creatures return to it, +But it does not act as their ruler; +It may be named among the great. +For these reasons, +The sage can achieve greatness, +Because he does not act great. +Therefore, +He can achieve greatness. + +## 35 + +Hold fast to the great image and all under heaven will come; +They will come but not be harmed, rest in safety and peace; +Music and fine food will make the passerby halt. +Therefore, +When the Way is expressed verbally, +We say such things as +"how bland and tasteless it is!" +"We look for it, but there is not enough to be seen." +"We listen for it, but there is not enough to be heard." +Yet, when put to use, it is inexhaustible! + +## 36 + +When you wish to contract something, +you must momentarily expand it; +When you wish to weaken something, +you must momentarily strengthen it; +When you wish to reject something, +you must momentarily join with it; +When you wish to seize something, +you must momentarily give it up. +This is called "subtle insight." +The soft and weak conquer the strong. +Fish cannot be removed from the watery depths; +The profitable instruments of state cannot be shown to the people. + +## 37 + +The Way is eternally nameless. +If feudal lords and kings preserve it, +The myriad creatures will be transformed by themselves. +After transformation, if they wish to rise up, +I shall restrain them with the nameless unhewn log. +By restraining them with the nameless unhewn log, +They will not feel disgraced; +Not feeling disgraced, +They will be still, +Whereupon heaven and earth will be made right by themselves. + +## 38 + +The person of superior integrity +does not insist upon his integrity; +For this reason, he has integrity. +The person of inferior integrity +never loses sight of his integrity; +For this reason, he lacks integrity. +The person of superior integrity takes no action, +nor has he a purpose for acting. +The person of superior humaneness takes action, +but has no purpose for acting. +The person of superior righteousness takes action, +and has a purpose for acting. +The person of superior etiquette takes action, +but others do not respond to him; +Whereupon he rolls up his sleeves and coerces them. +Therefore, +When the Way is lost, +afterward comes integrity. +When integrity is lost, +afterward comes humaneness. +When humaneness is lost, +afterward comes righteousness. +When righteousness is lost, +afterward comes etiquette. +Now, +Etiquette is the attenuation of trustworthiness, and the source of disorder. +Foreknowledge is but the blossomy ornament of the Way, and the source of ignorance. +For this reason, +The great man resides in substance, not in attenuation. +He resides in fruitful reality, not in blossomy ornament. +Therefore, +He rejects the one and adopts the other. + +## 39 + +In olden times, these attained unity: +Heaven attained unity, and thereby became pure. +Earth attained unity, and thereby became tranquil. +The spirits attained unity, and thereby became divine. +The valley attained unity, and thereby became full. +Feudal lords and kings attained unity, and thereby all was put right. +Yet, pushed to the extreme, +It implies that, +If heaven were ever pure, it would be likely to rend. +It implies that, +If earth were ever tranquil, it would be likely to quake. +It implies that, +If the spirits were ever divine, they would be likely to dissipate. +It implies that, +If the valley were ever full, it would be likely to run dry. +It implies that, +If feudal lords and kings were ever noble and thereby exalted, they would be likely to fall. +Therefore, +It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis. +It is necessary to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation. +Now, for this reason, +Feudal lords and kings style themselves +"orphaned," "destitute," and "hapless." +Is this not because they take humility as their basis? +Therefore, +Striving for an excess of praise, one ends up without praise. +Consequently, +Desire not to be jingling as jade nor stolid as stone. + +## 40 + +Reversal is the movement of the Way; +Weakness is the usage of the Way. +All creatures under heaven are born from being; +Being is born from nonbeing. + +## 41 + +When the superior man hears the Way, +he is scarcely able to put it into practice. +When the middling man hears the Way, +he appears now to preserve it, now to lose it. +When the inferior man hears the Way, +he laughs at it loudly. +If he did not laugh, +it would not be fit to be the Way. +For this reason, +There is a series of epigrams that says: +"The bright Way seems dim. +The forward Way seems backward. +The level Way seems bumpy. +Superior integrity seems like a valley. +The greatest whiteness seems grimy. +Ample integrity seems insufficient. +Robust integrity seems apathetic. +Plain truth seems sullied. +The great square has no corners. +The great vessel is never completed. +The great note sounds muted. +The great image has no form. +The Way is concealed and has no name." +Indeed, +The Way alone is good at beginning and good at completing. + +## 42 + +The Way gave birth to unity, +Unity gave birth to duality, +Duality gave birth to trinity, +Trinity gave birth to the myriad creatures. +The myriad creatures bear yin on their backs and embrace yang in their bosoms. +They neutralize these vapors +and thereby achieve harmony. +That which all under heaven hate most +Is to be orphaned, destitute, and hapless. +Yet kings and dukes call themselves thus. +Things may be diminished by being increased, increased by being diminished. +Therefore, +That which people teach, +After deliberation, I also teach people. +Therefore, +"The tyrant does not die a natural death." +I take this as my mentor. + +## 43 + +The softest thing under heaven gallops triumphantly over +The hardest thing under heaven. +Nonbeing penetrates nonspace. +Hence, +I know the advantages of nonaction. +The doctrine without words, +The advantage of nonaction - +few under heaven can realize these! + +## 44 + +Name or person, which is nearer? +Person or property, which is dearer? +Gain or loss, which is drearier? +Many loves entail great costs, +Many riches entail heavy losses. +Know contentment and you shall not be disgraced, +Know satisfaction and you shall not be imperiled; +then you will long endure. + +## 45 + +Great perfection appears defective, +but its usefulness is not diminished. +Great fullness appears empty, +but its usefulness is not impaired. +Great straightness seems crooked, +Great cleverness seems clumsy, +Great triumph seems awkward. +Bustling about vanquishes cold, +Standing still vanquishes heat. +Pure and still, one can put things right everywhere under heaven. + +## 46 + +When the Way prevails under heaven, +swift horses are relegated to fertilizing fields. +When the Way does not prevail under heaven, +war-horses breed in the suburbs. +No guilt is greater than giving in to desire, +No disaster is greater than discontent, +No crime is more grievous than the desire for gain. +Therefore, +Contentment that derives from knowing when to be content is eternal contentment. + +## 47 + +Without going out-of-doors, +one may know all under heaven; +Without peering through windows, +one may know the Way of heaven. +The farther one goes, +The less one knows. +For this reason, +The sage +knows without journeying, +understands without looking, +accomplishes without acting. + +## 48 + +The pursuit of learning results in daily increase, +Hearing the Way leads to daily decrease. +Decrease and again decrease, until you reach nonaction. +Through nonaction, no action is left undone. +Should one desire to gain all under heaven, +One should remain ever free of involvements. +For, +Just as surely as one becomes involved, +One is unfit for gaining all under heaven. + +## 49 + +The sage never has a mind of his own; +He considers the minds of the common people to be his mind. +Treat well those who are good, +Also treat well those who are not good; +thus is goodness attained. +Be sincere to those who are sincere, +Also be sincere to those who are insincere; +thus is sincerity attained. +The sage is self-effacing in his dealings with all under heaven, and bemuddles his mind for the sake of all under heaven. +The common people all rivet their eyes and ears upon him, +And the sage makes them all chuckle like children. + +## 50 + +A person comes forth to life and enters into death. +Three out of ten are partners of life, +Three out of ten are partners of death, +And the people whose every movement leads them to the land of death because they cling to life +Are also three out of ten. +Now, +What is the reason for this? +It is because they cling to life. +Indeed, +I have heard that +One who is good at preserving life does not avoid tigers and rhinoceroses when he walks in the hills; +nor does he put on armor and take up weapons when he enters a battle. +The rhinoceros has no place to jab its horn, +The tiger has no place to fasten its claws, +Weapons have no place to admit their blades. +Now, +What is the reason for this? +Because on him there are no mortal spots. + +## 51 + +The Way gives birth to them and integrity nurtures them. +Matter forms them and function completes them. +For this reason, +The myriad creatures respect the Way and esteem integrity. +Respect for the Way and esteem for integrity are by no means conferred upon them but always occur naturally. +The Way +gives birth to them, +nurtures them, +rears them, +follows them, +shelters them, +toughens them, +sustains them, +protects them. +It +gives birth but does not possess, +acts but does not presume, +rears but does not control. +This is what is called "mysterious integrity." + +## 52 + +Everything under heaven has a beginning which may be thought of as the mother of all under heaven. +Having realized the mother, you thereby know her children. +Knowing her children, go back to abide with the mother. +To the end of your life, you will not be imperiled. +Stopple the orifices of your heart, +Close your doors; +your whole life you will not suffer. +Open the gate of your heart, +Meddle with affairs; +your whole life you will be beyond salvation. +Seeing what is small is called insight, +Abiding in softness is called strength. +Use your light to return to insight, +Be not an inheritor of personal calamity. +This is called "following the constant." + +## 53 + +If I were possessed of the slightest knowledge, traveling on the great Way, +My only fear would be to go astray. +The great Way is quite level, +but the people are much enamored of mountain trails. +The court is thoroughly deserted, +The fields are choked with weeds, +The granaries are altogether empty. +Still there are some who wear clothes with fancy designs and brilliant colors, +sharp swords hanging at their sides, +are sated with food, +overflowing with possessions and wealth. +This is called "the brazenness of a bandit." +The brazenness of a bandit is surely not the Way! + +## 54 + +What is firmly established cannot be uprooted; +What is tightly embraced cannot slip away. +Thus sacrificial offerings made by sons and grandsons will never end. +Cultivated in the person, integrity is true. +Cultivated in the family, integrity is ample. +Cultivated in the village, integrity lasts long. +Cultivated in the state, integrity is abundant. +Cultivated everywhere under heaven, integrity is vast. +Observe other persons through your own person. +Observe other families through your own family. +Observe other villages through your own village. +Observe other states through your own state. +Observe all under heaven through all under heaven. +How do I know the nature of all under heaven? +Through this. + +## 55 + +He who embodies the fullness of integrity is like a ruddy infant. +Wasps, spiders, scorpions, and snakes will not sting or bite him; +Rapacious birds and fierce beasts will not seize him. +His bones are weak and his sinews soft, yet his grip is tight. +He knows not the joining of male and female, yet his penis is aroused. +His essence has reached a peak. +He screams the whole day without becoming hoarse; +His harmony has reached perfection. +Harmony implies constancy; +Constancy requires insight. +Striving to increase one's life is ominous; +To control the vital breath with one's mind entails force. +Something that grows old while still in its prime is said to be not in accord with the Way; +Not being in accord with the Way leads to an early demise. + +## 56 + +One who knows does not speak; +One who speaks does not know. +He +Stopples the openings of his heart, +Closes his doors, +Diffuses the light, +Mingles with the dust, +Files away his sharp points, +Unravels his tangles. +This is called "mysterious identity." +Therefore, +Neither can one attain intimacy with him, +Nor can one remain distant from him; +Neither can one profit from him, +Nor can one be harmed by him; +Neither can one achieve honor through him, +Nor can one be debased by him. +Therefore, +He is esteemed by all under heaven. + +## 57 + +Rule the state with uprightness, +Deploy your troops with craft, +Gain all under heaven with noninterference. +How do I know this is actually so? +Now, +The more taboos under heaven, the poorer the people; +The more clever devices people have, the more confused the state and ruling house; +The more knowledge people have, the more strange things spring up; +The more legal affairs are given prominence, the more numerous bandits and thieves. +For this reason, +The sage has a saying: +"I take no action, yet the people transform themselves; +I am fond of stillness, yet the people correct themselves; +I do not interfere in affairs, yet the people enrich themselves; +I desire not to desire, yet the people of themselves become simple as unhewn logs." + +## 58 + +When government is anarchic, the people are honest; +When government is meddlesome, the state is lacking. +Disaster is that whereon good fortune depends, +Good fortune is that wherein disaster lurks. +Who knows their limits? +When there is no uprightness, correct reverts to crafty, good reverts to gruesome. +The delusion of mankind, +How long have been its days! +For this reason, be +Square but not cutting, +Angular but not prickly, +Straight but not arrogant, +Bright but not dazzling. + +## 59 + +To rule men and serve heaven, there is nothing like thrift. +Now, +Only through thrift can one be prepared; +Being prepared means having a heavy store of integrity; +With a heavy store of integrity, he can overcome everything. +Able to overcome everything, no one knows his limits; +If no one knows his limits, he can have the kingdom; +Having the mother of the kingdom, he can long endure. +This is called "sinking roots firm and deep, the Way of long life and lasting vision." + +## 60 + +Ruling a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish. +If one oversees all under heaven in accord with the Way, demons have no spirit. +It is not that the demons have no spirit, but that their spirits do not harm people. +It is not merely that their spirits do not harm people, but that the sage also does not harm them. +Now, +When neither harms the other, integrity accrues to both. + +## 61 + +A large state is like a low-lying estuary, +the female of all under heaven. +In the congress of all under heaven, +the female always conquers the male through her stillness. +Because she is still, it is fitting for her to lie low. +By lying beneath a small state, +a large state can take over a small state. +By lying beneath a large state, +a small state can be taken over by a large state. +Therefore, +One may either take over or be taken over by lying low. +Therefore, +The large state wishes only to annex and nurture others; +The small state wants only to join with and serve others. +Now, +Since both get what they want, +It is fitting for the large state to lie low. + +## 62 + +The Way is the cistern of the myriad creatures; +It is the treasure of the good man, +And that which is treasured by the bad man. +Beautiful words can be traded, +Noble deeds can be used as gifts for others. +Why should we reject even what is bad about men? +Therefore, +When the son of heaven is enthroned or the three ministers are installed, +Although they may have large jade disks +And be preceded by teams of four horses, +It would be better for them to sit down and make progress in this. +What was the reason for the ancients to value this so highly? +Did they not say: +"Seek and thou shalt receive; +Sin and thou shalt be forgiven"? +Therefore, +It is valued by all under heaven. + +## 63 + +Act through nonaction, +Handle affairs through noninterference, +Taste what has no taste, +Regard the small as great, the few as many, +Repay resentment with integrity. +Undertake difficult tasks by approaching what is easy in them; +Do great deeds by focusing on their minute aspects. +All difficulties under heaven arise from what is easy, +All great things under heaven arise from what is minute. +For this reason, +The sage never strives to do what is great. +Therefore, +He can achieve greatness. +One who lightly assents will seldom be believed; +One who thinks everything is easy will encounter much difficulty. +For this reason, +Even the sage considers things difficult. +Therefore, +In the end he is without difficulty. + +## 64 + +What is secure is easily grasped, +What has no omens is easily forestalled, +What is brittle is easily split, +What is minuscule is easily dispersed. +Act before there is a problem; +Bring order before there is disorder. +A tree that fills the arms' embrace is born from a downy shoot; +A terrace nine layers high starts from a basketful of earth; +An ascent of a hundred strides begins beneath one's foot. +Who acts fails; +Who grasps loses. +For this reason, +The sage does not act. +Therefore, +He does not fail. +He does not grasp. +Therefore, +He does not lose. +In pursuing their affairs, people often fail when they are close to success. +Therefore, +If one is as cautious at the end as at the beginning, there will be no failures. +For this reason, +The sage desires to be without desire and does not prize goods that are hard to obtain; +He learns not to learn and reverts to what the masses pass by. +Thus, +he can help the myriad creatures be natural, but dares not act. + +## 65 + +The ancients who practiced the Way did not enlighten the people with it; +They used it, rather, to stupefy them. +The people are hard to rule because they have too much knowledge. +Therefore, +Ruling a state through knowledge is to rob the state; +Ruling a state through ignorance brings integrity to the state. +One who is always mindful of these two types grasps a paradigm; +Mindfulness of this paradigm is called "mysterious integrity." +Deep and distant is this mysterious integrity! +It runs counter to things until it reaches the great confluence. + +## 66 + +The river and sea can be kings of the hundred valley streams because they are good at lying below them. +For this reason, +They can be kings of the hundred valley streams. +For this reason, too, +If the sage wants to be above the people, +in his words, he must put himself below them; +If he wishes to be before the people, +in his person, he must stand behind them. +Therefore, +He is situated in front of the people, +but they are not offended; +He is situated above the people, +but they do not consider him a burden. +All under heaven happily push him forward without wearying. +Is this not because he is without contention? +Therefore, +No one under heaven can contend with him. + +## 67 + +All under heaven say that I am great, great but unconventional. +Now, +Precisely because I am unconventional, +I can be great; +If I were conventional, +I would long since have become a trifle. +I have always possessed three treasures that I guard and cherish. +The first is compassion, +The second is frugality, +The third is not daring to be ahead of all under heaven. +Now, +Because I am compassionate, I can be brave; +Because I am frugal, I can be magnanimous; +Because I dare not be ahead of all under heaven, I can be a leader in the completion of affairs. +If, today, I were to +Be courageous while forsaking compassion, +Be magnanimous while forsaking frugality, +Get ahead while forsaking the hindmost, +that would be death! +For compassion +In war brings victory, +In defense brings invulnerability. +Whomsoever heaven would establish, +It surrounds with a bulwark of compassion. + +## 68 + +A good warrior is not bellicose, +A good fighter does not anger, +A good conqueror does not contest his enemy, +One who is good at using others puts himself below them. +This is called "integrity without competition," +This is called "using others," +This is called "parity with heaven," - the pinnacle of the ancients. + +## 69 + +The strategists have a saying: +"I dare not be host, but would rather be guest; +I advance not an inch, but instead retreat a foot." +This is called +Marching without ranks, +Bearing nonexistent arms, +Flourishing nonexistent weapons, +Driving back nonexistent enemies. +There is no greater misfortune than not having a worthy foe; +Once I believe there are no worthy foes, I have well-nigh forfeited my treasures. +Therefore, +When opposing forces are evenly matched, +The one who is saddened will be victorious. + +## 70 + +My words are very easy to understand, very easy to practice. +But no one is able to understand them, +And no one is able to practice them. +Words have authority. +Affairs have an ancestry. +It is simply because of their ignorance, that they do not understand me; +Those who understand me are few, thus I am ennobled. +For this reason, +The sage wears coarse clothing over his shoulders, but carries jade within his bosom. + +## 71 + +To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; +Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect. +The reason why +The sage has no defects, +Is because he treats defects as defects. +Thus, +He has no defects. + +## 72 + +When the people do not fear the majestic, +Great majesty will soon visit them. +Do not limit their dwellings, +Do not suppress their livelihood. +Simply because you do not suppress them, they will not grow weary of you. +For this reason, +The sage is self-aware, but does not flaunt himself; +He is self-devoted, but does not glorify himself. +Therefore, +He rejects the one and adopts the other. + +## 73 + +He who is brave in daring will be killed, +He who is brave in not daring will survive. +One of these two courses is beneficial, +The other is harmful. +Who knows the reason for heaven's dislikes? +The Way of heaven +does not war yet is good at conquering, +does not speak yet is good at answering, +is not summoned yet comes of itself, +is relaxed yet good at making plans. +Heaven's net is vast; +Though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes. + +## 74 + +If the people never fear death, +what is the purpose of threatening to kill them? +If the people ever fear death, +and I were to capture and kill those who are devious, +who would dare to be so? +If the people must be ever fearful of death, +then there will always be an executioner. +Now, +To kill in place of the executioner +Is like +Hewing wood in place of the master carpenter; +Few indeed will escape cutting their own hands! + +## 75 + +Human hunger is the result of overtaxation. +For this reason, +There is hunger. +The common people are not governable because of their superiors' actions. +For this reason, +They are not governable. +The people make light of death because of too much emphasis on the quest for life. +For this reason, +They make light of death. +Now, +Only she who acts not for the sake of life +Is wiser than those who value life highly. + +## 76 + +Human beings are soft and supple when alive, stiff and straight when dead. +The myriad creatures, the grasses and trees are soft and fragile when alive, dry and withered when dead. +Therefore, it is said: +The rigid person is a disciple of death; +The soft, supple, and delicate are lovers of life. +An army that is inflexible will not conquer; +A tree that is inflexible will snap. +The unyielding and mighty shall be brought low; +The soft, supple, and delicate will be set above. + +## 77 + +The Way of heaven is like the bending of a bow - +the upper part is pressed down, +the lower part is raised up, +the part that has too much is reduced, +the part that has too little is increased. +Therefore, +The Way of heaven +reduces surplus to make up for scarcity; +The Way of man +reduces scarcity and pays tribute to surplus. +Who is there that can have a surplus and take from it to pay tribute to heaven? +Surely only one who has the Way! +For this reason, +The sage +acts but does not possess, +completes his work but does not dwell on it. +In this fashion, +he has no desire to display his worth. + +## 78 + +Nothing under heaven is softer or weaker than water, +and yet nothing is better for attacking what is hard and strong, +because of its immutability. +The defeat of the hard by the soft, +The defeat of the strong by the weak - +this is known to all under heaven, yet no one is able to practice it. +Therefore, +in the words of the sage, it is said: +"He who bears abuse directed against the state is called 'lord of the altars for the gods of soil and grain'; +He who bears the misfortunes of the state is called the 'king of all under heaven.'" +True words seem contradictory. + +## 79 + +Compromise with great resentment will surely yield lingering resentment; +How can this be seen as good? +For this reason, +The sage holds the debtor's side of a contract and does not make claims upon others. +Therefore, +The man of integrity attends to his debts; +The man without integrity attends to his exactions. +The Way of heaven is impartial, yet is always with the good person. + +## 80 + +Let there be a small state with few people, +where military devices find no use; +Let the people look solemnly upon death, +and banish the thought of moving elsewhere. +They may have carts and boats, +but there is no reason to ride them; +They may have armor and weapons, +but they have no reason to display them. +Let the people go back to tying knots to keep records. +Let +their food be savory, +their clothes beautiful, +their customs pleasurable, +their dwellings secure. +Though they may gaze across at a neighboring state, and hear the sounds of its dogs and chickens, +The people will never travel back and forth, till they die of old age. + +## 81 + +Sincere words are not beautiful, +Beautiful words are not sincere. +He who knows is not learned, +He who is learned does not know. +He who is good does not have much, +He who has much is not good. +The sage does not hoard. +The more he does for others, +the more he has himself; +The more he gives to others, +the more his own bounty increases. +Therefore, +The Way of heaven benefits but does not harm, +The Way of man acts but does not contend. diff --git a/source/content/tao/1993-addis-lombardo.md b/source/content/tao/1993-addis-lombardo.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f34119 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1993-addis-lombardo.md @@ -0,0 +1,595 @@ +Translator: Stephen Addiss & Stanley Lombardo +Year: 1993 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/addiss.html) +Code: sasl + +## 1 + +Tao called Tao is not Tao. Names can name no lasting name. +Nameless: the origin of heaven and earth. Naming: the mother of ten thousand things. +Empty of desire, perceive mystery. Filled with desire, perceive manifestations. +These have the same source, but different names. +Call them both deep - Deep and again deep: the gateway to all mystery. + +## 2 + +Recognize beauty and ugliness is born. +Recognize good and evil is born. +Is and Isn't produce each other. Hard depends on easy, Long is tested by short, +High is determined by low, Sound is harmonized by voice, After is followed by before. +Therefore the sage is devoted to non action, Moves without teaching, +Creates ten thousand things without instruction, Lives but does not own, Acts but does not presume, +Accomplishes without taking credit. When no credit is taken, Accomplishment endures. + +## 3 + +Don't glorify heroes, And people will not contend. +Don't treasure rare objects, And no one will steal. +Don't display what people desire, And their hearts will not be disturbed. +Therefore, the Sage rules By emptying hearts and filling bellies, By weakening ambitions and strengthening bones; Leads people Away from knowing and wanting; +Deters those who know too much From going too far: +Practices non-action And the natural order is not disrupted. + +## 4 + +Tao is empty- its use never exhausted. +Bottomless - the origin of all things. +It blunts sharp edges, Unties knots, Softens glare, Becomes one with the dusty world. +Deeply subsistent - +I don't know whose child it is. It is older than the Ancestor. + +## 5 + +Heaven and Earth are not kind: The ten thousand things are straw dogs to them. +The Sage is not kind: People are straw dogs to him. +Yet Heaven and Earth And all the space between Are like a bellows: Empty but inexhaustible, Always producing more. +Longwinded speech is exhausting. Better to stay centered. + +## 6 + +The Valley Spirit never dies. It is called the Mysterious Female. +The entrance to the Mysterious Female Is called the root of Heaven and Earth. +Endless flow of inexhaustible energy. + +## 7 + +Heaven is long, Earth enduring. +Long and enduring Because they do not exist for themselves. +Therefore the Sage Steps back, but is always in front, Stays outside, but is always within. +No self-interest? +Self is fulfilled? + +## 8 + +Best to be like water, Which benefits the ten thousand things And does not contend. It pools where humans disdain to dwell, Close to the Tao. +Live in a good place. Keep your mind deep. Treat others well. Stand by your word. +Make fair rules. Do the right thing. Work when it's time. +Only do not contend, And you will not go wrong. + +## 9 + +Hold and fill it - No as good as stopping in time. +Measure and pound it - It will not long survive. +When gold and jade fill the hall, They cannot be guarded. +Riches and pride Bequeath error. +Withdrawing when work is done: Heaven's Tao. + +## 10 + +Can you balance your life force And embrace the One Without separation? +Can you control your breath Gently Like a baby? +Can you clarify Your dark vision Without blemish? +Can you love people And govern the country Without knowledge? +Can you open and close The gate of heaven Without clinging to earth? +Can you brighten The four directions Without action? +Give birth and cultivate. Give birth and do not possess. Act without dependence. Excel but do not rule. This is called the dark Te. + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes join one hub. The wheel's use comes from emptiness. +Clay is fired to make a pot. The pot's use comes from emptiness. +Windows and doors are cut to make a room. The room's use comes from emptiness. +Therefore, Having leads to profit, Not having leads to use. + +## 12 + +Five colors darken the eyes. Five tones darken the ears. Five tastes jade the palate. +Hunting and racing madden the heart. Exotic goods ensnarl human lives. +Therefore the Sage Takes care of the belly, not the eye, Chooses one, rejects the other. + +## 13 + +Favour and disgrace are like fear. Honour and distress are like the self. +What does this mean? Favour debases us. Afraid when we get it, Afraid when we lose it. +The self embodies distress. No self, No distress. +Respect the world as your self: The world can be your lodging. Love the world as your self: The world can be your trust. + +## 14 + +Seeing but not seeing, we call it dim. Listening but not hearing, we call it faint. Groping but not touching, we call it subtle. +These three cannot be fully grasped. Therefore they become one. +Rising, it is not bright; setting it is not dark. It moves all things back to where there is nothing +Meeting it there is no front, following it there is no back. +Live in the ancient Tao, Master the existing present, Understand the source of all things. This is called the record of Tao. + +## 15 + +The ancients who followed Tao: Dark, wondrous, profound, penetrating. Deep beyond knowing. +Because they cannot be known, They can only be described. Cautious, like crossing a winter stream. Hesitant, like respecting one's neighbours. Polite, like a guest. +Yielding, Like ice about to melt; Blank, like uncarved wood. Open, like a valley. Mixing freely, like muddy water. +Calm the muddy water, It becomes clear. Move the inert, It comes to life.? +Those who sustain Tao Do not wish to be full. Because they do not wish to be full They can fade away Without further effort. + +## 16 + +Attain complete emptiness, Hold fast to stillness. +The ten thousand things stir about; I only watch for their going back. Things grow and grow, But each goes back to its root. +Going back to the root is stillness. This means returning to what is. Returning to what is Means going back to the ordinary. +Understanding the ordinary: Enlightenment. Not understanding the ordinary: Blindness creates evil. Understanding the ordinary: Mind opens. Mind opening leads to compassion, Compassion to nobility, Nobility to heavenliness, Heavenliness to Tao. +Tao endures. Your body dies. There is no danger. + +## 17 + +Great rising and falling - People only know it exists. Next they see and praise. Soon they fear. Finally they despise. +Without fundamental trust There is no trust at all. Be careful in valuing words. +When the work is done, Everyone says We just acted naturally. + +## 18 + +Great Tao rejected: Benevolence and righteousness appear. +Learning and knowledge professed: Great Hypocrites spring up. +Family relations forgotten: Filial piety and affection arise. +The nation disordered: Patriots come forth. + +## 19 + +Banish learning, discard knowledge: People will gain a hundredfold. +Banish benevolence, discard righteousness: People will return to duty and compassion. +Banish skill, discard profit: There will be no more thieves. +These three statements are not enough. One more step is necessary. +Look at plain silk; hold uncarved wood. The self dwindles; desires fade. + +## 20 + +Banish learning, no more grief. Between Yes and No How much difference? Between good and evil How much difference?? +What others fear I must fear - How pointless! +People are wreathed in smiles As if at a carnival banquet. I alone am passive, giving no sign, Like an infant who has not yet smiles. Forlorn as if I had no home. +Others have enough and more, I alone am left out. I have the mind of a fool, Confused, confused. +Others are bright and intelligent, I alone and dull, dull, Drifting on the ocean, Blown about endlessly. +Others have plans, I alone am wayward and stubborn, I alone am different from others, Like a baby in the womb. + +## 21 + +Great Te appears Flowing from Tao. +Tao in action - Only vague and intangible. Intangible and vague, But within it are images. Vague and intangible; Within are entities. Shadowy and obscure; Within there is life, Life so real, That within it there is trust. +From the beginning its name is not lost But reappears through multiple origins. +How do I know these origins? Like this. + +## 22 + +Crippled become whole, Crooked becomes straight, Hollow becomes full, Worn becomes new, Little becomes more, Much becomes delusion. +Therefore the Sages cling to the One And take care of this world; +Do not display themselves And therefore shine. Do not assert themselves and therefore stand out. Do not praise themselves And therefore succeed. +Do not contend And therefore no one under heaven Can contend with them. +The old saying Crippled becomes whole Is not empty words. It becomes whole and returns. + +## 23 + +Spare words; nature's way. Violent winds do not blow all morning. Sudden rain cannot pour all day. +What causes these things? Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth do not blow and pour for long, How much less should humans? +Therefore in following Tao: Those on the way become the way, Those who gain become the gain, Those who lose become the loss. +All within the Tao: The wayfarer, welcome upon the way, Those who gain, welcome within gain, Those who lose, welcome within loss. +Without trust in this, There is no trust at all. + +## 24 + +Upon tiptoe: no way to stand. Clambering: no way to walk. +Self-display: no way to shine. Self-assertion: no way to succeed. +Self-praise: no way to flourish. Complacency: no way to endure. +According to Tao, Excessive food, Extraneous activity Inspire disgust. Therefore the follower of Tao Moves on. + +## 25 + +Something unformed and complete Before heaven and Earth were born, Solitary and silent, Stands alone and unchanging. Pervading all things without limit. It is like the mother of all things under heaven, +But I don't know its name - Better call it Tao. Better call it great. +Great means passing on. Passing on means going far. Going far means returning. +Therefore Tao is great, And heaven, And earth, And humans. Four great things in the world. Aren't humans one of them? +Humans follow earth Earth follows heaven Heaven follows Tao. Tao follows its own nature. + +## 26 + +Gravity is the root of lightness, Stillness the master of passion. +The Sage travels all day But does not leave the baggage-cart; When surrounded by magnificent scenery Remains calm and still. +When a lord of ten thousand chariots Behaves lightly in this world, +Lightness loses its root, Passion loses its master. + +## 27 + +Good travelers leave no tracks. Good words leave no trace. Good counting needs no markers. +Good doors have no bolts Yet cannot be forced. Good knots have no rope But cannot be untied. +In this way the Sage Always helps people And rejects none, Always helps all beings, And rejects none. This is called practicing brightness. +Therefore the good person is the bad person's teachers, And the bad person Is the good person's resource. +Not to value the teacher, Not to love the resource, Causes great confusion even for the intelligent. This is called the vital secret. + +## 28 + +Know the male, maintain the female, Become the channel of the world, And Te will endure. Return to infancy. +Know the white, sustain the black, Become the pattern of the world, And Te will not falter. Return to the uncarved block. +Know honour, sustain disgrace, Become the valley of the world, And Te will prevail. Return to simplicity. +Simplicity divided becomes utensils That are used by the Sage as high official. But great governing does not carve up. + +## 29 + +Trying to control the world? I see you won't succeed. +The world is a spiritual vessel And cannot be controlled. Those who control, fail. Those who grasp, lose. +Some go forth, some are led, Some weep, some blow flutes, Some become strong, some superfluous, Some oppress, some are destroyed. +Therefore the Sage Casts off extremes, Casts off excess, Casts off Extravagance. + +## 30 + +Use Tao to help rule people. This world has no need for weapons, Which soon turn on themselves. +Where armies camp, nettles grow. After each war, years of famine. +The most fruitful outcome Does not depend on force, +But succeeds without arrogance Without hostility Without Pride Without resistance Without violence. +If these things prosper and grow old, This is called not-Tao. Not-Tao soon ends. + +## 31 + +Fine weapons are ill-omened tools. They are hated. Therefore the old Tao ignores them. +At home, honour the left. In war, honor the right. +Good omens honour the left. Bad omens honour the right. The lieutenant on the left, The general on the right As in funeral ceremonies. +Weapons are ill-omened, Not proper instruments. When their use can't be avoided, Calm restraint is best. Don't think they are beautiful. Those who think they are beautiful Rejoice in killing people. +Those who rejoice in killing people Cannot achieve their purpose in this world. +When many people are killed We feel sorrow and grief. A great victory Is a funeral ceremony. + +## 32 + +Tao endures without a name. Though simple and slight, No one under heaven can master it. +If kings and lords could possess it, All beings would become their guests. +Heaven and earth together Would drip sweet dew Equally on all people Without regulation. +Begin to make order and names arise. Names lead to more names - And to knowing when to stop. +Tao's presence in this world Is like valley streams Flowing into rivers and seas. + +## 33 + +Knowing others is intelligent. Knowing yourself is enlightened. +Conquering others takes force. Conquering yourself is true strength. +Knowing what is enough is wealth. Forging ahead shows inner resolve. +Hold your ground and you will last long. Die without perishing and your life will endure. + +## 34 + +Great Tao overflows. To the left To the right. +All beings owe their life to it And do not depart from it. It acts without a name. It clothes and nourishes all beings But does not become their master. +Enduring without desires, It may be called slight. +All beings return to it, But it does not become their master. It may be called immense. +By not making itself great, It can do great things. + +## 35 + +Hold the great elephant - The great image - And the world moves. Moves without danger in safety and peace. +Music and sweets Make passing guests pause. +But the Tao emerges Flavourless and bland. Look - you won't see it. Listen - You won't hear it. Use it - You will never use it up. + +## 36 + +To collect, first scatter. To Weaken, first strengthen. To abolish, first establish. To conclude, first initiate. +This is called subtle illumination. Soft and weak overcome stiff and strong. +Fish cannot escape the deep pool. A country's sharpest weapons Cannot be displayed. + +## 37 + +Tao endures without a name, Yet nothing is left undone. +If kings and lords could possess it, All beings would transform themselves. Transformed, they desire to create; I quiet them through nameless simplicity. Then there is no desire. +No desire is serenity, And the world settles of itself. + +## 38 + +High Te? No Te! That's what Te is. Low Te doesn't lack Te; That's what Te is not. +Those highest in Te take no action And don't need to act. Those lowest in Te take action And do need to act. +Those highest in benevolence take action But don't need to act. Those highest in righteousness take action And do need to act. Those highest in propriety take action And if people don't reciprocate Roll up their sleeves and throw them out. +Therefore Lose Tao And Te follows. Lose Te and benevolence follows. Lose benevolence And righteousness follows. Lose righteousness and propriety follows. +Propriety dilutes loyalty and sincerity: Confusion begins. Foreknowledge glorifies the Tao: Stupidity sets in. +And so the ideal person dwells In substance, not dilution, In reality, not glory, Accepts one, rejects the other. + +## 39 + +Of old, these attained the One: Heaven attaining the One Became clear. Earth attaining the One Became stable. Spirits attaining the One Became sacred. +Valleys attaining the One Became bountiful. Myriad beings attaining the One Became fertile. Lords and kings attaining the One Purified the world. +If Heaven were not clear It might split. If Earth were not stable It might erupt. If spirits were not sacred They might fade. +If valleys were not bountiful They might wither. If myriad beings were not fertile, They might perish. If rulers and lords were not noble, They might stumble. +Therefore, Noble has humble as its root, High has low as its foundation. +Rulers and lords call themselves Poor and lonely orphans. Isn't this using humility as a root? +They use many carriages But have no carriage;. +They do not desire to glisten like jade But drop like a stone. + +## 40 + +Reversal is Tao's movement. Yielding is Tao's practice. +All things originate from being. Being originates from non-being. + +## 41 + +The great scholar hearing the Tao Tries to practice it. The middling scholar hearing the Tao, Sometimes has it, sometimes not. +The lesser scholar hearing the Tao Has a good laugh. Without that laughter It wouldn't be Tao. +Therefore these sayings: The bright road seems dark, The road forward sees to retreat, The level road seems rough. +Great Te seems hollow. Great purity seems sullied. Pervasive Te sees deficient. Established Te seems furtive. Simple truths seem to change. The great square has no corners. The great vessel is finished late. The great sound is scarcely voiced. The great image has no form. +Tao hides, no name. Yet Tao alone gets things done. + +## 42 + +Tao engenders One, One engenders Two, Two engenders Three, Three engenders the ten thousand things. +The ten thousand things carry shade And embrace sunlight. Shade and sunlight, yin and yang, Breath blending into harmony. +Humans hate To be alone, poor, and hungry. Yet kings and princes Use these words as titles. +We gain by losing, Lose by gaining. +What others teach, I also teach: "A violent man does not die a natural death. This is the basis of my teaching. + +## 43 + +The softest thing in the world rides roughshod over the strongest. No-thing enters no-space. This teaches me the benefits of no-action. +Teaching without words Benefit without action - Few in this world can attain this. + +## 44 + +Name or body: which is closer? Body or possessions: which means more? Gain or loss: Which one hurts? +Extreme love exacts a great price. Many possessions entail a heavy loss. +Know what is enough - Abuse nothing. Know when to stop - Harm nothing. This is how to last for a long time. + +## 45 + +Great accomplishment seems unfinished But its use is continuous. Great fullness seems empty But in use is inexhaustible. +Great straightness seems bent, Great skill seems clumsy, Great eloquence seems mute. +Exertion overcomes cold. Calm overcomes heat. Pure calm is the norm under heaven. + +## 46 + +With Tao under heaven Stray horses fertilize the fields. Without Tao under heaven Warhorses are bred at the frontier. +There is no greater calamity Than not knowing what is enough. There is no greater fault Than desire for success. +Therefore, Knowing that enough is enough Is always Enough. + +## 47 + +Without going out the door, Know the world. Without peeping through the window, See heaven's Tao. The further you travel, The less you know. +This is why the Sage Knows without budging, Identifies without looking, Does without trying. + +## 48 + +Pursue knowledge, gain daily. Pursue Tao, lose daily. Lose and again lose, Arrive at non-doing. +Non-doing - and nothing not done. +Take the entire world as nothing. Make the least effort, And the world escapes you. + +## 49 + +The Sage has no set heart. Ordinary people's hearts Become the Sage's heart. +People who are good I treat well. People who are not good I also treat well: Te as goodness. +Trustworthy people I trust. Untrustworthy people I also trust. Te as trust. +Sages create harmony under heaven Blending their hearts with the world. Ordinary people fix their eyes and ears upon them, But Sages become the world's children. + +## 50 + +Emerge into life, enter death, +Life is only the thirteen body parts. Death is only the thirteen body parts. Human life, moving towards death, Is the same thirteen. Why is this? Because life gives life to substance. +You have heard of people Good at holding on to life. Walking overland they don't avoid Rhinos and tigers. In battle they don't arm themselves. +The rhino's horn find nothing to gore; The tiger's claws find nothing to flay, Weapons find nothing to pierce. Why is this? They have no mortal spot. + +## 51 + +Tao bears them Te nurses them Events form them Energy completes them. Therefore the ten thousand beings Honour Tao and respect Te. Tao is honoured Te is respected Because they do not give orders But endure in their own nature. Therefore, Tao bears them and Te nurses them, Rears them, Raises them, Shelters them, Nurtures them, Supports them, Protects them. +Bears them without owning them, Helps them without coddling them, Rears them without ruling them. This is called original Te. + +## 52 + +The world has a source: the world's mother. Once you have the mother, You know the children. +Once you know the children, Return to the mother. Your body dies. There is no danger. +Block the passage, Bolt the gate: No strain Until your life ends. +Open the passage, Take charge of things No relief Until your life ends. +Seeing the small is called brightness Maintaining gentleness is called strength. +Use this brightness to return to brightness. Don't cling to your body's woes. Then you can learn endurance. + +## 53 + +Having some knowledge When walking on the Great Tao Only brings fear. +The great Tao is very smooth, But people like rough trails. +The government is divided, Fields are overgrown, Granaries are empty,. +But the nobles clothes are gorgeous, Their belts show off swords, And they are glutted with food and drink. Personal wealth is excessive. This is called thieves' endowment, But it is not Tao. + +## 54 + +Well planted, not uprooted. Well embraced, never lost. Descendants will continue The ancestral rituals. +Maintain oneself: Te becomes real. Maintain the family: Te becomes abundant. Maintain the community: Te becomes extensive. Maintain the country: Te becomes public. Maintain the world: Te becomes omnipresent. +Therefore, Through self contemplate self, Through family contemplate family, Through community contemplate community, Through country contemplate country, Through world contemplate world. +How do I know the world? Like this! + +## 55 + +Be filled with Te, Like a baby: Wasps, scorpions and vipers Do not sting it. Fierce tigers do not stalk it. Birds of prey do not attack it. Bones weak, muscles soft, But its grasp is tight. +It does not yet know Union of male and female, But its sex is formed, Its vital essence complete. +It can scream all day and not get hoarse, Its harmony is complete. Knowing harmony is called endurance. Knowing endurance is called illumination. +Increasing life is called fortune. Mind controlling energy is called power. +When beings prosper and grow old, Call them not-Tao. Not-Tao soon ends. + +## 56 + +Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. +Block the passage Bolt the gate Blunt the sharp Untie the knot Blend with the light Become one with the dust - This is called original unity. +It can't be embraced It can't be escaped, It can't be helped It can't be harmed, It can't be exalted It can't be despised, Therefore it is revered under Heaven. + +## 57 + +Use the unexpected to govern the country, Use surprise to wage war, Use non-action to win the world. How do I know? Like this! +The more prohibitions and rules, The poorer people become. The sharper people's weapons, The more they riot. +The more skilled their techniques, The more grotesque their works. The more elaborate the laws, The more they commit crimes. +Therefore the Sage says, I do nothing And people transform themselves. I enjoy serenity And people govern themselves. +I cultivate emptiness And people become prosperous. I have no desires And people simplify themselves. + +## 58 + +If government is muted and muffled People are cool and refreshed. If government investigates and intrudes, People are worn down and hopeless. +Bad fortune rests upon good fortune. Good luck hides within bad luck. +Who knows how it will end? If there is no principle Principle reverts to disorder, Good reverts to calamity, People's confusion hardens and lingers on. +Therefore the Sage squares without cutting, Corners without dividing, Straightens without extending, Shines without dazzling. + +## 59 + +Governing people and serving heaven Is like living off the land. +Living sparingly and responding quickly Means accumulating Te. There is nothing that cannot be overcome. There is no limit. +You can become the country And the country's mother, and nourish and extend it. +This is called deep roots, firm base. This is the Tao of living long and seeing far. + +## 60 + +Govern big countries Like you cook a little fish. +When Tao harmonizes the world, Demons lose their power. +Not that demons lose their power, but their power does not harm people. Not that their power does not harm people, but the Sage does not harm people. +If neither does harm, Then Te flows and returns. + +## 61 + +A great nation flows down To be the world's pool, The female under heaven In stillness The female constantly overcomes the male, In stillness Takes the low place. +Therefore a great nation Lowers itself And wins over a small one. A small nation keeps itself low And wins over a great one. +Sometimes becoming low wins, Sometimes staying low wins. +A great nation desires nothing more Than to unite and protect people. A small nation desires nothing more Than to enter the service of people. +When both get what they wish The great one should be low. + +## 62 + +Tao is the mysterious center of all things, a treasure for those who are good, A refuge for those who are not. +Beautiful words can be traded, Noble deeds can enhance reputations, But if people lack them, Why should they be rejected? +When the Son of Heaven is enthroned And the Three Ministers installed, Presenting jade discs And four-horse chariots Cannot compare to sitting still And offering the Tao. +The ancients honoured this Tao. Didn't they say: Through it seekers find, Through it the guilty escape? This is why Tao is honoured under Heaven. + +## 63 + +Act without acting. Serve without serving. Taste without tasting. +Big, little, Many, few, Repay hatred with Te. +Map difficult with easy Approach great through narrow. +The most difficult things in the world Must be accomplished through the easiest. The greatest things in the world Must be accomplished through the smallest. +Therefore the Sage Never attempts great things and so accomplishes them. +Quick promises Mean little trust. Everything easy Means great difficulty. +Thus for the Sage everything is difficult, And so in the end Nothing is difficult. + +## 64 + +At rest is easy to hold. Not yet impossible is easy to plan. Brittle is easy to break. Fine is easy to scatter. +Create before it exists. Lead before it goes astray. +A tree too big to embrace Is born from a slender shoot. A nine-story rises from a pile of earth. A thousand-mile journey Begins with a single step. +Act and you ruin it. Grasp and you lose it. Therefore the Sage Does not act And so does not ruin Does not grasp And so does not lose. +People commonly ruin their work When they are near success. Proceed at the end as at the beginning And your work won't be ruined. +Therefore the Sage Desires no desires Prizes no prizes Studies no studies And returns To what others pass by. The Sage Helps all beings find their nature, But does not presume to act. + +## 65 + +Taoist rulers of old Did not enlighten people But left them dull. +People are difficult to govern Because they are very clever. Therefore, Ruling through cleverness leads to rebellion. Not leading through cleverness Brings good fortune. +Know these two things And understanding the enduring pattern. Understand the enduring pattern: This is called original Te. +Original Te goes deep and far. All things reverse Return And reach the great headwaters. + +## 66 + +Rivers and seas Can rule the hundred valleys Because they are good at lying low They are lords of the valleys. +Therefore those who would be above Must speak as if they are below Those who would lead Must speak as if they are behind. +In this way the Sage dwells above And the people are not burdened. Dwells in front And they are not hindered. Therefore the whole world Is delighted and unwearied. +Since the Sage does not contend No one can contend with the Sage. + +## 67 + +Everyone under heaven calls my Tao great, and unlike anything else. It is great only because It is unlike anything else. If it were like anything else It would stretch and become thin. +I have three treasures to maintain and conserve: the first is compassion. The second is frugality. The third is not presuming To be first under heaven. +Compassion leads to courage. Frugality allows generosity. Not presuming to be first Creates a lasting instrument. +Nowadays, People reject compassion But want to be brave, Reject frugality But want to be generous, Reject humility And want to come first. This is death. +Compassion: Attack with it and win. Defend with it and stand firm. Heaven aids and protects Through compassion. + +## 68 + +The accomplished person is not aggressive. The good soldier is not hot tempered. +The best conqueror does not engage the enemy. The most effective leader takes the lowest place. +This is called the Te of not contending. This is called the power of the leader. This is called matching Heaven's ancient ideal. + +## 69 + +There is a saying in the army: I do not presume to be the master, But become the guest. I do not dare advance an inch, but retreat a foot. +This is called moving without moving, rolling up sleeves without showing your arms, Repelling without opposing, Wielding without a weapon. +There is no disaster greater than Contempt for the enemy. +Contempt for the enemy - what a treasure is lost! Therefore, When the fighting gets hot, Those who grieve will conquer. + +## 70 + +My words are very easy to understand, Very easy to practice. No one under heaven can understand them, No one can practice them. +Words have ancestors, Deeds have masters. If people don't understand this, They don't understand me. Few understand me, And that is my value. +Therefore the Sage wears rough clothing And carries Jade inside. + +## 71 + +Know not-knowing: supreme. Not know knowing: faulty +Only faulting faults is faultless. +The Sage is faultless +By faulting faults, +And so is without fault. + +## 72 + +When people are not in awe of power, Power becomes great. +Do not intrude into their homes, Do not make their lives weary. If you do not weary them, They will not become weary of you. +Therefore the Sage Has self-knowledge without self-display, Self-love without personal pride, Rejects one, accepts the other. + +## 73 + +Courage to dare kills, Courage not to dare saves. One brings profit, one brings harm. +Of these two, one is good, and one is harmful. Some are not favored by heaven. Who knows why? Even the wise consider it a difficult question. +Heaven hates what it hates - Who knows why! Even the Sage finds it difficult. Heaven's Tao does not contend But prevails, Does not speak, But responds, Is not summoned, But arrives, Is utterly still, But plans all actions. +Heaven's net is wide, wide, Loose - But nothing slips through. + +## 74 + +If people do not fear death, How dare you threaten them with death? +But if people with a normal fear of death Are about to do something vicious, And I could seize and execute them, Who would dare? +There is always an official executioner. Trying to take the executioner's place, Is like trying to replace a master woodworker - Few would not slice their own hands. + +## 75 + +People are hungry. When rulers tax grain People are hungry. +People are rebellious. When rulers are active People are rebellious. +People ignore death. When searching only for life's bounty People ignore death. Only those who do not strive after life Truly respect life. + +## 76 + +Humans are born soft and weak. They die stiff and strong. +The ten thousand plants and trees Are born soft tender, And die withered and sere. +The stiff and strong Are Death's companions The soft and weak Are Life's companions. +Therefore the strongest armies do not conquer, The greatest trees are cut down. +The strong and great sink down. The soft and weak rise up. + +## 77 + +Heaven's Tao Is a stretched bow, Pulling down on the top Pulling up on the bottom. +If it's too much, cut. If it's not enough, Add on to it: Heaven's Tao. +The Human Route Is not like this, Depriving the poor, Offering to the rich. Who has a surplus And still offers it to the world? Only those with Tao. +Therefore the Sage Acts and expects nothing, Accomplishes and does not linger, Has no desire to seem worthy. + +## 78 + +Nothing in the world is soft and weak as water. But when attacking the hard and strong Nothing can conquer so easily. +Weak overcomes strong, soft overcomes hard. Everyone knows this, no one attains it. +Therefore the Sage says: Accept a country's filth And become master of its sacred soil. Accepts country's ill fortune And become king under heaven. True words resemble their opposites. + +## 79 + +Appears great hatred sand hatred will remain. How can this be good? +Therefore the Sage Holds the tally But does not judge people. +Those who have Te Control the tally. Those who lack Te Collect their due. +Heaven has no favourites But endures in good people. + +## 80 + +Small country, few people - Hundreds of devices, But none are used. People ponder on death And don't travel far. +They have carriages and boats, But no one goes on board; Weapons and armour, But no one brandishes them. +They use knotted cords for counting. Sweet is their food, Beautiful their clothes, Peaceful their homes, Delightful their customs. +Neighboring countries are so close You can hear their chickens and dogs. But people grow old and die Without needing to come and go. + +## 81 + +Sincere words and not pretty. Pretty words are not sincere. +Good people do not quarrel. Quarrelsome people are not good. +The wise are not learned. The learned are not wise. +The Sage is not acquisitive - Has enough By doing for others, Has even more By giving to others. +Heaven's Tao Benefits and does not harm. The Sage's Tao Acts and does not contend. diff --git a/source/content/tao/1994-derek-lin.md b/source/content/tao/1994-derek-lin.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..acffeab --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1994-derek-lin.md @@ -0,0 +1,1371 @@ +Translator: Derek Lin +Year: 1994 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/DerekLin.html) +Code: dl + +## 1 + +The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao +The name that can be named is not the eternal name +The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth +The named is the mother of myriad things +Thus, constantly free of desire +One observes its wonders +Constantly filled with desire +One observes its manifestations +These two emerge together but differ in name +The unity is said to be the mystery +Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders + +## 2 + +When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises +When it knows good as good, evil arises +Thus being and non-being produce each other +Difficult and easy bring about each other +Long and short reveal each other +High and low support each other +Music and voice harmonize each other +Front and back follow each other +Therefore the sages: +Manage the work of detached actions +Conduct the teaching of no words +They work with myriad things but do not control +They create but do not possess +They act but do not presume +They succeed but do not dwell on success +It is because they do not dwell on success +That it never goes away + +## 3 + +Do not glorify the achievers +So the people will not squabble +Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain +So the people will not become thieves +Do not show the desired things +So their hearts will not be confused +Thus the governance of the sage: +Empties their hearts +Fills their bellies +Weakens their ambitions +Strengthens their bones +Let the people have no cunning and no greed +So those who scheme will not dare to meddle +Act without contrivance +And nothing will be beyond control + +## 4 + +The Tao is empty +Utilize it, it is not filled up +So deep! It seems to be the source of all things +It blunts the sharpness +Unravels the knots +Dims the glare +Mixes the dusts +So indistinct! It seems to exist +I do not know whose offspring it is +Its image is the predecessor of God + +## 5 + +Heaven and Earth are without bias +And regard myriad things as straw dogs +The sage is without bias +And regards people as straw dogs +The space between Heaven and Earth +Is it not like a bellows? +Empty, and yet never exhausted +It moves, and produces more +Too many words hasten failure +Cannot compare to keeping quiet + +## 6 + +The valley spirit, undying +Is called the mystical female +The gateway of the mystical female +Is called the root of Heaven and Earth +It flows continuously, barely perceptible +Utilize it, it is never exhausted + +## 7 + +Heaven and earth are everlasting +The reason heaven and earth can last forever +Is that they do not exist for themselves +Thus they can last forever +Therefore the sage: +Places himself last but ends up in front +Is outside of himself and yet survives +Isn't it all due to his selflessness? +That's how he can achieve his own goals + +## 8 + +The highest goodness resembles water +Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention +It stays in places that people dislike +Therefore it is similar to the Tao +Dwelling at the right place +Heart with great depth +Giving with great kindness +Words with great integrity +Governing with great administration +Handling with great capability +Moving with great timing +Because it does not contend +It is therefore beyond reproach + +## 9 + +Holding a cup and overfilling it +Cannot be as good as stopping short +Pounding a blade and sharpening it +Cannot be kept for long +Gold and jade fill up the room +No one is able to protect them +Wealth and position bring arrogance +And leave upon oneself disasters +When achievement is completed, fame attained, withdraw oneself +This is the Tao of Heaven + +## 10 + +In holding the soul and embracing oneness +Can one be without straying? +In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation +Can one be like an infant? +In cleaning away the worldly view +Can one be without imperfections? +In loving the people and ruling the nation +Can one be without manipulation? +In the heavenly gate's opening and closing +Can one hold to the feminine principle? +In understanding clearly all directions +Can one be without intellectuality? +Bearing it, rearing it +Bearing without possession +Achieving without arrogance +Raising without domination +This is called the mystic virtue + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes join in one hub +In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle +Mix clay to create a container +In its emptiness, there is the function of a container +Cut open doors and windows to create a room +In its emptiness, there is the function of a room +Therefore, that which exists is used to create benefit +That which is empty is used to create functionality + +## 12 + +The five colors make one blind in the eyes +The five sounds make one deaf in the ears +The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth +Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart +Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage +Therefore the sage cares for the stomach and not the eyes +That's why he discards the other and takes this + +## 13 + +Favor and disgrace make one fearful +The greatest misfortune is the self +What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean? +Favor is high, disgrace is low +Having it makes one fearful +Losing it makes one fearful +This is "favor and disgrace make one fearful" +What does "the greatest misfortune is the self" mean? +The reason I have great misfortune +Is that I have the self +If I have no self +What misfortune do I have? +So one who values the self as the world +Can be given the world +One who loves the self as the world +Can be entrusted with the world + +## 14 + +Look at it, it cannot be seen +It is called colorless +Listen to it, it cannot be heard +It is called noiseless +Reach for it, it cannot be held +It is called formless +These three cannot be completely unraveled +So they are combined into one +Above it, not bright +Below it, not dark +Continuing endlessly, cannot be named +It returns back into nothingness +Thus it is called the form of the formless +The image of the imageless +This is called enigmatic +Confront it, its front cannot be seen +Follow it, its back cannot be seen +Wield the Tao of the ancients +To manage the existence of today +One can know the ancient beginning +It is called the Tao axiom + +## 15 + +The Tao masters of antiquity +Subtle wonders through mystery +Depths that cannot be discerned +Because one cannot discern them +Therefore one is forced to describe the appearance +Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river +Cautious, like fearing four neighbors +Solemn, like a guest +Loose, like ice about to melt +Genuine, like plain wood +Open, like a valley +Opaque, like muddy water +Who can be muddled yet desist +In stillness gradually become clear? +Who can be serene yet persist +In motion gradually come alive? +One who holds this Tao does not wish to be overfilled +Because one is not overfilled +Therefore one can preserve and not create anew + +## 16 + +Attain the ultimate emptiness +Hold on to the truest tranquility +The myriad things are all active +I therefore watch their return +Everything flourishes; each returns to its root +Returning to the root is called tranquility +Tranquility is called returning to one's nature +Returning to one's nature is called constancy +Knowing constancy is called clarity +Not knowing constancy, one recklessly causes trouble +Knowing constancy is acceptance +Acceptance is impartiality +Impartiality is sovereign +Sovereign is heaven +Heaven is Tao +Tao is eternal +The self is no more, without danger + +## 17 + +The highest rulers, people do not know they have them +The next level, people love them and praise them +The next level, people fear them +The next level, people despise them +The rulers' trust is insufficient, have no trust in them +Proceeding calmly, valuing their words +Task accomplished, matter settled +The people all say, "We did it naturally" + +## 18 + +The great Tao fades away +There is benevolence and justice +Intelligence comes forth +There is great deception +The six relations are not harmonious +There is filial piety and kind affection +The country is in confused chaos +There are loyal ministers + +## 19 + +Discontinue sagacity, abandon knowledge +The people benefit a hundred times +Discontinue benevolence, abandon righteousness +The people return to piety and charity +Discontinue cunning, discard profit +Bandits and thieves no longer exist +These three things are superficial and insufficient +Thus this teaching has its place: +Show plainness, hold simplicity +Reduce selfishness, decrease desires + +## 20 + +Cease learning, no more worries +Respectful response and scornful response +How much is the difference? +Goodness and evil +How much do they differ? +What the people fear, I cannot be unafraid +So desolate! How limitless it is! +The people are excited +As if enjoying a great feast +As if climbing up to the terrace in spring +I alone am quiet and uninvolved +Like an infant not yet smiling +So weary, like having no place to return +The people all have surplus +While I alone seem lacking +I have the heart of a fool indeed - so ignorant! +Ordinary people are bright +I alone am muddled +Ordinary people are scrutinizing +I alone am obtuse +So tranquil, like the ocean +So moving, as if without limits +The people all have goals +And I alone am stubborn and lowly +I alone am different from them +And value the nourishing mother + +## 21 + +The appearance of great virtue +Follows only the Tao +The Tao, as a thing +Seems indistinct, seems unclear +So unclear, so indistinct +Within it there is image +So indistinct, so unclear +Within it there is substance +So deep, so profound +Within it there is essence +Its essence is supremely real +Within it there is faith +From ancient times to the present +Its name never departs +To observe the source of all things +How do I know the nature of the source? +With this + +## 22 + +Yield and remain whole +Bend and remain straight +Be low and become filled +Be worn out and become renewed +Have little and receive +Have much and be confused +Therefore the sage holds to the one as an example for the world +Without flaunting oneself - and so is seen clearly +Without presuming oneself - and so is distinguished +Without praising oneself - and so has merit +Without boasting about oneself - and so is lasting +Because he does not contend, the world cannot contend with him +What the ancients called "the one who yields and remains whole" +Were they speaking empty words? +Sincerity becoming whole, and returning to oneself + +## 23 + +Sparse speech is natural +Thus strong wind does not last all morning +Sudden rain does not last all day +What makes this so? Heaven and earth +Even heaven and earth cannot make it last +How can humans? +Thus those who follow the Tao, are with the Tao +Those who follow virtue, are with virtue +Those who follow loss, are with loss +Those who are with the Tao, the Tao is also pleased to have them +Those who are with virtue, virtue is also pleased to have them +Those who are with loss, loss is also please to have them +Those who do not trust sufficiently, others have no trust in them + +## 24 + +Those who are on tiptoes cannot stand +Those who straddle cannot walk +Those who flaunt themselves are not clear +Those who presume themselves are not distinguished +Those who praise themselves have no merit +Those who boast about themselves do not last +Those with the Tao call such things leftover food or tumors +They despise them +Thus, those who possesses the Tao do not engage in them + +## 25 + +There is something formlessly created +Born before Heaven and Earth +So silent! So ethereal! +Independent and changeless +Circulating and ceaseless +It can be regarded as the mother of the world +I do not know its name +Identifying it, I call it "Tao" +Forced to describe it, I call it great +Great means passing +Passing means receding +Receding means returning +Therefore the Tao is great +Heaven is great +Earth is great +The sovereign is also great +There are four greats in the universe +And the sovereign occupies one of them +Humans follow the laws of Earth +Earth follows the laws of Heaven +Heaven follows the laws of Tao +Tao follows the laws of nature + +## 26 + +Heaviness is the root of lightness. +Quietness is the master of restlessness +Therefore the sage travels the entire day +Without leaving the heavy supplies +Even though there are luxurious sights +He is composed and transcends beyond +How can the lord of ten thousand chariots +Applies himself lightly to the world? +To be light is to lose one's root +To be restless is to lose one's mastery + +## 27 + +Good traveling does not leave tracks +Good speech does not seek faults +Good reckoning does not use counters +Good closure needs no bar and yet cannot be opened +Good knot needs no rope and yet cannot be untied +Therefore sages often save others +And so do not abandon anyone +They often save things +And so do not abandon anything +This is called following enlightenment +Therefore the good person is the teacher of the bad person +The bad person is the resource of the good person +The one who does not value his teachers +And does not love his resources +Although intelligent, he is greatly confused +This is called the essential wonder + +## 28 + +Know the masculine, hold to the feminine +Be the watercourse of the world +Being the watercourse of the world +The eternal virtue does not depart +Return to the state of the infant +Know the white, hold to the black +Be the standard of the world +Being the standard of the world +The eternal virtue does not deviate +Return to the state of the boundless +Know the honor, hold to the dishonor +Be the valley of the world +Being the valley of the world +The eternal virtue shall be sufficient +Return to the state of plain wood +Plain wood splits, then becomes tools +The sages utilize them +And then become leaders +Thus the greater whole is undivided + +## 29 + +Those who wish to take the world and control it +I see that they cannot succeed +The world is a sacred instrument +One cannot control it +The one who controls it will fail +The one who grasps it will lose +Because all things: +Either lead or follow +Either blow hot or cold +Either have strength or weakness +Either have ownership or take by force +Therefore the sage: +Eliminates extremes +Eliminates excess +Eliminates arrogance + +## 30 + +The one who uses the Tao to advise the ruler +Does not dominate the world with soldiers +Such methods tend to be returned +The place where the troops camp +Thistles and thorns grow +Following the great army +There must be an inauspicious year +A good commander achieves result, then stops +And does not dare reaching for domination +Achieves result but does not brag +Achieves result but does not flaunt +Achieves result but is not arrogant +Achieves result but only out of necessity +Achieves result but does not dominate +Things become strong and then get old +This is called contrary to the Tao +That which is contrary to the Tao soon ends + +## 31 + +A strong military, a tool of misfortune +All things detest it +Therefore, those who possess the Tao avoid it +Honorable gentlemen, while at home, value the left +When deploying the military, value the right +The military is a tool of misfortune +Not the tool of honorable gentlemen +When using it out of necessity +Calm detachment should be above all +Victorious but without glory +Those who glorify +Are delighting in the killing +Those who delight in killing +Cannot achieve their ambitions upon the world +Auspicious events favor the left +Inauspicious events favor the right +The lieutenant general is positioned to the left +The major general is positioned to the right +We say that they are treated as if in a funeral +The multitude who have been killed +Should be mourned with sadness +Victory in war should be treated as a funeral + +## 32 + +The Tao, eternally nameless +Its simplicity, although imperceptible +Cannot be treated by the world as subservient +If a sovereign can hold on to it +All will follow by themselves +The heaven and earth, together harmoniously +Will rain sweet dew +People won't need to force it, it will adjust by itself +In the beginning of creation, there were names +Names came to exist everywhere +One should know when to stop +Knowing when to stop, thus avoiding danger +The existence of the Tao in the world +Is like streams in the valley into rivers and the ocean + +## 33 + +Those who understand others are intelligent +Those who understand themselves are enlightened +Those who overcome others have strength +Those who overcome themselves are powerful +Those who know contentment are wealthy +Those who proceed vigorously have willpower +Those who do not lose their base endure +Those who die but do not perish have longevity + +## 34 + +The great Tao is like a flood +It can flow to the left or to the right +The myriad things depend on it for life, but it never stops +It achieves its work, but does not take credit +It clothes and feeds myriad things, but does not rule over them +Ever desiring nothing +It can be named insignificant +Myriad things return to it but it does not rule over them +It can be named great +Even in the end, it does not regard itself as great +That is how it can achieve its greatness + +## 35 + +Hold the great image +The world will come +They come without harm, in harmonious peace +Music and food, passing travelers stop +The Tao that is spoken out of the mouth +Is bland and without flavor +Look at it, it cannot be seen +Listen to it, it cannot be heard +Use it, it cannot be exhausted + +## 36 + +If one wishes to shrink it +One must first expand it +If one wishes to weaken it +One must first strengthen it +If one wishes to discard it +One must first promote it +If one wishes to seize it +One must first give it +This is called subtle clarity +The soft and weak overcomes the tough and strong +Fish cannot leave the depths +The sharp instruments of the state +Cannot be shown to the people + +## 37 + +The Tao is constant in non-action +Yet there is nothing it does not do +If the sovereign can hold on to this +All things shall transform themselves +Transformed, yet wishing to achieve +I shall restrain them with the simplicity of the nameless +The simplicity of the nameless +They shall be without desire +Without desire, using stillness +The world shall steady itself + +## 38 + +High virtue is not virtuous +Therefore it has virtue +Low virtue never loses virtue +Therefore it has no virtue +High virtue takes no contrived action +And acts without agenda +Low virtue takes contrived action +And acts with agenda +High benevolence takes contrived action +And acts without agenda +High righteousness takes contrived action +And acts with agenda +High etiquette takes contrived action +And upon encountering no response +Uses arms to pull others +Therefore, the Tao is lost, and then virtue +Virtue is lost, and then benevolence +Benevolence is lost, and then righteousness +Righteousness is lost, and then etiquette +Those who have etiquette +Are a thin shell of loyalty and sincerity +And the beginning of chaos +Those with foreknowledge +Are the flowers of the Tao +And the beginning of ignorance +Therefore the great person: +Abides in substance, and does not dwell on the thin shell +Abides in the real, and does not dwell on the flower +Thus they discard that and take this + +## 39 + +Those that attained oneness since ancient times: +The sky attained oneness and thus clarity +The earth attained oneness and thus tranquility +The gods attained oneness and thus divinity +The valley attained oneness and thus abundance +The myriad things attained oneness and thus life +The rulers attained oneness and became the standard for the world +These are all from oneness +The sky, lacking clarity, would break apart +The earth, lacking tranquility, would erupt +The gods, lacking divinity, would vanish +The valley, lacking abundance, would wither +Myriad things, lacking life, would be extinct +The rulers, lacking standard, would be toppled +Therefore, the honored uses the lowly as basis +The higher uses the lower as foundation +Thus the rulers call themselves alone, bereft, and unworthy +Is this not using the lowly as basis? Is it not so? +Therefore, the ultimate honor is no honor +Do not wish to be shiny like jade +Be dull like rocks + +## 40 + +The returning is the movement of the Tao +The weak is the utilization of the Tao +The myriad things of the world are born of being +Being is born of non-being + +## 41 + +Higher people hear of the Tao +They diligently practice it +Average people hear of the Tao +They sometimes keep it and sometimes lose it +Lower people hear of the Tao +They laugh loudly at it +If they do not laugh, it would not be the Tao +Therefore a proverb has the following: +The clear Tao appears unclear +The advancing Tao appears to retreat +The smooth Tao appears uneven +High virtue appears like a valley +Great integrity appears like disgrace +Encompassing virtue appears insufficient +Building virtue appears inactive +True substance appears inconstant +The great square has no corners +The great vessel is late in completion +The great music is imperceptible in sound +The great image has no form +The Tao is hidden and nameless +Yet it is only the Tao +That excels in giving and completing everything + +## 42 + +Tao produces one +One produces two +Two produce three +Three produce myriad things +Myriad things, backed by yin and embracing yang +Achieve harmony by integrating their energy +What the people dislike +Are alone, bereft, and unworthy +But the rulers call themselves with these terms +So with all things +Appear to take loss but benefit +Or receive benefit but lose +What the ancients taught +I will also teach +The violent one cannot have a natural death +I will use this as the principal of teachings + +## 43 + +The softest things of the world +Override the hardest things of the world +That which has no substance +Enters into that which has no openings +From this I know the benefits of non-attached actions +The teaching without words +The benefits of actions without attachment +Are rarely matched in the world + +## 44 + +Fame or the self, which is dearer? +The self or wealth, which is greater? +Gain or loss, which is more painful? +Thus excessive love must lead to great spending +Excessive hoarding must lead to heavy loss +Knowing contentment avoids disgrace +Knowing when to stop avoids danger +Thus one can endure indefinitely + +## 45 + +Great perfection seems flawed +Its function is without failure +Great fullness seems empty +Its function is without exhaustion +Great straightness seems bent +Great skill seems inept +Great eloquence seems inarticulate +Movement overcomes cold +Stillness overcomes heat +Clear quietness is the standard of the world + +## 46 + +When the world has the Tao +Fast horses are retired to fertilize the grounds +When the world lacks the Tao +Warhorses must give birth on the battlefield +There is no crime greater than greed +No disaster greater than discontentment +No fault greater than avarice +Thus the satisfaction of contentment +Is the lasting satisfaction + +## 47 + +Without going out the door, know the world +Without peering out the window, see the Heavenly Tao +The further one goes +The less one knows +Therefore the sage +Knows without going +Names without seeing +Achieves without striving + +## 48 + +Pursue knowledge, daily gain +Pursue Tao, daily loss +Loss and more loss +Until one reaches non-action +With non-action, there is nothing one cannot do +Take the world by constantly applying non-interference +The one who interferes is not qualified to take the world + +## 49 + +The sages have no constant mind +They take the mind of the people as their mind +Those who are good, I am good to them +Those who are not good, I am also good to them +Thus the virtue of goodness +Those who believe, I believe them +Those who do not believe, I also believe them +Thus the virtue of belief +The sages live in the world +They cautiously merge their mind for the world +The people all pay attention with their ears and eyes +The sages care for them as children + +## 50 + +Coming into life, entering death +The followers of life, three in ten +The followers of death, three in ten +Those whose lives are moved toward death +Also three in ten +Why? Because they live lives of excess +I've heard of those who are good at cultivating life +Traveling on the road, they do not encounter rhinos or tigers +Entering into an army, they are not harmed by weapons +Rhinos have nowhere to thrust their horns +Tigers have nowhere to clasp their claws +Soldiers have nowhere to lodge their blades +Why? Because they have no place for death + +## 51 + +Tao produces them +Virtue raises them +Things shape them +Forces perfect them +Therefore all things respect the Tao and value virtue +The respect for Tao, the value of virtue +Not due to command but to constant nature +Thus Tao produces them +Virtue raises them +Grows them, educates them +Perfects them, matures them +Nurtures them, protects them +Produces but does not possess +Acts but does not flaunt +Nurtures but does not dominate +This is called mystic virtue + +## 52 + +The world has a beginning +We regard it as the mother of the world +Having its mother +We can know her children +Knowing her children +Still holding on to the mother +Live without danger all through life +Close the mouth +Shut the doors +Live without toil all through life +Open the mouth +Meddle in the affairs +Live without salvation all through life +Seeing details is called clarity +Holding on to the soft is called strength +Utilize the light +Return to the clarity +Leaving no disasters for the self +This is called following constancy + +## 53 + +If I have a little knowledge +Walking on the great Tao +I fear only to deviate from it +The great Tao is broad and plain +But people like the side paths +The courts are corrupt +The fields are barren +The warehouses are empty +Officials wear fineries +Carry sharp swords +Fill up on drinks and food +Acquire excessive wealth +This is called robbery +It is not the Tao! + +## 54 + +That which is well established cannot be uprooted +That which is strongly held cannot be taken +The descendants will commemorate it forever + +Cultivate it in yourself, its virtue shall be true +Cultivate it in the family, its virtue shall be abundant +Cultivate it in the community, its virtue shall be lasting +Cultivate it in the country, its virtue shall be prosperous +Cultivate it in the world, its virtue shall be widespread + +Therefore observe others with yourself +Observe other families with your family +Observe other communities with your community +Observe other countries with your country +Observe the world with the world +With what do I know the world? + +With this +The well-established cannot be uprooted. +The well-grasped does not slip away. +Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship without break. + +Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real. +Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow. +Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great. +Cultivate it in the country and virtue will abundant. +Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere. + +Therefore, take yourself and observe yourself. +Take the family and observe the family. +Take the town and observe the town. +Take the country and observe the country. +Take the world and observe the world. +How do I know the world as it is? + +By this. + +## 55 + +Those who hold an abundance of virtue +Are similar to newborn infants +Poisonous insects do not sting them +Wild beasts do not claw them +Birds of prey do not attack them +Their bones are weak, tendons are soft +But their grasp is firm +They do not know of sexual union but can manifest arousal +Due to the optimum of essence +They can cry the whole day and yet not be hoarse +Due to the optimum of harmony +Knowing harmony is said to be constancy +Knowing constancy is said to be clarity +Excessive vitality is said to be inauspicious +Mind overusing energy is said to be aggressive +Things become strong and then grow old +This is called contrary to the Tao +That which is contrary to the Tao will soon perish + +## 56 + +Those who know do not talk +Those who talk do not know +Close the mouth +Shut the doors +Blunt the sharpness +Unravel the knots +Dim the glare +Mix the dust +This is called mystic oneness +They cannot obtain this and be closer +They cannot obtain this and be distant +They cannot obtain this and be benefited +They cannot obtain this and be harmed +They cannot obtain this and be valued +They cannot obtain this and be degraded +Therefore, they become honored by the world + +## 57 + +Govern a country with upright integrity +Deploy the military with surprise tactics +Take the world with non-interference +How do I know this is so? +With the following: +When there are many restrictions in the world +The people become more impoverished +When people have many sharp weapons +The country becomes more chaotic +When people have many clever tricks +More strange things occur +The more laws are posted +The more robbers and thieves there are +Therefore the sage says: +I take minimal action, and the people transform themselves +I prefer quiet, and the people right themselves +I do not interfere, and the people enrich themselves +I have no desires, and the people simplify themselves + +## 58 + +When governing is lackluster +The people are simple and honest +When governing is scrutinizing +The people are shrewd and crafty +Misfortune is what fortune depends upon +Fortune is where misfortune hides beneath +Who knows their ultimate end? +They have no determined outcome +Rightness reverts to become strange +Goodness reverts to become wicked +The confusion of people +Has lasted many long days +Therefore the sages are: +Righteous without being scathing +Incorruptible without being piercing +Straightforward without being ruthless +Illuminated without being flashy + +## 59 + +In governing people and serving Heaven +There is nothing like conservation +Only with conservation is it called submitting early +Submitting early is called emphasis on accumulating virtues +Accumulating virtues means there is nothing one cannot overcome +When there is nothing that one cannot overcome +One's limits are unknown +The limitations being unknown, one can possess sovereignty +With this mother principle of power, one can be everlasting +This is called deep roots and firm foundation +The Tao of longevity and lasting vision + +## 60 + +Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish +Using the Tao to manage the world +Its demons have no power +Not only do its demons have no power +Its gods do not harm people +Not only do its gods not harm people +The sages also do not harm people +They both do no harm to one another +So virtue merges and returns + +## 61 + +The large country is like the lowest river +The converging point of the world +The receptive female of the world +The female always overcomes the male with serenity +Using serenity as the lower position +Thus if the large country is lower than the small country +Then it can take the small country +If the small country is lower than the large country +Then it can be taken by the large country +Thus one uses the lower position to take +The other uses the lower position to be taken +The large country only wishes to gather and protect people +The small country only wishes to join and serve people +So that both obtain what they wish +The larger one should assume the lower position + +## 62 + +The Tao is the wonder of all things +The treasure of the kind person +The protection of the unkind person +Admirable words can win the public's respect +Admirable actions can improve people +Those who are unkind +How can they be abandoned? +Therefore, when crowning the Emperor +And install the three ministers +Although there is the offering of jade before four horses +None of it can compare to being seated in this Tao +Why did the ancients value this Tao so much? +Is it not said that those who seek will find, +And those with guilt will not be faulted? +Therefore, it is the greatest value in the world + +## 63 + +Act without action +Manage without meddling +Taste without tasting +Great, small, many, few +Respond to hatred with virtue +Plan difficult tasks through the simplest tasks +Achieve large tasks through the smallest tasks +The difficult tasks of the world +Must be handled through the simple tasks +The large tasks of the world +Must be handled through the small tasks +Therefore, sages never attempt great deeds all through life +Thus they can achieve greatness +One who makes promises lightly must deserve little trust +One who sees many easy tasks must encounter much difficulty +Therefore, sages regard things as difficult +So they never encounter difficulties all through life + +## 64 + +When it is peaceful, it is easy to maintain +When it shows no signs, it is easy to plan +When it is fragile, it is easy to break +When it is small, it is easy to scatter +Act on it when it has not yet begun +Treat it when it is not yet chaotic +A tree thick enough to embrace +Grows from the tiny sapling +A tower of nine levels +Starts from the dirt heap +A journey of a thousand miles +Begins beneath the feet +The one who meddles will fail +The one who grasps will lose +Therefore, sages do not meddle and thus do not fail +They do not grasp and thus do not lose +People, in handling affairs +Often come close to completion and fail +If they are as careful in the end as the beginning +Then they would have no failure +Therefore, sages desire not to desire +They do not value goods that are hard to acquire +They learn to unlearn +To redeem the fault of the people +To assist the nature of all things +Without daring to meddle + +## 65 + +Those of ancient times who were adept at the Tao +Used it not to make people brighter +But to keep them simple +The difficulty in governing people +Is due their excessive cleverness +Therefore, using cleverness to govern the state +Is being a thief of the state +Not using cleverness to govern the state +Is being a blessing of the state +Know that these two are both standards +Always knowing these standards +Is called Mystic Virtue +Mystic Virtue is so profound, so far-reaching +It goes opposite to material things +Then it reaches great congruence + +## 66 + +Rivers and oceans can be the kings of a hundred valleys +Because of their goodness in staying low +So they can be the kings of a hundred valleys +Thus if sages wish to be over people +They must speak humbly to them +If they wish to be in front of people +They must place themselves behind them +Thus the sages are positioned above +But the people do not feel burdened +They are positioned in front +But the people do not feel harmed +Thus the world is glad to push them forward without resentment +Because they do not contend +So the world cannot contend with them + +## 67 + +Everyone in the world calls my Tao great +As if it is beyond compare +It is only because of its greatness +That it seems beyond compare +If it can be compared +It would already be insignificant long ago +I have three treasures +I hold on to them and protect them +The first is called compassion +The second is called conservation +The third is called not daring to be ahead in the world +Compassionate, thus able to have courage +Conserving, thus able to reach widely +Not daring to be ahead in the world +Thus able to assume leadership +Now if one has courage but discards compassion +Reaches widely but discards conservation +Goes ahead but discards being behind +Then death! +If one fights with compassion, then victory +With defense, then security +Heaven shall save them +And with compassion guard them + +## 68 + +The great generals are not warlike +The great warriors do not get angry +Those who are good at defeating enemies do not engage them +Those who are good at managing people lower themselves +It is called the virtue of non-contention +It is called the power of managing people +It is called being harmonious with heaven +The ultimate principle of the ancients + +## 69 + +In using the military, there is a saying: +I dare not be the host, but prefer to be the guest +I dare not advance an inch, but prefer to withdraw a foot +This is called marching in formation without formation +Raising arms without arms +Grappling enemies without enemies +Holding weapons without weapons +There is no greater disaster than to underestimate the enemy +Underestimating the enemy almost made me lose my treasures +So when evenly matched armies meet +The side that is compassionate shall win + +## 70 + +My words are easy to understand, easy to practice +The world cannot understand, cannot practice +My words have basis +My actions have principle +People do not understand this +Therefore they do not understand me +Those who understand me are few +Thus I am highly valued +Therefore the sage wears plain clothes but holds jade + +## 71 + +To know that you do not know is highest +To not know but think you know is flawed +Only when one recognizes the fault as a fault +Can one be without fault +The sages are without fault +Because they recognize the fault as a fault +That is why they are without fault + +## 72 + +When people no longer fear force +They bring about greater force +Do not limit their place +Do not reject their livelihood +Because the ruler does not reject them +Therefore they do not reject the ruler +Therefore the sages: +Know themselves but do not glorify themselves +Respect themselves but do not praise themselves +Thus they discard that and take this + +## 73 + +The bold in daring will be killed +The bold in not daring will survive +Of these two, one may benefit, the other may harm +The one hated by heaven - who knows the reason? +Even the sages still find this difficult +The Tao of heaven: +Does not contend and yet excels in winning +Does not speak and yet excels in responding +Is not summoned and yet comes on its own +Is unhurried and yet excels in planning +The heavenly net is vast +Loose, and yet does not let anything slip through + +## 74 + +People do not fear death +How can they be threatened with death? +If people are made to constantly fear death +Then those who act unlawfully +I can capture and kill them +Who would dare? +There exists a master executioner that kills +If we substitute for the master executioner to kill +It is like substituting for the great carpenter to cut +Those who substitute for the great carpenter to cut +It is rare that they do not hurt their own hands + +## 75 + +The people's hunger +Is due to the excess of their ruler's taxation +So they starve +The people's difficulty in being governed +Is due to the meddling of their ruler +So they are difficult to govern +The people's disregard for death +Is due to the glut in their ruler's pursuit of life +So they disregard death +Therefore those who do not strive for living +Are better than those who value living + +## 76 + +While alive, the body is soft and pliant +When dead, it is hard and rigid +All living things, grass and trees, +While alive, are soft and supple +When dead, become dry and brittle +Thus that which is hard and stiff +Is the follower of death +That which is soft and yielding +Is the follower of life +Therefore, an inflexible army will not win +A strong tree will be cut down +The big and forceful occupy a lowly position +While the soft and pliant occupy a higher place + +## 77 + +The Tao of heaven +Is like drawing a bow +Lower that which is high +Raise that which is low +Reduce that which is excessive +Add to that which is insufficient +The Tao of heaven +Reduces the excessive +And adds to the insufficient +The Tao of people is not so +Reducing the insufficient +In order to offer to the excessive +Who can offer their excess to the world? +Only those who have the Tao +Therefore sages act without conceit +Achieve without claiming credit +They do not wish to display their virtue + +## 78 + +Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water +Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong +This is because nothing can replace it +That the weak overcomes the strong +And the soft overcomes the hard +Everybody in the world knows +But cannot put into practice +Therefore sages say: +The one who accepts the humiliation of the state +Is called its master +The one who accepts the misfortune of the state +Becomes king of the world +The truth seems like the opposite + +## 79 + +After settling a great dispute +There must be remaining resentments +How can this be considered good? +Therefore the sage holds the left part of the contract +But does not demand payment from the other person +Those who have virtue hold the contract +Those without virtue hold the collections +The Heavenly Tao has no favorites +It constantly gives to the kind people + +## 80 + +Small country, few people +Let them have many weapons but not use them +Let the people regard death seriously +And not migrate far away +Although they have boats and chariots +They have no need to take them +Although they have armors and weapons +They have no need to display them +Let the people return to tying knots and using them +Savor their food, admire their clothes +Content in their homes, happy in their customs +Neighboring countries see one another +Hear the sounds of roosters and dogs from one another +The people, until they grow old and die +Do not go back and forth with one another + +## 81 + +True words are not beautiful +Beautiful words are not true +Those who are good do not debate +Those who debate are not good. +Those who know are not broad of knowledge +Those who are broad of knowledge do not know +Sages do not accumulate +The more they assist others, the more they possess +The more they give to others, the more they gain +The Tao of heaven +Benefits and does not harm +The Tao of sages +Assists and does not contend diff --git a/source/content/tao/1996-j-h-mcdonald.md b/source/content/tao/1996-j-h-mcdonald.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e52eb7d --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/1996-j-h-mcdonald.md @@ -0,0 +1,1556 @@ +Translator: J.H. McDonald +Year: 1996 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mcdonald.html) +Code: jhmd + +## 1 + +The tao that can be described +is not the eternal Tao. +The name that can be spoken +is not the eternal Name. + +The nameless is the boundary of Heaven and Earth. +The named is the mother of creation. + +Freed from desire, you can see the hidden mystery. +By having desire, you can only see what is visibly real. + +Yet mystery and reality +emerge from the same source. +This source is called darkness. + +Darkness born from darkness. +The beginning of all understanding. + +## 2 + +When people see things as beautiful, +ugliness is created. +When people see things as good, +evil is created. + +Being and non-being produce each other. +Difficult and easy complement each other. +Long and short define each other. +High and low oppose each other. +Fore and aft follow each other. + +Therefore the Master +can act without doing anything +and teach without saying a word. +Things come her way and she does not stop them; +things leave and she lets them go. +She has without possessing, +and acts without any expectations. +When her work is done, she take no credit. +That is why it will last forever. + +## 3 + +If you overly esteem talented individuals, +people will become overly competitive. +If you overvalue possessions, +people will begin to steal. + +Do not display your treasures +or people will become envious. + +The Master leads by +emptying people's minds, +filling their bellies, +weakening their ambitions, +and making them become strong. +Preferring simplicity and freedom from desires, +avoiding the pitfalls of knowledge and wrong action. + +For those who practice not-doing, +everything will fall into place. + +## 4 + +The Tao is like an empty container: +it can never be emptied and can never be filled. +Infinitely deep, it is the source of all things. +It dulls the sharp, unties the knotted, +shades the lighted, and unites all of creation with dust. + +It is hidden but always present. +I don't know who gave birth to it. +It is older than the concept of God. + +## 5 + +Heaven and Earth are impartial; +they treat all of creation as straw dogs. +The Master doesn't take sides; +she treats everyone like a straw dog. + +The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows; +it is empty, yet has not lost its power. +The more it is used, the more it produces; +the more you talk of it, the less you comprehend. + +It is better not to speak of things you do not understand. + +## 6 + +The spirit of emptiness is immortal. +It is called the Great Mother +because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth. + +It is like a vapor, +barely seen but always present. +Use it effortlessly. + +## 7 + +The Tao of Heaven is eternal, +and the earth is long enduring. +Why are they long enduring? +They do not live for themselves; +thus they are present for all beings. + +The Master puts herself last; +And finds herself in the place of authority. +She detaches herself from all things; +Therefore she is united with all things. +She gives no thought to self. +She is perfectly fulfilled. + +## 8 + +The supreme good is like water, +which benefits all of creation +without trying to compete with it. +It gathers in unpopular places. +Thus it is like the Tao. + +The location makes the dwelling good. +Depth of understanding makes the mind good. +A kind heart makes the giving good. +Integrity makes the government good. +Accomplishment makes your labors good. +Proper timing makes a decision good. + +Only when there is no competition +will we all live in peace. + +## 9 + +It is easier to carry an empty cup +than one that is filled to the brim. + +The sharper the knife +the easier it is to dull. +The more wealth you possess +the harder it is to protect. +Pride brings its own trouble. + +When you have accomplished your goal +simply walk away. +This is the path way to Heaven. + +## 10 + +Nurture the darkness of your soul +until you become whole. +Can you do this and not fail? +Can you focus your life-breath until you become +supple as a newborn child? +While you cleanse your inner vision +will you be found without fault? +Can you love people and lead them +without forcing your will on them? +When Heaven gives and takes away +can you be content with the outcome? +When you understand all things +can you step back from your own understanding? + +Giving birth and nourishing, +making without possessing, +expecting nothing in return. +To grow, yet not to control: +This is the mysterious virtue. + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel, +but it is the center hole +that allows the wheel to function. + +We mold clay into a pot, +but it is the emptiness inside +that makes the vessel useful. + +We fashion wood for a house, +but it is the emptiness inside +that makes it livable. + +We work with the substantial, +but the emptiness is what we use. + +## 12 + +Five colors blind the eye. +Five notes deafen the ear. +Five flavors make the palate go stale. +Too much activity deranges the mind. +Too much wealth causes crime. + +The Master acts on what she feels and not what she sees. +She shuns the latter, and prefers to seek the former. + +## 13 + +Success is as dangerous as failure, +and we are often our own worst enemy. + +What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? +He who is superior is also someone's subordinate. +Receiving favor and losing it both cause alarm. +That is what is meant by success is as dangerous as failure. +What does it mean that we are often our own worst enemy? +The reason I have an enemy is because I have a "self". +If I no longer had a "self", I would no longer have an enemy. + +Love the whole world as if it were your self; +then you will truly care for all things. + +## 14 + +Look for it, and it can't be seen. +Listen for it, and it can't be heard. +Grasp for it, and it can't be caught. +These three cannot be further described, +so we treat them as The One. + +Its highest is not bright. +Its depths are not dark. +Unending, unnameable, it returns to nothingness. +Formless forms, and imageless images, +subtle, beyond all understanding. + +Approach it and you will not see a beginning; +follow it and there will be no end. +When we grasp the Tao of the ancient ones, +we can use it to direct our life today. +To know the ancient origin of Tao: +this is the beginning of wisdom. + +## 15 + +The Sages of old were profound +and knew the ways of subtlety and discernment. +Their wisdom is beyond our comprehension. +Because their knowledge was so far superior +I can only give a poor description. + +They were careful +as someone crossing a frozen stream in winter. +Alert as if surrounded on all sides by the enemy. +Courteous as a guest. +Fluid as melting ice. +Whole as an uncarved block of wood. +Receptive as a valley. +Turbid as muddied water. + +Who can be still +until their mud settles +and the water is cleared by itself? +Can you remain tranquil until right action occurs by itself? + +The Master doesn't seek fulfillment. +For only those who are not full are able to be used +which brings the feeling of completeness. + +## 16 + +If you can empty your mind of all thoughts +your heart will embrace the tranquility of peace. +Watch the workings of all of creation, +but contemplate their return to the source. + +All creatures in the universe +return to the point where they began. +Returning to the source is tranquility +because we submit to Heaven's mandate. + +Returning to Heaven's mandate is called being constant. +Knowing the constant is called 'enlightenment'. +Not knowing the constant is the source of evil deeds +because we have no roots. +By knowing the constant we can accept things as they are. +By accepting things as they are, we become impartial. +By being impartial, we become one with Heaven. +By being one with Heaven, we become one with Tao. +Being one with Tao, we are no longer concerned about +losing our life because we know the Tao is constant +and we are one with Tao. + +## 17 + +The best leaders are those the people hardly know exist. +The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. +Next comes the one who is feared. +The worst one is the leader that is despised. + +If you don't trust the people, +they will become untrustworthy. + +The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. +When she has accomplished her task, +the people say, "Amazing: +we did it, all by ourselves!" + +## 18 + +When the great Tao is abandoned, +charity and righteousness appear. +When intellectualism arises, +hypocrisy is close behind. + +When there is strife in the family unit, +people talk about 'brotherly love'. + +When the country falls into chaos, +politicians talk about 'patriotism'. + +## 19 + +Forget about knowledge and wisdom, +and people will be a hundred times better off. +Throw away charity and righteousness, +and people will return to brotherly love. +Throw away profit and greed, +and there won't be any thieves. + +These three are superficial and aren't enough +to keep us at the center of the circle, so we must also: + +Embrace simplicity. +Put others first. +Desire little. + +## 20 + +Renounce knowledge and your problems will end. +What is the difference between yes and no? +What is the difference between good and evil? +Must you fear what others fear? +Nonsense, look how far you have missed the mark! + +Other people are joyous, +as though they were at a spring festival. +I alone am unconcerned and expressionless, +like an infant before it has learned to smile. + +Other people have more than they need; +I alone seem to possess nothing. +I am lost and drift about with no place to go. +I am like a fool, my mind is in chaos. + +Ordinary people are bright; +I alone am dark. +Ordinary people are clever; +I alone am dull. +Ordinary people seem discriminating; +I alone am muddled and confused. +I drift on the waves on the ocean, +blown at the mercy of the wind. +Other people have their goals, +I alone am dull and uncouth. + +I am different from ordinary people. +I nurse from the Great Mother's breasts. + +## 21 + +The greatest virtue you can have +comes from following only the Tao; +which takes a form that is intangible and evasive. + +Even though the Tao is intangible and evasive, +we are able to know it exists. +Intangible and evasive, yet it has a manifestation. +Secluded and dark, yet there is a vitality within it. +Its vitality is very genuine. +Within it we can find order. + +Since the beginning of time, the Tao has always existed. +It is beyond existing and not existing. +How do I know where creation comes from? +I look inside myself and see it. + +## 22 + +If you want to become whole, +first let yourself become broken. +If you want to become straight, +first let yourself become twisted. +If you want to become full, +first let yourself become empty. +If you want to become new, +first let yourself become old. +Those whose desires are few get them, +those whose desires are great go astray. + +For this reason the Master embraces the Tao, +as an example for the world to follow. +Because she isn't self centered, +people can see the light in her. +Because she does not boast of herself, +she becomes a shining example. +Because she does not glorify herself, +she becomes a person of merit. +Because she wants nothing from the world, +the world can not overcome her. + +When the ancient Masters said, +"If you want to become whole, +then first let yourself be broken," +they weren't using empty words. +All who do this will be made complete. + +## 23 + +Nature uses few words: +when the gale blows, it will not last long; +when it rains hard, it lasts but a little while; +What causes these to happen? Heaven and Earth. + +Why do we humans go on endlessly about little +when nature does much in a little time? +If you open yourself to the Tao, +you and Tao become one. +If you open yourself to Virtue, +then you can become virtuous. +If you open yourself to loss, +then you will become lost. + +If you open yourself to the Tao, +the Tao will eagerly welcome you. +If you open yourself to virtue, +virtue will become a part of you. +If you open yourself to loss, +the lost are glad to see you. + +"When you do not trust people, +people will become untrustworthy." + +## 24 + +Those who stand on tiptoes +do not stand firmly. +Those who rush ahead +don't get very far. +Those who try to outshine others +dim their own light. +Those who call themselves righteous +can't know how wrong they are. +Those who boast of their accomplishments +diminish the things they have done. + +Compared to the Tao, these actions are unworthy. +If we are to follow the Tao, +we must not do these things. + +## 25 + +Before the universe was born +there was something in the chaos of the heavens. +It stands alone and empty, +solitary and unchanging. +It is ever present and secure. +It may be regarded as the Mother of the universe. +Because I do not know its name, +I call it the Tao. +If forced to give it a name, +I would call it 'Great'. + +Because it is Great means it is everywhere. +Being everywhere means it is eternal. +Being eternal means everything returns to it. + +Tao is great. +Heaven is great. +Earth is great. +Humanity is great. +Within the universe, these are the four great things. + +Humanity follows the earth. +Earth follows Heaven. +Heaven follows the Tao. +The Tao follows only itself. + +## 26 + +Heaviness is the basis of lightness. +Stillness is the standard of activity. + +Thus the Master travels all day +without ever leaving her wagon. +Even though she has much to see, +she is at peace in her indifference. + +Why should the lord of a thousand chariots +be amused at the foolishness of the world? +If you abandon yourself to foolishness, +you lose touch with your beginnings. +If you let yourself become distracted, +you will lose the basis of your power. + +## 27 + +A good traveler leaves no tracks, +and a skillful speaker is well rehearsed. +A good bookkeeper has an excellent memory, +and a well made door is easy to open and needs no locks. +A good knot needs no rope and it can not come undone. + +Thus the Master is willing to help everyone, +and doesn't know the meaning of rejection. +She is there to help all of creation, +and doesn't abandon even the smallest creature. +This is called embracing the light. + +What is a good person but a bad person's teacher? +What is a bad person but raw material for his teacher? +If you fail to honor your teacher or fail to enjoy your student, +you will become deluded no matter how smart you are. +It is the secret of prime importance. + +## 28 + +Know the masculine, +but keep to the feminine: +and become a watershed to the world. +If you embrace the world, +the Tao will never leave you +and you become as a little child. + +Know the white, +yet keep to the black: +be a model for the world. +If you are a model for the world, +the Tao inside you will strengthen +and you will return whole to your eternal beginning. + +Know the honorable, +but do not shun the disgraced: +embracing the world as it is. +If you embrace the world with compassion, +then your virtue will return you to the uncarved block. + +The block of wood is carved into utensils +by carving void into the wood. +The Master uses the utensils, yet prefers to keep to the block +because of its limitless possibilities. +Great works do not involve discarding substance. + +## 29 + +Do you want to rule the world and control it? +I don't think it can ever be done. + +The world is a sacred vessel +and it can not be controlled. +You will only make it worse if you try. +It may slip through your fingers and disappear. + +Some are meant to lead, +and others are meant to follow; +Some must always strain, +and others have an easy time; +Some are naturally big and strong, +and others will always be small; +Some will be protected and nurtured, +and others will meet with destruction. + +The Master accepts things as they are, +and out of compassion avoids extravagance, +excess and the extremes. + +## 30 + +Those who lead people by following the Tao +don't use weapons to enforce their will. +Using force always leads to unseen troubles. + +In the places where armies march, +thorns and briars bloom and grow. +After armies take to war, +bad years must always follow. +The skillful commander +strikes a decisive blow then stops. +When victory is won over the enemy through war +it is not a thing of great pride. +When the battle is over, +arrogance is the new enemy. +War can result when no other alternative is given, +so the one who overcomes an enemy should not dominate them. +The strong always weaken with time. + +This is not the way of the Tao. +That which is not of the Tao will soon end. + +## 31 + +Weapons are the bearers of bad news; +all people should detest them. + +The wise man values the left side, +and in time of war he values the right. +Weapons are meant for destruction, +and thus are avoided by the wise. +Only as a last resort +will a wise person use a deadly weapon. +If peace is her true objective +how can she rejoice in the victory of war? +Those who rejoice in victory +delight in the slaughter of humanity. +Those who resort to violence +will never bring peace to the world. +The left side is a place of honor on happy occasions. +The right side is reserved for mourning at a funeral. +When the lieutenants take the left side to prepare for war, +the general should be on the right side, +because he knows the outcome will be death. +The death of many should be greeted with great sorrow, +and the victory celebration should honor those who have died. + +## 32 + +The Tao is nameless and unchanging. +Although it appears insignificant, +nothing in the world can contain it. + +If a ruler abides by its principles, +then her people will willingly follow. +Heaven would then reign on earth, +like sweet rain falling on paradise. +People would have no need for laws, +because the law would be written on their hearts. + +Naming is a necessity for order, +but naming can not order all things. +Naming often makes things impersonal, +so we should know when naming should end. +Knowing when to stop naming, +you can avoid the pitfall it brings. + +All things end in the Tao +just as the small streams and the largest rivers +flow through valleys to the sea. + +## 33 + +Those who know others are intelligent; +those who know themselves are truly wise. +Those who master others are strong; +those who master themselves have true power. + +Those who know they have enough are truly wealthy. + +Those who persist will reach their goal. + +Those who keep their course have a strong will. +Those who embrace death will not perish, +but have life everlasting. + +## 34 + +The great Tao flows unobstructed in every direction. +All things rely on it to conceive and be born, +and it does not deny even the smallest of creation. +When it has accomplished great wonders, +it does not claim them for itself. +It nourishes infinite worlds, +yet it doesn't seek to master the smallest creature. +Since it is without wants and desires, +it can be considered humble. +All of creation seeks it for refuge +yet it does not seek to master or control. +Because it does not seek greatness; +it is able to accomplish truly great things. + +## 35 + +She who follows the way of the Tao +will draw the world to her steps. +She can go without fear of being injured, +because she has found peace and tranquility in her heart. + +Where there is music and good food, +people will stop to enjoy it. +But words spoken of the Tao +seem to them boring and stale. +When looked at, there is nothing for them to see. +When listened for, there is nothing for them to hear. +Yet if they put it to use, it would never be exhausted. + +## 36 + +If you want something to return to the source, +you must first allow it to spread out. +If you want something to weaken, +you must first allow it to become strong. +If you want something to be removed, +you must first allow it to flourish. +If you want to possess something, +you must first give it away. + +This is called the subtle understanding +of how things are meant to be. + +The soft and pliable overcomes the hard and inflexible. + +Just as fish remain hidden in deep waters, +it is best to keep weapons out of sight. + +## 37 + +The Tao never acts with force, +yet there is nothing that it cannot do. + +If rulers could follow the way of the Tao, +then all of creation would willingly follow their example. +If selfish desires were to arise after their transformation, +I would erase them with the power of the Uncarved Block. + +By the power of the Uncarved Block, +future generations would loose their selfish desires. +By losing their selfish desires, +the world would naturally settle into peace. + +## 38 + +The highest good is not to seek to do good, +but to allow yourself to become it. +The ordinary person seeks to do good things, +and finds that they can not do them continually. + +The Master does not force virtue on others, +thus she is able to accomplish her task. +The ordinary person who uses force, +will find that they accomplish nothing. + +The kind person acts from the heart, +and accomplishes a multitude of things. +The righteous person acts out of pity, +yet leaves many things undone. +The moral person will act out of duty, +and when no one will respond +will roll up his sleeves and use force. + +When the Tao is forgotten, there is righteousness. +When righteousness is forgotten, there is morality. +When morality is forgotten, there is the law. +The law is the husk of faith, +and trust is the beginning of chaos. + +Our basic understandings are not from the Tao +because they come from the depths of our misunderstanding. +The master abides in the fruit and not in the husk. +She dwells in the Tao, +and not with the things that hide it. +This is how she increases in wisdom. + +## 39 + +The masters of old attained unity with the Tao. +Heaven attained unity and became pure. +The earth attained unity and found peace. +The spirits attained unity so they could minister. +The valleys attained unity that they might be full. +Humanity attained unity that they might flourish. +Their leaders attained unity that they might set the example. +This is the power of unity. + +Without unity, the sky becomes filthy. +Without unity, the earth becomes unstable. +Without unity, the spirits become unresponsive and disappear. +Without unity, the valleys become dry as a desert. +Without unity, human kind can't reproduce and becomes extinct. +Without unity, our leaders become corrupt and fall. + +The great view the small as their source, +and the high takes the low as their foundation. +Their greatest asset becomes their humility. +They speak of themselves as orphans and widows, +thus they truly seek humility. +Do not shine like the precious gem, +but be as dull as a common stone. + +## 40 + +All movement returns to the Tao. +Weakness is how the Tao works. + +All of creation is born from substance. +Substance is born of nothing-ness. + +## 41 + +When a superior person hears of the Tao, +She diligently puts it into practice. +When an average person hears of the Tao, +he believes half of it, and doubts the other half. +When a foolish person hears of the Tao, +he laughs out loud at the very idea. +If he didn't laugh, +it wouldn't be the Tao. + +Thus it is said: +The brightness of the Tao seems like darkness, +the advancement of the Tao seems like retreat, +the level path seems rough, +the superior path seem empty, +the pure seems to be tarnished, +and true virtue doesn't seem to be enough. +The virtue of caution seems like cowardice, +the pure seems to be polluted, +the true square seems to have no corners, +the best vessels take the most time to finish, +the greatest sounds cannot be heard, +and the greatest image has no form. + +The Tao hides in the unnamed, +Yet it alone nourishes and completes all things. + +## 42 + +The Tao gave birth to One. +The One gave birth to Two. +The Two gave birth to Three. +The Three gave birth to all of creation. + +All things carry Yin +yet embrace Yang. +They blend their life breaths +in order to produce harmony. + +People despise being orphaned, widowed and poor. +But the noble ones take these as their titles. +In losing, much is gained, +and in gaining, much is lost. + +What others teach I too will teach: +"The strong and violent will not die a natural death." + +## 43 + +That which offers no resistance, +overcomes the hardest substances. +That which offers no resistance +can enter where there is no space. + +Few in the world can comprehend +the teaching without words, +or understand the value of non-action. + +## 44 + +Which is more important, your honor or your life? +Which is more valuable, your possessions or your person? +Which is more destructive, success or failure? + +Because of this, great love extracts a great cost +and true wealth requires greater loss. + +Knowing when you have enough avoids dishonor, +and knowing when to stop will keep you from danger +and bring you a long, happy life. + +## 45 + +The greatest accomplishments seem imperfect, +yet their usefulness is not diminished. +The greatest fullness seems empty, +yet it will be inexhaustible. + +The greatest straightness seems crooked. +The most valued skill seems like clumsiness. +The greatest speech seems full of stammers. + +Movement overcomes the cold, +and stillness overcomes the heat. +That which is pure and still is the universal ideal. + +## 46 + +When the world follows the Tao, +horses run free to fertilize the fields. +When the world does not follow the Tao, +war horses are bred outside the cities. + +There is no greater transgression +than condoning people's selfish desires, +no greater disaster than being discontent, +and no greater retribution than for greed. + +Whoever knows contentment will be at peace forever. + +## 47 + +Without opening your door, +you can know the whole world. +Without looking out your window, +you can understand the way of the Tao. + +The more knowledge you seek, +the less you will understand. + +The Master understands without leaving, +sees clearly without looking, +accomplishes much without doing anything. + +## 48 + +One who seeks knowledge learns something new every day. +One who seeks the Tao unlearns something new every day. +Less and less remains until you arrive at non-action. +When you arrive at non-action, +nothing will be left undone. + +Mastery of the world is achieved +by letting things take their natural course. +You can not master the world by changing the natural way. + +## 49 + +The Master has no mind of her own. +She understands the mind of the people. + +Those who are good she treats as good. +Those who aren't good she also treats as good. +This is how she attains true goodness. + +She trusts people who are trustworthy. +She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy. +This is how she gains true trust. + +The Master's mind is shut off from the world. +Only for the sake of the people does she muddle her mind. +They look to her in anticipation. +Yet she treats them all as her children. + +## 50 + +Those who leave the womb at birth +and those who enter their source at death, +of these; three out of ten celebrate life, +three out of ten celebrate death, +and three out of ten simply go from life to death. +What is the reason for this? +Because they are afraid of dying, +therefore they can not live. + +I have heard that those who celebrate life +walk safely among the wild animals. +When they go into battle, they remain unharmed. +The animals find no place to attack them +and the weapons are unable to harm them. +Why? Because they can find no place for death in them. + +## 51 + +The Tao gives birth to all of creation. +The virtue of Tao in nature nurtures them, +and their families give them their form. +Their environment then shapes them into completion. +That is why every creature honors the Tao and its virtue. + +No one tells them to honor the Tao and its virtue, +it happens all by itself. +So the Tao gives them birth, +and its virtue cultivates them, +cares for them, +nurtures them, +gives them a place of refuge and peace, +helps them to grow and shelters them. + +It gives them life without wanting to posses them, +and cares for them expecting nothing in return. +It is their master, but it does not seek to dominate them. +This is called the dark and mysterious virtue. + +## 52 + +The world had a beginning +which we call the Great Mother. +Once we have found the Mother, +we begin to know what Her children should be. + +When we know we are the Mother's child, +we begin to guard the qualities of the Mother in us. +She will protect us from all danger +even if we lose our life. + +Keep your mouth closed +and embrace a simple life, +and you will live care-free until the end of your days. +If you try to talk your way into a better life +there will be no end to your trouble. + +To understand the small is called clarity. +Knowing how to yield is called strength. +To use your inner light for understanding +regardless of the danger +is called depending on the Constant. + +## 53 + +If I understood only one thing, +I would want to use it to follow the Tao. +My only fear would be one of pride. +The Tao goes in the level places, +but people prefer to take the short cuts. + +If too much time is spent cleaning the house +the land will become neglected and full of weeds, +and the granaries will soon become empty +because there is no one out working the fields. +To wear fancy clothes and ornaments, +to have your fill of food and drink +and to waste all of your money buying possessions +is called the crime of excess. +Oh, how these things go against the way of the Tao! + +## 54 + +That which is well built +will never be torn down. +That which is well latched +can not slip away. +Those who do things well +will be honored from generation to generation. + +If this idea is cultivated in the individual, +then his virtue will become genuine. +If this idea is cultivated in your family, +then virtue in your family will be great. +If this idea is cultivated in your community, +then virtue will go a long way. +If this idea is cultivated in your country, +then virtue will be in many places. +If this idea is cultivated in the world, +then virtue will be with everyone. + +Then observe the person for what the person does, +and observe the family for what it does, +and observe the community for what it does, +and observe the country for what it does, +and observe the world for what it does. +How do I know this saying is true? +I observe these things and see. + +## 55 + +One who is filled with the Tao +is like a newborn child. +The infant is protected from +the stinging insects, wild beasts, and birds of prey. +Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, +but its grip is firm and strong. +It doesn't know about the union +of male and female, +yet his penis can stand erect, +because of the power of life within him. +It can cry all day and never become hoarse. +This is perfect harmony. + +To understand harmony is to understand the Constant. +To know the Constant is to be called 'enlightened'. +To unnaturally try to extend life is not appropriate. +To try and alter the life-breath is unnatural. +The master understands that when something reaches its prime +it will soon begin to decline. +Changing the natural is against the way of the Tao. +Those who do it will come to an early end. + +## 56 + +Those who know do not talk. +Those who talk do not know. + +Stop talking, +meditate in silence, +blunt your sharpness, +release your worries, +harmonize your inner light, +and become one with the dust. +Doing this is the called the dark and mysterious identity. + +Those who have achieved the mysterious identity +can not be approached, and they can not be alienated. +They can not be benefited nor harmed. +They can not be made noble nor to suffer disgrace. +This makes them the most noble of all under the heavens. + +## 57 + +Govern your country with integrity, +Weapons of war can be used with great cunning, +but loyalty is only won by not-doing. +How do I know the way things are? +By these: + +The more prohibitions you make, +the poorer people will be. +The more weapons you possess, +the greater the chaos in your country. +The more knowledge that is acquired, +the stranger the world will become. +The more laws that you make, +the greater the number of criminals. + +Therefore the Master says: +I do nothing, +and people become good by themselves. +I seek peace, +and people take care of their own problems. +I do not meddle in their personal lives, +and the people become prosperous. +I let go of all my desires, +and the people return to the Uncarved Block. + +## 58 + +If a government is unobtrusive, +the people become whole. +If a government is repressive, +the people become treacherous. + +Good fortune has its roots in disaster, +and disaster lurks with good fortune. +Who knows why these things happen, +or when this cycle will end? +Good things seem to change into bad, +and bad things often turn out for good. +These things have always been hard to comprehend. + +Thus the Master makes things change +without interfering. +She is probing yet causes no harm. +Straightforward, yet does not impose her will. +Radiant, and easy on the eye. + +## 59 + +There is nothing better than moderation +for teaching people or serving Heaven. +Those who use moderation +are already on the path to the Tao. + +Those who follow the Tao early +will have an abundance of virtue. +When there is an abundance of virtue, +there is nothing that can not be done. +Where there is limitless ability, +then the kingdom is withing your grasp. +When you know the Mother of the kingdom, +then you will be long enduring. + +This is spoken of as the deep root and the firm trunk, +the Way to a long life and great spiritual vision. + +## 60 + +Governing a large country +is like frying small fish. +Too much poking spoils the meat. + +When the Tao is used to govern the world +then evil will lose its power to harm the people. +Not that evil will no longer exist, +but only because it has lost its power. +Just as evil can lose its ability to harm, +the Master shuns the use of violence. + +If you give evil nothing to oppose, +then virtue will return by itself. + +## 61 + +A large country should take the low place like a great watershed, +which from its low position assumes the female role. +The female overcomes the male by the power of her position. +Her tranquility gives rise to her humility. + +If a large country takes the low position, +it will be able to influence smaller countries. +If smaller countries take the lower position, +then they can allow themselves to be influenced. +So both seek to take the lower position +in order to influence the other, or be influenced. + +Large countries should desire to protect and help the people, +and small countries should desire to serve others. +Both large and small countries benefit greatly from humility. + +## 62 + +The Tao is the tabernacle of creation, +it is a treasure for those who are good, +and a place of refuge for those who are not. + +How can those who are not good be abandoned? +Words that are beautiful are worth much, +but good behavior can only be learned by example. + +When a new leader takes office, +don't give him gifts and offerings. +These things are not as valuable +as teaching him about the Tao. + +Why was the Tao esteemed by the ancient Masters? +Is it not said: "With it we find without looking. +With it we find forgiveness for our transgressions." +That is why the world can not understand it. + +## 63 + +Act by not acting; +do by not doing. +Enjoy the plain and simple. +Find that greatness in the small. +Take care of difficult problems +while they are still easy; +Do easy things before they become too hard. + +Difficult problems are best solved while they are easy. +Great projects are best started while they are small. +The Master never takes on more than she can handle, +which means that she leaves nothing undone. + +When an affirmation is given too lightly, +keep your eyes open for trouble ahead. +When something seems too easy, +difficulty is hiding in the details. +The master expects great difficulty, +so the task is always easier than planned. + +Therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult. +That is why in the end no difficulties can get the better of him. + +## 64 + +Things are easier to control while things are quiet. +Things are easier to plan far in advance. +Things break easier while they are still brittle. +Things are easier hid while they are still small. + +Prevent problems before they arise. +Take action before things get out of hand. +The tallest tree +begins as a tiny sprout. +The tallest building +starts with one shovel of dirt. +A journey of a thousand miles +starts with a single footstep. + +If you rush into action, you will fail. +If you hold on too tight, you will lose your grip. + +Therefore the Master lets things take their course +and thus never fails. +She doesn't hold on to things +and never loses them. +By pursing your goals too relentlessly, +you let them slip away. +If you are as concerned about the outcome +as you are about the beginning, +then it is hard to do things wrong. +The master seeks no possessions. +She learns by unlearning, +thus she is able to understand all things. +This gives her the ability to help all of creation. + +## 65 + +The ancient Masters +who understood the way of the Tao, +did not educate people, but made them forget. + +Smart people are difficult to guide, +because they think they are too clever. +To use cleverness to rule a country, +is to lead the country to ruin. +To avoid cleverness in ruling a country, +is to lead the country to prosperity. + +Knowing the two alternatives is a pattern. +Remaining aware of the pattern is a virtue. +This dark and mysterious virtue is profound. +It is opposite our natural inclination, +but leads to harmony with the heavens. + +## 66 + +Rivers and seas are rulers +of the streams of hundreds of valleys +because of the power of their low position. + +If you want to be the ruler of people, +you must speak to them like you are their servant. +If you want to lead other people, +you must put their interest ahead of your own. + +The people will not feel burdened, +if a wise person is in a position of power. +The people will not feel like they are being manipulated, +if a wise person is in front as their leader. +The whole world will ask for her guidance, +and will never get tired of her. +Because she does not like to compete, +no one can compete with the things she accomplishes. + +## 67 + +The world talks about honoring the Tao, +but you can't tell it from their actions. +Because it is thought of as great, +the world makes light of it. +It seems too easy for anyone to use. + +There are three jewels that I cherish: +compassion, moderation, and humility. +With compassion, you will be able to be brave, +With moderation, you will be able to give to others, +With humility, you will be able to become a great leader. +To abandon compassion while seeking to be brave, +or abandoning moderation while being benevolent, +or abandoning humility while seeking to lead +will only lead to greater trouble. +The compassionate warrior will be the winner, +and if compassion is your defense you will be secure. +Compassion is the protector of Heaven's salvation. + +## 68 + +The best warriors +do not use violence. +The best generals +do not destroy indiscriminately. +The best tacticians +try to avoid confrontation. +The best leaders +become servants of their people. + +This is called the virtue of non-competition. +This is called the power to manage others. +This is called attaining harmony with the heavens. + +## 69 + +There is an old saying: +"It is better to become the passive +in order to see what will happen. +It is better to retreat a foot +than to advance only an inch." + +This is called +being flexible while advancing, +pushing back without using force, +and destroying the enemy without engaging him. + +There is no greater disaster +than underestimating your enemy. +Underestimating your enemy +means loosing your greatest assets. +When equal forces meet in battle, +victory will go to the one +that enters with the greatest sorrow. + +## 70 + +My words are easy to understand +and easier to put into practice. +Yet no one in the world seems to understand them, +or be able to apply what I teach. + +My teachings come from the ancients, +the things I do are done for a reason. + +Because you do not know me, +you are not able to understand my teachings. +Because those who know me are few, +my teachings become even more precious. + +## 71 + +Knowing you don't know is wholeness. +Thinking you know is a disease. +Only by recognizing that you have an illness +can you move to seek a cure. + +The Master is whole because +she sees her illnesses and treats them, +and thus is able to remain whole. + +## 72 + +When people become overly bold, +then disaster will soon arrive. + +Do not meddle with people's livelihoods; +if you respect them, they will in turn respect you. + +Therefore, the Master knows herself but is not arrogant. +She loves herself but also loves others. +This is how she is able to make appropriate choices. + +## 73 + +Being over bold and confident is deadly. +The wise use of caution will keep you alive. + +One is the way to death, +and the other is the way to preserve your life. +Who can understand the workings of Heaven? + +The Tao of the universe +does not compete, yet wins; +does not speak, yet responds; +does not command, yet is obeyed; +and does act, but is good at directing. + +The nets of Heaven are wide, +but nothing escapes its grasp. + +## 74 + +If you do not fear death, +then how can it intimidate you? +If you aren't afraid of dying, +there is nothing you can not do. + +Those who harm others +are like inexperienced boys +trying to take the place of a great lumberjack. +Trying to fill his shoes will only get them seriously hurt. + +## 75 + +When people go hungry, +the government's taxes are too high. +When people become rebellious, +the government has become too intrusive. + +When people begin to view death lightly, +wealthy people have too much +which causes others to starve. + +Only those who do not cling to their life can save it. + +## 76 + +The living are soft and yielding; +the dead are rigid and stiff. +Living plants are flexible and tender; +the dead are brittle and dry. + +Those who are stiff and rigid +are the disciple of death. +Those who are soft and yielding +are the disciples of life. + +The rigid and stiff will be broken. +The soft and yielding will overcome. + +## 77 + +The Tao of Heaven works in the world +like the drawing of a bow. +The top is bent downward; +the bottom is bent up. +The excess is taken from, +and the deficient is given to. + +The Tao works to use the excess, +and gives to that which is depleted. +The way of people is to take from the depleted, +and give to those who already have an excess. + +Who is able to give to the needy from their excess? +Only someone who is following the way of the Tao. + +This is why the Master gives +expecting nothing in return. +She does not dwell on her past accomplishments, +and does not glory in any praise. + +## 78 + +Water is the softest and most yielding substance. +Yet nothing is better than water, +for overcoming the hard and rigid, +because nothing can compete with it. + +Everyone knows that the soft and yielding +overcomes the rigid and hard, +but few can put this knowledge into practice. + +Therefore the Master says: +"Only he who is the lowest servant of the kingdom, +is worthy to become its ruler. +He who is willing to tackle the most unpleasant tasks, +is the best ruler in the world." + +True sayings seem contradictory. + +## 79 + +Difficulties remain, even after solving a problem. +How then can we consider that as good? + +Therefore the Master +does what she knows is right, +and makes no demands of others. +A virtuous person will do the right thing, +and persons with no virtue will take advantage of others. + +The Tao does not choose sides, +the good person receives from the Tao +because she is on its side. + +## 80 + +Small countries with few people are best. +Give them all of the things they want, +and they will see that they do not need them. +Teach them that death is a serious thing, +and to be content to never leave their homes. +Even though they have plenty +of horses, wagons and boats, +they won't feel that they need to use them. +Even if they have weapons and shields, +they will keep them out of sight. +Let people enjoy the simple technologies, +let them enjoy their food, +let them make their own clothes, +let them be content with their own homes, +and delight in the customs that they cherish. +Although the next country is close enough +that they can hear their roosters crowing and dogs barking, +they are content never to visit each other +all of the days of their lives. + +## 81 + +True words do not sound beautiful; +beautiful sounding words are not true. +Wise men don't need to debate; +men who need to debate are not wise. + +Wise men are not scholars, +and scholars are not wise. +The Master desires no possessions. +Since the things she does are for the people, +she has more than she needs. +The more she gives to others, +the more she has for herself. + +The Tao of Heaven nourishes by not forcing. +The Tao of the Wise person acts by not competing. diff --git a/source/content/tao/2000-jim-clatfelter.md b/source/content/tao/2000-jim-clatfelter.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0e7813 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2000-jim-clatfelter.md @@ -0,0 +1,1433 @@ +Translator: Jim Clatfelter +Year: 2000 +Source: [terebess.hu](https://terebess.hu/english/tao/clatfelter.html) +Code: jc + +## 1 + +Words and names are not the way +They can't define the absolute +It's better that you look within +Hold your tongue and just be mute + +Look within and look out too +You will not find a separation +Out there you see appearance +Within you see origination + +Look within with wonder +At emptiness and bliss +For wonder names totality +Where nothing is amiss + +The space within is always there +If you can moderate desire +A place of utter emptiness +And possibility entire + +## 2 + +Where beautiful and ugly +Do not stand in opposition +Where life and death or yes and no +Do not make a contradiction + +Can you see the vacant place +Where good and bad and sad and merry +Disappear forevermore? +Where nothing ever is contrary + +So stay within the emptiness +Unless you rise you never fall +Accepting that which comes your way +You are forever all in all + +## 3 + +If you love accumulation +Gain and increase every day +Thieves and robbers will be waiting +Just to take it all away + +Best to be so empty-headed +That it seems you've lost it all +You will know you're on the way +Though others say you're at a stall + +## 4 + +This nothingness is like a well +Always giving, never taking +And all claims to origin +Neither wanting or forsaking + +You know it's ever present +You find it where you have no face +It is a wondrous blessing +Original amazing grace + +## 5 + +This emptiness is truly void +And infinitely capacious +It holds whatever comes its way +Eternally tenacious + +Can you take whatever comes? +Though judgment calls it bad and good +Seeing is acceptance +And nothing to be understood + +## 6 + +Complete and full awareness +Is like an open valley +Of endless generation +That doesn't reach finale + +It is a simple presence +It's a nothing you can see +You'll find it right at center +Wherever you may be + +## 7 + +This presence is unlimited +Because it wasn't ever born +And it will not be perishing +Will never give you cause to mourn + +It truly wants for nothing +It has no wishes of its own +It is the one and only +Eternally alone + +It holds itself in vacancy +With no desire to advance +Remaining in simplicity +It merely witnesses the dance + +The seer will remain behind +And never yearns for leaving home +Just living in the here and now +Prefers to stay unknown + +## 8 + +The seer flows like water +Lying low along the way +Nourishing whatever comes +To be held on display + +The seer keeps to simple ways +And therefore is content +When joy or sorrow manifests +To give complete assent + +If you can clearly be yourself +And never rise to interfere +Everyone will cherish you +And always hold you dear + +## 9 + +Don't fill a bowl +Till it's more than full +Or sharpen a blade +Till it must go dull + +Don't pile up treasure +That comes at great cost +Approval and riches +Are easily lost + +Can you only do +What's really needed +Then stop and withdraw +When your task is completed? + +## 10 + +Can you see as a child sees +And keep the simple vision? +See the inner oneness +With absolute precision + +Hold all things in your embrace +The entire world is in your care +Let things be just as they are +Extend acceptance everywhere + +Let go all need to comprehend +The truth is here where all behold +Their infinite capacity +To welcome and enfold + +## 11 + +The empty hub at center +Allows a wheel to roll +The vacancy within defines +The function of a bowl + +The openness within a house +Provides location to reside +The open space that is my heart +Is where ten thousand things abide + +## 12 + +Too much sound can make you deaf +Too many colors leave you blind +Can you let desire die down +And not leave emptiness behind? + +Wanting things can drive you mad +And acquisition makes you poor +See that you are everything +And leave off wanting more + +## 13 + +Fame and shame are equal +And so are gain and loss +It isn't very difficult +To get this point across + +Having fame you know that you +Are terrified to lose it +Making gain you always fear +That others will abuse it + +Can you see that you're not like +Your image or reflection? +Just see you are totality +By looking in your own direction + +The one who is not limited +Accepts whatever comes or goes +And cares for everything around +On opening and close + +## 14 + +When you look, it isn't there +Listen and you cannot hear it +It seems to be beyond your reach +Because you are so near it + +This single source of everything +Appears to be an empty image +Though it cannot be understood +You can see its naked visage + +Follow it to nothingness +Approach it where you have no face +From nowhere to infinity +This vacant image leaves no trace + +From never to eternity +This naked face is what you are +An empty, vacant, open door +Forevermore ajar + +## 15 + +Those of old who knew the way +To origin and source within +Have seen the place where wholeness +And infinity begin + +Alert as one on a frozen stream +Or one who watches for the foe +Deferential as a guest +And generous as melting snow + +Plain as an uncarved block of wood +Expansive as a vale +Transparent just like water +Whose clarity will never fail + +Can you keep yourself so still +That muddy water clears? +And wait until right action +Spontaneously appears? + +## 16 + +See that you are emptiness +Always quiet and at peace +You're in the place where all begins +The space where all things cease + +All things arise and have their day +And then go back to the single source +Returning to serenity +With no regret and no remorse + +When you see the source within +You only give assent +You see you're everlasting +And eternally omnificent + +## 17 + +It's best if you are barely known +The lesser state is being praised +Worse is being hated +Just stay empty and amazed + +Only do what must be done +And see you are the one alone +When you finish all will say +We did this on our own + +## 18 + +Goodness and compliance +Came when people lost the way +Spontaneity declined +Hypocrisy was here to stay + +## 19 + +Banish learned discourse +And everyone will be content +Eliminate propriety +Increase astonishment + +Stay away from fraud and swindle +Everyone is bound to gain +You really have it all you know +There is no basis to complain + +Can you see your empty core? +It isn't missing, gone or hidden +Just let go of neediness +And it will come unbidden + +## 20 + +You need not give a yes or no +Such distinctions matter little +Keep your vision open +And be at center noncommittal + +See that it's ridiculous +To seek success and fear to fail +To ever want what others want +To think you always must prevail + +Other people look so bright +I am dark and void and null +Others are so very sharp +While I alone am dull + +Others are so purposeful +Only I don't understand +Aimless, drifting, weak and dumb +Uninteresting and bland + +I see I'm different from the rest +For I take in what's plainly shown +And I take my sustenance +Only from the great unknown + +## 21 + +Seeming utter emptiness +Quite impossible to trace +Yet it contains all images +Within its wide embrace + +Appearing total darkness +Yet you see that it is right +To stay with its obscurity +The only origin of light + +This ever present openness +At center and within +Can be seen just anytime +So look and look again + +## 22 + +Overcome by giving up +See that you are really nil +Look into your emptiness +If you want to have your fill + +Be satisfied with little +Just content with what you need +If you are always wanting more +You surely are consumed by greed + +Abide in your simplicity +Though you are not on display +See all things are shining bright +In marvelous array + +If you do not boast or brag +Everyone will hold you high +If you do not argue +You will prevail thereby + +Only see you are complete +And all things have come to you +Overcome by giving up +All except your inner view + +## 23 + +Say your piece and then be still +Like nature in a storm +That rains and blows and ceases +And sees the sun reborn + +Open to the inward view +You are at one with all existence +There's nothing blocking up the way +Or putting up resistance + +If you're at home with nothingness +And simply trust what comes about +You'll find that all is in its place +Without a question or a doubt + +## 24 + +Who stands on tiptoe topples +Who runs ahead soon looses speed +Who goes on show is hidden +Who pushes far gives up the lead + +Don't depart from what is given +The ever present here and now +Don't overreach and don't oppose +Invite, admire and allow + +## 25 + +Before creation did occur +This blessed emptiness was here +Alone forever and at peace +The source of all that does appear + +Eternally unchanging +Forever lacking limit +This void is all potential +The everlasting ultimate + +It flows through all existence +And then returns to source +It's ever at your center +Your only true recourse + +For here begins the universe +The earth and humankind +Following this greatest way +You can never be defined + +## 26 + +The naked center doesn't change +Its quietude is absolute +Yet from it spring all things that move +This bare awareness is the root + +Can you go about all day +And never leave your true abode +No matter how enticing are +The splendors of the road? + +Don't think that you can run around +And act a perfect fool +Just see that you are at the eye +Of nature's whirlpool + +## 27 + +Can you walk and leave no tracks? +Make no errors when you talk? +Count without a tally? +Secure a door without a lock? + +You can abandon no one +There's nothing you can leave behind +In you there are no limits +You are forever unconfined + +What happens is spontaneous +Good and bad are just the same +In origin identical +Beyond both praise and blame + +## 28 + +Know the strong but keep the weak +The whole wide world is born in you +You'll see just what a child sees +A vast and comprehensive view + +Know the light but keep the dark +And watch ten thousand things emerge +In you they have their residence +Where space and time converge + +Know the high but keep the low +Humility will honor you +Attend to your vacuity +There's nothing else to do + +Be like an uncarved block of wood +Don't squander your potential +Or overlook your vacant core +Nothing else is so essential + +## 29 + +Do you want to change the world? +You cannot possibly succeed +The given cannot be improved +On this the seers are agreed + +At times you find you're out in front +At other times you fall behind + +Sometimes you're all commotion +But afterwards you must unwind + +When all around is turmoil +Just stay with the serene +You are the quiet center +Of the ever changing scene + +Can you see things as they are +And let them be all on their own? +Remain in pure awareness +You never need to stray from home + +## 30 + +There is an ancient way to lead +That just allows and does not force +For what goes out will come around +And violence will lead to wars + +The one who sees completes a task +And stops when it is done +Seeing all is on its own +And not controlled by anyone + +The seer sees that all is well +And does not need to please +Just gives acceptance everywhere +Puts everyone at ease + +## 31 + +Weapons lead to violence +Which everyone despises +Avoid them altogether +Allow no compromises + +If use of weapons has to be +When enemies just leave no choice +Use them but reluctantly +In victory do not rejoice + +Ascendancy brings sorrow +And triumph doesn't carry pleasure +It severs you from wholeness +And robs you of your real treasure + +Victory is like a funeral +Where loss of life must make you sad +For putting other people down +Never ought to make you glad + +## 32 + +Awareness is not limited +It's like an uncarved block of wood +With infinite potential +Beyond all usefulness for good + +If leaders could stay centered +In awareness pure and plain +This world would be as nourishing +As nature's gentle rain + +Everyone would be at peace +And always living in the whole +Opposition and division +Could never take their toll + +## 33 + +It may be said that you are wise +To see yourself as others do +But you are wiser still to see +From your own central point of view + +Then you see you have it all +The riches that are always here +Belong to you completely +Because your vision is so clear + +## 34 + +The empty center's everywhere +It flows both left and right +It brings to pass ten thousand things +And yet it never leaves your sight + +It welcomes everything around +On nothing does it make a claim +It's in the heart of each and all +This ultimate without a name + +Some can see that it is great +And some will say that it's obscure +It is your real identity +Simplicity that will endure + +## 35 + +Totality will be with you +If you can see the simple presence +Although there's danger all around +You give complete acceptance + +Good music, food and company +Are welcome when you're traveling +The inner truth seems tasteless +Yet it produces everything + +You look and you see nothing +You listen and hear silence +Its use is inexhaustible +It's ever worthy of reliance + +## 36 + +You cannot be diminished +Unless you've been inflated +You cannot be defeated +Unless you've been elated + +You cannot be belittled +Unless you've been esteemed +Unless you're wholly missing +You cannot be redeemed + +The soft and slow can overcome +The rigid and the hard and fast +Just see your inner emptiness +For nothing else is made to last + +## 37 + +Only see you're doing nothing +Yet not a thing is left undone +For all things happen on their own +In you who are the all in one + +If leaders could be centered +All ten thousand things would thrive +By seeing what is natural +All creation comes alive + +Everyone would be content +With living simply every day +Desires would be moderate +And peace would be the only way + +## 38 + +You needn't search for power +You already have it all +To seek outside your empty core +Is looking for a fall + +The seer doesn't do a thing +But sees that all is finished +Foolish people run about +And leave totality diminished + +Goodness must be doing +And justice never is complete +Propriety can't satisfy +Obedience is forced defeat + +When totality is lost +Goodness comes to take its place +Followed by propriety +Bewilderment and end of grace + +The seer sees periphery +But also sees the open core +And thus the seer sees the whole +And dwells therein forevermore + +## 39 + +If you stay with clear awareness +The sky is open, pure and spacious +The earth is firm and friendly too +Activity is efficacious + +But depart from clarity +The purest sky is torn apart +The earth is so divided +Felicity must flee your heart + +The seer knows humility +Doesn't argue or cajole +Doesn't discard anything +Or mutilate the whole + +The seer doesn't show at all +Doesn't sparkle like a jewel +The seer's vast immensity +Is truly less than minuscule + +## 40 + +All is born of emptiness +Manifests and has its day +Then yields and surrenders +Returns and dies away +Commentary + +## 41 + +When seers see their nothingness +They never let it out of sight +But others see it now and then +And miss out on its true delight + +Still others only laugh it off +And look at it with ridicule +It wouldn't be the real truth +If it weren't laughed at by the fool + +The brightest way seems darkness +Just going on seems like retreat +The simple way seems difficult +Capacity seems like defeat + +Clarity can seem obscure +And love seem not to care +Totality seems not enough +And truth can seem to err + +Awareness doesn't have a name +To all appearances is null +Yet it produces everything +And so this empty place is full + +## 42 + +Awareness comes from nothingness +So all can see it's plainly one +Contains all opposition +Ten thousand things are now begun + +All these things embrace the void +And face the manifest +Achieving thus true harmony +They find existence truly blessed + +No one wants to be considered +Empty and alone +Yet that's exactly what the seers +Say they have been shown + +And violence is not the way +I give you this instruction +Those who live by violence +Will bring about their own destruction + +## 43 + +Overcome by yielding +The weak can overcome the strong +For only absence can provide +The place where everything belongs + +And thus it is that I can see +The worthiness of not contending +Yet few will ever comprehend +The potency of bending + +## 44 + +Which of these means more to you +Integrity or reputation? +Are gain and loss not equally +Responsible for limitation? + +Everything that you possess +Is surely transitory +Just be pleased with emptiness +And witness inner bliss and glory + +You know that your are always safe +If only you can be contented +With awareness as capacity +And with all that is presented + +## 45 + +Wholeness seems like imperfection +Yet its usefulness is sure +Fullness seems quite empty +But it is certain to endure + +True straightness can seem twisted +True wisdom does not seem to know +Great eloquence seems halting +Great darkness seems to be aglow + +Can you see that emptiness +Contains all oppositions? +Like hot and cold and fast and slow? +All differences and all conditions? + +## 46 + +When the absolute is cherished +Horses graze on the open green +When the absolute is lost +Only steeds of war are seen + +No calamity exceeds desire +And always wanting more +Can you not see you have enough +And live in plenitude galore? + +## 47 + +No need to go outside a door +To see totality +Or look out of a window +For seeing what will always be + +Going out you go astray +At home and center all is one +The seer doesn't have to do +To see that everything is done + +## 48 + +In going after learning +Something's added every day +For resting in the ultimate +Everything must drop away + +Day by day do less and less +Until nothingness is seen +All occurs quite on its own +A doer need not intervene + +Allow all things to run their course +If you want to be proficient +Make a fuss and bother +And existence will be insufficient + +## 49 + +The seer doesn't own a thought +For thoughts do not reside within +Thoughts concern ten thousand things +And that's the way it's always been + +The seer doesn't rush to judge +And treats all people well +Considers no one bad or good +Attracts but never does repel + +The seer trusts things as they are +And takes all people at their word +Giving trust to everyone +Knows faithfulness will be returned + +The seer turns your view around +So you can never be beguiled +And gives you back all that you lost +The vision of a little child + +## 50 + +Between the time when they are born +And the time that they will die +Three in ten will follow life +Three others only will deny + +Three others are so casual +They live as though they're passing through +But one remains who clearly sees +There's not a single thing to do + +Can you be like the one who sees +The world emerging on its own? +What's needed for each moment +Arises from the great unknown + +This one doesn't have a fear +Of weaponry or wild beast +These enemies can't harm the one +Whose separate self is long deceased + +## 51 + +Everything arises +From this total emptiness +Is nourished and completed +And finds creation blessed + +All things arise from nothingness +Are cared for by existence +Which freely gives what is required +For bountiful subsistence + +Existence does not make a claim +On what it has created +It nourishes and serves and leads +Is honored and appreciated + +## 52 + +All things emerge from nullity +The only derivation +Of everything that manifests +The source of all creation + +Stay in touch with origin +There's nothing that you need deny +Seeing your totality +You will not fear to die + +Do not be in haste to speak +And always guard the senses +You will find your heart at peace +And in the place where all commences + +See the subtle and the clear +It is the empty source of light +There is no danger in this place +That is forever in plain sight + +## 53 + +This way is wide and easy +Yet people love to stray +They love to take the sidetracks +And wander from the way + +When the few are rich and wealthy +Living way above their needs +The granaries are empty +And the fields are full of weeds + +When rulers spend on weapons +And implements of war +It's a never ending circle +Of ever wanting more + +When the rich have all abundance +What remains must surely dwindle +Having more than you can use +Is thievery and fraud and swindle + +## 54 + +Hold fast to this awareness +Seeing that it is your root +It will not ever slip away +This ever present absolute + +It cannot be uprooted +It's always held in veneration +Discovered very close at hand +In every generation + +Allow its presence in your life +Awareness real and profound +Allow it in the family +Its blessings will abound + +And if you care to share it +With neighbor and with friend +Its potency will multiply +With benefits that never end + +You ask me how I know it's true +It isn't something I mistook +Well nothing is more obvious +The only thing I do is look + +## 55 + +One who sees full emptiness +Is like a child just born +With muscles weak and bones so soft +Yet with a grip that's strong + +The newborn hasn't been fulfilled +Its nature is pure vacancy +Nullity and nothingness +And potent spontaneity + +It can scream and cry all day +And yet it never does get hoarse +It only does what naturally +Emerges from the inner source + +To see this inner nature +Is seeing in a way that's bold +Into the only place there is +That cannot possibly grow old + +## 56 + +Those who know don't like to say +Those who say don't know +Close the mouth and guard the senses +You'll see more than what's on show + +Untie tangles, dim the glare +Dull the sharp and join the dust +Abide in primal unity +And then do what you must + +You cannot hold it or let go +It can't be blamed or praised +In all-embracing oneness +Be astonished and amazed + +## 57 + +To truly lead with fairness +You must put aside control +Abandon imposition +Make spontaneity your goal + +The more you try to run their lives +With rules and prohibition +The poorer people's lives become +The more they live in opposition + +The more you deal with others +With cunning and with guile +The more that other people say +Our lives are not worthwhile + +The more you hoard your treasures +The more you're giving hope to thieves +The more you sharpen weapons +The more the country grieves + +Do nothing and see all is done +And everyone is true +Drop the rules and people owe +Prosperity to you + +Just let go of all desire +And people will return +To natural and simple ways +To life without concern + +## 58 + +Let your lead be gentle +And people will be satisfied +Let it be severe and harsh +And be rejected and defied + +Happiness may reign today +But who knows what tomorrow holds? +Sadness too will have its time +As all ten thousand things unfold + +The seer's sight is sharp and pointed +But it does not cut or pierce +The seer sees and shows the truth +This gentle way is never fierce + +## 59 + +To serve and care for others +With restraint and moderation +Stay centered in the here and now +And free of limitation + +If you keep returning +To this your central root +You will possess forever +Awareness undilute + +## 60 + +It's best to lead a large domain +As you would cook a little fish +Don't poke and prod or you are bound +To spoil the country and the dish + +Just stay open and aware +And evil cannot get a hold +Cannot find a home in you +Even evil's not that bold + +At center you harm no one +And no one's able to harm you +This kind of reciprocity +Creates the world anew + +## 61 + +A great domain is like the sea +Whose power comes from lying low +And due to this humility +Its greatness has to grow + +A small domain can lie low too +Acknowledging its low location +Surrender and humility +Give rise to exaltation + +If you lie low you too arise +To uppermost position +For everyone's attracted to +One who doesn't fear submission + +## 62 + +I'm at the center and the source +Of all ten thousand things +Where I receive the benefits +That pure awareness brings + +These benefits belong to all +To good and bad the same +For nature gives you what you need +With no regard for praise or blame + +Words and deeds of excellence +May bring you honor and acclaim +But nature values each alike +And is indifferent to fame + +When new leaders are installed +Don't send gifts or lofty praise +Stay centered in the unity +Provided by the inward gaze + +Why should you esteem the void? +It does away with imperfection +Those who seek are bound to find +It disappears on close inspection + +## 63 + +Begin with the easy +And do without doing +There isn't a thing +That you should be pursuing + +Begin with the simple +There's no need attacking +Your greatness will lie +In all that you're lacking + +Tackle problems when they're small +And still subject to solution +The largest problem is resolved +By simple deeds of diminution + +Can you center every day +And see all the seers see +Empty here and brimming there +A marvelous asymmetry? + +## 64 + +To keep the peace is easy +Begin before a problem stirs +Handle things before they happen +And trouble before it occurs + +Be calm and conquer worries +Before they can proceed +The very largest tree begins +As just a tiny seed + +It takes a single step to start +A journey of a thousand miles +And just one brick to start to build +The grandest domiciles + +Let things happen as they will +You do not need to interfere +See that you do nothing +That causes discord to appear + +## 65 + +Those of old who found the way +Could see their inner core +They saw that it was hidden +And didn't bring it to the fore + +When people think they know the truth +They want all others to concur +But they are happy and content +When they remain unsure + +Don't try to lead with cleverness +Prefer instead simplicity +It's obvious that truth must lie +In nothingness and clarity + +## 66 + +The sea is large and mighty +Because it lies below +The streams and rivers of the world +Thus capturing their flow + +If you want to have your fill +Then you must see that you are hollow +If you want to lead the way +Then you must be prepared to follow + +When you lead you are above +But no one feels put down +And when you must be out in front +Know that no one's losing ground + +When you see that you're not built +For facing up or confrontation +No one can contend with you +Who are the ultimate negation + +## 67 + +On seeing inner nothingness +You see it's great beyond compare +Though many find it curious +That you would even care + +I have three treasures that I keep +The first is friendliness +The second is to stay behind +The third is wanting less + +For if you're friendly and you care +You can dare to do what's needed +And if you always stay behind +The lead will surely be conceded + +And if you're satisfied with less +You have everything to give +Keep these treasures in your heart +Then you will truly live + +## 68 + +Violence is not the way +The greatest warriors know +That treachery and anger +Will not defeat the foe + +You only win if you don't strive +And gain if you do not oppose +This is the certain victory +Simplicity bestows + +## 69 + +In conflict just be cautious +And always on your guard +Rather than advance an inch +Instead retreat a yard + +In this way you go along +And make your gain without advancing +You deal with the rival +As your position is enhancing + +Remember that it's possible +Your rival just may yield +So don't advance on such a foe +Let differences be healed + +## 70 + +Embarrassingly obvious +And always near at hand +It is this nothingness you see +But never understand + +Though truth within is ageless +Very few will ever see +My face is what I give to you +The jewel within is me + +## 71 + +You cannot understand the truth +Claim to know and show you're ill +Just see that you are missing +That truth is bare and nil + +Unknowing is the final cure +When knowledge takes its heavy toll +Pure presence is totality +And absence makes you whole + +## 72 + +When the sense of wonder goes +Disaster is not far behind +Don't intrude in people's lives +And they won't think you are unkind + +The seer sees both this and that +But doesn't ask for praise +Finding this immensity +With just a simple inward gaze + +## 73 + +The way is very easy +Its purposes prevail +When all is done in silence +Intention cannot fail + +Its net is vast and over all +With meshes large and wide +Yet it loses nothing +Holds everything inside + +## 74 + +You truly are what isn't born +You need not be afraid to die +Just live your life and know that you +Will never lose the inner eye + +You can't control what is to be +In using tools you don't command +Unlike the master carpenter +You're bound to cut your hand + +## 75 + +The people starve when taxes take +The bulk of what they earn +When leaders interfere too much +They get rebellion in return + +The people do not fear to die +If leaders rob them of their lives +But taking no more than you need +You see that everybody thrives + +## 76 + +We're soft and supple when we're born +Hard and rigid when we die +Living plants are pliable +Deadwood is brittle and dry + +This way life befriends the weak +But death draws near the strong +The hard and stiff are bound to break +The supple bends and goes along + +## 77 + +Nature's way of doing +Is like the bending of a bow +For pulling on a bow you see +The low go high and the high go low + +Nature takes from those who have +And gives to those who lack +When nature takes from human beings +They fight to get it back + +But if you see you have it all +You're not afraid to give away +Expecting nothing in return +It all comes back with no delay + +## 78 + +Water is so very soft +It overcomes because it yields +By wearing down the hardest rock +It shows what power weakness wields + +The weak can overcome the strong +The soft can overcome the hard +Everybody knows it's true +So hold the low in high regard + +The seer sees serenity +Where others see affliction +The seer sees the inner truth +Where others only see a fiction + +## 79 + +There's little good in making peace +If resentment lingers +You'll never see an end to blame +If everyone is pointing fingers + +It's better to be pointing +At the peaceful and creative place +Where you see naught but emptiness +And others say they see your face + +## 80 + +If a land is small and the people few +And the rulers recognize what's needed +The simple ways of courtesy +Are happily and gladly heeded + +For people need so little +To live their lives aright +Are food and home and clothing +Not enough for pure delight? + +Though nearby lands are close enough +To hear their roosters crow +The people will be so content +That not a one will want to go + +## 81 + +Truth need not be eloquent +And eloquence may not be true +There is no need to argue +When truth is shining through + +Those who see may not be learned +The learned may not see +To see you merely need to look +In pure simplicity + +The seer doesn't have to hoard +And does not fear to lose +The more you give, the more you have +So why should you refuse? + +Why not give it all away? +For emptiness brings benefit +And as the seers always say +The more you give, the more you get diff --git a/source/content/tao/2002-david-hinton.md b/source/content/tao/2002-david-hinton.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1ac493 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2002-david-hinton.md @@ -0,0 +1,1150 @@ +Translator: David Hinton +Year: 2002 +Source: [archive.org](http://web.archive.org/web/20110106072526/http://home.pages.at/onkellotus/TTK/English_Hinton_TTK.html) +Code: dh + +## 1 + +A Way become Way isn't the perennial Way. +A name become name isn't the perennial name: +the named is mother to the ten thousand things, +but the unnamed is origin to all heaven and earth. +In perennial nonbeing you see mystery, and in perennial being you see appearance. +Though the two are one and the same, once they arise, they differ in name. +One and the same they're called dark-enigma, +dark-enigma deep within dark-enigma, +gateway of all mystery. + +## 2 + +All beneath heaven knows beauty is beauty only because there's ugliness, and knows good is good only because there's evil. +Being and nonbeing give birth to one another, +difficult and easy complete one another, +long and short measure one another, +high and low fill one another, +music and noise harmonize one another, +before and after follow one another: +that's why a sage abides in the realm of nothing's own doing, +living out that wordless teaching. +The ten thousand things arise without beginnings there, +abide without waiting there, +come to perfection without dwelling there. +Without dwelling there: that's the one way you'll never lose it. + +## 3 + +Never bestow honors and people won't quarrel. +Never prize rare treasures and people won't steal. +Never flaunt alluring things and people won't be confused. +This is how a sage governs. +Fill bellies and empty minds, +strengthen bones and weaken ambition, +always keep the people from knowing and wanting, +then those who know are those who never presume to act. +If you're nothing doing what you do all things will be governed well. + +## 4 + +Way is empty. +Use it: it never needs filling. +An abyss so deep +it seems ancestor to the ten thousand things, +it blunts edges, loosens tangles, softens glare, mingles dust. +A clarity so clear it only seems real, +whose child could it be? +Apparently it precedes gods and creators. + +## 5 + +Heaven and earth are Inhumane: +they use the ten thousand things like straw dogs. +And the sage too is Inhumane: +he uses the hundred-fold people like straw dogs. +Is all heaven and earth +really so much like a bellows-chamber? +It's empty but never contracts, +just keeps bringing forth more and more. +Words go on failing and failing, nothing like abiding in its midst. + +## 6 + +The valley spirit never dies. +It's called dark female-enigma, +and the gateway of dark female-enigma +is called the root of heaven and earth, +gossamer so unceasing it seems real. +Use it: it's effortless. + +## 7 + +Heaven goes on forever. +Earth endures forever. +There's a reason heaven and earth go on enduring forever: +their life isn't their own so their life goes on forever. +Hence, in putting himself last the sage puts himself first, and in giving himself up he preserves himself. +If you aren't free of yourself +how will you ever become yourself? + +## 8 + +Lofty nobility is like water. +Water's nobility is to enrich the ten thousand things +and yet never strive: +it just settles through places people everywhere loathe. +Therefore, it's nearly Way. +Dwelling's nobility is earth, +mind's nobility is empty depth, +giving's nobility is Humanity, +word's nobility is sincerity, +government's nobility is accord, +endeavor's nobility is ability, +action's nobility is timing. +When you never strive you never go wrong. + +## 9 + +Forcing it fuller and fuller can't compare to just enough, +and honed sharper and sharper means it won't keep for long. +Once it's full of jade and gold your house will never be safe. +Proud of wealth and renown you bring on your own ruin. +Just do what you do, and then leave: such is the Way of heaven. + +## 10 + +Can you let your spirit embrace primal unity without drifting away? +Can you focus ch'i into such softness you're a newborn again? +Can you polish the dark-enigma mirror to a clarity beyond stain? +Can you make loving the people and ruling the nation nothing's own doing? +Can you be female opening and closing heaven's gate? +Can you fathom earth's four distances with radiant wisdom and know nothing? +Give birth and nurture. +Give birth without possessing and foster without dominating: +this is called dark-enigma Integrity. + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes gathered at each hub: absence makes the cart work. +A storage jar fashioned out of clay: absence makes the jar work. +Doors and windows cut in a house: absence makes the house work. +Presence gives things their value, but absence makes them work. + +## 12 + +The five colors blind eyes. +The five tones deafen ears. +The five tastes blur tongues. +Fast horses and breathtaking hunts make minds wild and crazy. +Things rare and expensive make people lose their way. +That's why a sage tends to the belly, not the eye, always ignores that and chooses this. + +## 13 + +Honor is a contagion deep as fear, renown a calamity profound as self. +Why do I call honor a contagion deep as fear? +Honor always dwindles away, so earning it fills us with fear and losing it fills us with fear. +And why do I call renown a calamity profound as self? +We only know calamity because we have these selves. +If we didn't have selves what calamity could touch us? +When all beneath heaven is your self in renown you trust yourself to all beneath heaven, +and when all beneath heaven is your self in love you dwell throughout all beneath heaven. + +## 14 + +Looked at but never seen, it takes the name invisible. +Listened to but never heard, it takes the name ethereal. +Held tight but never felt, it takes the name gossamer. +You can't unravel these three +blurred so utterly they've become one, +rising without radiance and setting without darkness, +braided together beyond name, woven back always and forever into nothing: +this is called formless form or nothing's image, called spectral confusion, +something you meet without seeing a front and follow without seeing a back. +Abiding in the ancient Way +to master what has now come to be +and fathom its ancient source: +this is called thread of the Way. + +## 15 + +Ancient masters of Way +all subtle mystery and dark-enigma vision: +they were deep beyond knowing, +so deep beyond knowing +we can only describe their appearance: +perfectly cautious, as if crossing winter streams, +and perfectly watchful, as if neighbors threatened; +perfectly reserved, as if guests, +perfectly expansive, as if ice melting away, +and perfectly simple, as if uncarved wood; +perfectly empty, as if open valleys, +and perfectly shadowy, as if murky water. +Who's murky enough to settle slowly into pure clarity, +and who still enough to awaken slowly into life? +If you nurture this Way, you never crave fullness. +Never crave fullness +and you'll wear away into completion. + +## 16 + +Inhabit the furthest peripheries of emptiness and abide in the tranquil center. +There the ten thousand things arise, and in them I watch the return: +all things on and ever on each returning to its root. +Returning to the root is called tranquility, +tranquility is called returning to the inevitable unfolding of things, +returning to the inevitable unfolding of things is called constancy, +and to understand constancy is called enlightenment. +Without understanding constancy, you stumble deceived. +But understanding constancy, you're all-embracing, +all-embracing and therefore impartial, +impartial and therefore imperial, +imperial and therefore heaven, +heaven and therefore Way, +Way and therefore enduring: +self gone, free of danger. + +## 17 + +The loftiest ruler is barely known among those below. +Next comes a ruler people love and praise. +After that, one they fear, and then one they despise. +If you don't stand sincere by your words +how sincere can the people be? +Take great care over words, treasure them, +and when the hundred-fold people see +your work succeed in all they do +they'll say it's just occurrence appearing of itself. + +## 18 + +When the great Way is abandoned we're faced with Humanity and Duty. +When clever wisdom appears we're faced with duplicity. +When familial harmony ends we're faced with obedience and kindness. +And when chaos engulfs the nation we're faced with trustworthy ministers. + +## 19 + +If you give up sagehood and abandon wisdom people will profit a hundred times over. +If you give up Humanity and abandon Duty people will return to obedience and kindness. +If you give up ingenuity and abandon profit bandits and thieves will roam no more. +But these three +are mere refinements, nowhere near enough. +They depend on something more: +observe origin's weave, +embrace uncarved simplicity, +self nearly forgotten, +desires rare. + +## 20 + +If you give up learning, troubles end. +How much difference is there between yes and no? +And is there a difference between lovely and ugly? +If we can't stop fearing +those things people fear, +it's pure confusion, never-ending confusion. +People all radiate such joy, +happily offering a sacrificial ox +or climbing a tower in spring. +But I go nowhere and reveal nothing, +like a newborn child who has yet to smile, +aimless and worn out +as if the way home were lost. +People all have enough and more. +But I'm abandoned and destitute, +an absolute simpleton, this mind of mine so utterly +muddled and blank. +Others are bright and clear: +I'm dark and murky. +Others are confident and effective: +I'm pensive and withdrawn, +uneasy as boundless seas +or perennial mountain winds. +People all have a purpose in life, +but I'm inept, thoroughly useless and backward. +I'll never be like other people: +I keep to the nurturing mother. + +## 21 + +The nature of great Integrity is to follow Way absolutely. +Becoming things, Way appears vague and hazy. +All hazy and impossibly vague it harbors the mind's images. +All vague and impossibly hazy it harbors the world's things. +All hidden and impossibly dark it harbors the subtle essence, +and being an essence so real it harbors the sincerity of facts. +Never, not since the beginning - its renown has never been far off. +Through it we witness all origins. +And how can we ever know the form of all origins? +Through this. + +## 22 + +In yielding is completion. +In bent is straight. +In hollow is full. +In exhaustion is renewal. +In little is contentment. +In much is confusion. +This is how a sage embraces primal unity as the measure of all beneath heaven. +Give up self-reflection +and you're soon enlightened. +Give up self-definition +and you're soon apparent. +Give up self-promotion +and you're soon proverbial. +Give up self-esteem +and you're soon perennial. +Simply give up contention +and soon nothing in all beneath heaven contends with you. +It was hardly empty talk +when the ancients declared +In yielding is completion. +Once you perfect completion +you've returned home to it all. + +## 23 + +Keeping words spare: occurrence appearing of itself. +Wild winds never last all morning +and fierce rains never last all day. +Who conjures such things if not heaven and earth, +and if heaven and earth can't make things last, +why should we humans try? +That's why masters devote themselves to Way. +To master Way is to become Way, +to master gain is to become gain, +to master loss is to become loss. +And whatever becomes Way, Way welcomes joyfully, +whatever becomes gain, gain welcomes joyfully, +whatever becomes loss, loss welcomes joyfully. +If you don't stand sincere by your words how sincere can the people be? + +## 24 + +Stretch onto tiptoes and you never stand firm. +Hurry long strides and you never travel far. +Keep up self-reflection +and you'll never be enlightened. +Keep up self-definition +and you'll never be apparent. +Keep up self-promotion +and you'll never be proverbial. +Keep up self-esteem +and you'll never be perennial. +Travelers of the Way call such striving too much food and useless baggage. +Things may not all despise such striving, but a master of the Way stays clear of it. + +## 25 + +There was something all murky shadow, born before heaven and earth: +o such utter silence, utter emptiness. +Isolate and changeless, +it moves everywhere without fail: +picture the mother of all beneath heaven. +I don't know its name. +I'll call it Way, +and if I must name it, name it Vast. +Vast means it's passing beyond, +passing beyond means it's gone far away, +and gone far away means it's come back. +Because Way is vast +heaven is vast, +earth is vast, +and the true emperor too is vast. +In this realm, there are four vast things, +and the true emperor is one of them. +Human abides by earth. +Earth abides by heaven. +Heaven abides by Way. +Way abides by occurrence appearing of itself. + +## 26 + +Heavy is the root of light, +and tranquil the ruler of reckless. +A sage traveling all day is never far from the supplies in his cart, and however spectacular the views he remains calm and composed. +How can a lord having ten thousand chariots act lightly in governing all beneath heaven? +Act lightly and you lose your source-root. +Act recklessly and you lose your rule. + +## 27 + +Perfect travels leave no tracks. +Perfect words leave no doubts. +Perfect accounts need no counting. +Perfect gates close without locks and so cannot be opened. +Perfect knots bind without rope and so cannot be loosened. +A sage is always perfect in rescuing people and so abandons no one, +always perfect in rescuing things and so abandons nothing. +This is called the bequest of enlightenment, +so one who possesses this perfection is a teacher of those who don't, +and those who don't possess it are the resource of one who does. +Without honoring the teacher +and loving the resource, +no amount of wisdom can prevent vast confusion. +This is called the essential mystery. + +## 28 + +Knowing the masculine +and nurturing the feminine +you become the river of all beneath heaven. +River of all beneath heaven +you abide by perennial Integrity +and so return to infancy. +Knowing the white +and nurturing the black +you become the pattern of all beneath heaven. +Pattern of all beneath heaven +you abide by perennial Integrity +and so return to the boundless. +Knowing splendor +and nurturing ruin +you become the valley of all beneath heaven. +Valley of all beneath heaven +you rest content in perennial Integrity +and so return to the simplicity of uncarved wood. +When uncarved wood is split apart +it becomes mere implements. +But when a sage is employed +he becomes a true minister, +for the great governing blade carves nothing. + +## 29 + +Longing to take hold of all beneath heaven and improve it... +I've seen such dreams invariably fail. +All beneath heaven is a sacred vessel, +something beyond all improvement. +Try to improve it and you ruin it. +Try to hold it and you lose it. +For things sometimes lead and sometimes follow, +sometimes sigh and sometimes storm, +sometimes strengthen and sometimes weaken, +sometimes kill and sometimes die. +And so the sage steers clear of extremes, clear of extravagance, clear of exaltation. + +## 30 + +If you use the Way to help a ruler of people +you never use weapons to coerce all beneath heaven. +Such things always turn against you: +fields where soldiers camp turn to thorn and bramble, and vast armies on the march leave years of misery behind. +The noble prevail if they must, then stop: they never press on to coerce the world. +Prevail, but never presume. +Prevail, but never boast. +Prevail, but never exult. +Prevail, but never when there's another way. +This is to prevail without coercing. +Things grown strong soon grow old. +This is called losing the Way: Lose the Way and you die young. + +## 31 + +Auspicious weapons are the tools of misfortune. +Things may not all despise such tools, +but a master of the Way stays clear of them. +The noble-minded treasure the left when home and the right when taking up weapons of war. +Weapons are tools of misfortune, +not tools of the noble-minded. +When there's no other way, +they take up weapons with tranquil calm, +finding no glory in victory. +To find glory in victory is to savor killing people, +and if you savor killing people you'll never guide all beneath heaven. +We honor the left in celebrations +and honor the right in lamentations, +so captains stand on the left +and generals on the right. +But use them both as if conducting a funeral: +when so many people are being killed +it should be done with tears and mourning. +And victory too should be conducted like a funeral. + +## 32 + +Way is perennially nameless, +an uncarved simplicity. +Though small, +it's subject to nothing in all beneath heaven. +But when lords or emperors foster it, +the ten thousand things gladly become their guests, +heaven mingling with earth sends down sweet dew, +and the people free of mandates share justice among themselves. +When a governing blade begins carving it up, names arise. +Once names arise, +know that it's time to stop. +Knowing when to stop, you can avoid danger. +Way flowing through all beneath heaven: +it's like valley streams flowing into rivers and seas. + +## 33 + +To know people is wisdom, +but to know yourself is enlightenment. +To master people takes force, +but to master yourself takes strength. +To know contentment is wealth, and to live with strength resolve. +To never leave whatever you are is to abide, +and to die without getting lost - that is to live on and on. + +## 34 + +Way is vast, a flood +so utterly vast it's flowing everywhere. +The ten thousand things depend on it: +giving them life and never leaving them it performs wonders but remains nameless. +Feeding and clothing the ten thousand things +without ruling over them, +perennially that free of desire, +it's small in name. +And being what the ten thousand things return to +without ruling over them, +it's vast in name. +It never makes itself vast and so becomes utterly vast. + +## 35 + +Holding to the great image all beneath heaven sets out: +sets out free of risk, peace tranquil and vast. +Music and savory food +entice travelers to stop, +but the Way uttered forth +isn't even the thinnest of bland flavors. +Look at it: not enough to see. +Listen to it: not enough to hear. +Use it: not enough to use up. + +## 36 + +To gather +you must scatter. +To weaken +you must strengthen. +To abandon +you must foster. +To take +you must give. +This is called dusky enlightenment. +Soft and weak overcome hard and strong. +Fish should be kept in their watery depths: +a nation's honed instruments of power should be kept well-hidden from the people. + +## 37 + +Way is perennially doing nothing so there's nothing it doesn't do. +When lords and emperors abide by this +the ten thousand things follow change of themselves. +Desire drives change, +but I've stilled it with uncarved nameless simplicity. +Uncarved nameless simplicity +is the perfect absence of desire, +and the absence of desire means repose: +all beneath heaven at rest of itself. + +## 38 + +High Integrity never has Integrity and so is indeed Integrity. +Low Integrity never loses Integrity and so is not at all Integrity. +High Integrity does nothing +and has no motives. +Low Integrity does something +and has sure motives. +High Humanity does something +and has no motives. +High Duty does something +and has sure motives. +High Ritual does something, +and when no one follows along +it rolls up its sleeves +and forces them into line. +Lose Way, and Integrity appears. +Lose Integrity, and Humanity appears. +Lose Humanity, and Duty appears. +Lose Duty, and Ritual appears. +Ritual is the thinning away of loyalty and sincerity, the beginning of chaos, +and prophecy is the flowery semblance of Way, the beginning of folly. +This is why a great elder +inhabits thick rather than thin, +fruitful substance rather than flowery semblance, +always ignores that and chooses this. + +## 39 + +Ancients who realized primal unity: +Heaven realized primal unity +and so came to clarity. +Earth realized primal unity +and so came to tranquility. +Gods realized primal unity +and so came to spirit. +Valleys realized primal unity +and so came to fullness. +The ten thousand things realized primal unity +and so came to life. +Lords and emperors realized primal unity +and so came to rectify all beneath heaven. +It's their very existence: +without clarity heaven cracks open, +without tranquility earth bursts forth, +without spirit gods cease, +without fullness valleys run dry, +without life the ten thousand things perish, +without high nobility lords and emperors stumble and fall. +Nobility is rooted in humility, +and high founded on low. +This is why true lords and emperors call themselves +orphaned, destitute, ill-fated. +Isn't this rooted in humility? +Isn't it counting the world's praise as no praise, +refusing to tinkle like delicate jade bells or clatter like ponderous stone chimes? + +## 40 + +Return is the movement of Way, and yielding the method of Way. +All beneath heaven, the ten thousand things: it's all born of being, and being is born of nonbeing. + +## 41 + +When the lofty hear of Way +they devote themselves. +When the common hear of Way +they wonder if it's real or not. +And when the lowly hear of Way +they laugh out loud. +Without that laughter, it wouldn't be Way. +Hence the abiding proverbs: +Luminous Way seems dark. +Advancing Way seems retreating. +Formless Way seems manifold. +High Integrity seems low-lying. +Great whiteness seems tarnished. +Abounding Integrity seems lacking. +Abiding Integrity seems missing. +True essence seems protean. +The great square has no corners, +and the great implement completes nothing. +The great voice sounds faint, +and the great image has no shape. +Way remains hidden and nameless, +but it alone nourishes and brings to completion. + +## 42 + +Way gave birth to one, +and one gave birth to two. +Two gave birth to three, +and three gave birth to the ten thousand things. +Then the ten thousand things shouldered yin and embraced yang, +blending ch'i to establish harmony. +People all hate scraping by orphaned, destitute, ill-fated, but true dukes and emperors call themselves just that. +Some things gain by loss, and some lose by gain. +I only teach +what the people teach: +Tyranny and force never come to a natural end. +I've taken the people as my schoolmaster. + +## 43 + +The weakest in all beneath heaven gallops through the strongest, and vacant absence slips inside solid presence. +I know by this the value of nothing's own doing. +The teaching without words, the value of nothing's own doing: few indeed master such things. + +## 44 + +Name or self: which is precious? +Self or wealth: which is treasure? +Gain or loss: which is affliction? +Indulge love and the cost is dear. +Keep treasures and the loss is lavish. +Knowing contentment you avoid tarnish, and knowing when to stop you avoid danger. +Try it and your life will last and last. + +## 45 + +Great perfection seems flawed, but its usefulness never falters. +Great fullness seems empty, but its usefulness never runs dry. +Great rectitude seems bent low, +great skill seems clumsy, +great eloquence seems quiet. +Bustling around may overcome cold, but tranquility overcomes heat. +Master lucid tranquility and you'll govern all beneath heaven. + +## 46 + +When all beneath heaven abides in Way, fast horses are kept to work the fields. +When all beneath heaven forgets Way, war horses are bred among the fertility altars. +What calamity is greater than no contentment, and what flaw greater than the passion for gain? +The contentment of fathoming contentment - there lies the contentment that endures. + +## 47 + +You can know all beneath heaven though you never step out the door, +and you can see the Way of heaven though you never look out the window. +The further you explore, the less you know. +So it is that a sage knows by going nowhere, names by seeing nothing, perfects by doing nothing. + +## 48 + +To work at learning brings more each day. +To work at Way brings less each day, +less and still less +until you're doing nothing yourself. +And when you're doing nothing yourself, there's nothing you don't do. +To grasp all beneath heaven, leave it alone. +Leave it alone, that's all, +and nothing in all beneath heaven will elude you. + +## 49 + +A sage's mind is never his own: +he makes the hundred-fold people's mind his mind. +I treat the noble with nobility +and the ignoble too: +such is the nobility of Integrity. +I treat the sincere with sincerity +and the insincere too: +such is the sincerity of Integrity. +A sage dwells within all beneath heaven +at ease, mind mingled through it all. +The hundred-fold people devote their eyes and ears, +but a sage inhabits it all like a child. + +## 50 + +People born into life enter death. +Constant companion in life +and in death, +this body is the kill-site animating their lives. +And isn't that because +they think life is the fullness of life? +I've heard those who encompass the whole of life +could walk on and on without meeting rhinoceros or tiger, +could charge into armies without feeling shield or sword. +A rhinoceros would find nowhere to gore them, +a tiger nowhere to claw them, +a sword nowhere to slice them. +And isn't that because +for them there's no kill-site? + +## 51 + +Way gives birth to them and Integrity nurtures them. +Matter shapes them and conditions complete them. +That's why the ten thousand things always honor Way and treasure Integrity. +Honoring Way and treasuring Integrity +isn't obedience to command, +it's occurrence perennially appearing of itself. +Way gives birth to them and Integrity nurtures them: +it fosters and sustains them, harbors and succors them, nourishes and shelters them. +Giving birth without possessing, +animating without subjecting, +fostering without dominating: +this is called dark-enigma Integrity. + +## 52 + +There's a source all beneath heaven shares: call it the mother of all beneath heaven. +Once you fathom the mother you understand the child, and once you understand the child you abide in the mother, +self gone, free of danger. +If you block the senses and close the mind, you never struggle. +If you open the senses and expand your endeavors, nothing can save you. +Seeing the small is called enlightenment, and abiding in the gentle strength. +Wielding radiance return to enlightenment, then you're beyond all harm. +This is the cultivation of constancy. + +## 53 + +Understanding sparse and sparser still I travel the great Way, nothing to fear unless I stray. +The great Way is open and smooth, but people adore twisty paths: +Government in ruins, fields overgrown and graineries bare, +they indulge in elegant robes +and sharp swords, +lavish food and drink, +all those trappings of luxury. +It's vainglorious thievery - +not the Way, not the Way at all. + +## 54 + +Something planted so deep it's never rooted up, +something held so tight it's never stolen away: +children and grandchildren will pay it homage always. +Cultivated in yourself it makes Integrity real. +Cultivated in your family it makes Integrity plentiful. +Cultivated in your village it makes Integrity enduring. +Cultivated in your nation it makes Integrity abundant. +Cultivated in all beneath heaven it makes Integrity all-encompassing. +So look through self into self, +through family into family, +through village into village, +through nation into nation, +through all beneath heaven into all beneath heaven. +How can I know all beneath heaven as it is? +Through this. + +## 55 + +Embody Integrity's abundance and you're like a vibrant child +hornets and vipers can't bite, +savage beasts can't maul and fierce birds can't claw, +bones supple and muscles tender, but still gripping firmly. +Knowing nothing of male and female mingling +and yet aroused: +this is the utmost essence. +Wailing all day without getting hoarse: +this is the utmost harmony. +To understand harmony is called constancy, +and to understand constancy is called enlightenment. +To enhance your life is called tempting fate, +and to control ch'i with the mind is called violence. +Things grown strong soon grow old. +This is called losing the Way: Lose the Way and you die young. + +## 56 + +Those who know don't talk, and those who talk don't know. +Block the senses and close the mind, +blunt edges, loosen tangles, soften glare, mingle dust: +this is called dark-enigma union. +It can't be embraced and can't be ignored, +can't be enhanced and can't be harmed, +can't be treasured and can't be despised, +for it's the treasure of all beneath heaven. + +## 57 + +You may govern the nation through principle +and lead armies to victory through craft, +but you win all beneath heaven through indifference. +How can I know this to be so? +Through this. +The more prohibitions rule all beneath heaven the deeper poverty grows among the people. +The more shrewd leaders there are the faster dark confusion fills the nation. +The more cleverness people learn the faster strange things happen. +The faster laws and decrees are issued the more bandits and thieves appear. +Therefore a sage says: +I do nothing +and the people transform themselves. +I cherish tranquility +and the people rectify themselves. +I cultivate indifference +and the people enrich themselves. +I desire nothing +and the people return of themselves to uncarved simplicity. + +## 58 + +When government is pensive and withdrawn people are pure and simple. +When government is confident and effective people are cunning and secretive. +Prosperity springs from calamity and calamity lurks in prosperity. +Who knows where it will all end +without leaders of principle? +And principle always reverts to sinister trickery, +virtue to depraved sorcery. +People have been confused for such a long long time. +That's why a sage is sharp but never cuts, +austere but never grates, +forthright but never provokes, +bright but never dazzles. + +## 59 + +To govern people and serve heaven +there's nothing like thrift. +Thrift means submitting early, +and submitting early means storing up Integrity. +Store up Integrity and nothing is beyond you. +Once nothing is beyond you, +no one knows where it will all end. +Once no one knows where it will end, +you can nurture a nation. +And nurturing the nation's mother too +you can last and last. +This is called rooted deep and solid, +the Way of long life and enduring insight. + +## 60 + +Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. +Use Way to rule all beneath heaven and spirits never become ghosts. +When spirits don't become ghosts, ghosts do people no harm. +When ghosts do people no harm, sages do them no harm. +And once humans and ghosts do each other no harm, they return together to Integrity. + +## 61 + +A great nation flows down into +the place where all beneath heaven converges, +the female of all beneath heaven. +In its stillness, female lies perpetually low, and there perpetually conquers male. +A great nation that puts itself below a small nation takes over the small nation, +and a small nation that puts itself below a great nation gives itself over to the great nation. +Some lie low to take over, and some lie low to give over. +A great nation wanting nothing more than to unite and nurture the people and a small nation wanting nothing more than to join and serve the people: they both succeed in what they want. +Great things lie low and rest content. + +## 62 + +Way is the mystery of these ten thousand things. +It's a good person's treasure +and an evil person's refuge. +Its beautiful words are bought and sold +and its noble deeds are gifts enriching people. +It never abandons even the evil among us. +When the Son of Heaven is enthroned and the three dukes installed, parades with jade discs and stately horses can't compare to sitting still in Way's company. +Isn't it said that +the ancients exalted this Way because +in it whatever we seek we find, +and whatever seeks us we escape? +No wonder it's exalted throughout all beneath heaven. + +## 63 + +If you're nothing doing what you do, +you act without acting and savor without savoring, +you render the small vast and the few many, +use Integrity to repay hatred, +see the complexity in simplicity, +find the vast in the minute. +The complex affairs of all beneath heaven are there in simplicity, +and the vast affairs of all beneath heaven are there in the minute. +That's why a sage never bothers with vastness and so becomes utterly vast. +Easy promises breed little trust, and too much simplicity breeds too much complexity. +That's why a sage inhabits the complexity of things and so avoids all complexity. + +## 64 + +It's easy to embrace the tranquil +and easy to prevent trouble before omens appear. +It's easy for the trifling to melt away +and easy for the slight to scatter away. +Work at things before they've begun +and establish order before confusion sets in, +for a tree you can barely reach around +grows from the tiniest rootlet, +a nine-tiered tower +starts as a basket of dirt, +a thousand-mile journey +begins with a single step. +Work at things and you ruin them; cling to things and you lose them. +That's why a sage does nothing and so ruins nothing, clings to nothing and so loses nothing. +When people devote themselves to something they always ruin it on the verge of success. +Finish with the same care you took in beginning and you'll avoid ruining things. +This is why a sage desires without desire, +never longing for rare treasures, +learns without learning, +always returning to what people have passed by, +helps the ten thousand things occur of themselves by never presuming to work at them. + +## 65 + +Ancient masters of Way +never enlightened people. +They kept people simple-minded. +It's impossible to govern +once you've filled people with knowing. +Use knowing to govern +and you plunder the nation, +but use not-knowing to govern +and you enrich the nation. +Once you understand this, the pattern is clear, +and always understanding the pattern is called dark-enigma Integrity. +Dark-enigma Integrity is deep and distant, is the return of things +back into the vast harmony. + +## 66 + +Oceans and rivers become emperors of the hundred valleys +because they stay so perfectly below them. +This alone makes them emperors of the hundred valleys. +So, wanting to rule over the people a sage speaks from below them, and wanting to lead the people he follows along behind them, +then he can reign above without weighing the people down and stay ahead without leading the people to ruin. +All beneath heaven rejoices in its tireless praise of such a sage. +And because he's given up contention, +nothing in all beneath heaven contends with him. + +## 67 + +People throughout all beneath heaven say +my Tao is so vast it's like nothing at all. +But it's only vast because it's like nothing at all: +if it were like anything else +it would have long since become trifling. +There are three treasures +I hold and nurture: +The first is called compassion, +the second economy, +and the third never daring to lead all beneath heaven. +Courage comes of compassion, generosity comes of economy, +and commanding leadership comes of never daring to lead all beneath heaven. +But these days it's all courage without compassion, generosity without economy, and leading without following. +There's nothing but death in that. +To overcome, attack with compassion. +To stand firm, defend with compassion. +Whatever heaven sustains it shelters with compassion. + +## 68 + +A noble official is never warlike, +and a noble warrior is never angered. +A noble conqueror never faces an enemy, +and a noble leader stays below the people he wields. +This is called the Integrity of peacefulness, the power of wielding the people, +the fullest extent of our ancient accord with heaven. + +## 69 + +There was once a saying among those who wielded armies: +I'd much rather be a guest than a host, +much rather retreat a foot than advance an inch. +This is called marching without marching, +rolling up sleeves without baring arms, +raising swords without brandishing weapons, +entering battle without facing an enemy. +There's no greater calamity than dishonoring an enemy. +Dishonor an enemy and you'll lose those treasures of mine. +When armies face one another in battle, +it's always the tender-hearted one that prevails. + +## 70 + +My words are so simple to understand +and so easily put into practice +that no one in all beneath heaven understands them +and no one puts them into practice. +Words have their ancestral origins and actions their sovereign: +it's only because people don't understand this that they don't understand me. +And the less people understand me the more precious I become. +So it is that a sage wears sackcloth, keeping pure jade harbored deep. + +## 71 + +Knowing not-knowing is lofty. +Not knowing not-knowing is affliction. +A sage stays free of affliction. +Just recognize it as affliction and you're free of it. + +## 72 + +When the people stop fearing the fearsome something truly fearsome will descend upon them. +Don't hem them in and choke their lives with oppression. +That's all. +Just let them be, and they'll never tire of you. +A sage sees through himself without revealing himself, +loves himself without exalting himself, +always ignores that and chooses this. + +## 73 + +To infuse daring with courage means death. +To infuse caution with courage means life. +The one enriches you, and the other ruins you. +No one knows why heaven +despises what it despises, +that's why a sage inhabits the complexity of things. +The Way of heaven never contends +and so overcomes perfectly, +never speaks +and so answers perfectly, +never summons +and so arrives of itself, +stays calm +and so plans perfectly. +The net of heaven is vast, woven so vast and wide open nothing slips through. + +## 74 + +In their misery, the people no longer fear death, so how can you threaten them even with death? +Let the people fear death always, +then if we seize those who follow sinister ways +and put them to death, +no one will dare live such lives. +The Executioner's killing is perennial, it's true. +But to undertake the killing yourself - +that's like trying to carve lumber for a master carpenter. +Try to carve lumber for a master carpenter +and you'll soon have blood on your hands. + +## 75 + +The people are starving, +and it's only because you leaders feast on taxes +that they're starving. +The people are impossible to rule, +and it's only because you leaders are masters of extenuation +that they're impossible to rule. +The people take death lightly, +and it's only because you leaders crave life's lavish pleasures +that they take death lightly, +they who act without concern for life: it's a wisdom far beyond treasuring life. + +## 76 + +People are soft and weak in life, hard and strong in death. +The ten thousand plants and trees are soft and frail in life, +withered and brittle in death. +Things hard and strong follow death's ways and things soft and weak follow life's: +so it is that strong armies never overcome and strong trees always suffer the axe. +Things great and strong dwell below. +Things soft and weak dwell above. + +## 77 + +The Way of heaven is like a drawn bow pulling down the high and raising up the low: +it takes away where there's abundance and restores where there's want. +The Way of heaven takes away where there's abundance +and restores where there's want, +but the Way of humankind isn't like that: +it takes away where there's want +and gives where there's abundance. +Only a master of the Way can give abundance to all beneath heaven. +Such a sage acts without presumption and never dwells on success: +great worth has no need to be seen. + +## 78 + +Nothing in all beneath heaven is so soft and weak as water. +And yet, for conquering the hard and strong, nothing succeeds like water. +And nothing can change it: weak overcoming strong, soft overcoming hard. +Everything throughout all beneath heaven knows this, +and yet nothing puts it into practice. +That's why the sage said: +Whoever assumes a nation's disgrace is called the sacred leader of a country, +and whoever assumes a nation's misfortune is called the emperor of all beneath heaven. +Words of clarity sound confused. + +## 79 + +You can resolve great rancor, but rancor always lingers on. +Understanding the more noble way, +a sage holds the creditor's half of contracts +and yet asks nothing of others. +Those with Integrity tend to such contracts; +those without Integrity tend to the collection of taxes. +The Way of heaven is indifferent, always abiding with people of nobility. + +## 80 + +Let nations grow smaller and smaller and people fewer and fewer, +let weapons become rare and superfluous, +let people feel death's gravity again +and never wander far from home. +Then boat and carriage will sit unused +and shield and sword lie unnoticed. +Let people knot ropes for notation again and never need anything more, +let them find pleasure in their food and beauty in their clothes, peace in their homes and joy in their ancestral ways. +Then people in neighboring nations will look across to each other, +their chickens and dogs calling back and forth, +and yet they'll grow old and die without bothering to exchange visits. + +## 81 + +Sincere words are never beautiful and beautiful words never sincere. +The noble are never eloquent and the eloquent never noble. +The knowing are never learned and the learned never knowing. +A sage never hoards: +the more you do for others the more plenty is yours, +and the more you give to others the more abundance is yours. +The Way of heaven is to profit without causing harm, +and the Way of a sage to act without contending. diff --git a/source/content/tao/2004-ron-hogan.md b/source/content/tao/2004-ron-hogan.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..221ab32 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2004-ron-hogan.md @@ -0,0 +1,1924 @@ +Translator: Ron Hogan +Year: 2004 +Source: [beatrice.com](http://www.beatrice.com/TAO.txt) +Code: rh + +## 1 + +If you can talk about it, +it ain't Tao. +If it has a name, +it's just another thing. + +Tao doesn't have a name. +Names are for ordinary things. + +Stop wanting stuff; +it keeps you from seeing what's real. +When you want stuff, +all you see are things. + +Those two sentences +mean the same thing. +Figure them out, +and you've got it made. + +## 2 + +If something looks beautiful to you, +something else must be ugly. +If something seems good, +something else must seem bad. + +You can't have +something without nothing. +If no job is difficult, +then no job is easy. +Some things are up high +because other things are down low. +You know you're listening to music +because it doesn't sound like noise. +All that came first, +so this must be next. + +The Masters get the job done +without moving a muscle +and get their point across +without saying a word. + +When things around them fall apart, +they stay cool. +They don't own much, +but they use whatever's at hand. +They do the work +without expecting any favors. +When they're done, +they move on to the next job. +That's why their work is so damn good. + +## 3 + +If you toss compliments around freely, +people will waste your time +trying to impress you. +If you give things too much value, +you're going to get ripped off. +If you try to please people, +you'll just make them pissed. + +The Master leads +by clearing the crap +out of people's heads +and opening their hearts. +He lowers their aspirations +and makes them suck in their guts. + +He shows you how to forget +what you know and what you want, +so nobody can push you around. +If you think you've got the answers, +he'll mess with your head. + +Stop doing stuff all the time, +and watch what happens. + +## 4 + +How much Tao is there? +More than you'll ever need. +Use all you want, +there's plenty more +where that came from. + +You can't see Tao, but it's there. +Damned if I know where it came from. +It's just always been around. + +## 5 + +Tao's neutral: +it doesn't worry about good or evil. +The Masters are neutral: +they treat everyone the same. +Lao Tzu said Tao is like a bellows: +It's empty, +but it could help set the world on fire. +If you keep using Tao, it works better. +If you keep talking about it, +it won't make any sense. + +Be cool. + +## 6 + +Tao is an eternal mystery, +and everything starts with Tao. + +Everybody has Tao in them. +They just have to use it. + +## 7 + +Tao never stops. Why? +Because it isn't trying to accomplish anything. + +The Masters hang back. +That's why they're ahead of the game. + +They don't hang on to things. +That's how they manage to keep them. + +They don't worry +about what they can't control. +That's why they're always satisfied. + +## 8 + +"Doing the right thing" is like water. +It's good for all living things,and flows without thinking about where it's going + +...just like Tao. + +Keep your feet on the ground. +Remember what's important. +Be there when people need you. +Say what you mean. +Be prepared for anything. +Do whatever you can, +whenever it needs doing. + +If you don't +compare yourself to others, +nobody can compare to you. + +## 9 + +If you drink too much, you get drunk. +The engine won't start +if you're always tinkering with it. + +If you hoard wealth, +you fall into its clutches. +If you crave success, +hyou succumb to failure. + +Do what you have to do, +then walk away. +Anything else will drive you nuts. + +## 10 + +Can you hold on to your ego +and still stay focused on Tao? + +Can you relax your mind and body +and brace yourself for a new life? + +Can you check yourself +and see past +what's in front of your eyes? + +Can you be a leader +and not try to prove you're in charge? + +Can you deal with what's happening +and let it happen? + +Can you forget what you know +and understand what's real? + +Start a job and see it through. +Have things +without holding on to them. +Do the job +without expectation of reward. +Lead people +without giving orders. +That's the way you do it. + +## 11 + +A wheel has spokes, +but it rotates around a hollow center. + +A pot is made out of clay or glass, +but you keep things in the space inside. + +A house is made of wood or brick, +but you live between the walls. + +We work with something, +but we use nothing. + +## 12 + +Sight obscures. +Noise deafens. + +Desire messes with your heart. +The world messes with your mind. + +A Master watches the world +but keeps focused on what's real. + +## 13 + +Winning can be just as bad as losing. +Confidence can mess you up +just as much as fear. + +What does "winning can be just as bad as losing" mean? + +If you're down, +you might be able to get up. +But if you're up, +you can get knocked down real fast. +Don't worry about the score, +just do what you have to do. + +What does "confidence can mess you up +just as much as fear" mean? + +Fear can keep you +from getting the job done, +but confidence +can get you in over your head. +Walk tall, but don't get cocky. + +Know your limits, +and nothing can ever hold you back. +Deal with what you can. +The rest will follow. + +## 14 + +You can't see Tao, +no matter how hard you look. +You can't hear Tao, +no matter how hard you listen. +You can't hold on to Tao, +no matter how hard you grab. + +But it's there. + +It's in you, and it's all around you. + +Remember that. + +## 15 + +The ancient Masters +were damn impressive. +They were deep. Real deep. +Words can't even begin to describe +how deep they were. +You can only talk +about how they acted. + +They were careful, +like a man walking on thin ice. +They were cautious, +like a soldier behind enemy lines. +They were polite, +like a guest at a party. +They moved quickly, like melting ice. +They were as plain as a block of wood. +Their minds were as wide as a valley, +and their hearts as clear +as spring water. + +Can you wait +for that kind of openness and clarity +before you try to understand the world? + +Can you hold still +until events have unfolded +before you do the right thing? + +When you act without expectations, +you can accomplish great things. + +## 16 + +Keep your head clear. +Stay calm. +Watch +as everything happens around you. + +Everything reverts +to its original state, +which was nothing. +And when something becomes nothing, +it gets right with Tao. + +If you don't understand that, +you're going to screw up +somewhere down the line. +If you figure it out, +you'll always know what to do. + +If you get right with Tao, +you won't be afraid to die, +because you know you will. + +## 17 + +When a Master takes charge, +hardly anybody notices. +The next best leader +is obeyed out of love. +After that, +there's the leader obeyed out of fear. +The worst leader is one who is hated. + +Trust and respect people. +That's how you earn +their trust and respect. + +The Masters don't give orders; +they work with everybody else. +When the job's done, +people are amazed +at what they accomplished. + +## 18 + +When people lose touch with Tao, +they start talking about +"righteousness" and "sanctity." + +When people forget what's true, +they start talking about +"self-evident truths." + +When people have no respect +for one another, +they start talking about +"political correctness" +and "family values." + +When the nation is unstable, +people start talking about "patriotism." + +## 19 + +Get rid of sanctity. +People will understand the truth +and be happier. + +Get rid of morality. +People will respect each other +and do what's right. + +Get rid of value and profit. +People will not steal +if they do not desire. + +If that's not possible, go to Plan B: +Be simple. Be real. +Do your work as best you can. +Don't think about what you get for it. +Stay focused. Get rid of all your crap. + +## 20 + +Don't spend too much time +thinking about stupid shit. +Why should you care +if people agree or disagree with you? +Why should you care +if others find you attractive or not? +Why should you care +about things that worry others? +Call bullshit on all that. + +Let other people +get worked up +and try to enjoy themselves. +I'm not going to give myself away. +A baby doesn't know how to smile, +but it's still happy. + +Let other people +get excited about stuff. +I'm not going to hang on to anything. +I'm not going to fill my mind with ideas. +I'm not going to get stuck in a rut, +tied down to any one place. + +Other people are clever; +I guess I must be stupid. +Other people have goals; +I guess I must be aimless. +Like the wind. Or the waves. + +I'm not like other people. +I'm getting right with Tao. + +## 21 + +A Master stays focused on Tao. +Nothing else, just Tao. + +But you can't pin Tao down-- +you can't even see it! +How are you supposed to focus on something like that? + +Just remember what Lao Tzu said: +The universe began as a void. +The void fills with images. +Images lead to the creation of objects. +And every object has Tao at its core. + +That's the way it's been, +ever since the world began. +How can I be so sure? +I just know. + +## 22 + +Learn how to stand still +if you want to go places. +Get on your knees +if you want to stand tall. +If you want wisdom, +empty your mind. +If you want the world, +renounce your riches. +Push yourself until you're exhausted, +and then you'll find your strength. + +You can go far +if you don't have anything to carry. +The more you acquire, +the less you can really see. + +A Master takes this to heart +and sets an example +for everybody else. + +She doesn't show off +so people take notice. +She's not out to prove anything +so people take her at her word. +She doesn't brag about herself +but people know what she's done. +She hasn't got an agenda +but people know what she can do. +She's not out to get anybody +so nobody can get in her way. + +"Learn how to stand still +if you want to go places." +That's not as crazy as it sounds. +Get in touch with Tao, +and you'll see what I mean. + +## 23 + +When you have nothing to say, +you may as well keep your mouth shut. +The wind and the rain +don't go on forever. +If nature knows enough +to give it a rest sometimes, +so should you. + +If you're ready for Tao, +you can live with Tao. +If you're ready to succeed, +you can live with success. +If you're ready to fail, +you can live with failure. + +Trust your instincts, +and others will trust you. + +## 24 + +Keep your feet firmly planted +unless you want to fall on your face. +Learn how to pace yourself +if you want to get anywhere. +Don't call attention to yourself +if you want people to notice your work. + +Nobody respects people +who always have excuses. +Nobody gives credit to people +who always take it. +People who hype themselves +have nothing else to offer. + +Think of being in touch with Tao +like eating at a buffet: +Take only what you need. +Save some for everybody else. + +## 25 + +Something perfect +has existed forever, +even longer than the universe. +It's a vast, unchanging void. +There's nothing else like it. +It goes on forever and never stops, +and everything else came from it. + +I don't know what else to call it +so I'll call it Tao. +What's it like? +I can tell you this much: it's great. + +So great that it endures. +Something that endures +goes a long way. +And something that goes a long way +always comes back to the beginning. + +Tao's great. +Heaven's great. +Earth's great. +And someone in touch with Tao +is great, too. +Those are the four greatest things +in the universe. + +Someone who's in touch with Tao +is in touch with the earth. +The earth is in touch with heaven. +Heaven's in touch with Tao. +Tao's in touch with the way things are. + +## 26 + +To be light on your feet, +you need a steady mind. +If your body is active, +your mind should be relaxed. + +A Master can travel long distances +and still see everything she owns. +She may be surrounded by beauty +but she isn't caught up in it. + +Why run around thoughtlessly? +If you act lightly, +you lose your bearings. +If you act recklessly, +you lose your self-control. + +## 27 + +With enough practice, +you could come and go without a trace, +speak without stumbling over words, +do complicated math problems +in your head. + +You could build a door with no lock +that nobody could open. +You could tie something down +with no knots, +without even a rope, +and nobody could pry it loose. + +Masters have time to help everybody, +and ignore nobody. +They use their resources wisely, +wasting nothing. +Some people call this +"following the light." + +Good people teach others +because they have the potential +to be good too. +Brains count for nothing +if you fail to respect your teachers +or to honor the potential in others. +That's one of the most important lessons of Tao. + +## 28 + +If you are strong, +but remain sensitive, +power will flow through you. +With that power, +you'll always be right with Tao: +It's like a whole new life. + +If you are idealistic, +but stay rooted in reality, +you are an example to others. +Set that example, +and you'll always be right with Tao: +There is no limit to what you can do. + +If you are honorable, +but remain humble, +you will see things as they are. +If you see things as they are, +you'll always be right with Tao: +Your life will become simple, +yet full of potential. + +Let Tao show you +how to get right with Tao, +so your slightest gesture +can change the world. + +## 29 + +Want to take over the world? +Think again. +The world's a holy place. +You can't just fuck around with it. +Those who try to change it destroy it. +Those who try to possess it lose it. + +With Tao, you push forward, +or maybe you stay behind. +Sometimes you push yourself, +other times you rest. +Sometimes you're strong, +sometimes you're weak. +Sometimes you're up, +and sometimes you're down. + +A Master lives simply, +avoiding extravagance and excess. + +## 30 + +Listen up: +If you want to be a leader +who's in touch with Tao, +never use violence +to achieve your goals. + +Every act of violence backfires. +An army on the move +leaves a trail of tears, +and a military victory +always lies in ruins. + +The Masters do what needs doing +and that's all they do. +Do what you have to do +without arrogance or pride. +Get the job done +and don't brag about it afterwards. +Do what you have to do, +not for your own benefit, +but because it needs to be done. +And don't do it the way +you think it should be done, +do it the way it needs to be done. + +The mighty will always lose their power +and any connection +they ever had to Tao. +They will not last long; +if you're not right with Tao, +you might as well be dead. + +## 31 + +Weapons are terrible things. +If you want to get right with Tao, +reject weapons. + +The Master, +knowing all things came from Tao, +recognizes what he has in common +with his enemies +and always tries to avoid conflict. + +But when there is no other choice, +he uses force reluctantly. +He does so with great restraint, +and never celebrates a victory; +to do so would be to rejoice in killing. +A person who would rejoice in killing +has completely lost touch with Tao. + +When you win a war, +you preside over a funeral. +Pay your respects to the dead. + +## 32 + +Tao is an eternal mystery, +so small you can never take hold of it. + +If a leader gets right with Tao, +people will follow him on instinct. +All will be right with the world. +People will do the right thing +without being told. + +Everything that comes from Tao +needs a name. +But once everything has its name, +you should make no other distinction between things. +This prevents you +from becoming trapped by them. + +Everything in the universe is full of Tao +and leads to Tao, +just like the water in rivers +that flows into oceans. + +## 33 + +Knowing things makes you smart, +but knowing yourself makes you wise. +To rule others, you must be powerful, +but to rule yourself, +you must be strong. + +If you have only what you need, +you have true wealth. +If you never give up, +you will find a way. +If you stay true to yourself, +you will never be lost. +If you stay alive your whole life, +you've really lived. + +## 34 + +Tao flows in all directions. +It's in everything, +but nothing can contain it. +Everything needs Tao, +so Tao provides, +and never expects anything in return. + +Everything comes from Tao, +but Tao doesn't call attention to itself. +It wants for nothing. +Think nothing of it. + +Everything leads to Tao, +but Tao doesn't call attention to itself. +Pretty impressive, huh? + +It doesn't strive for success. +That's why it succeeds. + +## 35 + +When you get right with Tao, +everybody wants to be your friend. +When they're around you, +they can relax and enjoy themselves. + +People can be easily distracted +by music or good food. +When we try to talk about Tao, +it seems boring by comparison. + +It doesn't look like much. +It doesn't sound like much. +But no matter how much you use, +there's still plenty left. + +## 36 + +To make something smaller, +you need to appreciate its size. +To make something weaker, +you must recognize its strength. +To get rid of something, +you need to hold it tight. +To take something, +you must give it up entirely. + +To put it another way: +Sensitivity and weakness +overcome unfeeling strength. + +## 37 + +Tao never does anything +but nothing is left undone. + +If our leaders +could get in touch with Tao, +the world would take care of itself. +Even if they wanted +to impose their own ideas, +they'd be drawn back to Tao's +nameless simplicity. + +When our lives are that simple, +we want for nothing. +We can relax, +and the world becomes a better place. + +## 38 + +People with integrity +don't even think about it. +That's how you can tell +they have integrity. +Other people talk about +how much integrity they have, +when they really don't have much. +If any. + +Truly powerful people +don't do anything, +but they get the job done. +Other people are always busy +doing something, +but nothing ever gets done. + +When kind people act, +they do so without thinking about it. +When the just act, +they're always sure +they're doing the right thing. +But when the righteous act, +and nobody reacts, +they try to force everyone +to do things their way. + +If you're not in touch with Tao, +at least you can still have integrity. +If you don't have integrity, +there's always kindness. +If you don't have kindness, +there's always justice. +If you don't have justice, +all you have left is righteousness. + +Righteousness is an pale imitation +of true faith and loyalty, +and always leads to trouble. +If you've already made up your mind, +you don't know the first thing about Tao, +and you never will. + +The Masters pay attention +to what's beneath the surface. +They'll look at a tree's leaves, +but eat the fruit. +They turn all that down, +so they can accept this. + +## 39 + +Since time began, +this is what it's meant +to be in touch with Tao: + +Tao made the heavens clear. +Tao made the earth solid. +Tao made our spirits strong. +Tao made the valleys fertile. +Tao gave all living things life. +Tao gave rulers authority. + +Without Tao, +the heavens would collapse. +Without Tao, +the earth would crumble. +Without Tao, +our spirits would fade away. +Without Tao, +the valleys would dry up. +Without Tao, +all life would become extinct. +Without Tao, +rulers would stumble and fall. + +Humility gives us power. +Our leaders should think of themselves +as insignificant, powerless, +unworthy of their stature. +Isn't that what humility is all about? + +Be strong, +but pay no attention to hollow praise. +Don't call attention to yourself. +Don't make a scene. + +## 40 + +Tao is always heading +back to where it came from. +Tao advances by not pressing forward. + +Things exist because they are. +They are because they once were not. + +## 41 + +When a wise person hears about Tao, +he gets right with it. +When an ordinary person +hears about Tao, +he tries to get right with it, +but eventually gives up. +When a fool hears about Tao, +he just laughs and laughs. +If he didn't laugh, it wouldn't be Tao. + +Here's what they find so funny: +The path to enlightenment +seems covered in shadows. +The way forward +feels like taking a step back. +The easiest path seems difficult. +Those with the most virtue +seem debased. +Those who are most pure +seem to be grubby and soiled. +The deepest thoughts appear shallow. +The greatest strength +looks like weakness. +What is most real +strikes us as imaginary. +The largest space has no boundaries. +The greatest talent +seems to produce nothing. +The greatest voice is unhearable. +The greatest beauty is invisible. + +Tao is hidden to us +and it has no name. +It is the source and the strength of all things. + +## 42 + +Chapter 42 starts out +with some cosmic mumbo-jumbo +about Tao making one, +one making two, +two making three, +and three making everything else. + +I don't know what it means, +and, frankly, +I wouldn't worry about it too much. + +Let's get to the practical part: +Men hate to be called +powerless, insignificant, or unworthy, +but that's how +Masters describe themselves. + +Because when we lose, we've won. +And when we succeed, we've failed. + +Other people will tell you +what I'm telling you now: +"Live by the sword, die by the sword." +That's pretty much what Chapter 42 +boils down to. +(See Chapter 46 for more details.) + +## 43 + +The softest force in the universe +can overcome the hardest of objects. +Something without substance +can pass through the space between atoms. + +That's how I know +about the power of doing nothing. + +The silent teachings +and the power of doing nothing +can only be understood +by a few people. + +## 44 + +What's more important, +fame or your well-being? +What's worth more, +your money or your life? +What is more dangerous, +winning or losing? + +If you are too attached +to your possessions, +they will bring you misery. +If you hang on to your riches, +you will suffer substantial loss. +If you know when you have enough, +you will never be disgraced. +If you practice moderation, +you can stay out of trouble. + +And that's the secret to lasting success. + +## 45 + +The greatest achievements +may look like mistakes, +but you will always be able +to build upon them. + +The fullest reserves may seem empty, +but you will always be able +to draw upon them. + +The straightest line looks crooked. +The most skilled people +come off as clumsy. +The most eloquent people +are usually silent. + +When it's cold, +you can move around to stay warm. +When it's hot, +you should keep still and stay cool. +But whatever the weather, +if you stay calm, +the world will sort itself out around you. + +## 46 + +"When the world is right with Tao," +Lao Tzu said, +"horses haul fertilizer to the fields. +When the world loses touch with Tao, +horses are trained for cavalry." + +Nothing is more insidious than possession. +Nothing is more dangerous than desire. +Nothing is more disastrous than greed. + +If you know when enough is enough, +you will always have enough. + +## 47 + +You don't have to leave your room +to understand what's happening in the world. + +You don't have to look out the window +to appreciate the beauty of heaven. + +The farther you wander, +the less you know. + +The Masters don't wander around +They know. +They don't just look. +They understand. +They don't do anything, +but the work gets done. + +## 48 + +Usually, +we try to learn something new every day. + +But if we want to get right with Tao, +we have to let go of something every day. + +We do less and less, +until we end up doing nothing. +And it's when we do nothing +that we get the job done. + +Let events take their course, +and everything will turn out +in your favor. +If you act on your ambitions, +they will never pan out. + +## 49 + +The Masters +don't make up their minds. +They turn their thoughts +to other people. + +They are good to good people, +and they're good to bad people. +This is real goodness. + +They have faith in the faithful, +and they have faith in the unfaithful. +This is real faith. + +A Master throws himself +into the world completely, +forgetting everything he's been told. +People pay attention to him +because he lives a life of child-like wonder. + +## 50 + +People who look +for the secret of long life +wind up dead. + +Their bodies are the focus of their lives +and the source of their death, +because they think a healthy body +is all there is to life. + +Lao Tzu used to say +a man who truly understood life +could walk through the jungle +without fear +or across a battlefield +without armor, totally unarmed. +Wild animals and weapons couldn't kill him. + +I know, I know: +what the hell does that mean? +"Well, he couldn't be killed," +Lao Tzu said, +"because his body +wasn't where he kept his death." + +## 51 + +Tao is the source of all living things, +and they are nourished +by Tao's power. +They are influenced +by the other living things around them, +and they are shaped +by their circumstances. + +Everything respects Tao +and honors its power. +That's just the way it is. + +Tao gives life to all things, +and its power watches out for them, +cares for them, helps them grow, +protects them, and comforts them. + +Create something +without holding on to it. +Do the work +without expecting credit for it. +Lead people +without giving them orders. +That's the secret of the power of Tao. + +## 52 + +Everything starts with Tao, +the mother of all things. +If you know the mother, +you know the children. +If you know the children +and remember the mother, +you have nothing to fear in your life. + +Shut your mouth and keep still, +and your life will be full of happiness. +If you talk all the time, +always doing something, +your life will be hopeless. + +It takes insight to see subtlety. +It takes strength +to yield gently to force. +Use that strength +to hang on to your insight, +and you will always be at peace. +That's how to get right with Tao. + +## 53 + +If I had any sense, +I'd be trying to get right with Tao, +and the only thing I'd worry about +would be messing up. +It's not that hard to get right with Tao, +but people are easily distracted. + +"When the king's palace is full of treasure," +Lao Tzu said, +"ordinary people's fields +are smothered with weeds, +and the food supplies run out." + +Today, you see sharply dressed people +carrying flashy weapons +and living the high life. + +They own more +than they could ever use, +let alone need. + +They're nothing +but gangsters and crooks. +That's not what Tao's about. + +## 54 + +Tao's power is so deeply entrenched +it can never be uprooted. +Tao's power clings so tightly +it can never slip away. +It will endure for generations. + +If you get in touch +with the power of Tao, +it will become real. +If your family gets in touch +with the power of Tao, +the power will flourish. + +If your community gets in touch +with the power of Tao, +the power will grow even stronger. +If your country gets in touch +with the power of Tao, +the power will become abundant. + +If the world gets in touch +with the power of Tao, +the power will be everywhere. + +How can I know this? +I just do. + +## 55 + +A person filled with the power of Tao +is like a baby boy: +bees can't sting him, +wild beasts can't attack him. + +A baby has soft bones +and weak muscles, +but a firm grip. +He hasn't had sex, +but he can get an erection. +That's because he's got lots of energy. +He can cry all day +and never lose his voice. +That's because he's at one with his world. + +If you're at one with the world, +you know constancy. +And if you know constancy, +you've been enlightened. + +It's not healthy +to try to prolong your life. +It's unnatural to impose the mind's will +upon the body. +People waste time and energy +trying to be strong or beautiful, +and their strength and beauty fade. +They've lost touch with Tao, +and when you lose touch with Tao, +you might as well be dead. + +## 56 + +Those who know, don't talk. +Those who talk, don't know. + +Shut your mouth. +Be still. Relax. +Let go of your worries. +Stay out of the spotlight. +Be at one with the world +and get right with Tao. + +If you get right with Tao, +you won't be worried +about praise or scorn, +about winning or losing, +about honor or disgrace. +That's the way to be. + +## 57 + +You can run a country +by sticking to principles, +and you can win a war +with strategy and tactics. +But you can gain the entire world +by doing nothing at all. + +How do I know this? +I've seen it happen: +The more restrictions +a nation imposes, +the poorer its people become. +When a nation hoards weapons, +troubles arise from within +and from without. +When its leaders try +to be cunning and clever, +the situation spins +further out of control. +When they try to fix things +by passing more laws, +they only increase the number of outlaws. + +A wise leader says to himself: +"I do nothing, +and people transform themselves. +I keep silent, +and they do the right thing +on their own. +I stay out of the way, +and they prosper. +I want for nothing, +and they lead simple lives." + +## 58 + +When a nation is ruled +with a light touch, +people lead simple lives. +When a government +is harsh and demanding, +people will spend their time +trying to outsmart it. + +Happiness is rooted in misery, +and misery lurks beneath all joy. +Who knows what could happen tomorrow? + +Everything is relative; +what's considered proper today +may become improper. +Correct appearances +may hide dishonesty and sinfulness. + +No wonder so many people get confused. + +The Masters have sharp minds, +not sharp tongues. +They are austere, +but never judgmental. +They are straightforward, +but not provocative. +They are brilliant, +but not flashy. + +## 59 + +Leadership is based on moderation. +Practice moderation, +and you'll get in touch +with the power of Tao. + +If you get right with Tao, +nothing is impossible. +If you get right with Tao, +there's no limit to what you can do. +If you get right with Tao, +you can be a true leader. + +Remember this advice +if you want to be a leader: +Plant deep roots in firm soil. +Get right with Tao, +and you'll always see things clearly. + +## 60 + +Being a leader +is like cooking a small fish; +get right with Tao, +and it's quick and easy. + +When you're in touch with Tao, +you don't need to worry +about misfortune. +You can't make it go away, of course, +but you can keep it +from harming other people. + +Also, as a wise leader, +you cause no harm to others, +so people won't have to worry +about getting hurt, +and they'll take the opportunity +to do the right thing. + +## 61 + +Power flows down +to every level of existence +like a river to the ocean. + +Victory comes +from lying perfectly still +and waiting for power +to come your way. + +If you yield to someone +less powerful than yourself, +you will be in a position +to influence them. + +If you submit to someone +more powerful than yourself, +you create an opportunity +to get your own way. + +So if you want to get ahead, +lay low and bide your time. +That way, everybody's happy. + +## 62 + +Every living thing +gets its strength from Tao. +Good people respect the value of Tao. +The wicked and foolish don't, +but Tao provides for them anyway. + +Some people gain power and prestige through fancy words, +others through great deeds. +But Tao is available to everyone, +not just the powerful. +So don't look down on anybody. + +When people become powerful, +and everybody lines up +to kiss their ass, +sit still and stay right with Tao. +Why have the Masters +always respected Tao? +Because when you get right with Tao, +you can always find +swhat you need to get by, +and trouble can never find you. + +## 63 + +Keep still. +Don't work so hard. +Learn to appreciate everyday life. +Pay attention to details. +Start small and work your way up. +When people give you trouble, +let it slide. + +Break everything down to its essentials. +Get the job done +before it becomes a chore. + +With the right preparation, +difficult tasks +can be completed with ease; +every major project +consists of simple steps. + +The Masters don't take on +more than they can handle, +which is why +they can do just about anything. + +Don't promise +more than you can deliver, +and don't underestimate the task: +You'll only make things harder for yourself. + +The Masters are always aware +of the difficulties involved, +which is why +they never have to deal with them. + +## 64 + +It's easy to maintain balance. +Trouble can be nipped in the bud. +Fragile things break easily, +and small things are easy to lose. + +Deal with the situation +before it becomes a problem. +Keep everything straight +so it can't get messed up. + +Every tree was once a seed. +Every skyscraper started out +with a shovelful of dirt. +And--stop me if you've heard this one before-- +a journey of a thousand miles +begins with a single step. + +When you try too hard, +you defeat your own purpose. +Cling to stuff, +and you will suffer loss. +The Masters make no effort, +so they never fail. +They aren't attached to things, +so they never feel loss. + +People often screw up +when the job's nearly done. +Pay as much attention +to the finishing touches +as you do to the initial steps, +and you won't screw up like that. + +The Masters try to be free from desire. +They don't collect precious things. +They don't cling to any beliefs. +They pay attention +to what everybody else ignores. +They help the world get right with Tao, +but don't try to change a thing. + +## 65 + +In ancient times, +leaders who were right with Tao +didn't teach everybody +how to become enlightened. +They kept people's lives simple. + +People who know too much +can't be taught anything. +Leaders who try to be clever +always screw things up. +Leaders who keep things simple +always make things right. + +If you get that, +you'll understand +the mysterious power of Tao. + +That kind of power is so deep, +so extensive, +it penetrates into every level of existence. + +## 66 + +An ocean is greater +than the hundred rivers +that flow into it, +and all it does is wait +to receive what they bring. + +If you want to teach people, +don't talk down to them. +If you want to lead them, +find out where they want to go. + +People love leaders +who make them feel safe +without smothering them. +They'll always support +a leader like that, +and because he doesn't try +to compete with anybody, +nobody is able to compete with him. + +## 67 + +Everywhere I go, people tell me, +"Tao is so powerful, so immense, +it's inconceivable!" + +But it's only powerful +because it's inconceivable. +If we could wrap our minds around it, +Tao would be just another thing. + +The three most important qualities in life +are compassion, +or showing kindness and mercy to others, +moderation, +or knowing what a thing is worth, +and modesty, +or knowing your place in the world. + +Courage stems from showing +kindness and mercy to others. +Generosity starts with knowing +what a thing is worth. +True leadership begins with knowing +your place in the world. + +But these days, +I see everyone trying to act courageous +without any trace of compassion. +They try to be generous +but they don't practice moderation +in their own lives. +They act like leaders, +but they have no sense of modesty. +No good can come of this. + +If you want to get ahead, +show people compassion. +When other people attack you, +defend yourself with compassion. +It's the most powerful force in the universe. + +## 68 + +A true warrior never uses force +with an attitude of pride or anger. +A true victor +does not pursue vengeance. +A true leader shows humility. + +This is the power of modesty. +It's the best way to deal with people. +It's always been an excellent way +to get right with Tao. + +## 69 + +There's an old military saying: +"I'd rather face an attack +than have to make one. +I'd rather retreat a foot +than try to advance an inch." + +That's the secret to moving forward +while staying put, +preparing for battle +without revealing your strength. + +When you defend yourself +without any show of force, +you give your opponent +nothing to fight. + +Attacking an enemy +you've underestimated +is a costly mistake. +When two forces oppose each other, +the winner is the one most reluctant to fight. + +## 70 + +Lao Tzu's advice +was easy to understand +and easy to follow. +But nobody understood him +or did what he suggested. + +His words +stemmed from ancient wisdom, +and his actions were highly disciplined. +People didn't get that, +which is why +they didn't understand him. +And the less they understood him, +the more meaningful his advice became. + +That's why the Masters live simply, +hiding their wisdom deep within themselves. + +## 71 + +If you know +what you don't know, +you're doing great. +If you don't know +what you don't know, +you're sick. + +The only way +to get rid of that sickness +is to be sick of it. + +The Masters aren't sick, +because they got sick of being sick. + +## 72 + +When you show no fear at all, +the universe gives you something +to really be afraid of. + +Don't try to fence people in +or grind them down. +Just let them be, +and they'll always be on your side. + +The Masters know themselves, +but they don't reveal themselves. +They love themselves, +but they know +what their lives are worth. +They let go of all that +to concentrate on this. + +## 73 + +Those who dare to be bold die. +Those who dare to be careful survive. +So--what do you want to do? + +Why is life like that, you ask? +I don't know. + +This is how Tao works: +It doesn't push itself, +and it always succeeds. +It acts silently, and it always reacts. +It can't be summoned; +it comes whenever it's ready. +It can't be rushed; it's always on time. + +"Heaven casts a wide net, +with big holes," +Lao Tzu used to say, +"but nothing ever gets by it." + +## 74 + +If people's lives suck, +and they look forward to death, +what good does it do +to threaten to kill them? + +If people are afraid to die, +and the wicked are condemned to death, +then who would dare to commit evil? + +But that doesn't mean you or I +can just take life and death +into our own hands. +That'd be like walking up +to an industrial buzzsaw +and trying to use it +without any training. +We'd only end up hurting ourselves. + +## 75 + +People starve +because the government +taxes them to death. +People rebel +because the government +tries to run their lives. +People act like life is meaningless +because the government +takes everything they have. + +People who know how to enjoy life +are wiser than people who value their lives. + +## 76 + +A baby's body is soft and gentle. +A corpse is hard and stiff. +Plants and trees are tender +and full of sap. +Dead leaves are brittle and dry. + +If you are rigid and unyielding, +you might as well be dead. +If you are soft and flexible, +you are truly alive. + +Soldiers trained to fight to the death will die. +A tree that cannot bend with the wind +will snap. + +Here's a useful saying: +The harder they come, +the harder they fall. + +Here's another: +The meek shall inherit the earth. + +## 77 + +Lao Tzu said using Tao +was like pulling on a bowstring: +The top bends down, +the bottom bends up, +and all the energy +is focused in the middle. + +Tao takes energy from where it is, +and sends it where it needs to be. +But most people take from those +who don't have enough, +so those who have too much already +can have more. + +So who in this world +is truly generous to others? +People who are in touch with Tao. +They do their work +without taking credit. +They get the job done and move on. +They aren't interested in showing off. + +## 78 + +Nothing is softer +or more yielding +than water. +Yet, given time, +it can erode even the hardest stone. +That's how the weak +can defeat the strong, +and the supple +can win out over the stiff. + +Everybody knows it. +So why don't we apply it to our own lives? + +Lao Tzu used to say: +"Take on people's problems, +and you can be their leader. +Deal with the world's problems, +and you'll be a Master." + +Sometimes the truth makes no sense. + +## 79 + +Sometimes, +when an argument is settled, +feelings of resentment still remain +on either side. +What's the point of carrying a grudge? + +The Masters care +about what they owe other people, +not what other people owe them. + +People who are in touch with Tao +do their duty. +People who aren't +try to force others into submission. + +Tao doesn't play favorites. +But if you do right by Tao, +Tao will do right by you. + +## 80 + +Lao Tzu had a dream +about a small country +with very few people. + +They didn't need machines +to get their work done faster. +They took their lives seriously, +and stayed close to home. + +They may have owned +boats and carriages, +but they never went anywhere. +They may have owned weapons, +but they kept those weapons +locked up, securely hidden. +They had so few responsibilities, +they never had to make a To-Do list +to remember what had to be done. + +They enjoyed simple foods, +dressed plainly, +lived comfortably, +and kept their traditions alive. + +And even though +their neighbors were so close +they could hear +the dogs barking at night, +they had no interest +in leaving their homes, +where they grew old peacefully +and died. + +## 81 + +The truth isn't flashy. +Flashy words aren't true. +Educated people +aren't always smart. +Smart people +don't always have an education. + +Good people don't argue. +People who argue aren't good. + +The Masters don't hang on to things. +They're always doing something +for other people, +so they always have more to give. +They give away +whatever they have, +so what they have is worth more. + +If you want to get right with Tao, +help other people, don't hurt them. +The Masters always work with people, +never against them. diff --git a/source/content/tao/2005-agnieszka-solska.md b/source/content/tao/2005-agnieszka-solska.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8b592b --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2005-agnieszka-solska.md @@ -0,0 +1,1510 @@ +Translator: Agnieszka Solska +Year: 2005 +Source: [archive.org](http://web.archive.org/web/20100417150321/http://home.pages.at/onkellotus/TTK/English_Solska_TTK.html) +Code: as + +## 1 + +The Tao you can tell is not the true Tao. +The names you can name are not the true names. +The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth. +The named is the mother of the myriad things. +Always desireless you see its very essence. +Always desiring you see its outer edge. +The source of these two is the same +Yet they are differently named. +They are called the mystery, +Mystery upon mystery, +The gateway to the essence of all. + +## 2 + +To everyone in the world +Beauty seems beautiful because there is ugliness. +Goodness seems good because there is wickedness + +Thus having and not having beget one another. +Difficult and easy complement each other. +The long and the short give rise to each other. +The high and the low support each other. +The voice and the sound harmonize each other. +Front and back follow one another. + +Thus the sage manages affairs without taking action +And spreads his teaching without using words. +The myriad things flourish where he is +And he does not forsake them. +The sage creates but he does not possess. +He toils but expects no praise. +He does his work but does not dwell on his achievements. +It's because he does not dwell on them +That his achievements lasts. + +## 3 + +Do not glorify the skilled +And people won't wrangle. +Do not treasure rarities +And people won't steal. +Don't flaunt objects of desire +And people's hearts will not be disturbed. + +When the sage rules, +He keeps people's minds blank and their stomachs full. +He weakens their ambitions but strengthens their bones. +He keeps people free from knowledge and desires +So the ones who do have knowledge are afraid to act. +If he acts without taking action +There is nothing that is not right. + +## 4 + +Tao is empty yet when used, it is never used up. +The unbounded source of the myriad things! +It blunts the sharp edges. +Untangles the knots. +Dims the bright light. +Unites wordly dust. +Perfectly hidden, yet ever present. +I do not know its origin. +It seems to have existed before the creator himself. + +## 5 + +Heaven and earth are impartial. +The myriad things have no lasting value for them. +The sage, too, is impartial. +The people have no lasting value for him. + +The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows. +Though empty, it does not collapse. +Work it and it will always yield more. +Waste your breath and your strength is soon gone. +It is better to hold firm to the core. + +## 6 + +The valley spirit never dies. +She's called a mystery, a woman. +The mystery, the gate of a woman +Is called the source of heaven and earth. +Enduring forever, she does not cease. +Drawn upon, she does not wear out. + +## 7 + +Heaven endures, earth lasts forever. +How are they able to do so? +They do not live for themselves so they live on. +Thus the sage stays at the back +Yet finds himself at the front. +Unconcerned about himself, he survives. +Unconcerned about his goals, does he not attain them? + +## 8 + +The highest good is like water. +Water benefits the myriad things and does not contend. +It flows to the low places that people disdain. +Therefore it becomes like Tao. + +The value of a house is in its location. +The value of a mind - in the clarity of thought. +The value of companionship - in kindness. +The value of words - in truthfulness. +The value of governing - in justice. +The value of a doing a job - in effectiveness. +The value of taking an action - in timeliness. + +If there's no contention, there is no blame. + +## 9 + +Fill a pot to overflowing +And you you'll wish you had stopped in time. +Hone a sword to the very sharpest +And it won't stay sharp for long. +Fill your halls with gemstones +And you won't be able to guard them. +Be proud with wealth and status +And you will cause your own fall. +Withdraw when your work is done. +This is the way of heaven. + +## 10 + +Keeping your heart and your spirit together +Can you maintain their unity? +Controlling your breath and making it soft +Can you become like a newborn child? +Washing and cleansing your inner vision +Can you make it perfectly clear? +Tending the people and ruling the state +Can you refrain from interfering? +As the gates of destiny open and close +Can you play the role of the woman? +A your mind probes and explores the whole universe +Can you remain ignorant? + +To give life and to nourish, +To make yet not possess, +To toil yet expect no praise, +To guide yet not dominate: +This is called the secret virtue. + +## 11 + +Thirty spokes join together in a wheel's hub, +It is the center hole that makes the wheel useful. +We shape clay to fashion jugs; +It is the hollowness within that makes a jug useful. +We cut doors and windows in a house wall; +It is these empty spaces that make the house useful. + +Thus things are valuable because of what they have +And they are useful because of what they lack. + +## 12 + +Too much color dazzles the eye. +Too much noise deafens the ear. +Too much flavor deadens the taste. +Excessive hunting disturbs the mind. +Excessive wealth disquiets the heart. + +Therefore the sage trusts his instincts, not his eyes. +He heeds the former, ignores the latter. + +## 13 + +Praise and condemnation both cause dismay. +Honor and great pain are bound up together. + +Why do praise and condemnation both cause dismay? +Praise makes us low. +We're dismayed when we get it. +And we're dismayed when it's taken away. +That's why praise and condemnation both cause dismay. + +Why are honor and great pain bound up together? +I'm bound to be in pain because I care about myself. +If I did not care about myself, what pain could I suffer? + +If you respect the world as you respect yourself +You're ready to tend the world. +If you care about the world as you care about yourself +You're ready to rule the world. + +## 14 + +Look! It cannot be seen; +It's called the obscure. +Listen! It cannot be heard; +It's called the soundless. +Feel it! It cannot be grasped: +It's called the bodiless. +These three defy scrutiny. +Intermingled, they blend into one. + +Above it is not bright. +Below it is not dark. +Continuous, +Unceasing, +Unnamable, +Reverting to nothingness. + +It's an occurrence of no occurrence. +It is a form that takes no form. +Elusive like a shadow. +Intangible like haze. +Confront it! It has no face. +Follow it! It has no back. + +If you grasp the ancient Tao +You can rule the realm of today. +If you know the ancient beginnings +You know the essence of Tao. + +## 15 + +The ancient followers of Tao were shrewd and discerning. +Their knowledge was arcane, beyond comprehension. +There are no words that describe them well. + +Cautious, as if fording a frozen river. +Watchful, as if dreading foes on all sides. +Courteous, like a guest. +Yielding, like ice on the thaw. +Simple, like uncut wood. +Wide open, like a valley. +Obscure, like murky water. + +Who can keep murky water still and cause it to clear? +Who can make what's inert active and bring it to life? + +Those who follow Tao have no wish to become full. +Thus they can wear out with no need to be renewed. + +## 16 + +Empty yourself to the utmost. +Remain perfectly calm. +The myriad things arise together +I watch their return. +They flourish, then each goes back to its root. + +To go back to the root is to find tranquility. +To find tranquility is to come back to life. +Coming back to life is what is constant. +To know what is constant is to be enlightened. +Not to know what is constant is to court disaster. +When you know what is constant you embrace everything. +When you embrace everything you are just. +When you are just you are kingly. +When you are kingly you follow nature. +Following nature you follow Tao. +Following Tao you last through all time. +Till the end of life, you will suffer no harm. + +## 17 + +Of the best leaders people barely know they exist. +Next come the ones people love and praise. +Then the ones they fear. +Then the ones they disdain. +Those who don't trust receive no trust. + +The best leader is sparing in his use of words. +When his task is accomplished, when his work done. +Everyone says: "We did it ourselves." + +## 18 + +When Tao is forgotten +There is kindness and justice. +When cleverness and learning arise +There is great duplicity. +When conflict breaks out in the house +There are loving parents and children. +When the country falls into chaos +There are loyal ministers. + +## 19 + +Give up being great, forget being clever +And people will benefit enormously. +Give up being kind, forget being just +And love will return to the family. +Give up being sly, forget being greedy +And there'll be no more thefts or robberies. + +Yet as a lesson +These three are incomplete. +The essential part to be added is this: +Become plain and simple +Like uncut wood. +Restrain your ambitions, +Restrict your desires. + +## 20 + +Give up studying and you will have no distress. + +Is there a difference between "yes" and "no"? +The good and the evil - are they alike? +Ought I to fear what others fear? +Confusion reigns; it is without end. + +All around, people make merry +As if holding a festival in spring, +As if about to gorge at a feast. +I alone remain still and reveal nothing +Like an infant yet unable to smile. +I am forlorn, with no place to go. +Others possess enough to spare, +I alone seem to have nothing. +I seem like a fool; I'm utterly confused. +Other people are bright; so bright. +I alone am dark; so dark. +Other people are smart; so smart, +I alone am dull; so dull. +Ever drifting like the restless ocean, +Blown about like the ceaseless storm. +Other people pursue their goals, +I alone seem foolish and aimless. +Only I am a stranger; I'm unlike the others. +I take nourishment only from the mother. + +## 21 + +It is the mark of great virtue to follow Tao alone. + +What can one say of Tao? +It is elusive; it's like a shadow, +It is intangible; it is like haze. +Elusive like a shadow, yet it holds ideas within. +Intangible like haze, yet it holds entities within. +Mysterious and dim, yet it holds spirit within. + +Throughout all time +Its name has been retained. +Thus we can view the origin of all things. +How do I know the origin of all things? +I do because of what's within me. + +## 22 + +Be broken and you'll become whole. +Be fallen and you will stand tall. +Be empty and you will fill up. +Be worn and you'll become new. +Have little and you will gain. +Have much and you'll be confused. + +Therefore the sage clings to the One +And serves as a guide for the world. +He does not flaunt himself, so he shines bright. +He does not insist on being right, so he is renowned. +He does not brag, so he succeeds. +He does not boast, so he lasts long. +He contends with no one, +So no one can contend with him. + +The ancients used to say: +"Be broken and you’ll become whole." +Are these but hollow words? +If you are truly whole everything will come to you. + +## 23 + +Nature is sparing of words: +High winds do not last all morning. +A cloudburst does not last all day. +What makes them happen? +Heaven and earth. +If heaven and earth cannot sustain their works +How can people sustain theirs? + +Therefore if you follow Tao you become like Tao. +If you follow virtue you become like virtue. +If you forsake Tao you become forsaken. + +Those who are like Tao +Are gladly welcomed by Tao. +Those who are like virtue +Are gladly welcomed by virtue. +Those who are forsaken +Are gladly welcomed by forsakenness. + +Those who don't trust receive no trust. + +## 24 + +Those who stand on tiptoe do not stand firm. +Those who walk in long strides do not walk well. +Those who flaunt themselves do not shine bright. +Those who insist on being right are not renowned. +Those who brag do not succeed. +Those who boast do not last long. +To the follower of Tao they're loathsome. +They're like leftover food or pointless pursuits. +The person of Tao turns away from them. + +## 25 + +There is something, complete and embracing all, +Born before heaven and earth took form, +Soundless and void, +Standing alone, unchanging, +Moving ahead, unceasing. +It seems to be the mother of the universe. +I do not know its name so I call it Tao. +Compelled to give it a name, I would call it Great. + +Being great, it reaches far. +Reaching far, it flows everywhere. +Flowing everywhere, it returns to its source. + +Indeed, Tao is great. +Heaven is great. +Earth is great. +Mankind is great, too. +These four are great in the universe +And mankind is one of them. + +Mankind follows the rules of the earth. +The earth follows the rules of heaven. +Heaven follows the rules of Tao. +Tao follows its own rules, too. + +## 26 + +Being solid is the foundation of lightness. +Being calm is the ruler of haste. + +Thus, the sage, when traveling all day, +Never parts with his luggage. +Seeing beautiful sights, +He remains unconcerned and calm. + +Will the ruler of the myriad chariots +Let himself be frivolous? +If he's frivolous he will lose his foundations. +If he's rash he will lose rulership. + +## 27 + +Those who are good at walking +Leave no tracks in the ground. +Those who are good at speaking +Speak without flaws. +Those who are good at counting +Require no tally. +Those who are good at shutting +Use no locks +Yet whatever they close +Cannot be opened. +Those who are good at tying +Use no ropes +Yet whatever they tie +Cannot be untied. + +Thus the sage is always good at taking care of people +And abandons no one. +He's always good at looking after things +And abandons nothing. + +This is called +Following what's bright. + +The good are the teachers of those who are not good. +Those who are not good are the raw material for the good. +Those who do not respect their teachers +And don't care for their resources +However clever they may be, they're utterly confused. + +This is called the essence of mystery. + +## 28 + +Be aware of what's masculine in you, +But preserve what is feminine in you, +And serve as a conduit for the world. +When you serve as a conduit for the world +Your true virtue will never be gone. +And you'll return again to the state of a newborn child. + +Be aware of what is bright in you, +But preserve what is dark in you, +And serve as a guide for the world. +When you serve a guide for the world +Your true virtue will never falter, +And you'll return again to the state of boundlessness. + +Be aware of what's praiseworthy in you, +But preserve what is base in you, +And serve as a valley for the world. +When you serve as a valley for the world +Your true virtue will grow ample enough, +And you'll return again to the simplicity of uncut wood. + +Divided, the wood becomes a rod. +Used by a sage, the rod becomes a ruler's staff. +A great ruler keeps things whole; he does not divide. + +## 29 + +Those who wish to conquer the world and act upon it +Do not achieve their goals - this is what I have found. +The world is a perfect vessel. +It cannot be acted upon. +Those who act on it destroy it. +Those who grab at it lose it. + +Because with things: +Some lead and some follow, +Some blow hot and some blow cold, +Some grow in strength and some weaken, +Some expand and some collapse. + +That is why the sage rejects the excessive, +Rejects the elaborate, +And rejects the superfluous. + +## 30 + +When the follower of Tao assists the ruler, +He'll advise him +Not to conquer the world with the force of arms. +Such actions will certainly rebound. +Thistles spring up where armies camp. +Bad harvests follow in the wake of great wars. + +Attain your goal, then stop +And do not abuse your force. +Attain your goal without boasting. +Attain your goal without bragging. +Attain your goal without pride. +Attain your goal without gain. +Attain your goal without violence. + +What expands too much is bound to collapse. +This is not the way of Tao. +What goes against Tao soon declines. + +## 31 + +Fine weapons are the portents of evil. +Creatures seem to detest them. +So the people of Tao keep away from them. + +In times of peace the wise favor the left side. +In times of war they favor the right. + +Weapons are the portents of evil. +Not the tools of the wise. +Compelled to use them, +They do so without zeal. +Winning a victory, +They do not relish in it. +Those who delight in victory +Delight in the slaughter of people. +Those who delight in slaughter +Cannot attain their goals. + +On happy occasions the left is the place of honor. +On mournful occasions - the right. +The rites of war are like the funeral rites: +The generals stand on the left, +The commander-in-chief on the right. + +When multitudes are killed the mourners should grieve. +A war victory should be celebrated like a funeral. + +## 32 + +Tao is invariably nameless. +Simple like uncut wood, it seems insignificant +Yet no one in the world can command it. +If kings and lords could follow it +The myriad things would salute them, +Heaven and earth would unite +And soft dew would fall, +People would live in harmony +Without any need for laws. + +Begin to cut, begin to rule +And names will appear. +When names abound dividing must stop. +The Tao of the world is like rivers flowing into the sea. + +## 33 + +Those who know others are clever. +Those who know themselves are enlightened. +Those who conquer others have strength. +Those who conquer themselves are powerful. +Those who are contented have wealth. +Those who move ahead have purpose. +Those who don't run away from their posts endure. +Those who die but don't perish live on. + +## 34 + +Great Tao flows like a flood. +It can go left and right. +The myriad things depend on it for life +And it does not forsake them. +It does its work but lays claim to no merit. +It shields and nourishes the myriad things +And does not act as their lord. +Always desireless it may seem insignificant, +Yet the myriad things return to it +And it does not act as their lord. +Thus it may seem to be great. +The sage, too, does not strive to be great +So he is able to achieve greatness. + +## 35 + +Embrace the great idea +And the whole world will come to you. +It'll come to you and suffer no harm. +It'll find no peril but contentment and peace. +Travelers stop for food and for music +Yet it is said of Tao +That it is tasteless and bland. +When you look at it, there's not enough of it to see. +When you listen to it, there's not enough of it to hear. +Yet, when you use it, you can't use it up. + +## 36 + +If you wish to make something small +You have to expand it. +If you wish to make something weak +You have to strengthen it. +If you wish to make something fall +You have to promote it. +If you wish to make something gone +You have to provide it. +This is called +Darkening what's bright. + +What's soft and weak defeats what's hard and strong. +Fish should not be taken away from the ocean. +Sharp weapons of the state +Should not be shown to the people. + +## 37 + +Tao invariably takes no action +Yet there is nothing left undone. +If kings and lords could follow it +The myriad things would transform by themselves. +And should they wish to take action once more +I'd quiet them +With nameless simplicity. +The nameless simplicity +Is like uncut wood: +It has no desires. +Without desires there is tranquility +And heaven and earth become stable by themselves. + +## 38 + +Highest virtue does not follow virtue; +That is why it has virtue. +Lowest virtue does not stray from virtue; +That is why it lacks virtue. + +Highest virtue takes no action +Yet it lacks reasons for doing so. +Lowest virtue takes action +Yet it has reasons for doing so. +Highest compassion takes action +Yet it lacks reasons for doing so. +Highest justice takes action +Yet it has reasons for doing so. +Highest ritual takes action +Yet if someone does not respond +It shows its fist to them and makes them comply. + +When Tao is renounced there is virtue. +When virtue is renounced there is compassion. +When compassion is renounced there is justice. +When justice is renounced there is ritual. + +Ritual is but a shadow of sincerity. +It's the beginning of confusion. +Foreknowledge is but a husk of Tao. +It's the beginning of ignorance. + +Therefore those who are great +Dwell in the solid core and not in the shadow. +They dwell in the fruit, not in the husk. +It is the fruit they choose, the husk they spurn. + +## 39 + +In days of old these became whole: +Having become whole, heaven became clear. +Having become whole, earth became stable. +Having become whole, spirits became vibrant. +Having become whole, valleys became full. +Having become whole, the myriad things became alive. +Having become whole, the nobles set the realm right. +This is what they achieved by becoming whole. + +If heaven had not become clear +It would likely break open. +If earth had not become stable +It would likely collapse. +If spirits had not become vibrant +They would likely cease to exist. +If valleys had not become full +They would likely become exhausted. +If the myriad things had not become alive +They would likely die. +If the nobles had not become esteemed +They would likely fall. + +Thus the nobles have the commoners as their root. +And the high rank has the low rank as its base. +And the high rank has the low rank as its base. +That is why "orphans," "lonely" and "worthless" +Are the names kings and lords use for themselves. +Do they not have the commoners as their root? +Too much honor is no honor. +They don't wish to glitter like gemstones. +They prefer to rumble like rocks. + +## 40 + +Returning is the action of Tao. +Yielding is the function of Tao. +The myriad things arise from what there is. +What there is arises from what there is not. + +## 41 + +When the best students hear of Tao +They follow it with all their might. +When average students hear of Tao +Sometimes they heed it sometimes they don't. +When the worst students hear of Tao +They laugh at it heartily. +Were it not laughed at, +Tao would not be what it is. + +Thus it is said: +A path that is bright seems to be dim. +A path going forward seems to go back. +A path that is smooth seems to be uneven. +The highest virtue seems to be hollow. +The purest white seems to be sullied. +The amplest virtue seems insufficient. +The firmest virtue seems unsteady. +The genuine virtue seems to be fickle. +The greatest realm is without boundaries. +The finest talent matures late. +Harmonious music makes no noise. +The perfect form has no substance. + +Tao is hidden and nameless. +Yet it is Tao that sustains all things +And brings them to completion. + +## 42 + +Tao gave birth to the One. +One gave birth to the Two. +Two gave birth to the Three. +The Three gave birth to the myriad things. +The myriad things have their backs in shadows +Their faces bask in the light. +Through the blending of life forces they achieve harmony. +"orphaned," "lonely" and "worthless" +Are conditions which people detest +Yet the nobles describe themselves with those names. + +Thus sometimes by losing we gain. +And sometimes by gaining we lose. + +What others teach I also teach: +"The violent have earned their death." +This is the source of my teaching. + +## 43 + +The soft things of the world can overcome the hard ones. +Those that have no substance can penetrate the solid. +Therefore I know non-action wins success. + +Teaching without words, +Succeeding without action - +These are understood by the very few. + +## 44 + +Your name or your life: which do you hold dearer? +Your life or your wealth: which truly has value? +Victory or loss: which truly gives pain? +If you care to a fault you will certainly suffer. +If you pile up your wealth you're bound to take a loss. +If you are contented you meet with no disgrace. +If you are able to stop you are free from danger. +You can then last through all time. + +## 45 + +Greatest perfection seems to be flawed +Yet its usefulness is never impaired. +Greatest abundance seems to be void +Yet its usefulness never wears out. + +Greatest honesty seems to be dishonest. +Greatest ingenuity seems to be inept. +Greatest eloquence seems like stammering. + +Being in motion overcomes the cold. +Keeping calm overcomes the heat. +Those who remain calm and pure +Can set the world right. + +## 46 + +When the world follows Tao +Carriage horses work on the farm fields. +When the world lacks Tao +War horses are bred outside city walls. + +There is no greater fault Than having many desires, +No greater defect Than not knowing when one has enough. +No greater tragedy Than the desire to obtain. +Thus knowing when one has enough +Is to always have enough. + +## 47 + +You don't need to step through the door +To know the whole world. +You don't need to look from the window +To see the way of heaven. +The farther you go, the less you know. + +Thus the sage knows without traveling, +Understands without seeing, +Achieves without doing. + +## 48 + +The followers of knowledge gain something each day. +The followers of Tao lose something each day. +They lose and keep losing till they start doing nothing. +Yet though nothing is done, nothing is left undone. + +If you would conquer the world, refrain from meddling. +If you meddle you cannot conquer the world. + +## 49 + +The sage does not have fixed ideas. +He lets the thoughts of the others become his own. +He is good to those who are good +And to those who are not good. +Virtue is good. +He is faithful to those who are faithful +And to those who are not faithful. +Virtue is faithful. +The sage lives united with the world +And he allows his thoughts to embrace all. +The people fix on him their eyes and ears: +He seems to behave like a little child. + +## 50 + +Seeking life we find death. +There are thirteen passageways of life. +There are thirteen passageways of death. +People take those thirteen passageways of death +And their lives proceed toward death. +Why? People care too much about life. + +It has been said: +Those who are good at staying alive +Meet no buffaloes or tigers in the wilderness, +They've no use for armor and weapons on the battleground. +A buffalo can find no place to mark in them. +A tiger can find no place to claw. +A weapon can find no place to cut. +Why? There is no place for death in them. + +## 51 + +Tao gives life to all things. +Virtue nourishes them. +Material world gives them form. +Circumstances make them complete. + +Therefore of the myriad things, +Each one reveres Tao +And each one pays tribute to virtue. +They do so without being ordered. +They do so of themselves. + +Tao gives life to them. +Virtue nourishes and matures them. +It teaches them and protects them. +It rests them, supports them and guards them. +Tao gives life to them but it does not possess them. +It toils for them but expects no praise. +It guides them but does not dominate them. +This is the secret virtue. + +## 52 + +The universe had a beginning. +This beginning is the mother of all. +When you know the mother, +You know her children, too. +When you know the children, +Go back to be with the mother +And throughout your life you will suffer no harm. + +Close the passageways, +Lock the entryways +And throughout your life you will not get worn out. +Open the passageways, +Multiply your concerns +And throughout your life you will not be saved. + +If you see the insignificant you have discernment. +If you can remain flexible you are strong. +Use the rays and return to the source of light. +Do not be the cause of your own distress. +This is the way of practicing the constant. + +## 53 + +If my knowledge were really minute +While following great Tao, +I' only fear that I might drift from it. + +Tao is easy to follow. +Yet people prefer to stray from it. +They keep the halls of authority in splendor, +But the fields remain untilled +And the granaries stand empty. +Clad in fineries, they carry sharp swords. +They eat too much and possess to excess. +What they do is thievery. +Thievery is not Tao. + +## 54 + +What is firmly set up cannot be unsettled. +What is firmly embraced cannot slip away. +The ancestor worship continues without cease. + +Practice virtue in your self +And your virtue will become genuine. +Practice virtue in your family +And your virtue will overflow. +Practice virtue in your district +And your virtue will last long. +Practice virtue in your country +And your virtue will abound. +Practice virtue throughout the world +And your virtue will spread wide. + +So use the individual to judge the individual. +Use the family to judge the family. +Use the district to judge the district. +Use the state to judge the state. +Use the world to judge the world. + +How do I know the way of the world? +I do because of what's within me. + +## 55 + +The one who has virtue in its fullness +Is like a newborn babe. +Hornets and snakes do not sting him. +Savage beasts don't attack him. +Birds of prey don't pounce on him. + +His bones are soft and his muscles weak +But his grasp is firm. +He knows nothing yet of mating +But his organ stirs +For his vigor is at its height. +He will cry all day +But his voice will remain loud. +For his harmony is at its height. + +If you know harmony you know what is constant. +If you know what is constant you are enlightened. +If your mind forces your breath you misuse your strength. +You misuse your strength. + +What expands too much is bound to collapse. +This is not the way of Tao. +What goes against Tao soon declines. + +## 56 + +Those who know do not speak. +Those who speak do not know. + +Close the passageways, +Lock the entryways, +Blunt the sharp edges, +Untangle the knots, +Dim the bright light, +Unite earthly dust. + +This is called +The secret unity. + +Then there will be no way to like you +And no way to dislike you. +There'll be no way to assist you +And no way to harm you. +There'll be no way to honor you +And no way to shame you. +You'll then obtain the highest prize in the world. + +## 57 + +To govern the state resort to what's regular. +To win a war resort to what's unusual. +But to conquer the world refrain from meddling. +How do I know of these methods? +I do because of what's within me. + +The fewer the people's freedoms +the poorer the people become. +The more sharp weapons the people possess, +The greater disorder there is in the state. +The more diverse the people's skills, +The more unusual things they produce. +The more numerous the laws, +The more criminals there are. + +Therefore, the sage says: +I take no action, +Yet people transform by themselves. +I prefer to remain calm, +Yet people by themselves become correct. +I refrain from meddling, +Yet people by themselves begin to prosper. +I have no desires, +Yet people by themselves become simple +Like uncut wood. + +## 58 + +When the government is dull and not meddlesome +The people are pure and honest. +When the government is shrewd and meddlesome +The people are restless and poor. + +Good fortune leans on disaster. +Disaster lurks in good fate. +Is there a way to end this? +Is there a norm of what's right? +What's normal becomes abnormal. +What's good becomes evil. +With each passing day people grow more confused. + +That is why the sage is sharp but he does not cut. +He burnishes but he does not harm. +He straightens but he does not break. +He shines but he does not dazzle. + +## 59 + +While ruling the people +And serving heaven +Build up a store. +If you've built up a store +You can adhere to Tao early. +If you've adhered to Tao early +You can amass virtue. +When you've amassed virtue +There is nothing you cannot do. +When there is nothing you cannot do +Your capacity has no bounds. +Having boundless capacity +You're ready to rule the realm. +Leaning on the mother of the realm +You can last through all time. +You've been firmly established. +You have a strong support. +This is the Tao of long life. +This is the Tao of farsightedness. + +## 60 + +Rule a big country +The way you'd cook a small fish. + +If Tao is used to govern the world +Evil spirits have no power. +Their power is not gone +But it does not harm the people. +Their power does not harm the people +And it does not harm the sage. +As they suffer no harm +Their virtues unite and return to them. + +## 61 + +A big country is like a low-lying land. +It's like the meeting ground of the world. +It's like the female of the world. +The female always defeats the male with calmness. +Because she is calm, she remains low. + +Thus if the big country is below the small country +It conquers the small country. +And if the small country is below the big country +It conquers the big country. +Thus some win by becoming low +And some win by remaining low. + +What the big country wants +Is to unite people and nourish them. +What the small country wants +Is to serve people and find shelter for them. +Both can get what they want +If it's the big country that becomes low. + +## 62 + +Tao is the source of the myriad things. +It is the treasure of those who are good. +It is the refuge of those who are bad. + +Fine words can buy honor. +Fine deeds can serve as a gift. +Why reject those who are bad? + +So when the emperor is installed, +And his ministers appointed, +Do not offer them precious stones and horses +But remain calm, offer the Tao. + +Why did the ancients pay tribute to Tao? +Did they not use to say: +"Those who seek get what they seek thanks to Tao. +Thanks to Tao the offenders are saved"? +That is why Tao is the treasure to the world. + +## 63 + +Act without taking action. +Be busy without busy-ness. +Taste what cannot be tasted. +Magnify the small +Multiply the few. +Repay injury with kindness. +Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. +Work on the big thing while it is still small. + +The difficult things of the world are initially easy. +The big things of the world are initially small. +The sage does not strive to achieve great things +So he is able achieve greatness. + +Those who are quick to make promises +Are bound not to be trusted. +What may seem easy +Is bound to become hard. +The sage accepts his tasks as difficult. +Therefore they all become easy for him. + +## 64 + +What is at rest is easy to hold. +What has not yet begun is easy to stop. +That which is flimsy is easy to shatter. +That which is tiny is easy to scatter. +Confront the events before they begin. +Set things in order before there is trouble. + +A tree bigger than a grown man's embrace +Was once a tiny sprout. +A tower nine stories high +Was built on a lump of dirt. +A journey of a thousand miles +Begins right under your feet. + +It's those who take action that fail. +It's those who hold on to things that lose them. +Therefore the sage takes no action, +And so he does not fail. +He doesn't hold on to things, +And so he doesn't lose them. +People always fail when their work is nearly done. +So be cautious when you start +And be cautious when you finish. +That is why the sage desires not to desire +And does not value rare things. +He learns what cannot be learnt +And returns to what others pass by. +He could help the myriad things +Follow their true nature +Yet he dares not do it. + +## 65 + +The ancients who excelled at following Tao +Did not enlighten people +But kept them free from cleverness. + +If people are too clever they are difficult to rule. +To rule the state with cleverness +Is to rob the state; +But to rule the state without cleverness +Is to benefit the state. + +These are the two forms of rulership. +To remain aware of them is to have the secret virtue. +The secret virtue reaches far and touches all. +It leads all things back to the great accord. + +## 66 + +How can rivers and oceans be king of one hundred valleys? +They excel in staying below them. +That is why they can become their king. + +Thus if the sage wishes to be the people's master +He has to talk to them like their servant. +If he wishes to lead them +He has to follow behind them. +This way he can be their master +Without oppressing them. +He can precede them +Without blocking their way. +That is why the whole world is willing to praise him +And never tires of doing so. +He contends with no one, +So no one can contend with him. + +## 67 + +The whole world says: +"What you teach is great yet unlike anything else." +It is its greatness that makes it unlike anything else. +Were it like everything else +It would have become trivial a long time ago. + +I have three treasures which I hold and keep safe. +The first is compassion. +The second economy. +The third not daring to take the lead. +If you're compassionate you can be fearless. +If you're not wasteful you can be giving. +If you're afraid to lead you can attain the highest honors. + +Today people renounce compassion and try to be brave. +They are wasteful in extreme and try to be giving. +They refuse to be follow and they try to take the lead. +They are certainly doomed. + +Compassion gives you victory in battle +And strength in defense. +When heaven comes to your rescue +With its compassion it keeps you safe. + +## 68 + +The best soldier is not violent. +The best fighter does not fly into rage. +The best winner does not engage the opponent. +The best employer does not put himself above others. + +This is the virtue of non-contending. +This is the ability of managing people. +This is the finest way of matching heaven. + +## 69 + +Experts in warfare have a saying: +"I dare not launch an attack. +I'd rather mount a defense. +I dare not advance a foot, +I'd rather retreat a mile." + +This is called: +Moving forward without moving forward. +Removing the sleeves without baring the arms. +Being armed without holding a weapon. +Seizing the enemy without confronting him. + +There is no worse disaster than to have no enemy. +If I have no enemy my treasure is as good as lost. +Thus when the battle begins +And the opponents are evenly matched +It is the grieving side that wins. + +## 70 + +My words are easy to understand +And it is easy to follow them. +Yet they can be grasped by no one in the world +And there is no one who can follow them. + +My words are of an ancient origin. +My actions are guided by reason. +Yet this remains unknown, +So I remain unknown, too. +Those who know me are few +This is what honors me. +The sage wears plain clothing. +His true wealth is concealed in his heart. + +## 71 + +If you know that you're ignorant you are fine. +If you don't know that you're ignorant you are flawed. +Only when you recognize your flaws +Will you become flawless. + +The sage is free from flaws. +He's flawless because he knows his flaws. + +## 72 + +When people have no fear of what they should fear. +Something really fearsome will come on them. + +Do not constrict their living space. +Do not reduce their means of livelihood. +If they’re not pestered they will not get weary. + +Therefore the sage knows himself +But does not flaunt himself. +He loves himself +But does not exalt himself. +He chooses what truly has value, +Spurns what only seems that way. + +## 73 + +The one whose courage comes from being fearless +Gets killed. +The one whose courage comes from being fearful +Stays alive. +Both kinds of bravery lead to benefit or harm. +If one of them heaven detests who knows the reason why? +Even the sage is unable to explain this. + +The Tao of heaven excels at overcoming without competing, +At responding without speaking, +At drawing to itself without beckoning, +At laying plans without hurrying. + +Heaven's weapons are crude, its targets strewn wide +Yet when it takes aim it won't miss the mark. + +## 74 + +If people have no fear of death +It's pointless to threaten them with it. +If people were in constant fear of death, +And if anyone acting deviously +Were to be seized and executed, +Who would dare to do so? + +The Master Executioner is always there to kill. +If you attempt to play his role +It is like trying to do the work of a master lumberjack. +The one who has no skill to do this work +Seldom escapes with his hands unhurt. + +## 75 + +Why are the people starving? +Because those above them put heavy taxes on them +And eat up their grain. +That's why the people are starving. + +Why are the people difficult to rule? +Because those above them are meddlesome. +That's why the people are difficult to rule. + +Why are the people are unconcerned about death? +Because those above them care too much about life. +That's why the people are unconcerned about death. + +It is better to disregard life +Than to exalt it too much. + +## 76 + +Living people are supple and soft. +When they're dead they are rigid and hard. +Living plants are pliant and green. +When they're dead they’re unbending and dry. +Thus what's rigid and hard accompanies death +And what's pliant and soft accompanies life. + +If a soldier's too strong, he will suffer defeat. +If a tree is too hard it will be cut down. +The strong and big go down. +The soft and weak go high. + +## 77 + +The Tao of heaven is like the bending of a bow. +What is high is brought down. +What is low is sent high. +What's excessive is reduced. +What's insufficient is increased. + +The Tao of heaven takes from those who have too much +And gives to those who are in want. +The people's way is not like that. +They take from those who are in want +And give to those who have too much. +Yet who is able to have enough to give it to the world? +Only the one who has Tao. + +Therefore the sage toils but expects no praise. +He does his work but does not dwell on it. +He does not wish to make a display of his merit. + +## 78 + +There is nothing in the world softer than water. +And there's nothing weaker. +Yet for attacking the hard and strong +There is nothing better. +There is no substitute for it. + +What is weak defeats what's strong. +What is soft defeats what's hard. +This is something known to all. +Yet this knowledge is used by none. + +That's why the sage declares: +"If you bear the country's dishonor +You become the lord of its shrines. +If you bear the country's misfortune +You become the king of the world." + +True words seem to sound wrong. + +## 79 + +When great enemies settle their quarrel +Some of their enmity will linger on. +Is there a way to set things right? +The sage abides by the agreement +And does not seek to assign blame. +People of virtue meet their obligations. +Those without virtue exact their claims. + +The Tao of heaven does not take sides. +Yet it always stays with the good. + +## 80 + +If a country is small its people are few. +Having tools in abundance, they're unwilling to use them. +Mindful of death, they do not venture far. +Having wagons and boats, they do not ride in them. +Having weapons and shields, they keep them out of sight. +To keep records they've returned to using knotted cords. + +They relish their food, +Delight in their clothes, +Find peace in their homes, +And joy in their plain way of life. +Though the neighboring country is within sight, +And its roosters and dogs can be heard, +People live, grow old and die +Without ever leaving to visit their neighbors. + +## 81 + +True words are not beautiful. +Beautiful words are not true. +Good people do not argue. +Those who argue are not good. +Those who know are not learned. +The learned do not know. + +The sage accumulates nothing. +The more he does for others, the more he has. +The more he gives to others, the more he receives. + +The Tao of heaven +Is to benefit, not harm. +The Tao of the sage +Is to act for others, not to contend with them. diff --git a/source/content/tao/2009-red-pine.md b/source/content/tao/2009-red-pine.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4158b6f --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2009-red-pine.md @@ -0,0 +1,1253 @@ +Translator: Red Pine +Source: [book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1556595554) +Code: rp + +## 1 +The way that becomes a way +is not the Immortal Way +the name that becomes a name +is not the Immortal Name +no-name is the maiden of Heaven and Earth +name is the mother of all things +thus in innocence we see the beginning +in passion we see the end +two different names +for one and the same +the one we call dark +the dark beyond dark +the door to all beginnings +## 2 +All the world knows beauty +but if that becomes beautiful +this becomes ugly +all the world knows good +but if that becomes good +this becomes bad +have and have not create each other +hard and easy produce each other +long and short shape each other +high and low complete each other +note and noise accompany each other +first and last follow each other +sages therefore perform effortless deeds +and teach wordless lessons +they don’t look after all the things that arise +or depend on them as they develop +or claim them when they reach perfection +and because they don’t claim them +they are never without them +## 3 +Bestowing no honors +keeps people from fighting +prizing no treasures +keeps people from stealing +displaying no attractions +keeps people from making trouble +thus the rule of the sage +empties the mind +but fills the stomach +weakens the will +but strengthens the bones +by keeping the people from knowing or wanting +and those who know from daring to act +the sage governs them all +## 4 +The Tao is so empty +those who use it +never become full again +and so deep +as if it were the ancestor of us all +it dulls our edges +unties our tangles +softens our light +and merges our dust +it’s so clear +as if it were present +I wonder whose child it is +it seems it was here before Ti +## 5 +Heaven and Earth are heartless +treating creatures like straw dogs +sages are heartless too +they treat people like straw dogs +between Heaven and Earth +how like a bellows +empty but inexhaustible +each stroke produces more +talking only wastes it +better to protect what’s inside +## 6 +The valley spirit that doesn’t die +we call the dark womb +the dark womb’s mouth +we call the source of Heaven and Earth +as elusive as gossamer silk +and yet it can’t be exhausted +## 7 +Heaven is eternal and Earth is immortal +the reason they’re eternal and immortal +is because they don’t live for themselves +hence they can live forever +sages therefore pull themselves back +and end up in front +put themselves outside +and end up safe +is it not because of their selflessness +whatever they seek they find +## 8 +The best are like water +bringing help to all +without competing +choosing what others avoid +they thus approach the Tao +dwelling with earth +thinking with depth +helping with kindness +speaking with honesty +governing with peace +working with skill +and moving with time +and because they don’t compete +they aren’t maligned +## 9 +Instead of pouring in more +better stop while you can +making it sharper +won’t help it last longer +rooms full of treasure +can never be safe +the vanity of success +invites its own failure +when your work is done retire +this is the Way of Heaven +## 10 +Can you keep your crescent soul from wandering +can you make your breath as soft as a baby’s +can you wipe your dark mirror free of dust +can you serve and govern without effort +can you be the female at Heaven’s Gate +can you light the world without knowledge +can you give birth and nurture +but give birth without possessing +raise without controlling +this is Dark Virtue +## 11 +Thirty spokes converge on a hub +but it’s the emptiness +that makes a wheel work +pots are fashioned from clay +but it’s the hollow +that makes a pot work +windows and doors are carved for a house +but it’s the spaces +that make a house work +existence makes a thing useful +but nonexistence makes it work +## 12 +The five colors make our eyes blind +the five tones make our ears deaf +the five flavors make our mouths numb +riding and hunting make our minds wild +hard-to-get goods make us commit crimes +thus the rule of the sages +favors the stomach over the eyes +thus they pick this over that +## 13 +Favor and disgrace come with a warning +honor and disaster come with a body +why do favor and disgrace come with a warning +favor turns into disfavor +gaining it comes with a warning +losing it comes with a warning +thus do favor and disgrace come with a warning +and why do honor and disaster come with a body +the reason we have disaster +is because we have a body +if we didn’t have a body +we wouldn’t have disaster +thus those who honor their body more than the world +can be entrusted with the world +those who cherish their body more than the world +can be encharged with the world +## 14 +We look but don’t see it +and call it indistinct +we listen but don’t hear it +and call if faint +we reach but don’t grasp it +and call it ethereal +three failed means to knowledge +I weave into one +with no light above +and no shadow below +too fine to be named +returning to nothing +this is the formless form +the immaterial image +the one that waxes and wanes +we meet without seeing its face +we follow without seeing its back +whoever upolds this very Way +can rule this very realm +and discover the ancient maiden +this is the thread of the Way +## 15 +The great masters of ancient times +focused on the indiscernible +and penetrated the dark +you would never know them +and because you wouldn’t know them +I describe them with reluctance +they were careful as if crossing a river in winter +cautious as if worried about neighbors +reserved like a guest +ephemeral like melting ice +simple like uncarved wood +open like a valley +and murky like a puddle +but those who can be like a puddle +become clear when they’re still +and those who can be at rest +become alive when they’re roused +those who treasure this Way +don’t try to be seen +not trying to be seen +they can hide and stay hidden +## 16 +Keeping emptiness as their limit +and stillness as their center +ten thousand things rise +we watch them return +creatures without number +return to their roots +returning to their roots they are still +being still they revive +reviving they endure +knowing how to endure is wisdom +not knowing is to suffer in vain +knowing how to endure is to yield +to yield is to be impartial +to be impartial is to be the ruler +the ruler is Heaven +Heaven is the Way +and the Way is long life +a life without trouble +## 17 +During the High Ages people knew they were there +then people loved and praised them +then they feared them +finally they despised them +when honesty fails +dishonesty prevails +hesitate and weigh your words +when their work succeeds +let people think they did it +## 18 +When the Great Way disappears +we meet kindness and justice +when reason appears +we meet great deceit +when the six relations fail +we meet obedience and love +when the country is in chaos +we meet upright officials +## 19 +Get rid of wisdom and reason +and people will live a hundred times better +get rid of kindness and justice +and people once more will love and obey +get rid of cleverness and profit +and thieves will cease to exist +but these three sayings are incomplete +hence let these be added +display the undyed and preserve the uncarved +reduce self-interest and limit desires +## 20 +Get rid of learning and problems will vanish +yes and no +aren’t so far apart +lovely and ugly +aren’t so unalike +what others fear +we can’t help fear too +before the moon begins to wane +everyone is overjoyed +as if they were at the Great Sacrifice +or climbing a tower in spring +I sit here and make no sign +like an infant that doesn’t smile +lost with no one to turn to +while others enjoy more +I alone seem deficient +with a mind like that of a fool +I’m so simple +others look bright +I alone seem dim +others are certain +I alone am confused +ebbing like the ocean +waxing without cease +everyone has a goal +I alone am dumb and backward +for I alone choose to differ +preferring still my mother’s tit +## 21 +The appearance of Empty Virtue +this is what comes from the Tao +the Tao as a thing +waxes and wanes +it waxes and wanes +but inside is an image +it wanes and waxes +but inside is a creature +it’s distant and dark +but inside is an essence +an essence that is real +inside which is a heart +throughout the ages +its name hasn’t changed +so we might follow our fathers +how do we know what our fathers were like +by means of this +## 22 +The incomplete become whole +the crooked become straight +the hollow become full +the worn-out become new +those with less become content +those with more become confused +sages therefore hold on to one thing +and use this to guide the world +not considering themselves they appear +not displaying themselves they shine +not flattering themselves they succeed +not parading themselves they lead +because they don’t compete +no one can compete against them +the ancients who said the incomplete become whole +came close indeed +becoming whole depends on this +## 23 +Whispered words are natural +a gale doesn’t last all morning +a squall doesn’t last all day +who creates these +Heaven and Earth +if Heaven and Earth can’t make things last +how much less can Humankind +thus in whatever you do +when you follow the Way be one with the Way +when you succeed be one with success +when you fail be one with failure +be one with success +for the Way succeeds too +be one with failure +for the Way fails too +## 24 +Those who tiptoe don’t stand +those who stride don’t walk +those who consider themselves don’t appear +those who display themselves don’t shine +those who flatter themselves achieve nothing +those who parade themselves don’t lead +travelers have a saying +too much food and a tiring pace +some things are simply bad +those who possess the Way thus shun them +## 25 +Imagine a nebulous thing +here before Heaven and Earth +subtle and elusive +dwelling apart and unconstrained +it could be the mother of us all +not knowing its name +I call it the Tao +forced to describe it +I describe it as great +great means ever-flowing +ever-flowing means far-reaching +far-reaching means returning +the Tao is great +Heaven is great +Earth is great +the ruler is also great +the realm contains Four Greats +of which the ruler is but one +Humankind imitates Earth +Earth imitates Heaven +Heaven imitates the Tao +and the Tao imitates itself +## 26 +Heavy is the root of light +still is the master of restless +thus a lord might travel all day +but never far from his supplies +even in a guarded camp +his manner is calm and aloof +why would the lord of ten thousand chariots +treat himself lighter than his kingdom +too light he loses his base +too restless he loses command +## 27 +Good walking leaves no tracks +good talking contains no flaws +good counting counts no beads +good closing locks no locks +and yet it can’t be opened +good tying ties no knots +and yet it can’t be undone +sages are good at saving others +therefore they abandon no one +nor anything of use +this is called cloaking the light +thus the good instruct the bad +and the bad learn from the good +not honoring their teachers +or cherishing their students +the wise alone are perfectly blind +this is called peering into the distance +## 28 +Recognize the male +but hold on to the female +and be the world’s maid +being the world’s maid +don’t lose your Immortal Virtue +not losing your Immortal Virtue +be a newborn child again +recognize the pure +but hold on to the base +and be the world’s valley +being the world’s valley +be filled with Immortal Virtue +being filled with Immortal Virtue +be a block of wood again +recognize the white +but hold on to the black +and be the world’s guide +being the world’s guide +don’t stray from your Immortal Virtue +not straying from your Immortal Virtue +be without limits again +a block of wood can be split to make tools +sages make it their chief official +a master tailor doesn’t cut +## 29 +Trying to govern the world with force +I see this not succeeding +the world is a spiritual thing +it can’t be forced +to force it is to harm it +to control it is to lose it +sometimes things lead +sometimes they follow +sometimes they blow hot +sometimes they blow cold +sometimes they expand +sometimes they collapse +sages therefore avoid extremes +avoid extravagance +avoid excess +## 30 +Use the Tao to assist your lord +don’t use weapons to rule the land +such things have repercussions +where armies camp +brambles grow +best to win then stop +don’t make use of force +win but don’t be proud +win but don’t be vain +win but don’t be cruel +win when you have no choice +this is to win without force +virility leads to old age +this isn’t the Tao +what isn’t the Tao ends early +## 31 +Weapons are not auspicious tools +some things are simply bad +thus the Taoist shuns them +in peace the ruler honors the left +in war he honors the right +weapons are not auspicious tools +he wields them when he has no choice +dispassion is the best +thus he doesn’t praise them +those who praise their use +enjoy killing others +those who enjoy killing others +achieve no worldly rule +thus we honor the left for happiness +we honor the right for sorrow +the left is where the adjutant stands +the commander on the right +which means as at a funeral +when you kill another +honor him with your tears +when the battle is won +treat it as a wake +## 32 +The Tao remains unnamed +simple and though small +no one can command it +if a lord upheld it +the world would be his guest +when Heaven joins with Earth +they bestow sweet dew +no one gives the order +it comes down to all +the first distinction gives us names +once we have a name +we should know restraint +who knows restraint avoids trouble +to picture the Tao in the world +imagine a stream and the sea +## 33 +Those who know others are perceptive +those who know themselves are wise +those who conquer others are forceful +those who conquer themselves are strong +those who know contentment are wealthy +those who strive hard are resolved +those who don’t lose their place endure +those who aren’t affected by death live long +## 34 +The Tao drifts +it can go left or right +everything lives by its grace +but it doesn’t speak +when its work succeeds +it makes no claim +it has no desires +shall we call it small +everything turns to it +but it wields no control +shall we call it great +it’s because sages never act great +they can thus achieve great things +## 35 +Hold up the Great Image +and the world will come +and be beyond harm +safe and serene and at peace +fine food and song +don’t detain guests long +thus the Tao speaks +plain words that make no sense +we look but don’t see it +we listen but don’t hear it +yet we use it without end +## 36 +What you would shorten +you first should lengthen +what you would weaken +you first should strengthen +what you would topple +you first should raise +what you would take +you first should give +this is called hiding the light +the weak conquering the strong +fish can’t survive out of the depths +a state’s greatest weapon +isn’t meant to be shown +## 37 +The Tao makes no effort at all +yet there is nothing it doesn’t do +if a ruler could uphold it +the people by themselves would change +and changing if their desires stirred +he could make them still +with simplicity that has no name +and stilled by nameless simplicity +they would not desire +and not desiring be at peace +the world would fix itself +## 38 +Higher Virtue isn’t virtuous +thus it possesses virtue +Lower Virtue isn’t without virtue +thus it possesses no virtue +Higher Virtue involves no effort +or the thought of effort +Higher Kindness involves effort +but not the thought of effort +Higher Justice involves effort +and the thought of effort +Higher Ritual involves effort +and should it meet with no response +then it threatens and compels +virtue appears when the Way is lost +kindness appears when virtue is lost +justice appears when kindness is lost +ritual appears when justice is lost +ritual marks the waning of belief +and the onset of confusion +augury is the flower of the Way +and beginning of delusion +thus the great choose thick over thin +the fruit over the flower +thus they pick this over that +## 39 +Of those that became one in the past +Heaven became one and was clear +Earth became one and was still +spirits became one and were active +valleys became one and were full +kings became one and ruled the world +but from this we can infer +Heaven would crack if it were always clear +Earth would crumble if it were always still +spirits would dissipate if they were always active +valleys would dry up if they were always full +kings would fall if they were always high and noble +for the noble is based on the humble +and the high is founded on the low +thus do kings refer to themselves +as orphaned widowed and destitute +but this isn’t the basis of humility +counting a carriage as no carriage at all +not wanting to clink like jade +they clunk like rocks +## 40 +The Tao moves the other way +the Tao works through weakness +the things of this world come from something +something comes from nothing +## 41 +When superior people hear of the Way +they follow it with devotion +when average people hear of the Way +they wonder if it exists +when inferior people hear of the Way +they laugh out loud +if they didn’t laugh +it wouldn’t be the Way +hence these sayings arose +the brightest path seems dark +the path leading forward seems backward +the smoothest path seems rough +the highest virtue low +the whitest white pitch-black +the greatest virtue wanting +the staunchest virtue timid +the truest truth uncertain +the perfect square without corners +the perfect tool without uses +the perfect sound hushed +the perfect image without form +for the Tao is hidden and nameless +but because it’s the Tao +it knows how to start and how to finish +## 42 +The Tao gives birth to one +one gives birth to two +two gives birth to three +three gives birth to ten thousand things +ten thousand things with yin at their backs +yang in their embrace +and breath between for harmony +what the world hates +to be orphaned widowed or destitute +kings use for their titles +thus some gain by losing +others lose by gaining +what others teach +I teach too +tyrants never choose their death +this becomes my teacher +## 43 +The weakest thing in the world +overcomes the strongest thing in the world +what doesn’t exist finds room where there’s none +thus we know help comes with no effort +wordless instruction +effortless help +few in the world can match this +## 44 +Which is more vital +fame or health +which is more precious +health or wealth +which is more harmful +loss or gain +the deeper the love +the higher the cost +the bigger the treasure +the greater the loss +who knows contentment +thus suffers no shame +and who knows restraint +encounters no trouble +while enjoying a long life +## 45 +Perfectly complete it seems deficient +yet it never wears out +perfectly full it seems empty +yet it never runs dry +perfectly straight it seems crooked +perfectly clever it seems clumsy +perfectly abundant it seems impoverished +active it overcomes cold +still it overcomes heat +those who know how to be perfectly still +are able to govern the world +## 46 +When the Tao is present in the world +courier horses manure fields instead of roads +when the Tao is absent from the world +war horses are raised on the border +no crime is worse than yielding to desire +no wrong is greater than discontent +no curse is crueler than getting what you want +the contentment of being content +is true contentment indeed +## 47 +Without going out your door +you can know the whole world +without looking out your window +you can know the Way of Heaven +the farther people go +the less they know +sages therefore know without traveling +name without seeing +and succeed without trying +## 48 +Those who seek learning gain every day +those who seek the Way lose every day +they lose and they lose +until they find nothing to do +nothing to do means nothing not done +those who rule the world aren’t busy +those who are busy +can’t rule the world +## 49 +Sages have no mind of their own +their mind is the mind of the people +to the good they are good +to the bad they are good +until they become good +to the true they are true +to the false they are true +until they become true +in the world sages are withdrawn +with the world they merge their mind +people open their ears and eyes +sages cover theirs up +## 50 +Appearing means life +disappearing means death +thirteen are the followers of life +thirteen are the followers of death +but people living to live +move toward the land of death’s thirteen +and why is this so +because they live to live +it’s said that those who guard life well +aren’t injured by soldiers in battle +or harmed by rhinos or tigers in the wild +for rhinos find nowhere to stick their horns +tigers find nowhere to sink their claws +and soldiers find nowhere to thrust their spears +and why is this so +because for them there’s no land of death +## 51 +The Way begets them +Virtue keeps them +matter shapes them +usage completes them +thus do all creatures respect the Way +and honor Virtue +their respect for the Way +and honor of Virtue +are not conferred +but simply natural +for the Way begets and keeps them +raises and trains them +steadies and adjusts them +maintains and protects them +but it doesn’t possess what it begets +or depend on what it develops +or control what it raises +this is called Dark Virtue +## 52 +There’s a maiden in the world +who becomes the world’s mother +those who find the mother +thereby know the child +those who know the child +keep the mother safe +and live without trouble +those who block the opening +who close the gate +live without toil +those who unblock the opening +who meddle in affairs +live without hope +those who see the small have vision +those who protect the weak have strength +those who use their light +and trust their vision +live beyond death +this is called holding on to the crescent +## 53 +Were I sufficiently wise +I would follow the Great Way +and only fear going astray +the Great Way is smooth +but people love byways +their palaces are spotless +but their fields are overgrown +and their granaries are empty +they wear fine clothes +and carry sharp swords +they tire of food and drink +and possess more than they need +this is called robbery +and robbery is not the Way +## 54 +What you plant well can’t be uprooted +what you hold well can’t be taken away +your descendents will worship this forever +cultivated in yourself virtue becomes real +cultivated in your family virtue grows +cultivated in your village virtue multiplies +cultivated in your state virtue abounds +cultivated in your world virtue is everywhere +thus view others through yourself +view families through your family +view villages through your village +view states through your state +view other worlds through your world +how do you know what other worlds are like +through this one +## 55 +He who possesses virtue in abundance +resembles a newborn child +wasps don’t sting him +beasts don’t claw him +birds of prey don’t carry him off +his bones are weak and his tendons soft +yet his grip is firm +he hasn’t known the union of sexes +yet his penis is stiff +so full of essence is he +he cries all day +yet never gets hoarse +his breath is so perfectly balanced +knowing how to be balanced we endure +knowing how to endure we become wise +while those who lengthen their life tempt luck +and those who force their breath become strong +but once things mature they become old +this isn’t the Way +what isn’t the Way ends early +## 56 +Those who know don’t talk +those who talk don’t know +seal the opening +close the gate +dull the edge +untie the tangle +soften the light +and join the dust +this is called the Dark Union +it can’t be embraced +it can’t be abandoned +it can’t be helped +it can’t be harmed +it can’t be exalted +it can’t be debased +thus does the world exalt it +## 57 +Use directness to govern a country +and use deception to fight a war +but use nonaction to rule the world +how do we know this works +the greater the prohibitions +the poorer the people +the sharper their tools +the more chaotic the realm +the cleverer their schemes +the more common the bizarre +the better their possessions +the more numerous the thieves +thus does the sage declare +I make no effort +and the people transform themselves +I stay still +and the people correct themselves +I do no work +and the people enrich themselves +I want nothing +and the people simplify themselves +## 58 +Where the government stands aloof +the people open up +where the government steps in +the people slip away +happiness rests in misery +misery hides in happiness +who knows where these end +for nothing is direct +directness becomes deception +and good becomes evil +the people have been lost +for a long long time +thus the sage is an edge that doesn’t cut +a point that doesn’t pierce +a line that doesn’t extend +a light that doesn’t blind +## 59 +In governing people and caring for Heaven +nothing surpasses economy +economy means planning ahead +planning ahead means accumulating virtue +accumulating virtue means overcoming all +overcoming all means knowing no limit +knowing no limit means guarding the realm +and guarding the realm’s mother means living long +which means deep roots and a solid trunk +the Way of a long and lasting life +## 60 +Ruling a great state +is like cooking a small fish +when you govern the world with the Tao +spirits display no powers +not that they have no powers +their powers don’t harm the people +not that their powers can’t harm +the sage keeps them from harming +and neither harms the other +for both rely on Virtue +## 61 +A great state is a watershed +the confluence of the world +the female of the world +the female uses stillness to overcome the male +in order to be still +she needs to be lower +the great state that lowers itself before the small state +governs the small state +the small state that lowers itself before the great state +is governed by the great state +some lower themselves to govern +some lower themselves to be governed +the great state’s one desire +is to unite and lead others +the small state’s one desire +is to join and serve others +for both to fulfill their desires +whichever is greater needs to be lower +## 62 +The Tao is creation’s sanctuary +treasured by the good +it keeps the bad alive +beautiful words might be the price +noble deeds might be the gift +how can we abandon +people who are bad +thus when emperors are enthroned +or ministers installed +though there be great disks of jade +followed by teams of horses +they don’t rival one who sits +and offers up this Way +the ancients thus esteemed it +for did they not proclaim +who seeks thereby obtains +who errs thereby escapes +thus the world esteems it +## 63 +Act without acting +work without working +understand without understanding +great or small many or few +repay each wrong with virtue +plan for the hard while it’s easy +deal with the great while it’s small +the world’s hardest task begins easy +the world’s greatest goal begins small +sages therefore never act great +they thus achieve great goals +who quickly agrees is seldom trusted +who thinks things easy finds them hard +sages therefore think everything hard +and thus find nothing hard +## 64 +It’s easy to rule while it’s peaceful +it’s easy to plan for before it appears +it’s easy to break while it’s fragile +it’s easy to disperse while it’s small +act before anything exists +govern before anyone rebels +a giant tree grows from the tiniest shoot +a great tower rises from a basket of dirt +a thousand-mile journey begins at your feet +but to act is to fail +to control is to lose +sages therefore don’t act +thus they don’t fail +they don’t control +thus they don’t lose +when people pursue a task +failure occurs near the end +care at the end as well as the start +means an end to failure +sages thus seek what no one else seeks +they don’t prize hard-to-get goods +they study what no one else studies +they turn to what others pass by +to help all things remain natural +they dare not act +## 65 +The ancient masters of the Way +tried not to enlighten +but to keep people in the dark +what makes people hard to rule +is their knowledge +who rules the realm with knowledge +is the terror of the realm +who rules without knowledge +is the paragon of the realm +who understands the difference +is one who finds the key +knowing how to find the key +is what we call Dark Virtue +Dark Virtue goes deep +goes far +goes the other way +until it reaches perfect harmony +## 66 +The reason the sea can govern a hundred rivers +is because it has mastered being lower +thus it can govern a hundred rivers +hence if sages would be above the people +they should speak as if they were below them +if they would be in front +they should act as if they were behind them +thus when sages are above +the people aren’t burdened +when they are in front +the people aren’t obstructed +the world never wearies +of pushing sages forward +and because they don’t struggle +no one can struggle against them +## 67 +The world calls me great +great but useless +it’s because I am great I am useless +if I were of use +I would have remained small +but I possess three treasures +I treasure and uphold +first is compassion +second is austerity +third is reluctance to excel +because I’m compassionate +I can be valiant +because I’m austere +I can be extravagant +because I’m reluctant to excel +I can be chief of all tools +if I renounced compassion for valor +austerity for extravagance +humility for superiority +I would die +but compassion wins every battle +and outlasts every attack +what Heaven creates +let compassion protect +## 68 +In ancient times +the perfect officer wasn’t armed +the perfect warrior wasn’t angry +the perfect victor wasn’t hostile +the perfect commander acted humble +this is the virtue of nonaggression +this is using the strength of others +this is uniting with Heaven +which was the ancient end +## 69 +In warfare there is a saying +rather than a host +better to be a guest +rather than advance an inch +better to retreat a foot +this means to form no ranks +to put on no armor +to brandish no weapons +to repulse no enemy +no fate is worse than to have no enemy +to have no enemy is to lose one’s treasure +thus when opponents are evenly matched +the remorseful one prevails +## 70 +My words are easy to understand +and easy to practice +but no one understands them +or puts them into practice +words have an ancestor +deeds have a master +the reason I’m not understood +it’s me who isn’t understood +but because so few understand me +thus am I esteemed +sages therefore wear coarse cloth +and keep their jade concealed +## 71 +To understand yet not understand +is transcendence +not to understand yet understand +is affliction +the reason sages aren’t afflicted +is because they treat affliction as affliction +hence they aren’t afflicted +## 72 +When people no longer fear authority +a greater authority will appear +don’t restrict where people dwell +don’t repress how people live +if they aren’t repressed +they won’t protest +sages therefore know themselves +but don’t reveal themselves +they love themselves +but don’t exalt themselves +thus they pick this over that +## 73 +Daring to act means death +daring not to act means life +of these two +one benefits +the other harms +what Heaven dislikes +who knows the reason +the Way of Heaven +is to win without a fight +to answer without a word +to come without a summons +and to plan without a thought +the Net of Heaven is all-embracing +its mesh is wide but nothing escapes +## 74 +If people no longer fear death +what good is threatening to kill them +if people truly fear death +and some act perverse +and we catch and kill them +who else would dare +as long as people fear death +the executioner will exist +to kill in the executioner’s place +is to cut in the carpenter’s place +those who cut in the carpenter’s place +seldom escape with hands intact +## 75 +The reason people are hungry +is that those above levy so many taxes +this is why they are hungry +the reason people are hard to rule +is that those above are so forceful +this is why they are hard to rule +the reason people think little of death +is that those above think so much of life +this is why they think little of death +meanwhile those who do nothing to live +are more esteemed than those who love life +## 76 +When people are born +they are soft and weak +when they perish +they are hard and stiff +when plants shoot forth +they are supple and tender +when they die +they are withered and dry +thus is it said +the hard and stiff are followers of death +the soft and weak are followers of life +when an army becomes stiff it suffers defeat +when a plant becomes stiff it snaps +the hard and stiff dwell below +the soft and weak dwell above +## 77 +The Way of Heaven +is like stringing a bow +pulling down the high +lifting up the low +shortening the long +lengthening the short +the Way of Heaven +takes from the long +and supplements the short +unlike the Way of Humankind +which takes from the short +and gives to the long +who can take the long +and give it to the world +only those who possess the Way +thus do sages not depend on what they develop +or claim what they achieve +thus they choose to hide their skill +## 78 +Nothing in the world is weaker than water +but against the hard and the strong +nothing outdoes it +for nothing can change it +the soft overcomes the hard +the weak overcomes the strong +this is something everyone knows +but no one is able to practice +thus do sages declare +who accepts a country’s disgrace +we call the lord of soil and grain +who accepts a country’s misfortune +we call the ruler of all under Heaven +upright words sound upside down +## 79 +In resolving a great dispute +a dispute is sure to remain +how can this be good +sages therefore hold the left marker +and make no claim on others +thus the virtuous oversee markers +the virtueless oversee taxes +the Way of Heaven favors no one +but it always helps the good +## 80 +Imagine a small state with a small population +let there be labor-saving tools +that aren’t used +let people consider death +and not move far +let there be boats and carts +but no reason to ride them +let there be armor and weapons +but no reason to employ them +let people return to the use of knots +and be satisfied with their food +and pleased with their clothing +and content with their homes +and happy with their customs +let there be another state so near +people hear its dogs and chickens +but live out their lives +without making a visit +## 81 +True words aren’t beautiful +beautiful words aren’t true +the good aren’t eloquent +the eloquent aren’t good +the wise aren’t learned +the learned aren’t wise +sages accumulate nothing +but the more they do for others +the greater their existence +the more they give to others +the greater their abundance +the Way of Heaven +is to help without harming +the Way of the Sage +is to act without struggling diff --git a/source/content/tao/2010-ames-and-hall.md b/source/content/tao/2010-ames-and-hall.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..037b7ce --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/2010-ames-and-hall.md @@ -0,0 +1,2468 @@ +Translator: Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall +Year: 2010 +Source: [book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0345444158) +Code: ah + +## 1 + + +Way-making (dao) that can be put into words is not really way-making, + +And naming (ming) that can assign fixed reference to things is not really naming + +The nameless (wuming) is the fetal beginnings of everything that is happening (wanwu), + +While that which is named is their mother + +Thus, to be really objectless in one’s desires (wuyu) is how one observes the mysteries of all things, + +While really having desires is how one observes their boundaries + +These two—the nameless and what is named—emerge from the same source yet are referred to differently. + +Together they are called obscure + +The obscurest of the obscure, + +They are the swinging gateway of the manifold mysteries. + +## 2 + + +As soon as everyone in the world knows that the beautiful are beautiful, + +There is already ugliness. + +As soon as everyone knows the able, + +There is ineptness + +Determinacy (you) and indeterminacy (wu) give rise to each other, + +Difficult and easy complement each other, + +Long and short set each other off, + +High and low complete each other, + +Refined notes and raw sounds harmonize (he) with each other, + +And before and after lend sequence to each other— + +This is really how it all works + +It is for this reason that sages keep to service that does not entail coercion (wuwei) + +And disseminate teachings that go beyond what can be said. + +In all that happens (wanwu), + +The sages develop things but do not initiate them, + +They act on behalf of things but do not lay any claim to them, + +They see things through to fruition but do not take credit for them. + +It is only because they do not take credit for them that things do not take their leave. + +## 3 + + +Not promoting those of superior character + +Will save the common people from becoming contentious. + +Not prizing property that is hard to come by + +Will save them from becoming thieves. + +Not making a show of what might be desired + +Will save them from becoming disgruntled. + +It is for this reason that in the proper governing by the sages: + +They empty the hearts-and-minds of the people and fill their stomachs, + +They weaken their aspirations and strengthen their bones, + +Ever teaching the common people to be unprincipled in their knowing (wuzhi) + +And objectless in their desires (wuyu), + +They keep the hawkers of knowledge at bay. + +It is simply in doing things noncoercively (wuwei) + +That everything is governed properly. + +## 4 + + +Way-making being empty, + +You make use of it But do not fill it up + +So abysmally deep— + +It seems the predecessor of everything that is happening (wanwu). + +It blunts the sharp edges + +And untangles the knots; + +It softens (he) the glare + +And brings things together on the same track. + +So cavernously deep— + +It only seems to persist. + +I do not know whose progeny it is; + +It prefigures the ancestral gods. + +## 5 + + +The heavens and the earth are not partial to institutionalized morality + +They take things (wanwu) and treat them all as straw dogs + +Sages too are not partial to institutionalized morality. + +They treat the common people as straw dogs. + +The space between the heavens and the earth— + +Isn’t it just like a bellows! + +Even though empty it is not vacuous. + +Pump it and more and more comes out. + +It is better to safeguard what you have within + +Than to learn a great deal that so often goes nowhere. + +## 6 + + +The life-force of the valley never dies— + +This is called the dark female. + +The gateway of the dark female— + +This is called the root of the world. + +Wispy and delicate, it only seems to be there, + +Yet its productivity is bottomless. + +## 7 + + +The heavens are lasting and the earth enduring. + +The reason the world is able to be lasting and enduring + +Is because it does not live for itself + +Thus it is able to be long-lived. + +It is on this model that the sages withdraw their persons from contention yet find themselves out in front, + +Put their own persons out of mind yet find themselves taken care of. Isn’t it simply because they are unselfish that they can satisfy their own needs? + +## 8 + + +The highest efficacy is like water. + +It is because water benefits everything (wanwu) + +Yet vies to dwell in places loathed by the crowd + +That it comes nearest to proper way-making. + +In dwelling, the question is where is the right place. + +In thinking and feeling, it is how deeply. + +In giving, it is how much like nature’s bounty + +In speaking, it is how credibly. + +In governing, it is how effectively. + +In serving, it is how capably. + +In acting, it is how timely. + +It is only because there is no contentiousness in proper way-making That it incurs no blame. + +## 9 + + +It is better to desist + +Than to try to hold it upright and fill it to the brim. + +Pounded out to a point + +Its sharpness cannot be long maintained. + +When treasure fills the hall, + +No one is able to keep it safe. + +Those who are arrogant because of station and wealth + +Bring calamity upon themselves. + +To retire when the deed is done + +Is the way (dao) that tian works. + +## 10 + + +In carrying about your more spiritual and more physical aspects and embracing their oneness,18 + +Are you able to keep them from separating? + +In concentrating your qi and making it pliant, + +Are you able to become the newborn babe? + +In scrubbing and cleansing your profound mirror, + +Are you able to rid it of all imperfections? + +In loving the common people and breathing life into the state, + +Are you able to do it without recourse to wisdom? + +With nature’s gates swinging open and closed, + +Are you able to remain the female? + +With your insight penetrating the four quarters, + +Are you able to do it without recourse to wisdom? + +It gives life to things and nurtures them. + +Giving life without managing them + +And raising them without lording it over them— + +This is called the profoundest efficacy (de) + +## 11 + + +The thirty spokes converge at one hub, + +But the utility of the cart is a function of the nothingness (wn) inside the hub. + +We throw clay to shape a pot, + +But the utility of the clay pot is a function of the nothingness inside it. + +We bore out doors and windows to make a dwelling,20 + +But the utility of the dwelling is a function of the nothingness inside it. + +Thus, it might be something (you) that provides the value, + +But it is nothing that provides the utility. + +## 12 + + +The five colors blind the eye, + +The hard riding of the hunt addles both heart and mind, + +Property hard to come by subverts proper conduct, + +The five flavors destroy the palate, + +And the five notes impair the ear + +It is for this reason that in the proper governing by the sages:24 + +They exert their efforts on behalf of the abdomen rather than the eye + +Thus, eschewing one they take the other. + +## 13 + + +“Favor and disgrace are cause for alarm.” + +“Value your gravest anxieties as you do your own person.” + +What does it mean in saying “Favor and disgrace are both cause for alarm?”26 + +It means that whenever favor is bestowed, both gaining it and losing it should be cause for alarm. + +What does it mean in saying “Value your gravest anxieties as you do your own person?” The reason we have grave anxieties is because we are embodied persons. If we were not such persons, what anxieties would we have? Thus those who value the care of their own persons more than running the world can be entrusted with the world. And those who begrudge their persons as though they were the world can be put in charge of the world. + +## 14 + + +Looking and yet not seeing it + +We thus call it “elusive.” + +Listening and yet not hearing it + +We thus call it “inaudible.” + +Groping and yet not getting it + +We thus call it “intangible.” + +Because in sight, sound, and touch it is beyond determination + +We construe it as inseparably one. + +As for this “one”— + +Its surface is not dazzling + +Nor is its underside dark. + +Ever so tangled, it defies discrimination + +And reverts again to indeterminacy. + +This is what is called the form of the formless + +And the image of indeterminacy. + +This is what is called the vague and the indefinite. + +Following behind you will not see its rear; + +Encountering it you will not see its head. + +Hold tightly onto way-making in the present + +To manage what is happening right now + +And to understand where it began in the distant past. + +This is what is called the drawstring of way-making. + +## 15 + + +Those of old who were good at forging their way (dao) in the world:29 + +Subtle and mysterious, dark and penetrating,30 + +Their profundity was beyond comprehension. + +It is because they were beyond comprehension + +That were I forced to describe them, I would say:32 + +So reluctant, as though crossing a winter stream; + +So vigilant, as though in fear of the surrounding neighbors; + +So dignified, like an invited guest; + +So yielding, like ice about to thaw; + +So solid, like unworked wood; + +So murky, like muddy water; + +So vast and vacant, like a mountain gorge + +Muddy water, when stilled, slowly becomes clear; + +Something settled, when agitated, slowly comes to life + +Those who prize way-making do not seek fullness;35 + +It is only because they do not want to be full + +That they are able to remain hidden and unfinished + +## 16 + + +Extend your utmost emptiness as far as you can + +And do your best to preserve your equilibrium (jing) + +In the process of all things emerging together (wanwu) + +We can witness their reversion. + +Things proliferate, + +And each again returns to its root. + +Returning to the root is called equilibrium. + +Now as for equilibrium—this is called returning to the propensity of things, + +And returning to the propensity of things is common sense. + +Using common sense is acuity, + +While failing to use it is to lose control. + +And to try to do anything while out of control is to court disaster. + +Using common sense is to be accommodating, + +Being accommodating is tolerance, + +Being tolerant is kingliness, + +Being kingly is tian-likt, + +Being tian-like is to be way-making, + +And the way-made is enduring. + +To the end of one’s days one will be free of danger. + +## 17 + + +With the most excellent rulers, their subjects only know that they are there, + +The next best are the rulers they love and praise, + +Next are the rulers they hold in awe, + +And the worst are the rulers they disparage. + +Where there is a lack of credibility, + +There is a lack of trust. + +Vigilant, they are careful in what they say. + +With all things accomplished and the work complete + +The common people say, “We are spontaneously like this.” + +## 18 + + +It is when grand way-making is abandoned + +That authoritative conduct (ren) and appropriateness (yi) appear + +It is when wisdom (zhi) and erudition arise + +That great duplicity appears + +It is when the six family relationships are disharmonious + +That filiality (xiao) and parental affection (ci) appear. + +It is when the state has fallen into troubled times + +That upright ministers appear + +## 19 + + +Cut off sagacity (sheng) and get rid of wisdom (zhi)46 + +And the benefit to the common people will be a hundredfold. + +Cut off authoritative conduct (ren) and get rid of appropriateness (yi)47 + +And the common people will return to filiality (xiao) and parental affection (ci). + +Cut off cleverness and get rid of personal profit + +And there will be no more brigands and thieves. + +But these three sayings as they stand are still lacking + +And need to be supplemented by the following: + +Display a genuineness like raw silk and embrace a simplicity like unworked wood, + +Lessen your concern for yourself and reduce your desires. + +## 20 + + +Cut off learning and there will be nothing more to worry about. + +How much difference is there really between a polite “yes” and an emphatic “no!”?48 + +How much difference is there between what is deemed beautiful and ugly?49 + +Those whom people fear + +Cannot but also fear others. + +So indefinite! Does this humbuggery ever come to an end! + +Most people are happy, happy, + +As though feasting at the Tailao banquet + +Or climbing some sightseeing tower in the springtime. + +I alone am so impassive, revealing nothing at all, + +Like a babe that has yet to smile; + +So listless, as though nowhere to go. + +Most people have more than enough, + +While I alone have lost out. + +I have the heart-and-mind of a fool—so vacant and dull! + +The common lot see things so clearly, + +While I alone seem to be in the dark. + +The common lot are so discriminating, + +While I alone am so obtuse. + +So vague and hazy, like the rolling seas; + +So indeterminate, as though virtually endless. + +The common lot all have their purposes + +While I alone am a dull-witted yokel. + +My needs alone are different from other people, + +Cherishing my mother’s milk. + +## 21 + + +Those of magnificent character (de) + +Are committed to way-making (dad) alone. + +As for the process of way-making, + +It is ever so indefinite and vague. + +Though vague and indefinite, + +There are images within it. + +Though indefinite and vague, + +There are events within it. + +Though nebulous and dark, + +There are seminal concentrations of qi within it. + +These concentrations of qi are authentic, + +And have within them true credibility. + +From the present moment back into antiquity, + +Praise for way-making has never ceased, + +And it is through way-making that we can act in accordance with the sire of the many. + +How do I know that the sire of the many is so? By this. + +## 22 + + +Crimped then whole, + +Warped then true, + +Hollow then full, + +Worn then new, + +Modest then satisfied, + +Demanding then bewildered + +It is for this reason that the sages grasp oneness + +To be shepherds to the world + +Those who are not self-promoting are distinguished, + +Those who do not show off shine, + +Those who do not brag have lots to show, + +Those who are not self-important are enduring + +It is only because they do not contend + +That none are able to contend with them. + +Isn’t what the ancients called “giving up the crimped for the sake of the whole.” + +Getting close to what these words mean! + +This expression indeed says it all. + +## 23 + + +It is natural to speak only rarely. + +Violent winds do not last a whole morning + +And torrential rains do not last a whole day. + +What is behind these occurrences? + +[It is the heavens and the earth.]57 + +And if the heavens and the earth cannot sustain things for long, + +How much less the human being. + +Thus, those who are committed to way-making (dao) in what they do + +Are on their way. + +Those who are committed to character (de) in what they do + +Achieve this character; + +While those who lose it + +Are themselves lost + +Way-making is moreover enhanced by those who express character, + +Just as it is diminished by those who themselves have lost it. + +## 2464 + + +Blowhards have no standing, + +The self-promoting are not distinguished, + +Show-offs do not shine, + +Braggarts have nothing to show, + +The self-important are here and gone. + +As these attitudes pertain to way-making (dao), + +They are called indulgence and unseemliness. + +Such excess is so generally despised + +That even those who want things + +Cannot abide it. + +## 25 + + +There was some process that formed spontaneously + +Emerging before the heavens and the earth + +Silent and empty, + +Standing alone as all that is, it does not suffer alteration + +[All pervading, it does not pause.]68 + +It can be thought of as the mother of the heavens and the earth. + +I do not yet know its name (ming). + +If I were to style it,69 + +I would call it way-making (dao). + +And if forced to give it a name, + +I would call it grand. + +Being grand, it is called passing, + +Passing, it is called distancing. + +Distancing, it is called returning. + +Way-making is grand, + +The heavens (tian) are grand, + +The earth is grand, + +And the king is also grand. + +Within our territories + +There are four “grandees” + +And the king occupies one of them. + +Human beings emulate the earth, + +The earth emulates the heavens, + +The heavens emulate way-making, + +And way-making emulates what is spontaneously so (ziran). + +## 26 + + +The heavy is the root of the light; + +Equilibrium (jing) is the lord of agitation. + +It is for this reason that the ruler in traveling the entire day + +Will not take leave of his heavy wagons. + +It is only when he is ensconced in familiar chambers encircled by watchtowers + +That he rises above such concerns. + +How could someone be the king of a huge state + +And treat his own person as less important than the world? + +If he treats his person lightly, he loses the root; + +If he becomes agitated, he loses his throne. + +## 27 + + +Able travelers leave no ruts or tracks along the way; + +Able speakers make no gaffes that might occasion reproach; + +Able reckoners have no use for tallies or counting sticks; + +Able sealers make no use of bolts or latches yet what they close off cannot be opened. + +Able cinchers make no use of ropes or cords yet their knots cannot be undone. + +It is for this reason that the sages in being really good at turning others to account + +Have no need to reject anyone, + +And in dealing with property, + +Have no need to reject anything. + +This is what is called following their natural acuity (ming). + +Thus able persons are teachers of the able + +While the inept provide them with raw materials. + +While perhaps wise enough, + +Those who fail to honor their teachers and to be sparing with their raw materials + +Have gotten themselves utterly lost. + +This is what is called being subtle and getting to the essentials. + +## 28 + + +Know the male + +Yet safeguard the female + +And be a river gorge to the world. + +As a river gorge to the world, + +You will not lose your real potency (de), + +And not losing your real potency, + +You return to the state of the newborn babe. + +Know the clean + +Yet safeguard the soiled + +And be a valley to the world. + +As a valley to the world + +Your real potency will be ample, + +And with ample potency, + +You return to the state of unworked wood. + +Know the white + +Yet safeguard the black + +And be a model for the world. + +As a model for the world, + +Your real potency will not be wanting, + +And with your potency not wanting, + +You return to the state of the limitless. + +When unworked wood is split, + +It is made into utensils. + +When the sages are employed, + +They are made into head officials. + +There is no cutting, however, in the very best tailoring. + +## 29 + + +If someone wants to rule the world, and goes about trying to do so, + +I foresee that they simply will not succeed. + +The world is a sacred vessel, + +And is not something that can be ruled. + +Those who would rule it ruin it; + +Those who would control it lose it. + +In the way of things: + +Some move ahead while others follow behind; + +Some breathe to warm themselves while others breathe to cool themselves down; + +Some are strong while others are disadvantaged;77 + +Some accumulate while others collapse. + +It is for this reason that the sages eschew the excessive, the superlative, and the extravagant. + +## 30 + + +Those who use way-making (dao) to minister to the ruler + +Do not seek to make him the strongest in the world by force of arms. + +Such a business would likely come back to haunt them + +Wherever armies bivouac + +Brambles and thistles will grow + +[In the wake of great armies + +Lean years are sure to follow.]80 + +Able commanders look only to achieve the right results + +Without seeing victory as a source of empowerment. + +They get their results without arrogance, + +They get their results without becoming self-important, + +They get their results without bragging about them, + +They get these results and accommodate them only as a last resort + +This is called getting the right results without forcing them,82 + +And creates a situation that is likely to endure + +For something to be old while in its prime + +Is called a departure from the way of things. + +And whatever departs from the way of things will come to an untimely end + +## 31 + + +Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, + +And are so generally despised + +That even those who want things + +Cannot abide them + +Rulers under normal circumstances take the left side as the seat of honor, + +But when they go to war, they honor the right. + +Thus, military weapons are not the instruments of true rulers. + +Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, + +And so when you have no choice but to use them, + +It is best to do so coolly and without enthusiasm. + +Do not glorify weapons, + +For to do so is to delight in killing people, + +And anyone who delights in killing people + +Will come up short in the world. + +It is for this reason that on auspicious occasions we honor the left side, + +While at funerals we honor the right. + +Analogously, the lieutenant commander stands to the left + +And the supreme commander takes up his position on the right. + +This means that they are positioned as they would be at a funeral. + +When the casualties are high, + +Inspect the battleground with grief and remorse; + +When the war is won, + +Treat it as you would a funeral. + +## 32 + + +Way-making (dao) is really nameless (wuming). + +Although in this unworked state it is of little consequence,86 + +No one in the world would dare to condescend to it. + +Were the nobles and kings able to respect this, + +All things (wanwu) would defer of their own accord. + +The heavens and the earth would come together + +To send down their sweet honey,88 + +And without being so ordered, + +The common people would see that it is distributed equitably. + +When we start to regulate the world we introduce names. + +But once names have been assigned, + +We must also know when to stop. + +Knowing when to stop is how to avoid danger. + +As an analogy to describe way-making in the world: + +The small creeks flow into the rivers and seas. + +## 33 + + +To know others is wisdom; + +To know oneself is acuity (ming) + +To conquer others is power, + +To conquer oneself is strength. + +To know contentment is to have wealth. + +To act resolutely is to have purpose. + +To stay one’s ground is to be enduring. + +To die and yet not be forgotten is to be long-lived + +## 34 + + +Way-making (dao) is an easy-flowing stream + +Which can run in any direction + +With all things accomplished and the work complete,93 + +It does not assume any proprietary claim. + +Since all things (wanwu) offer it allegiance + +And yet it does not act as master,94 + +It can be counted among things of the most minor significance. + +And since all things offer it allegiance + +And yet it does not act as master, + +It can also be counted among things of the greatest significance. + +It is thus that the capacity of the sages to become great + +Is simply because they do not try to do great things. + +This is why they are indeed able to be great + +## 35 + + +Seize the great image + +And the world will flock to you. + +Flocking to you they come to no harm, + +And peace and security prevails. + +Passing travelers will interrupt their journey + +For music and fine fare. + +But were way-making (dao) to be put into words: + +It could be said to be so bland and insipid that it has no taste. + +Look for it and there is nothing to see, + +Listen for it and there is nothing to hear, + +And yet in availing oneself of it, it is inexhaustible. + +## 36 + + +Whatever is gathered in + +Must first be stretched out; + +Whatever is weakened + +Must first be made strong; + +Whatever is abandoned + +Must first be joined; + +Whatever is taken away + +Must first be given. + +This is what is called the subtle within what is evident. + +The soft and weak vanquish the hard and strong. + +Fishes should not relinquish the depths. + +The sharpest instruments of state should not be revealed to others. + +## 37 + + +Way-making (dao) is really nameless (wuming) + +Were the nobles and kings able to respect this, + +All things (wanwu) would be able to develop along their own lines + +Having developed along their own lines, were they to desire to depart from this, + +I would realign them + +With a nameless scrap of unworked wood. + +Realigned with this nameless scrap of unworked wood, + +They would leave off desiring. + +In not desiring, they would achieve equilibrium,100 + +And all the world would be properly ordered of its own accord + +(Dao section: 2426 characters)102 + +## 38 + + +It is because the most excellent (de) do not strive to excel (de) + +That they are of the highest efficacy (de). + +And it is because the least excellent do not leave off striving to excel + +That they have no efficacy + +Persons of the highest efficacy neither do things coercively + +Nor would they have any motivation for doing so. + +Persons who are most authoritative (ren) do things coercively + +And yet are not motivated in doing so. + +Persons who are most appropriate (yi) do things coercively + +And indeed do have a motive for doing so. + +Persons who are exemplars of ritual propriety (li) do things coercively + +And when no one pays them any heed, + +They yank up their sleeves and drag others along with them. + +Thus, only when we have lost sight of way-making (dao) is there excellence, + +Only when we have lost sight of excellence is there authoritative conduct, + +Only when we have lost sight of authoritative conduct is there appropriateness, + +And only when we have lost sight of appropriateness is there ritual propriety. + +As for ritual propriety, it is the thinnest veneer of doing one’s best and making good on one’s word, + +And it is the first sign of trouble. + +“Foreknowledge” is tinsel decorating the way, + +And is the first sign of ignorance. + +It is for this reason that persons of consequence: + +Set store by the substance rather than the veneer + +And by the fruit rather than the flower. + +Hence, eschewing one they take the other. + +## 39 + + +Of old there were certain things that realized oneness: + +The heavens in realizing oneness became clear; + +The earth in realizing oneness became stable; + +The numinous in realizing oneness became animated; + +The river valleys in realizing oneness became full; + +The lords and kings in realizing oneness brought proper order to the world + +Following this line of thinking, + +We could say that if the heavens had not become clear + +They may well have fallen to pieces; + +We could say that if the earth had not become stable + +It may well have collapsed; + +We could say that if the numinous had not become animated + +It may well have faded away; + +We could say that if the river valleys had not become full + +They may well have dried up; + +We could say that if the lords and kings had not brought proper order to the world + +They may well have stumbled and fallen from power + +Thus for something to be noble it must take the humble as its root; + +For something to be high it must take the low as its foundation. + +It is for this reason that the lords and kings use “friendless,” “unworthy,” and “inept” as terms to refer to themselves + +This is a clear case of taking the humble as the root, is it not? + +The highest renown is to be without renown. + +They do not want to be precious like jade, + +But common like stone. + +## 40 + + +“Returning”109 is how way-making (dao) moves, + +And “weakening” is how it functions. + +The events of the world arise from the determinate (you), + +And the determinate arises from the indeterminate (wu) + +## 41111 + + +When the very best students learn of way-making (dao) + +They are just barely able to keep to its center + +When mediocre students learn of way-making + +They are sporadically on it and off it. + +When the very worst students learn of way-making + +They guffaw at the very idea. + +Were they not to guffaw at it + +It would be something less than way-making. + +It is for this reason that in the Established Sayings we find it said: + +Radiant way-making seems obscured, + +Advancing way-making seems to be receding, + +Smooth way-making seems to have bumps,114 + +The highest character (de) seems like a deep gorge, + +The most brilliant white seems sullied, + +The most broadminded character seems deficient, + +The most steadfast character seems dubious, + +The most pristine and authentic seems defiled. + +The greatest square has no corners, + +The greatest vessel is last to be attended to, + +The greatest sound is ever so faint, + +The greatest image has no shape. + +Way-making is so profuse as to be nameless (wuming) + +It is only way-making that is as efficacious in the beginnings of things As it is in their completion. + +## 42 + + +Way-making (dao) gives rise to continuity, + +Continuity gives rise to difference, + +Difference gives rise to plurality, + +And plurality gives rise to the manifold of everything that is happening (wanwu). + +Everything carries yin on its shoulders and yang in its arms + +And blends these vital energies (qi) together to make them harmonious (he). + +There is nothing in the world disliked more + +Than the thought of being friendless, unworthy, and inept, + +And yet kings and dukes use just such terms to refer to themselves + +For things, sometimes less is more, + +And sometimes, more is less. + +Thus, as for what other people are teaching, + +I will think about what they have to say, and then teach it to others. + +For example: “Those who are coercive and violent do not meet their natural end”— + +I am going to take this statement as my precept. + +## 43 + + +The softest things in the world ride roughshod over the hardest things + +Only the least substantial thing can penetrate the seamless. + +This is how we know that doing things noncoercively (wuwei) is beneficial. + +Rare are those in the world who reach an understanding of the benefits of teachings that go beyond what can be said, and of doing things noncoercively. + +## 44 + + +Your reputation or your person—which is dearer to you? + +Your person or your property—which is worth more? + +Gaining or losing—which is the greater scourge? + +Miserliness is certain to come at a huge cost; + +The hoarding of wealth is certain to lead to heavy losses. + +Therefore, those who know contentment avoid disgrace,119 + +And those who know where to stop avoid danger + +They will be long-enduring. + +## 45 + + +What is most consummate seems defective, + +Yet using it does not wear it out. + +What is fullest seems empty, + +Yet using it does not use it up. + +What is truest seems crooked; + +What is most skillful seems bungling; + +What is most prosperous seems wanting. + +What is most eloquent seems halting + +Staying active beats the cold, + +Keeping still beats the heat. + +Purity and stillness can bring proper order to the world. + +## 46 + + +When way-making (dad) prevails in the world, + +The finest racing steeds are used to provide manure for the fields; + +But when way-making does not prevail in the world, + +Warhorses are bred just outside the city walls. + +There is no crime more onerous than greed, + +No misfortune more devastating than avarice. + +And no calamity that brings with it more grief than insatiability. + +Thus, knowing when enough is enough + +Is really satisfying + +## 47 + + +Venture not beyond your doors to know the world; + +Peer not outside your window to know the way-making (dao) of tian. + +The farther one goes + +The less one knows. + +It is for this reason that sages know without going anywhere out of the ordinary, + +Understand clearly without seeing anything out of the ordinary, + +And get things done without doing anything out of the ordinary + +## 48 + + +In studying, there is a daily increase, + +While in learning of way-making (dao), there is a daily decrease: + +One loses and again loses + +To the point that one does everything noncoercively (wuwei). + +One does things noncoercively + +And yet nothing goes undone + +In wanting to rule the world + +Be always non-interfering in going about its business (wushi);128 + +For in being interfering + +You make yourself unworthy of ruling the world. + +## 49 + + +Sages really think and feel immediately + +They take the thoughts and feelings of the common people as their own. + +To not only treat the able as able + +But to treat the inept as able too + +Is a quantum gain in ability. + +To not only treat the credible as credible + +But to treat those you do not trust as credible too + +Is a quantum gain in credibility. + +As for the presence of sages in the world, in their efforts to draw things together: + +They make of the world one muddled mind. + +The common people all fix their eyes and ears on the sages,131 + +And the sages treat them as so many children. + +## 50 + + +In the cycle of life and death, + +One third are the companions of life, + +One third are the companions of death,132 + +And one third again are people who, because of their preoccupation with staying alive, + +Move toward the execution ground with each and every step. + +Now why do they do this? + +Simply because of their preoccupation with staying alive. + +I have heard it said that those who are good at holding on to life + +Do not steer clear of rhinos and tigers when traveling in the hills, + +And do not hide behind armor and shields when entering the fray. + +For the rhino finds nowhere to gore, + +The tiger nothing to sink its claws into, + +And the soldier nothing into which he can lodge his blade. + +How can this be so? + +Because there is not a whiff of the execution ground about them. + +## 51 + + +Way-making (dao) gives things their life, + +And their particular efficacy (de) is what nurtures them. + +Events shape them, + +And having a function consummates them. + +It is for this reason that all things (wanwu) honor way-making + +And esteem efficacy. + +As for the honor directed at way-making + +And the esteem directed at efficacy, + +It is really something that just happens spontaneously (ziran) + +Without anyone having ennobled them. + +Way-making gives them life and nurtures them, + +Rears and develops them. + +It brings them to fruition and maturation, + +Nourishes and guards over them. + +Way-making gives things life + +Yet does not manage them. + +It assists them + +Yet makes no claim upon them. + +It rears them + +Yet does not lord it over them. + +It is this that is called profound efficacy. + +## 52 + + +The world has its fetal beginning + +That can be considered the mother of the world. + +You have to have gotten to this mother, + +Before you can understand her progeny. + +And once you have understood her progeny, + +If you go back and safeguard the mother, + +You will live to the end of your days without danger. + +Block up the openings + +And shut the gateways, + +And to the end of your days your energies will not be used up + +But if you vent the openings + +And multiply your responsibilities, + +To the end of your days you will be incurable. + +Making out the small is real acuity (ming), + +Safeguarding the weak is real strength. + +Taking into account the way things reveal themselves, + +If you go back again and rely upon your acuity, + +You will stay clear of calamities. + +This is what is called according with common sense. + +## 53 + + +With the least modicum of wit, + +The only things we have to fear in traveling the grand thoroughfare (dao) + +Are the turn-offs. + +The grand thoroughfare is perfectly level and straight + +Yet people have a great fondness for mountain trails. + +Their court is impeccably clean + +Yet the fields are overgrown with weeds + +And the granaries stand empty. + +Their clothing is embroidered and colorful + +And sharp swords hang at their sides; + +They are stuffed with food + +And have wealth and property to throw away. + +This is called highway robbery (dao), + +Which ought not to be confused with way-making (dao). + +## 54 + + +What has been well-planted cannot be uprooted; + +What is embraced tightly will not escape one’s grasp; + +And with one’s children and grandchildren performing the customary rites + +The autumnal sacrifice will never be interrupted. + +Cultivate it in your person, + +And the character you develop will be genuine; + +Cultivate it in your family, + +And its character will be abundant; + +Cultivate it in your village, + +And its character will be enduring; + +Cultivate it in the state, + +And its character will flourish; + +Cultivate it in the world, + +And its character will be all-pervading. + +Thus you can use your person to survey other persons, + +Your family to survey other families, + +Your village to survey other villages, + +Your state to survey other states, + +And your world to survey worlds past and yet to come. + +How do I know that the world is really so? + +From this. + +## 55 + + +One who is vital in character (de) + +Can be compared with a newborn baby. + +Wasps and scorpions will not sting a baby, + +Snakes and vipers will not bite him, + +And birds of prey and ferocious beasts will not snatch him up. + +Though his bones are soft and his sinews supple + +His grip is firm. + +As yet oblivious to the copulation of male and female + +His member still stands erect: + +Such is the height of potency. + +He screams through the entire day + +And yet his voice does not get hoarse: + +Such is the height of harmony (he). + +Understanding harmony is common sense, + +And using common sense is acuity (ming) + +On the other hand, trying to increase one’s quantum of life is certainly a bad omen,137 + +While allowing the heart-mind to use up the qi one has, is to overdo things. + +For something to be old while in its prime + +Is called a departure from the way of things (dao). + +And whatever departs from the way of things will come to an untimely end + +## 56 + + +Those who really understand it do not talk about it, + +And those who really talk about it do not understand it + +Block up the openings, + +Shut the gateways,140 + +Soften the glare, + +Bring things together on the same track, + +Blunt the sharp edges, + +Untangle the knots + +This is what is called the profoundest consonance. + +Thus, there is no getting too intimate + +Or staying aloof from it; + +There is no benefiting + +Or causing it harm; + +There is no ennobling + +Or debasing it. + +It is thus the most precious thing in the world. + +## 57 + + +Bring proper order to the state by being straightforward + +And deploy the military with strategies that take the enemy by surprise,142 + +But in ruling the world be non-interfering in going about its business (wushi) + +How do I know that this is really so? + +From the following + +The more prohibitions and taboos there are in the world, + +The poorer the people will be + +The more sharp instruments in the hands of the common people, + +The darker the days for the state. + +The more wisdom hawked among the people,146 + +The more that perverse things will proliferate. + +The more prominently the laws and statutes are displayed, + +The more widespread will be the brigands and thieves. + +Hence in the words of the sages: + +We do things noncoercively (wuwei) + +And the common people develop along their own lines; + +We cherish equilibrium (jing) + +And the common people order themselves; + +We are non-interfering in our governance (wushi) + +And the common people prosper themselves; + +We are objectless in our desires (wuyu)148 + +And the common people are of themselves like unworked wood + +## 58 + + +When the government is at sixes and sevens, + +The common people sail right along, + +But when the government is everywhere vigilant + +These same people are always at fault + +It is upon misfortune that good fortune leans, + +It is within good fortune itself that misfortune crouches in ambush, + +And where does it all end? + +There is no straightforward maneuver + +Because the straightforward reverts to surprise + +And what is going well again becomes dark and ominous. + +It has been a long time now that we human beings have lost the way. + +Hence be square but do not cut anyone; + +Be pointed but do not pierce anyone; + +Be true but do not act willfully and without restraint; + +Shine forth but do not be dazzling + +## 59 + + +For bringing proper order to the people and in serving tian, + +Nothing is as good as husbandry. + +It is only through husbandry that you come early to accept the way, + +And coming early to accept the way is what is called redoubling your accumulation of character (de). + +If you redouble your accumulation of character, all obstacles can be overcome, + +And if all obstacles can be overcome, none can discern your limit. + +Where none can discern your limit, + +You can preside over the realm + +In presiding over the mother of the realm + +You can be long-enduring. + +This is what is called the way (dao) of setting deep roots and a secure base, + +And of gaining long life and an enduring vision. + +## 60 + + +Bringing proper order to a great state is like cooking a small fish. + +When way-making (dad) is used in overseeing the world, + +The ghosts of the departed will not have spiritual potency. + +In fact, it is not that the ghosts will not have spiritual potency, + +But rather that they will not use this potency to harm people. + +Not only will the ghosts not use their potency to harm people, + +But the sages will not harm people either + +It is because the ghosts and sages do no harm + +That their powers (de) combine to promote order in the world. + +## 61 + + +A great state is like the lower reaches of water’s downward flow. + +It is the female of the world. + +In the intercourse of the world, + +The female is always able to use her equilibrium (jing) to best the male. + +It is this equilibrium that places her properly underneath. + +Hence if the great state is able to get underneath the small state, + +It can rule the small state; + +If the small state is able to get underneath the large state, + +It can get to be ruled by the large state + +Hence some get underneath in order to rule + +And some get underneath in order to be ruled. + +Now, the great state wants no more than to win over the other state and tend to it, + +While the small state wants no more than to offer the other state its services. + +If they are both getting what they want in the relationship, + +Then it is fitting for the great state to take the lower position. + +## 62 + + +Way-making (dao) is the flowing together of all things (wanwu). + +It is prized by those who are able + +While safeguarding those who are inept. + +Certainly fine words can be used in negotiations + +And noble behavior can enable one to surpass others. + +But why would we want to get rid of those who are inept? + +At the coronation of the Son of tian + +And at the inauguration of the three high ministers, + +Better to respectfully present them with the tribute of this way-making + +Than to offer up discs of jade followed by teams of horses. + +Why was it that this way-making was so revered in antiquity? + +Is it not said that way-making enables those who seek to get what they want, + +And those who have done wrong to avoid retribution? + +Thus it is the most valuable thing in the world. + +## 63 + + +Do things noncoercively (wuwei), + +Be non-interfering in going about your business (wushi),158 + +And savor the flavor of the unadulterated in what you eat + +Treat the small as great + +And the few as many. + +Requite enmity with character (de) + +Take account of the difficult while it is still easy, + +And deal with the large while it is still tiny. + +The most difficult things in the world originate with the easy, + +And the largest issues originate with the tiny. + +Thus, it is because the sages never try to do great things + +That they are indeed able to be great + +One who makes promises lightly is sure to have little credibility; + +One who finds everything easy is certain to have lots of difficulties. + +Thus, it is because even the sages pay careful attention to such things + +That they are always free of difficulties. + +## 64 + + +It is easy to keep one’s grip when things are stable, + +It is easy to plan for a situation that has yet to happen, + +It is easy to snap something that is brittle, + +It is easy to break something up that is just beginning. + +Deal with a situation before it happens; + +Bring it under control before it gets out of hand. + +A tree with the girth of a person’s embrace + +Grows from the tiniest shoot. + +A pavilion nine stories high + +Rises from one basketful of earth. + +A thousand foot wall + +Begins from the soil under one’s feet + +Those who would do things ruin them; + +Those who would control things lose them + +Hence because the sages do things noncoercively (wuwei) + +They do not ruin them, + +And because they do not try to control things + +They do not lose them. + +The common people always ruin the things they do + +Just on the very brink of success. + +Thus it is said: + +If you are as careful at the end as you are at the start, + +You will be free of failure + +It is for this reason the sages in leaving off desiring + +Do not prize property that is hard to come by, + +And in studying not to study + +Return to what most people have passed over. + +Although they are quite capable of helping all things (wanwu) follow their own course (ziran), + +They would not think of doing so. + +## 65 + + +Those of ancient times who engaged in way-making (dao) + +Did not use it to edify the common people, + +But rather to keep them foolish. + +What makes it difficult to bring proper order to the people + +Is that they already know too much. + +Thus to use knowledge in governing the state + +Is to be a bane to that state; + +To use a lack of knowledge in governing the state + +Is to be its benefactor + +Those who really know the distinction between using knowledge or a lack of it in governing the state will moreover become its model. + +And those who really know this model are said to be profoundly efficacious (de) + +Profound efficacy runs so deep and distant + +Only to turn back along with other things to reach the great flow. + +## 66 + + +What enables the rivers and seas to be king over all the valleys + +Is that they are good at staying lower than them. + +It is this that enables them to be the king of all the valleys. + +This is the reason that the sages in wanting to stand above the common people + +Must put themselves below them in what they have to say; + +In wanting to stand before the common people + +They must put themselves behind them in their personal concerns. + +Hence, they dwell above them yet the people do not find them a heavy burden, + +They dwell in front of them yet the people do not find that they block the way + +The entire world delights in promoting them, and never tires of doing so. + +Is it not because they strive without contentiousness (wuzheng) that no one in the world is able to contend with them?174 + +## 67 + + +The entire world knows me as “great.” + +I am great, and yet bear a resemblance to nothing at all. + +Indeed, it is only because I resemble nothing at all that I am able to be great + +If I did bear a resemblance to something else, + +For a long time now I would have been of little consequence. + +I really have three prized possessions that I cling to and treasure: + +The first of these is compassion, + +The second, frugality, + +And the third is my reluctance to try to become preeminent in the world. + +It is because of my compassion that I can be courageous; + +It is because of my frugality that I can be generous; + +It is because of my reluctance to try to become preeminent in the world that I am able to become chief among all things. + +To be courageous without compassion, + +To be generous without being frugal, + +And to take the lead without holding back— + +This is courting death. + +Compassion will give you victory in waging war, + +And security in defending your ground. + +When nature sets anything up + +It is as if it fortifies it with a wall of compassion + +## 68 + + +Those who are good as students are not militant;179 + +Those who are good at waging war are not belligerent; + +Those who are good at vanquishing their enemies do not join issue; + +Those who are good at employing others place themselves beneath them + +This is what is called having noncontentious efficacy (de). + +It is what is called making use of others + +It is what is called an axis that is as old as the heavens + +## 69 + + +There is a saying about using the military: + +I would not think of taking the offensive + +But only of defending my ground; + +I would not think of taking an inch + +But only of giving up a foot. + +This is what is called + +Deploying forward without bringing the troops, + +Throwing a punch without raising a hand, + +Grasping tightly without having a weapon in hand, + +Launching an assault without confronting an enemy. + +There is no calamity greater than underestimating the enemy, + +For underestimating the enemy is tantamount to losing your treasures + +Hence, when two armies, evenly matched, cross swords in combat, + +It is the side that laments the need to do so that wins the day. + +## 70 + + +What I have to say is very easy to understand + +And is very easy to carry out, + +Yet there is no one in the world who is able to understand it + +And no one who is able to put it into practice. + +Now what is said has its lineage + +And what is done has its lord. + +It is only because it requires unprincipled knowing (wuzhi) + +That they do not understand me. + +But if those who understand me are rare, + +I am to be highly prized. + +Thus the sages dress in burlap + +Yet conceal jade in their bosom. + +## 71 + + +Knowing that one does not know is knowing at its best, + +But not knowing that one knows is suffering from a disease + +Thus, the reason the sages are free of disease + +Is because they recognize the disease as a disease. + +This is why they are not afflicted. + +## 72 + + +If the common people do not hold your authority in awe, + +Then some greater authority is on its way + +Do not reduce the size of their places of residence + +And do not lower their standard of living. + +It is only because you do not lower their standard of living + +That they do not become disaffected. + +It is for this reason that sages know themselves + +But do not show off; + +They love themselves + +But are not precious. + +Hence, eschewing one they take the other. + +## 73 + + +Those who are courageous in feats of daring will die because of it; + +While those whose courage is tempered by prudence will preserve their lives. + +In these two cases, courage can either put one in harm’s way, or be beneficial. + +Who can understand why tian despises the things that it does? + +Tian’s way (dao) is winning the war without going to battle, + +Is answering effectively without saying a word, + +Is coming of its own accord without being summoned, + +And is laying plans skillfully while remaining free and easy. + +Tian’s net is cast wide, + +And although coarse in its mesh, nothing slips through it. + +## 74 + + +If the common people are really not afraid of dying + +How can one frighten them by threatening to kill them? + +But if the people are really afraid of dying + +And know that we will arrest and kill those who do perverse things, + +Who among them would dare to do them? + +If the people are really afraid of dying + +Then there will always be an executioner. + +To stand in for the executioner in killing people + +Is to stand in for the master carpenter in cutting his lumber. + +Of those who would thus stand in for the master carpenter, + +Few get away without injuring their own hands. + +## 75 + + +The people’s hunger is because those above are eating too much in taxes— + +This is why they are hungry. + +The people’s lack of order is because those above manipulate them— + +This is why they are not properly ordered. + +And the people’s scoffing at death is because those above are exacting so much from life— + +This is why they scoff at death. + +It is precisely those who do not kill themselves in living + +Who are more enlightened than those who treasure life. + +## 76 + + +While living, people are supple and soft, + +But once dead, they become hard and rigid cadavers + +While living, the things of this world and its grasses and trees are pliant and fragile, + +But once dead, they become withered and dry. + +Thus it is said: Things that are hard and rigid are the companions of death; + +Things that are supple and soft are the companions of life. + +For this reason, + +If a weapon is rigid it will not prevail; + +If a tree is rigid it will snap + +Thus, the rigid and great dwell below, + +While the supple and soft abide above. + +## 77 + + +The way of tian is like archers drawing their bows. + +To hit something high in the air, they pull the string downward; + +To hit something lower, they pull the string upward. + +When they have drawn the string too far back, they let some go, + +And when they have not drawn it far enough, they pull harder + +The way of tian is also to let some go where there is excess And to augment where there is not enough. + +The way of human beings on the other hand is not like this at all. It is instead to take away from those who do not have enough In order to give more to those who already have too much. + +Who then in having too much is able to draw on this excess to make an offering to the world?201 + +Perhaps only those who are way-making (dao). + +It is thus that sages act on behalf of things but do make any claim on them, + +They see things through to fruition but do not take credit for them. + +It is in such a way that they refrain from making a display of their worth. + +## 78 + + +Nothing in the world is as soft and weak as water + +And yet in attacking what is hard and strong, + +There is nothing that can surpass it. + +This is because there is nothing that can be used in its stead. + +There is no one in the world that does not know + +That the soft prevails over the hard + +And the weak prevails over the strong, + +And yet none are able to act accordingly. + +This is the reason that the words of the sages say: + +Only the person who accepts invective against the state + +Is to be called its legitimate ruler; + +Only the person who accepts the misfortunes of the state + +Is to be called its true king. + +Appropriate language seems contradictory. + +## 79 + + +In bringing harmony (he) to a situation of intense enmity, + +There is sure to be some animosity remaining. + +How can such reconciliation be considered a success? + +The sages, holding on to the left half of the tally, + +Do not demand payment from others. + +Persons of character (de) take charge of the tally + +While persons who are lacking in character look to calling it due. + +The way of tian shows no partiality; + +It is really on the side of people who are good in their relationships. + + +## 80 + + +You want a small state with a minimal population. + +Have ready to hand weaponry for a sufficient number of military units Yet have no recourse to use them. + +Make sure that the common people take dying seriously + +So that they have no taste for venturing far from home. + +Though you have ships and chariots enough + +Have no reason to man them; + +Though you have armor and weapons enough + +Have no reason to parade them. + +Bring the common people back to keeping their records with knotted string, + +To relishing their food, + +To finding beauty in their garments, + +To enjoying their customs, + +And to finding security in their homes. + +Although your neighboring states are within eyesight + +And the sounds of their dogs and cocks are within earshot, + +Your people will grow old and die without having anything to do with them. + +## 81 + + +Credible words are not eloquent; + +Eloquent words are not credible. + +The wise are not erudite; + +The erudite are not wise. + +The adept are not all-around; + +The all-around are not adept + +The sages do not accumulate things. + +Yet the more they have done for others, + +The more they have gained themselves; + +The more they have given to others, + +The more they have gotten themselves. + +Thus, the way of tian is to benefit without harming; + +The way of the sages is to do without contending diff --git a/source/content/tao/config.json b/source/content/tao/config.json new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3df67f --- /dev/null +++ b/source/content/tao/config.json @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +{ + "title": "Tao Te Ching – translation comparison", + "description": "The tao that can be told is not the eternal tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.", + "heading": "Translator", + "display": { "Code": ["gff", "jhmd", "jc", "rh", "rp"] }, + "files": [ + "1972-gia-fu-feng.md", + "1988-stephen-mitchell.md", + "1990-victor-h-mair.md", + "1993-addis-lombardo.md", + "1994-derek-lin.md", + "1996-j-h-mcdonald.md", + "2000-jim-clatfelter.md", + "2002-david-hinton.md", + "2004-ron-hogan.md", + "2005-agnieszka-solska.md", + "2009-red-pine.md", + "2010-ames-and-hall.md" + ], + "metaKeys": [ "Translator", "Year", "Source" ] +}