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The
Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tzu
Translated
by David Lindauer
http://www.members.tripod.com/~ladsoft/ttc/ttchap.htm
1.
A
tao that one can tao
Is not the entire tao
A name that one can name
Is not the entire name.
In
the absence of names
Lies the origin of heavens and earth
The presence of names
Is mother to the 10000 things.
So
viewing entireness without desire
One may see subtleties
Viewing entireness with desire
One may see boundaries.
That
which is these both
Goes about as itself yet there are different names.
Categorizing them together there is insight
Very deep insight
The gateway to collective subtleties.
2.
In
the world each knows how beauty acts
Where there is beauty ugliness begins
Each knows how to value
Where there is value lack of value begins.
In
this manner
Presence and absence give birth to each other
Difficult and easy complete each other
Long and short contrast each other
High and low attract each other
Tone and voice harmonize each other
Front and back follow each other.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Dwell absent of acting with effort
Do things without explaining in words
Make the 10000 things blend yet without trying to describe
them
Give birth yet without possessing
Act yet without relying on results
Are of outstanding service yet aren't willing to reside therein.
In
the end, only be unwilling to reside therein
Appropriately, a lack of detachment happens.
3.
Being
without esteem for principles
Results in people who do not contend
Being without treasuring goods difficult to obtain
Results in people who do not act as thieves
Being without seeing what one can desire
Results in the minds of people not being confused.
Appropriately
the governing of sages happens.
Baring the mind
Solidifying the center
Lessening the will
Strengthening self-nature
These
entirely result in people
Who are absent of knowing and absent of desire
In the end they also result in the wise not venturing to act.
Acting
absent of acting
An absence of being without governing follows.
4.
Tao,
like an empty bowl
Being used somehow lacks fullness.
Such
breadth!
It seems to be a model for the 10000 things.
Blunting what is sharp
Untying what is tangled
Harmonizing what is bright
Being together with the dusty earth.
Such
depth!
It seems to somehow exist.
I have no knowledge whose child it is
It appears to precede the emperors.
5.
Heavens
and earth are without humanizing
It happens that the 10000 things act as straw dogs
Sages are without humanizing
It happens that one hundred families act as straw dogs.
The
space bounding heavens and earth is just like the equal of a bellows
Empty yet not subdued
Stirring yet more goes out.
Much
talk counts for little
It can't compare to obeying the center.
6.
The
valley spirit has no death
It is appropriately called the all-embracing female
The
gateway of The all-embracing female
Is appropriately called the root of heavens and earth.
Continuous, soft, it looks like it exists-
It is infrequently used.
7.
Heavens,
growth, earth, longevity.
In heavens and earth's place
That which is able to grow and further be long-lasting happens
And something lacking existence of a self happens
So it is able to grow and give birth.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Put their bodies behind yet their bodies are ahead
Put their bodies outside yet their bodies are kept in.
Does
it not happen they are absent of anomalous self-interest?
So they are able to perfect self-interest.
8.
Better
value looks like water
The
value if water profits the 10000 things yet without contending
It dwells in places the collective mind dislikes-
So it is severed, relating to tao.
The
value of a home is in location
The value of a mind is in breadth
The value of a relationship is in humanity
The value of a word is in belief
The value of a government is in governing
The value of an effort is in ability
The value of a movement is in time.
In
the end only be without contending
So be absent from reproach.
9.
Holding
yet being full
Lacks compare to not yet being so
A sword blade being oversharpened
Cannot long remain so
A living room full of gold and jade
There is noone able to guard it
Abundant treasures yet arrogance
Self-condemnation, self-punishment.
Outstanding
service performed
The body withdrawing
The tao of the heavens.
10.
In
containing life-force and embracing oneness
Is the ability to be absent from departing equal?
In gently extending animus alone
Is the ability to be as a newborn child equal?
In cleansing and clearing insightful discernment
Is the ability to be absent of flaws equal?
In fondness for people, governing a nation
Is the ability to be absent of action equal?
In opening and closing the gate of heavens
Is the ability to be absent of femaleness equal?
In seeing clearly all four reaches
Is the ability to be absent from knowledge equal?
Be giving birth, be nourishing.
Giving
birth yet without possessing
Acting yet without sustaining
Growing yet without directing
Is appropriately called insightful ideal.
11.
Thirty
spokes converge at one hub
The use of a chariot is in the presence of what is absent
Shaping clay, it happens to act as a vessel
The use of a vessel is in the presence of what is absent
Cutting doors and windows to have it act as a room
The use of a room is in the presence of what is absent.
So
Where there is presence beneficial actions happen
Where there is absence useful actions happen.
Five
colors blind the eye of man
Five tones deafen the ear of man
Five flavors chafe the mouth of man
Racing and hunting inspire the mind of man to express craziness
Goods difficult to obtain hamper the path of man.
Appropriately
it happens
That sages act from the center without acting from the eyes.
So
detach from that, grab this.
13.
Favor
and disgrace look alarming.
The treasure of great danger looks like the body.
Why
say favor and disgrace look alarming?
Favor acts superior
Disgrace acts inferior
Being obtained it looks alarming
Being lost it looks alarming
Appropriately say favor and disgrace look alarming.
Why
say the treasure of great danger looks like the body?
I place the occurrence of things of great danger
As action of I in the presence of a body.
I reach the absence of a body
I am present with what danger?
Appropriately say the treasure of great danger looks like the body.
So
treasuring it when the body acts in the world
It looks like one can be committed to the world.
Being fond of it when the body acts in the world
It looks like one can be entrusted to the world.
14.
Being
observed, lacking sight
Say the name smooth
Being listened to, lacking hearing
Say the name rare
Being pounced on, lacking obtainment
Say the name small.
That
which these three describes cannot be resolved
So they mingle yet act as one.
What
is high lacks brightness
What is low lacks darkness
Restrictions and restraints cannot be named
Return, merge with, relate to the absence of things.
It
is an appropriate action to call it
The absence of being shape's shape
The absence of being thing's form.
It
is appropriately called ungraspable, elusive
Moving toward it there is no seeing a head
Following it there is no seeing a tail.
Holding
the tao of the ancients
Warding off presence of the now happens
The ability to know the ancient beginnings
Is appropriately called a bond to tao.
15.
Those
ancients who valued action in the tao
Were insightful, versatile, far-reaching, coherent.
Penetrating,
one cannot understand
In the end it is only that one cannot understand
So there is more than appears to their actions.
So
resigned, like fording a river in winter
Just so, like respecting all four neighbors
So reserved, like making an appearance
So melting, like ice halfway released
So genuine, like their true nature
So spacious, like a valley
So well mixed, like muddy water.
Who
is able to gently calm muddy water, clearing it?
Who is able to endure gently stirring tranquillity so it gives birth?
Those who maintain this tao have no desire for fullness
In
the end only lack fullness
So be able to be shabby yet perfect the new.
16.
Taking
emptiness to the limit
Observing stillness genuinely
Regarding the 10000 things as side-by-side
It happens that I view the return.
In
the end things grow and flourish
Each returns, merging with its root.
Merging
with the root, say still
Appropriately it is called returning to giving birth.
Returning
to giving birth, say entireness
Knowing entireness say illuminated
Without knowing entireness presumptuously do the faminous.
Knowing
entireness is tolerance
Tolerance leads to impartiality
Impartiality leads to kingliness
Kingliness leads to the heavens
The heavens lead to tao
Tao leads to what is long-lasting.
Be
without a body, lack danger.
17.
The
very highest, little knowledge is present of it
That next is attached to yet praised
That next is respected
That next is despised.
Where
there is belief without enough within
A lack of believing what is within is present.
So
remote, those treasure words
Outstanding service performed, efforts successful
the one hundred families say
We did it naturally.
18.
Great
tao discarded, a presence of humanity, morality
Wisdom and intelligence come out, a presence of great pretense
Families lack harmony, a presence of filial devotion and mothering
The nation's emperor blinded, confused, a presence of loyal servants.
19.
Break
away from sageliness, toss out wisdom
People benefit one hundred times over
Break away from humanity, toss out morality
People return to filial devotion and mothering
Break away from valuing, toss out profit
Thieves and robbers are not in existence.
These three used as a basis for action are ornament, insufficient.
So
make present what principles?
See plainness
Embrace true nature
Reduce self-interest
Limit desires.
20.
Break
off from studying, there is an absence of grief.
Being
individual or pandering to each other
How do these differ?
Valuing or hating each other
What is the difference?
It
looks like one cannot lack respect for what others put respect in
Such reckless desertion!
It is not yet centered, this way.
Collective
mind is bright and sunny, gay and prosperous
Like enjoying a sacrificial ox
Like ascending a tower in springtime.
The self alone, so moored!
is not yet divined on the tortoise-shell
Like being a baby-child before it smiles.
Unattached, so unattached
The self looks absent of a place to merge.
In
the collective mind each is present of a surplus
Yet the self alone appears to offer as a gift.
The self is foolish, men's minds are also this way
Unclear, so unclear.
Customs
of men are clear, obvious
The self alone is dark, indistinct
Customs of men are curious, scrutinizing
The self alone is tightly closed, shut off.
So
indifferent, it looks like the ocean
Such a gusty wind, it looks ceaseless.
In
the collective mind each possesses a cause
Yet the self alone seems stubborn and rustic
The self alone differs from relating to men
Yet treasures nourishment in relating to the mother.
21.
An
aperture is the appearance of the ideal
Only tao is appropriately followed.
The
action of tao on things,
Only elusive, only ungraspable.
So ungraspable, so elusive
At its center, the presence of form
So elusive, so ungraspable
At its center, the presence of things
So secluded, so hard to see
At its center, the presence of belief.
From
ancient times reaching into the present its name does not depart
Experience of the collective beginning happens.
Why
do I happen to know the shape of the collective beginning is this way?
It just happens.
22.
Flexibility,
then comes wholeness
Being twisted, then comes straightness
Emptiness, then comes fullness
Shabbiness, then comes newness
Scarcity, then comes obtainment
Abundance, then comes perplexity.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Embrace oneness
Act as the model of the world
Are not showing themselves so they are luminous
Are not justifying themselves so they are conspicuous
Are not boasting of themselves so outstanding service is
performed
Are not bragging of themselves so they grow
In the end only lack contending
So noone in the world is able to be contending with them.
In
ancient times there was a saying,
That which is flexible becomes whole.
How can these be empty words?
The
essence, whole yet being merged together.
23.
Rare
words are natural.
So the fluttering winds do not last all morning
The sudden rainstorm does not last all day.
Who is it that acts this way?
Heavens and earth.
Heavens
and earth still lack the ability for longevity
Yet what relates to men is equal to this state of things?
So
follow effort in things related to tao
Be together with relating to tao
Follow effort in things related to the ideal
Be together with relating to the ideal
Follow effort in things related to losing
Be together with relating to losing.
What
is together with things related to tao
Tao also obtains joyfully
What is together with things related to the ideal
The ideal also obtains joyfully
What is together with things related to losing
Losing also obtains joyfully.
Belief
without enough within
A lack of belief in what is within happens.
24.
Those
on tiptoe are not standing firmly
Those who stride are not moving
Those who show themselves are not luminous
Those who justify themselves are not conspicuous
Those who boast of themselves are not of outstanding service
Those who brag of themselves are not growing.
They
that join tao also say
Surplus food and redundant actions are somehow disliked
So
those present with tao are not dwelling there.
A
presence of a thing mixed completely
Before the birth of heavens and earth
So lonely, so deserted
Standing alone yet without deviating
Working everywhere yet lacking danger
Action of the mother of the world can happen.
I
have no knowledge of its name
Giving a word, I say tao.
Stubbornly trying to name it I say great
Great, I say passing by
Passing by, I say far-reaching
Far-reaching, I say returning.
So
tao is great, heavens are great, earth is great
Kings are also great.
In the center of the universe are four greatnesses
Yet kings stand still, blending them into one.
Man
is an offshoot of earth
Earth is an offshoot of the heavens
The heavens are an offshoot of tao
Tao is an offshoot of the natural.
26.
Heaviness
acts as root of lightness
Stillness acts as sovereign of agitation.
Appropriately
it happens
That sages travel throughout the day
Without departing from heavy or light
Even though fabulous views are present
They dwell in great comfort and go about like this.
How would one be lord of 10000 war-chariots
Yet have a body which is light in the world?
Following
lightness comes loss of the root
Following agitation comes loss of the sovereign.
27.
Valuing
going is absent of trace
Valuing words are absent of flaw or censure
With valuing reckoning, counters or policies are not used.
What
is valuably shut
Is absent of a barrier yet cannot be opened
What is valuably tied
Is absent of restraint or restriction yet cannot be untied.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Entirely valuing help others, so others are not thrown away
Entirely valuing help things, so things are not thrown away.
Appropriately called following the luminance.
So
those who value others teach those who lack valuing others
Those who lack valuing others are a resource of those who
value others.
Without treasuring a teacher, or without loving a resource
Even the wise have great misconception.
Appropriately
called an important subtlety.
28.
Know
what is male
Keep to what is female
Act as the ravine of the world.
Acting as the ravine of the world
The ideal entirely lacks separation
Return, merge with, relate to a newborn child.
Know
what is white
Keep to what is black
Act as the model of the world.
Acting as the model of the world
The ideal entirely lacks error
Return, merge with, relate to an absence of reaching limits.
Know
what is honorable
Keep to what is humiliating
Act as the valley of the world.
Acting as the valley of the world
The ideal entirely becomes sufficient
Return, merge with, relate to true nature.
True
nature broken and scattered
Next comes action as tools
Being used by sages
Next comes action as mediums for growth.
In
this way great tailors are not cutting.
29.
It
is attained, the desire to grab the world yet be acting on it
I see it has not been satisfied yet
The world, a spirited tool, cannot act either.
Those
who act are spoiling
Those who take hold of are losing.
So
of things
Some lead and some follow
Some gust and some puff lightly
Some are strong and some thin
Some support and some destroy.
Appropriately
it happens that sages are
Apart from extremes
Apart from extravagance
Apart from excess.
30.
When
it happens that tao assists men and lords
The force of the soldier is not in the world.
What takes effort is likely to return.
Briars
and thorns grow within the dwelling place of the army
Behind a great military comes the seed for a faminous year.
Those
who value
Achieve results yet stop
Are without venturing to strive to hold
Achieve results yet do not brag
Achieve results yet do not boast
Achieve results yet do not be arrogant
Achieve results yet without being done
Achieve results yet do not strive.
Things
reach the prime and then are old?
Appropriately called not in accordance with tao
What
is not in accordance with tao comes to an early end.
31.
In
the end those with fine strategies lack the tools of fortune
They have things which are somehow disliked
So those who are present with tao are not dwelling in them.
The
master-child resides in and comes to treasure the left
Using strategy, come to treasure the right
Those with strategy lack the tools of fortune
They have not the tools of the master-child
When using them in the absence of a foreseeable need
Uncaring, indifferent actions are better.
Conquer
yet without embellishing
Yet those who are embellishing justify joy in slaughtering
men
In the end those who are joyful in slaughtering men
Cannot come to achieve their aspired relation with the world.
32.
The
tao entirely lacks a name
Although its true nature is tiny
Noone in the world is able to methodize it either.
If
nobles and kings are able to keep to it
The 10000 things attain self-spontaneity
The heavens and earth join with each other and it rains sweet
dew
It is the command of noone but people cooperate.
Once
measuring begins names are present
Names are also grasped and possessed
In the end the knowledge of stopping also follows
With knowledge of stopping lack of danger can happen.
Analogically,
tao being in the world
Is just like how the streams and valleys relate to rivers and seas.
33.
Those
who know men are wise
Those with self-knowledge are luminous
Those who conquer others possess strength
Those who conquer themselves possess force
Those with knowledge of enough are wealthy
Those who strive to go possess aspiration
Those who are not losing their place are long-lasting
Those who die yet without perishing are long-lived.
34.
Great
tao flowing everywhere
It can be left or right
All things depend on it yet exist yet without being denied.
Outstanding
service is performed without the presence of names
It clothes and cultivates the 10000 things
Yet without acting as lord.
With
entireness absent of desire
One can name in relation to smallness
The 10000 things merge and blend
Yet without action as lord one can name great actions.
What
is entirely without a self to act great happens
So it is able to perfect what is great.
35.
Take
hold of the great form
The world comes toward
Comes toward without harm
Peace and stability in the extreme.
Music
and handing out dainties
Passing guests stop
Things belonging with tao expressed
Its blandness is equal to its lack of flavor.
Observing
lacks enough sight
Listening lacks enough hearing
Using lacks enough grasp.
36.
Attain
the desire for inhaling
Firmly seed exhaling
Attain the desire of lessening
Firmly seed strengthening
Attain the desire of discarding
Firmly seed allowing back
Attain the desire of taking by force
Firmly seed giving away
Appropriately called subtle luminance.
Yielding
conquers the firm
Lessening conquers the strong.
Fish cannot escape relating to deep water
A direction for man cannot happen with tools benefitting a nation.
37.
Tao,
entirely absent of acting
Yet is absent of being without acting.
If
nobles and kings are able to keep to it
The 10000 things attain self-transformation
Transforming yet desiring to do.
When
I am able to calm the restless
An absence of naming true nature happens.
With
an absence of naming true nature
In the end an absence of desire is also obtained
Without desire tranquillity happens
The world attains self-settlement.
38.
Higher
ideal lacks ideal
Appropriately presence of the ideal happens
Lower ideal lacks a loss of ideal
Appropriately absence of the ideal happens.
Higher
ideal is absent of acting yet absent of causing acting
Lower ideal is acting yet present with causing acting.
Higher
humanity is acting yet absent of causing acting
Higher morality is acting yet present with causing acting
Higher propriety is acting yet the response of noone appears
Next comes grabbing the arm yet throwing it aside.
So
lose tao yet back ideal
Lose ideal yet back humanity
Lose humanity yet back morality
Lose morality yet back propriety.
In
the end those with propriety
Have loyal belief without warmth yet the leader of being
confused
Those with knowledge of what comes next
The flower of Tao yet the origin of being fooled.
Appropriately
it happens that the great husband
Dwells in what is spread thickly, not residing in what lacks
warmth
Dwells in the fruit, not residing in the flower.
So
detach from that, grab this.
39.
From
old those which are with one:
Heavens with one, settling happens
Earth with one, a direction happens
Spirit with one, animation happens
Valley with one, fullness happens
The 10000 things with one, giving birth happens
Nobles and kings with one, pure action in the world happens.
These
are the results:
Heavens absent of settling will, I am afraid, crack
Earth absent of direction will, I am afraid, shake
Spirit absent of animation will, I am afraid, fall asleep
Valley absent of fullness will, I am afraid, be used up
The 10000 things absent of giving birth will, I am afraid,
die off
Nobles and kings absent of pure action will, I am afraid,
be set back.
So
it happens that the common acts as a root to the treasured
The lower acts as a base to the higher.
Appropriately
it happens
That kings and nobles call themselves orphaned, widowed,
unfavored.
Does it not happen that the common acts as root to the anomalous?
Are not these the same?
So
incur praise absent of praising
Be without desiring to tinkle, tinkle, as if jade
Clatter, clatter, as if stone.
40.
That
which returns is tao moving
That which lessens is tao using.
The
world, the 10000 things give birth in relation to presence
Presence gives birth in relation to absence.
41.
Better
knights hear of tao
Dutifully, yet they are practicing it
Average knights hear of tao
They look aware, they look unaware
Lesser knights hear of tao
They have great laughing.
Without laughing, there's not enough of the action of tao happening.
So
long-established words are present.
Luminous tao looks dark
Advancing tao looks like it is falling back
Level tao looks uneven
Better ideal looks like a valley
Great whiteness looks spotted
Extensive ideal looks like it lacks enough
Established ideal looks unsteady
Durable ideal looks changeable
Great squares are absent of corners
Great tools are slowly perfected
Great music sounds faint
Great form lacks shape.
Tao
is hidden, absent from name
In the end,
Only tao values lending at interest and moreover perfects.
42.
Tao
gives birth to one
One gives birth to two
Two gives birth to three
Three gives birth to the 10000 things.
All
things carry yin and embrace yang
With their blended animus, action in harmony happens.
In the time of men they dislike orphaned, widowed, unfavored
Yet kings and lords regard such as praiseworthy.
Men
have told others
I also am telling
Those who are striving and fierce die incomplete.
I use this as the father of my teaching.
43.
The
most yielding reach of he world
Gallops around the most rigid reach of the world
Absence of presence enters absence of space.
Appropriately
I come to know
There is presence of advantage in the absence of acting.
Telling
without words
Advantage in the absence of acting
The world rarely reaches this.
44.
Name
or body, which is more prized?
Body or wealth, which is more abundant?
Obtaining or losing, which is the greater fault?
So appropriately
Being very fond seeds great cost
What is abundantly stashed seeds heavy loss.
Know
enough, lack disgrace
Know to stop, lack danger
Growth and the long-lasting can happen.
45.
Great
perfection looks incomplete
Used it lacks impairment
Great fullness looks like it needs more
Used it lacks exhaustion.
Great
straightness looks bent
Great skill looks awkward
Great eloquence looks like it stutters.
Restlessness
conquers the cold
Stillness conquers the heated
Clarity and stillness act on the world, ordering it.
46.
When
the world is present with tao
It happens that even galloping horses fertilize
When the world is absent of tao
War-horses exist in the suburbs.
No
calamity is greater than relating to not knowing enough
No fault is greater than relating to the desire to obtain.
So know the enough of being enough
There is entirely enough to go with each.
47.
Without
going out through doors know the world
Without seeing out through windows see the tao of the heavens
Who travels extremely far knows extremely little.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Are without going out yet know
Are without seeing out yet name
Are without acting yet perfect.
48.
Act
academic, daily gain
Act tao, daily lose.
Losing, again lose
It happens, reaching relating to the absence of acting
Absence of acting yet absence of being without acting.
Grabbing
the world, an entire absence of effort happens
Liking entirely the presence of effort
Is insufficient to precede grabbing the world.
49.
Sages
are entirely absent of mind
It happens that the mind of the one hundred families acts as a mind.
Those
who are valued I am valuing
Those who lack value I also am valuing
Ideal valuing.
Those who are believed I am believing
Those who are not believed I also am believing
Ideal believing.
Sages
in the world inhale
Inhale, act, mix with the mind of the world.
The
one hundred families concentrate their ears and eyes
Sages are each being children.
50.
Life
going out, death entering
There is living following 13
There is dying following 13.
The life of man strives toward the realm of death, also 13.
Why
is it so in the end?
It happens, it is life lived thickly.
As
a fact it is well known that those skilled in preserving life
Travel the land without running into rhinos and tigers
The militia enters and the strategy is to lack armor.
The
rhino is absent of a place to thrust its horn
The tiger is absent of a place to affix its claw
The army is absent of a place to admit its blade.
Why
is it so in the end?
It happens, they are absent of the realm of death.
51.
Tao
is giving birth
Ideal is raising
Things are embodying
The environment is perfecting.
Appropriately
it happens that of the 10000 things
None lack venerating tao yet treasuring ideal.
The
venerability of tao, the treasurability of the ideal
In the end it is the command of noone yet it is entirely
natural.
So
tao is giving birth
Ideal is raising
Growing, rearing, balancing, maturing, deepening, enveloping.
Giving
birth yet without possessing
Acting yet without relying
Growing yet without directing
Appropriately called insightful ideal.
52.
The
world is present of an origin
It happens that this acts as the mother of the world.
Grasp
and hold what is the mother
Knowledge of what is the child happens
Grasp knowledge of what is the child
Return, keep to what is the mother
Till the end the body lacks danger.
Cork
its bottle
Obstruct its door
Eventually the body lacks straining.
Open
its bottle
Complete its effort
Eventually the body lacks hope.
Seeing
the small say luminous
Keeping to yielding say strong
Using what is bright
Return, merge with what is luminous.
An
absence of offering bodily misfortune as a gift
Is appropriately called learning entirely.
53.
Supposing
myself to have as little knowledge as I do
I am doing things relating to great tao
It alone imposes appropriate respect.
Great
tao is very even yet people are fond of byways
Courts are very divided
Fields are very weedy
Granaries are very empty
Clothes are ornamented and patterned
Sharp swords are worn
Food and drink satiate
Money and goods are present in surplus.
Appropriately
called robbery, extravagance
This way is also not tao.
54.
That
which is valuably established is not weeded out
That which is valuably embraced is not shed off.
It
happens, children and grandchildren
Sacrifice to ancestors without reflection.
Tending
to relating to the body
Its ideal will be real
Tending to relating to the family
Its ideal will be bubbling over
Tending to relating to the community
Its ideal will be growing
Tending to relating to the nation
Its ideal will be abundant
Tending to relating to the world
Its ideal will be everywhere.
So
body happens seeing body
Family happens seeing family
Community happens seeing community
Nation happens seeing nation
World happens seeing world.
Why
does it happen that I know the nature of the world?
This just happens.
55.
Holding
the richness of the ideal in the mouth
Compares to relating to a newborn child.
Poisonous bugs are without stinging
Fierce animals are without grasping
Birds of prey are without pouncing.
There
are weak bones and yielding tendons, yet a firm grasp
The male does not yet know union with the female
Yet its virility is strong
It has essence even at the extreme.
Screaming all day yet without being hoarse
Harmonizing even at the extreme.
Knowing
harmony say entireness
Knowing entireness say luminous
In accord with giving birth say happy
The mind results in animus, say strong.
Things
reach the prime and then grow old?
What is called this is without tao.
What is without tao comes to an early end.
56.
Those
who know are without words
Those with words are without knowing.
Corking
its bottle
Obstructing its door
Blunting its sharpness
Untying its tangles
Harmonizing its brightness
Being together with the dusty earth
Appropriately called insightful togetherness.
So
one cannot obtain it yet be attached
One cannot obtain it yet be detached
One cannot obtain it yet benefit
One cannot obtain it yet be harmed
One cannot obtain it yet treasure
One cannot obtain it yet consider as common.
So
it acts as the treasure of the world.
57.
When
governing the nation happens correctly
Surprising use of strategy happens.
Absent of effort grabbing the world happens.
Why
do I know this is so?
This just happens.
The
world has an abundance of prohibitions and taboos
Yet people become increasingly inadequate
People have an abundance of beneficial tools
Confusion multiplies in the families of the nation
Men have an abundance of skills and cleverness
Surprising things arise and multiply
Laws and decrees multiply conspicuously
Robbers and thieves are present in abundance.
So
sages say
I am absent of action yet people transform themselves
I am fond of stillness yet people correct themselves
I am absent of effort yet people are of themselves wealthy
I am absent from desire yet people of themselves exhibit
true nature.
58.
They
who administrate are covered, muffled
Their people are pure, honest
They who administrate are exacting, scrutinizing
Their people are incomplete, deficient.
Such
misfortune!
The place of happiness place is to lean upon it
Such happiness!
The place of misfortune is to be suppressed.
Who
knows its limit?
It is absent from the correct.
The
correct returns, acting surprising
The valued returns, acting as evil spirits.
The
dirt in the eye of men,
It is solid, everyday, long-lasting.
Appropriately
it happens that sages are
Square yet without cutting
Pointed yet without piercing
Straight yet not unbridled
Bright yet not dazzling.
59.
In
governing people
Noone compares efforts of the heavens to restraint.
In
the end only restraint is appropriately called quickly resolving
What is called quickly resolving has heavy accumulation of ideal.
Following
heavy accumulation of ideal
Comes absence of lacking conquering
Following absence of lacking conquering
Noone knows limits
When noone knows limits
Presence of a nation can happen.
In
the presence of the mother of a nation
Growth and longevity may happen.
Appropriately
called
Deep roots, firm stalks, growth, life, longevity, looking
at tao.
60.
Governing
a great nation looks like cooking tiny fish.
When
it happens that tao is present in the world
What is clever lacks spirit
What is not clever lacks spirit
What has spirit is not wounding man
What has no spirit is not wounding man.
Sages also are not wounding man.
In
the end both are without wounding each other
So ideal is reached, merges, comes within.
61.
Those
which are great nations flow and spread lower
The intersection of the world
The female of the world.
The
female entirely conquers the male through stillness
It happens that stillness acts lower.
So
when a great nation is lower than a tiny nation
It next grabs the tiny nation
When a tiny nation is lower than a great nation
It next grabs the great nation.
So
some are lower and it happens they grab
Some are lower and yet they grab.
Without
fail a great nation desires to bring together and rear others
Without fail a tiny nation desires to enter into the efforts of others.
In
the end for both of these to acquire their desired position
Those which are great appropriately act low.
62.
That
which is tao is treasurehouse for the 10000 things
Treasure of the valuing man
Place of refuge for the man who is not valuing.
Embellished
words can cause respect to be marketed
Doing valued things can cause lavish praise to enter
Men who are not valuing, why be rejecting their presence?
So
establish the emperor
Install three ministers
Even though it happens
That the gift of the large jade disk is preceded by a team
of horses
It can not compare to sitting, emulating this tao.
Why
did it happen that in ancient times
There were those who treasured this tao?
Did they go without saying
Seek and finding happens
Possess faults and escape from the anomalous happens?
So
it acts as the treasure of the world
63.
Acting
absent of acting
Effort absent of effort
Tasting absent of tasting
Great, small, abundant, few
Repay hatred, ideal happens.
Planning
the difficult relates to what is easy
Acting great relates to what is small
The difficult efforts of the world seed doing related to what is easy
The great efforts of the world seed doing related to what
is small.
Appropriately
it happens
That sages eventually lack great action
So they are able to perfect what is great.
In
the end light promises seed scanty belief
Abundant easiness seeds abundant difficulty.
Appropriately
it happens
That sages see all things as being equally difficult
So eventually an absence of difficulty is with them.
64.
What
is peaceful is easily maintained
What is not begun is easily planned
What is fragile is easily shattered
What is tiny is easily scattered.
Acting
relates to the not yet present
Governing relates to the not yet confused.
A
tree as big as the embrace of a man is born relating to very tiny shoots
A nine story tower is raised relating to a pile of earth
A journey of a thousand li begins in relating to where you stand.
Those
who act are spoiling
Those who take hold of are losing
Appropriately
it happens that sages are absent of action
So there is an absence of spoiling
Are absent of taking hold of
So there is an absence of losing.
The
following of people of effort in the entire
Relates to perfecting part yet spoiling
Following care throughout as if just beginning
Comes an absence of spoiling effort.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Desire without desiring
Are without treasuring goods difficult to obtain
Learn without learning
Return to the place where the collective mind passes
And come to support the self-nature of the 10000 things
Yet without venturing to act.
65.
Those
ancients who valued acting in tao
Did not come to be luminous
People attaining it came to be foolish.
The
difficulty with governing people?
It happens that what is wise is abundant.
So if it happens that wisdom governs the nation
It is the enemy of the nation
If it does not happen that wisdom governs the nation
It is the good luck of the nation
Those
who know both these things
Also investigate the patterns of entireness
To know and investigate patterns
Is appropriately called insightful ideal.
Insightful ideal goes with the penetrating, with the far-reaching
With
it things go with turning back
And will reach the great alignment.
66.
In
the place of rivers and seas
The ability to act as that which is the king of one hundred
valleys happens
It happens they value being low
So the ability to act as the king of one hundred valleys
happens.
Appropriately
it happens that
Desire to be above people seeds the occurrence of words being
low
Desire to precede people seeds the occurrence of the body
following
Appropriately it happens that sages
Dwell above yet people lack heaviness
Dwell in front yet people are without being held back
Appropriately it happens
That the world joyfully supports them yet without tiring.
It
happens they lack contention
So in the world noone is able to be contending with them.
67.
In
the world each says
My tao is great and seems to lack resemblance
In the end only great therefore seems to lack resemblance.
It looks like resemblance goes with the long-lasting
With what is tiny as well.
In
the end I possess three principles I am obtaining yet defending
One, say compassion
Two, say thrift
Three say lack of venturing to act to precede the world.
Compassion,
so be able to be brave
Thrift, so be able to expand
Lack venturing to act to precede the world
So be able to perfect tools of growth.
Right
now, abandon compassion just to be brave
Abandon thrift just to expand
Abandon being behind just to precede
Death goes with these.
In
the end with compassion
A war happens and next comes conquering
Keeping to it happens and next comes solidity.
The
heavens attain helping
It happens that compassion is defending.
68.
Those
who value acting as sergeants lack ferocity
Those who value war lack anger
Those who value conquering lack engagement
Those who value using men are acting low.
Appropriately
called ideal of lacking being contending
Appropriately called strength to be using men
Appropriately called distributing the ancient limit of the heavens.
69.
Strategists
possess words
I am without venturing to act as lord yet act as guest
Without venturing to enter an inch yet fall back a foot.
Appropriately
called
Going absent of going
Grabbing absent of an arm
Throwing absent of opposition
Taking hold of absent of an enemy.
No
misfortune is greater than relating to light opposition
Light opposition severs and destroys my principles.
So
when opposing strategies escalate each other
Conquering goes with those who mourn.
70.
My
words
Are very easy to know
Are very easy to practice.
In the world
Noone is able to know
Noone is able to practice.
Words
possess an ancestor
Efforts possess a sovereign.
In
the end only with absence of knowledge
Appropriate lack of self-knowledge happens
Knowledge of that which is the self is rare
And then that which is the self is treasured.
Appropriately
it happens that sages have
A covering of coarse cloth
A bosom of jade.
71.
Knowing,
lack of knowing
Better, lack of knowing
Knowing, a disease.
In
the end only when the disease is sick
Appropriate lack of the disease happens.
Sages lack the disease
It happens the disease was sick.
Appropriately
lack of the disease happens.
72.
People
lack respect for impressive strength
And then greatly impressive strength is reached.
An
absence of improper familiarity for what is their place of residence
An absence of detesting what is their place of living
In the end only without detesting
Appropriate lack of detesting happens.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Know themselves without displaying themselves
Are fond of themselves without treasuring themselves.
So
detach from that, grab this.
73.
Bravery
in relation to venturing, next comes being killed
Bravery in relation to lack of venturing, next comes being mobile
Each of these two benefits some, harms some.
The place of the heaves dislikes
Who knows why it is so?
Appropriately it happens that sages see it just as difficult.
The
tao of the heavens
Without contending yet values conquering
Without words yet values responding
Without summoning yet attracts to itself
Is easy-natured yet values a place for everything.
The
net of the heavens is vast, expansive
A coarse mesh yet without loss.
74.
When
people lack respect for death
How does it happen that death looks threatening?
Suppose people entirely respect death
Yet there are those who act strange.
I may obtain hold of them yet who would venture to be killing them?
Entireness
possesses that which is the master killer, killing.
In the end taking the place
Of that which is the master killer, killing
Is appropriately called
Taking the place of the great carpenter, carving.
In
the end take the place of the great carpenter, carving
It is rarely true that a lack of wounding the hand goes with this.
75.
The
hunger of people
It happens that those above feed by taxing abundantly
Appropriately hunger happens.
The
difficulty in governing people
It happens that those above possess action
Appropriately the difficulty in governing happens.
The
lightness of people at death
It happens that those above reach for the thickness of life
Appropriately lightness at death happens.
In
the end only those who are absent of acting to live
Are appropriately wise in relating to treasuring life.
76.
The
life of man is also yielding, weak
His death is also rigid, unyielding.
The 10000 things, the grass and trees
Their living is also yielding, fragile
Their dying is also dried up, withered.
So that which is rigid, unyielding is the pupil of dying
That which is yielding, weak is the pupil of living
Appropriately
it happens that
With unyielding soldiers, next comes lack of conquering
With an unyielding tree, next comes being attacked.
Dwelling
in the unyielding and great is worse
Dwelling in the yielding and supple is better.
77.
The
tao of the heavens, it is just like opening up a bow
With that which towers being restrained
That which is lowered being lifted
That which has surplus being decreased
That which lacks enough being supplemented.
The
tao of the heavens
Decreasing in the presence of surplus
Yet supplementing what lacks enough.
The
tao of man, and then it lacks being so
Reducing what lacks enough
Coming to esteem the presence of surplus.
Who
is able to come to esteem presence of surplus in the world?
Only those present with tao.
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Act yet without relying
Are of outstanding service yet without dwelling therein
They
lack desire to display principles.
78.
In
the world nothing is supple and weak in relation to water
Yet of those things which attack the firm and unyielding
Nothing is able to do better
In what is absent, this easily happens.
Being
supple conquers the unyielding
Being weak conquers the firm
In the world
Noone is without knowing it
Noone is able to practice it.
Appropriately
it happens that sages say
He who accepts the disgrace of a nation
Is appropriately called lord of the grain shrine
He who accepts the misfortune of a nation
Is appropriately acting as the king of the world.
Correct
words look like they turn back.
79.
Harmonize
great resentment
Seed the presence of a surplus of resentment
How can valuing actions happen peacefully?
Appropriately
it happens that sages
Take hold of the left of a contract
Yet lack censure in relating to men.
Presence of ideal controls the agreement
Absence of ideal controls its resolution.
The
tao of heaven is absent of favorites
It is entirely with the valuing man.
80.
A
tiny nation, few people
Suppose the presence of 10 or one hundred times too many tools
Yet they are unused
Suppose people heavy with death
Yet lack moving far.
Even
present with boats and carriages
There is an absence of a place to be riding
Even present with armor and weapons
There is an absence of a place to be displaying them.
Suppose
men return to knotting cords and using them
What is eaten is sweet
What serves as clothing is beautiful
What is a home is peaceful
What is common is joyful.
Nearby
nations overlook each other
Crowing, barking sounds are heard by each other
People reach old age and die
Without coming and going between each other.
81.
Believed
words lack embellishment
Embellished words lack belief.
Those
who value lack argument
Those who argue lack valuing
Those who know lack learning
Those who learn lack knowing.
The
sages are without accumulating
Grasping, it happens they act
Others later gain presence
Grasping, it happens they give
Others later gain abundance.
The
tao of the heavens
Benefitting yet without spoiling
The tao of the sages
Acting yet without contending.