Thus the Sage would not act as if he could act on his will.
He teaches the unspoken teaching.
No word is ever spoken, yet living things thrive.
No ownership is claimed, though Nature begets all creation.
Humility is maintained even as achievement is made.
No credit is claimed even as work is done.
Because no credit is claimed, so no credit is ever lost.
3
The Art of Government
The wise ruler treats able men
the same as he would treat others.
In so doing he avoids strife.
He plays down precious goods.
In so doing he discourages the
emergence of thieves.
He makes an effort to stem the
emergence of objects of desire.
In so doing he ensures that his citizens' minds
Will not be thrown into disarray.
Thus the Sage's governance
Satisfies the real needs of people,
While emptying their minds of desires;
Builds up the inner strengths (bones) of people
While weakening their vain ambitions.
He would preserve the natural simplicity
of his citizens'minds and reduce their desires.
In so doing the clever people will learn
that their contrivance will not work.
Because the Sage does nothing but following
the law of nature
Nothing will deviate from their natural and orderly places.
4
The Character and the Benefits of the Dao
The Way (Dao) is like water that simmers slowly,
Perpetually emitting its energy without boiling over.
It is like a deep, deep pool in the mountains,
Unfathomable yet could well harbor the origin of all life forms.
It can blunt sharp angles,
Resolve disputes,
Soften light that otherwise dazzles,
Re-establish concordance where there is discord.
Unfathomable, who would know its existence?
Today I know of no child of anyone
Who resembles our ancient forefathers.
(Who followed the Dao).
5
The Impartial Laws of Nature
Heaven and earth are unkind.
They treat everything like the straw dogs used in sacrifice.
The Sages too are unkind.
In their eyes everyone is no different from a straw dog.
Within the bounds of Heaven and Earth,
There is plenty of space,
Much like there is space within a bellows.
Hollow but unyielding is this space.
The more you work on it,
The more air comes out.
Words are superfluous and soon reach their limits.
It is far better to adhere to
impartiality and the middle way.
6
Humility As the Basis of a Rich Life
The receptive, humble spirit
("the valley spirit") lives on.
It is known as the Mystical Female.
The doorway of the Mystical Female is known as
the root of heaven and earth.
From it, imperceptibly yet relentless,
Runs the energy.
7
Selflessness as a Way of Life
Heaven and earth last.
It is so because they do not give birth to themselves.
Similarly the last thing in the Sage's mind
is to propagate his body.
Paradoxically, that is why his body advances.
The body to the Sage is like any external object.
For this very reason his body perpetuates.
Is it not true that because he is selfless,
That he realizes his true self?
8
Undiscriminating Benevolence
The superior good man is like water.
Just as water enlivens all living creatures and
never contests with them,
dwelling in places disdained by others,
So the superior good man is prepared to situate himself where
nobody wants.
In this way he is close to the Dao.
To live on the good earth,
To cherish good thoughts,
To do a good turn to others,
To speak the good truth,
To let good governance find its right place,
To put the good ability to work,
To set in motion the good times,
Such is the way to live without contesting with others.
Such is the man free from complaints and anguish.
9
Knowing When to Stop
Holding a full load of what you desire in your hands
Is not as wise as putting it down.
Sharpening a knife edge to the extreme,
And it may chip off in use.
To have a house full of gold and jade,
And you will only invite thieves.
To succumb to conceit and arrogance upon getting wealth and status,
In the end you will regret it.
Retire once a task has been accomplished
And you are in consonance with Heaven's Way.
10
Mind Training
Can you concentrate your mind and soul,
and not lapse a minute?
Can you keep your breath soft and smooth,
just as an infant would?
Can you cleanse the eye of your mind,
and keep it free from a speck of dust?
Can you love your citizens and govern your country,
selflessly and according to the Dao?
If you were asked to guard the Gate of Heaven,
would you be totally impartial?
Can you understand the four dimensions of the universe,
and be free from self-guided reasoning?
To give birth to life, and
To nurture it, yet claiming no ownership;
To act, yet without being arrogant,
To bring up life, yet not determining its destiny:
That is the Mystical Virtue.
11
The Enlightened Spirit of Not Clinging
Thirty spokes make a wheel.
Forget about the spokes,
And we have the use of the wheel.
Working clay in the right way can produce a bowl.
Forget about the clay,
And we have the use of the bowl.
Carve a room off the side of a hill,
Forget about the hill,
And we have the use of the room.
We lay our hands on all kinds of materials for our advantage.
Yet we do not possess any of these materials
when we actually use their services.
12
Emancipation from the Enslavement of the Senses
Just as the five colors that we see can blind us,
So the five sounds that we hear can deafen us,
And the five tastes that we taste can dull our sense of taste.
As we hunt and chase after a moving target, our minds go wild.
So goods that are difficult to get
become hurdles in our life journey.
For this reason the Sage seeks to fill only the true needs("the needs of the
stomach")
Rather than to satisfy his senses("the needs of the eyes").
He gives up the one,
And gains the other.
13
Selflessness Brings Inner Peace
When the emperor bestows his favors,
one feels wary;
When the emperor unleashes his anguish,
one also feels wary.
In the same light we should be wary of our body.
Why is it that favor, or anguish from the emperor
makes us wary?
Because we are under him, it is natural
that we are wary when we gain or lose his favor.
Why is it that we should be wary of our bodies?
If we own our body, it is natural
that we are wary if something should happen to our bodies.
If we disown our bodies, there will be nothing to fear!
We should give our bodies up to the world,
As if they could be entrusted to all under heaven.
Love is based on giving our bodies up to the world,
As if they could be entrusted to all under heaven.
14
The Ancient Path
When we cast our eyes upon it
yet cannot see it,
We call it yi (literally "flat", "peaceful", or "delighted")
When we turn our ears to it
yet cannot hear it,
We call it xi (literally "rarefied")
When we stretch our hands to reach it
yet cannot touch it,
We call it wei (literally "infinitesimally small")
Since we cannot distinguish these three,
we equate them as one.
Its upper side does not dazzle like strong light.
Its under side does not dim like darkness.
It is beyond description,
And easily confused as nothing.
Its shape is shapeless.
Its appearance is that of nothing,
We call it the "as if."
When we greet it, we cannot see its face.
When we follow it, we cannot see its back.
(Since reality is impossible to track down)
I should only follow the Path walked by the ancient Sages.
That is how I can deal with situations of the now.
Knowing to follow the way of the ancient masters,
Can already be called following the Way.
15
The Early Masters
The masters of the Dao in ancient times
had mystical, versatile, and unfathomable understanding.
As it is unfathomable,
Only a proximate description is possible.
They are prepared at all times,
as if taking on a river journey in winter.
They are alert and watchful,
as if they were wary of the surroundings.
They are respectful,
as if they were the guests of someone.
They are accommodating,
as if they were ice about to melt.
They are unpretentious,
as if they were the embodiment of simplicity.
They are open-minded,
as if they were a hollow valley.
They are murky,
as if they were a muddy stream,
They are unsettled,
as if they were an open sea;
They never stopped,
as if they were the winds of the earth.
Is there anyone who can be like
a murky stream cleaning up when given a rest?
Is there anyone who can be like
calm air gathering motion and becoming alive again?
The man who ns full gratification of their desires,
is the man who has this ability.
He can rejuvenate.
16
Rediscover the Eternal
Be after the Truthfulness of Emptiness;
Stick to the absolute stillness of the mind.
You will see all the living things around you in a new light.
You will observe their real, original faces.
All things under heaven with their diversity
shall fall back to their proper places and
shall rediscover their origins.
Going back to one's origin is the same as stilling the mind.
It can also be known as the Rediscovery of Life.
The Life Rediscovered is the Eternal.
Knowing the Eternal is true understanding.
One who does not know the Eternal
foolishly creates all kinds of ills for oneself.
One who knows the Eternal is accommodating and receptive.
Being accommodating and receptive is giving up possessiveness.
Giving up possessiveness, one becomes kingly and enlightened.
To be kingly and enlightened is heavenly;
To be heavenly is to follow the Dao.
Following the Dao one will become immortal.
Such a man will never die even though his body passes away.
17
The Unseasoned Mind Knows the Eternal
The Supreme stays with the one who is least clever.
Others, who merely pays tribute to the Supreme verbally,
stay further away from the Supreme.
Still others, who fear the Supreme,
are more distant from the Supreme.
Still others, who live in defilement of the Supreme,
are the worst.
There are people who believe inadequately.
There are people who do not believe at all.
Take things easy and spare your words.
When what needs done gets done
People will say "How natural and easy it is!"
18
Hypocrisy
When the Way has been abandoned,
The talk about kindness and fairness emerges.
When clever people abound,
Fraudulence and pretentiousness become commonplace.
When there is discord in the family,
People will learn to become better parents and better children.
When the country falls into disarray,
Ministers who faithfully serve the country arise.
19
Live Naturally and Simply
When we stop talking about the Sages
and simply banish contrivance and clever reasoning
That is the time people will really benefit greatly.
When we stop talking about kindness and fairness
That is the time people rediscover their natural filial piety
and their parental instincts.
When people forget about their clever ways
and the pursuit of ease and comfort,
There will be no more thieves.
I cannot say adequately about these three things,
So I will add:
See simplicity;
Espouse simplicity;
Reduce your wild thoughts;
Reduce your desires.
When you have learnt how not to learn,
You will be free from worries.
20
The Calculating Mind Versus the Truthful Mind
What is the difference between saying yes because you agree
and saying yes because you want to please?
What is the difference between good and evil?
When everybody avoids something,
Does it mean it must be avoided?
How ridiculous all this is!
This mode of thinking takes one far from the ultimate Truth!
The crowds are busily involved with their daily routines.
As if they are attending a feast,
or walking up a beautiful terrace in Spring.
I alone am deserted.
The future seems unknown,
Just as an infant's future is unknown.
I appear to be tired in a directionless journey.
When everybody appears to have more than enough
I alone seem like someone who have lost everything.
Is my mind that of a fool?
People in their mundane worlds look bright.
I on the other hand look dull.
People in the mundane worlds look clever,
I on the other hand look boring.
My mind is unsettled like the open sea
and never restless like the wind.
Everyone has his properties and status.
I alone look poor and lonely.
I am different from the crowd.
I alone value drawing my nutrients from Mother.
21
The Mark of the Virtuous
To tell the virtuous from all the others.
You only need one criterion:
does he follow the Dao?
The substance of the Dao is impalpable and intractable.
While it is impalpable and intractable,
It manifests itself in the phenomenal world,
And it is not without substance.
While it is shadowy and empty,
It shows itself in the spiritual realm.
The spiritual essence of the Dao is
both truthful and dependable.
From the ancient times till now
The name of the Dao has persisted,
And it has pleased the wise masters.
