Truly to rejoice at the killing of people means you will not be able to fulfill your ambitions for Heaven below (the sacred body)!
Joyful activities add to the left side.
Cruel activities add to the right side.
The person who acts from below will approach the battle and dwell in the left side.
The person who acts from above will approach the battle and dwell in the right side.
Speak as though performing funeral rites.
Killing causes the people to grieve and weep with sorrow.
Tremble at victory because life will be like a funeral ceremony.
32
The Tao is eternal and not named.
Even though simple and subtle, no one in Heaven below (the sacred body) can rule over it!
When all people can sustain it, ten-thousand things (everything) will naturally honor it as they would honor a guest.
Heaven and Earth are mutually joined and drip with sweet dew.
The people are without laws and are naturally in harmony.
When rules began, their names emerged.
From their names, exhaustion emerged.
The master will recognize that in which the mind rests, and knows that when the mind rests there is no danger.
They compare this to the Tao's presence in Heaven below.
It resembles the valley streams that become the great rivers that flow into the sea.
33
Recognize that people naturally know.
Knowing the light sustains humanity.
This naturally emerging force overcomes violence.
Knowing the light provides strength in action.
Resolve to not separate from it.
The light is enduring.
Death is not the end.
The light is immortal.
34
The great Tao is the cycle of life!
It can move to the left and to the right.*
Ten-thousand things (everything) rely upon it and it gives birth and does not refuse.
It deserves praise for the whole which cannot be named.
It clothes and nourishes ten-thousand things and does not act like a ruler.
It is always without deep seated desires.
Its name is associated with everything including the small.
Ten-thousand things revert to their original state, and from that place do not act as rulers.
The Name** becomes great because until the end, it is not great and does not act great.
Thus it can succeed in its greatness.
* Left and right = Being to the right of the ruler was considered a place of honor. Being to the left of the ruler was considered second best.
**The Name = The universe becoming conscious of itself through its human form.
35
Take hold of and follow Heaven below's (the sacred body's) elephant*.
Follow and there will be no loss, quiet peace is in abundance.
Food and music will make passing strangers stop.
The Tao that goes forth by words is tasteless!
It is without taste.
Those who think about it cannot see it.
Those who listen for it cannot hear it.
Use it and it can never be exhausted.
* Elephant: a symbol of strength, peace and abundance.
36
To be at peace with your deep-seated desires, you surely must expand.
To soften your deep-seated desires, you surely must be vigorous.
To give up your deep-seated desires, you surely must flourish.
To deprive your deep-seated desires, you surely must give of yourself.
This is called the mystery of the light.
The gentle and the yielding overcome the hard and the forceful.
Force cannot separate you from your watery abyss (deep-seated desires).
The community's acquisitions cannot help you to know yourself.
37
The Tao is eternal not doing (wu wei) yet does everything.
When all people can uphold it, ten-thousand things (everything) will naturally evolve.
When I am influenced by deep-seated desires, I will restrain them without naming them in order to keep my purity.
By focusing on the uncarved block of wood or the uncut jade, the master will be without deep-seated desires.
Without deep-seated desires there is tranquility in Heaven below (the sacred body) and peace follows.
38
The person who acts from above does not have access to the action of their soul.
The action of the soul is positive.
The action of the soul emerges from below.*
The action of the soul does not abandon.
The action of the soul is positive because of its emptiness.
The action of the soul is supreme.
The action of the soul is not doing (wu wei) and uses not doing.
The action of the soul comes from below and emerges because of its actions.
Humanity acts from above and this action is the opposite of not doing.
Righteousness from above emerges because of these actions.
Then rules of behavior come from above and no one responds.
Those who act from above seize the arms of the people and apply force.
When you are separated from the Tao, you are separated from the action of your soul.
Next you abandon humanity.
When you abandon humanity, you lose your heart.
Rules of behavior follow the loss of your heart.
Truly, rules of behavior that are faithfully and loyally followed are superficial and the first sign of discord.
Know the Tao's splendor.
Folly is the place to begin to know it.
This is the reason for its greatness.
The revered master dwells in the substance and does not stay with its husk.
Stop to make it solid.
Do not inhabit that which is embellished with ornaments.
Your purpose is to discard the latter and take hold of the former.
* You must be below to receive the the gifts of others as the ocean is below the rivers to receive the gifts of the rivers.
39
In ancient times there was unity.
Heaven benefited from unity and became pure.
Earth benefited from unity and became stabilized.
The soul benefited from unity and became divine.
The valleys benefited from unity and became bountiful.
Ten-thousand things (everything) benefited from unity and were born.
All people benefited from unity and became Heaven below抯 (the sacred body's) high principle.
They achieved this.
Without purity, fear would split Heaven apart.
Without solidity, fear would cause the Earth to crumble.
Without divinity, fear would t down the soul.
Without abundance, fear would deplete the valleys.
Without birth, fear would cause the ten-thousand things to perish.
Without taking in hand their exalted treasure, fear would cause the people to stumble.
Thus, value is rooted in humble action.
High positions are humble and form the foundation.
When people say orphans and widows are not worthy, it surely is not the root of humble action.
Surely not!
Therefore, looking for praise does not bring success.
Do not desire to sparkle, sparkle like a jewel.
Instead, resemble a necklace, a necklace of rocks.
40
Return to your true nature, the movement of the Tao.
The way of the Tao is gentle.
Ten-thousand things (everything) and Heaven below (the sacred body) were born from its existence.
Existence was born from nonexistence (the Source).
41
The master who acts from above strains to listen to the Tao, and becomes exhausted.
The master who acts from the middle hears the Tao very faintly, and then loses it.
The master who acts from below hears the Tao and laughs greatly.
Those who are unable to laugh will not have enough of a reason to practice the Tao.
Thus we can say:
The luminous Tao seems dark.
The advancing Tao seems to retreat.
The smooth Tao appears flawed.
The highest action of the soul seems empty.
Great purity appears degraded.
Abundant action of the soul appears to not be enough.
Stable action of the soul appears to be unsteady.
Simple truth seems fickle.
It is the great square that has no corners.
It is the great vessel that is not complete.
It is the great music that has no sound.
It is the great elephant that has no form.
The Tao is hidden without a name.
Yet for these exact reasons the Tao is good and completes.
42
The Tao gives birth to one.
The one gives birth to two.
The two gives birth to three.
The three gives birth to ten-thousand things (everything).
Ten-thousand things carry the yin (the physical) and hold the yang (the spiritual) within.
The collision of these two vital forces (the chi) creates the totality that is humanity.
Widows and orphans can connect Heaven, Humanity and Earth.
The ministers who disdain them make titles for themselves.
Sometimes things decrease and there is a gain.
Sometimes with an increase, there is a loss.
The lessons of others are also my lessons.
The lessons of the forceful and aggressive do not create the necessary death.
I receive each lesson, thus making it a beginning.
43
Heaven below (the sacred body) has perfect flexibility and moves like a galloping horse.
Heaven below has perfect strength.
Not being penetrates emptiness.
I perceive not doing (wu wei) as the means to advance.
Not speaking is its philosophy.
Not doing benefits the world.
Heaven below soundlessly reaches for it.
44
Your body or your appearance, which do you love?
Your body or wealth, which is worth more?
Gain or loss, which is more difficult?
Excessive love surely creates great expense.
The more you hoard, the more you have to lose.
Know contentment, not disappointment.
Know how to stop before there is exhaustion.
You can thus last long.
45
Great perfection is with imperfection.
Its use is not impaired.
Great fullness is with emptiness
Its usefulness is not exhausted.
Great truth is with inaccuracies.
Great skill is with limitations.
Great oratory is with stammering.
Movement overcomes cold.
Stillness overcomes heat.
The act of pure tranquility guides Heaven below (the sacred body).
46
When Heaven below (sacred body) is with the Tao, galloping horses* are curbed and used to haul dung.
When Heaven below does not have the Tao, war horses breed on sacred ground.
There is no greater misfortune than not knowing contentment.
There is no greater downfall than having deep-seated desires.
Know contentment. Your contentment is always enough!
* The galloping horse is the symbol of sanctity, power and outstanding achievement of a nation.
47
Without going out the door, you can know Heaven below (the sacred body).
Without looking through a window, you can see Heaven抯 Tao.
The more you go away from yourself, the less you perceive.
The sage does not go out, yet knows;
does not look, yet names;
does not do, yet finishes.
48
You will benefit when you let the sun come through the covered mind.
Align with the Tao every day and your effort diminishes, diminishes, and diminishes.
Hence you reach a state of not doing (wu wei), not doing, and nothing but not doing.
Always without trying, take hold of Heaven below (the sacred body).
When you stop trying, you will be able to take hold of Heaven below.
49
The sage has the emptiness of the eternal center.
Thus the center of the hundred families (all families) becomes the center.
Goodness - people are good.
Those who are not good - they are also good because the action of their soul is good.
Trust - people can be trusted.
Those who cannot be trusted - they can also be trusted because the action of their soul can be trusted.
The sage lives peacefully in Heaven below (the sacred body).
The peaceful action of Heaven below is like an ocean at its center.
The sage is like a child ready to smile at everyone.
50
The Source gives life and penetrates death.*
Life is a companion to the four directions that exist within Heaven, Humanity and Earth.
Death is a companion to the four directions that exist within Heaven, Humanity and Earth.
People are born, live, and die, on earth, also as companions to the four directions that exist within Heaven, Humanity and Earth.
What is the purpose?
To give life.
To give life abundantly.
Indeed, we have heard of people who are good at sustaining life.
On land they travel and do not encounter rhinoceroses.
Tigers enter the battlefield and they do not need to wear armor or carry weapons.
Rhinoceroses have no place to butt with their horns.
Tigers have no place to put their claws.
Soldiers have no place to thrust their blades.
How can this be so?
Because of the not-dying** Earth.
* The life force energy from the Source penetrates what is dead and brings it more alive.
** Not-dying means the absence of death, as not-doing means the absence of doing.
51
The Tao gives life to them.
The action of the soul nourishes them.
The material world shapes them.
Circumstances perfect them.
The ten-thousand things (everything) all honor the Tao and favor the action of the soul.
They revere the Tao.
The action of the soul is their treasure.
Above all, it is without destiny, yet always is as it is.
Hence, the Tao gives life to them.
The action of the soul
- gives birth to them
- sustains them
- nurtures them
- protects them
- prepares them
- feeds them
- shelters them
- gives them life and does not possess them
- acts and does not presume
- develops and does not rule
This is called the mystery of the action of the soul.
52
Heaven below (the sacred body) has a beginning that was made by Heaven below抯 mother.
When the mother finished, she recognized her child.
When she recognized her child, she held it again.
Till the end the body is not in danger.
Close your openings, t your gates, to the end of your days your body will not be exhausted.
Open your mouth, meddle in your affairs, to the end of your days, your body will not be taken care of.
Recognize that what is subtle is called the light.
Put its brilliance to use.
Return to the original state of the light.
The body is not in danger.
This is called the eternal practice.
53
Because I lack importance, I have perception.
