"The Emanations of TAO."
TAO produces Unity;
Unity produces Duality;
Duality produces Triplicity;
In Triplicity all things have life, and from it they proceed.
The darkness of the Unmanifested is behind all things: the light of the Manifest is before them; and they are brought into harmony by the Breath of the Great Deep.
"Apprehending the Mystery."
Before The Universe and Our World existed there was something undefined but already perfect. How calm it was and formless! Self-sufficient and unchanging: all-pervasive without effort.
I do not know its name, but for a title call it TAO. If forced to describe it. Call it Great. Being Great, it is ever-flowing; flowing on, It becomes remote; becoming remote, it returns again. Therefore, TAO is Great: The Universe is Great: Our World is Great: The Source is Great.
Four are the kinds of universal greatness of which being The Source is one. The individual finds his or her law on Our World: Our World finds its law as a part of the Universe: the Universe finds its law in TAO; but the law of TAO consists in being what it is.
"The TAO of The Universe"
Universal TAO is like the bending of a bow: that which is too high is lowered; that which is too low is raised up. Where there is an excess, it is lessened; where there is too little, it is increased. The Providence of The Universe gives to all things that which is their due. But the providence of people is not like that of TAO, for people take from those in need of more, to increase their own excess. Who are they who, possessing most, can supply the wants of all? Only they who have the TAO! That is why Enlightened People act without looking for reward, accomplishing their task without claiming any merit. By this means they hide their mastery.
"The Exercise of Enlightenment."
TAO appears quiescent: its activity is all within yet there is nothing that it does not do.
If people and their government were able to maintain it, all would be transformed from within themselves. If this transformation became an object of desire, it would still that desire by the ineffable Simplicity. The nameless Simplicity brings absence of desire; absence of desire brings stillness; so the world would become perfect from within itself.
"Supernal Simplicity."
Immutable TAO has no name. Small though it appears in its original simplicity, the servant of TAO may stand against the world. If a leader could hold and keep it, the world of itself would submit at once to that leader and spontaneously pay homage. The Universe and Our World would unite to nourish that leader, and all people without pressure would harmonize in peace. When TAO proceeds to action, it has a name. Having a name people may learn how to rest in it; knowing how to rest in it, they are free from error and decay. TAO is to world like the great River and Sea are to the streams from the valleys.
"The Perfect Achievement."
All-pervading is the Great TAO.
It extends simultaneously to the right and to the left.
All beings live by receiving it, and all are in its care.
It accomplishes its works, but claims no title of merit.
It cherishes and nurtures all, but does not assume their mastery.
It ever seeks the innermost, and its name is the smallest.
All things at last return to it. TAO is their final root. But TAO is not increased thereby, nor claims to be their ruler; and its name is the greatest.
That is why the highest people never magnify themselves; thus they become perfect in their greatness.
"Returning Home."
The path of TAO is a return to The Source.
Gentleness is its characteristic.
All things under heaven derive their being from the manifestation of TAO; and TAO the Manifest is born in TAO the Unmanifest.
"The Origin of Form."
The spirit in the Void never dies. It is called the Mother-Deep.
The openings of the Mother-Deep are called the Root of The Universe and Our World.
Ceaselessly, ceaselessly, It nourishes and preserves: Inexhaustible, without effort.
"Self-Manifestation through Contraries."
In the manifested world all people, by knowing the splendor of beauty, know also ugliness. When beauty is absent: by knowing the excellence of goodness, they recognize also that which is not good.
Therefore, contraries give rise to the idea of each other:- existence implies non-existence; That which is difficult implies that which is easy to achieve; that which is long implies that which is short in measurement; that which is high implies that which is low in elevation; that which is shrill implies that which is bass in musical tone; that which is before implies that which is behind in priority.
Therefore, the self-controlled person dwells in the balance that is beyond the action of contraries; they teach without words; they inspire to action, but appear not to act; they produce but do not possess; they work without regard to the fruit of labor; they bring their work to perfection but do not claim reward.
Holding nothing as their own, their own can never pass away.
"The Purpose of the Void."
The Universe and Our World are impartial, and for their dispensations, they use all things without distinction.
A very wise person is impartial; they act without deliberation and regard all beings as sacred and alike.
The Void between The Universe and Our World is like a bellows. It is empty, yet not to be exhausted. It moves and produces more and more.
It does not take long before many words lead to exhaustion: do not be like that, walk the middle way.
"The Hidden Radiance."
The Universe is eternal: Our World is perpetual.
They live not for themselves, so they are able to endure.
A very wise person places their presence behind, yet it is found in the foremost place. They live not for themselves, yet their person is preserved. Being the most unselfish of all, they endure and fulfill their prime purpose.
"Compensation's Secret."
If there is contraction, then before there was expansion.
If there is weakness, then before there was strength. If there is strength, then before there was weakness.
If you aspire to exalted places, then first learn what lowly stations to take.
If you would receive, then first learn how to give.
This is called "Compensation's Secret,"where the soft overcomes the hard, the weak prevails against the strong.
As a fish out of water is in danger, so to a nation is in peril when its weapons of strife are paraded.
"Returning to the Root."
The void is to be filled, the tranquil essence steadfastly guarded.
All things arise into existence, yet pass on again to their source. They blossom into perfect form and return again to their root.
Returning to the Root is called Tranquillity, by which the Void is filled.
Those who fill the void, knows the nature of Eternity. Realizing the Eternal is called Illumination.
Not knowing the Eternal is the cause of misery and error.
Knowing the Eternal leads to the Integral.
Those who are Integral are just.
Those who are just are like the Universe.
Those who are of The Universe are close to TAO.
And those who are of TAO endure forever: though their body vanishes they do not perish.
"Tracing the Origin."
From the past there are those possessing Unity.
The Universe, possessing Unity, is bright and pure. Our World, possessing Unity, is stable and secure. The Spirit, possessing Unity, is beyond all bodily form. Space, in possessing Unity, is made full. All creatures, in possessing Unity, are endowed with life. Rulers and Leaders, possessing Unity, are models of the world.
The Unity of all these is identical essence. The Universe, without purity, would be divided. Our world, without stability, would disintegrate.
The Spirit, with bodily form, would be subject to corruption. Space, without its fullness, would soon be fathomed and exhausted. All creatures, without life, would vanish from existence. Governors and Leaders, without dignity, would lose their influence.
The root of dignity is in humility: the foundation of the exalted is in lowliness.
Therefore, Governors and Leaders speak of themselves in lowly terms, as "alone,""rejected,""unworthy,"do they not acknowledge by this the root of their Unity is in humility?
The several parts of a vehicle do not produce its Unity, and those who find Unity neither wish to be isolated like a single gem, nor lost in the medley of common pebbles.
"Aspects of TAO."
That which people dislike is called "alone,""rejected,"and "unworthy,"yet these are the names taken by Governors and Leaders.
So it is that some are increased by being diminished, and some are diminished by being increased.
That which people teach by their actions, I make use of to instruct.
So, those who are violent and headstrong do not reach their normal end.
This is the foundation of my Doctrine.
"The Use of Non-Existence."
Thirty spokes unite in the hub of a wheel; but the usefulness of the wheel depends on the empty inner center. Molded clay is fashioned into a vessel, but the usefulness of the vessel depends on the empty inner center. Doors and windows are cut to make a dwelling-place, but the usefulness of the house depends on its empty inner space.
The value of existent things comes from the use of non-existence.
"Emptiness and Nothingness."
Moderate your speech and attain spontaneity.
A gust of wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day.
To what power are these things due?
The inner-relations of The Universe and Our World.
Even The Universe and Our World do not persist in the same action; so, how much can people?
"Practicing Serenity."
It is better to withhold than to fill to overflowing: it is better to refrain than to push to the extreme.
Continual excess wears away the keenest instrument.
You may fill your house with gold and precious stones, but who can guard them with security? Wealth and glory lead to vanity, to cares that spoil your peace.
To accomplish great deeds, to merit honor, and then to retire into oneself- this is the way of The Universe.
"Reverting to Simplicity."
Those who knows paternal strength but still retain maternal greatness becomes a universal channel of Everlasting Grace.
As a universal channel, this Grace will never leave; so they regain the innocence of pure childhood.
Those who know the Light of The Universe but still remain obscure in Our World becomes a universal model.
As a universal model, Eternal Grace will never fail them; they thus regain pristine freedom.
Those who know their inner glory, but still keeps their lowliness, become a universal chalice.
As a universal chalice, the Eternal Grace will fill them; they regains their simple essence.
By the spreading of their simple essence, the very wise person makes a useful vessel, that with wise administration bless all beings impartially.
"Going back to the Cause."
In manifesting the world, TAO becomes the Universal Mother.
In the knowledge of the mother is the knowledge of her children.
And this childhood being known, there is access to the Mother.
So life is unaffected though body fades away.
Those who close their lips and t the doors of their senses, all their life are free from turmoil.
Those who open their mouth and spend their breath in vain pursuits, all their life cannot be kept safe.
In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength.
Those who neglect the Inner Light are lost in body's darkness.
Those who follow the light of The Universe forever reflect its radiance.
This is called the Eternal Heritage.
"Holding on to TAO."
In the regulation of people and in the serving of The Universe, there is nothing that surpasses Moderation.
In this economy of action is the secret of foresight.
From the following of this foresight comes continual storing of merits.
From this abundance of inner Grace comes the power that none can conquer.
If the inner power cannot be conquered, then its limits are unknown.
To have the power that knows no limits is to gain the leadership of nations.
He who, by moderation, has gained the root of sovereignty, will surely endure.
This it is deep rooted and has a firm foundation in the lasting life and the vision of the Everlasting TAO.
"The Virtue of Humility."
A great nation is like a downward-flowing river in which all the streams in the Universe converge.
This is the feminine or passive attribute of the nation.
The feminine overcomes the masculine by stillness; but must be submissive in order to be still.
So, a great nation that is humble before smaller states may gain them for its own.
While, if a little nation that is humble before greater states, may gain their alliance.
So, the one overcomes by being humble, while the other is humble and overcomes.
A great nation desires only to unite and nourish people.
A little nation desires only to enter in and serve people.
Both attain the object of their desires, - the greater must be lowly.
"Practical TAO."
TAO is the hidden refuge of all creatures of the world.
It is the treasure of the kind person; yet supports those who have lost kindness.
Beautiful words, through TAO are fraught with potency.
Noble deeds, through TAO, are wrought with never failing efficacy.
And even those who are without kindness are not forsaken by TAO.
The Servant of TAO sits enthroned, with three appointed ministers.
One bears before them a symbol of rank.
One escorts the mounted retinue.
But the one who is most valued, humbly presents themself to TAO.
Why is the TAO so prized by people? Because the Seeker finds in it the object of their
quest, and the wrong doer finds in it forgiveness.
Therefore, TAO is honored by all.
"Freedom of Action."
Courage carried to one extreme is the boldness that leads to death.
Courage carried to the other extreme preserves life by self-restraint.
Of these two one benefits, the other harms, yet both are rejected by The Universe.
