** zheng yan ruo fan: true words often seem a paradox
not for the first time in the text, this line seems unconnected with the rest of the section, although its actual meaning is acknowledged throughout the Daode jing. Some interpreters have either moved the line to section 41 or 45, or eliminated it altogether.
79
When peace is made between great enemies,
some residue of enmity is sure to remain.
What can be done for the good?
Those who are enlightened
mind what they owe others,
not what others owe them. *
People of DE keep their promises;
those lacking DE insist on payment.
The DAO of heaven is impartial,
but it is always in accord with what is good.
* zhi zuo qi: mind what they owe others
literally, zhi zuo qi means 慼olds the left-hand side of the contract? a reference to the ancient Chinese practice of recording a loan of money. The sum involved was drawn on a bamboo stick, which was then broken in half lengthwise, so creating two pieces that interlocked with each other. The left-hand side marked the side of the debtor, the right-hand the side of the creditor.
80
Countries should be small,
their people few.
If they have devices by the hundred, *
they should not use them.
They should be mindful of death,
and not migrate to far-off places.
Even if they have boats and carriages,
they should have no reason to ride in them.
Even if they have armour and weapons,
they should have no reason to display them.
Let the people return to tying knots in ropes
and using them for counting.
Let them delight in their food,
find their clothes beautiful,
be content with their homes,
rejoice in their everyday lives.
Even if neighbouring countries
are in sight of each other,
and barking dogs and crowing cocks
in earshot,
let the people grow old and die
without needing to go and visit.
* shi you shi bo zhi: even if they have devices by the hundred
the character zhi here is ambiguous, and has been variously interpreted as evoking a domestic level (慽mplements? 憉tensils? 憊essels?, more military connotations (憈ools? 憁achines? 憌eapons?, to high human ability (憄eople of enormous talent?. The choice of 慸evices?here may be thought to occupy a middle ground between the extremes and, in its generalised meaning, to retain the ambiguity of the original.
81
Truthful words are not fine-sounding;
fine-sounding words are never true.
Good people are not quarrelsome;
quarrelsome people are not good.
Those who understand are not learn鑔;
learn鑔 people do not understand.
Those who are enlightened do not hoard.
The more they do for others,
the fuller they are themselves.
The more they give to others,
the richer they become.
The DAO of Heaven never harms, but helps.
The DAO of those who are enlightened
is to act and be in harmony.
English_Clatfelter_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
Jim Clatfelter, 2000
Vorwort/Foreword
Introduction to the Headless Tao
I discovered the Tao Te Ching in the mid-60s. It was the first book of its kind to come my way. Everything about it was right. It valued the simple and the spontaneous. It valued wholeness over opposition and contention. And it valued the mystery within and everywhere. In the mid-70s I discovered another book, On Having No Head by Douglas Harding. This book showed me that where others see my head, I see nothing, the nothing that is the source and destiny of all things. In other words, it showed me the Tao. In 1999 I learned that the Chinese ideograph for Tao is composed of two graphs, one that means go and one that means head. Of course! The Tao is the gone head, gone because it never was here. I can see the Tao right here and now! It抯 the bare awareness or presence that I truly am. This called for some exposition, hence my interpretation of Lao Tzu抯 classic. The original is terse, and it抯 largely in verse. So I set out to make my version similar. It抯 the same length as the original, and it抯 in rhyme. And it shows the Tao, shows how to see it. Lao Tzu asks that we see the Tao. All else follows from that. Lao Tzu also says that most will reject the Tao, even laugh at it. Are you daring enough to look instead of laugh?
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
