Yet with a grip that's strong
The newborn hasn't been fulfilled
Its nature is pure vacancy
Nullity and nothingness
And potent spontaneity
It can scream and cry all day
And yet it never does get hoarse
It only does what naturally
Emerges from the inner source
To see this inner nature
Is seeing in a way that's bold
Into the only place there is
That cannot possibly grow old
56
Those who know don't like to say
Those who say don't know
Close the mouth and guard the senses
You'll see more than what's on show
Untie tangles, dim the glare
Dull the sharp and join the dust
Abide in primal unity
And then do what you must
You cannot hold it or let go
It can't be blamed or praised
In all-embracing oneness
Be astonished and amazed
57
To truly lead with fairness
You must put aside control
Abandon imposition
Make spontaneity your goal
The more you try to run their lives
With rules and prohibition
The poorer people's lives become
The more they live in opposition
The more you deal with others
With cunning and with guile
The more that other people say
Our lives are not worthwhile
The more you hoard your treasures
The more you're giving hope to thieves
The more you sharpen weapons
The more the country grieves
Do nothing and see all is done
And everyone is true
Drop the rules and people owe
Prosperity to you
Just let go of all desire
And people will return
To natural and simple ways
To life without concern
58
Let your lead be gentle
And people will be satisfied
Let it be severe and harsh
And be rejected and defied
Happiness may reign today
But who knows what tomorrow holds?
Sadness too will have its time
As all ten thousand things unfold
The seer's sight is sharp and pointed
But it does not cut or pierce
The seer sees and shows the truth
This gentle way is never fierce
59
To serve and care for others
With restraint and moderation
Stay centered in the here and now
And free of limitation
If you keep returning
To this your central root
You will possess forever
Awareness undilute
60
It's best to lead a large domain
As you would cook a little fish
Don't poke and prod or you are bound
To spoil the country and the dish
Just stay open and aware
And evil cannot get a hold
Cannot find a home in you
Even evil's not that bold
At center you harm no one
And no one's able to harm you
This kind of reciprocity
Creates the world anew
61
A great domain is like the sea
Whose power comes from lying low
And due to this humility
Its greatness has to grow
A small domain can lie low too
Acknowledging its low location
Surrender and humility
Give rise to exaltation
If you lie low you too arise
To uppermost position
For everyone's attracted to
One who doesn't fear submission
62
I'm at the center and the source
Of all ten thousand things
Where I receive the benefits
That pure awareness brings
These benefits belong to all
To good and bad the same
For nature gives you what you need
With no regard for praise or blame
Words and deeds of excellence
May bring you honor and acclaim
But nature values each alike
And is indifferent to fame
When new leaders are installed
Don't send gifts or lofty praise
Stay centered in the unity
Provided by the inward gaze
Why should you esteem the void?
It does away with imperfection
Those who seek are bound to find
It disappears on close inspection
63
Begin with the easy
And do without doing
There isn't a thing
That you should be pursuing
Begin with the simple
There's no need attacking
Your greatness will lie
In all that you're lacking
Tackle problems when they're small
And still subject to solution
The largest problem is resolved
By simple deeds of diminution
Can you center every day
And see all the seers see
Empty here and brimming there
A marvelous asymmetry?
64
To keep the peace is easy
Begin before a problem stirs
Handle things before they happen
And trouble before it occurs
Be calm and conquer worries
Before they can proceed
The very largest tree begins
As just a tiny seed
It takes a single step to start
A journey of a thousand miles
And just one brick to start to build
The grandest domiciles
Let things happen as they will
You do not need to interfere
See that you do nothing
That causes discord to appear
65
Those of old who found the way
Could see their inner core
They saw that it was hidden
And didn't bring it to the fore
When people think they know the truth
They want all others to concur
But they are happy and content
When they remain unsure
Don't try to lead with cleverness
Prefer instead simplicity
It's obvious that truth must lie
In nothingness and clarity
66
The sea is large and mighty
Because it lies below
The streams and rivers of the world
Thus capturing their flow
If you want to have your fill
Then you must see that you are hollow
If you want to lead the way
Then you must be prepared to follow
When you lead you are above
But no one feels put down
And when you must be out in front
Know that no one's losing ground
When you see that you're not built
For facing up or confrontation
No one can contend with you
Who are the ultimate negation
67
On seeing inner nothingness
You see it's great beyond compare
Though many find it curious
That you would even care
I have three treasures that I keep
The first is friendliness
The second is to stay behind
The third is wanting less
For if you're friendly and you care
You can dare to do what's needed
And if you always stay behind
The lead will surely be conceded
And if you're satisfied with less
You have everything to give
Keep these treasures in your heart
Then you will truly live
68
Violence is not the way
The greatest warriors know
That treachery and anger
Will not defeat the foe
You only win if you don't strive
And gain if you do not oppose
This is the certain victory
Simplicity bestows
69
In conflict just be cautious
And always on your guard
Rather than advance an inch
Instead retreat a yard
In this way you go along
And make your gain without advancing
You deal with the rival
As your position is enhancing
Remember that it's possible
Your rival just may yield
So don't advance on such a foe
Let differences be healed
70
Embarrassingly obvious
And always near at hand
It is this nothingness you see
But never understand
Though truth within is ageless
Very few will ever see
My face is what I give to you
The jewel within is me
71
You cannot understand the truth
Claim to know and show you're ill
Just see that you are missing
That truth is bare and nil
Unknowing is the final cure
When knowledge takes its heavy toll
Pure presence is totality
And absence makes you whole
72
When the sense of wonder goes
Disaster is not far behind
Don't intrude in people's lives
And they won't think you are unkind
The seer sees both this and that
But doesn't ask for praise
Finding this immensity
With just a simple inward gaze
73
The way is very easy
Its purposes prevail
When all is done in silence
Intention cannot fail
Its net is vast and over all
With meshes large and wide
Yet it loses nothing
Holds everything inside
74
You truly are what isn't born
You need not be afraid to die
Just live your life and know that you
Will never lose the inner eye
You can't control what is to be
In using tools you don't command
Unlike the master carpenter
You're bound to cut your hand
75
The people starve when taxes take
The bulk of what they earn
When leaders interfere too much
They get rebellion in return
The people do not fear to die
If leaders rob them of their lives
But taking no more than you need
You see that everybody thrives
76
We're soft and supple when we're born
Hard and rigid when we die
Living plants are pliable
Deadwood is brittle and dry
This way life befriends the weak
But death draws near the strong
The hard and stiff are bound to break
The supple bends and goes along
77
Nature's way of doing
Is like the bending of a bow
For pulling on a bow you see
The low go high and the high go low
Nature takes from those who have
And gives to those who lack
When nature takes from human beings
They fight to get it back
But if you see you have it all
You're not afraid to give away
Expecting nothing in return
It all comes back with no delay
78
Water is so very soft
It overcomes because it yields
By wearing down the hardest rock
It shows what power weakness wields
The weak can overcome the strong
The soft can overcome the hard
Everybody knows it's true
So hold the low in high regard
The seer sees serenity
Where others see affliction
The seer sees the inner truth
Where others only see a fiction
79
There's little good in making peace
If resentment lingers
You'll never see an end to blame
If everyone is pointing fingers
It's better to be pointing
At the peaceful and creative place
Where you see naught but emptiness
And others say they see your face
80
If a land is small and the people few
And the rulers recognize what's needed
The simple ways of courtesy
Are happily and gladly heeded
For people need so little
To live their lives aright
Are food and home and clothing
Not enough for pure delight?
Though nearby lands are close enough
To hear their roosters crow
The people will be so content
That not a one will want to go
81
Truth need not be eloquent
And eloquence may not be true
There is no need to argue
When truth is shining through
Those who see may not be learned
The learned may not see
To see you merely need to look
In pure simplicity
The seer doesn't have to hoard
And does not fear to lose
The more you give, the more you have
So why should you refuse?
Why not give it all away?
For emptiness brings benefit
And as the seers always say
The more you give, the more you get
English_Cleary_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese - English by
Thomas Cleary, 1991
1
A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path; names can be given, but not permanent labels.
Nonbeing is called the beginning of heaven and earth; being is called the mother of all things.
Always passionless, thereby observe the subtle; ever intent, thereby observe the apparent.
These two come from the same source but differ in name;
both are considered mysteries. The mystery of mysteries is the gateway of marvels.
2
When everyone knows beauty is beauty, this is bad.
When everyone knows good is good, this is not good.
So being and nonbeing produce each other: difficulty and ease complement each other, long and short shape each other,
high and low contrast with each other, voice and echoes conform to each other, before and after go along with each other.
So sages manage effortless service and carry out unspoken guidance.
All beings work, without exception: if they live without possessiveness,
act without presumption, and do not dwell on success, then by this very nondwelling success will not leave.
3
Not exalting cleverness causes the people not to contend.
Not putting high prices on hard-to-get goods causes the people not to steal.
Not seeing anything to want causes the mind not to be confused.
Therefore the government of sages empties the mind and fills the middle, weakens the ambition and strengthens the bones,
always keeping the people innocent and passionless. It makes the sophisticated not dare to contrive;
action being without contrivance, nothing is disordered.
4
The Way is unimpeded harmony; its potential may never be fully exploited.
It is as deep as the source of all things;
it blunts the edges, resolves the complications, harmonizes the light, assimilates to the world.
Profoundly still, it seems to be there:
I don't know whose child it is, before the creation of images.
5
Heaven and earth are not humane; they regard all beings as straw dogs.
Sages are not humane; they see all people as straw dogs..
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows and pipes, empty yet inexhaustible, producing more with each movement.
The talkative reach their wits' end again and again; that is not as good as keeping centered.
6
The valley spirit not dying is called the mysterious female.
The opening of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth.
Continuous, on the brink of existence, to put in into practice, don't try to force it.
