Returning is the motion of the Tao

40

Returning is the motion of the Tao.
Yielding is the function of the Tao.

The ten thousand things are born from being.
Being is born from non-being.

These in the past attained wholeness

39

These in the past attained wholeness:

The heavens attained wholeness and became clear.
The Earth attained wholeness and became firm.
The spirit attained wholeness and became strong.
The valley attained wholeness and became full.
The ten thousand things are whole and growing.
Lords and kings attained wholeness
and put right their countries.

Without clarity, the heavens would split apart.
Without firmness, the Earth would quake.
Without strength, the spirit would dissipate.
Without fullness, the valley would dry up.
Without growth, the ten thousand things would die out.
Without leadership, the lords would fall.

Therefore, humility is the root of nobility.
The low is the base of the high.

This is why the lords and kings call themselves
“the orphaned, widowed, and without worth.”

Striving for praise, one is not praised.

Desire not the rarity of jade,
nor the multitude of stone gravel.

/ / /

I forgot to post this yesterday.

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A person of true power

38

A person of true power
does not proclaim his power,
and is therefore powerful.
A person of superficial power
tries to claim his power,
and is therefore not powerful.

A person of true power does nothing,
yet leaves nothing undone.
A person of superficial power is always doing,
yet leaves much to be done.
A kind person takes action,
but has no intentions.
A just person takes action,
but has intentions.
A person of propriety takes action,
but others do not respond,
so he rolls up his sleeves
and tries to coerce them.

When the Tao is lost,
there is power.
When power is lost,
there is kindness.
When kindness is lost,
there is justice.
When justice is lost,
there is propriety.

Propriety is the veneer
of faith and loyalty,
and the beginning of disorder.
Knowledge of the future
is just a flower of the Tao,
and the beginning of foolishness.

Therefore, the master dwells in wholeness,
and not on the surface,
dwells on the fruit,
and not the flower.

Reject the one and accept the other.

The Tao abides in not-doing

37

The Tao abides in not-doing,
yet nothing is left undone.
If lords and kings would abide by this,
the ten thousand things would transform by themselves.

If they still desire to act,
I will restrain them using the uncarved block.
Using the uncarved block,
there is no desire.
Without desire, there is tranquility,
and the whole world settles itself.

When you want to contract something

36

When you want to contract something,
you must first let it expand.
When you want to weaken something,
you must first strengthen it.
When you want to tear something down,
you must first raise it up.
When you want to take something,
you must first give.
This is called the subtle light.

The soft and weak
overcome the hard and strong.
Fish cannot live out of water.
The nation’s sharp weapons
should not be displayed.

Hold on to the great image

35

Hold on to the great image
and the world will come to you.
They will come and suffer no harm.

Resting in safety and peace,
music and good food – for these
passing travelers will stop.

Therefore, when we speak of Tao:
“It is bland. It is without flavor.”

When you look at it,
there is not enough to be seen.
When you listen to it,
there is not enough to be heard.
Yet, when you use it,
it cannot be exhausted.

The Tao is pervasive

34

The Tao is pervasive,
flowing to the left and right.

It accomplishes its tasks, completes its affairs,
but makes no claim on them.
The ten thousand things return to it,
but it does not act as their master.
It is eternally without desire,
so it may be named among the small.
The ten thousand things return to it,
but it does not act as their master,
so it may be named among the great.

The master accomplishes greatness.
Because he does not act great,
he is able to accomplish the great.

To understand others is to be knowledgeable

33

To understand others is to be knowledgeable.
To understand yourself is to be enlightened.
To master others is to have strength.
To master yourself is to be strong.

To know contentment is to be wealthy.
To persevere is to have willpower.
To maintain one’s place is to endure.
To die, but not be forgotten, is longevity.

The Tao is eternally nameless

32

The Tao is eternally nameless.

Though the uncarved block is small,
there is no one in the world
who can rule over it.
If lords and kings were to maintain it,
the ten thousand things would naturally submit.

Heaven and earth combine to produce sweet dew,
which falls equally on all things.
No one needs to make it so.

When the whole is divided, names arise.
As soon as there are names,
one must know when to stop.
Knowing when to stop, one can avoid danger.

The Tao’s presence in the world
is like the relationship of valley streams
to rivers and seas.

Weapons are instruments of evil omen

31

Weapons are instruments of evil omen;
creatures of the world abhor them.
Therefore, followers of the Tao reject them.

In peace, the wise man honors the left;
in war, the commander prefers the right.

Therefore, weapons are not instruments of the wise.
Weapons are instruments of evil omen,
to be used when there is no other choice.
He uses them with calm and reverence.
He does not take delight in killing others.
Taking delight in killing others,
you will not achieve in the world.

On happy occasions, the left is preferred;
on sad occasions, the right is preferred.

The deputy commander stands on the left;
the commander stands on the right.

They stand as in a mourning ritual.
After killing others, we stand in grief and sorrow.
Victory is observed as a funeral service.