LIKE LIVING FLAME THEIR FACES SEEMED TO GLOW. THEIR WINGS WERE
GOLD. AND ALL THEIR BODIES SHONE MORE DAZZLING WHITE THAN ANY
EARTHLY SNOW. HI HOW ARE YOU TRY TO REMEMBER BUT MY FEELINGS CAN'T
KNOW FOR SURE TRY TO REACH OUT BUT IT'S GONE LUCKY STARS IN YOUR
EYES I AM WALKING THE COW I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW I CAME HERE I
REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY I'M STAYING HERE OH OH OH... I AM WALKING THE
COW TRY TO POINT MY FINGER BUT THE WIND IS BLOWING ME AROUND IN
CIRCLES CIRCLES LUCKY STARS IN YOUR EYES I AM WALKING THE COW I
REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE TO FEAR I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE
TO CARE OH OH OH... I AM WALKING THE COW LUCKY STARS... ONE MAN
PRETENDS TO BE RICH, YET HAS NOTHING, ANOTHER PRETENDS TO BE POOR,
YET HAS GREAT WEALTH. THE MOCKER SEEKS WISDOM AND FINDS NONE, BUT
KNOWLEDGE COMES EASILY TO THE DISCERNING. EVEN A FOOL IS THOUGHT
WISE IF HE KEEPS SILENT, AND DISCERNING IF HE HOLDS HIS TONGUE. A
SLUGGARD DOES NOT PLOW IN SEASON, SO AT HARVEST TIME, HE LOOKS BUT
FINDS NOTHING. BETTER IS OPEN REBUKE THAN HIDDEN LOVE. HE WHO
REBUKES A MAN WILL IN THE END GAIN MORE FAVOUR THAN HE WHO HAS A
FLATTERING TONGUE. ALTHOUGH THEY MAY PLAY WITH MY BODY AND MAKE IT
A SOURCE OF JEST AND BLAME, BECAUSE I HAVE GIVEN IT UP TO THEM WHAT
IS THE USE OF HOLDING IT DEAR? THEREFORE I WILL LET THEM DO
ANYTHING TO IT. THAT DOES NOT CAUSE THEM ANY HARM. AND WHEN ANYONE
ENCOUNTERS ME MAY IT NEVER BE MEANINGLESS FOR THEM. WHERE COULD I
POSSIBLY FIND ENOUGH LEATHER WITH WHICH TO COVER THE SURFACE OF THE
EARTH? BUT WEARING LEATHER JUST ON THE SOLES OF MY SHOES IS
EQUIVALENT TO COVERING THE WHOLE EARTH WITH IT. JUST AS I WOULD BE
ATTENTIVE AND CAREFUL OF A WOUND WHEN AMIDST A BUSTLING
UNCONTROLLED CROWD, SO I SHOULD ALWAYS GUARD THE WOUND OF MY MIND.
WHEN DWELLING AMONG HARMFUL PEOPLE. SHOULD I BEHAVE IN SUCH A WAY
AS THIS. THEN WHETHER AMONG HARMFUL PEOPLE OR EVEN IN THE MIDST OF
WOMEN, THE STEADY EFFORT TO CONTROL MYSELF WILL NOT DECLINE.
WHATEVER HAS BEEN LEARNT, CONTEMPLATED AND MEDITATED UPON BY THOSE
WHOSE MINDS LACK ALERTNESS, JUST LIKE WATER IN A LEAKING VASE WILL
NOT BE RETAINED IN THEIR MEMORY. THEREFORE I SHALL NEVER LET
MINDFULNESS DEPART FROM THE DOORWAY OF MY MIND. IF IT GOES, I
SHOULD RECALL THE MISERY OF THE LOWER REALMS AND FIRMLY
RE-ESTABLISH IT THERE. WHEN MINDFULNESS IS SET WITH THE PURPOSE OF
GUARDING THE DOORWAY OF THE MIND, THEN ALERTNESS WILL COME ABOUT.
AND EVEN THAT WHICH HAD GONE WILL RETURN. IF I HAPPEN TO BE PRESENT
WHILE A SENSELESS CONVERSATION IS TAKING PLACE, OR IF I HAPPEN TO
SEE SOME KIND OF SPECTACULAR SHOW, I SHOULD ABANDON ATTACHMENT TO
IT. IF FOR NO OTHER REASON I START DIGGING AT THE EARTH, PICKING AT
THE GRASS OR DRAWING PATTERNS ON THE GROUND, THEN BY RECALLING THE
ADVICE OF THE BUDDHAS; I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP OUT OF FEAR. DO I
NOT SEE THAT HE IS SYSTEMATICALLY SLAUGHTERING MY SPECIES? WHOEVER
REMAINS SOUNDLY ASLEEP SURELY BEHAVES LIKE A BUFFALO WITH A
BUTCHER. RELYING UPON THE BOAT OF A HUMAN BODY, FREE YOURSELF FROM
THE GREAT OCEAN OF SUFFERING. AS IT IS HARD TO FIND THIS BOAT
AGAIN. THIS IS NO TIME FOR SLEEP, YOU FOOL. SO, HAVING MOUNTED THE
HORSE OF AN AWAKENING MIND, THAT DISPELS ALL DISCOURAGEMENT AND
WEARINESS. WHO, WHEN THEY KNOW OF THIS MIND THAT PROCEEDS FROM JOY
TO JOY, WOULD EVER LAPSE INTO DESPONDENCY. POWERLESS, THEIR MINDS
DISTURBED, PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE UNABLE TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES.
THEREFORE I SHALL DO IT FOR THEM. SINCE UNLIKE ME, THESE BEINGS ARE
INCAPABLE. WHEN CROWS ENCOUNTER A DYING SNAKE THEY WILL ACT AS
THOUGH THEY WERE EAGLES. LIKEWISE, IF MY SELF-CONFIDENCE IS WEAK I
SHALL BE INJURED BY THE SLIGHTEST DOWNFALL. I WILL CONQUER
EVERYTHING AND NOTHING AT ALL SHALL CONQUER ME! I, A SON OF THE
LION-LIKE CONQUEROR, SHOULD REMAIN SELF-CONFIDENT IN THIS WAY. IF
SOMEONE DROPPED HIS SWORD DURING BATTLE, HE WOULD IMMEDIATELY PICK
IT UP OUT OF FEAR. LIKEWISE IF I LOSE THE WEAPON OF MINDFULNESS I
SHOULD QUICKLY RETRIEVE IT, BEING AFRAID OF HELL. JUST AS POISON
SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE BODY, IN DEPENDENCE UPON THE CIRCULATION OF
BLOOD, LIKEWISE IF A DISTURBING CONCEPTION FINDS AN OPPORTUNITY
UNWHOLESOMENESS WILL PERMEATE MY MIND. THOSE WHO PRACTISE SHOULD BE
AS ATTENTIVE AS A FRIGHTENED MAN CARRYING A JAR FULL OF MUSTARD OIL
WHO IS BEING THREATENED BY SOMEONE WITH A SWORD, AND WILL BE KILLED
IF HE SPILLS ONE DROP JUST AS I WOULD SWIFTLY STAND UP IF A SNAKE
CAME INTO MY LAP LIKEWISE IF ANY SLEEP OR LAZINESS OCCUR I SHALL
QUICKLY TURN THEM BACK. EACH TIME SOMETHING UNWHOLESOME OCCURS I
SHOULD CRITICIZE MYSELF, AND THEN CONTEMPLATE FOR A LONG TIME THAT
I SHALL NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. WHY DO I MAKE SUCH AN EFFORT
TO POLISH IT (THE BODY)? LIKE CLEANING A WEAPON THAT WILL CAUSE ME
HARM. HENCE THIS ENTIRE WORLD IS DISTURBED WITH INSANITY, DUE TO
THE EXERTIONS OF THOSE WHO ARE CONFUSED. IN THE SAME WAY AS ANIMALS
DRAWING CARRIAGES ARE ONLY ABLE TO EAT A FEW MOUTHFULS OF GRASS,
LIKEWISE DESIROUS PEOPLE HAVE MANY DISADVANTAGES SUCH AS THESE AND
LITTLE PROFIT. THE OBJECTS OF DESIRE WILL CERTAINLY PERISH, AND
THEN I SHALL FALL INTO HELLISH STATES. BUT BUDDHAHOOD ITSELF IS
ATTAINED WITH JUST ONE MILLIONTH OF THE DIFFICULTY. IT IS A
MISTAKEN CONCEPTION TO THINK THAT I SHALL EXPERIENCE THE SUFFERING
OF MY NEXT LIFE, FOR IT IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO DIES, AND ANOTHER
THAT WILL BE REBORN. ALTHOUGH OTHERS MAY DO SOMETHING WRONG, I
SHOULD TRANSFORM IT INTO A FAULT OF MY OWN, BUT SHOULD I DO
SOMETHING EVEN SLIGHTLY WRONG, I SHALL OPENLY ADMIT IT TO MANY
PEOPLE. UPON ANALYSIS THIS WORLD OF LIVING BEINGS IS FOUND TO HAVE
NO TRUE EXISTENCE. THEREFORE WHO CAN DIE HERE? WHAT IS THERE TO
COME AND WHAT HAS BEEN? WHO ARE FRIENDS AND WHO ARE RELATIVES? THE
TAO THAT CAN BE TOLD IS NOT THE ETERNAL TAO. THE NAME THAT CAN BE
NAMED IS NOT THE ETERNAL NAME. THE NAMELESS IS THE BEGINNING OF
HEAVEN AND EARTH. THE NAMED IS THE MOTHER OF TEN THOUSAND THINGS.
EVER DESIRELESS, ONE CAN SEE THE MYSTERY. EVER DESIRING, ONE CAN
SEE THE MANIFESTATIONS. THESE TWO SPRING FROM THE SAME SOURCE BUT
DIFFER IN NAME; THIS APPEARS AS DARKNESS. THE GATE TO ALL MYSTERY.
UNDER HEAVEN ALL CAN SEE BEAUTY AS BEAUTY ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS
UGLINESS. ALL CAN KNOW GOOD AS GOOD ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS EVIL.
THEREFORE HAVING AND NOT HAVING ARISE TOGETHER. DIFFICULTY AND EASY
COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. LONG AND SHORT CONTRAST EACH OTHER; HIGH AND
LOW REST UPON EACH OTHER; VOICE AND SOUND HARMONIZE EACH OTHER;
FRONT AND BACK FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER. THEREFORE THE SAGE GOES ABOUT
DOING NOTHING, TEACHING NO-TALKING. THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS RISE
AND FALL WITHOUT CEASE; CREATING, YET NOT POSSESSING, WORKING, YET
NOT TAKING CREDIT. WORK IS DONE, THEN FORGOTTEN. THEREFORE IT LASTS
FOREVER. THE TAO IS AN EMPTY VESSEL; IT IS USED, BUT NEVER FILLED.
OH, UNFATHOMABLE SOURCE OF TEN THOUSAND THINGS! BLUNT THE
SHARPNESS, UNTANGLE THE KNOT, SOFTEN THE GLARE, MERGE WITH DUST.
OH, HIDDEN DEEP BUT EVER PRESENT! I DO NOT KNOW FROM WHENCE IT
COMES. IT IS THE FOREFATHER OF THE EMPERORS. HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE
RUTHLESS. THEY SEE THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS AS DUMMIES. THE WISE ARE
RUTHLESS; THEY SEE THE PEOPLE AS DUMMIES. THE SPACE BETWEEN HEAVEN
AND EARTH IS LIKE A BELLOWS. THE SHAPE CHANGES, BUT NOT THE FORM;
THE MORE IT CHANGES, THE MORE IT YIELDS. MORE WORDS COUNT LESS.
HOLD FAST TO THE CENTRE. THE VALLEY SPIRIT NEVER DIES; IT IS THE
WOMAN, PRIMAL MOTHER. HER GATEWAY IS THE ROOT OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
IT IS LIKE A VEIL BARELY SEEN. USE IT, IT WILL NEVER FAIL. HEAVEN
AND EARTH LAST FOREVER. WHY DO HEAVEN AND EARTH LAST FOREVER? THEY
ARE UNBORN, SO EVER LIVING. THE SAGE STAYS BEHIND, THUS HE IS
AHEAD. HE IS DETACHED, THUS AT ONE WITH ALL. THROUGH SELFLESS
ACTION, HE ATTAINS FULFILLMENT. CARRYING BODY AND SOUL AND
EMBRACING THE ONE, CAN YOU AVOID SEPARATION? ATTENDING FULLY AND
BECOMING SUPPLE, CAN YOU BE AS A NEWBORN BABE? WASHING AND
CLEANSING THE PRIMAL VISION, CAN YOU BE WITHOUT A STAIN? LOVING ALL
MEN AND RULING THE COUNTRY, CAN YOU BE WITHOUT CLEVERNESS? OPENING
AND CLOSING THE GATES OF HEAVEN, CAN YOU PLAY THE ROLE OF A WOMAN?
UNDERSTANDING AND BEING OPEN TO ALL THINGS, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO
NOTHING? GIVING BIRTH AND NOURISHING, BEARING YET NOT POSSESSING,
WORKING YET NOT TAKING CREDIT, LEADING YET NOT DOMINATING, THIS IS
THE PRIMAL VIRTUE. LOOK, IT CANNOT BE SEEN - IT IS BEYOND FORM.
LISTEN, IT CANNOT BE HEARD - IT IS BEYOND SOUND. GRASP, IT CANNOT
BE HELD - IT IS INTANGIBLE. THESE THREE ARE INDEFINABLE; THEREFORE
THEY ARE JOINED IN ONE. FROM ABOVE IT IS NOT BRIGHT; FROM BELOW IT
IS NOT DARK. AN UNBROKEN THREAD BEYOND DESCRIPTION. IT RETURNS TO
NOTHINGNESS. THE FORM OF THE FORMLESS, THE IMAGE OF THE IMAGELESS,
IT IS CALLED INDEFINABLE AND BEYOND IMAGINATION. STAND BEFORE IT
AND THERE IS NO BEGINNING. FOLLOW IT AND THERE IS NO END. STAY WITH
THE ANCIENT TAO, MOVE WITH THE PRESENT. KNOWING THE ANCIENT
BEGINNING IS THE ESSENCE OF TAO. THE ANCIENT MASTERS WERE SUBTLE,
MYSTERIOUS, PROFOUND AND RESPONSIVE. THE DEPTH OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE
IS UNFATHOMABLE. BECAUSE IT IS UNFATHOMABLE, ALL WE CAN DO IS
DESCRIBE THEIR APPEARANCE. WATCHFUL, LIKE MEN CROSSING A WINTER
STREAM. ALERT, LIKE MEN AWARE OF DANGER. COURTEOUS, LIKE VISITING
GUESTS. YIELDING, LIKE ICE ABOUT TO MELT. SIMPLE, LIKE UNCARVED
BLOCKS OF WOOD. HOLLOW, LIKE CAVES. OPAQUE, LIKE MUDDY POOLS. EMPTY
YOURSELF OF EVERYTHING. LET THE MIND REST AT PEACE. THE TEN
THOUSAND THINGS RISE AND FALL WHILE THE SELF WATCHES THEIR RETURN.
THEY GROW AND FLOURISH AND THEN RETURN TO THE SOURCE. RETURNING TO
THE SOURCE IS STILLNESS, WHICH IS THE WAY OF NATURE. THE WAY OF
NATURE IS UNCHANGING. NOT KNOWING CONSTANCY LEADS TO DISASTER,
KNOWING CONSTANCY, THE MIND IS OPEN. WITH AN OPEN MIND, YOU WILL BE
OPENHEARTED. BEING OPENHEARTED, YOU WILL ACT ROYALLY. BEING ROYAL,
YOU WILL ATTAIN THE DIVINE. BEING DIVINE, YOU WILL BE AT ONE WITH
THE TAO. BEING AT ONE WITH THE TAO IS ETERNAL. AND THOUGH THE BODY
DIES, THE TAO WILL NEVER PASS AWAY. WHEN THE GREAT TAO IS
FORGOTTEN, KINDNESS AND MORALITY ARISE. WHEN WISDOM AND
INTELLIGENCE ARE BORN, THE GREAT PRETENCE BEGINS. WHEN THERE IS NO
PEACE WITHIN THE FAMILY, FILIAL PIETY AND DEVOTION ARISE. WHEN THE
COUNTRY IS CONFUSED AND IN CHAOS, LOYAL MINISTERS APPEAR. GIVE UP
LEARNING, AND PUT AN END TO YOUR TROUBLES. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN YES AND NO? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL?
MUST I FEAR WHAT OTHERS FEAR? WHAT NONSENSE! OTHER PEOPLE ARE
CONTENTED, ENJOYING THE SACRIFICIAL FEAST OF THE OX. IN SPRING SOME
GO TO THE PARK, AND CLIMB THE TERRACE, BUT I ALONE AM DRIFTING, NOT
KNOWING WHERE I AM. LIKE A NEWBORN BABE BEFORE IT LEARNS TO SMILE,
I AM ALONE, WITHOUT A PLACE TO GO. OTHERS HAVE MORE THAN THEY NEED,
BUT I ALONE HAVE NOTHING. I AM A FOOL. OH, YES! I AM CONFUSED.
OTHER MEN ARE CLEAR AND BRIGHT, BUT I ALONE AM DIM AND WEAK. OTHER
MEN ARE SHARP AND CLEVER, BUT I ALONE AM DULL AND STUPID. OH, I
DRIFT LIKE THE WAVES OF THE SEA, WITHOUT DIRECTION, LIKE THE
RESTLESS WIND. EVERYONE ELSE IS BUSY, BUT I ALONE AM AIMLESS AND
DEPRESSED. I AM DIFFERENT. I AM NOURISHED BY THE GREAT MOTHER. THE
GREATEST VIRTUE IS TO FOLLOW THE TAO AND THE TAO ALONE. THE TAO IS
ELUSIVE AND INTANGIBLE. OH, IT IS INTANGIBLE AND ELUSIVE, AND YET
WITHIN IS IMAGE. OH, IT IS ELUSIVE AND INTANGIBLE, AND YET WITHIN
IS FORM. OH, IT IS DIM AND DARK, AND YET WITHIN IS ESSENCE. THIS
ESSENCE IS VERY REAL, AND THEREIN LIES FAITH. FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING UNTIL NOW ITS NAME HAS NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN. THUS I
PERCEIVE THE CREATION. HOW DO I KNOW THE WAYS OF CREATION? BECAUSE
OF THIS. HE WHO STANDS ON TIPTOE IS NOT STEADY. HE WHO STRIDES
CANNOT MAINTAIN THE PACE. HE WHO MAKES A SHOW IS NOT ENLIGHTENED.
HE WHO IS SELF-RIGHTEOUS IS NOT RESPECTED. HE WHO BOASTS ACHIEVES
NOTHING. HE WHO BRAGS WILL NOT ENDURE. ACCORDING TO FOLLOWERS OF
THE TAO, "THESE ARE EXTRA AND UNNECESSARY LUGGAGE." THEY DO NOT
BRING HAPPINESS. THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF THE TAO AVOID THEM.
SOMETHING MYSTERIOUSLY FORMED. BORN BEFORE HEAVEN AND EARTH. IN THE
SILENCE AND THE VOID, STANDING ALONE AND UNCHANGING, EVER PRESENT
AND IN MOTION. PERHAPS IT IS THE MOTHER OF TEN THOUSAND THINGS. I
DO NOT KNOW ITS NAME. CALL IT TAO. FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, I
CALL IT GREAT. BEING GREAT IT FLOWS, IT FLOWS FAR AWAY. HAVING GONE
FAR, IT RETURNS. THEREFORE "TAO IS GREAT; HEAVEN IS GREAT; EARTH IS
GREAT; THE KING IS ALSO GREAT". THE HEAVY IS THE ROOT OF THE LIGHT;
THE STILL IS THE MASTER OF UNREST. THEREFORE THE SAGE, TRAVELLING
BY DAY, DOES NOT LOSE SIGHT OF HIS BAGGAGE. THOUGH THERE ARE
BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO BE SEEN, HE REMAINS UNATTACHED AND CALM. WHY
SHOULD THE LORD OF TEN THOUSAND CHARIOTS ACT LIGHTLY IN PUBLIC? TO
BE LIGHT IS TO LOSE ONES ROOT. TO BE RESTLESS IS TO LOSE ONES
CONTROL. WHAT IS A GOOD MAN? A TEACHER OF A BAD MAN. WHAT IS A BAD
MAN? A GOOD MAN'S CHARGE. IF THE TEACHER IS NOT RESPECTED, AND THE
STUDENT NOT CARED FOR, CONFUSION WILL ARISE, HOWEVER CLEVER ONE IS.
THIS IS THE CRUX OF MYSTERY. KNOW THE STRENGTH OF A MAN, BUT KEEP
A WOMANS CARE! BE THE STREAM OF THE UNIVERSE! BEING THE STREAM OF
THE UNIVERSE, EVER TRUE AND UNSWERVING, BECOME A LITTLE CHILD ONCE
MORE. KNOW THE WHITE, BUT KEEP THE BLACK! BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE
WORLD! BEING AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD, EVER TRUE AND UNSWERVING,
RETURN TO THE INFINITE. THE TAO IS FOREVER UNDEFINED. SMALL THOUGH
IT IS IN THE UNFORMED STATE, IT CANNOT BE GRASPED. IF KINGS AND
LORDS COULD HARNESS IT, THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS WOULD NATURALLY
OBEY. HEAVEN AND EARTH WOULD COME TOGETHER, AND A GENTLE RAIN FALL.
MEN WOULD NEED NO MORE INSTRUCTION, AND ALL THINGS WOULD TAKE THEIR
COURSE. ONCE THE WHOLE IS DIVIDED, THE PARTS NEED NAMES. THERE ARE
ALREADY ENOUGH NAMES. ONE MUST KNOW WHEN TO STOP. KNOWING WHEN TO
STOP AVERTS TROUBLE. TAO IN THE WORLD IS LIKE A RIVER FLOWING HOME
TO THE SEA. THE GREAT TAO FLOWS EVERYWHERE, BOTH TO THE LEFT AND TO
THE RIGHT. THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS DEPEND ON IT; IT HOLDS NOTHING
BACK. IT FULFILS ITS PURPOSE SILENTLY AND MAKES NO CLAIM. IT
NOURISHES THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS, AND YET IS NOT THEIR LORD. IT
HAS NO AIM; IT IS VERY SMALL. THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS RETURN TO IT,
YET IT IS NOT THEIR LORD. IT IS VERY GREAT. IT DOES NOT SHOW
GREATNESS, AND IS THEREFORE TRULY GREAT. THAT WHICH SHRINKS MUST
FIRST EXPAND. THAT WHICH FAILS MUST FIRST BE STRONG. THAT WHICH IS
CAST DOWN MUST FIRST BE RAISED. BEFORE RECEIVING, THERE MUST BE
GIVING. THIS IS CALLED PERCEPTION OF THE NATURE OF THINGS. SOFT AND
WEAK OVERCOME HARD AND STRONG. FISH CANNOT LEAVE DEEP WATERS, AND
A COUNTRYS WEAPONS SHOULD NOT BE DISPLAYED. THEREFORE WHEN THE TAO
IS LOST, THERE IS GOODNESS. WHEN GOODNESS IS LOST, THERE IS
KINDNESS. WHEN KINDNESS IS LOST, THERE IS JUSTICE. WHEN JUSTICE IS
LOST, THERE IS RITUAL. NOW RITUAL IS THE HUSK OF FAITH AND LOYALTY,
THE BEGINNING OF CONFUSION. KNOWLEDGE OF THE FUTURE IS ONLY A
FLOWERY TRAPPING OF TAO. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF FOLLY. THEREFORE
THE TRULY GREAT MAN DWELLS ON WHAT IS REAL AND NOT WHAT IS ON THE
SURFACE. ON THE FRUIT AND NOT THE FLOWER. THEREFORE ACCEPT THE ONE
AND REJECT THE OTHER. THE WISE STUDENT HEARS THE TAO AND PRACTICES
IT DILIGENTLY. THE AVERAGE STUDENT HEARS OF THE TAO AND GIVES IT
THOUGHT NOW AND AGAIN. THE FOOLISH STUDENT HEARS OF THE TAO AND
LAUGHS ALOUD. IF THERE WERE NO LAUGHTER, THE TAO WOULD NOT BE WHAT
IT IS. HENCE IT IS SAID: THE BRIGHT PATH SEEMS DIM; GOING FORWARD
SEEMS LIKE RETREAT; THE EASY WAY SEEMS HARD; THE HIGHEST VIRTUE
SEEMS EMPTY; GREAT PURITY SEEMS SULLIED; A WEALTH OF VIRTUE SEEMS
INADEQUATE; THE STRENGTH OF VIRTUE SEEMS FRAIL: REAL VIRTUE SEEMS
UNREAL; THE PERFECT SQUARE HAS NO CORNERS; GREAT TALENTS RIPEN
LATE; THE HIGHEST NOTES ARE HARD TO HEAR; THE GREATEST FORM HAS NO
SHAPE; THE TAO IS HIDDEN AND WITHOUT NAME. THE TAO ALONE NOURISHES
AND BRINGS EVERYTHING TO FULLFILMENT. THERE IS NO GREATER SIN THAN
DESIRE, NO GREATER CURSE THAN DISCONTENT, NO GREATER MISFORTUNE
THAN WANTING SOMETHING FOR ONESELF. THEREFORE HE WHO KNOWS THAT
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WILL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH. WITHOUT GOING OUTSIDE,
YOU MAY KNOW THE WHOLE WORLD. WITHOUT LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW,
YOU MAY SEE THE WAYS OF HEAVEN. THE FARTHER YOU GO, THE LESS YOU
KNOW. THUS THE SAGE KNOWS WITHOUT TRAVELLING; HE SEES WITHOUT
LOOKING; HE WORKS WITHOUT DOING. IN THE PURSUIT OF LEARNING, EVERY
DAY SOMETHING IS ACQUIRED. IN THE PURSUIT OF THE TAO, EVERY DAY
SOMETHING IS DROPPED. LESS AND LESS IS DONE UNTIL NON-ACTION IS
ACHIEVED. WHEN NOTHING IS DONE, NOTHING IS LEFT UNDONE. THE WORLD
IS RULED BY LETTING THINGS TAKE THEIR COURSE. IT CANNOT BE RULED BY
INTERFERING. THE SAGE HAS NO MIND OF HIS OWN. HE IS AWARE OF THE
NEEDS OF OTHERS. I AM GOOD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD. I AM ALSO GOOD
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOOD. BECAUSE VIRTUE IS GOODNESS. I HAVE
FAITH IN PEOPLE WHO ARE FAITHFUL. I ALSO HAVE FAITH IN PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT FAITHFUL. BECAUSE VIRTUE IS FAITHFULNESS. THE SAGE IS SHY
AND HUMBLE - TO THE WORLD HE SEEMS CONFUSING. MEN LOOK TO HIM AND
LISTEN. HE BEHAVES LIKE A LITTLE CHILD. BETWEEN BIRTH AND DEATH,
THREE IN TEN ARE FOLLOWERS OF LIFE, THREE IN TEN ARE FOLLOWERS OF
DEATH, AND MEN JUST PASSING FROM BIRTH TO DEATH ALSO NUMBER THREE
IN TEN. WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES ON THE GROSS
LEVEL. HE WHO KNOWS HOW TO LIVE CAN WALK ABROAD. WITHOUT FEAR OF
RHINOCEROS OR TIGER. HE WILL NOT BE WOUNDED IN BATTLE. FOR IN HIM
RHINOCEROSES CAN FIND NO PLACE TO THRUST THEIR HORN, TIGERS NO
PLACE TO USE THEIR CLAWS, AND WEAPONS NO PLACE TO PIERCE. WHY IS
THIS SO? BECAUSE HE HAS NO PLACE FOR DEATH TO ENTER. THE BEGINNING
OF THE UNIVERSE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS. KNOWING THE MOTHER,
ONE ALSO KNOWS THE SONS. KNOWING THE SONS, YET REMAINING IN TOUCH
WITH THE MOTHER, BRINGS FREEDOM FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH. KEEP YOUR
MOUTH SHUT, GUARD THE SENSES, AND LIFE IS EVER FULL. OPEN YOUR
MOUTH, ALWAYS BE BUSY, AND LIFE IS BEYOND HOPE. SEEING THE SMALL IS
INSIGHT; YIELDING TO FORCE IS STRENGTH. USING THE OUTER LIGHT,
RETURN TO INSIGHT, AND IN THIS WAY BE SAVED FROM HARM. THIS IS
LEARNING CONSTANCY. IF I HAVE EVEN JUST A LITTLE SENSE, I WILL KEEP
ON THE MAIN ROAD AND MY ONLY FEAR WILL BE STRAYING FROM IT. KEEPING
TO THE MAIN ROAD IS EASY. BUT PEOPLE LOVE TO BE SIDETRACKED. WHAT
IS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED CANNOT BE UPROOTED. WHAT IS FIRMLY GRASPED
CANNOT SLIP AWAY. IT WILL BE HONOURED GENERATION TO GENERATION.
CULTIVATE VIRTUE IN YOUR SELF, AND VIRTUE WILL BE REAL. CULTIVATE
IT IN THE FAMILY, AND VIRTUE WILL ABOUND. CULTIVATE IT IN THE
VILLAGE, AND VIRTUE WILL GROW. CULTIVATE IT IN THE NATION, AND
VIRTUE WILL BE ABUNDANT. CULTIVATE IT IN THE UNIVERSE, AND VIRTUE
WILL BE EVERYWHERE. THEREFORE LOOK AT THE BODY AS BODY; LOOK AT THE
FAMILY AS FAMILY; LOOK AT THE VILLAGE AS VILLAGE; LOOK AT THE
NATION AS NATION; LOOK AT THE UNIVERSE AS UNIVERSE. HOW DO I KNOW
THE UNIVERSE IS LIKE THIS? BY LOOKING! HE WHO IS FILLED WITH VIRTUE
IS LIKE A NEWBORN CHILD. WASPS AND SERPENTS WILL NOT STING HIM;
WILD BEASTS WILL NOT POUNCE UPON HIM. HE WILL NOT BE ATTACKED BY
BIRDS OF PREY. HIS BONES ARE SOFT, HIS MUSCLES WEAK, BUT HIS GRIP
IS FIRM. HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE UNION OF MAN AND WOMAN, BUT IS
WHOLE. HIS MANHOOD IS STRONG. HE SCREAMS ALL DAY WITHOUT BECOMING
HOARSE. THIS PERFECT HARMONY. KNOWING HARMONY IS CONSTANCY. KNOWING
CONSTANCY IS ENLIGHTENMENT. IT IS NOT WISE TO RUSH ABOUT.
CONTROLLING THE BREATH CAUSES STRAIN. IF TOO MUCH ENERGY IS USED,
EXHAUSTION FOLLOWS. THIS IS NOT THE WAY OF TAO. WHATEVER IS
CONTRARY TO TAO WILL NOT LAST LONG. THOSE WHO KNOW DO NOT TALK.
THOSE WHO TALK DO NOT KNOW. KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED. GUARD THE
SENSES. TEMPER YOUR SHARPNESS. SIMPLIFY YOUR PROBLEMS. MASK YOUR
BRIGHTNESS. BE AT ONE WITH THE DUST OF THE EARTH. THIS IS PRIMAL
UNION. HE WHO HAS ACHIEVED THIS STATE IS UNCONCERNED WITH FRIENDS
AND ENEMIES, WITH GOOD AND HARM, WITH HONOUR AND DISGRACE. THIS
THEREFORE IS THE HIGHEST STATE OF MAN. THE SAGE SAYS: I TAKE NO
ACTION AND PEOPLE ARE REFORMED. I ENJOY PEACE AND PEOPLE BECOME
HONEST. I DO NOTHING AND PEOPLE BECOME RICH. I HAVE NO DESIRES AND
PEOPLE RETURN TO THE GOOD AND SIMPLE LIFE. WHEN THE COUNTRY IS
RULED WITH A LIGHT HAND, THE PEOPLE ARE SIMPLE. WHEN THE COUNTRY IS
RULED WITH SEVERITY, THE PEOPLE ARE CUNNING. HAPPINESS IS ROOTED IN
MISERY. MISERY LURKS BENEATH HAPPINESS. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS? THERE IS NO HONESTY. HONESTY BECOMES DISHONEST. GOODNESS
BECOMES WITCHCRAFT. MANS BEWITCHMENT LASTS FOR A LONG TIME.
THEREFORE THE SAGE IS SHARP BUT NOT CUTTING, POINTED BUT NOT
PIERCING. PRACTICE NON-ACTION. WORK WITHOUT DOING. TASTE THE
TASTELESS. MAGNIFY THE SMALL, INCREASE THE FEW. REWARD BITTERNESS
WITH CARE. SEE SIMPLICITY IN THE COMPLICATED. ACHIEVE GREATNESS IN
LITTLE THINGS. IN THE UNIVERSE THE DIFFICULT THINGS ARE DONE AS IF
THEY WERE EASY. IN THE UNIVERSE GREAT ACTS ARE MADE UP OF SMALL
DEEDS. THE SAGE DOES NOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING BIG, AND THUS HE ACHIEVES
GREATNESS. EASY PROMISES MAKE FOR LITTLE TRUST. TAKING THINGS
LIGHTLY RESULTS IN GREAT DIFFICULTY. BECAUSE THE SAGE ALWAYS
CONFRONTS DIFFICULTIES, HE NEVER EXPERIENCES THEM. PEACE IS EASILY
MAINTAINED; TROUBLE IS EASILY OVERCOME BEFORE IT STARTS. THE
BRITTLE IS EASILY SHATTERED; THE SMALL IS EASILY SCATTERED. DEAL
WITH IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS. SET THINGS IN ORDER BEFORE THERE IS
CONFUSION. A TREE AS GREAT AS A MANS EMBRACE SPRINGS FROM A SMALL
SHOOT; A TERRACE NINE STORIES HIGH BEGINS WITH A PILE OF EARTH; A
JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES STARTS UNDER ONES FEET. HE WHO ACTS
DEFEATS HIS OWN PURPOSE; HE WHO GRASPS LOSES. THE SAGE DOES NOT
ACT, AND SO IS NOT DEFEATED. HE DOES NOT GRASP AND THEREFORE DOES
NOT LOSE. PEOPLE USUALLY FAIL WHEN THEY ARE ON THE VERGE OF
SUCCESS. SO GIVE AS MUCH CARE TO THE END AS TO THE BEGINNING; THEN
THERE WILL BE NO FAILURE. THEREFORE THE SAGE SEEKS FREEDOM FROM
DESIRE. HE DOES NOT COLLECT PRECIOUS THINGS. HE LEARNS NOT TO HOLD
ON TO IDEAS. HE BRINGS MEN BACK TO WHAT THEY HAVE LOST. HE HELPS
THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS FIND THEIR OWN NATURE, BUT REFRAINS FROM
ACTION. EVERYONE UNDER HEAVEN SAYS THAT MY TAO IS GREAT AND BEYOND
COMPARE. BECAUSE IT IS GREAT, IT SEEMS DIFFERENT. IF IT WERE NOT
DIFFERENT, IT WOULD HAVE VANISHED LONG AGO. I HAVE THREE TREASURES
WHICH I HOLD AND KEEP. THE FIRST IS MERCY; THE SECOND IS ECONOMY;
THE THIRD IS DARING NOT TO BE AHEAD OF OTHERS. FROM MERCY COMES
COURAGE; FROM ECONOMY COMES GENEROSITY; FROM HUMILITY COMES
LEADERSHIP. NOWADAYS MEN SHUN MERCY, BUT TRY TO BE BRAVE; THEY
ABANDON ECONOMY, BUT TRY TO BE GENEROUS; THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN
HUMILITY, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO BE FIRST. THIS IS CERTAIN DEATH. MERCY
BRINGS VICTORY IN BATTLE AND STRENGTH IN DEFENSE. IT IS THE MEANS
BY WHICH HEAVEN SAVES AND GUARDS. MY WORDS ARE EASY TO UNDERSTAND,
AND EASY TO PERFORM, YET NO MAN UNDER HEAVEN KNOWS THEM OR
PRACTICES THEM. MY WORDS HAVE ANCIENT BEGINNINGS. MY ACTIONS ARE
DISCIPLINED. BECAUSE MEN DO NOT UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE
OF ME. THOSE THAT KNOW ME ARE FEW; THOSE THAT ABUSE ME ARE
HONOURED. THEREFORE THE SAGE WEARS ROUGH CLOTHING AND HOLDS THE
JEWEL IN HIS HEART. KNOWING IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. IGNORING
KNOWLEDGE IS SICKNESS. IF ONE IS SICK OF SICKNESS, THEN ONE IS NOT
SICK. THE SAGE IS NOT SICK, BECAUSE HE IS SICK OF SICKNESS. THE TAO
OF HEAVEN DOES NOT STRIVE, AND YET IT OVERCOMES. IT DOES NOT SPEAK,
AND YET IS ANSWERED. IT DOES NOT ASK, YET IS SUPPLIED WITH ALL IT
NEEDS. IT SEEMS AT EASE, AND YET IT FOLLOWS A PLAN. HEAVENS NET
CASTS WIDE. THOUGH ITS MESHES ARE COARSE, NOTHING SLIPS THROUGH.
THE TAO OF HEAVEN IS TO TAKE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE TOO MUCH AND GIVE
TO THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH. MANS WAY IS DIFFERENT. HE TAKES
FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE TO THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE
TOO MUCH. WHAT MAN HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH AND GIVES IT TO THE WORLD?
ONLY THE SAGE. THEREFORE THE SAGE WORKS WITHOUT RECOGNITION. HE
ACHIEVES WHAT HAS TO BE DONE WITHOUT DWELLING ON IT. HE DOES NOT
TRY TO SHOW HIS KNOWLEDGE. AFTER A BITTER QUARREL, SOME RESENTMENT
MUST REMAIN. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? THEREFORE THE SAGE KEEPS
HIS HALF OF THE BARGAIN, BUT DOES NOT EXACT HIS DUE. A MAN OF
VIRTUE PERFORMS HIS PART, BUT A MAN WITHOUT VIRTUE REQUIRES OTHERS
TO FULFIL THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THE TAO OF HEAVEN IS IMPARTIAL. IT
STAYS WITH GOOD MEN ALL THE TIME. TRUTHFUL WORDS ARE NOT BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL WORDS ARE NOT TRUTHFUL. GOOD MEN DO NOT ARGUE. THOSE WHO
DO ARGUE ARE NOT GOOD. THOSE WHO KNOW ARE NOT LEARNED. THE LEARNED
DO NOT KNOW. THE SAGE NEVER TRIES TO STORE THINGS UP. THE MORE HE
DOES FOR OTHERS, THE MORE HE HAS. THE MORE HE GIVES TO OTHERS, THE
GREATER HIS ABUNDANCE. THE TAO OF HEAVEN IS POINTED BUT DOES NOT
HARM. THE TAO OF THE SAGE IS WORK WITHOUT EFFORT.