1. The tao that can be said is not the everlasting
Tao.
If a name can be named, it is not the everlasting Name.
That which has no name is the origin of heaven and earth;
That which has a name is the Mother of all things.
Thus, if always without desire, one can observe
indescribable marvels;
If always desirous, one sees merest traces.
Those two come from the same source but are
differently named.
Both are called Mysterious.
The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all
indescribable marvels.
3. Not honoring men of worth keeps the people
from competing;
Not wanting rare things keeps the people from thievery;
Not paying attention to the desirable keeps the hearts of the people
from disaster.
This is why the Sage governs himself by
relaxing the mind,
reinforcing the abdomen,
gentling the will,
strengthening the bones.
Always cause the people to be without knowledge or desires;
Cause the intelligent ones to not dare act.
Let there be Non-action
And there is nothing that will not be well-regulated.
5. Heaven and earth are not humane,
treating the myriad things as straw dogs.
The Sage is not humane,
treating the people as straw dogs.
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows,
empty and yet inexhaustible;
Move it and even more comes out.
Too many words quickly exhaust;
It is not as good as holding to the center.
7. Heaven is long lasting and earth is enduring.
The reason why heaven and earth can live long and endure
is that they do not live only for themselves.
Therefore, they can produce perpetually.
This is why the Sage puts himself behind yet ends up ahead,
Considers himself an outsider yet finds himself in the mainstream.
Is it not because he is selfless that his Self can be realized?
8. The best attitude is like water.
Water is a positive benefit to all things without
competing with them.
It seeks out those places abominated by man.
Thereby, it approaches the Tao.
For one's dwelling, choose ground well.
In cultivating one's mind/heart, search the deeps well.
In dealing with people, treat them well.
In speaking, know how to keep one's word.
In governing, rectify the self well.
In serving, do one's best.
In acting, choose the time well.
Only by not competing can one be without reproach.
13. Favor and disgrace are both alarming.
Treat great calamities as if they were happening to yourself.
What does "favor and disgrace are both alarming" mean?
When favor is conferred upon a lowly position,
it is like a shock.
And when it is taken away, it is like a shock.
This is what is spoken of as "Favor and grace are
both alarming."
What does this mean: "
Treat calamities as if they were happening to yourself"?
I am able to feel great calamities because I have a self.
If I have no self, what calamity is there?
Therefore, only one who values himself as he values
the world is fit to be entrusted with the world.
Only one who loves the world as he loves himself
is worthy of being the trustee of the world.
Attain utmost emptiness.
Maintain profound tranquillity.
All things are stirring about.
I watch their cycle.
Things flourish, and each returns to its root.
Returning to the root is called tranquillity;
This is what is meant by returning to one's basic nature.
Returning to one's basic nature is called constancy.
To understand constancy is called enlightening.
Not to understand constancy is blindly to do unfortunate things.
Understanding constancy, one gains a capacity for forbearance.
If forbearing, one can be impartial.
If impartial, one can, be a king.
If one is a king, he can communicate with heaven.
To communicate with heaven is to be in accord with the Tao.
If in accord with the Tao, one is everlasting.
And even though his body ceases to be, he is not destroyed.
19. Divorce wisdom and abandon intelligence,
And the people will benefit a hundred-fold.
Divorce humanity and abandon righteousness,
And the people will return to filial piety and compassion.
Divorce shrewdness and abandon profit,
And there will be no thieves.
I believe these three statements show that words are inadequate.
The people should be made to adhere to these principles:
"Look to simplicity; cleave to the uncarved block;
Diminish self and curb desires.
32. Tao is always without a name.
Small as it may be as the uncarved block,
It is inferior to no power in the world.
If a ruler can cleave to it,
All beings will pay homage to him.
Heaven and earth mingle in harmony and a sweet liquor
rains down.
Without command from above peace and order spread
among the people.
With the genesis of the world, names appeared.
There are so many names, is it not time to stop?
Knowing when to stop is to be free from danger.
Tao is to the world as rivers and oceans are to brooks
and valleys.
34. The great Tao is so all pervasive, how
can we tell where its right or left is?
All things depend on it for growth, and it requires nothing from them.
It accomplishes its work, but makes no claim for itself.
It clothes and feeds all, but does not control them.
Everlasting Non-desire is called "the lesser."
That all things return to it and yet it does not control
them is called "the Greater."
Because it never insists on its greatness,
Its greatness becomes a reality.
Chinese
Philosophies & Religions --- Laozi(604?-531 BC)