The text explores the concept of the Tao, an ineffable, eternal principle that underlies all existence, emphasizing its paradoxical nature, its influence on natural order, and the path of the sage who lives in harmony with it through humility, non-action, and selfless service.
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so
the tao that can be told is not the eternal dao the name that can be named is not the eternal name
the dao is both named and nameless as nameless it is the origin of all things
as named it is the mother of ten thousand things ever desireless one can see the mystery ever
desiring one sees only the manifestations and the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding
under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness all can know
good as good only because there is evil being and non-being produce each other
the difficult is born in the easy long is defined by short the high by the low before and after go
along with each other so the sage lives openly with apparent duality and paradoxical unity
the sage can act without effort and teach without words nurturing things
without possessing them he works but not for rewards he competes but not for results
when the work is done it is forgotten that is why it lasts forever [Music]
putting a value on status will create contentiousness
if you overvalue possessions people begin to steal
by not displaying what is desirable you will cause the people's hearts to remain undisturbed the sage
governs by emptying minds and hearts by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones practice
not doing when action is pure and selfless everything settles into its own perfect place
heaven and earth are impartial they see the ten thousand things as straw dogs
the sage is not sentimental he treats all his people as straw dogs the sage is like heaven
and earth to him none are especially dear nor is there anyone he disfavors
he gives and gives without condition offering his treasures to everyone between heaven and earth is
a space like a bellows empty and inexhaustible the more it is used the more it produces
hold on to the center man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within
[Music]
the spirit that never dies is called the mysterious feminine although she becomes the
whole universe her immaculate purity is never lost although she assumes countless forms her
true identity remains intact the gateway to the mysterious female is called the root of creation
listen to her voice hear it echo through creation without fail she reveals her presence without fail
she brings us to our own perfection although it is invisible it endures it will never end
heaven is eternal the earth endures why do heaven and earth last forever they do not live
for themselves only this is the secret of their durability for this reason the sage puts himself
last and so ends up ahead he stays a witness to life so he endures serve the needs of others
and all your own needs will be fulfilled through selfless action fulfillment is attained [Music]
the supreme good is like water which nourishes all things without trying to it flows to low
places loathed by all men therefore it is like the dow live in accordance with the nature of things
indwelling be close to the land in meditation go deep in the heart
in dealing with others be gentle and kind stand by your word govern with equity be timely in choosing
the right moment one who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things
he moves in harmony with the present moment always knowing the truth of just what to do [Music]
to keep on filling is not as good as stopping overfilled the cupped hands drip
better to stop pouring sharpen a blade too much and its edge will soon be lost
fill your house with jade and gold and it brings in security puff yourself with honor and pride and
no one can save you from a fall retire when the work is done this is the way of heaven
carrying body and soul and embracing the one can you avoid separation can you let your body become
as supple as a newborn child in the opening and shutting of heaven's gate can you play the
feminine part can you love your people and govern your domain without self-importance giving birth
and nourishing having yet not possessing working yet not taking credit leading without controlling
or dominating one who heeds this power brings the dao to this very earth this is the primal virtue
30 spokes converge upon a single hub it is on the hole in the center that the use of the cart hinges
shape clay into a vessel it is the space within that makes it useful carve fine doors and windows
but the room is useful in its emptiness the usefulness of what is depends on what is not
the five colors blind the eye the five tones deafen the ear the five flavors dull the taste
the chase and the hunt craze people's minds wasting energy to obtain rare objects only
impedes one's growth the master observes the world but trusts his inner vision
he allows things to come and go he prefers what is within to what is without
favor and disgrace seem alarming high status greatly afflicts your person
why our favor and disgrace alarming seeking favor is degrading alarming when it is gotten
alarming when it is lost why does high status greatly afflict your person the reason we have
a lot of trouble is that we have selves if we had no selves what trouble would we have
man's true self is eternal yet he thinks i am this body and will soon die
if we have no body what calamities can we have one who sees themselves as everything is fit to
be guardian of the world one who loves himself as everyone is fit to be teacher of this world
[Music]
that which cannot be seen is called invisible that which cannot be heard is called inaudible
that which cannot be held is called intangible these three cannot be defined therefore
they are merged as one each of these three is subtle for description by intuition you can see
it hear it and feel it then the unseen unheard and untouched are present as one its rising brings no
dawn it's setting no darkness it goes on and on unnamable returning into nothingness approach it
and there is no beginning follow it and there is no end you cannot know it but you can be it at
ease in your own life discovering how things have always been brings one into harmony with the way
[Music]
the ancient masters were profound and subtle their wisdom was unfathomable there's no way to describe
it one can only describe them vaguely by their appearance watchful like men crossing a winter
stream alert like men aware of danger simple as uncarved wood hollow like caves yielding like
ice about to melt amorphous like muddy water but the muddiest water clears as it is still and out
of that stillness life arises he who keeps the dao does not want to be full but precisely because he
is never full he can remain like a hidden sprout and does not rush to early ripening [Music]
become totally empty let your heart be at peace
amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings observe how endings become beginnings
things flourish each by each only to return to the source what is and what is to be to return to the
root is to find peace to find peace is to fulfill one's destiny to fulfill one's destiny is to be
constant to know the constant is called insight not knowing this cycle leads to eternal disaster
knowing the constant gives perspective this perspective is impartial impartiality is the
highest nobility the highest nobility is divine being divine you will be at one with the dao
being at one with the tao is eternal this way is everlasting not endangered by physical death
[Music]
with the greatest leader above them people barely no one exists
next comes one whom they love and praise next comes one whom they fear
next comes one whom they despise and defy when a leader trusts no one no one trusts him
the great leader speaks little he never speaks carelessly he works without self-interest and
leaves no trace when all is finished the people say we did it ourselves [Music]
when the greatness of the tao is present action arises from one's own heart
when the greatness of the dao is absent action comes from the rules of kindness and justice
if you need rules to be kind and just if you act virtuous this is a sure sign that virtue is absent
thus we see the great hypocrisy when kinship falls into discord piety and rights of devotion arise
when the country falls into chaos official loyalists will appear and patriotism is born
[Music]
give up sainthood renounce wisdom and it will be a hundred times better for everyone
throw away morality and justice and people will do the right thing
throw away industry and profit there will be no thieves
all of these are outward forms alone they are not sufficient in themselves it is more important to
see the simplicity to realize one's true nature to cast off selfishness and temper desire [Music]
give up learning and you will be free from all your cares
what is the difference between yes and no what is the difference between good and evil must i
fear what others fear should i fear desolation when there is abundance should i fear darkness
when that light is shining everywhere in spring some go to the park and climb the terrace
but i alone am drifting not knowing where i am like a newborn baby before it learns to smile i
am alone without a place to go [Music] most people have too much i alone seem to be missing something
mine is indeed the mind of an ignoramus in its unadulterated simplicity i am but a guest in
this world while others rush about to get things done i accept what is offered i alone seem foolish
earning little spending less other people strive for fame i avoid the limelight preferring to be
left alone indeed i seem like an idiot no mind no worries i drift like a wave on the ocean i blow as
aimless as the wind all men settle down in their grooves i alone am stubborn and remain outside
but wherein i am most different from others is in knowing to take sustenance from the great mother
[Music] the greatest virtue is to follow the dao and the dao alone
the dao is elusive and intangible although formless and intangible it gives rise to
form although vague and elusive it gives rise to shapes although dark and obscure it is the
spirit the essence the life breath of all things throughout the ages its name has been preserved
in order to recall the beginning of all things how do i know the ways of all things at the beginning
i look inside myself and see what is within me [Music] the flexible are preserved unbroken
the bent becomes straight the empty are filled the exhausted becomes renewed the poor
are enriched the rich are confounded therefore the sage embraces the one
because he doesn't display himself people can see his light because he has nothing to prove people
can trust his words because he doesn't know who he is people recognize themselves in him because he
has no goal in mind everything he does succeeds the old saying that the flexible are preserved
unbroken is surely right if you have truly attained wholeness everything will flock to you
[Music]
to talk little is natural fierce winds do not blow all morning a downpour of rain does not last the
day who does this heaven and earth but these are exaggerated forced effects and that is why they
cannot be sustained if heaven and earth cannot sustain a forced action how much less is man able
to do so those who follow the way become one with the way those who follow goodness become one with
goodness those who stray from the way and goodness become one with failure if you conform to the way
its power flows through you your actions become those of nature your ways those of heaven open
yourself to the dial and trust your natural responses then everything will fall into place
if you stand on tiptoe you cannot stand firmly if you take long steps you cannot walk far
showing off does not reveal enlightenment boasting will not produce accomplishment
he who is self-righteous is not respected he who brags
will not endure all these ways of acting are odious distasteful
they are superfluous excesses they are like a pain in the stomach a tumor in the body when
walking the path of the dao this is the very stuff that must be uprooted thrown out and left behind
there was something formless and perfect before the universe was born it is serene empty solitary
unchanging infinite eternally present it is the mother of the universe for lack of a better name
i call it the dao i call it great great is boundless boundless is eternally flowing
ever flowing it is constantly returning therefore the way is great heaven is great earth is great
people are great thus to know humanity understand earth to know earth understand heaven
to know heaven understand the way to know the way understand the great within yourself [Music]
the heavy is the root of the light the still is the master of unrest realizing this the successful
person is poised and centered in the midst of all activities although surrounded by opulence he is
not swayed why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool if you let yourself be
blown to and fro you lose touch with your root to be restless is to lose one's self-mastery [Music]
a knower of the truth travels without leaving a trace speaks without causing harm gives without
keeping an account the door he shuts though having no lock cannot be opened the knot he
ties though using no cord cannot be undone be wise and help all beings impartially abandoning none
waste no opportunities this is called following the light what is a good man
but a bad man's teacher what is a bad man but a good man's job if the teacher is not respected
and the student not cared for confusion will arise however clever one is this is the great
[Music]
secret know the strength of man but keep a woman's care be a valley under heaven
if you do the constant virtue will not fade away one will become like a child again know the white
keep to the black and be the pattern of the world to be the pattern of the world is to
move constantly in the path of virtue without airing a single step and to return again to
the infinite one who understands splendor while holding to humility acts in accord
with eternal power to be the fountain of the world is to live the abundant life of virtue
when the unformed is formed into objects its original qualities are lost if you
preserve your original qualities you can govern anything truly the best governor governs least
[Music]
do you think you can take over the universe and improve it
i do not believe it can be done everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled
trying to control leads to ruin trying to grasp we lose allow your life to unfold naturally
know that it too is a vessel of perfection just as you breathe in and breathe out there's a time
for being ahead and a time for being behind a time for being in motion and a time for
being at rest a time for being vigorous and a time for being exhausted a time for being safe
and a time for being in danger to the sage all of life is a movement toward perfection
so what need has he for the excessive the extravagant or the extreme
one who would guide a leader of men in the uses of life
will warn him against the use of arms for conquest weapons often turn upon the wielder
where armies settle nature offers nothing but briars and thorns after a great battle
has been fought the land is cursed the crops fail the earth lies stripped of its motherhood
after you have attained your purpose you must not parade your success you must not boast of your
ability you must not feel proud you must rather regret that you had not been able to prevent the
war you must never think of conquering others by force whatever strains with force will soon decay
it's not attuned to the way not being attuned to the way its end comes all too soon
[Music]
weapons are the tools of violence all decent men detest them therefore followers of the dao never
use them arms serve evil they are the tools of those who oppose wise rule use them only as a
last resort for peace and quiet are dearest to the decent man's heart and to him even a victory
is no cause for rejoicing he who thinks triumph beautiful is one with a will to kill and one with
a will to kill shall never prevail upon the world it is a good sign when man's higher nature comes
forward a bad sign when his lower nature comes forward with the slaughter of multitudes we have
grief and sorrow every victory is a funeral when you win a war you celebrate by morning [Music]
the eternal dial has no name although simple and subtle no one in the world can master it
if kings and lords could harness them the ten thousand things would naturally obey
heaven and earth would rejoice with the dripping of sweet dew
everyone would live in harmony not by official decree but by their own goodness once the hole
is divided the parts need names there are already enough names know when to stop no one reason sets
limits to avoid peril rivers and streams are born of the ocean and all creation is born of the dow
just as all water flows back to become the ocean all creation flows back to become the dao
one who understands others has knowledge one who understands himself has wisdom
mastering others requires force mastering the self needs strength
if you realize that you have enough you are truly rich one who gives himself to his
position surely lives long one who gives himself to the dao surely lives forever
the great way is universal it can apply to the left or the right
all beings depend on it for life even so it does not take possession of them it accomplishes its
purpose but makes no claim for itself it covers all creatures like the sky but does not nominate
them all things return to it as to their home but it does not lord it over them thus it may
be called great the sage imitates this conduct by not claiming greatness the sage achieves greatness
all men will come to him who keeps to the one
they flock to him and receive no harm or in him they find peace security and happiness music
and dining are passing pleasures yet they cause people to stop how bland and insipid are the
things of this world when one compares them to the dao when you look for it there's nothing to see
when you listen for it there's nothing to hear when you use it it cannot be exhausted [Music]
should you want to contain something you must deliberately let it expand
should you want to weaken something you must deliberately let it grow strong
should you want to eliminate something you must deliberately allow it to flourish
should you want to take something away you must deliberately grant it access
the lesson here is called the wisdom of obscurity the gentle outlast the strong the obscure
outlasts the obvious fish cannot leave deep waters and a country's weapons should not be displayed
the dow does nothing but leaves nothing undone if powerful men could center themselves in it
the whole world would be transformed by itself in its natural rhythms when life is simple pretenses
fall away our essential natures shine through by not wanting there is calm and the world will
straighten itself when there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself [Music]
a truly good man is not aware of his goodness and is therefore good a foolish man tries to be
good and is therefore not good the master does nothing yet he leaves nothing undone
the ordinary man is always doing things yet many more are left to be done
the highest virtue is to act without a sense of self the highest kindness is to
give without condition the highest justice is to see without preference when the tao is lost
there is goodness when goodness is lost there is morality when morality is lost there is ritual
ritual is the husk of true faith the beginning of chaos the great master follows his own nature
and not the trappings of life it is said he stays with the fruit and not the fluff
he stays with the firm and not the flimsy he stays with the true and not the false [Music]
[Music] these things from ancient times arise from one the sky is whole and clear the earth is
whole and firm the spirit is whole and full the ten thousand things are whole
and the country is upright all these are in virtue of wholeness when man interferes with the dial
the sky becomes filthy the earth becomes depleted the equilibrium crumbles creatures become extinct
therefore nobility is rooted in humility loftiness is based on lowliness
this is why noble people refer to themselves as alone lacking and unworthy
the pieces of a chariot are useless unless they work in accordance with the whole
a man's life brings nothing unless he lives in accordance with the whole universe
playing one's part in accordance with the universe is true humility truly too much honor means
no honor it's not wise to shine like jade and resound like stone chimes [Music]
returning is the motion of the dao yielding is the way of the tao the
ten thousand things are born of being being is born of non-being [Music] so
a great scholar hears of the dao and begins diligent practice a middling scholar hears of the
dao and retains some and loses some an inferior scholar hears of the dao and roars with ridicule
without that laugh it would not be the dao so there are constructive sayings on this the way
of illumination seems dark going forward seems like retreat the easy way seems hard true power
