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us： 揥hereof one cannot speak； thereof one must be silent？
What抯 the difference between this version and all others？
Understanding Lao Tzu means： live like Lao Tzu。 Living like Lao Tzu means： escape from the world； have no opinions and convictions anymore； have no interests at all and don't be tied to anything。 To live like Lao Tzu is to not believe anything anymore； to realize you can抰 really know a thing； to have no point of view anymore； to have nothing to lose and therefore nothing to defend。 The consequence of all this is that you抣l consider possessions as totally superfluous and you抣l no longer need anything or anyone。 Then you won抰 try to force life to conform to your ways anymore； but you will let yourself flow with it instead。 Only this opens the gate to unconditional love towards your fellow men。 This version of the Tao Te Ching is the result of a similar experience。 We have carefully removed all contradictions； all compromises and inconsequentialities that have defiled this simple； anarchistic and revolutionary wisdom…script during the last 2500 years； just like one cleans centuries of dust from a diamond so that it can sparkle again in its original shining simplicity。
Of what use is it to throw everything away and become wise？
Up until now your luck has depended on the behavior of others； their compliments and appreciation； and your achievements and possessions； on kids； sex； alcohol and drugs； on the weather； on wishes and expectations which bring you only short moments of joy and satisfaction。 When you抳e gotten what you wanted the pleasure is over； and that makes you want more again and again and again； and the result you hoped for is lost。 You抣l always have to have more。 The Tao Te Ching describes the road back； back to oneness and simplicity； back to contentment； back to yourself； back to what you once were as a child。 With every step in the right direction you抣l have to do less； until you finally don抰 have to do anything anymore； don抰 want anything at all； without a thing to lose。 Then you will never be afraid again； you won't know pain and grief anymore； you抣l never get sick again； never be tense or restless； you will have no expectations so will experience no disappointments ever again。 Then you will be wise and invulnerable。
1
The Ineffable； about which is spoken； is not the eternal Ineffable
A name for the Unnameable； is but a name
The Unnameable is what makes everything what it is
By naming things you divide the Indivisible
Only one who gives up all his desires can experience the Indivisible
One who still cherishes desires； will experience only dissension
Both will see the same reality； but experience it differently
One who goes from the false reality into the other；
Will pass through the narrow gate and receive the secret of true life
2
When people think ‘this？is beautiful； they must think ‘that？is ugly
When people say ‘this？is good； than they have to say ‘that？is evil
This is Inevitable
People create a false reality out of the real one
Hard and easy are relative
Long and short depend upon each other
High and low are determined by a position
Sound and voice need one another
Before and beyond assume a point of view
That抯 why a wise man acts without intentions
And won抰 decide for others what to do
He抣l let anything happen as it happens
He won抰 consider what he does as his own merit
And only therein is he praiseworthy
3
When you praise people for their achievements； people will compete
When you call things valuable； people will steal
When people flaunt desirable things； it will make other people restless
Therefore the sage sets himself to the task of emptying their heads
To make sure they抮e not hungry； discourage their ambitions and strengthen their bodies
So people will be without anxiety and without the desire for knowledge
And the scientists will be played off the field
When people won抰 labour anymore
All will live in peace
4
That which maintains the Creation
Is like an empty barrel that抯 inexhaustible
It is like a fathomless emptiness； filling the whole Creation
Its sharpness brings about curves
Its angles dissolve
It dims its light
It restrains its touch
How pure and calm it stays； like deep waters
I don抰 know its origin
It seems like it is even older than that by which it is brought forth
5
The Creation does not pretend to be friendly
It treats all things impartially
One who is wise doesn抰 act friendly
All people are equal to him
The Universe is like bellows
Although empty； it fills continuously
The harder it works； the more it brings forth
The more you talk about it； the wearier you get
Therefore； you'd better stick to what really matters
6
The spirit of depth never dies
People sometimes call it the Great Mother
The gate through which she breathes
Is the foundation of Creation
It appears to be everlasting
When you rely on that； life will be effortless
7
The Universe is everlasting
The reason why it is everlasting
Is because it doesn抰 exist for itself
Therefore it can last
Therefore a wise man behaves as the least
And because he is least； he is the greatest
He is detached and therefore he is safe
Couldn抰 it be possible that he is perfect；
Just because he is disinterested？
8
A perfect human being is like the water
That benefits all things and competes with nothing
It stays in places which others despise
But in this way it follows its origin
In his heart the wise cherishes simplicity
In contact with others he is amiable
In his words he is reliable
In his leading he is peaceful
In what he does he is competent
He does everything at the moment it needs to be done
He won抰 fight
And therefore he is impeccable
9
It is better to carry an empty barrel than a full one
Sharpen a knife until it is razor…sharp and it won抰 last long
When a house is filled with valuables； it is impossible to guard
When wealth and ambition make one arrogant； it will lead to a fall
When fame and success menace you； pull back
That抯 the only road to true bliss
10
Can you empty your head and lastingly lose yourself in Creation？
Can you live up to your nature and become like a child？
Can you purify the doors of perception and see clearly again？
Can you love your fellow man and serve mankind disinterestedly？
Can you go in and out of the narrow gate without any effort？
Can you be in the world without being possessed by it？
Can you realize that you can抰 know anything and therefore understand everything？
Nature brings forth everything and feeds everything
She brings forth but possesses nothing
She does everything disinterestedly and asks for nothing
She leads but demands nothing
That is what people call the incomprehensibility of