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The Sage responds in kind。
Where one抯 true self is repressed；
The Sage remains sincere。
Loyally approach the Sage；
And your loyalty will be returned。
Doubtfully approach the Sage；
And your doubt will be returned
In truthful Modesty。
The nature of the Sage dwells in humility；
In humility may it be experienced。
Humility is the breath of the Cosmos。
Thus do people in their deepest hearts
Call out； as children of the earth；
To their Cosmic Mother。
Wherever humility exists； the Sage approaches； ready to help and to teach； for 〃humility is the breath of the Cosmos。〃 Humility is the sincere act of 〃calling out；〃 in the sense of simply asking the Sage for help in understanding； while completely suspending both belief and disbelief。 This is what makes true learning possible in the Way。 Error is never a life sentence； but is itself a part of the learning process。 The Sage returns a doubting approach with 〃truthful Modesty；〃 and in this there is the possibility of growth and a return to sincerity and humility。 When we are able to drop； or at least suspend； the attitude of fixed belief； we are then approaching the Sage with the necessary sincerity and humility for it to respond。
50
Into life they arise；
Through death they return。
A third of them seem bound up with their lives；
A third of them seem attached to death；
Another third appear ambivalent…
Passively shifting their allegiance
From each to each。
Why is this so？
Perhaps from an obsessive attachment
To life抯 mere appearance？
But I have heard of people
Who could live long and travel far…
Ever free of harm or mortal wound
From wild beasts or deadly weapons。
A rhinoceros would find no place to pierce them；
There would be no meat for a tiger抯 claws；
And no place where a sword could enter。
And why is this so？
Because they have shed the illusion
That marks off life
From the realm of death。
51
Life： the gift of Tao。
Growth： the gift of Te。
Form and matter merge；
Beings are brought to maturity；
Each in its unique nature。
Everything within Nature
Lives for Tao and loves Te。
It is a love of attraction；
And not of constraint。
Love forever free of expectation
Is the love that has always been。
For life is the gift of Tao；
And growth； the gift of Te。
As One； they nourish and nurture；
They bring maturity and completion；
They protect； provide； and teach
The numberless forms of Being；
And then bring them back to the Source。
To give life without claiming possession；
To help without demanding tribute；
To teach without power or pedantry：
This is called the deepest Te。
I was guided in this verse to let the words Tao and Te speak for themselves without translation； if only to allow the music of this wonderful lyric play as freely as possible in this setting。 As one would expect； it reads far more beautifully in the original Chinese； with its plainsong style rhythm and alliteration； particularly in the iteration of the character chih throughout the poem （it appears fifteen times； and is a possessive or nominative pronoun； which could mean 〃he/she/they〃 or 〃his/hers/their〃 or 〃him/her/them〃）。 Even in English； this poem is an excellent illustration of how Lao Tzu's musical voice complements his teaching voice。
52
The world as we know it has an origin；
Which may be called Mother Formless。
Hold the Mother to your deepest heart；
And you will understand the Cosmic Family。
Hold her children to your intuition；
And the Mother will embrace you； too。
Thus will your life flow freely
Through all of your days。
Guard the openings of speech and outer sensation；
And your life will be serene。
But if your life is spent
In expansive oration
And the compulsion to intervene；
Your heart will be in torment
Unto your very last breath。
Microscopic discernment within
Is the path of clarity。
The tenderest embrace is the strongest。
Let your own true radiance guide you；
For inner clarity is return to the Origin；
Where one抯 true self finds protection。
This is called； entering the eternal。
It is very hard to hear the voice of the Formless presence within when you spend your life in constant talk and impulsive intervention into others' affairs。 The poet's message in this verse is especially appropriate to family relationships； where the machinations of power and control operate both openly and insidiously； often through cultural rules of loyalty； fidelity； and hierarchy。 Thus； Lao Tzu offers a teaching on opening the heart to the family of the universe； a reference to the feeling presences of the invisible world。 He again chooses a feminine symbol； 〃Mother Formless。〃 This evokes the message of Hexagram 37 of the I Ching； called 〃The Family；〃 which also draws upon feminine metaphor in its Judgment text； 〃the perseverance of the woman furthers。〃 When we connect with the feeling presence of the Cosmic Mother； we open ourselves in turn to the community of beings within Nature that are her children： this is the 〃microscopic discernment within〃 that fulfills and reveals the natural life of the human family。 When this discernment； this clarity； is present； the feudal structures of fealty and hierarchy can be discarded； and we discover that truly； 〃the tenderest embrace is the strongest。〃 In Nature； the home is not a castle； the family is not a hierarchical ordering of roles according to such things as age or gender； there is no 〃breadwinner〃 or 〃provider〃； no false duties of honor and obedience； and no titles or rules of ownership among the family members。 These； indeed； are actually the bitter constraints that create division and breakdown within the family； and which lead the heart into torment； as the poet says。
53
If ego had a scrap of wisdom；
It would seek to walk the path of Tao。
But the problem is that ego tends to wander。
The Cosmic Way is straight and easy；
But people seem compelled
By distraction and complexity。
The palace in the capital
Is bathed in opulence；
While the fields without lie barren；
And the granary is left untended。
They array themselves in lustrous gowns
And gleaming weapons at their sides。
They eat； but are not nourished；
They drink； yet thirst consumes them。
Their lives are bloated with the stuff of wealth。
Extravagance is a thief；
The true self is its victim：
Is this the way of Tao？
I doubt it。
One who follows the Tao is ready to explore his entire being； in all its depth and variety。 But one who treads the stark road of ego becomes trapped in side…paths and dead…ends that close off understanding in a cycle of want； frustration； and unceasing effort。 The more you grasp for； the more you obtain； the more you obtain； the more you feel you need； and the more your true self is taken from you： thus； 〃extravagance is a thief。〃
Lao Tzu uses the fin