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9
To maintain but then overdo something
Is not as good as one抯 showing restraint
To rough out but then （over）hone something
Does not help hold （the edge） long
（When） coins and jade fill the hall
Nobody can defend this
（Being） wealthy & honored and then being proud
The natural consequence is one抯 own misfortune
（When） the work succeeds a body retires
Keeping to heaven抯 path
10
（Are） shaping a soul & embracing union
Possible without separation？
（Are） concentrating the breath & attaining responsiveness
Possible （as a） newborn child？
（Are） cleansing & clearing the mystery抯 vision
Possible without a stain？
（Are） caring for people & ruling a realm
Possible without interfering？
（Are） opening & closing the gates of heaven
Possible playing the woman？
（Are） clarifying & simplifying the four directions
Possible without knowledge？
Create things & care for them
Create but do not possess
Act but do not expect
Lead but do not rule
These may be called 搈ystical powers？br》
11
Thirty spokes converge in one hub
Then depending upon what does not exist
is the vehicle抯 usefulness
Mold clay in order to produce a vessel
Then depending upon what does not exist
is the vessel抯 usefulness
Cut out doors and windows in order to make a dwelling
Then depending upon what does not exist
is the dwelling抯 usefulness
Thus； the existence of something serves to make value
The lack of something serves to make utility
12
The five colors will make the human eye blind
The five tones will make the human ear deaf
The five flavors will make the human palate jaded
Racing for speed and hunting for sport
Will make the human heart go mad
Goods which are hard to obtain
Will bring human progress obstruction
This is why wise ones
Regard the belly instead of regarding the sight
And so dismiss That to choose This
13
Favor & disgrace are equally frightening
Exaltation and big trouble are the same as oneself
Why say that favor & disgrace are equally frightening
Favor sets up a downfall
To get it is the same as a warning
To lose it is the same as a warning
Which says that favor & disgrace are equally frightening
Why say that exaltation and big trouble
are the same as oneself？
This is the reason that we have big troubles：
Assuming that we are selves
As long as we are not selves
What troubles do we have？
And so； to respect & regard as oneself
the workings of the world
Is the same as deserving to inhabit the world
To love & regard as oneself
the workings of the world
Is the same as deserving to be steward to the world
14
Looking for things not seen
Descriptions will tell of 搕he invisible？br》 Listening for things not heard
Descriptions will tell of 搕he inaudible？br》 Reaching for things not grasped
Descriptions will tell of 搕he intangible？br》 These three do not allow complete investigation
And so are confused and considered as one
What height is not bright
What depth is not dark
An unbroken continuity does not permit description …
A return home to non existence
And so this is called the form of the formless
The image of nothingness
It is called elusive & obscure
When it is met its head is not seen
When it is followed its end is not seen
To grasp the path of the ancients
Is the way to master present existence
The capacity to comprehend the ancient beginnings
May be called the clue* to the way
15
The ancients who had skill at practicing the way
Were subtle & mysterious； profound & penetrating
A depth not easy to fathom
Inasmuch as they were not easy to fathom
It is thus an effort to construct their appearance
So ready…
As if fording a stream in winter
So vigilant…
As if wary of （all） four neighbors
So dignified…
As though they were guests
So relenting…
Like ice which is about to melt
So artless…
As though they were of unworked wood
So expansive…
As though they were watersheds
So intermingled…
As though they were turbid streams
Who is able； （as） a turbid stream； to become still
and arrive by degrees at clarity？
Who is able； at peace； to become energetic
and arrive by degrees at vitality？
Whoever preserves this path
Not longing for more than fullness
Only those not overfull
Can then stay obscure
and not begin to be finished
16
Attaining perfect emptiness
Remain patient & sincere
The myriad beings arise as one
Through this we observe the return
Of beings in numberless multitudes
Each coming home to its root
Return to the root means serenity
It may be called a return to a higher order
Return to higher order speaks of the enduring
To comprehend the enduring speaks of clarity
To not comprehend the enduring
Is to recklessly create suffering
To comprehend the enduring （is） tolerance
Tolerance becomes justice
Justice becomes sovereignty
Sovereignty becomes celestial
The celestial becomes the path
The path is then continuous
The death of self is nothing to fear
17
Great leaders？subordinates know of their existence
Those next in order are loved and praised by them
Those next in order are feared by them
Those next in order are despised by them
If trust lacks basis here
There will be no trust here
So step back… there is value to words
Complete the task； follow through in the work
The hundred families all will declare
？It was） our natural course！？br》
18
（Where） the great path is abandoned
There appear benevolence & righteousness
（When） the learned & clever emerge
There appear great hypocrisies
（When） the six bonds of kinship are out of balance
There appear filial piety and parental affection
（When） countries & clans are in darkness & turmoil
There appear loyalty & public service
19
Cut out sanctimony； repudiate cleverness
The people will profit a hundred times over
Cut out benevolence； abandon righteousness
The people return to filial piety & parental affection
Cut out artfulness； abandon rewards
（Then） robbers and thieves have nothing to gain
These three may help to improve the culture
but （they） are not a foundation
So let there be purpose to build on：
Look to the ordinary & embrace original nature
Diminish self…interest & have fewer desires
20
Cut out the academics & avoid the anxieties
The （ready） yes； alongside the （obsequious） yea
What is the distance or nearness between them？
（Even） the good； next to the bad；
What is the difference or likeness between them？
（That） that which the others hold in awe
Will not permit less than awe …
What nonsense！ There will never b