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Pure； like an uncarved block of wood
Accepting； like an open valley
Through the course of Nature muddy water becomes clear
Through the unfolding of life man reaches perfection
Through sustained activity that supreme rest is naturally found
Those who have Tao want nothing else
Though seemingly empty they are ever full
Though seemingly old they are beyond the reach of birth and death
16
Become totally empty
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance in endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness ？br》 Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging。 Flourishing； dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return
To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster
Be still
Stillness reveals the secret of eternity
Eternity embraces the all…possible
The all…possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao
Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish； deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity
17
To know Tao alone； without trace of your own existence； is the highest
Next comes loving and praising it
Then fearing it
Then despising it
If one doesn抰 trust himself how can he trust anyone else？
The great ruler speaks little and his words are priceless
He works without self…interest and leaves no trace
When all is finished； the people say； 揑t happened by itself？br》
18
When the greatness of Tao is present action arises from one抯 own heart
When the greatness of Tao is absent action comes from the rules of 搆indness？and 搄ustice？br》 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
Only when the family loses its harmony do we hear of 揹utiful sons？br》 Only when the state is in chaos do we hear of 搇oyal ministers？br》
19
Abandon holiness
Discard cleverness and the people will benefit a hundredfold
Abandon the rules of 搆indness？br》 Discard 搑ighteous？action and the people will return to their own natural affections
Abandon book learning
Discard the rules of behaviour and the people will have no worries
Abandon plots and schemes
Discard profit…seeking and the people will not become thieves
These lessons are mere elaborations
The essence of my teachings is this：
See with original purity
Embrace with original simplicity
Reduce what you have
Decrease what you want
20
The difference between a formal 搚es？and a casual 搚eah？？how slight！
The difference between knowing Truth and not knowing it ？how great！
Must I fear what others fear？
Should I fear desolation when there is abundance？
Should I fear darkness when that light is shining everywhere？
Nonsense！
The people of this world are steeped in their merrymaking as if gorging at a great feast or watching the sights of springtime
Yet here I sit； without a sign； staring blank…eyed like a child
I am but a guest in this world
While others rush about to get things done
I accept what is offered
Oh； my mind is like that of a fool aloof to the clamour of life around me
Everyone seems so bright and alive with the sharp distinctions of day
I appear dark and dull with the blending of differences by night
I am drifting like an ocean； floating like the winds
Everyone is so rooted in this world yet I have no place to lay my head
Indeed I am different。 。 。 。
I have no treasures but the Eternal Mother
I have no food but what comes from her breast
21
Perfect action；
Rue virtue；
Supreme power；
This is how the Tao is revealed through those who follow it completely
Though formless and intangible
It gives rise to form
Though vague and elusive
It gives rise to shapes
Though dark and obscure
It is the spirit； the essence； the life…breath of all things
揃ut is it real？？you ask ？br》 I say its evidence is all of creation！
From the first moment to the present
The Name has been sounding
It is the gate through which the universe enters
The witness by which the universe sees
How have I come to know all this？
That the very Name has told me；
That Name which is sounding tight here； right now
22
揝urrender brings perfection？br》 The crooked become straight
The empty become full
The worn become new
Have little and gain much
Have much and be confused
So the Sage embraces the One and become a model for the world
Without showing himself； he shines forth
Without promoting himself； he is distinguished
Without claiming reward； he gains endless merit
Without seeking glory； his glory endures
The Sage knows how to follow so he comes to command
He does not compete so no one under Heaven can compete with him
The ancient saying； 揝urrender brings perfection；？is not just empty words
Truly； surrender brings perfection and perfection brings the whole universe
23
Speak little
Hold to your own nature
A strong wind does not blow all morning
A cloudburst does not last all day
The wind and the rain are form Heaven and Earth and even these do not last long
How much less so the efforts of man？
One who lives in accordance with the Truth becomes an embodiment of Tao
His actions become those of Nature his ways those of Heaven
It is through such a one that Heaven rejoices that Earth rejoices that all of life rejoices
24
On his tiptoes a man is not steady
Taking long strides he cannot keep pace
To the self…serving； nothing shines forth
To the self…promoting； nothing is distinguished
To the self…appointing； nothing bears fruit
To the self…righteous； nothing endures
From the viewpoint of Tao； this self…indulgence is like rotting food and painful growths on the body ？br》 Things that all creatures despise
So why hold onto them？
When walking the paths of Tao this is the very stuff that must be uprooted； thrown out； and left behind
25
Something formless； complete in itself
There before Heaven and Earth
Tranquil； vast； standing alone； unchanging
It provide for all things yet cannot be exhausted
It is the mother of the universe
I do not know its name so I call it 揟ao？br》 Forced to name it further
I call it 揟he greatness of all things？揟he end of all endings？br》 I call it 揟hat which is beyond the beyond？揟hat to which all things return？br》 From Tao comes all greatness ？br》 I makes Heaven great
It makes Earth great
It makes man great
Mankind depends on the laws of the Earth
Earth depends on the laws of Heaven
Heaven depends on the laws of Tao
But Tao depe