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Earth depends on the laws of Heaven
Heaven depends on the laws of Tao
But Tao depends on itself alone
Supremely free； self…so； it rests in its own nature
26
The inner is foundation of the outer
The still is the master of the restless
The Sage travels all day yet never leaves his inner treasure
Though the views are captivating and beg attention he remains calm and uninvolved
Tell me； does the lord of a great empire go out begging for rice？
One who seeks his treasure in the outer world is cut off from his own roots
Without roots； he becomes restless
Being restless； his mind is weak
And with a mind such as this he loses all command below Heaven
27
A knower of the Truth travels without leaving a trace speaks without causing harm gives without keeping an account
The doors he shuts； though having no lock； cannot be opened
The know he ties； though using no cord； cannot be undone
The Sage is always on the side of virtue so everyone around him prospers
He is always on the side of truth so everything around him is fulfilled
The path of the Sage is called 揟he Path of Illumination？br》 He who gives himself to this path is like a block of wood that gives itself to the chisel ？br》 Cut by cut it is honed to perfection
Only a student who gives himself can receive the master抯 gift
If you think otherwise； despite your knowledge； you have blundered
Giving and receiving are one
This is called； 揟he great wonder？揟he essential mystery？揟he very heart of all that is true？br》
28
Hold your male side with your female side
Hold your bright side with your dull side
Hold your high side with your low side
Then you will be able to hold the whole world
When the opposing forces unite within there comes a power abundant in its giving and unerring in its effect
Flowing through everything It returns one to the First Breath
Guiding everything It returns one to No Limits
Embracing everything It returns one to the Uncarved Block
When the block is divided it becomes something useful and leaders can rule with a few pieces of it
But the Sage holds the Block complete
Holding all things within himself he preserves the Great Unity which cannot be ruled or divided
29
Those who look down upon this world will surely take hold and try to change things
But this is a plan I抳e always seen fail
The world is Tao抯 own vessel
It is perfection manifest
It cannot be changed
It cannot be improved
For those who go on tampering； it抯 ruined
For those who try to grasp； it抯 gone
Allow your life to unfold naturally
Know that it too is a vessel of perfection
Just as you breathe in and out
Sometimes you抮e ahead and other times behind
Sometimes you抮e strong and other times weak
Sometimes you抮e with people and other times alone
To the Sage all of life is a movement toward perfection
So what need has he for the excessive； the extravagant； or the extreme？
30
Those who rule in accordance with Tao do not use force against the world
For that which is forced is likely to return ？br》 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
A knower of the Truth does what is called for then stops
He uses his strength but does not force things
In the same way complete your task seek no reward make no claims
Without faltering fully choose to do what you must do
This is to live without forcing to overcome without conquering
Things that gain a place by force will flourish for a time but then fade away
They are not in keeping with Tao
Whatever is not in keeping with Tao will come to an early end
31
Even the finest warrior is defeated when he goes against natural law
By his own hand he is doomed and all creatures are likely to despise him
One who knows Tao never turns from life抯 calling
When at home he honours the side of rest
When at war he honours the side of action
Peace and tranquility are what he holds most dear so he does not obtain weapons
But when their use is unavoidable he employs them with fortitude and zeal
Do not flaunt your excellence
Do not rejoice over victory
With the loss of others weep with sorrow and grief
After winning a battle； do not celebrate； observe the rites of a funeral
One who is bound to action； proud of victory； and delights in the misfortune of others
will never gain a thing from this world below Heaven
32
Tao is eternal； one without a second
Simple indeed yet so subtle that no one can master it
If princes and kings could jus hold it
All things would flock to their kingdom
Heaven and Earth would rejoice with the dripping of sweet dew
Everyone would live in harmony； not by official decree； but by their own inner goodness
This world is nothing but the glory of Tao expressed through different names and forms
One who sees the things of this world as being real and self…existent has lost sight of the truth
To him； every word becomes a trap every thing becomes a prison
One who knows the truth that underlies all things lives in this world without danger
To him； every word reflects the universe every moment brings enlightenment
Rivers and streams are born of the ocean
All creation is born of Tao
Just as all water flows back to become the ocean
All creation flows back to become Tao
33
One who knows others is intelligent
One who knows himself is enlightened
One who conquers others is strong
One who conquers himself is all…powerful
One who approaches life with force surely gets something
One who remains content where he is surely gets everything
One who gives himself to his position surely lives long
One who gives himself to Tao surely lives forever
34
The great Tao flows everywhere
It fills everything to the left and to the right
All things owe their existence to it and it cannot deny any one of them
Tao is eternal
It does not favour one over the other
It brings all things to completion without their even knowing it
Tao nourishes and protects all creatures yet does not claim lordship over them
So we class it with the most humble
Tao is the home to which all things return yet it wants nothing in return
So we call it 揟he Greatest？br》 The Sage is the same way ？br》 He does not claim greatness over anything
He抯 not eve aware of his own greatness
Tell me； what could be greater than this？
35
Hold fast to the Great Form within and let the world pass as it may
Then the changes of life will not bring pain but contentment； joy； and well…being
Music and sweets are passing pleasures yet they cause people to stop
How bland and insipid are the things of this world when one compares them with Tao！
One tastes； but the sw