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The paramount predicament is self…destructive harboring of discontent。
The paramount misfortune is greed for acquisition。
Therefore：
Mastering contentment within one's own nature；
Is to be truly content far all time。
47
KNOWING
Everything under heaven may be known by
Searching no further than one's doorstep。
All ways of heaven may be known
Despite shutters blacking the window's view。
The further one pursues knowledge by
traveling apart from the unity of the Tao；
The less is one's true knowledge and understanding。
The Sage：
Knows without searching about。
Understands without looking about。
Wu…Wei ！ … Doing nothing； all is attained。
48
ACHIEVING INACTIVITY
Increasing knowledge day by day；
Is the pursuit of learning。
Decreasing and simplifying day by day；
Is the pursuit of Tao。
Decreasing； subtracting； lessening； diminishing； Until inactivity is achieved。
Through this inactivity； this pure spontaneity；
All things happen … nothing is left undone。
All is won by foregoing interference with the nature of things。
The compulsion to actively manage All Things；
Brings about the loss of All Things。
49
COMMUNITY OF HEART
Having an open and unconditioned mind …
Foregoing preconceived opinions and feelings …
The Sage regards the opinions and feelings
of the people as his own。
Being good and kind to the good and kindly …
Being good and kind to the evil and unkindly …
Goodness and kindliness are attained；
For Te is absolutely good and kind。
Being faithful and honest to the faithful and honest …
Being faithful and honest to the unfaithful； liar and cheat …
Faithfulness and honesty are attained；
For Te is absolutely faithful and honest。
The Sage：
Acting humble and shy；
may appear confused to an objective world。
But subtly； in a peaceful and harmonious manner；
Regarding all as his children；
Brings the world into a community of heart。
50
COMPANIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Aiming at life； death is achieved。
The limbs and apertures； forming thirteen companions during life；
The same thirteen； serve also as companions of death。
These thirteen companions of the life to death transition；
Serve as points of vulnerability …
Repaying the intense overtaxing of one's life force。
The Sage：
When walking about does not meet threats of danger。
In battle； is untouched by the warrior's weapons。
Not aiming at life …
Has no points of vulnerability；
… For the horns of the buffalo to pierce。
… For the claws of the tiger to tear。
… For the weapons of the warrior to enter。
He is beyond mortality。
51
TE AND All THINGS
As Tao gives birth to All Things； Te provides the nourishment to rear them … To shape them and form them … Permitting each to realize the capacity within。 As Tao is revered and worshipped； Te is exalted and honored by All Things。 Such； being neither requested nor demanded； Is the nature of things； Happening spontaneously； of its own accord。
Arising from the Tao；
By Te； are All Things nourished；
developed； cared for； sheltered； comforted； grown and protected。
In rearing All Things；
It seeks neither to lay claim nor possess them。
Acting as a help and guide；
It seeks neither credit nor reward。
Leading them；
It seeks neither to master nor control。
It is called profound and mysterious。
52
MOTHER AND CHILDREN
Being the essence； the universal beginning；
It is known as the Mother of All Things。
Knowing the Mother； the essence； the Tao …
All Things； being children of the Mother； are likewise known。
In truly knowing the children；
Better is the understanding of the Mother。
Harm and danger are forever elusive。
In silence and moderation of sensory disturbance；
Life's strengths are maintained。
In babble and meddlesome activity；
Life's burdens prevail。
Seeing the subtle and small is true vision。
Yielding； is the display of true strength。
Using wisely our worldly resources … the 〃Outer Lights〃；
The 〃Inner Lights〃 of true self are awakened and known。
Thus； eluding harm and danger；
Absolute and natural virtue prevail。
53
ROBBER BARONS
Possessing a modicum of awareness and insight；
Follow the straight path of the Tao。
A true fear might be in straying。
The path；
Being so safe and easy …
So visibly smooth and straight …
Its utter simplicity places it beyond belief。
By nature people seem compelled to
seek the devious by…paths。
So frequently are the highly visible palaces adorned in splendor；
While the fields are left to weed and the granaries stand empty。
Wearing elegant clothes； carrying sharp swords；
Glutting themselves with food and drink …
Possessing more than can be consumed …
All this； the province of robber barons；
Is far from the true path of the Tao。
54
CULTIVATING TE
Of the Tao：
Being well planted； one is not uprooted。
Having a firm grasp； one will not slip。
Being honored by one's family from generation to generation；
Its Te is everlasting。
Of the Te：
Cultivated in one's self； it becomes genuine。
Cultivated in one's family； it becomes abundant。
Cultivated in one's community； it will multiply。
Cultivated in one's land； it will flourish。
Cultivated in the world； it universally pervades All Things。
Truly：
As is the individual； so the individual is known。
As is the family； so the family is known。
As is the community； so the community is known。
As is the land； so the land is known。
As is the world； so the world is known。
Thus； from within one's self are All Things known。
55
AS A NEWBORN
Possessing Te in abundance；
One is as a newborn infant …
Protected from the sting of poisonous creatures；
Protected from being seized by fierce beasts or mauled by clawing birds。
Tho' its bones are tender and muscles weak； Its grip is strong。
Not yet knowing the union of male and female；
The potential for such union is evident …
Its vitality is high。
Able to cry aloud all day and night and not lose its voice；
Truly its natural inner harmony is supreme。
Aware of inner harmony； Eternal reality is known。
Aware of eternal reality； Insight and enlightenment emerge。
However：
Constant living at one's peak of activity is to court disaster。
Compulsive intellectualization drains energy from the spirit。
Such vigor leads to exhaustion and decay and is not the way of the Tao。
Being contrary to the Tao； It must … soon perish。
56
PRIMAL AND MYSTICAL UNITY
Knowing … thus； not talking。
Talking … thus； not knowing。
… Quieting speech。
… Subduing sensations。
… Dulling sharpness。
… Releasing entanglements。
… Diffusing brightne