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If forced to describe it； I can only call it 憌hat is Great。？br》 慓reat？means 慹ver…flowing？
慹ver…flowing？means 憆eaching far away？
憆eaching far away？means 憆eturning to the source？
So DAO is great；
heaven is great；
the earth is great；
and humankind is also great。
There are four greatnesses in the universe；
and humankind is one of them。 *
Human beings emulate the earth；
the earth emulates the heavens；
the heavens emulate the DAO；
the DAO emulates its self…becoming。
* ren： humankind
literally； ren means 憁an？ But an alternative character presented in some texts is wang； specifically meaning 憈he king/royalty？but also； more broadly and figuratively； 憈he best of卼he highest of卼he most representative？ The denotation and connotations of the word 慼umankind？may evoke the implications of both Chinese characters。
26
Gravity is the root of lightness；
serenity the master of unrest。
That is why those who are enlightened travel all day long
and never leave the laden baggage…cart。 *
Though there may be glorious sights to see；
they stay calm and unconcerned。
How could the ruler of ten thousand chariots
behave light…heartedly towards the world？
Act light…heartedly； and the root is lost。
Act rashly； and the mastery is lost。
* zi zhong： the laden baggage…cart
almost certainly； the image here has a metaphorical resonance； suggestive of some unspecified inner resource or treasure。 However heavy or burdensome it may be； it is to be preferred before the glories of the material world； and both protected and nourished。
27
Good travellers leave no track behind；
good speakers make no slips；
good counters need no abacus。
Good locks do not need bolts or bars；
yet no one can open them。
Good knots do not use rope or cord；
yet no one can loosen them。
Those who are enlightened are always good at tending humankind；
leaving nobody behind；
Those who are enlightened are always good at tending things；
leaving not a thing behind。
This is known as 慺ollowing the Light。？br》
The good are teachers of the bad；
the bad provide the lesson for the good。
Not to value one抯 teacher；
nor to care for one抯 lessons；
may seem very clever but reveals great delusion。
This is an essential teaching of the DAO。
28
To know the male yet hold fast to the female
is to be a channel for the world。
If you are a channel for the world；
you are never separated from the path of DE
and so become just like a child again。
To know the white yet hold fast to the black
is to be a model for the world。
If you are a model for the world；
you never deviate from the path of DE
and so return again to what is infinite。
To know honour yet hold fast to humility
is to be a valley to the world。
If you are a valley to the world；
the DE will be enough；
you will return to the primal simplicity of uncarved wood。
When the uncarved block is broken up；
it is shaped into useful tools。
In the hands of those who are enlightened；
these tools become judges who endure。
The finest rulers do not mutilate。
29
If you try to seize the world
and shape it as you want；
I tell you that you won抰 succeed。
The world is a sacred vessel；
and nothing can be done to it。
Tamper with it； and you will ruin it；
lay hold of it； and you will lose it。
In everything； you sometimes lead and sometimes follow。
You sometimes breathe gently and sometimes breathe hard。
You are sometimes strong and sometimes weak。
You sometimes overcome and sometimes are destroyed。
Those who are enlightened avoid extremes；
avoid extravagance；
avoid excess。
30
Whoever rules a people according to the DAO
will not use force against the world。
Such things soon turn on themselves。
Where armies once encamped；
thorns and brambles grow。
In the wake of mighty battles；
famines always follow。
Good commanders realise their aims； then stop。
They do not try then to intimidate。
They are resolved； but are not arrogant；
they are resolved； but do not boast；
they are resolved； but are not proud；
they are resolved； but in a natural way；
they are resolved； but do not overpower。
Whatever uses force will then decay；
for this is not an action of the DAO。
Whatever goes against the DAO
will soon come to an end。
31
Even fine weapons are instruments of evil；
loathed by everything。
Whoever follows the DAO spurns them。
When wise rulers are at home； they value the left and restful side；
but when they are at war； they value the right and active side。
Yet weapons are instruments of evil
and not the instruments that wise rulers use。
Only when essential will they resort to them。
Peace and quiet are best of all
and victory is no delight。
To delight in victory is to delight in people抯 slaughter；
and whoever so delights will never gain
what they desire in the world。
In joyful times； the left side is preferred；
in mournful times； the right。
A second…in…command stands on the left；
a general upon the right；
this means a funeral is taking place。
When multitudes of people are killed； they should be mourned；
so that the victory itself becomes a funeral。
32
The DAO is forever nameless。
The simple； uncarved block of wood is small；
yet nothing in the world can master it。
If kings and lords would follow it；
all things would honour them。
Heaven and earth would join in harmony；
sweet rain would fall；
and people would find harmony； unenforced。
As soon as there are rules
the naming of things begins。
But when naming things begins；
we ought to know where it should stop。
When we know where it should stop；
we shall be free of danger。
The DAO is to the world
what great rivers and oceans
are to rivulets and streams。
33
Those who understand others are intelligent；
but those who understand themselves have true enlightenment。
Those who master others are strong；
but those who master what they are themselves have true power。
Those who know when they have had enough are rich；
those who persevere have inner strength；
those who stay where they belong endure；
those who die but are remembered gain immortality。
34
The great DAO flows everywhere
and reaches all things whether left or right。
Everything that lives depends on it；
and it does not refuse them life。
It accomplishes its purposes
but makes no claim to credit。
It clothes and feeds all living things
but does not want to master them。
Forever free from all desire； it might be called 憈he Little？
and yet all living things return to it as home。
It does not want to master them；
and so it should be