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source of the Mother source of the Father
2
THE ENERGY … SOURCE OF THE SELF
All men know that beauty and ugliness are correlatives； as are skilland
clumsiness； one implies and suggests the other。
So also existence and non…existence pose the one the other；
so also is it with ease and difficulty； length and shortness； heightand
lowness。 Also Musick exists through harmony of opposites；
time and space depend upon contraposition。
By the use of this method； the sage can fulfil his will without action；
and utter his word without speech。
All things arise without diffidence； they grow； and none interferes；they
change according to their natural order； without lust of result。 The
work is accomplished； yet continueth in its orbit； without goal。 This
work is done unconsciously； this is why its energy is indefatigable。
3
QUIETING FOLK
To reward merit is to stir up emulation； to prize rarities is to
encourage robbery； to display desirable things is to excite the disorder
of covetousness。
Therefore； the sage governeth men by keeping their minds and their bodies
at rest； contenting the one by emptiness； the other by fullness。 He
satisfieth their desires； thus fulfilling their wills； and making them
frictionless； and he maketh them strong in body； to a similar end。
He delivereth them from the restlessness of knowledge and the cravingsof
discontent。 As to those who have knowledge already； he teacheth themthe
way of non…action。 This being assured； there is no disorder in the
world。
4
THE SPRING WITHOUT SOURCE
The Tao resembleth the emptiness of Space； to employ it； we must avoid
creating ganglia。 Oh Tao； how vast art Thou； the Abyss of Abysses；thou
Holy and Secret Father of all Fatherhoods of Things！
Let us make our sharpness blunt； let us loosen our complexes； let us
tone down our brightness to the general obscurity。 Oh Tao； how stillart
thou； how pure； continuous One beyond Heaven！
This Tao hath no Father； it is beyond all other conceptions； higherthan
the highest。
5
THE FORMULA OF THE VACUUM
Heaven and earth proceed without motive； but casually in their orderof
nature； dealing with all things carelessly； like used talismans。 Soalso
the sages deal with their people； not exercising benevolence； but
allowing the nature of all to move without friction。
The Space between heaven and earth is their breathing apparatus：
Exhalation is not exhaustion； but the complement of Inhalation； andthis
equally of that。 Speech exhausteth； guard thyself； therefore； maintaining
the perfect freedom of thy nature。
6
THE PERFECTING OF FORM
The Teh is the immortal enemy of the Tao； its feminine aspect。 Heaven
and Earth issued from her Gate； this Gate is the Root of their World…
Sycamore。 Its operation is of pure Joy and Love； and faileth never。
7
THE CONCEALMENT OF THE LIGHT
Heaven and Earth are mighty in continuance； because their work is
delivered from the lust of result。
Thus also the sage； seeking not any goal； attaineth all things； he doth
not interfere in the affairs of his body； and so that body acteth without
friction。 It is because he meddleth not with personal aims that these
come to pass with simplicity。
8
THE NATURE OF PEACE
Admire thou the High Way of Water！ Is not Water the soul of the lifeof
things； whereby they change？ Yet it seeketh its level； and abideth
content in obscurity。 So also it resembleth the Tao； in this Way
thereof！
The virtue of a house is to be well…placed； of the mind； to be at easein
silence as of Space； of societies； to be well…disposed； of governments；
to maintain quietude； of work； to be skillfully performed； and of all
motion； to be made at the right time。
Also it is the virtue of a man to abide in his place without discontent；
thus offendeth he no man。
9
THE WAY OF RETICENCE
Fill not a vessel； lest it spill in carrying。 Meddle not with a
sharpened point by feeling it constantly； or it will soon become
blunted。
Gold and jade endanger the house of their possessor。 Wealth and honors
lead to arrogance and envy； and bring ruin。 Is thy way famous and thy
name becoming distinguished？ Withdraw； thy work once done； into
obscurity； this is the way of Heaven。
10
THINGS ATTAINABLE
When soul and body are in the bond of love； they can be kept together。
By concentration on the breath it is brought to perfect elasticity；and one
becomes as a babe。 By purifying oneself from Samadhi one becomes whole
In his dealing with individuals and with society； let him move without
lust of result。 In the management of his breath； let him be like the
mother…bird。 Let his intelligence comprehend every quarter； but lethis
knowledge cease。
Here is the Mystery of Virtue。 It createth all and nourisheth all； yet
it doth not adhere to them； it operateth all； but knoweth not of it；nor
proclaimeth it； it directeth all； but without conscious control。
11
THE VALUE OF THE UNEXPRESSED
The thirty spokes join in their nave； that is one； yet the wheel
dependeth for use upon the hollow place for the axle。 Clay is shapento
make vessels； but the contained space is what is useful。 Matter is
therefore of use only to mark the limits of the space which is thething
of real value。
12
THE WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EXTERNAL
The five colors film over Sight； The five sounds make Hearing dull；The
five flavours conceal Taste； occupation with motion and action bedevil
Mind； even so the esteem of rare things begetteth covetousness and
disorder。
The wise man seeketh therefore to content the actual needs of the
people； not to excite them by the sight of luxuries。 He banneth these；
and concentrateth on those。
13
THE CONTEMPT FOR CIRCUMSTANCE
Favor and disgrace are equally to be shunned； honour and calamity tobe
alike regarded as adhering to the personality。
What is this which is written concerning favour and disgrace？ Disgrace
is the fall from favour。 He then that hath favour hath fear； and its
loss begetteth fear yet greater of a further fall。 What is this whichis
written concerning honour and calamity？ It is this attachment to the
body which maketh calamity possible； for were one bodiless； what evil
could befall him？
Therefore let him that regardeth himself rightly administer also a
kingdom； and let him govern it who loveth it as another man loveth
himself。
14
THE SHEWING…FORTH OF THE MYSTERY
We look at it； and see it not； though it is Omnipresent； and we nameit
the Root…Balance。 We listen for it； and hear it not； though it is
Omniscient； and we name it the Silence。 We feel for it； and touch itnot；
though it is Omnipotent； and we name it the Concealed。 These