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With him that devoteth him to Tao； the devotees of Tao are in accord；so
also are the devotees of Teh； yea； even they who fail in seeking thoseare in
accord。
So then his brothers in the Tao are joyful； attaining it； and his
brothers in the Teh are joyful； attaining it； and they who fail in
seeking these are joyful； partaking of it。 But if he himself realizenot
the Tao with calm of confidence； then they also appear lacking in
confidence。
24
EVIL MANNERS
He who standeth a…tiptoe standeth not firm； he who maketh rigid hislegs
walketh ill。 He who preeneth himself shineth not； he who talketh
positively is vulgar； he who boastheth is refused acceptance； he whois
wise in his own conceit is thought inferior。 Such attitudes； to himthat
hath the view given by understanding the Tao； seem like garbage orlike
cancer； abhorrent to all。 They then who follow the Way do not admitthem。
25
IMAGES OF THE MYSTERY
Without Limit and Perfect； there is a Becoming； beyond Heaven and Earth。
It hath nor motion nor Form； it is alone； it changeth not； it extendeth
all ways； it hath no Adversary。 It is like the All…Mother。
I know not its Name； but I call it the Tao。 Moreover； I exert myself；
and call it Vastness。
Vastness； the Becoming！ Becoming； it flieth afar。 Afar； it draweth
near。 Vast is this Tao； Heaven also is Vast； Earth is vast； and theHoly
King is vast also。 In the Universe are Four Vastnesses； and of theseis
the Holy King。
Man followeth the formula of Earth； Earth followeth that of Heaven；and
Heaven that of the Tao。 The formula of the Tao is its own Nature。
26
THE NATURE OF MASS
Mass is the fulcrum of mobility； stillness is the father of motion。
Therefore the sage King； though he travel afar； remaineth near his
supplies。 Though opportunity tempt him； he remaineth quietly in proper
disposition； indifferent。 Should the master of an host of chariotsbear
himself frivolously？ If he attack without support； he loseth his base；
if he become a raider； he forfeiteth his throne。
27
SKILL IN THE METHOD
The experienced traveler concealeth his tracks； the clever speakergiveth
no chance to the critic； the skilled mathematician useth no abacus；the
ingenious safesmith baffleth the burglar without the use of bolts；and
the cunning binder without ropes and knots。 So also the sage； skilledin
man…emancipation…craft； useth all men； understanding the value of everything；
he rejecteth nothing。 This is called the Occult Regimen。
The adept is then master to the zelator； and the zelator assisteth and
honoreth the adept。 Yet unless these relations were manifest； eventhe
most intelligent observer might be perplexed as to which was which。This
is called the Crown of Mystery。
28
THE RETURN TO SIMPLICITY
Balance thy male strength with thy female weakness and thou shalt attract
all things； as the ocean absorbeth all rivers； for thou shalt formulate
the excellence of the Child eternal； simple； and perfect。 Knowing thelight；
remain in the Dark。 Manifest not thy Glory； but thine obscurity。 Clothedin
this Child…excellence eternal； thou hast attained the Return of theFirst
State。 Knowing splendour of Fame； cling to Obloquy and Infamy； thenshalt
thou remain as in the Valley to which flow all waters； the lodestoneto
fascinate all men。 Yea； they shall hail in thee this Excellence； eternal；
simple and perfect； of the Child。
The raw material； wrought into form； produceth vessels。 So the sage
King formulateth his Wholeness in divers Offices； and his Law is without
violence or constraint。
29
REFRAINING FROM ACTION
He that； desiring a kingdom； exerteth himself to obtain it； will fail。A
Kingdom is of the nature of spirit； and yieldeth not to activity。 Hewho
graspeth it； destroyeth it； he who gaineth it； loseth it。
The wheel of nature revolveth constantly； the last becometh first； and
the first last； hot things grow cold； and cold things hot； weakness
overcometh strength； things gained are lost anon。 Hence the wise man
avoideth effort； desire and sloth。
30
A WARNING AGAINST WAR
If a king summon to his aid a Master of the Tao； let Him not advise
recourse to arms。 Such action certainly bringeth the corresponding
reaction。
Where armies are； are weeds。 Bad harvests follow great hosts。
The good general striketh decisively； once and for all。 He does not
risk by overboldness。 He striketh； but doth not vaunt his victory。He
striketh according to strict law of necessity； not from desire of victory
Things become strong and ripe； then age。 This is discord with the
Tao； and what is not at one with the Tao soon cometh to an end。
31
COMPOSING QUARREL
Arms； though they be beautiful； are of ill omen； abominable to all
created beings。 They who have the Tao love not their use。
The place of honour is on the right in wartime； so thinketh the manof
distinction。 Sharp weapons are ill…omened； unworthy of such a man；he
useth them only in necessity。 He valueth peace and ease； desireth not
violence of victory。 To desire victory is to desire the death of men；
and to desire that is to fail to propitiate the people。
At feasts； the left hand is the high seat； at funerals； the right。 The
second in command of the army leadeth the left wing； the commander…in…
chief； the right wing； it is as if the battle were a rite of mourning！
He that hath slain most men should weep for them most bitterly； sothen
the place of the victor is assigned to him with philosophical propriety。
32
THE WISDOM OF THE
The All…Tao hath no name。
It is That Minute Point yet the whole world dare not contend
against him that hath it。 Did a lord or king gain it and guard it；all
men would obey him of their own accord。
Heaven and Earth combining under its spell； shed forth dew； extending
throughout all things of its own accord； without man's interference。
Tao； in its phase of action； hath a name。 Then men can comprehend it；
when they do this； there is no more risk of wrong or ill…success。
As the great rivers and the oceans are to the valley streams； so isthe
Tao to the whole universe。
33
THE DISCRIMINATION （VIVEKA） OF THE
He who understandeth others understandeth Two； but he who understandeth
himself understandeth One。 He who conquereth others is strong； buthe
who conquereth himself is stronger yet。 Contentment is riches； andcontinuous
action is Will。
He that adapteth himself perfectly to his environment； continueth for
long； he who dieth without dying； liveth for ever。
34
THE METHOD OF ATTAINMENT
The Tao is immanent； it extendeth to the right hand as to the left。
All things derive from it their being； it createth them； and all comply
with it。 Its work is done； and it