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She brings forth but possesses nothing
She does everything disinterestedly and asks for nothing
She leads but demands nothing
That is what people call the incomprehensibility of Nature
11
Thirty spokes unite within the nave
But the wheel is only useful because of the cavity inside the nave
Clay is kneaded into vases
But the utility is determined by the cavity
When building a house they leave blank spots in the walls for doors and windows
But the utility of the house depends on the cavity inside
Therefore； that which exists is useful
But the cavity makes it possible
12
All those artificial colours blind people抯 eyes
All that man…made music deafens people's ears
All those various flavours dull our taste
Horse races and hunting drive people crazy
The desire for scarce goods
Hinders people from going on the straight and simple path
Therefore the wise finds his satisfaction
In feeding himself and then he won抰 exhaust his eyes
Therefore he does this and leaves that
13
Watch out for gratitude and criticism
Honour and misfortune are as disastrous as having character
What does that say？
Watch out for gratitude and criticism？
Watch out for gratitude； because it originates from submission
Watch out for criticism； because it comes from superior power
Therefore； watch out for gratitude and criticism
What does it mean that honour and misfortune are as bad as having character？
Disasters come over us because we抳e got something to lose
If we had nothing to lose； which disasters could still strike us？
Therefore： to him who considers himself just as worthy as the world；
Mankind can entrust the world
And to him who loves himself and the world just as unconditionally；
Mankind can entrust the care for the world
14
We look at it but we do not see it and we call it the invisible
We listen to it but don抰 hear it and we call it the inaudible
We grope at it but never touch it and we call it the untouchable
The invisible； the inaudible and the untouchable come together in one
There is no light when it rises
There is no darkness when it descends
Continuously； constantly； but it cannot be put into words
And it returns to nothing
This is what they call the form of the formless； the image of the invisible
People call it indefinite and impalpable
You won抰 see it from the front
You won抰 see it from behind
One who lives after their original conscience； lives in the present
And understands everything that has ever been
That is living according to nature
15
The wise of old were profound and acute
People thought of them as unfathomable
Because they where unfathomable； I抣l try to sketch their way of living：
They seemed cautious； like people who cross a wintry river
They seemed irresolute； as if danger was threatening everywhere
They seemed dignified； as if they where guests
They seemed natural； like raw wood
They seemed empty； like a valley
They seemed opaque； like muddy water
How can one make muddy water clear？
Stagnation will settle the mud down and the water will become clear
Let everything happen as it happens and you will come to rest
The head of the wise is empty； he does not search for anything and expects nothing
He is empty； everlasting； youthful and not caught in time
He is perfect
16
One who has an empty head is satisfied； One who is satisfied has an empty head
All creatures exert and come to rest
All plants grow to maturity and come to rest
That final rest is what抯 called being done； completion
Returning to nature is what抯 called eternal life
Living in the present is called being enlightened
One who is not enlightened lives in confusion and misery
One who lives according to his nature understands everything and is forbearing
One who is forbearing is righteous
One who is righteous is royal
One who is royal is divine
One who is divine knows oneself
One who knows oneself has eternal life
One who has eternal life is not afraid to die
17
Of the wise of old； people only knew that they existed
Later on they loved them and admired them
Thereafter they got scared of them
And finally the wise were seen as despicable
One who can抰 trust oneself； can抰 trust another
How cautious were the first with their words
They proceeded so cautiously that when they where done
The people thought they did it themselves
18
When people deviate from their nature
Friendliness and righteousness became merits to be earned
Knowledge and cleverness came into being and lying started to rule
Relatives came into conflict with each other and loving each other became a duty
Cause when mankind and families get confused
Allegiance becomes an order
19
Dispose yourself of worldly knowledge and cleverness
And it will only be good for mankind
Stop pretending to be nice and fair； but be it
Then people will love each other unconditionally
Dispose yourself of the work of your hands and stop serving your self…interest
And there will be no thieves or robbers anymore
But these three things won抰 be enough
What it抯 really about is turning back to simplicity
Giving up your selfishness and not wishing for anything
20
When you unlearn what you have learned； you will be free from worries
We抳e learned that there is but little difference between yes and yes ； but
That there is a big difference between good and evil
That we have to be scared of what others are scared of
What an endless pack of bullshit
Everybody is restless and excited like they are watching a soccer game
Only I am at rest and unwound and I don抰 have to do those things and like a child； I want nothing
I'm not attached to anything and don抰 have to go anywhere in particular
The others already have so much and still they want more
Only I seem to have lost everything
They think I抦 crazy and confused
People seem to be bright and clever
And think that I am naive and foolish
It looks like I blow with the wind and don抰 seem to find rest anywhere
The others seem to know so much
And in their eyes I am nothing but a boor
I am only different because I live according to my nature
21
A righteous and blissful life is approachable only when you follow your conscience
The conscience is invisible and impalpable。 How can you follow it？
It speaks through images； like shadows in the dark
But how faintly and obscurely
The conscience is hidden but it carries the essentials of everything inside
The true life…force shelters itself inside conscience
Everything people know deeply inside is stowed within the conscience
It has always been there since the beginning； with many different names
The conscience separates truth from lie