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d sky； light and dark。 Following the guideline that he established in Chapter 1； Lao Tzu describes the Cosmic Whole through what it does。 But as for what it is； only stepping beyond the limits of reason can point the way： it is the emptiness that contains everything。 It flows and it freezes； it evaporates and condenses； it merges into every element and state of being。 It is the quantum darkness from which light freely flows梩ry to move it； and it is still； try to stop it； and it will always be moving。
5
Equality is the Cosmic Way：
Good and evil are born of fantasy。
The Sage is neither partisan nor punishing：
No one is special； no one excluded。
Consciousness breathes；
Expands and contracts。
It never varies； and each moment is unique。
Work with this and understand；
Talk about it； and you lose your center。
6
The valley is ever open and alive；
It is the mother of consciousness。
In night…flower darkness
The bounty of Nature is concealed
Until； looking within； we see
The mystery extinguished； the curtain drawn
From the heart of the Mother of the Cosmos。
7
Consciousness is eternal…but why？
Because time does not adhere to its nature。
Time and desire； abstraction and attachment
Cannot touch it。
It transforms； completes； and teaches
All of its aspects；
Within life and beyond death。
The Sage remains behind
And thus it stays ahead。
The student drops his ego
And thus his true self arises。
Separation and division of being are overcome；
Each need is fulfilled
As each excess is abandoned。
8
Like water is the Cosmic Consciousness：
It nourishes the depths of everything that lives。
It flows； it settles； it abides in low places。
Keep your home close to the earth；
Keep your thoughts direct and simple；
Keep judgment fair； and fluid in conflict；
Keep your government free of power；
And your personal affairs in harmony
With the life of Nature。
Drop the struggle； silence the demons；
And your natural self will be free。
Following Tao is not about adopting an attitude of passivity； but nurturing inner strength instead。 The superficial or populist interpretation of the so…called Taoist philosophy often invokes the phrase 〃go with the flow；〃 in the sense of passive acceptance of injustice or encroachment。 But with the phrase； 〃silence the demons；〃 Lao Tzu reminds us that we are not meant to 〃go with the flow；〃 for that is the stuff of inner weakness。 He would encourage us to act with inner determination in this respect： to silence demons； both our own and those of others； through the fluid； invisible work of inner action。 Water does its work with persistent strength but no effort； and thus it is effective。 Even where it appears turbid； it nourishes； settles； flows； and acts。 The same is true of the person in harmony with Cosmic Principles： he can speak simply and briefly； yet make his point clear； he can live 〃close to the earth〃 in wonderful abundance； he can remain poised amid conflict； but without bowing to power or resorting to manipulation。 Water doesn't try to carve canyons or wear down mountains； it just does it。 Its action occurs at an invisible and quantum plane of being。 This is how transformation happens； and it is how it can happen through us as well： when we 〃nourish our depths〃 and 〃silence our demons；〃 the natural self that arises is the same kind of quantum actor as the water that shapes and sustains ourselves and our planet。 It has the unique ability to transform conflict into understanding； and bring us fulfillment and completion in every aspect of our lives。 This is because its unforced action engages the helping presences of the Tao梩he force of Nature that make things happen； and endure。 These presences are what the I Ching calls 〃Helpers。〃
9
Overstuff your life with thought；
And it will stiffen and suffer。
Keep an eye out for trouble；
And you invite it in。
Make wealth your sole objective
And your heart will grow rigid as ice。
Let fame define you
And you become a stranger to yourself。
Stop the treadmill and renounce expectation：
This is entering the Cosmic rhythm。
We have a phrase in vernacular English for what Lao Tzu is describing here： it is called 〃paralysis by analysis。〃 Nothing so stiffens feeling； foreshortens influence； or limits understanding； as intellectual reductionism。 What follows from this saturation of thought is a kind of hypervigilance and obsessive doubt known in both medical and popular pathology as paranoia。 We run the same destructive course when we allow institutional or dogmatic criteria of outer success to define our life's destiny。 The correction to all of this is direct and immediately available： we can step off the treadmill and renounce the expectations that have been burned into us by a superficial and self…referential culture。
Guilt and doubt are the engines that drive paranoia； this constant； fearful referencing of experience and phenomena to the bizarre self…interest of a solipsistic world…view。 The foundation of this world…view is unstable because it is simply an inaccurate； mistaken vision of the Cosmos and its operations； therefore； it needs to be propped and reinforced by manipulation and the pursuit of power。 We push others around and manipulate Nature not because we are designed that way； but because we have been so stuffed with fear that we can no longer feel ourselves。
10
Nourish every sense；
Embrace your undivided nature。
Let your chi course fresh and fluid
With the iridescence of a newborn body。
Cleanse guilt and shame…the mud of culture…
From all your being；
And feel your natural form。
Let yourself be led by the fearless love
Of a caring Cosmos。
Close the gates of Heaven；
Abandon manipulation；
Open yourself to the perfect nature
That has always been there。
Release the Sage within you
And let your clarity extend
To every corner of the universe。
Then may your words and actions
Nourish； develop； and sustain
Others as well as yourself。
When you realize that there is nothing to claim；
Nothing to assert；
Nothing to control；
Nothing to dominate；
This is called the actualization of Modesty。
11
Thirty spokes unite around a single hub：
Thus a wheel is made。
Yet it is the formless core
That makes the wagon roll。
Clay is formed and baked：
Thus a cup is made。
Yet it is the invisible interior
From which we drink。
Framed walls and brick are joined
To make a house。
Yet it is the open space within
That makes it livable；
That gives doors and windows
Their unique functions。
Therefore； make being your element；
But non…being； your life。
What you see is barely the beginning of what is really there。 In a culture such as ours； with its unceasing obsession with the exploitation of the marketplace and the accumulation of object…attachments； there is an urgent practicali