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While it is impalpable and intractable；
It manifests itself in the phenomenal world；
And it is not without substance。
While it is shadowy and empty；
It shows itself in the spiritual realm。
The spiritual essence of the Dao is
both truthful and dependable。
From the ancient times till now
The name of the Dao has persisted；
And it has pleased the wise masters。
How do I know about these wise masters？
I use the criterion mentioned above。
22
The Enlightened Way of Life
When something is bent； it is ready to be put straight；
When someone is wronged； one is ready to be redressed；
When a container is empty； it is ready to be filled；
When something gets old； it is ready to be renewed；
When you have just a little； you are ready to get more；
When you have got a lot； you are ready to be confused。
For this reason the Sage espouses one universal formula。
Do not be prejudiced by your own views； and your will see；
Do not think that you are right； and you will know the truth；
Do not boast about your achievements； and you will achieve；
Do not be self…contented； and you will grow。
Because （in…seeking growth） one never need to struggle
or to contest with others；
One will never need to fear that one's achievements will be
contested away by others。
The ancient saying that 〃When something is bent it is
ready to be straightened〃 certainly is not idle talk。
To be whole； just follow the one formula。
23
The Dao Will Not Fail the Serious Seeker
To live with sparse words is to live with nature。
Occasional winds and showers will not last through the day。
Who is responsible for this result？
Heaven and earth。
Even heaven and earth take breaks。
So certainly should men。
（Why should anyone then talk too much？）
（Rather then just talk）
Those who follow the way will find the way。
Those who live virtuously will have a virtuous life。
Those who live not seeking the way will lose the way。
For those who seek the way； the way will seek them out。
For those who seek virtue； virtue will seek them out。
For those who do not find the way；
The way will not find them either。
Some people do not believe adequately。
Some people do not believe at all。
24
Excesses Deviate from the Dao
He who stands on tip…toe cannot really stand。
He who takes big strides cannot really walk。
He who sees only through his own point of view cannot see clearly。
He who thinks he is always right will not see the truth。
He who boasts of his own achievements will achieve nothing；
He who is self…contented will not grow。
Such people to the Dao are like those who eat too much or do too much；
They will be fed up with what they eat or what they do。
Hence those who follow the Dao will not fall into the 〃too much〃 mode。
25
The Dao Emulates the Great Nature
In the beginning； before the formation of heaven and earth；
Something had already existed amid the confusion。
This lonely existence was totally independent of anything else；
And it would not change；
It only moved in its own way tirelessly。
Only it could have been the mother of heaven and earth。
I do not know its name；
I would just call it 〃the Dao。〃
I could also call it 〃the great something。〃
This great something has now about disappeared
from the world as we know it。
It has been getting more and more remote from us。
It has become more and more contrary from the
world as we know it。
The Dao is great；
Heaven is great；
Earth is great；
The man who knows the Dao （the Way） is great。
In the domain we know there are four 〃greats。〃
The man who knows the Dao is one of them。
The great man emulates the great Earth。
The great earth emulates the great Heaven；
The great heaven emulates the great Dao。
The great Dao emulates the great Nature。
26
Keeping One's Weight
We keep our weight； so we will not lose our roots。
We keep our serenity； so we will not lose our poise。
For these reasons when the Sage travels all day；
he does not part from his heavy luggage wagon。
He sits quietly； untouched by the magnificent views。
What a pity it is then to see the lord of ten thousand chariots
losing his weight in front of his people！
If one loses one's weight； one also loses one's base。
If one loses one's serenity； one also loses one's poise。
27
The Perfect Man
Perfect deeds leave no tracks behind it。
Perfect speech leaves no flaws to find fault with。
Those adept in counting do not require counting chips。
Those adept in sealing require no door latches；
yet what is sealed cannot be opened。
Those adept in tying need produce no knots；
yet the strings cannot be untied。
The Sage who is adept in saving people will abandon no one。
He is adept in saving creatures and will abandon no creature。
This is known as the Tradition of the Light。
The perfect man is the teacher of the imperfect。
The imperfect man is the assets of the perfect。
Those who do not value their teachers；
And those who do not take good care of their own assets；
However clever they are； they are really lost。
This is a key point that is often not understood。
28
Great But Humble
Keep one's place however humble； while knowing one's
real strength。
Stay low； like the rivers that gather water from the higher grounds。
Be that lowly river：
Depart not from the eternal virtue；
Emulate the unpretentiousness of infants。
Keep one's color； though it be black；
while knowing about the white。
Be an example for the world。
Be an example for the world；
Do not disgrace the eternal virtue；
Emulate the Eternal。
Take the blames from the world without complaint；
Yet never forgetting the need for honor；
Be the lowly valley of the world。
This way； the eternal virtue is fulfilled。
And simplicity is restored。
Simplicity is valuable。
From simple substances we have all our useful tools。
When simple men are used by the Sages；
They become great statesmen。
Great people never go out of their way to make themselves great；
Just as the great artists will not do superfluous things
to draw the attention of others。
29
Guard Against Vain Ambitions and Excesses
Someone who sets out to win the world and
contrives to make his way will never make it。
The world is holy； and is beyond contrivance and possession。
He who contrives to win will only lose。
He who only aspires to possess will be dispossessed。
The Sage never contrives to do anything and so he fails in nothing。
He never possesses anything and so he never loses anything。
Among the living things； some lead； while others follow。
Some sigh； while others shout。
Some display their strengths； while