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Infinitely deep； it is the source of All things。
It blunts the sharp；
Unties the knotted；
Shades the bright；
Unites with All Dust。
Dimly seen； yet eternally present；
I do not know who gave birth to it；
It is older than any conception of God。？br》
5
Heaven and Earth are impartial；
They allow things to die。
The Sage is not sentimental；
She knows that All beings must pass away。
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows
Empty； yet inexhaustible
The more it is used； the more it produces。
Trying to explain； it will only exhaust you。
It is better to hold on to ambiguity。
6
The spirit of emptiness is eternal。
It is called 〃the Mysterious Woman。〃
Her womb is called 〃the Source of Heaven and Earth。〃
Dimly seen； yet eternally present
It is always there for you to use。 It's easy！？br》
7
Heaven is eternal； and Earth is long…lasting。
Why are they so enduring？
Because they do not live for themselves。
Therefore the Sage puts himself last
And finds himself in the foremost place。
He does not promote himself； thus he is preserved。
Because he has no thought of 〃self；〃
He is perfectly fulfilled。
8
The sagely person is like water
Water benefits All things and does not compete with them。
It gathers in unpopular places。
In this it is like the Tao。
In dwelling； live close to the Earth。
In thinking； be open to new ideas。
In relationships； be kind。
In speech； tel the truth and keep your word。
In leading people； demonstrate integrity。
In daily matters； be competent。
In acting； consider the appropriate timing。
If you do not try to prove yourself superior to others；
You will be beyond reproach。？br》
9
Filling your cup until it overflows
Is not as good as stopping in time。
Oversharpen your sword
and it will not protect you very long。
You may fil your halls with gold and jewels
But you cannot keep them safe。
Being rich； highly esteemed and proud
will only bring you trouble。
When you have done a good job； rest。This is the Way of Heaven。
10
Being both body and spirit；
can you embrace unity and not be fragmented？
Being spiritually focused；
can you become soft； like a newborn baby？
Being clear in mind and vision；
can you eliminate your flaws？
Loving All people and leading them well；
can you do this without imposing your will？
When Heaven gives and takes away；
can you be content to just let things come or go？
And even when you understand All things；
can you simply allow yourself to be？
To give birth and nourish；
To make and not own；
To act but not expect something in return；
To grow； yet not demand this of others；
This is the virtue of Mystery。？br》
11
Thirty spokes join together at one hub；
But it is the hole in the center that makes it operable。
Clay is molded into a pot；
But it is the emptiness inside that makes it useful。
Doors and windows are cut to make a room；
It is the empty spaces that we use。
Therefore； existence is what we have；
But non…existence is what we use。
12
Too many colors tax people's vision。
Too many sounds deaden people's hearing。
Too many flavors spoi people's taste。
Thrill…seeking leads people to do crazy things。
The pursuit of wealth just gets in people's way。
Therefore； the Sage provides for her needs；
not her desires。
She renounces the latter； and chooses the former。
13
Success is often as unsettling as failure。
The world's troubles are no more important
Than the well…being of your own body。
Why do I say； 〃Success is often as unsettling as failure？〃
Success strikes us deep。
It shakes us up to get it。
It shakes us up to lose it。
Thus； success is really little different than failure；
For both are unsettling。
Why do I say； 〃The World's greatest troubles are no more important
than the well…being of your own body？〃
The reason I think I have troubles
Is because I have materia existence。
If I had no body； what troubles could I possibly have？
What we must do is see the whole world as our 〃Self。〃
Only then will we be worthy
Of being entrusted with the World。
Only One who values the World as his own body
can truly rely on the World in return。
14
Look for it and it cannot be seenit is beyond sight。
Listen for it and it cannot be heardit is beyond hearing。
Grasp at it and it cannot be caughtit is beyond substance。
These three cannot be fully comprehended。
They are fundamentally connected and somehow they are one。
Its highest isn't bright。
Its lowest isn't dark。
It is infinite！ Continually emerging； completely beyond description；
It returns again and again to nothingness。
And this is what nothingness looks like：
It is the image of the absence of being。
（It sounds vague and elusive to me！）
Approach it and you wi not see its beginning
Follow it and you will not see its end。
If you cling to the Tao of ancient times
The present will be no problem。
To know the ancient origin is to follow the Tao。？br》
15
The Sages of old were scholars who knew well
The way of subtlety； mystery and discernment。
Their wisdom was beyond comprehension。
Because they were beyond comprehension；
I can only describe their appearance：
They were cautious； as if crossing a river in winter。
They were hesitant；
as if fearing danger from All sides； They were polite； as if they were
guests。
They were always growing；
like the puddle from a melting cube of ice。
They were genuine； like an uncarved block of wood。
They were as open…minded as a valley。
They were open to infinite possibilities； like a turbulent storm。
Who can wait for the storm to stop；
To find peace in the calm that follows？
The person who is able to wait patiently in this peace
will eventually know what is right。
Those who respect the Tao do not go to extremes。
Not going to extremes； they are inconspicuous and content。？br》
16
If you can empty yourself of everything；
You will have lasting peace。
Things arise； but I contemplate their return。
Things flourish and grow； and then return to their Source。
To return to the Source is to know perfect peace。
I call this a return to Life。
Returning to Life is a Universa Constant。 Knowing this is illuminating。
Someone who doesn't understand this is in error
and may act dangerously。
But knowing this Constant； you can embrace All things。
Embracing All things； you can treat them fairly。 Treating them fairly；
you are noble。
Being noble； you are like the cosmos。
If you are like the cosmos； you are like the Tao。
If you are like the Tao； you will have eterna life；
and you needn't be afraid of dying。
17
The best leade