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Thus； the True Person acts without striving
and teaches without words。
Deny nothing to the ten thousand things。
Nourish them without claiming authority；
Benefit them without demanding gratitude；
Do the work； then move on。
And； the fruits of your labor will last forever。
3
Not exalting the talented prevents rivalry。
Not valuing goods that are hard to obtain
prevents stealing。
Not displaying desirable things
prevents confusion of the heart。
Therefore； the True Person governs by
emptying the heart of desire
and filling the belly with food；
weakening ambitions
and strengthening bones。
If the people are simple and free from desire；
then the clever ones never dare to interfere。
Practice action without striving
and all will be in order。
4
The Tao is like an empty bowl；
yet it may be used
without ever needing to be filled。
It is the deep and unfathomable source
of the ten thousand things。
Blunt the sharpness。
Untie the knot。
Soften the glare。
Settle with the dust。
It is hidden deep yet ever present。
I do not know whose child it is。
It existed before the common ancestor。
5
Heaven and earth are not moved
by offerings of straw…dogs。
The Trne Person is not moved
by offerings of straw…dogs。
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows。
It is empty and yet never exhausted。
The more it works the more comes out。
Many words lead to exhaustion。
Better to hold fast to your center。
6
The valley spirit never dies。
It is the unknown first mother；
whose gate is the root
from which grew heaven and earth。
It is dimly seen； yet always present。
Draw from it all you wish；
it will never run dry。
7
Heaven and earth last forever。
The reason why heaven and earth last forever
is that they do not live for themselves。
Hence； they last forever。
Therefore； the True Person
leaves self behind
and thus is found in front；
is not guarded and thus is preserved；
is self…free and thus is able
to find fulfillment。
8
The highest good is like water。
For water benefits the ten thousand things without striving。
It settles in places that people avoid
and so is like the Tao。
In choosing your horne look to the land。
In preparing your heart go deep。
In associating with others value gentleness。
In speaking exhibit good faith。
In governing pruvide good order。
In the conduct of business be competent。
In action be timely。
Then there is no strife； nothing goes amiss。
9
Better to stop in time than to fill to the brim。
Hone a blade to the sharpest point；
and it will soon be blunt。
Fill your house with gold and jade；
and no one can protect it。
Be prideful about wealth and position；
and you bring disasters upon yourself。
Retire when the work is done。
This is the way of heaven。
10
While carrying your active life on your head
can you embrace the quiet spirit in your arms；
and not let go？
While being fully focused on vour vital breath
can you make it soft like that of a newborn babe？
While cleaning your inner mirror
can you leave it without blemish？
While loving the people and ruling the country
can you dispense with cleverness？
While opening and closing the gates of heaven
can you be like a mother bird？
While penetrating the four quarters with your insight
can you remain simple？
Help the people live！
Nourish the people！
Help them live yet lay no claim to them。
Benefit them yet seek no gratitude。
Guide thern yet do not control them。
This is called the hidden Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes connect to the wheel's hub；
yet； it is the center hole
that makes it useful。
Clay is shaped into a vessel；
yet； it is the emptiness within
that makes it useful。
Doors and windows are cut for a room；
yet it is the space where there is nothing
that makes it useful。
Therefore； though advantage comes from what is；
usefulness comes from what is not。
12
The five colors blind the eye。
The five notes deafen the ear。
The five flavors dull the palate。
Racing and hunting drive the heart wild。
Goods that are hard to obtain hinder the journey。
Therefore； the True Person
is guided more by the belly than the eye；
and prefers this within to that without。 ％~~
13
Both favor and disgrace bring fear。
Great trouble comes from having a body。
What is meant by：
〃Both favor and disgrace bring fear〃？
Favor leads to a fear of losing it and
disgrace leads to a fear of greater trouble。
What is meant by：
〃Great trouble comes from having a body〃？
The reason you have trouble is that
you are self…conscious。
No trouble can befall a self…free person。
Therefore； surrender your self…interest。
Love others as much as you love yourself。
Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven。
14
Look at it； you cannot see it。
It is invisible。
Listen to it； you cannot hear it。
It is inaudible。
Reach for it； you cannot grasp it。
It is intangible。
These three qualities are unfathomable
and so they fuse together and become one。
The upper part is not bright。
The lower part is not dark。
Ceaselessly the Unnamed moves back to nothingness。
It has the form of the formless；
the image of the imageless。
It is indefinable and shadowy。
Go up to it and you will not see its front。
Follow it and you will not see its back。
Yet； hold fast to this ancient Tao and
you will experience the present now…moment。
Know its beginnings and
you can follow the path of the Tao。
15
The ancient followers of the Tao
were subtle； mysterious； and penetrating。
They were too deep to be fathomed。
All we can do is describe their appearance。
Hesitant； as if crossing a winter stream。
Watchful； as if aware of neighbors on all sides。
Respectful； like a visiting guest。
Yielding； like ice beginning to melt。
Simple； like an uncarved block。
Open； like a valley。
Obscure； like muddy water。
Who else can be still and let the muddy water
slowly become clear？
Who else can remain at rest and slowly come to life？
Those who hold fast to the Tao
do not try to fill themselves to the brim。
Because thev do not try to be full
they can be worn out and yet ever new。
16
Empty everything out；
hold fast to your stillness。
Even though all things are stirring together；
watch for the movement of return。
The ten thousand things flourish and then
each returns to the root from which it came。
Returning to the root is stillness。
Through stillness each fulfills its destiny。
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