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To stop when the task is finished is the Way of Heaven。
10
Can you embrace the oneness of everything with body and soul
Without being distracted？
When concentrating your breath to bring about softness；
Can you be like a baby？
Can you clean your profound mirror and make it free from blemish？？br》 Can you love the people and rule the country
Yet be without knowledge？
When the gates of Heaven open and close？br》 Can you keep to the role of the female？？br》 When your intelligence has penetrated to the four corners
Can you refrain from acting？
To produce things and nourish them；
To bring them forth without possessing them；
To benefit them without reward；
And lead without imposing；
Is called profound Virtue。
1。 this may allude to a meditation technique。 The 憄rofound mirror？is a simile for the mind； making it 慺ree from blemish？is to avoid making emotional responses to the events and circumstances of the everyday world。
2。 perhaps； simply； 憌hen things happen？
3。 i。e。 remain passive and refrain from acting。
11
Thirty spokes are fixed to the hub；
It is the hole in the hub which makes the wheel useful。
Clay can be shaped into a vessel；
But it is the space inside which gives it its usefulness。
Doors and windows are cut out to make a room；
The room is useful only because of the holes。
Therefore； gain from what does exist；
And make use of what doesn抰 exist。
12
The five colours blind the eyes；？br》 The five notes deafen the ears；？br》 The five tastes spoil the palate；？br》 Riding and hunting madden the mind；
Rare treasure will distract one from the path。
Therefore the Sage provides for his inner needs； and not for his eyes。
Thus he rejects one and chooses the other。
1。 The five primary colours are： red； yellow； green or blue； black and white。
2。 The five notes of the Chinese pentatonic scale are： C； D； E； G and A。
3。 The five tastes are： sweet； sour； bitter； acrid； and salty。
13
Favour and disgrace equally cause apprehension。
Fortune and misfortune have their origin in our own bodies。
What is meant by saying that favour and disgrace equally cause apprehension？
Favour is for inferior people：
Being favoured leads to the apprehension of losing favour；
And losing it leads to the fear of greater misfortune。
This means that favour and disgrace equally cause apprehension。
What is meant by saying that fortune and misfortune have their origin in our own bodies？
Having a body； I am liable to misfortune；
If I had no body； what misfortune could I suffer？
Therefore； he who values the world as much as his own body
Is fit to rule the empire。
And he who loves the world as much as his own body
May be entrusted to care for all beneath Heaven。
14
Looked for； it cannot be seen：
it is not visible。
Listened for； it cannot be heard：
it makes no sound。
Grasped at； it cannot be held：
it is not tangible。
These three？are beyond scrutiny。
But they are blended in the One。
On top it is not bright；
Underneath it is not dark。
It is unceasing and cannot be named；
It returns to nothingness。
It is called the formless form
And the imageless image。
That is why it is called obscure and indistinct。
Go to meet it； and you will find no beginning。
Follow after it； and you will find no end。
Hold to the ancient Tao
In order to manage events in the present。
Knowing the ancient beginning
Is called holding to Tao抯 thread。？
1。 i。e。 the three qualities of being invisible； soundless； and intangible。
2。 or following the principle/system/tradition of Tao。
15
In ancient times masters of the Tao were possessed of a subtle mystery and a penetrating perception；
Too profound to be understood。
Because they were too profound to be understood；
All we can do is describe their outward appearance：
Cautious； like one crossing a river in winter；
Hesitant； like one who fears his neighbours；
Reserved； like one who is a guest；
Yielding； like ice that is melting；
Simple； like an uncarved block；
Open； like a wide valley；
Obscure； like muddy water。
Who can make muddy water clear by keeping still？
Who can； from rest； gradually stir to life？？br》 Those who hold fast to the Tao
Have no desire to be filled。
Having no desire to be filled
They can endure all wear yet never need to be renewed。
1。 These two lines may allude to a meditation technique （cf。 LaFarge 1994； 357）。
16
Become completely empty。
Hold firm to stillness。
The Ten Thousand Things come to life； then return whence they came：
They increase and flourish； but each returns to its source。
Returning to the source is stillness； it is what is destined。
What is destined is unchanging。
To know what is unchanging is to have insight；
Being ignorant of what is unchanging leads to misfortune。
He who knows what is unchanging will be impartial。
He who is impartial will act justly。
He who acts justly is like a good ruler。
He who is a good ruler is in accord with Heaven。
He who is in accord with Heaven is in accord with the Tao。
He who is in accord with the Tao is everlasting；
And to the end of his days； he will meet with no danger。
17
The best rulers are those whom the people hardly know exist。
Next come rulers whom the people love and praise。
After that come rulers whom the people fear。
And the worst rulers are those whom the people despise。
The ruler who does not trust the people will not be trusted by the people。
The best ruler stays in the background； and his voice is rarely heard。
When he accomplishes his tasks； and things go well；
The people declare： It was we who did it by ourselves。
18
When Tao is abandoned；
Benevolence and morality arise。
When wisdom and knowledge arise；
Hypocrisy flourishes。
When there is discord in the family；？br》 Filial piety and parental affection arise。
When the country is in darkness and turmoil；
Loyal ministers appear。
1。 Strictly； 憌hen the six family relationships are not in harmony？ These are the relationships of father and son； elder brother and younger brother； and husband and wife。 （This conception of family relationships is clearly sexist； leaving out of account mothers； daughters and sisters。）
19
Give up sagacity and abandon knowledge；
And the people will benefit a hundredfold。
Give up benevolence and abandon morality；
And the people will return to natural affection。
Give up scheming and abandon gain；
And robbers and thieves will disappear。
These words in themselves are inadequate。
Therefore let the following be appended：
Exhibit plainness；
Embrace the simple；
Reduce self…interest；
Curb desire。
20
Abandon learning and put an end to sorrow。？br》 What is the difference betwee