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Even though they have armour and weapons； no one displays them。
Let the people return to knotting cords。？br》 Let them find their plain food sweet；
their simple clothes fine；
their modest dwellings secure；
And they would be happy with their lifestyle。
Although the two peoples of the neighbouring countries are so close
That they can see each other； and hear each other抯 cocks crowing and dogs barking；
They will leave each other alone and grow old and die
Without ever having visited each other。
1。 In this chapter； Lao Tzu describes an ideal society。
2。 i。e。 the more one travels； the more one risks accident and injury。 Besides； in an ideal society； affairs would be conducted in such a way that need for travel becomes redundant。
3。 historically； a practice prior to； and more simple than； writing。
81
True words are not beautiful；
Beautiful words are not true。
Those who are good do not argue；
Those who argue are not good。
Those who are wise are not learned；
Those who are learned are not wise。
The Sage does not store up possessions。
The more he helps others； the more he fulfils himself。
The more he gives to others； the more he has for himself。
The Way of Heaven is to benefit others whilst harming no one。
The Way of the Sage is to accomplish without striving。
English_Sheets_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Alan Sheets & Barbara Tovey； ~ 2002
Vorwort/Foreword
〃The Way of the Action of the Soul〃
（title translation by Sheets/Tovey）
The Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese document purportedly written about 2500 years ago。 It is an important piece of Taoist literature which has been translated by many different people because of its age and spiritual nature。 It is extensively studied throughout the world in a variety of translations。
The author of the Tao Te Ching is 〃Lao Tzu〃 which means 〃the grand old master。〃 Hence； the author's birth name is not known； and there is no recorded history of the author's life。 The document is typically divided into eighty…one chapters and contains more than 5；000 Chinese characters。
Alan Sheets and Barbara Tovey made an unexpected correlation between the Tao Te Ching and the nine soultype families； they discovered that the Tao Te Ching was written about the nine soultypes。 Alan and Barbara discovered that by organizing the Tao Te Ching according to the table below； every ninth chapter addresses the nature of the same soultype； creating nine groups of nine chapters （see chart）。
The Tao Te Ching represents the first historical writing found by Alan and Barbara that directly addresses the soultype families。 Until their discovery； Alan and Barbara were solely responsible for documentation about this subject。
Excited about their finding； Alan and Barbara have made an entirely new translation of the Tao Te Ching； because it cannot be effectively understood without awareness of the differences between the nine soul families。 Alan and Barbara believe that the Tao Te Ching is specifically a manual to teach people of each of the nine soul families how to express the soul。 It teaches people both where they need to go to live from soul； and the pitfalls that get in the way。
Alan and Barbara did not need to rewrite； reinterpret； or intuit meaning as they worked on their translation。 Of the possible definitions for each Chinese character； they chose the definition that best communicated insight about the soultype family being addressed。 The translation is literal。 They made minor grammatical adjustments to account for the shift from the Chinese way of expressing ideas to the English style。
Although Alan and Barbara are not scholars of Chinese literature or Taoism； they have extensive knowledge of the unique nature of soul…to…soul connections with people from each soultype family。 This gave them a foundation to add context that had not been previously integrated into the Tao Te Ching translations。 The soultype…specific nuances bring each chapter alive。 This new translation forms a powerful spiritual document that has a new flavor。
1
The Tao is the unobstructed breath。
The Tao holds the opposing forces of the eternal Tao。
The Name* is the unobstructed breath。
The Name holds the opposing forces of the eternal Name。
Heaven and Earth were without names （consciousness） in the beginning。
The names of the ten…thousand things （everything） arose through its mother。
If you are eternally without deep…seated desires； then you perceive its mystery。
If you have deep…seated desires； then you perceive its outer form。
These both （the essence and outer form） have the same origin but have different names。
Oneness （the Source） is called the mystery。
The mystery will always be mysterious。
All people are at the door of this mysterious One。
* The Name： The universe becoming conscious of itself through its human form。
2
In Heaven below （the sacred body） everyone recognizes beauty as beauty when ugly…heartedness ends。
Everyone recognizes virtue as virtue when lack of virtue ends。
Being and not being； together they give life。
Difficult and easy； together they complete。
Long and short； together they compare。
High and low； together they support。
Tone and voice； together they harmonize。
Front and back； together they follow each other。
The sages stay without action in their activities。
They practice silence in their teachings。
Ten…thousand things （everything） arise and they do not refuse。
They give life and do not hold onto it。
They achieve and do not take credit。
What is achieved continues on its own merit。
The masters agree not to dwell on their achievements。
Their accomplishments never cease。
3
Do not exalt one whose virtue； talent； power； and action exceeds others； so people will not compete。
Do not prize difficult…to…obtain goods； so that people will not commit robbery。
Do not display deep…seated desires； so that people抯 minds are untroubled。
The sages' way of ruling is by：
… freeing the mind；
… reinforcing the soul；
… making gentle their ambitions；
… and strengthening their bones。
It is a constant that when the mind is free； people are free of deep seated desires。
The master knows this and does not presume to act！
Act without action （wu wei）； then all is in order。
4
The Tao creates union that is never draining。
The Deep！ It is like the ten…thousand things （everything） of the Source。
It blunts sharpness。
It unravels knots。
It harmonizes the light and it becomes one with the dust of the Earth。
Deep！ It is enduring。
I do not know who its ruler is。
It came before the creation of images。
5
Heaven and Earth do not have human sentiments。
Ten…thousand things （everything） have the importance of a straw dog。*
The sages are not sentimental； thus they act toward the hundred families （