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This is called the mystery of the light。
The gentle and the yielding overcome the hard and the forceful。
Force cannot separate you from your watery abyss （deep…seated desires）。
The community's acquisitions cannot help you to know yourself。
37
The Tao is eternal not doing （wu wei） yet does everything。
When all people can uphold it； ten…thousand things （everything） will naturally evolve。
When I am influenced by deep…seated desires； I will restrain them without naming them in order to keep my purity。
By focusing on the uncarved block of wood or the uncut jade； the master will be without deep…seated desires。
Without deep…seated desires there is tranquility in Heaven below （the sacred body） and peace follows。
38
The person who acts from above does not have access to the action of their soul。
The action of the soul is positive。
The action of the soul emerges from below。*
The action of the soul does not abandon。
The action of the soul is positive because of its emptiness。
The action of the soul is supreme。
The action of the soul is not doing （wu wei） and uses not doing。
The action of the soul comes from below and emerges because of its actions。
Humanity acts from above and this action is the opposite of not doing。
Righteousness from above emerges because of these actions。
Then rules of behavior come from above and no one responds。
Those who act from above seize the arms of the people and apply force。
When you are separated from the Tao； you are separated from the action of your soul。
Next you abandon humanity。
When you abandon humanity； you lose your heart。
Rules of behavior follow the loss of your heart。
Truly； rules of behavior that are faithfully and loyally followed are superficial and the first sign of discord。
Know the Tao's splendor。
Folly is the place to begin to know it。
This is the reason for its greatness。
The revered master dwells in the substance and does not stay with its husk。
Stop to make it solid。
Do not inhabit that which is embellished with ornaments。
Your purpose is to discard the latter and take hold of the former。
* You must be below to receive the the gifts of others as the ocean is below the rivers to receive the gifts of the rivers。
39
In ancient times there was unity。
Heaven benefited from unity and became pure。
Earth benefited from unity and became stabilized。
The soul benefited from unity and became divine。
The valleys benefited from unity and became bountiful。
Ten…thousand things （everything） benefited from unity and were born。
All people benefited from unity and became Heaven below抯 （the sacred body's） high principle。
They achieved this。
Without purity； fear would split Heaven apart。
Without solidity； fear would cause the Earth to crumble。
Without divinity； fear would shut down the soul。
Without abundance； fear would deplete the valleys。
Without birth； fear would cause the ten…thousand things to perish。
Without taking in hand their exalted treasure； fear would cause the people to stumble。
Thus； value is rooted in humble action。
High positions are humble and form the foundation。
When people say orphans and widows are not worthy； it surely is not the root of humble action。
Surely not！
Therefore； looking for praise does not bring success。
Do not desire to sparkle； sparkle like a jewel。
Instead； resemble a necklace； a necklace of rocks。
40
Return to your true nature； the movement of the Tao。
The way of the Tao is gentle。
Ten…thousand things （everything） and Heaven below （the sacred body） were born from its existence。
Existence was born from nonexistence （the Source）。
41
The master who acts from above strains to listen to the Tao； and becomes exhausted。
The master who acts from the middle hears the Tao very faintly； and then loses it。
The master who acts from below hears the Tao and laughs greatly。
Those who are unable to laugh will not have enough of a reason to practice the Tao。
Thus we can say：
The luminous Tao seems dark。
The advancing Tao seems to retreat。
The smooth Tao appears flawed。
The highest action of the soul seems empty。
Great purity appears degraded。
Abundant action of the soul appears to not be enough。
Stable action of the soul appears to be unsteady。
Simple truth seems fickle。
It is the great square that has no corners。
It is the great vessel that is not complete。
It is the great music that has no sound。
It is the great elephant that has no form。
The Tao is hidden without a name。
Yet for these exact reasons the Tao is good and completes。
42
The Tao gives birth to one。
The one gives birth to two。
The two gives birth to three。
The three gives birth to ten…thousand things （everything）。
Ten…thousand things carry the yin （the physical） and hold the yang （the spiritual） within。
The collision of these two vital forces （the chi） creates the totality that is humanity。
Widows and orphans can connect Heaven； Humanity and Earth。
The ministers who disdain them make titles for themselves。
Sometimes things decrease and there is a gain。
Sometimes with an increase； there is a loss。
The lessons of others are also my lessons。
The lessons of the forceful and aggressive do not create the necessary death。
I receive each lesson； thus making it a beginning。
43
Heaven below （the sacred body） has perfect flexibility and moves like a galloping horse。
Heaven below has perfect strength。
Not being penetrates emptiness。
I perceive not doing （wu wei） as the means to advance。
Not speaking is its philosophy。
Not doing benefits the world。
Heaven below soundlessly reaches for it。
44
Your body or your appearance； which do you love？
Your body or wealth； which is worth more？
Gain or loss； which is more difficult？
Excessive love surely creates great expense。
The more you hoard； the more you have to lose。
Know contentment； not disappointment。
Know how to stop before there is exhaustion。
You can thus last long。
45
Great perfection is with imperfection。
Its use is not impaired。
Great fullness is with emptiness
Its usefulness is not exhausted。
Great truth is with inaccuracies。
Great skill is with limitations。
Great oratory is with stammering。
Movement overcomes cold。
Stillness overcomes heat。
The act of pure tranquility guides Heaven below （the sacred body）。
46
When Heaven below （sacred body） is with the Tao； galloping horses* are curbed and used to haul dung。
When Heaven below does not have the Tao； war horses breed on sacred ground。
There is no greater misfortune than not knowing contentment。
There is no greater downfall than having deep…seated desires。
Know contentment。 Your contentment is always enough！