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o find the Ancient TAO is to control the affairs of the present day； to know the Ancient Beginning is to have found the Path of TAO。
〃The Eluding Source。〃
The mightiest manifestations of Providence flow solely from TAO； the Inscrutable ； the Impalpable。
Eluding sight； eluding touch； yet within it there is Form。
Eluding sight； eluding touch； yet within it there is Substance。
How profound； and how obscure！ Within it is the Vital Essence whereby all things forever endure。
These essences of the truth enfold； immutably the same as of old。
From the Old until Now； its name remains unchanged。
Through its portals emerges the stream of manifested things。
How do I know the origin of things that pass to consummation？
Through TAO！
The 〃Forms〃of TAO are Eternal and Archetypal Ideas。
The Substance of TAO is the Divine Ground or Root of all Creation。
〃The Mysterious Virtue。〃
They who know the TAO； tell it not： they who tell it； know it not。 They who know； close their lips； shut the doors of their senses； subdue the impulses； and checks irregularities。 They who diffuse the Light； gather people into unity； and descend to the level of dust。 This is the Mysterious Virtue。 Such people are beyond familiarity and reserve： gain and loss do not affect them： praise and blame are regarded by them alike。 Therefore they are honored above all。
〃The Emanations of TAO。〃
TAO produces Unity；
Unity produces Duality；
Duality produces Triplicity；
In Triplicity all things have life； and from it they proceed。
The darkness of the Unmanifested is behind all things： the light of the Manifest is before them； and they are brought into harmony by the Breath of the Great Deep。
〃Apprehending the Mystery。〃
Before The Universe and Our World existed there was something undefined but already perfect。 How calm it was and formless！ Self…sufficient and unchanging： all…pervasive without effort。
I do not know its name； but for a title call it TAO。 If forced to describe it。 Call it Great。 Being Great； it is ever…flowing； flowing on； It becomes remote； becoming remote； it returns again。 Therefore； TAO is Great： The Universe is Great： Our World is Great： The Source is Great。
Four are the kinds of universal greatness of which being The Source is one。 The individual finds his or her law on Our World： Our World finds its law as a part of the Universe： the Universe finds its law in TAO； but the law of TAO consists in being what it is。
〃The TAO of The Universe〃
Universal TAO is like the bending of a bow： that which is too high is lowered； that which is too low is raised up。 Where there is an excess； it is lessened； where there is too little； it is increased。 The Providence of The Universe gives to all things that which is their due。 But the providence of people is not like that of TAO； for people take from those in need of more； to increase their own excess。 Who are they who； possessing most； can supply the wants of all？ Only they who have the TAO！ That is why Enlightened People act without looking for reward； accomplishing their task without claiming any merit。 By this means they hide their mastery。
〃The Exercise of Enlightenment。〃
TAO appears quiescent： its activity is all within yet there is nothing that it does not do。
If people and their government were able to maintain it； all would be transformed from within themselves。 If this transformation became an object of desire； it would still that desire by the ineffable Simplicity。 The nameless Simplicity brings absence of desire； absence of desire brings stillness； so the world would become perfect from within itself。
〃Supernal Simplicity。〃
Immutable TAO has no name。 Small though it appears in its original simplicity； the servant of TAO may stand against the world。 If a leader could hold and keep it； the world of itself would submit at once to that leader and spontaneously pay homage。 The Universe and Our World would unite to nourish that leader； and all people without pressure would harmonize in peace。 When TAO proceeds to action； it has a name。 Having a name people may learn how to rest in it； knowing how to rest in it； they are free from error and decay。 TAO is to world like the great River and Sea are to the streams from the valleys。
〃The Perfect Achievement。〃
All…pervading is the Great TAO。
It extends simultaneously to the right and to the left。
All beings live by receiving it； and all are in its care。
It accomplishes its works； but claims no title of merit。
It cherishes and nurtures all； but does not assume their mastery。
It ever seeks the innermost； and its name is the smallest。
All things at last return to it。 TAO is their final root。 But TAO is not increased thereby； nor claims to be their ruler； and its name is the greatest。
That is why the highest people never magnify themselves； thus they become perfect in their greatness。
〃Returning Home。〃
The path of TAO is a return to The Source。
Gentleness is its characteristic。
All things under heaven derive their being from the manifestation of TAO； and TAO the Manifest is born in TAO the Unmanifest。
〃The Origin of Form。〃
The spirit in the Void never dies。 It is called the Mother…Deep。
The openings of the Mother…Deep are called the Root of The Universe and Our World。
Ceaselessly； ceaselessly； It nourishes and preserves： Inexhaustible； without effort。
〃Self…Manifestation through Contraries。〃
In the manifested world all people； by knowing the splendor of beauty； know also ugliness。 When beauty is absent： by knowing the excellence of goodness； they recognize also that which is not good。
Therefore； contraries give rise to the idea of each other：… existence implies non…existence； That which is difficult implies that which is easy to achieve； that which is long implies that which is short in measurement； that which is high implies that which is low in elevation； that which is shrill implies that which is bass in musical tone； that which is before implies that which is behind in priority。
Therefore； the self…controlled person dwells in the balance that is beyond the action of contraries； they teach without words； they inspire to action； but appear not to act； they produce but do not possess； they work without regard to the fruit of labor； they bring their work to perfection but do not claim reward。
Holding nothing as their own； their own can never pass away。
〃The Purpose of the Void。〃
The Universe and Our World are impartial； and for their dispensations； they use all things without distinction。
A very wise person is impartial； they act without deliberation and regard all beings as sacred and alike。
The Void between The Universe and Our World is like a bellows。 It is empty； yet not to be exhausted。 It moves and produces more and more。
It does not take long before many words lead to exhaustion： do not be like that； walk the middle way。
〃The Hidden Radiance。〃
The Universe is eternal： Our Worl