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is called the root of heaven and earth。
Lingering like gossamer； it always seems to be。
Using it will never wear it out。
7
Heaven is eternal； and earth is everlasting。
They can endure because they do not generate themselves。
That is the reason why they last for ever。
Those who are enlightened put their person last
and it comes first；
reject their selfhood
and it survives。
Is it not because they are without thought of self
that they can thus fulfil themselves？
8
The greatest good is like water。
Water is of benefit to every living thing
and does not contend with them。
It flows in lowly places disdained by all mankind；
and so comes close to DAO。
In where you live； choose solid ground；
in how you think； go deep within your mind；
in your relationships； show loving…kindness；
in what you say； hold to the truth；
in governing； be just；
in how you work； do what is best；
in what you do； be timely。
What gives a house its value is where it is；
what gives a mind its value is its depth；
what gives relationship its value is its love；
what gives words their value is their truth；
what gives a government its value is its justice；
what gives work its value is its skill；
what gives action its value is its timeliness。
Do not fight； and there will be no blame。
9
To hold and fill a cup to over…flowing
is not as good as stopping in good time。
To whet a sword…blade to the sharpest edge
cannot prevent that sharpness being lost。
To fill a house with gold and jade
will mean no…one can guard it safe。
To have both wealth and status yet still be proud
will bring about catastrophe。
Complete your work and then stand back。
That is the way of DAO。
10
Can you enfold your body and your soul in the One
and then let go？
Can you control the breath of life in you
until you are as supple as a new…born child？
Can you cleanse your inner vision
so it is purified of stain？
Can you love the people and rule the state
in openness and humility？
As heaven抯 gates open wide then close；
can you be like the mother bird？
As your bright discerning comprehends all things；
can you remain in innocence？
Giving birth and nurturing；
shaping things without possessing them；
acting without expectation of reward；
leading without domination ？br》 this is the primal power of DE。
11
Thirty spokes come together in one hub；
it is that empty space that makes the wheel turn round。
Clay is shaped to make a bowl；
it is the empty space that makes the bowl of use。
Doors and windows are cut out to make a room；
it is the empty space that makes the room of use。
So benefit from what is here；
make use of what is not。
12
Too many colours will confuse the eye； *
too many notes will dull the ear；
too many tastes will numb the palate；
too much of the hunt and chase will make the heart go mad；
Precious things can hold back progress。
That is why those who are enlightened
care for what is inside themselves
not what they see outside。
They renounce the latter； and choose what is within。
* wu se厀u yin厀u we： too many colours卬otes卼astes
literally； wu means 慺ive？ Wu se ＇the five colours＇ are red； yellow； green； white； and black。 Wu yin ＇the five notes＇ are the five notes of the Chinese musical scale （C； D； E； G； A； in Western notation）。 Wu we ＇the five tastes＇ are salty； sweet； bitter； sour； and pungent。 By extension； wu also takes on a wider meaning of 憂umerous/many/too many/all？ which is the sense adopted here。 The overall implication of the lines is that too much involvement with sensory experience will cause inner truth to atrophy。
13
Favour and disgrace both cause anxiety。
High rank； just like the body； causes great trouble。 *
But what is meant by 慺avour and disgrace both cause anxiety？
When favour is bestowed upon the lowly； it causes apprehension；
just as when it is withdrawn。
This is what is meant by 慺avour and disgrace both cause anxiety。？br》
What is meant by 慼igh rank； just like the body； causes great trouble？
The reason why we have great trouble is because we have a body。
Without a body； what great trouble could there be？
Whoever values the world as much as their body
can be trusted to care for the world。
Whoever loves the world as much as their body
can be trusted with its guardianship。
* chong ru ruo jing； gui da huan ruo shen： favour and disgrace both cause anxiety / High rank； just like the body； causes great troubles
These are some of the most difficult characters to translate in the entire text； which may itself be corrupt at this point。 The absence of word…inflections； conjunctions； and auxiliary verbs in the original mean that chong ru； for example； can be construed as 慺avour and disgrace？ 慺avour is a disgrace？ 憃ne should favour ＇i。e。 welcome＇ disgrace？ Similarly； gui da huan can be interpreted as 慼igh rank and great trouble？ 慼igh rank is a great trouble？ 憃ne should rank great trouble highly ＇i。e。 not minimise it＇？ The translation here attempts to present a reasonably coherent meaning； though the implications of the words still remain elusive。
14
You look at it but cannot see；
its name is formlessness。
You listen to it but cannot hear；
its name is soundlessness。
You reach out for it but cannot touch；
its name is intangibility。
These three things are indefinable；
and so they intermingle in a single unity。
The aspect that it shows is not dazzling；
the aspect that it hides is not obscure。
Stretching into boundlessness； it is unnameable；
returning once again to nothingness。
It is the formless form；
the image that is imageless。
It is the indefinable；
the unimaginable。
Go up to it； you will not see its face。
Follow it behind； you will not see its back。
Hold fast to the timelessness of DAO
so you may master the realities of here and now。
Understand the very first beginning；
which is the thread that runs through all of DAO。
15
The ancient ones who were well…versed in DAO
were subtle and mysterious； deep beyond all knowing；
so profound their minds could not be plumbed。
Because they were unfathomable；
all we can do is describe how they appeared：
watchful like someone crossing icy streams；
cautious like someone aware of danger；
considerate like a welcome guest；
yielding like a melting piece of ice；
simple like an uncarved block of wood；
spacious like an open valley；
murky like a muddied pool。
Who can take murky water and；
by stillness；
make it gradually come clear？
Who can take what is in stillness and；
by constant motion；
make it slowly come to life？
Those who embrace the DAO do not seek to be full。
It is because they are not f