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10 13
Can you coax your mind from its Success is as dangerous as failure.
wandering Hope is as hollow as fear. What does
and keep to the original oneness? it mean that success is a dangerous
Can you let your body become as failure?
supple as a newborn child's? Whether you go up the ladder or
Can you cleanse your inner vision down it,
TAO by Stephen Mitchel
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you position is shaky. Shapable as a block of wood.
When you stand with your two feet on Receptive as a valley.
the ground, Clear as a glass of water. Do you have
you will always keep your balance. the patience to wait
What does it mean that hope is as till your mud settles and the water is
hollow as fear? clear?
Hope and fear are both phantoms Can you remain unmoving
that arise from thinking of the self. till the right action arises by itself?
When we don't see the self as self, The Master doesn't seek fulfillment.
what do we have to fear? See the Not seeking, not expecting,
world as your self. she is present, and can welcome all
Have faith in the way things are. things.
Love the world as your self;
then you can care for all things. 16
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
14 Let your heart be at peace.
Look, and it can't be seen. Watch the turmoil of beings,
Listen, and it can't be heard. but contemplate their return. Each
Reach, and it can't be grasped. Above, separate being in the universe
it isn't bright. returns to the common source.
Below, it isn't dark. Returning to the source is serenity. If
Seamless, unnamable, you don't realize the source,
it returns to the realm of nothing. you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
Form that includes all forms, When you realize where you come
image without an image, from,
subtle, beyond all conception. you naturally become tolerant,
Approach it and there is no beginning; disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
follow it and there is no end. dignified as a king.
You can't know it, but you can be it, Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
at ease in your own life. you can deal with whatever life brings
Just realize where you come from: you,
this is the essence of wisdom. and when death comes, you are
ready.
15
The ancient Masters were profound 17
and subtle. When the Master governs, the people
Their wisdom was unfathomable. are hardly aware that he exists.
There is no way to describe it; Next best is a leader who is loved.
all we can describe is their Next, one who is feared.
appearance. They were careful The worst is one who is despised. If
as someone crossing an iced-over you don't trust the people,
stream. you make them untrustworthy. The
Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. Master doesn't talk, he acts.
Courteous as a guest. When his work is done,
Fluid as melting ice.
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the people say, "Amazing: we did it, I alone am dark.
all by ourselves!" Other people are sharper;
I alone am dull.
18 Other people have a purpose;
When the great Tao is forgotten, I alone don't know.
goodness and piety appear. I drift like a wave on the ocean,
When the body's intelligence declines, I blow as aimless as the wind. I am
different from ordinary people.
cleverness and knowledge step forth. I drink from the Great Mother's
When there is no peace in the family, breasts.
filial piety begins.
When the country falls into chaos, 21
patriotism is born. The Master keeps her mind
always at one with the Tao;
19 that is what gives her her radiance.
Throw away holiness and wisdom, The Tao is ungraspable.
and people will be a hundred times How can her mind be at one with it?
happier. Because she doesn't cling to ideas.
Throw away morality and justice, The Tao is dark and unfathomable.
and people will do the right thing. How can it make her radiant?
Throw away industry and profit, Because she lets it. Since before time
and there won't be any thieves. If and space were,
these three aren't enough, the Tao is.
just stay at the center of the circle It is beyond is and is not.
and let all things take their course. How do I know this is true?
I look inside myself and see.
20
Stop thinking, and end your problems. 22
If you want to become whole,
What difference between yes and no? let yourself be partial.
What difference between success and If you want to become straight,
failure? let yourself be crooked.
Must you value what others value, If you want to become full,
avoid what others avoid? let yourself be empty.
How ridiculous! Other people are If you want to be reborn,
excited, let yourself die.
as though they were at a parade. If you want to be given everything,
I alone don't care, give everything up. The Master, by
I alone am expressionless, residing in the Tao,
like an infant before it can smile. sets an example for all beings.
Other people have what they need; Because he doesn't display himself,
I alone possess nothing. people can see his light.
I alone drift about, Because he has nothing to prove,
like someone without a home. people can trust his words.
I am like an idiot, my mind is so Because he doesn't know who he is,
empty. Other people are bright; people recognize themselves in him.
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Because he has no goad in mind, 25
everything he does succeeds. When There was something formless and
the ancient Masters said, perfect
"If you want to be given everything, before the universe was born.
give everything up," It is serene. Empty.
they weren't using empty phrases. Solitary. Unchanging.
Only in being lived by the Tao can you Infinite. Eternally present.
be truly yourself. It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
23 I call it the Tao. It flows through all
Express yourself completely, things,
then keep quiet. inside and outside, and returns
Be like the forces of nature: to the origin of all things. The Tao is
when it blows, there is only wind; great.
when it rains, there is only rain; The universe is great.
when the clouds pass, the sun shines Earth is great.
through. If you open yourself to the Man is great.
Tao, These are the four great powers. Man
you are at one with the Tao follows the earth.
and you can embody it completely. Earth follows the universe.
If you open yourself to insight, The universe follows the Tao.
you are at one with insight The Tao follows only itself.
and you can use it completely.
If you open yourself to loss, 26
you are at one with loss The heavy is the root of the light.
and you can accept it completely. The unmoved is the source of all
Open yourself to the Tao, movement. Thus the Master travels all
then trust your natural responses; day
and everything will fall into place. without leaving home.
However splendid the views,
24 she stays serenely in herself. Why
He who stands on tiptoe should the lord of the country
doesn't stand firm. flit about like a fool?
He who rushes ahead If you let yourself be blown to and
doesn't go far. fro,
He who tries to shine you lose touch with your root.
dims his own light. If you let restlessness move you,
He who defines himself you lose touch with who you are.
can't know who he really is.
He who has power over others 27
can't empower himself. A good traveler has no fixed plans
He who clings to his work and is not intent upon arriving.
will create nothing that endures. If A good artist lets his intuition
you want to accord with the Tao, just lead him wherever it wants.
do your job, then let go. A good scientist has freed himself of
concepts
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and keeps his mind open to what is. It can't be improved.
Thus the Master is available to all If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
people If you treat it like an object, you'll
and doesn't reject anyone. lose it. There is a time for being
He is ready to use all situations ahead,
and doesn't waste anything. a time for being behind;
This is called embodying the light. a time for being in motion,
What is a good man but a bad man's a time for being at rest;
teacher? a time for being vigorous,
What is a bad man but a good man's a time for being exhausted;
job? a time for being safe,
If you don't understand this, you will a time for being in danger. The Master
get lost, sees things as they are,
however intelligent you are. without trying to control them.
It is the great secret. She lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.
28
Know the male, 30
yet keep to the female: Whoever relies on the Tao in
receive the world in your arms. governing men
If you receive the world, doesn't try to force issues
the Tao will never leave you or defeat enemies by force of arms.
and you will be like a little child. For every force there is a
Know the white, counterforce.
yet keep to the black: Violence, even well intentioned,
be a pattern for the world. always rebounds upon oneself. The
If you are a pattern for the world, Master does his job
the Tao will be strong inside you and then stops.
and there will be nothing you can't He understands that the universe
do. Know the personal, is forever out of control,
yet keep to the impersonal: and that trying to dominate events
accept the world as it is. goes against the current of the Tao.
If you accept the world, Because he believes in himself,
the Tao will be luminous inside you he doesn't try to convince others.
and you will return to your primal Because he is content with himself,
self. The world is formed from the he doesn't need others' approval.
void, Because he accepts himself,
like utensils from a block of wood. the whole world accepts him.
The Master knows the utensils,
yet keeps to the the block: 31
thus she can use all things. Weapons are the tools of violence;
all decent men detest them. Weapons
29 are the tools of fear;
Do you want to improve the world? a decent man will avoid them
I don't think it can be done. The world except in the direst necessity
is sacred. and, if compelled, will use them
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only with the utmost restraint. 33
Peace is his highest value. Knowing others is intelligence;
If the peace has been shattered, knowing yourself is true wisdom.
how can he be content? Mastering others is strength;
His enemies are not demons, mastering yourself is true power. If
but human beings like himself. you realize that you have enough,
He doesn't wish them personal harm. you are truly rich.
Nor does he rejoice in victory. If you stay in the center
How could he rejoice in victory and embrace death with your whole
and delight in the slaughter of men? heart,
He enters a battle gravely, you will endure forever.
with sorrow and with great
compassion, 34
as if he were attending a funeral. The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
32 yet it doesn't create them.
The Tao can't be perceived. It pours itself into its work,
Smaller than an electron, yet it makes no claim.
it contains uncountable galaxies. If It nourishes infinite worlds,
powerful men and women yet it doesn't hold on to them.
could remain centered in the Tao, Since it is merged with all things
all things would be in harmony. and hidden in their hearts,
The world would become a paradise. it can be called humble.
All people would be at peace, Since all things vanish into it
and the law would be written in their and it alone endures,
hearts. When you have names and it can be called great.
forms, It isn't aware of its greatness;
know that they are provisional. thus it is truly great.
When you have institutions,
know where their functions should 35
end. She who is centered in the Tao
Knowing when to stop, can go where she wishes, without
you can avoid any danger. All things danger.
end in the Tao She perceives the universal harmony,
as rivers flow into the sea. even amid great pain,
because she has found peace in her
heart. Music or the smell of good
cooking
may make people stop and enjoy.
But words that point to the Tao
seem monotonous and without flavor.
48 51
In pursuit of knowledge, Every being in the universe
every day something is added. is an expression of the Tao.
In the practice of the Tao, It springs into existence,
every day something is dropped. unconscious, perfect, free,
Less and less do you need to force takes on a physical body,
things, lets circumstances complete it.
until finally you arrive at non-action. That is why every being
When nothing is done, spontaneously honors the Tao. The
nothing is left undone. True mastery Tao gives birth to all beings,
can be gained nourishes them, maintains them,
by letting things go their own way. cares for them, comforts them,
It can't be gained by interfering. protects them,
takes them back to itself,
49 creating without possessing,
The Master has no mind of her own. acting without expecting,
She works with the mind of the guiding without interfering.
people. She is good to people who are That is why love of the Tao
good. is in the very nature of things.
She is also good to people who aren't
good. 52
This is true goodness. She trusts In the beginning was the Tao.
people who are trustworthy. All things issue from it;
She also trusts people who aren't all things return to it. To find the
trustworthy. origin,
This is true trust. The Master's mind trace back the manifestations.
is like space. When you recognize the children
People don't understand her. and find the mother,
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you will be free of sorrow. If you know this is true?
close your mind in judgements By looking inside myself.
and traffic with desires,
your heart will be troubled. 55
If you keep your mind from judging He who is in harmony with the Tao
and aren't led by the senses, is like a newborn child.
your heart will find peace. Seeing into Its bones are soft, its muscles are
darkness is clarity. weak,
Knowing how to yield is strength. but its grip is powerful.
Use your own light It doesn't know about the union
and return to the source of light. of male and female,
This is called practicing eternity. yet its penis can stand erect,
so intense is its vital power.
53 It can scream its head off all day,
The great Way is easy, yet it never becomes hoarse,
yet people prefer the side paths. so complete is its harmony. The
Be aware when things are out of Master's power is like this.
balance. He lets all things come and go
Stay centered within the Tao. When effortlessly, without desire.
rich speculators prosper He never expects results;
While farmers lose their land; thus he is never disappointed.
when government officials spend He is never disappointed;
money thus his spirit never grows old.
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper class is extravagant 56
and irresponsible Those who know don't talk.
while the poor have nowhere to turn- Those who talk don't know. Close
all this is robbery and chaos. your mouth,
It is not in keeping with the Tao. block off your senses,
blunt your sharpness,
54 untie your knots,
Whoever is planted in the Tao soften your glare,
will not be rooted up. settle your dust.
Whoever embraces the Tao This is the primal identity. Be like the
will not slip away. Tao.
Her name will be held in honor It can't be approached or withdrawn
from generation to generation. Let from,
the Tao be present in your life benefited or harmed,
and you will become genuine. honored or brought into disgrace.
Let it be present in your family It gives itself up continually.
and your family will flourish. That is why it endures.
Let it be present in your country
and your country will be an example 57
to all countries in the world. If you want to be a great leader,
Let it be present in the universe you must learn to follow the Tao.
and the universe will sing. How do I Stop trying to control.
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Let go of fixed plans and concepts, moderation. The mark of a moderate
and the world will govern itself. The man
more prohibitions you have, is freedom from his own ideas.
the less virtuous people will be. Tolerant like the sky,
The more weapons you have, all-pervading like sunlight,
the less secure people will be. firm like a mountain,
The more subsidies you have, supple like a tree in the wind,
the less self-reliant people will be. he has no destination in view
Therefore the Master says: and makes use of anything
I let go of the law, life happens to bring his way. Nothing
and people become honest. is impossible for him.
I let go of economics, Because he has let go,
and people become prosperous. he can care for the people's welfare
I let go of religion, as a mother cares for her child.
and people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common 60
good, Governing a large country
and the good becomes common as is like frying a small fish.
grass. You spoil it with too much poking.
Center your country in the Tao
58 and evil will have no power.
If a country is governed with Not that it isn't there,
tolerance, but you'll be able to step out of its
the people are comfortable and way. Give evil nothing to oppose
honest. and it will disappear by itself.
If a country is governed with
repression, 61
the people are depressed and crafty. When a country obtains great power,
When the will to power is in charge, it becomes like the sea:
the higher the ideals, the lower the all streams run downward into it.
results. The more powerful it grows,
Try to make people happy, the greater the need for humility.
and you lay the groundwork for Humility means trusting the Tao,
misery. thus never needing to be defensive. A
Try to make people moral, great nation is like a great man:
and you lay the groundwork for vice. When he makes a mistake, he realizes
Thus the Master is content it.
to serve as an example Having realized it, he admits it.
and not to impose her will. Having admitted it, he corrects it.
She is pointed, but doesn't pierce. He considers those who point out his
Straightforward, but supple. faults
Radiant, but easy on the eyes. as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
59 as the shadow that he himself casts.
For governing a country well If a nation is centered in the Tao,
there is nothing better than if it nourishes its own people
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and doesn't meddle in the affairs of Prevent trouble before it arises.
others, Put things in order before they exist.
it will be a light to all nations in the The giant pine tree
world. grows from a tiny sprout.
The journey of a thousand miles
62 starts from beneath your feet.
The Tao is the center of the universe, Rushing into action, you fail.
the good man's treasure, Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
the bad man's refuge. Honors can be
bought with fine words, Forcing a project to completion,
respect can be won with good deeds; you ruin what was almost ripe.
but the Tao is beyond all value, Therefore the Master takes action
and no one can achieve it. Thus, when by letting things take their course.
a new leader is chosen, He remains as calm
don't offer to help him at the end as at the beginning.
with your wealth or your expertise. He has nothing,
Offer instead thus has nothing to lose.
to teach him about the Tao. Why did What he desires is non-desire;
the ancient Masters esteem the Tao? what he learns is to unlearn.
Because, being one with the Tao, He simply reminds people
when you seek, you find; of who they have always been.
and when you make a mistake, you He cares about nothing but the Tao.
are forgiven. Thus he can care for all things.
That is why everybody loves it.
65
63 The ancient Masters
Act without doing; didn't try to educate the people,
work without effort. but kindly taught them to not-know.
Think of the small as large When they think that they know the
and the few as many. answers,
Confront the difficult people are difficult to guide.
while it is still easy; When they know that they don't
accomplish the great task know,
by a series of small acts. The Master people can find their own way. If you
never reaches for the great; want to learn how to govern,
thus she achieves greatness. avoid being clever or rich.
When she runs into a difficulty, The simplest pattern is the clearest.
she stops and gives herself to it. Content with an ordinary life,
She doesn't cling to her own comfort; you can show all people the way
thus problems are no problem for her. back to their own true nature.
64 66
What is rooted is easy to nourish. All streams flow to the sea
What is recent is easy to correct. because it is lower than they are.
What is brittle is easy to break. Humility gives it its power. If you
What is small is easy to scatter. want to govern the people,
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you must place yourself below them. In this they are like children
If you want to lead the people, and in harmony with the Tao.
you must learn how to follow them.
The Master is above the people, 69
and no one feels oppressed. The generals have a saying:
She goes ahead of the people, "Rather than make the first move
and no one feels manipulated. it is better to wait and see.
The whole world is grateful to her. Rather than advance an inch
Because she competes with no one, it is better to retreat a yard." This is
no one can compete with her. called
going forward without advancing,
67 pushing back without using weapons.
Some say that my teaching is There is no greater misfortune
nonsense. than underestimating your enemy.
Others call it lofty but impractical. Underestimating your enemy
But to those who have looked inside means thinking that he is evil.
themselves, Thus you destroy your three treasures
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice, and become an enemy yourself. When
this loftiness has roots that go deep. I two great forces oppose each other,
have just three things to teach: the victory will go
simplicity, patience, compassion. to the one that knows how to yield.
These three are your greatest
treasures. 70
Simple in actions and in thoughts, My teachings are easy to understand
you return to the source of being. and easy to put into practice.
Patient with both friends and Yet your intellect will never grasp
enemies, them,
you accord with the way things are. and if you try to practice them, you'll
Compassionate toward yourself, fail. My teachings are older than the
you reconcile all beings in the world. world.
How can you grasp their meaning? If
68 you want to know me,
The best athlete look inside your heart.
wants his opponent at his best.
The best general 71
enters the mind of his enemy. Not-knowing is true knowledge.
The best businessman Presuming to know is a disease.
serves the communal good. First realize that you are sick;
The best leader then you can move toward health.
follows the will of the people. All of The Master is her own physician.
the embody She has healed herself of all knowing.
the virtue of non-competition.
Not that they don't love to compete, Thus she is truly whole.
but they do it in the spirit of play.