The Tao Te Ching

Originally written by Lao Tzu circa 500 years B.C.

1. THE EMBODIMENT OF TAO

Even the finest teaching is not the Tao itself.

Even the finest name is insufficient to define it.

Without words, the Tao can be experienced,

and without a name, it can be known.

To conduct one's life according to the Tao,

is to conduct one's life without regrets;

to realize that potential within oneself

which is of benefit to all.

Though words or names are not required

to live one's life this way,

to describe it, words and names are used,

that we might better clarify

the way of which we speak,

without confusing it with other ways

in which an individual might choose to live.

Through knowledge, intellectual thought and words,

the manifestations of the Tao are known,

but without such intellectual intent

we might experience the Tao itself.

Both knowledge and experience are real,

but reality has many forms,

which seem to cause complexity.

By using the means appropriate,

we extend ourselves beyond

the barriers of such complexity,

and so experience the Tao.

2. LETTING GO OF COMPARISONS

We cannot know the Tao itself,

nor see its qualities direct,

but only see by differentiation,

that which it manifests.

Thus, that which is seen as beautiful

is beautiful compared with that

which is seen as lacking beauty;

an action considered skilled

is so considered in comparison

with another, which seems unskilled.

That which a person knows he has

is known to him by that which he does not have,

and that which he considers difficult

seems so because of that which he can do with ease.

One thing seems long by comparison with that

which is, comparatively, short.

One thing is high because another thing is low;

only when sound ceases is quietness known,

and that which leads

is seen to lead only by being followed.

In comparison, the sage,

in harmony with the Tao,

needs no comparisons,

and when he makes them, knows

that comparisons are judgements,

and just as relative to he who makes them,

and to the situation,

as they are to that on which

the judgement has been made.

Through his experience,

the sage becomes aware that all things change,

and that he who seems to lead,

might also, in another situation, follow.

So he does nothing; he neither leads nor follows.

That which he does is neither big nor small;

without intent, it is neither difficult,

nor done with ease.

His task completed, he then lets go of it;

seeking no credit, he cannot be discredited.

Thus, his teaching lasts for ever,

and he is held in high esteem.

3. WITHOUT SEEKING ACCLAIM

By retaining his humility,

the talented person who is also wise,

reduces rivalry.

The person who possesses many things,

but does not boast of his possessions,

reduces temptation, and reduces stealing.

Those who are jealous of the skills or things

possessed by others,

most easily themselves become possessed by envy.

Satisfied with his possessions,

the sage eliminates the need to steal;

at one with the Tao,

he remains free of envy,

and has no need of titles.

By being supple, he retains his energy.

He minimizes his desires,

and does not train himself in guile,

nor subtle words of praise.

By not contriving, he retains

the harmony of his inner world,

and so remains at peace within himself.

It is for reasons such as these,

that an administration

which is concerned

with the welfare of those it serves,

does not encourage status

and titles to be sought,

nor encourage rivalry.

Ensuring a sufficiency for all,

helps in reducing discontent.

Administrators who are wise

do not seek honours for themselves,

nor act with guile

towards the ones they serve.

4. THE UNFATHOMABLE TAO

It is the nature of the Tao,

that even though used continuously,

it is replenished naturally,

never being emptied,

and never being over-filled,

as is a goblet

which spills its contents

upon the ground.

The Tao therefore cannot be said

to waste its charge,

but constantly remains

a source of nourishment

for those who are not so full of self

as to be unable to partake of it.

When tempered beyond its natural state,

the finest blade will lose its edge.

Even the hardest tempered sword,

against water, is of no avail,

and will shatter if struck against a rock.

When untangled by a cutting edge,

the cord in little pieces lies,

and is of little use.

Just as the finest swordsmith

tempers the finest blade

with his experience,

so the sage, with wisdom, tempers intellect.

With patience, tangled cord may be undone,

and problems which seem insoluble, resolved.

With wise administrators, all can exist in unity,

each with the other,

because no man need feel that he exists,

only as the shadow of his brilliant brother.

Through conduct not contrived for gain,

awareness of the Tao may be maintained.

This is how its mysteries may be found.

5. WITHOUT INTENTION

Nature acts without intent,

so cannot be described

as acting with benevolence,

nor malevolence to any thing.

In this respect, the Tao is just the same,

though in reality it should be said

that nature follows the rule of Tao.

Therefore, even when he seems to act

in manner kind or benevolent,

the sage is not acting with such intent,

for in conscious matters such as these,

he is amoral and indifferent.

The sage retains tranquility,

and is not by speech or thought disturbed,

and even less by action which is contrived.

His actions are spontaneous,

as are his deeds towards his fellow men.

By this means he is empty of desire,

and his energy is not drained from him.

6. COMPLETION

Like the sheltered, fertile valley,

the meditative mind is still,

yet retains its energy.

Since both energy and stillness,

of themselves, do not have form,

it is not through the senses

that they may be found,

nor understood by intellect alone,

although, in nature, both abound.

In the meditative state,

the mind ceases to differentiate

between existences,

and that which may or may not be.

It leaves them well alone,

for they exist,

not differentiated, but as one,

within the meditative mind.

7. SHEATHING THE LIGHT

When living by the Tao,

awareness of self is not required,

for in this way of life, the self exists,

and is also non-existent,

being conceived of, not as an existentiality,

nor as non-existent.

The sage does not contrive to find his self,

for he knows that all which may be found of it,

is that which it manifests to sense and thought,

which side by side with self itself, is nought.

It is by sheathing intellect's bright light

that the sage remains at one with his own self,

ceasing to be aware of it, by placing it behind.

Detached, he is unified with his external world,

by being selfless he is fulfilled;

thus his selfhood is assured.

8. THE WAY OF WATER

Great good is said to be like water,

sustaining life with no conscious striving,

flowing naturally, providing nourishment,

found even in places

which desiring man rejects.

In this way

it is like the Tao itself.

Like water, the sage abides in a humble place;

in meditation, without desire;

in thoughtfulness, he is profound,

and in his dealings, kind.

In speech, sincerity guides the man of Tao,

and as a leader, he is just.

In management, competence is his aim,

and he ensures the pacing is correct.

Because he does not act for his own ends,

nor cause unnecessary conflict,

he is held to be correct

in his actions towards his fellow man.

9. WITHOUT EXTREMES

The cup is easier to hold

when not filled to overflowing.

The blade is more effective

if not tempered beyond its mettle.

Gold and jade are easier to protect

if possessed in moderation.

He who seeks titles,

invites his own downfall.

The sage works quietly,

seeking neither praise nor fame;

completing what he does with natural ease,

and then retiring.

This is the way and nature of Tao.

10. CLEANING THE DARK MIRROR

Maintaining unity is virtuous,

for the inner world of thought is one

with the external world

of action and of things.

The sage avoids their separation,

by breathing as the sleeping babe,

and thus maintaining harmony.

He cleans the dark mirror of his mind,

so that it reflects without intent.

He conducts himself without contriving,

loving the people, and not interfering.

He cultivates without possessing,

thus providing nourishment,

he remains receptive

to changing needs,

and creates without desire.

By leading from behind,

attending to that

which must be done,

he is said to have attained

the mystic state.

11. THE UTILITY OF NON-EXISTENCE

Though thirty spokes may form the wheel,

it is the hole within the hub

which gives the wheel utility.

It is not the clay the potter throws,

which gives the pot its usefulness,

but the space within the shape,

from which the pot is made.

Without a door, the room cannot be entered,

and without windows it is dark.

Such is the utility of non-existence.

12. THE REPRESSION OF DESIRES

Through sight, the colours may be seen,

but too much colour blinds us.

Apprehending the tones of sound,

too much sound might make us deaf,

and too much flavour deadens taste.

When hunting for sport, and chasing for pleasure,

the mind easily becomes perplexed.

He who collects treasures for himself

more easily becomes anxious.

The wise person fulfills his needs,

rather than sensory temptations.

13. UNMOVED AND UNMOVING

The ordinary man seeks honour, not dishonour,

cherishing success and abominating failure,

loving life, whilst fearing death.

The sage does not recognise these things,

so lives his life quite simply.

The ordinary man seeks to make himself

the centre of his universe;

the universe of the sage is at his centre.

He loves the world, and thus remains unmoved

by things with which others are concerned.

He acts with humility, is neither moved nor moving,

and can therefore be trusted in caring for all things.

14. EXPERIENCING THE MYSTERY

The Tao is abstract,

and therefore has no form,

it is neither bright in rising,

nor dark in sinking,

cannot be grasped, and makes no sound.

Without form or image, without existence,

the form of the formless, is beyond defining,

cannot be described,

and is beyond our understanding.

It cannot be called by any name.

Standing before it, it has no beginning;

even when followed, it has no end.

In the now, it exists; to the present apply it,

follow it well, and reach its beginning.

15. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE TAO IN MAN

The sage of old was profound and wise;

like a man at a ford, he took great care,

alert, perceptive and aware.

Desiring nothing for himself,

and having no desire

for change for its own sake,

his actions were difficult to understand.

Being watchful, he had no fear of danger;

being responsive, he had no need of fear.

He was courteous like a visiting guest,

and as yielding as the springtime ice.

Having no desires, he was untouched by craving.

Receptive and mysterious,

his knowledge was unfathomable,

causing others to think him hesitant.

Pure in heart, like uncut jade,

he cleared the muddy water

by leaving it alone.

By remaining calm and active,

the need for renewing is reduced.

16. RETURNING TO THE ROOT

It is only by means of being

that non-being may be found.

When society changes

from its natural state of flux,

to that which seems like chaos,

the inner world of the superior man

remains uncluttered and at peace.

By remaining still, his self detatched,

he aids society in its return

to the way of nature and of peace.

The value of his insight may be clearly seen

when chaos ceases.

Being one with the Tao is to be at peace,

and to be in conflict with it,

leads to chaos and dysfunction.

When the consistency of the Tao is known,

the mind is receptive to its states of change.

It is by being at one with the Tao,

that the sage holds no prejudice

against his fellow man.

If accepted as a leader of men,

he is held in high esteem.

Throughout his life,

both being and non-being,

the Tao protects him.

17. LEADERSHIP BY EXCEPTION

Man cannot comprehend the infinite;

only knowing that the best exists,

the second best is seen and praised,

and the next, despised and feared.

The sage does not expect that others

use his criteria as their own.

The existence of the leader who is wise

is barely known to those he leads.

He acts without unnecessary speech,

so that the people say,

"It happened of its own accord".

18. THE DECAY OF ETHICS

When the way of the Tao is forgotten,

kindness and ethics need to be taught;

men learn to pretend to be wise and good.

All too often in the lives of men,

filial piety and devotion

arise only after conflict and strife,

just as loyal ministers all too often appear,

when the people are suppressed.

19. RETURNING TO NATURALNESS

It is better merely to live one's life,

realizing one's potential,

rather than wishing

for sanctification.

He who lives in filial piety and love

has no need of ethical teaching.

When cunning and profit are renounced,

stealing and fraud will disappear.

But ethics and kindness, and even wisdom,

are insufficient in themselves.

Better by far to see the simplicity

of raw silk's beauty

and the uncarved block;

to be one with onself,

and with one's brother.

It is better by far

to be one with the Tao,

developing selflessness,

tempering desire,

removing the wish,

but being compassionate.

20. BEING DIFFERENT FROM ORDINARY MEN

The sage is often envied

because others do not know

that although he is nourished by the Tao,

like them, he too is mortal.

He who seeks wisdom is well advised

to give up academic ways,

and put an end to striving.

Then he will learn that yes and no

are distinguished only by distinction.

It is to the advantage of the sage

that he does not fear what others fear,