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51: Nourishing Attitude
Tao produces all things, Wisdom the Mother rears them. Matter shapes them, the environment perfects them.
This is the way of created beings. All recognise the Tao and honour the Mother, not by command but by free will.
The master knows that all things are produced by the Tao, that the Mother raises and nurtures it, that matter shapes it, that the environment perfects it, that no claim of ownership is made over it.
To act but not to presume on the result, to lead but not manipulate; this is the mystic’s virtue.103
52: Return to the Origin
Every being in the universe is an expression of the Mother.104, 105 One can know about the Mother by studying her children. Knowing the Mother, cling to her closely and you will survive the disappearance of the body.106
Stop up the opening of the vessel, shut the doors, and you will be steady all your life.
Open up the vessel and fulfill your carnal desires, and you will be beyond salvation all your life.
To see the cosmos in the molecule is called good vision. To be able to remain docile in chaos is called supreme power. How is this? Use the Light, draw it inward. Cause no injury.
This is what I call ‘Abiding in the Immutable”107
53: Their moves are known
My only fear may be that I stray from the Way. The Way is easy and broad, yet people prefer the side paths.108 To remain on the Way I stay centred within the Tao, taking caution not to stray to extremes, not to do, and to flow with It.
When rich speculators prosper while farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn - all this robbery brings along with it other robberies. It is not in keeping with the Tao.109
54: Correcting Views
Whoever is practised in being established in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever is adept in embracing the Tao will tire and lose their grip. Such a master will be held in honour from generation to generation.
Let the Tao be present in your life and you will become genuine. Let it be present in your family and your family will flourish. Let it be present in your people and your people will be an example to all people in the world. Let it be present in the universe and the universe will sing.
Therefore by cultivating Tao in oneself one benefits a family, which benefits a village, which benefits a nation, which benefits the universes.
How do I know this is true? By looking at the pattern of the Tao inside.110
55: The Mystic Charm
He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn child. It seems protected. Insects and animals and atrocities miraculously inflict almost no harm to it. Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is powerful.
It does not know about sexual union, or about male and female, yet its penis can stand powerfully erect, so intense is its vital power. It can scream all day, yet it never becomes hoarse, so complete is its harmony.
To be in harmony with the One brings about enlightenment, enlightenment ends decay because it brings breath control and healing.
The Master’s power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. Never expecting results; thus never disappointed, the master continuos day by day, the spirit not getting weary.111
Decay is contrary to the Tao. Whatever disregards Tao soon perishes.
56: Mystic Sense
Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.
Close your mouth, block off your senses,112 blunt your sharpness, untie your knotted loose ends, soften your glare, merge with the dust,114 harmonise with the Light. This is the mystic’s assimilation of primal identity.
Like the Tao; these masters are above holding some near and others far, they are above self gain and self impoverishment, and above being held high and being disgraced. Giving themselves up continually, they endure forever.
57: Attitude of Innocence
If you want to be a great leader let go of fixed plans and concepts, stop trying to control115, use justice and the world will govern itself.
How do I know this is true, by this:
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people will be.
Therefore the master says: I let go of the law116, and people become honest. I let go of economics, and people become prosperous. I love mysticism and let go of religion117, and people become serene. I let go of all desire118 for the common good, and the good becomes common as grass.
58: Transformation without Friction
When a government is run with tolerance, the people are simple and honest.119 When a government is critical and officious, the people are depressed and disgusted.
When the need for power is in charge, the higher the ideals, the lower the results. Try to make people happy, and you lay the groundwork for misery. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.
Thus the master is content to serve as an example and not to impose her will. Full of integrity but not offensive. She is squarely set but does not box people in. Straightforward, but supple. Radiant, but easy on the eyes.
59: Keeping within Tao
For governing a people and serving Heaven well there is nothing better than simplicity. Simplicity means early preparation.
Early preparation means early accumulation of virtue. Further accumulation of virtue leads to the power to subdue all things. The subtle power to subdue all things knows no end.
Going to all ends to subdue all things leads to acquisition of Kingdom. Possessing Kingdom along with the Mother endures forever.
This is called ‘deeply rooted and flourishing growth.’ This is the vision of eternal life.120
60: Remaining Centred
Ruling a large country is like frying a small fish.121
Approach the world in the Tao and evil will have no power.
Not that evil has no power, but its power will not harm people. And not that evil does not harm, but that its harm is made harmless.
The master causes no harm. Even the evil she does not harm. Flowing in the Tao, all power meets and is made into virtue.
61: Attitude of Humility
When a country obtains great power, it should embrace the power of the Female. It should take the low position, like the sea: all streams run downward into it.122 The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. The Female 123 takes the low position to subdue the Male.
Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation taking the low position therefore wins over the small ones.
Therefore the master remains low to remain in greatness.
62: Working the Tao
The Tao is the mysterious centre of the universes124, the good man’s treasure, the bad man’s refuge.
Honours can be bought with fine words and respect can be won with good deeds. But bad people cannot honour the Tao because to honour the Tao one has to become part of it, and this way is that which they discarded.
Thus, when a new leader is elected do not offer your wealth and praises; instead offer to teach him to sit and advance in Tao.
Why did the ancient Masters esteem the Tao? Because, being one with the Tao, when you seek, you find; and when you make a mistake you are forgiven. That is why everybody loves it.125
63: Service
Cause action without doing126; act without effort127. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Repay evil with goodness.128
Confront difficult tasks while they are still easy. Accomplish great task by a series of small ones.129
The master never reaches for great tasks; thus she achieves greatness.130
Neglected duties are bound to cause difficulties. That is why the master never thinks of anything as easy, and gives herself totally to the small tasks and duties - acting without effort, causing without doing, and not desiring the fruits of actions.
64: Attend to the Origin
What is rooted is easy to nourish.
What is has not yet happened, or only recently begun is easy to correct.
What is brittle is easy to break.
What is small is easily to scattered.
Prevent trouble before it arises. Put things in order before disorder arises. The giant tree grows from a tiny sprout. A nine storey building begins with a wheelbarrow of sand. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.131
Severe action brings failure. Grasping at things is a sure way to lose it.132 Forcing a project to completion, you ruin what was almost ripe.
Therefore the master takes action by letting things take their course.133 He remains as calm at the end as at the beginning. He has nothing, thus has nothing to lose. What he desires is non-desire and is not desirable to others.134 What he learns is to unlearn. He assists with the natural flow of things, picking up where other failed to do their duty, but never interfering with the flow. He cares about nothing but the Tao. Thus he can care for all things.135
65: Attitude of Innocence
The ancient Masters did not try to increase knowledge in the people but taught them to know that they do not know.136
When people think that they know answers, they become difficult to govern. Therefore when a ruler instills cleverness and rules by knowledge the country fails. A ruler who rules by virtue is a blessing to the people.
He who abides by these rules sets the standard of mystic virtue, which beings instinctively follow. Mystic virtue leads creatures to know their source.137
When beings have knowledge of their source, then the Great Harmony emerges.138
66: Cycle of Humility
Rivers and seas are the superior valleys because of their skill at remaining low. Humility gives it its power.139
The master governing the people speaks as if she is inferior to them and see herself below them. She leads by following behind.140
The master in a high position does not leave anyone feeling manipulated or oppressed. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.141
67: Thrice Coated Pearl
People say I am great but odd. It is the oddity which is the reason for the greatness.
If my teaching was ordinary it would long ago have failed, falling into pettiness.
I teach three treasures which you may keep close by.
The first is compassion.
The second is humility.142
The third is simplicity.143
Compassionate, a person can be courageous.
Simple, a person can be open to all visions.
Humble, a person can develop leadership.
Nowadays people are different to this teaching, that is why they are doomed by their own hand.
Compassion is unconquered in offence and cannot be improved upon in the skill of defence. When heaven bestows grace to prevent a person from harm, she grants him compassion as protection.
68: Harmony with Heaven
The best soldier is not warlike. The best fighter is not driven by anger. The best conqueror wins without confrontation. The best leader is humble.
This is called the wisdom of non-contention144, the use of the other’s strength. It is also called harmony with the Will of heaven. Just like the masters of old.
69: Mystic Attitude
The generals have a saying: “I would rather be humble as a guest than assertive as a host. Rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a foot.”
This is called going forward without movement; attacking without a show of hostility; pushing back as if without weapons.
There is no greater misfortune than belittling your enemy. Belittling makes one lose the three treasures, and you become your own enemy.145
When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will go to the one that laments war and knows how to yield.146
70: Difficult to Know
My teaching is easy to understand and easy to put into practice.147 Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you will fail.148
My teachings have a most ancient source, and people are ignorant of that. How can they grasp the meaning?
If you want to know, look toward the most ancient source inside you heart.149 That, inside of you, can grasp my teaching and the practice of it flows from that.
When those who understand my teaching are few, then it is a rare treasure. For this reason the master wears an unpretentious gown, to hide the jewel by his breast.
71: Knowing the Disease
Not-knowing is true knowledge.150 Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health.
The master is her own physician. She has healed herself of all knowing. Thus she is truly healed.
72: Self Respect
When people lose their fear of authority, then they have gained great power.
Broaden people’s vision and they will be in awe. When people lose their sense of awe, they turn to religion.
Therefore the master steps back so that people are not confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.
When people no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority.
The master trusts himself, and has self-respect, because his self is in the Tao.151
73: Flowing Action
Courage to fight leads to slaughter. Courage not to fight leads to life.
The Tao is in equanimity. It overcomes without competing, answers without speaking a word, arrives without being summoned, accomplishes without a plan.
Its net covers the whole universe. Its meshes are wide but nothing is lost.
The master eases the flow of Tao in those who resist, and conquers without slaughter, accomplishes without action.
74: Delusion of Permanence
When people are not afraid of death, how can you threaten them with it?
If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you can not achieve.152
Should the people want to kill the perverted, taking the responsibility of the Director of Death in their own hands? This would be like taking the master carpenter’s place. When you handle the master carpenter’s tools chances are you’ll cut your hand.153
75: The Cycle of Greed
When taxes are too high, people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit.
When people are obsessed with high living they lose perspective of suffering.
Those who have nothing to look to make life pleasurable are more worthy than those who value high living.
76: Abstain from Hardness
Humans are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Herbs and trees are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.
Therefore armies that have become rigid, will fail.154 Trees having become hard and stiff will be broken. The large and rigid will be laid low.155 The soft and supple will be lifted up.156
77: The Way of Heaven
The action of Tao in the world is like the bending of a bow. The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up. It adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance. It takes from what is too much and give to what isn’t enough. The low is pulled up as the high is pulled down.157 This is the way of heaven.158
Those who try to interfere with the way of heaven want to control. They take from those who do not have enough and give to those who have far too much. They use force to protect their power – they go against the flow of the Tao.
Who uses her surplus to serve the world is the master possessed of Tao.159 The master can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth. She acts without expectation, succeeds without taking credit 160, and this shows that she dislikes showing her worth.
78: Attitude of Faith
Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for attacking the hard and inflexible, nothing does a better job.
The soft overcomes the hard161; the gentle overcomes the rigid 162. Everyone know this is true, but few can put it into practice.
The masters say: ‘One who can take the blame for the country’s infamy can be the king of the country. One who can take the blame for the country’s misfortunes can be king of the world.’163
True words seem paradoxical.
79: Observance of Obligations
When enemies are reconciled some resentment always remain.
Therefore the master makes good on her part of the deal and does not expect anything from others.
The good keep their promise. The not good cannot keep a promise.
Heaven does not choose sides, it is always with the good.164
80: Independence
Better are small communities, in size and population. Although they have equipment and things in abundance few are in use. They have love of life, content where they are and even though they have boats and carriages they hardly use them. Even though they have access to weapons and machines of war they have no need to show them off.
Let the people return to simplicity, working with their hands. Joy they will find in their food again, beauty in their simple clothing, peace in their life style, fulfilment in their cultures.
Living in sight of their neighbour states, their dogs and roosters heard by one another - the people are content to grow old and die not desiring to mingle with people from other states.
81: Expressing the essence
True words do not sound sweet, sweet words are not truthful.165
Good people do not argue, those who argue lack goodness.
Masters of truth are not vast in learning, people with vast learning are not masters.166
The master does not hoard, the more he serves the more he gains, the more he gives to the people, the more he possesses.
The Way of Heaven is to nourish, not to harm.
The way of the master is to work at his duty, not to compete.167
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Ref: http://wayist.org/eb/index.htm
