The TAO is shrouded in Mystery.
Three key words:
TOA - the Way
Teh - Virtue / Power
Wu Wei - non Interference
TAO is attributed to Lao Tzu who supposedly lived in China approximately 500 B. C. (or so).
Scholars disagree as to his existence or that he actually wrote down principles of TAO.
However, the simple story goes that because Lao Tzu prophesied the decay of the state,
he was forced to depart.
He went to the frontier where the guard,Yin-hi, stopped him.
It was told that Yin-hi requested Lao Tzu to write down his Wisdom so that Lao Tzu's words
would be remembered.
Lao Tzu complied writing a book comprising over 5,000 characters.
He left this book with the soldier.And.....left...
Cloud-Hidden and
Never.......
To be seen again.
*****************************************************************
From: Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei
Bhikshu Wai & Dwight Goddard
(a new translation)
2nd Edition - 1939
(edited by sections)
*****************************************************************
The TAO that can be "TAO-ED" can not
be the Infinite TAO
(that is, the Way that can be followed can NOT be
the Ultimate Pathless Way).
(From Section) 1
***
Whatever he (the Sage) produces, is not kept in his own possession;
whatever he does is not exhibited with pride;
whatever he accomplishes is not dwelt in self - conceit.
2
***
If the perfect Sage would have his people give up their rivalries,
he should not praise the competent ones.
3
***
So long as he (Sage) governs his people by the principle of Wu - Wei,
(non-assertion or non-compulsion)
things naturally arrange themselves into social order.
3
***
TAO is invisible but permeates Everywhere;
no matter how one uses It or how much,
It is never Exhausted.
4
***
The perfect Sage is also impartial:
he has no prejudice that would lead him to like this one and dislike that one;
he treats all men as being of equal value.
5
***
As rivers have their source in some far off fountain,
so the human spirit has its' source.
In this fountain of mystery, Spirit is eternally present in
Endless supply.
6
***
The perfect Sage, who puts his own interests behind him,
is always the leader of his people.
7
***
The highest virtue is like water:
It benefits Everything
without exciting rivalries.
8
***
Inasmuch as we are never seeking Pre-Eminence,
no one will hate us.
8
***
As soon as one has gained merit and fame,
he should withdraw into retirement.
This is the TAO of Heaven.
9
***
There are thirty spokes in a Wheel,
but
its utility lies in the Hole of the Hub.
11
***
A man in hunger desires food to satisfy his hunger and
is little concerned by its beauty and delicacy.
12
***
To be favored is humiliating
so
to attain it is as much to be dreaded as to lose it.
13
***
All things are in a recurring process of
appearing and disappearing
only to return to their original state.
The original state is Eternal.
16
***
When a ruler lacks faith in his people,
his people will lack faith in him.
17
***
When knowledge and learning are cultivated,
there is hypocrisy.
18
***
When a country is in confusion and discord,
ideals of loyalty and patriatism arise.
18
***
Let us restrain our sensual desires and egoism and return to simplicity and naturalness.
19
***
Abandon your acquired learning
and
do not regret the loss
20
***
When the Spirit is in an advanced state of Tranquility,
there will be
opened a fountain
of purest semen available for service
which by its' special signs
can be recognized
......intuitively.
21
***
As he (the Sage) has no predjudices,
he becomes enlightened;
As he
does not assert himself,
he
will become exalted;
As he
does not praise himself,
his merit will be recognized;
As he
is not proud of himself
his fame will endure;
Inasmuch
As he
does not seek supremacy,
he
will
have
no
rivals.
22
***
Good walkers need no guides.
27
***
His (Sage) insight detects hidden values.
27
***
When (Sage) forsakes humility,
he
merely becomes cultivated
and useful.
28
***
The empire is a spiritual thing
that cannot be remade after one's own ideas and
he
who attempts it will only make a failure.
He
who tries to hold it
will lose it.
29
***
By the nature of things, when the strength of anything is fully developed,
it immediately begins to decay.
30
***
Strength
is not
in accordance with the principle of TAO.
30
***
Being not in accordance with TAO,
it will soon pass away.
30
***
Both arms and armor are unblessed things.
31
***
...even when victorious,
a good soldier does not rejoice.
31
***
TAO
is eternal
but is unnamable.
32
***
TAO
is available everywhere.
34
***
TAO
does all
but
claims no ownership.
34
***
When looked at (Tao),
there is nothing to be prized;
when listened for,
It
can scarcely be heard;
but
its' satisfactions are inexhaustible.
35
***
Before one can take a thing by force,
someone must give it up.
This is the profound principle which explains why the humble and yeilding
conquer
the selfish and strong.
36
***
TAO
acts without assertion.
37
***
END PART 1
*******************************************************
PART 11
TEH
The Teh (power or virtue) of the perfect Sage
is not revealed intentionally.
38
***
The Teh of the perfect Sage does not interfere,
it cooperates with open and sympathetic mind
while
the Teh of inferiors acts with
intention and under conditions and is influenced by desires.
38
***
The superior man of affairs conforms to the spirit of Teh
and
not to its reduction into
codes of loyalty and righteousness.
He abides in the Reality of TAO and
not its shadow.
38
***
Unless nobles serve the interest of the common people,
they are no longer noble;
the high need the low for a foundation.
39
***
Heaven and earth and all things are manifestations of
existence,
but...existence itself comes from
Non-Existence.
40
***
It is to this potential Non-Existence that the mind should be directed.
40
***
The largest bell sounds rarely.
41
***
The TAO is unscrutable.
All things bear the imprint of the negative YIN behind
and
embrace the positive YANG in front.
42
***
The tenderest things of Creation prevail over the hardest.
43
***
The Sage works without
grasping
and therefore succeeds in whatever he undertakes.
47
***
It is therefore necessary:
If one is to keep control of his mind
to preserve its
Emptiness.
But...
as soon as one desires to control his mind,
he becomes incapable of doing so.
48
***
The perfect Sage has no preconceived opinions.
49
***
Life comes from TAO;
its nourishment from TEH;
its shape formed by materiality;
its accomplishments owing to energy.
51
***
Honor for TAO and esteem for TEH
is never by
compulsion,
it is always spontaneous.
51
***
To be humble and yielding is better than great strength.
52
***
When the royal palace is magnificent,
fields become devastated and granaries empty.
53
***
He who practices TAO for the whole world will benefit the whole world.
54
***
To know how to return to one's original is to be enlightened.
55
***
The wise keep silent;
a babbler is not wise.
56
***
Hide your sharpness,
free yourself from entanglements,
conceal your personality,
be socially minded and natural.
Thus...
to harmonize one's life with the life of others is the
TEH
of the profound
TAO.
56
***
The Perfect Sage.
No man can befriend such a man,
nor
can they enstrange him
nor
endanger him
nor
honor him
nor
despise him.
56
***
An empire is best administered by justice,
an army by craft,
and influence over people
if gained by
Non-interference.
57
***
The more people become selfish,
the more the state is in
disorder.
57
***
If an administration becomes complex and officious,
the people will become needy and turbulent.
58
***
Nothing surpasses the
TEH
of self-restraint.
59
***
TAO is an all-embracing mystery.
62
***
Nothing is more important than the dedication of the throne to TAO.
62
***
One should early learn to find sweetness in tasteless things;
to discover greatness in small things;
to be satisfied with few things.
63
***
It is wise to be prepared for difficulties
and to establish order before there is disorder.
64
***
A many storied pagoda is built by placing one brick upon another brick.
64
***
If he tries to grasp anything,
it slips away from him.
64
***
The perfect Sage learn to be
unlearned;
he turns away from that which others greedily seek.
64
***
************************
PART 111
wu - wei
To govern a people by craftiness
is a curse;
to govern them by the principle of
WU - WEI
is a blessing.
65
***
Because he does not seek to rival others,
others have no desire to rival him.
66
***
The world calls it the great
TAO,
but there is nothing with which to compare it.
67
***
He who excels as a soldier,
is the man who is not warlike.
68
***
He who best employs people keeps himself humble.
This is what is meant by the
TEH of non-rivalry.
It is the best way to bring out the good in others.
68
***
By making light of an enemy
many a kingdom has been lost.
69
***
The perfect Sage clothes himself in the cheap garments of poor people but keeps
TAO
like a gem hidden in his bosom.
70
***
To recognize one's ignorance of unknowable things is mental health
and to be ignorant of knowable things is sickness.
71
***
When people are too ignorant to fear the things that are really
fearful
(greed
illusion
self assertion)...
the greatest fear (of death) will soon overpower them.
72
***
The perfect Sage understands himself but never exhibits himself;
he cherishes but never overvalues himself.
72
***
The
TAO
of Heaven
never seeks supremacy,
yet
it is always Supreme.
73
***
TAO
issues no summons
yet
things come to it naturally.
73
***
The reason why people are difficult to govern
is because the ruler is thinking too much of his own interests.
75
***
Those who are ruthless in battle
do not gain the victory.
76
***
The perfect Sage is not sparing of his services
nor
does he look upon them as meritorious,
nor
does he make a display of them.
77
***
True words always seem
paradoxical
but no other form of teaching can take its place.
78
***
The perfect Sage is always willing to accept the
debit side of an account,
for then
he does not have to force payment from another.
79
***
Those who have
TEH
make unwritten contracts of
faith;
those who have no TEH
hold written contracts and hold them as
evidence.
79
***
Faithful words are often not
pleasant;
pleasant words are often not
faithful.
81
***
Well informed men do not dispute;
men who dispute are not well informed.
81
***
The wise man is not always learned;
the learned man is not always wise.
81
***
The
TAO
of HEAVEN
always
BENEFITS
and
harms
No
One.
81
THE END
be the Infinite TAO
(that is, the Way that can be followed can NOT be
the Ultimate Pathless Way).
(From Section) 1
***
Whatever he (the Sage) produces, is not kept in his own possession;
whatever he does is not exhibited with pride;
whatever he accomplishes is not dwelt in self - conceit.
2
***
If the perfect Sage would have his people give up their rivalries,
he should not praise the competent ones.
3
***
So long as he (Sage) governs his people by the principle of Wu - Wei,
(non-assertion or non-compulsion)
things naturally arrange themselves into social order.
3
***
TAO is invisible but permeates Everywhere;
no matter how one uses It or how much,
It is never Exhausted.
4
***
The perfect Sage is also impartial:
he has no prejudice that would lead him to like this one and dislike that one;
he treats all men as being of equal value.
5
***
As rivers have their source in some far off fountain,
so the human spirit has its' source.
In this fountain of mystery, Spirit is eternally present in
Endless supply.
6
***
The perfect Sage, who puts his own interests behind him,
is always the leader of his people.
7
***
The highest virtue is like water:
It benefits Everything
without exciting rivalries.
8
***
Inasmuch as we are never seeking Pre-Eminence,
no one will hate us.
8
***
As soon as one has gained merit and fame,
he should withdraw into retirement.
This is the TAO of Heaven.
9
***
There are thirty spokes in a Wheel,
but
its utility lies in the Hole of the Hub.
11
***
A man in hunger desires food to satisfy his hunger and
is little concerned by its beauty and delicacy.
12
***
To be favored is humiliating
so
to attain it is as much to be dreaded as to lose it.
13
***
All things are in a recurring process of
appearing and disappearing
only to return to their original state.
The original state is Eternal.
16
***
When a ruler lacks faith in his people,
his people will lack faith in him.
17
***
When knowledge and learning are cultivated,
there is hypocrisy.
18
***
When a country is in confusion and discord,
ideals of loyalty and patriatism arise.
18
***
Let us restrain our sensual desires and egoism and return to simplicity and naturalness.
19
***
Abandon your acquired learning
and
do not regret the loss
20
***
When the Spirit is in an advanced state of Tranquility,
there will be
opened a fountain
of purest semen available for service
which by its' special signs
can be recognized
......intuitively.
21
***
As he (the Sage) has no predjudices,
he becomes enlightened;
As he
does not assert himself,
he
will become exalted;
As he
does not praise himself,
his merit will be recognized;
As he
is not proud of himself
his fame will endure;
Inasmuch
As he
does not seek supremacy,
he
will
have
no
rivals.
22
***
Good walkers need no guides.
27
***
His (Sage) insight detects hidden values.
27
***
When (Sage) forsakes humility,
he
merely becomes cultivated
and useful.
28
***
The empire is a spiritual thing
that cannot be remade after one's own ideas and
he
who attempts it will only make a failure.
He
who tries to hold it
will lose it.
29
***
By the nature of things, when the strength of anything is fully developed,
it immediately begins to decay.
30
***
Strength
is not
in accordance with the principle of TAO.
30
***
Being not in accordance with TAO,
it will soon pass away.
30
***
Both arms and armor are unblessed things.
31
***
...even when victorious,
a good soldier does not rejoice.
31
***
TAO
is eternal
but is unnamable.
32
***
TAO
is available everywhere.
34
***
TAO
does all
but
claims no ownership.
34
***
When looked at (Tao),
there is nothing to be prized;
when listened for,
It
can scarcely be heard;
but
its' satisfactions are inexhaustible.
35
***
Before one can take a thing by force,
someone must give it up.
This is the profound principle which explains why the humble and yeilding
conquer
the selfish and strong.
36
***
TAO
acts without assertion.
37
***
END PART 1
*******************************************************
PART 11
TEH
The Teh (power or virtue) of the perfect Sage
is not revealed intentionally.
38
***
The Teh of the perfect Sage does not interfere,
it cooperates with open and sympathetic mind
while
the Teh of inferiors acts with
intention and under conditions and is influenced by desires.
38
***
The superior man of affairs conforms to the spirit of Teh
and
not to its reduction into
codes of loyalty and righteousness.
He abides in the Reality of TAO and
not its shadow.
38
***
Unless nobles serve the interest of the common people,
they are no longer noble;
the high need the low for a foundation.
39
***
Heaven and earth and all things are manifestations of
existence,
but...existence itself comes from
Non-Existence.
40
***
It is to this potential Non-Existence that the mind should be directed.
40
***
The largest bell sounds rarely.
41
***
The TAO is unscrutable.
All things bear the imprint of the negative YIN behind
and
embrace the positive YANG in front.
42
***
The tenderest things of Creation prevail over the hardest.
***
The Sage works without
grasping
and therefore succeeds in whatever he undertakes.
47
***
It is therefore necessary:
If one is to keep control of his mind
to preserve its
Emptiness.
But...
as soon as one desires to control his mind,
he becomes incapable of doing so.
48
***
The perfect Sage has no preconceived opinions.
49
***
Life comes from TAO;
its nourishment from TEH;
its shape formed by materiality;
its accomplishments owing to energy.
51
***
Honor for TAO and esteem for TEH
is never by
compulsion,
it is always spontaneous.
51
***
To be humble and yielding is better than great strength.
52
***
When the royal palace is magnificent,
fields become devastated and granaries empty.
53
***
He who practices TAO for the whole world will benefit the whole world.
54
***
To know how to return to one's original is to be enlightened.
55
***
The wise keep silent;
a babbler is not wise.
56
***
Hide your sharpness,
free yourself from entanglements,
conceal your personality,
be socially minded and natural.
Thus...
to harmonize one's life with the life of others is the
TEH
of the profound
TAO.
56
***
The Perfect Sage.
No man can befriend such a man,
nor
can they enstrange him
nor
endanger him
nor
honor him
nor
despise him.
56
***
An empire is best administered by justice,
an army by craft,
and influence over people
if gained by
Non-interference.
57
***
The more people become selfish,
the more the state is in
disorder.
57
***
If an administration becomes complex and officious,
the people will become needy and turbulent.
58
***
Nothing surpasses the
TEH
of self-restraint.
59
***
TAO is an all-embracing mystery.
62
***
Nothing is more important than the dedication of the throne to TAO.
62
***
One should early learn to find sweetness in tasteless things;
to discover greatness in small things;
to be satisfied with few things.
63
***
It is wise to be prepared for difficulties
and to establish order before there is disorder.
64
***
A many storied pagoda is built by placing one brick upon another brick.
64
***
If he tries to grasp anything,
it slips away from him.
64
***
The perfect Sage learn to be
unlearned;
he turns away from that which others greedily seek.
64
***
************************
PART 111
wu - wei
To govern a people by craftiness
is a curse;
to govern them by the principle of
WU - WEI
is a blessing.
65
***
Because he does not seek to rival others,
others have no desire to rival him.
66
***
The world calls it the great
TAO,
but there is nothing with which to compare it.
67
***
He who excels as a soldier,
is the man who is not warlike.
68
***
He who best employs people keeps himself humble.
This is what is meant by the
TEH of non-rivalry.
It is the best way to bring out the good in others.
68
***
By making light of an enemy
many a kingdom has been lost.
69
***
The perfect Sage clothes himself in the cheap garments of poor people but keeps
TAO
like a gem hidden in his bosom.
70
***
To recognize one's ignorance of unknowable things is mental health
and to be ignorant of knowable things is sickness.
71
***
When people are too ignorant to fear the things that are really
fearful
(greed
illusion
self assertion)...
the greatest fear (of death) will soon overpower them.
72
***
The perfect Sage understands himself but never exhibits himself;
he cherishes but never overvalues himself.
72
***
The
TAO
of Heaven
never seeks supremacy,
yet
it is always Supreme.
73
***
TAO
issues no summons
yet
things come to it naturally.
73
***
The reason why people are difficult to govern
is because the ruler is thinking too much of his own interests.
75
***
Those who are ruthless in battle
do not gain the victory.
76
***
The perfect Sage is not sparing of his services
nor
does he look upon them as meritorious,
nor
does he make a display of them.
77
***
True words always seem
paradoxical
but no other form of teaching can take its place.
78
***
The perfect Sage is always willing to accept the
debit side of an account,
for then
he does not have to force payment from another.
79
***
Those who have
TEH
make unwritten contracts of
faith;
those who have no TEH
hold written contracts and hold them as
evidence.
79
***
Faithful words are often not
pleasant;
pleasant words are often not
faithful.
81
***
Well informed men do not dispute;
men who dispute are not well informed.
81
***
The wise man is not always learned;
the learned man is not always wise.
81
***
The
TAO
of HEAVEN
always
BENEFITS
and
harms
No
One.
81
THE END
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