Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Tao (The Way) that can be spoken of is not the Constant Tao The name
that can be named is not a Constant Name. Nameless, is the origin of
Heaven and Earth;
The named is the Mother of all things.
Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence. The
constant being enables one to see the outward manifestations. These
two come paired from the same origin.
But when the essence is manifested,
It has a different name.
This same origin is called The Profound Mystery.
As profound the mystery as It can be,
It is the Gate to the essence of all life.
Chapter Two
As soon as beauty is known by the world as beautiful, it becomes ugly.
As soon as virtue is being known as something good, it becomes evil.
Therefore being and non-being give birth to each other.
Difficult and easy accomplish each other.
Long and short form each other.
High and low distinguish each other.
Sound and tone harmonize each other
Before and after follow each other as a sequence.
Realizing this, the saint performs effortlessly according to the
natural Way without personal desire, and practices the wordless
teaching thru ones deeds.
The saint inspires the vitality of all lives, without holding back.
He nurtures all beings with no wish to take possession of.
He devotes all his energy but has no intention to hold on to the
merit.
When success is achieved, he seeks no recognition.
Because he does not claim for the credit, hence shall not lose it.
Chapter Three
By not adoring the worthy, people will not fall into dispute.
By not valuing the hard to get objects, people will not become
robbers.
By not seeing the desires of lust, ones heart will not be confused.
Therefore the governing of the saint is to empty ones mind,
substantiate ones virtue, weaken ones worldly ambition and
strengthen ones essence.
He lets the people to be innocent of worldly knowledge and desire, and
keeps the clever ones from making trouble with their wits.
Acts naturally without desire, then everything will be accomplished in
its natural order.
Chapter Four
Tao (The Way) can be infused into the nature and put to use without
being exhausted. It is so deep and subtle like an abyss that is the
origin of all things.
It is complete and perfect as a wholeness that can
Round off sharp edges; Resolve confusion;
knife.
The sharper it gets, the easier it is to break.
Wealth and treasures are but illusions that one cannot possess.
Those who are arrogant of their wealth and fame shall invite blame
upon oneself.
The nature Tao teaches one to retreat after ones success and not to
hold on to the credit.
Chapter Ten
Can one unite the body and the spirit as one and embrace the Oneness
without departing from the great Tao?
Can one achieve harmony with such gentleness by holding on to the true
spirit within as if the innocence of an infant?
Can one free oneself from worldly knowledge and cleanse ones mind, so
that no faults shall be made?
Can a ruler love his people by governing with the natural Way without
personal intention?
Can the mystic gate to all life essence be opened or closed without
the virtue of the mysterious nature?
Can one gain the insight of nature and become a wise person without
the effort of action? The mysterious nature creates and nurtures all
things without the desire to possess them. It performs with all
efforts without claiming for credit.
It flourishes all beings without the intention to take control of.
Such is the Mystic Te or Mystic Virtue.
Chapter Eleven
Thirty spokes unite around one hub to make a wheel.
It is the presence of the empty space that gives the function of a
vehicle.
Clay is molded into a vessel. It is the empty space that gives the
function of a vessel. Doors and windows are chisel out to make a room.
It is the empty space in the room that gives its function.
Therefore, something substantial can be beneficial.
While the emptiness of void is what can be utilized.
Chapter Twelve
The five colors can blind ones eyes.
The five tones can deafen ones ears.
The five flavors can dull ones taste buds.
The pursuit of pleasures can derange ones mind.
The hard-to-get valuables can distort ones behavior.
Therefore, a saint cultivates himself with virtues and does not
indulge himself in sensory pleasures.
He rejects those outer temptations and chooses this True Nature.
Chapter Thirteen
Honor and disgrace can surprise a person.
The greatest distress lies in ones physical body.
What does it men by Honor and disgrace can surprise someone?
Honor is inferior, because one who wins the favor is afraid of losing
it.
And one who loses the favor is frightened with distress.
This is the significance of Honor and disgrace can surprise someone.
sorrow.
How much is the difference between a respectful response and an angry
response?
How great is the difference between good and evil?
What people naturally fear, one should also fear.
Ones endless desire can result in negligence of the true nature of
life.
People like to pursue after excitement as if they were ascending the
terrace in spring and celebrate a sacrificial feast.
But I alone remain quiet and calm like an infant who is pure and
innocent.
And I alone appeared to be lost like one who has nowhere to go.
All people have a surplus, but I alone was simple and left out like a
fool.
People seemed bright and shrewd, while I seemed dull.
People like to dispute, while I alone remain quiet.
I am calm and peaceful like the boundless ocean.
I am open-hearted and free like the wind blowing high above the sky
without hindrance. Everyone thinks of themselves as capable and
outstanding while I appeared unlearned.
I am the only one to be different from others for I value highly the
Great Tao and joyfully act accordingly.
Chapter Twenty-one
A man of great virtue is one who follows the nature way of Tao. This
Tao is vague and intangible.
Yet, in the vague and void, there is image, there is substance. Within
the profound intangible, there is essence;
This essence is genuine.
In It lies the great faith.
Since the beginning of the world, Tao has been in existence. Only
through It that one can understand the origin of all beings. How do I
know that this is the true essence?
It is through this natural Way.
Chapter Twenty-two
To yield is to preserve the whole.
To be misjudged is to be straightened.
To be hollow is to be filled.
To be battered is to be renewed.
To be in need is to possess.
To be abundant is to be confused.
Therefore, the saint embraces the Oneness as a standard for the
world. The wise one is not prejudiced, hence he is enlightened.
The wise one is not self-opinioned, hence he is outstanding.
The wise one does not boast of himself, hence he shall receive the
credit.
The wise one does not praise his own deeds, hence can long endure.
Because the wise one does not conflict with others and therefore the
world cannot contend against him.
It is not true as the ancients say, To yield is to preserve the
whole?
Chapter Twenty-six
The heavy is the fundamental of the light. Tranquility is the master
of agitation.
Therefore, the saint always conducts himself with the essence of Tao
and never departs from It. Although he is surrounded by the splendor
of wealth, he remains to live a simple and ordinary life.
How can a ruler govern a nation without recklessness if he indulges in
power and desire?
He who acts recklessly shall lose the essence of Tao.
He who is agitated with lust and desires shall lose his true nature.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Good deeds leave no signs.
Good words leave no flaws.
Good scheme needs no deliberate plans.
A good lock uses no bolts, yet it cannot be opened.
A good knot uses no rope, yet it cannot be united.
Hence, a saint is always kind by saving other people and rejects no
one.
He is always kind by saving all things and therefore nothing is being
rejected.
This is the true enlightenment.
Thus, a kind person is the teacher of the unkind.
An unkind person is a lesson for the kind to learn.
He who does not value his teacher and dislikes the valuable lesson,
although knowledgeable, is in fact greatly confused.
This is the fundamental essence.
Chapter Twenty-eight
To know the strong masculine principle, yet abide by the gentle female
principle is like being the valley of the world where all rivers will
flow into.
This is alike all virtue which will merge into the subtle Tao.
Being a valley of the world and not depart from the true nature, once
can return to original pureness like an infant.
When one knows the white that is splendor, yet holds on to the black
that is humble and lowly. He can be a standard of the world.
Being a standard of the world and not deviate from true nature, one is
able to return to the void of Tao.
To know what is honor, yet abide by the dishonored, is like a valley
of the world which is modest and humble.
Being the valley of the world makes possible the true virtue to be
complete and sufficient. And hence can return to simplicity.
When the nature of simplicity is being manifested, it results into
various vessels. And by applying the pure simplicity, a saint can
master all things.
Hence, the Great Tao is a unified Oneness which cannot be separated
apart.
Chapter Twenty-nine
He who wishes to take control of the world and acts upon it, I can see
that he will not succeed.
For the world is a divine vessel,
For many lives had been killed and hence should be mourned with
sorrow.
Therefore, although a victory was won,
It is treated like funeral rite.
Chapter Thirty-two
The universal Tao has no name.
Although It appears in the plainest and may seem small,
It is inferior to nothing.
If the kings and marquises can abide by the Great Tao,
All beings shall act as guests and submit to them.
Heaven and earth will then be in harmony and shall descend sweet dew.
People will not require command and orders,
Yet can treat each other equally with peace.
When Tao is manifested, names were given for the purpose of
distinction.
But one must know how to attain the original pureness in order to
avoid danger and disaster. Tao exists in the universe like the rivers
and streams that lead to the ocean.
Chapter Thirty-three
One who knows other people is wise. One who knows himself is
enlightened. To overcome others is strong.
To overcome oneself is the will of power. One who is contented is
rich.
One who is determined has the strength of will.
Those who embrace their true nature shall long live.
He who is enlightened with the original nature,
Although dies physically, is eternally united with the everlasting
Tao.
Chapter Thirty-four
The great Tao is ever present.
It can adjust Itself to everything.
All things live by It, and It does not deny them.
When Its work is accomplished, It does not claim possession.
It gives great love to nurture all things and all lives, but dominates
not. The true void of Tao has no desires and may seem small.
Yet all things entrust their lives to It and It does not act as their
master. This may be recognized as the Great.
Because a saint does not restrict himself with the greatness,
Hence his greatness is accomplished.
Chapter Thirty-five
He who embraces the Great Tao shall be the guidance of the world.
By following him, the world will not be harmed and will be rendered
with peace and harmony. Pleasures and delicacy can only attract
passers-by to stay temporarily.
The teaching of Tao is plain without extraordinary appearances.
It can not be seen,
It can not be heard,
It can not be depleted or exhausted.
Chapter Thirty-six
It desire shall conceal true self,
True self will manifest itself even more. If desire shall weaken true
self,
True self will strengthen itself even more. If desire shall abandon
true self,
True self will prosperous even more.
If desire shall deprive true self,
True self will give even more.
This is known as the enlightened nature that is subtle yet profound.
Gentleness overcomes strength, and the meek overcomes the strong.
Just as fish live in deep water and cannot survive after being taken
out of the depths. And the powerful weapons of a country should not be
displayed,
Just like ones true nature cannot be revealed to be seen.
Chapter Thirty-seven
The everlasting Tao acts according to the natural Way.
Therefore there is nothing that It will not accomplish.
If kings and the nobilities can abide by their true nature and follow
the great Tao, All things shall be reformed naturally.
If during the process of reform, desires arouse.
I shall overcome with the simplicity of original nature.
With the simplicity of true nature, there shall be no desire.
Without desire, ones original nature will be at peace.
And the world will naturally be in accord with the right Way.
Chapter Thirty-eight
A man of superior virtue is not conscious of being virtuous, hence is
truly virtuous. A man of inferior virtue performs for the purpose of
virtue, hence he is not virtuous. A man of superior virtue acts
without action, and performs with his true nature.
A man of inferior virtue acts with intentional effort.
A man of superior kindness acts a natural act.
A man of superior justice acts with righteousness and feelings for
others.
A man of superior etiquette acts according to his true self, hence no
one responds to him by moving away.
There, when Tai is lost, there is Te (virtue).
When Te is lost, there is humanity.
When humanity is lost, there is justice.
When justice is lost, there is etiquette.
Etiquette becomes prevalent when people fail to be sincere and honest.
Hence, chaos begins.
A person of knowledge and self-opinion will be hindered from the
enlightenment of Tao. Thus, this is the beginning of ignorance!
Therefore, one who cultivates himself with Tao,
Embraces the original nature and indulges not in sensual nature.
He abides by the fundamental Oneness and indulges not in sensory
pleasures.
Thus, abandon those desires and abide by this true essence of Tao.
Chapter Thirty-nine
In the beginning, there were those who attained the Oneness; Heaven,
by attaining the Oneness became clear;
Fine walking horses can be retired form plowing the field. When the
world fails to live in accord with Tao,
Even pregnant mares are used as war horses,
And were forced to breed in the battlefield.
The greatest crime is to have too much desire.
The greatest disaster is not to find contentment.
The greatest mistake is to desire for endless possession. Hence, when
one is gratified with self-contentment,
True contentment can then long endure.
Chapter Forty-seven
Tao exists in ones own true self.
It cannot be found outside of ones true nature.
Hence, there is no need to leave the house to take journey in order to
know the world. There is no need to look outside of the window to see
the nature of Tao.
The further one departs from Tao, the less one will be able to know.
Therefore a saint is wise to know without seeking for It.
He is wise to understand without seeing It.
He is wise to accomplish according to the Natural Way.
Chapter Forty-eight
In pursuing knowledge, one learns with intellect and desires.
Therefore ones knowledge is accumulated day after day.
In pursuing Tao, one is enlightened with the true nature and thus
diminishes daily ones worldly desires and knowledge.
The continuous depletion of ones desires persists until one acts
accordingly to the natural Way. By acting without personal intention
enables one to accomplish all things.
Therefore, to rule over the world,
One must act naturally without personal desires.
If one pursues with extreme effort, one shall fail to rule the world.
Chapter Forty-nine
The saint has no set mind,
He regards the wish of the people as his own wish.
He is kind to the kind, he is also kind to the unkind.
This is the true virtue of kindness.
The saint trusts those who are trustworthy.
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy.
This is the true virtue of trust.
The saint conducts himself in the world by harmonizing with all beings
to be at one.
The worldly people thus look up to him attentively with their eyes and
ears.
And the saint treats the people like a loving mother who loves her
children unconditionally.
Chapter Fifty
Men enter this world with life and leave this world with death.
Those who work hard for living and longevity are comprised of onethird of the people.
Those who are leading their life towards death are comprised of
another one-third.
Those who live with indulgence in passion and desires shall harm their
life and invite death. This is comprised of the final one-third of the
people.
Why is this so?
It is because men are over-concerned with pleasures of life and hence
exhaust themselves with hard work of desires of greed.
The wise one who knows how to nourish life with the Nature Tao,
When he travels, will not encounter fierce animals such as wild
buffalos and tigers.
When he is engaged in the battlefield, will not be harmed by the
weapons.
The horns of the wild buffalos are powerless against him.
The claws of the tigers are useless against him.
The weapons are of no avail towards him.
Why is this so?
It is because the wise one follows the great Tao and cultivates
himself accordingly. Hence, a man of Tao will not perish.
Chapter Fifty-one
Tao gives birth to all things.
And Te (virtue) nurtures them.
Matter shapes them.
The natural environment matures them.
Therefore, all things abide by Tao and honor Te.
Although Tao deserves reverence and Te deserves honor,
They are not demanded by decree,
But is a result of the Nature Way.
Hence, Tao gives life to all beings and Te nurtures, grows, fosters,
develops, matures, supports, and protects them.
Tao gives birth to life and yet claims no possession.
It gives support without holding on to the merit.
It matures them but does not take control of.
This is called the Mystic Te.
Chapter Fifty-two
The beginning of the universe is Tao,
It is the mother of all.
By knowing the Mother, we will know her creations.
By knowing the creation of all lives, one can then return to the
origin and abide by the Mother. It is in this way that although the
body dies, the spiritual nature will not perish.
To abide by the Mother of Tao is to keep guard on ones sensory desire
and shut the doors of temptation so as to prevent one from pursuing
outwards.
Thus, by doing so ones whole life may be preserved from exhaustion
and pains.
However, if on the contrary one indulges oneself in the pleasure of
desire and opens the door of temptation to pursue outwards,
Then ones true nature will be lost and hence is beyond rescuing.
Those who are aware of the essence of the original nature are said to
be enlightened.
Those who abide by the gentleness of Tao are said to be strong.
Chapter Fifty-eight
When the government is dull,
People are simple and sincere.
When the government is complex and stringent, People are cunning and
shall cause trouble.
Calamity is what blessings depend upon.
In blessings there hides the calamity.
Who knows the ultimate end of the cycle of calamity and blessings?
Is there no true principle that exists?
The normal may revert and become unusual.
The good may revert and turn into evil.
Long indeed, man has been under such delusion.
Therefore, the saint abides by firm principle and does not depart from
it. He is honest and not mean.
He is upright and not rue.
He is honored and not eminent.
Chapter Fifty-nine
In governing ones life and serving the nature,
There is nothing better than to follow the Way of simplicity.
Simplicity is to restrain ones desires.
To restrain ones desires is to practice the virtue of Nature Way.
By practicing the virtue of Nature Way,
One is capable to accomplish anything.
With the ability to accomplish anything,
One can achieve the infinite realm.
By achieving the infinite realm,
One can then become a true leader of a nation.
To govern a nation with the Law of Nature is to be long enduring.
This is regarded as a profound and firm foundation of the everlasting
Tao.
Chapter Sixty
Ruling a great nation is like frying small fish.
When they are over stirred, they will break into pieces.
Guide the world with Tao,
Then the spiritual beings would lose their power.
It is in fact not that the spiritual beings had lost their power,
But that their spiritual power cannot harm people,
But that the true nature of the saint has harmonized with the
spiritual power and hence will cause no harm.
Since they both do not harm each other,
Therefore they will harmonize with the true virtue to embrace the
Oneness, Tao.
Chapter Sixty-one
A great nation rules by placing itself in a lowly position like the
rivers that flow into the low regions of ocean.
Hence, people will naturally be faithful to their country.
Mother nature always stays calm and quiet to overcome the unrest.
It takes the lowly position to be in peace.
Thus, if a great nation can lower itself to deal with a smaller
nation,
Chapter Seventy-two
When people do not respect the authority, There shall be great
misfortune.
Do not interfere with the peoples livelihood. Do not despise their
living.
Because there is no detest against the people,
Therefore the people do not detest against the authority.
The saint realizes his true nature and hence
Does not distinguish himself.
He has a sense of self-respect and thus does not exalt himself.
Therefore, he rejects those that are self-distinguished and selfexalted. And abides by these that are self-awareness and self-respect.
Chapter Seventy-three
He who is brave in being daring, acts recklessly and shall be killed.
He who is brave but acts cautiously and kindly shall live.
Of these two, one is beneficial while the other is harmful.
What nature wishes, who may know what the reasons are?
Thus, the saint is aware of the subtlety and profoundness of the
Natures Way, So he takes great caution in practicing It.
The Tao of Nature,
Does not contend, yet easily wins. Does not speak, yet always
responds. Does not summon, yet all things gather. Does not contemplate
as if at ease,
Yet all plans were devised perfectly.
The Law of Nature is like a giant web,
Although sparsely meshed, nothing can slip through.
Chapter Seventy-four
When people do not fear death,
There is no use trying to threaten them with death.
If people value their lives, and those who break the law were being
executed, Then who would dare to commit criminal act?
The life and death of all beings are handled by the executioner of
Nature. Those who substitute the nature executioner to kill,
Is like replacing the master carpenter to chop the wood. One who
substitutes the master carpenter to chop the wood, Rarely does not
hurt his hands.
Chapter Seventy-five
People starved because the ruler taxed too heavily.
People are difficult to be ruled,
Because the ruler governs with personal desire and establishes too
many laws to confuse the people.
Therefore the people are difficult to be ruled.
People take death lightly,
Because the ruler pursues after luxurious life and depletes the
people.
Therefore the people take death lightly.
One who does not value his life with self-desire, truly cherishes his
life.
Chapter Seventy-six
When a man is alive, he is soft and supple.
When he dies, the body becomes hard and stiff. When a plant is alive,
it is soft and flexible.
When it is dead, it becomes dry and brittle. Therefore, hard and rigid
shall lead to death.
Soft and gentle shall lead to life.
Thus, a strong army with rigid force shall not win. A thick and big
tree will be cut down for its use. The big and strong will take an
inferior position. The soft and gentle will take superior position.
Chapter Seventy-seven
The Tao of Nature is like stretching a bow.
When the stretch is too high, it needs to be pressed down.
When the stretch is too low, it needs to be raised high.
The excess will be reduced.
The deficient will be replenished.
The Tao of Nature is to reduce the excessive and to replenish the
insufficient. The Tao of man, however is otherwise.
It takes from the needy to serve those who already have a surplus. Who
can spare ones surplus to serve the world?
A person of Tao.
Thus, a saint acts without holding on to the achievements.
He accomplishes but does not claim for credit. He has no desire to
distinguish himself.
Chapter Seventy-eight
There is nothing in this world that is softer and meeker than water.
Even those that can conquer the strong and hard,
Are still not superior than water.
Nothing can substitute it.
Hence, what is soft can overcome the strong. What is gentle can
overcome the strength. This is known by the world.
However, people cannot put it into practice. Therefore, the saint said
as follow:
He who can take the disgrace of a nation,
Is said to be the master of the nation.
He who can bear the misfortune of a nation, Is said to be the ruler of
the world.
Truthful words may seem to be the reverse of worldly practices.
Chapter Seventy-nine
When a great resentment has resulted,
Even if one tries to reconcile and make peace,
There is bound to leave some remaining resentment.
Thus, how can this be considered as a good settlement?
Therefore, a saint cultivates himself with introspection and selfdiscipline without blaming others for faults.
This is like the ancient custom which acts by holding on to the left
part of the tally as a debtor that demands nothing from others.
Hence, a person of virtue acts as if he were the debtor.
And a person without virtue acts as if he were the creditor that
demands only from others.
The Tao of Nature is impersonal which makes no exception to anyone.
It always assists those that are kind and virtuous.
Chapter Eighty
An ideal nation is small and with few people.
Although there are abundant weapons, there is no need for the use.
Let the people cherish their life and not pursue after fame and
wealth,
So that they have no intention to move to faraway places.
Although there are boats and carriages, no one will ride them.
Although there are weapons and armors, there is no occasion to display
them.
Let the people return to the ancient simple life where knotting ropes
were used to record every event.
People would then enjoy the simple food, simple clothing, and be
contented with a simple life. And they shall live happily with the
traditional customs.
Neighbors of the nations overlook one another in the near distance.
The barks of dogs and crowing of cocks can be heard.
Yet people are so contented that they enjoy their life without ever
visiting each other.
Chapter Eighty-one
Words of truth are not pleasing. Pleasing words are not truthful. The
wise one does not argue. He who argues is not wise.
A wise man of Tao knows the subtle truth,
And may not be learned.
A learned person is knowledgeable but may not know the subtle truth of
Tao. A saint does not possess and accumulate surplus for personal
desire.
The more he helps others, the richer his life becomes.
The more he gives to others, the more he gets in return.
The Tao of Nature benefits and does not harm.
The Way of a saint is to act naturally without contention.