Tao te ching_ annotated & explained - Derek Lin [17]
Thus they discard that and take this5
39
Those that attained oneness since ancient times:1
The sky attained oneness and thus clarity
The earth attained oneness and thus tranquility
The gods attained oneness and thus divinity
The valley attained oneness and thus abundance
The myriad things attained oneness and thus life2
The rulers attained oneness and became the standard for the world
These all emerged from oneness
The sky, lacking clarity, would break apart
The earth, lacking tranquility, would erupt
The gods, lacking divinity, would vanish
The valley, lacking abundance, would wither
Myriad things, lacking life, would be extinct3
The rulers, lacking standard, would be toppled
Therefore, the honored uses the lowly as basis
The higher uses the lower as foundation4
Thus the rulers call themselves alone, bereft, and unworthy
Is this not using the lowly as basis? Is it not so?
Therefore, the ultimate honor is no honor
Do not wish to be shiny like jade
Be dull like rocks5
40
The returning is the movement of the Tao1
The weak is the utilization of the Tao2
The myriad things of the world are born of being
Being is born of nonbeing3
41
Higher people hear of the Tao
They diligently practice it
Average people hear of the Tao
They sometimes keep it and sometimes lose it1
Lower people hear of the Tao
They laugh loudly at it
If they do not laugh, it would not be the Tao2
Therefore a proverb has the following:
The clear Tao appears unclear
The advancing Tao appears to retreat
The smooth Tao appears uneven
High virtue appears like a valley
Great integrity appears like disgrace
Encompassing virtue appears insufficient
Building virtue appears inactive
True substance appears inconstant
The great square has no corners
The great vessel is late in completion
The great music is imperceptible in sound
The great image has no form
The Tao is hidden and nameless
Yet it is only the Tao
That excels in giving and completing everything
42
Tao produces one1
One produces two2
Two produce three3
Three produce myriad things
Myriad things, backed by yin and embracing yang4
Achieve harmony by integrating their energy5
What the people dislike
Are alone, bereft, and unworthy
But the rulers call themselves with these terms
So with all things
Appear to take loss but benefit
Or receive benefit but lose
What the ancients taught
I will also teach
The violent one cannot have a natural death
I will use this as the principal of all teachings
43
The softest things of the world
Override the hardest things of the world1
That which has no substance
Enters into that which has no openings2
From this I know the benefits of unattached actions3
The teaching without words4
The benefits of actions without attachment
Are rarely matched in the world5
44
Fame or the self, which is dearer?
The self or wealth, which is greater?1
Gain or loss, which is more painful?2
Thus excessive love must lead to great spending3
Excessive hoarding must lead to heavy loss4
Knowing contentment avoids disgrace5
Knowing when to stop avoids danger
Thus one can endure indefinitely
45
Great perfection seems flawed1
Its function is without failure
Great fullness seems empty
Its function is without exhaustion
Great straightness seems bent
Great skill seems unrefined2
Great eloquence seems inarticulate3
Movement overcomes cold
Stillness overcomes heat
Clear quietness is the standard of the world
46
When the world has the Tao
Fast horses are retired to fertilize the grounds1
When the world lacks the Tao
Warhorses must give birth on the battlefield2
There is no crime greater than greed
No disaster greater than discontentment
No fault greater than avarice
Thus the satisfaction of contentment
is the lasting satisfaction3
47
Without going out the door, know the world1
Without peering out the window, see the Heavenly Tao2
The further one goes
The less one knows
Therefore the sage
Knows without going3
Names