The Simple Way of Lao Tzu

The Tao-Teh Canon. (Part 2) Edited by Steven Ericsson Zenith This is part two of a three part rendition of the Tao Te Ching. Based on the Spring Equinox. 1924 edition of The Shrine Of Wisdom. TAO-TEH CHING (TAO)   "The Origin of Form." The spirit in the Void never dies. It is called the Mother-Deep. The openings of the Mother-Deep are called the Root of The Universe and Our World. Ceaselessly, ceaselessly, It nourishes and preserves: Inexhaustible, without effort. " Self-Manifestation through Contraries." In the manifested world all people, by knowing the splendor of beauty, know also ugliness. When beauty is absent: by knowing the excellence of goodness, they recognize also that which is not good. Therefore, contraries give rise to the idea of each other:- existence implies non-existence; That which is difficult implies that which is easy to achieve; that which is long implies that which is short in measurement; that which is high implies that which is low in elevation; that which is shrill implies that which is bass in musical tone; that which is before implies that which is behind in priority. Therefore, the self-controlled person dwells in the balance that is beyond the action of contraries; they teach without words; they inspire to action, but appear not to act; they produce but do not possess; they work without regard to the fruit of labor; they bring their work to perfection but do not claim reward. Holding nothing as their own, their own can never pass away. "The Purpose of the Void." The Universe and Our World are impartial, and for their dispensations, they use all things without distinction. A very wise person is impartial; they act without deliberation and regard all beings as sacred and alike. The Void between The Universe and Our World is like a bellows. It is empty, yet not to be exhausted. It moves and produces more and more. It does not take long before many words lead to exhaustion: do not be like that, walk the middle way. "The Hidden Radiance." The Universe is eternal: Our World is perpetual. They live not for themselves, so they are able to endure. A very wise person places their presence behind, yet it is found in the foremost place. They live not for themselves, yet their person is preserved. Being the most unselfish of all, they endure and fulfill their prime purpose. "Compensation's Secret." If there is contraction, then before there was expansion. If there is weakness, then before there was strength. If there is strength, then before there was weakness. If you aspire to exalted places, then first learn what lowly stations to take. If you would receive, then first learn how to give. This is called "Compensation's Secret," where the soft overcomes the hard, the weak prevails against the strong. As a fish out of water is in danger, so to a nation is in peril when its weapons of strife are paraded. " Returning to the Root." The void is to be filled, the tranquil essence steadfastly guarded. All things arise into existence, yet pass on again to their source. They blossom into perfect form and return again to their root. Returning to the Root is called Tranquillity, by which the Void is filled. Those who fill the void, knows the nature of Eternity. Realizing the Eternal is called Illumination. Not knowing the Eternal is the cause of misery and error. Knowing the Eternal leads to the Integral. Those who are Integral are just. Those who are just are like the Universe. Those who are of The Universe are close to TAO. And those who are of TAO endure forever: though their body vanishes they do not perish. "Tracing the Origin." From the past there are those possessing Unity. The Universe, possessing Unity, is bright and pure. Our World, possessing Unity, is stable and secure. The Spirit, possessing Unity, is beyond all bodily form. Space, in possessing Unity, is made full. All creatures, in possessing Unity, are endowed with life. Rulers and Leaders, possessing Unity, are models of the world. The Unity of all these is identical essence. The Universe, without purity, would be divided. Our world, without stability, would disintegrate. The Spirit, with bodily form, would be subject to corruption. Space, without its fullness, would soon be fathomed and exhausted. All creatures, without life, would vanish from existence. Governors and Leaders, without dignity, would lose their influence. The root of dignity is in humility: the foundation of the exalted is in lowliness. Therefore, Governors and Leaders speak of themselves in lowly terms, as "alone," "rejected," "unworthy," do they not acknowledge by this the root of their Unity is in humility? The several parts of a vehicle do not produce its Unity, and those who find Unity neither wish to be isolated like a single gem, nor lost in the medley of common pebbles. "Aspects of TAO." (Part). That which people dislike is called "alone," "rejected," and "unworthy," yet these are the names taken by Governors and Leaders. So it is that some are increased by being diminished, and some are diminished by being increased. That which people teach by their actions, I make use of to instruct. So, those who are violent and headstrong do not reach their normal end. This is the foundation of my Doctrine. "The Use of Non-Existence." Thirty spokes unite in the hub of a wheel; but the usefulness of the wheel depends on the empty inner center. Molded clay is fashioned into a vessel, but the usefulness of the vessel depends on the empty inner center. Doors and windows are cut to make a dwelling-place, but the usefulness of the house depends on its empty inner space. The value of existent things comes from the use of non-existence. "Emptiness and Nothingness." (Part) Moderate your speech and attain spontaneity. A gust of wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day. To what power are these things due? The inner-relations of The Universe and Our World. Even The Universe and Our World do not persist in the same action; so, how much can people? "Practicing Serenity." It is better to withhold than to fill to overflowing: it is better to refrain than to push to the extreme. Continual excess wears away the keenest instrument. You may fill your house with gold and precious stones, but who can guard them with security? Wealth and glory lead to vanity, to cares that spoil your peace. To accomplish great deeds, to merit honor, and then to retire into oneself- this is the way of The Universe. "Reverting to Simplicity." Those who knows paternal strength but still retain maternal greatness becomes a universal channel of Everlasting Grace. As a universal channel, this Grace will never leave; so they regain the innocence of pure childhood. Those who know the Light of The Universe but still remain obscure in Our World becomes a universal model. As a universal model, Eternal Grace will never fail them; they thus regain pristine freedom. Those who know their inner glory, but still keeps their lowliness, become a universal chalice. As a universal chalice, the Eternal Grace will fill them; they regains their simple essence. By the spreading of their simple essence, the very wise person makes a useful vessel, that with wise administration bless all beings impartially. "Going back to the Cause." In manifesting the world, TAO becomes the Universal Mother. In the knowledge of the mother is the knowledge of her children. And this childhood being known, there is access to the Mother. So life is unaffected though body fades away. Those who close their lips and shut the doors of their senses, all their life are free from turmoil. Those who open their mouth and spend their breath in vain pursuits, all their life cannot be kept safe. In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength. Those who neglect the Inner Light are lost in body's darkness. Those who follow the light of The Universe forever reflect its radiance. This is called the Eternal Heritage. "Holding on to TAO." In the regulation of people and in the serving of The Universe, there is nothing that surpasses Moderation. In this economy of action is the secret of foresight. From the following of this foresight comes continual storing of merits. From this abundance of inner Grace comes the power that none can conquer. If the inner power cannot be conquered, then its limits are unknown. To have the power that knows no limits is to gain the leadership of nations. He who, by moderation, has gained the root of sovereignty, will surely endure. This it is deep rooted and has a firm foundation in the lasting life and the vision of the Everlasting TAO. "The Virtue of Humility." A great nation is like a downward-flowing river in which all the streams in the Universe converge. This is the feminine or passive attribute of the nation. The feminine overcomes the masculine by stillness; but must be submissive in order to be still. So, a great nation that is humble before smaller states may gain them for its own. While, if a little nation that is humble before greater states, may gain their alliance. So, the one overcomes by being humble, while the other is humble and overcomes. A great nation desires only to unite and nourish people. A little nation desires only to enter in and serve people. Both attain the object of their desires, - the greater must be lowly. "Practical TAO." TAO is the hidden refuge of all creatures of the world. It is the treasure of the kind person; yet supports those who have lost kindness. Beautiful words, through TAO are fraught with potency. Noble deeds, through TAO, are wrought with never failing efficacy. And even those who are without kindness are not forsaken by TAO. The Servant of TAO sits enthroned, with three appointed ministers. One bears before them a symbol of rank. One escorts the mounted retinue. But the one who is most valued, humbly presents themself to TAO. Why is the TAO so prized by people? Because the Seeker finds in it the object of their quest, and the wrong doer finds in it forgiveness. Therefore, TAO is honored by all. " Freedom of Action." Courage carried to one extreme is the boldness that leads to death. Courage carried to the other extreme preserves life by self-restraint. Of these two one benefits, the other harms, yet both are rejected by The Universe. Who can discern the reason? Even the very wise person must chose their line of action. Universal TAO strives in neither direction, but is sure in all its action. It utters no sounds, but is sure in its response. It does not call, but all come to It by themselves. It does not plan, but is certain in all its works. The net of the Universe is vast and widely meshed, yet nothing is ever lost from it. " Imitating The Universe." A good warrior is not warlike. A good fighter is not wrathful. A good conqueror is not grasping. A good leader is not overbearing. This is called the Virtue of non-striving. This is the capacity of leading people. This is being the equal companion of The Universe - the highest ideal of all the ages. " Avoiding a Fall." Avoid glory as you avoid shame. Regard great trouble as you regard your body. What is meant by: "Avoid glory as you avoid shame"? The one connotes the other. Obtain glory and you fear the loss of it. Lose it and you fear the shame. Fear is thus inseparable both from glory and from shame. What is meant by: "Regard great trouble as you regard your body"? We meet trouble because we have a body; if we had no body, how would trouble reach us? So, those who love the nation as they care for their own body, may be trusted with the nation. "Learning to be Still." Which is more dear to you, your good name or your body? Which do you treasure more, your body or your wealth? Which makes you more unhappy, to profit or to lose? We must sacrifice much to gain great love. We must suffer great loss to obtain much treasure. To know contentment is to fear no shame. To know how to be still is to avoid destruction. So doing, we long endure. "The Danger of Strength." A person at birth is soft and tender; but is rigid and hard at death. It is the same with everything. In growth, trees and plants are pliant and tender; but in death they are withered and tough. So the hard and the strong have affinity with death; but the soft and tender are companions of life. Therefore those who rely solely on strength will not conquer; a powerful tree invites the ax. The place of great strength is below, but gentle softness dwells above. "The Value Set on Life." People come forth into life; people return with death. Three out of ten follow the way of life; three out of ten follow the way of death. While again, there are three out of ten who live as people but pass on to the place of death. And why is this so? Because they strive too much to perpetuate life. What a very wise person are they, therefore, who take hold of the Inner Life and know the secret of its hidden springs. In journeying, they fear no danger. In strife, they fears no weapon of war. No power can strike the Inner Life; no power can hold it; no power can penetrate. What a very wise person are they, therefore, who into the realms of death can bring the Inner Life. "The Manifestation of Simplicity." True words may not be pleasant; pleasant words may not be true. The man of TAO does not dispute; they who dispute are not of TAO. Those who know TAO are not " learned." Those who are "learned" do not know TAO. The wise person does not lay up treasure; their riches are within. The more they spend resources for others, the more they increase their own store. The more they give to others, the more they have of their own. The TAO of The Universe is all-pervading, but is hurtful to no one. This is the way of the very wise person, who acts but does not strive. " Placing Oneself Last." The Great River and Sea, because they hold a lower place, are lords of a hundred streams. This is the reason of their lordship. This is why the very wise person, when wishing to elevate people, places their position below them. So, though they dwell above, the people follow them with ease; though they are placed before them, they do not bar their progress. Therefore, people exalt them with gladness, and never tire in their service. And because they do not strive, no one in the world can strive against them.