LSOBY

ICHARD

ROSSMAN

BoldVoices

Choosing&Changing

TheOtherMedicines

TheNaturalFamilyDoctor(withAndrewStanway)

AYearwithEmerson

ForRedSchillerandforShantiNorris

All philosophy, of East and West, has the same

centripetence.

—E

MERSON

,RepresentativeMen

OTETOTHE

EADER

Thisisonebook,butwithinitaretwomanuscripts.Thefirst,

printedinitalicsontheleft-hand(verso)pages,isbasedonthe

classical1891renditionoftheeighty-oneversesofthesacred

Chinese text known as the Tao Te Ching, credited to a sage

called Lao Tse and translated by the British Sinologist James

Legge. On the right-hand (recto) pages is the “second”

manuscript(inromantype),thesameeighty-oneversesofthe

TaoTeChing,interpretedinwordsculledandorganizedbyme

from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great

nineteenth-centuryAmericanphilosopherandpoet.

The inspiration for creating these parallel texts comes from

the epigraph to this book—“all philosophy, of East and West,

has the same centripetence”—an observation recorded by

EmersoninhisessayonPlatowhenhewasthirty-threeyears

old,andalreadyontheroadtobecoming“America’sFounding

Thinker.” Centripetence, of course, refers to the tendency of

energytomoveorprogresstowardthecenter,totheessenceof

things. As Emerson later wrote, “the hero is he who is

immovablycentered,”andasLaoTseputit,“yourinnerbeing

guard,andkeepitfree”—bothmenstandingforwhatEmerson

would later call the “infinitude of the human soul.” This

veneration of both the depths and heights of the human soul

blossomsintheirwritingsintoacredofortheconductoflife

thatelevatesquietude,self-awareness,humility,andreverence

forthenaturalworldtosuchalevelthatithascaptivatedand

inspiredgenerationsofmenandwomen.Thevaluescontained

withinthewordsthesesageswrote,nomatterhowcrypticor

mysticaltheymayseeminsomeinstances,havegivenrisetoa

kind of “spiritual anthropology,” focused first on a site in

ancientChinahousingarelicdocumentover2,500yearsold,

andsecondonabodyofworkcreatedbyapoet/philosopherin

the quite early days of a new and animated country in the

Westernworld.Eachsetofwritingshascaptivatedandinspired

seekerstorevisitthemandprobetheirwisdominsearchofa

guidingpersonaltruth.

This book is an effort to bring together these two kindred

works.UsingfragmentsofEmerson’swritingsranginginlength

from a phrase to an entire passage, I have tried to construct

new poetic interpretations of Lao Tse’s words. It is not the

intentofthisrenditionoftheTaoTeChingthroughtheprose

andpoetryofRalphWaldoEmersontocreateanamusingword

game by plundering the works of Emerson with a pair of

scissors.Anygreatwriter’swordscan,bysuchmanipulation,be

madetoreproducetheworkofanyotherwriter.

Inthisinstance,theprocessbywhichEmerson’swritingsare

shownasparalleltotheversesoftheTaoTeChingisonein

which the shared sense and spirit and philosophy of the two

men is displayed. To do this I spent a great deal of time

immersed alternately in the work of the two authors, and

recollectingthecomparablethoughtsIdiscoveredineach.For

instance,inChapter2oftheTaoTeChing,whichisintendedto

lay out the Taoist notions of complementarity (the yin/yang

principle), a close student of Emerson thinks immediately of

Emerson’sessay“Compensation,”devotedatleastinparttothe

sameidea:theuniverseischaracterizedbytheswaybetween

nonantagonistic, but opposite forces, “as: spirit, matter; man,

woman; odd, even; motion, rest….” Thus, Chapter 2 in my

“translation” employs five sentences taken from the

“Compensation”essay.Butthereisadeeperconnectiontobe

seenwhenthededicatedreaderofEmersonrecallsthathealso

exploredthisthemeinotherplaces:inhispoem“EachandAll,”

forinstance,andinhisaddress“TheMethodofNature”aswell

as in his essay “Spiritual Laws.” Thus, one or more sentences

from those sources become the Emersonian “version” of the

sacred Taoist text. Conversely, in my daily rereading of

Emerson,Ihighlightedanyphrasethatformehadtheringof

theTaoistmaster.Inthislatterprocess,forexample,asIread

the phrase, “I am a weed by the wall” in Emerson’s essay

“Circles,” I heard immediately the reverberation of the self-

deprecatingtoneofLaoTseinChapter20,“Ialoneseemlistless

andstill…”

Thefocusofthisendeavor,then,isnotsomuchonLaoTse’s

and Emerson’s similarities of verbal expression as it is on the

wonderful ways in which philosophical ideas appear and

reappear throughout history and across cultures, and are

enrichedineachnewincarnation.

ONTENTS

ISTOF

LLUSTRATIONS

Thelargecharacteris“Tao;”thethreecharactersnexttoTao

represent,inascendingorder,thesounds“aye,”“more,”and

“sohn.”

InnerEssence,InnerMarvel

Nature,Spontaneity

Tao

TheGatewaytoAllMystery

TaoFollowsNature

DeepMystery

Self

NTRODUCTION

Over 120 translations of the Tao Te Ching

have been published in

English since 1891. It has lured a variety of Sinologists, poets,

philosophers,scientists,andscholarstotryagainandagaintoplumbits

cryptic,provocativetextfordeepermeaningsandfornuancesthatmight

make the wisdom of Lao Tse either more accessible, more modern, or

more personally relevant to the Western reader. Some have wished to

make the poetry more pronounced; others have wanted to make the

translation more precisely like the original Mandarin language; still

othershavetriedtomaketheTaoTeChingamorereligiousdocument,

akindofTaoistBible.

Almost all the translators of the Tao Te Ching, including James

Legge,

whose translation is used in this book, called their work

“interpretations,”acknowledgingtheenduringfactthatitisimpossible

forthelanguageofonetraditiontoprovideexactverbalequivalentsfor

allthecreativeideasofanothertradition.InTheTaoofEmersonIhave

not had to be concerned with “verbal equivalency” because I have

concentratednotsomuchonthewordsoftheTaoTeChing,butrather

on the ideas embedded in them. I have taken this approach because,

aftermanyyearsofreadingandstudyingboththeideasofLaoTse,the

rural mystic, and the works of the Sage of Concord, I have become

convinced that in a mysterious but remarkable way, Ralph Waldo

Emerson,aself-defrockedAmericanministerofthenineteenthcentury,

evolvedapersonalworldviewandphilosophicalstancesoparalleltothe

Tao Te Ching that his own oeuvre of over forty volumes of poetry,

lectures, addresses, personal journals, and notebooks contains the

essenceofthesacredancienttext.

These two men, separated in history by almost 2,500 years, one a

citizenoftheworld’soldestempireandtheotherofoneofitsyoungest

republics, were sages whose messages were remarkably alike: live the

simple, tranquil life; trust your intuition; find and revere the spiritual

grace in the natural world; act without self-assertion; commit no

violenceagainstlivingthingsorpersons;trytoharmonizewiththeebb

andflowofnatureandcircumstances—andaboveall,assurethatthere

isaplaceintheworldforhumility,yielding,gentleness,andserenity.

One reason for their kinship may be found in the study of the

prophetictradition.ThescholarRichardGroff,whodescribesprophets

as“articulatemystics,”hadthistosay:

Throughtheagesresoundthe voicesoftheprophets, the

authenticmen.Wemaynotknowthetongueofthewise

man,butwealwaysrecognizehisvoice….Jesus,Buddha,

LaoTse,Socrates,Fox,Emerson—workedatthetasksthey

feltwerelaiduponthembyahigherauthority,taskswhich

they were not at liberty to set aside. For countless

generations those seeking to find their way in darkness

havefoundlampsinthelivesofmenlikethese….Prophet,

saint, sage, savior—the differences among them are lost

amidtheirsimilarities.Forgetthelabels.Wisdomiswhere
youfindit.

ItseemstomethatEmersonvirtuallyreincarnatedLaoTse’swisdom

in his own work, and that his brand of fresh, vigorous, homegrown

EnglishaddsaradiantcolortothewordsofLaoTse.Emersonhimself,in

his essay “History,” noted that “Nature is full of sublime family

likenesses throughout her works … and there are compositions of the

samestraintobefoundinthebooksofallages.”Hisownobservation

suggeststhatanEmersonianrenditionoftheTaoTeChingmighthavea

specialresonanceforthemodernreader.

TheTaoTeChing—pronounceddowasindowel,der,asintheslightly

slurredlastsyllableofunder,andjing,asinjingo—isashortandsimple

bookfilledwithaphorisms,epigrams,folkwisdom,andwhatonewriter

has called “polemic proverbs,” all concerned with the mystery and

beautyoftheuniverse,accompaniedbyprofoundadviceonhowhuman

beings might negotiate that universe in a fruitful, peaceful, and

ultimatelytranscendentway.

WiththeHolyBibleandtheBhagavadGita,theTaoTeChingisoneof

thethreemosttranslatedbooksinallofhumanhistory,despitethefact

that its authorship, its date, and the circumstances of its original

publication are still debated among scholars worldwide. There is,

however, no argument that it was published in ancient China, around

571B.C.,afactconfirmedasrecentlyas1993,whenfourteeninscribed

strips of bamboo containing about 40 percent of the known text (to

whichtwotranslators,RogerT.AmesandDavidL.Hall,havegiventhe

titleTheGreatOneGivesBirthtotheWaters)werediscoveredinaroyal

tutor’stombatGuodian,nearthecityofYing,oncethecapitalofthe

southernkingdomofChu.

WhatisalsoascertainasthephysicalhistoryoftheTaoTeChing—a

titlethatisgenerallytakentomean“TheClassicBookoftheWayandIts

Power,” or “The Classic Book of the Ultimate Reality and Its Ideal

Manifestation”—istheuniversalmagnetismithasexertedonreadersfor

centuries. Whatever historical arguments surround its roots, the little

more than five thousand words of its text have been consistently

recognized as among the most provocative and inspiring mystic
teachings ever written. Whether rendered as rhyming verses

or short

chaptersofprose,thecryptic,paradoxical,andyetsimpleandpowerful

text sets forth the central themes of Taoist thought as the British

philosopher Bertrand Russell saw and admired them: “Production

without possession, action without self-assertion, and development

withoutdomination.”Inourcurrentageofspiritualquesting,religious

revisionism, and political and military conflicts, the Tao Te Ching

continues to offer seekers a fascinating framework in which to pursue

the paths to peaceful prosperity, the possibility of reincarnation, the

confirmation(ordisconfirmation)oftheexistenceofthesoul,theright

waytogovernwith“alighthand,”the“moralequivalenttowar,”and

othereternalquestionsoflife’smeaning.

Thisgreatworkcontinuestobeabeaconforthemodernreadereven

thoughtheTaoTeChingwaswritteninanancientMandarindialectthat

is no longer spoken, and the text arose in a cultural background even

more different from our modern Western environment than

contemporary China is. The thoughts of Lao Tse remain influential

aroundtheworld,aswitnessed,forexample,bythecontinuingspreadof

interest in and practice of Zen Buddhism, which owes much of its

groundwork to Taoist principles as offered in the Tao Te Ching.

Likewise,millionsofunaffiliatedmenandwomenwhopursueaspiritual

searchforadeepermeaningtothehumanconditionturntotheeighty-

oneversesorchaptersthatmakeupthisclassic.

The original text was divided into two parts, the first thirty-seven

chaptersbeingconsideredthe“Upper”part,devotedtoTao,whichisthe

supreme, cosmic, indestructible energy or universal force (or what, in

theisticsystems,issuggestedbythewordGod).Thesecond,or“Lower,”

partofforty-fourversesdealswithTe,themanifestation,thebehavior,

theshapeandthepoweroftheTao.Inpurely

Western,modemtermswemightsaythatTaoiswhatwecallNature,

and Te is the way Nature works in her many forms and actualities.

(Chingisthetermdesignatingaclassic,orsacredtext.)

The name Lao Tse (really “The Old Boy”) was an honorific given a

man who was probably born in a town some fifty miles south of the

moderncityofShangchui;professionallyhewasanarchivist,orKeeper

of Royal Documents, in the dynasty capital of Loyang. His real name

may have been Li Erh; posthumously he was given two additional

honorificnames:Tan(meaning“long-eared,”andhence,wise)andthe

provocativeappellation“PrincePositive.”Inspiteofhismodest,though

respected,stationinlife,hewaswidelyknownasasage,butdespairing

of the decadence of the dynasty, he chose to leave his homeland and

head west. Legend has it that when he reached Hanku, the most

formidable pass in all of China, his arrival had been foretold, and the

Warden of the Pass, Yin-hsi, implored the great man for some

instruction, whereupon Lao Tse gave him the Tao Te Ching, and

continued on to unknown regions of the far west. This event is

affectionatelydescribedbytheplaywrightandpoetBertoltBrechtinhis

little-knownworkLegendoftheOriginoftheBookTao-Te-ChingonLao-

Tse’sRoadintoExile,thelaststanzaofwhichis:

Butthehonorshouldnotberestricted

Tothesagewhosenameisclearlywrit.

Forawiseman’swisdomneedstobeextracted.

Sothecustommandeserveshisbit,
Itwashewhocalledforit.

ButEmersonknewnothingofthecharminglegendofLaoTseorthe

Taoistphilosophyitspawned.TheTaoTeChingwasnottobeavailable

inEnglishuntil1891,nineyearsafterhisdeath.Thus,ifheevereven

encountered the word Tao it was in his reading of Confucius, a man

twenty years junior to Lao Tse, whose Analects is the literary and

philosophical counterpoint to the Tao Te Ching, and whose followers

dominatedthesocialandpoliticalstructureofChinainthelatesixthand

earlyfifthcenturyB.C.Bythattime,asArthurKirbyhassaid,“Chinese

wisdom expressed itself in the outward symbolical relation of each

individualtotheEmperorandtheTao,notinthoughtsabouttheTao;
for the early spirit of Lao Tse had died in the letter….”

The

ConfucianismEmersonreadaboutandadmired(“Iamreadingabetter

Pascal”)wasimpressivetohimbecauseitappearedtoemphasizecivic

duty, moral education, and “the efficacy of the good example of the

superiorman.”AndsurelyEmersonandConfuciuswerelinkedbytheir

common belief in what Emerson once called “the infinitude of the

Asiaticsoul.”

Butinpractice,ConfucianismwasnotaphilosophytowhichEmerson

couldhavewhollysubscribed,sinceitwasalmostexclusivelyconcerned

withsocietalstructure,worldlytransactions,codifiedrulesofbehavior,

and what might be called patriarchal politics. While many of these

themes interested Emerson, they all fall into the realm of “Society,”

whichforhimwasonlyapartofhumanreality,needingalwaystobe

counterpoisedwith“Solitude,”whereintherichnessofthespirituallife

becomespossible.SoitiswiththecontrastbetweenConfuciusandLao

Tse—the former standing for stern authority, official discipline, the

pursuit of “fame and reputation,” where the latter sees all these

characteristics as “so many handcuffs and fetters,” preferring to stress

theconnectionbetweenatranscendentNatureandthematerialdiversity

oftheuniverse,orthewell-known“tenthousandthings.”

The Chinese-American philosopher and scientist Lin Yutang saw this

when he wrote in his authoritative The Wisdom of China and India,

“Generally, the reader will find reading Chinese philosophers like

reading the best intuitive passages in Emerson.”

And Yutang was

doubtlessthinkingprimarilyofLaoTse,theauthoroftheTaoTeChing.

Forinallhiswork,Emersontheparadoxical(“thehighestprudenceis

the lowest prudence”), Emerson the mystical (“the world is but the

incarnationofathought”),Emersontheexistential(“Youareyou,andI

amI”),Emersonthepresent-centered(“Lifeonlyavails,notthehaving

lived”), Emerson the epigrammatist (“a foolish consistency is the

hobgoblinoflittleminds”)isnotcomparabletotheordered,compulsive

positivist Confucius, but rather to the flowing, spontaneous lover of

analogiesandallusions,thenaturalisticandmysticLaoTse.

The Viennese cultural historian Egon Friedell caught these atavistic

“Oriental” qualities of Emerson’s personality and style in his book A

CulturalHistoryoftheModernAge:

Hisspiritualrhythmremindsone…ofthegentleflowing

of a meadow stream that hollows its bed slowly and

peacefully….Heholdshiscandledirectlyuptothingsand

looksthemstraightinthefacelikeahealthymanwhois

not cowed by learned traditions…. He is an absolute

Impressionistinhisstyle,hiscomposition,andhisthought.

He never propounds his ideas in a definite, logical or

artisticform,butalwaysinthenaturalandoftenaccidental

orderwhichtheyhaveinhishead….

He knows only provisional opinions, momentary

truths…. He begins to develop this or that view, and we

thinkheisgoingontoweaveitsystematically,elucidateit

from all sides, entrench it against all possible attack. But

then, suddenly some alien picture or simile, epigram or

aperçu strikes him full in the middle of his chain of

thought,andthethemethenceforwardrevolvesonquitea
newaxis….

ThismightbeanexegesisoftheTaoTeChingitself,emphasizingasit

does the loose presentation of sage ideas, the intuitive confidence, the

informalityanddirectness,theearthyframeofreference,andultimately,

thesimplicityofthewiseman.AndagainweareremindedofbothLao

TseandEmersonwhenFriedellsaysofthelatter,“Hestopsstill,listens

tohisheart,andwritesashelistens….”

Notes

.Since1976thepreferredmethodofromanizingtheChineselanguage

hasbeenthepinyinsystem,whichrendersLaoTseasLaozi,andhis

bookastheDaoDeJing(whichis,infact,thewaythetitleis

pronounced,evenwhenwrittenastheTaoTeChing).WheneverChinese

wordsoccurinthisvolume,IhavechosentousetheolderWade-Giles

systemofRomanizationbecauseitwasinusethroughoutthenineteenth

century,whenbothJamesLeggeandEmersonlived.

.JamesLegge(1815-1897)wasanearcontemporaryofEmerson,who

wasbornin1803anddiedin1882.Thetwonevermetonanyof

Emerson’svisitstoEngland.AScotch-Presbyterianminister,Leggefirst

wenttoChinain1839asamissionaryFornearlythirtyyearshelivedin

variouspartsofChina,wherehestudiedandtranslatedmanyofthe

greatChineseclassics.Thisworkculminatedinhisdeveloping,withF.

MaxMuller,themonumentalSacredBooksoftheEastseries,publishedin

fiftyvolumesbetween1879and1891,ofwhichVolume39isLegge’s

translationoftheTaoTeChing.LeggeheldthechairinChinese

languageandliteratureatOxfordUniversityfortwentyyears.

.Groff,Richard.ThoreauandthePropheticTradition.LosAngeles:The

ManasPublishingCo.,1961.

.InthisbookbothJamesLegge’stranslationoftheTaoTeChingand

theversionIhavegleanedfromthewritingsofRalphWaldoEmerson

aresetmainlyasfreeverse,followingthecustominthevastmajorityof

translationsofLaoTse’sclassicsincethefirstone,writteninLatin,in

1788.

.Brecht,Bertolt.Poems1913-1956.EditedbyJohnWillettandRalph

ManheimwiththecooperationofErichFried.LondonandNewYork:

Methuen,1980.

.Christy,Arthur.TheOrientinAmericanTranscendentalism.NewYork:

OctagonRooks,1978.

.LinYutang.TheWisdomofChinaandIndia.NewYork:RandomHouse,

1942.

.Friedell,Egon.ACulturalHistoryoftheModernAge,3vols.NewYork:

AlfredA.Knopf,1933.

TheTaoofEmerson

TheTaothatcanbetroddenisnotthe

enduringandunchangingTao.

Thenamethatcanbenamedisnotthe

enduringandunchangingname.

Conceivedashavingnoname,

itistheOriginatorofheavenandearth;

Havinganame,itistheMotherofallthings.

Alwayswithoutdesirewemustbefound,

Ifitsdeepmysterywewouldsound;

Butifdesirewithinusbe,

Itsouterfringeisallthatweshallsee.

Underthesetwoaspects

itisreallythesame;

Butasdevelopmenttakesplace

itreceivesthedifferentnames.

TogetherwecallthemtheMystery.

WheretheMysteryisthedeepest

isthegateofallthatissubtleandwonderful.

Thatgreatnatureinwhichwerest,

thatUnity,thatOver-Soul,

IsanImmensitynotpossessed,

andthatcannotbepossessed.

Theanimaleyesees,withwonderful

accuracy,

sharpoutlinesandcoloredsurfaces.

Toamoreearnestvision,

outlinesandsurfaces

becometransparent;

Causesandspirits

areseenthroughthem.

Thewisesilence,

theuniversalbeauty,

Towhicheverypartandparticle

isequallyrelated,

Isthetideofbeingwhichfloatsus

intothesecretofnature;

Andwestandbefore

thesecretoftheworld.

Allintheworldknowthebeautyofthebeautiful,

Andindoingthistheyhavetheideaofwhatuglinessis;

Theyallknowtheskilloftheskillful,

Andindoingthistheyhavetheideaofwhat

thewantofskillis.

Soitisthatexistenceandnon-existencegivebirth

onetotheother,

Difficultyandeaseproduceeachother,

Lengthandshortnessfashionoutthefigureoftheother;

Heightandlownessarisefromthecontrastof

theonewiththeother;

Musicalnotesandtonesbecomeharmonious

throughtherelationofonetotheother;

Beingbeforeandbehindgivetheideaof

onefollowinganother.

Thereforethesagemanagesaffairswithoutdoinganything,

andconveyshisinstructionswithouttheuseofspeech.

Theworkisdone,buthownoonecansee;

Tisthisthatmakesthepowernotceasetobe.

Eachthingisahalf,andsuggestsanotherthing

tomakeitwhole.

As:spirit,matter;

man,woman;odd,even;

in,out;upper,under;

motion,rest;yea,nay.

Allareneededbyeachone.

Nothingisfairorgoodalone;

Toemptyhere,youmustcondensethere.

Agreatmanisalwayswillingtobelittle;

Thewisemanthrowshimselfontheside

ofhisassailants;

Postponesalwaysthepresenthour

tothewholelife,

Postponestalenttogenius,

andspecialresultstocharacter,

Isverywillingtoloseparticularpowers

andtalents

Sothathegainintheelevation

ofhislife.

Actionandinactionarealiketothetrue.

Nottoemploymenofsuperiorability

isthewaytokeepthepeoplefromrivalryamongthemselves;
Nottoprizearticleswhicharedifficulttoprocure

isthewaytokeepthemfrombecomingthieves;

Nottoshowthemwhatislikelytoexcitetheirdesires

isthewaytokeeptheirmindsfromdisorder.

Thereforethesage,intheexerciseofhisgovernment,

emptiestheirminds,fillstheirbellies,

weakenstheirwillsandstrengthenstheirbones.

Heconstantlytriestokeepthemwithoutknowledge

andwithoutdesire,

Andwheretherearethosewhohaveknowledge,

tokeepthemfrompresumingtoactonit.

Whenthereisthisabstinencefromaction

goodorderisuniversal.

Nothingissecurebutlife,transition,

theenergizingspirit.

Theonethingwhichweseek

withinsatiabledesire

Istoforgetourselves,tobesurprised

outofourpropriety,

Toloseoursempiternalmemory

Anddosomethingwithoutknowing

howorwhy.

Notruthissosublimebutitmaybe

trivialtomorrow.

Peoplewishtobesettled;

Onlyasfarastheyareunsettled

isthereanyhopeforthem.

Thepoorandthelowhavetheirway

ofexpressingthelastfactsofphilosophy:

“Blessedbenothing.Theworsethingsare

thebettertheyare.”

TheTaoisliketheemptinessofavessel;

Andinouremploymentofitwemust

guardagainstallfullness.

Howdeepandunfathomableitis,

asifitweretheHonoredAncestorofallthings!

Weshouldbluntoursharppoints,

Andunravelthecomplicationofthings;

Weshouldtemperourbrightness,

Andbringourselvesintoagreement

withtheobscurityofothers.

HowpureandstilltheTaois,asifitwould

eversocontinue.

Thereisneverabeginning,

Thereisneveranend

totheinexplicablecontinuityofthisweb.

Systemonsystem,shootinglikerays,

upward,downward,

withoutcenter,withoutcircumference.

Inthemassandintheparticle,

Naturehastenstorenderaccountofherself.

Undereverycause,anothercause;

Truthsoarstoohighanddivestoodeep

forthemostresoluteinquirer.

Heavenandearthdonotactfromanywish

tobebenevolent.

Theydealwithallthingsasthedogsofgrass

aredealtwith.

Maynotthespacebetweenheavenandearth

becomparedtoabellows?

Tisemptied,yetitlosesnotitspower;

Tismovedagain,andsendsforthairthemore.

Muchspeechtoswiftexhaustionleadwesee;

Yourinnerbeingguard,andkeepitfree.

Wefindnaturetobethecircumstance

whichdwarfseveryothercircumstance,

Andjudgeslikeagod

allmenwhocometoher.

Thereisnoendinnature,

Buteveryendisabeginning;

Thereisalwaysanotherdawnrisenonmid-noon,

Andundereverydeepalowerdeepopens.

Goodasisdiscourse,

Silenceisbetter,andshamesit.

Thevalleyspiritdiesnot,ayethesame;

Thefemalemysterythusdowename,

Itsgate,fromwhichatfirsttheyissuedforth,

Iscalledtherootfromwhichgrewheavenand

earth.

Longandunbrokendoesitspowerremain,

Usedgently,andwithoutthetouchofpain.

Inshowers,insweepingshowers,theSpring

visitsthevalley,

Themiracleofgenerativeforce,

Far-reachingconcordsofastronomy.

Natureistranscendental,

everworksandadvances.

Itisundefinable,unmeasurable,

Butweknowthatitpervadesandcontainsus.

Heavenislongenduringandearthcontinueslong.

Thereasonwhyheavenandearthareabletoendure

andcontinuethuslong

Isbecausetheydonotliveof,orfor,themselves.

Thisishowtheyareabletocontinueandendure.

Thereforethesageputshisownpersonlast,

Andyetitisfoundintheforemostplace;

Hetreatshispersonasifitwereforeigntohim,

Andyetthatpersonispreserved.

Isitnotbecausehehasnopersonalandprivateends,

thatthereforesuchendsarerealized?

Theuniverseisrepresentedinanatom

inamomentoftime.

Itcallsthelightitsown,andfeels

thatthegrassgrowsandthestonefalls,

Yettakesnothoughtforthemorrow.

Geniusandvirtuepredictinman

thesameabsenceofprivateends,

andofcondescensiontocircumstance,

Unitedwitheverytraitandtalent

ofbeautyandpower.

Thepathwhichtheherotravelsalone

isthehighwayofhealthandbenefittomankind.

Whatistheprivilegeandnobilityofournature

butitspersistency,

Throughitspowertoattachitself

towhatispermanent?

Thehighestexcellenceislikethatofwater.

Theexcellenceofwaterappearsinitsbenefitingallthings,

andinitsoccupying,withoutstriving,

thelowplacewhichallmendislike.

HenceitswayisneartothatoftheTao.

Theexcellenceofaresidenceisinthesuitabilityoftheplace;

thatofthemindisinabysmalstillness;

thatofassociationsisintheirbeingwiththevirtuous;

thatofgovernmentisinitssecuringgoodorder;

thatoftheconductofaffairsisinitsability;

andthatofanymovementisinitstimeliness.

Andwhenonewiththehighestexcellence

Doesnotwrangleabouthislowposition,

noonefindsfaultwithhim.

Justiceistherhymeofthings;

Tradeandcountinguse

Theself-sametunefulmuse.

Waterwasthebeginningofallthings.

Itisinthatsameliquidstate

thatsubstancesuniteto

andidentifythemselveswithorganizedbodies.

Theaimofthewisemanwillalwaysbe

tosethistimeonsuchakeyashecanhold,

tobringhislifelevelwiththelawsofthemind,

notthebody.

Itisbettertoleaveavesselunfilled

thantoattempttocarryitwhenitisfull.

Ifyoukeepfeelingapointthathasbeensharpened,

thepointcannotlongpreserveitssharpness.

Whengoldandjadefillthehall,

theirpossessorcannotkeepthemsafe.

Whenwealthandhonorsleadtoarrogance,

thisbringsitsevilonitself.

Whentheworkisdone,andone’sname

isbecomingdistinguished,

towithdrawintoobscurity

isthewayofHeaven.

Allthetoysthatinfatuatemen—

houses,land,money,luxury,

power,fame—

aretheself-samething.

Themanwhoseeyesarenailed,

notonthenatureofhisact,

Butonthewages,whetheritbe

moneyorofficeorfame,

isequallylow.

Naturearmseachmanwithsomefaculty

whichenableshimtodoeasily

somefeatimpossibletoanyother,

Andthismakeshimnecessarytosociety.

Theperilofeveryfinefaculty

isthedelightofplayingwithitforpride.

Whentheintelligentandanimalsoulsareheldtogether

inoneembrace,

Theycanbekeptfromseparating.

Whenonegivesundividedattentiontothevitalbreath,

andbringsittotheutmostdegreeofpliancy,

Hecanbecomeasatenderbabe.

Whenhehascleansedawaythemostmysterioussights

ofhisimagination,

Hecanbecomewithoutaflaw.

Inlovingthepeopleandrulingthestate,

cannotheproceedwithoutanypurposefulaction?

Intheopeningandshuttingofhisgatesofheaven,

cannothedosoasafemalebird?

Whilehisintelligencereachesineverydirection,

Cannotheappeartobewithoutknowledge?

TheTaoproducesallthingsandnourishesthem;

Itproducesthemanddoesnotclaimthemasitsown.

Itdoesall,andyetdoesnotboastofit;

Itpresidesoverall,andyetdoesnotcontrolthem.

ThisiswhatiscalledtheMysteriousQualityoftheTao.

Byyieldingtothespiritwhichisinnate

ineveryman,

Canstthousilentlie?

Canstthou,thyprideforgot,likenature

passintothewinternight’s

extinguishedmood?

Canstthoushinenow,thendarkle?

Andbeinglatentfeelthyselfnoless?

Wiltthounotopenthyhearttoknow

Whatrainbowsteachandsunsetsshow?

Butyoumusthavethebelievingandpropheticeye.

Respectthechild.

Benottoomuchhisparent.

Trespassnotonhissolitude.

Havetheself-commandyouwishtoinspire.

Thethirtyspokesuniteintheonenave;

butitisontheemptyspace

thattheuseofthewheeldepends.

Clayisfashionedintovessels;

butitisontheiremptyhollowness

thattheirusedepends.

Doorsandwindowsarecutouttoformanapartment;

butitisontheemptyspacewithin

thatitsusedepends.

Therefore,whathasapositiveexistenceserves

forprofitableadaptation,

Andwhathasnotthatforactualusefulness.

Aninevitabledualismbisectsnature;

Ifthesouthattracts,thenorthrepels.

Whatwegaininpowerislostintime.

Ifthegoodisthere,soistheevil.

Iftheaffinity,sotherepulsion.

Iftheforce,sothelimitation.

Allthingsaredouble,oneagainstanother.

Whilsttheworldisthusdual,

soiseveryoneofitsparts.

Theentiresystemofthings

getsrepresentedineveryparticle.

Color’sfivehuesfromth’eyestheirsight

willtake;

Music’sfivenotestheearsasdeafcanmake;

Theflavorsfivedeprivethemouthoftaste;

Thechariotcourse,andthewildhuntingwaste

Makemadthemind;andobjectsrareandstrange,

Soughtfor,men’sconductwilltoevilchange.

Thereforethesageseekstosatisfythecraving

ofthebelly,

Andnottheinsatiablelongingoftheeyes.

Heputsfromhimthelatter,

andpreferstoseektheformer.

Assoonasleisureplayswithresemblances

foramusement,

WecallitsactionFancy.

Fancyrelatestosurfaces,

iswillful,superficial,

Aplayaswithdollsandpuppets.

Fancysurprisesandamusestheidle,

butissilentinthepresenceofgreatpassion.

Wemustlearnthehomelylawsoffireandwater.

Wemustfeed,wash,plant,build.

Thesearetheendsofnecessity,

andfirstintheorderofnature,

thehouseofhealthandlife.

Favor and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; Honor

andgreatcalamity,

toberegardedaspersonalconditionsofthesamekind.

Whatismeantbyspeakingthusoffavoranddisgrace?

Disgraceisbeinginalowpositionaftertheenjoymentoffavor.

Gettingthatfavorleadstotheapprehensionoflosingit,

andlosingitleadstothefearofstillgreatercalamity—

Thisiswhatismeantbysayingthatfavoranddisgrace

wouldseemequallytobefeared.

Andwhatismeantbysayingthathonorandgreatcalamity

aretoberegardedaspersonalconditions?

Whatmakesmeliabletogreatcalamityismyhavingthebody,

whichIcallmyself,

IfIhadnotthebody,whatgreatcalamitycouldcometome?

Therefore,hewhowouldadministerthekingdom,

Honoringitashehonorshisownperson,

maybeemployedtogovernit.

Andhewhowouldadministeritwiththelove

whichhebearstohisownpersonmaybeentrustedwithit.

Blameissaferthanpraise.

Everysweethathitssour,everyevilitsgood.

Domendesirethemoresubstantial

andpermanentgrandeurofgenius?

Neitherhasthisanimmunity.

Hewhobyforceofwillorofthoughtisgreat

hasthechargesofthateminence.

Witheveryinfluxoflightcomesnewdanger.

Hashelight?Hemustbearwitness

tothatlight

Andalwaysoutrunthatsympathy

whichgiveshimsuchkeensatisfaction.

Welcomeevermoretogodsandmen

istheself-helpingman.

Forhim,alldoorsareflungwide:

Himalltonguesgreet,allhonorscrown,

alleyesfollowwithdesire.

Welookatit,andwedonotseeit,andwenameit

theEquable.

Welistentoit,andwedonothearit,andwenameit

theInaudible.

Wetrytograspit,andwedonotgetholdofit,andwenameit

theSubtle.

Withthesethreequalities,itcannotbemadethesubject

ofdescription;

Andhence,weblendthemtogetherandobtainTheOne.

Itsupperpartisnotbright,anditslowerpartisnotobscure.

Ceaselessinitsaction,ityetcannotbenamed,andthen

itagainreturnsandbecomesnothing.

ThisiscalledtheFormoftheFormless,

andtheSemblanceoftheInvisible;

ThisiscalledtheFleetingandIndeterminable.

Thetrueorderofnaturebeholdsthevisible

asproceedingfromtheinvisible.

Therushingstreamwillnotstop

tobeobserved;

Sooldandsounutterable,

Itisinexactandboundless.

Butalltheusesofnatureadmitofbeing

summedinone.

Hereaboutuscoilsforever

theancientenigma.

Itisfaithfultothecause

whenceithaditsorigin.

Itisaperpetualeffect,

Agreatshadowpointingalways

tothesunbehindus.

Howsilent,howspacious,whatroomforall,

yetwithoutplacetoinsertanatom;

Itwillnotbedissected,norunraveled,

norshown.

Welearnthatbehindnature,

throughoutnature,

Spiritispresent,oneandnotcompound;

Thehistoryofthegenesisoftheoldmythology

repeatsitself.

Theskillfulmastersinoldtimes,

withasubtleandexquisitepenetration,

Comprehendeditsmysteriesandweredeep

soastoeludemen’sknowledge.

Astheywerethusbeyondmen’sknowledge,

Iwillmakeanefforttodescribewhatsort

theyappearedtobe.

Shrinkinglookedthey,likethose

whowadethroughastreaminwinter;

Irresolutelikethosewhoareafraidofallaroundthem;

Gravelikeaguestinaweofhishost;

Evanescentlikeicethatismeltingaway;

Unpretentious,likewood

thathasnotbeenfashionedintoanything

Vacantlikeavalleyanddulllikemuddywater.

Whocanmakethemuddywaterclear?

Letitbestill,anditwillgraduallybecomeclear.

Whocansecuretheconditionofrest?

Letmovementgoon,

andtheconditionofrestwillgraduallyarise.

TheywhopreservethismethodoftheTao

donotwishtobefullofthemselves.

Itisthroughtheirnotbeingfullofthemselves

thattheycanaffordtoseemwornandnotappear

newandcomplete.

Inallnationstherearemindswhichincline

todwellintheconceptionofthefundamentalUnity.

Theworldisupheldbytheveracityofgreatmen;

Theymaketheearthwholesome.

Thosewholivewiththemfindlifegladandnutritious.

Whattheyknow,theyknowforus.

Witheachnewmind,anewsecretofnaturetranspires.

Greatmenarethenacollyriumtoclearoureyes

fromegotism,

Andenableustoseeotherpeopleandtheirworks.

Theyteachusthequalitiesofprimarynature—

admitustotheconstitutionofthings.

Theescapefromallfalseties.

Couragetobewhatweare

Andlovewhatissimpleandbeautiful.

Thesearetheessentials.

Buttruegeniusseekstodefendusfromitself.

Truegeniuswillnotimpoverish,

butwillliberateandaddnewsenses.

Heisgreatwhoiswhatheisfromnature

andwhoneverremindsusofothers.

Theheroishewhoisimmovablycentered.

Thestateofvacancyshouldbebroughttotheutmostdegree,

andthatofstillnessguardedwithanunwearyingvigor.

Allthingsalikegothroughtheirprocessesofactivity,

Andthenweseethemreturntotheiroriginalstate.

Whenthingsinthevegetableworld

havedisplayedtheirluxuriantgrowth,

Weseeeachofthemreturntoitsroot.

Thisreturningtotheirrootiswhatwecall

thestateofstillness;

Andthatstillnessmaybecalledareporting

thattheyhavefulfilledtheirappointedend.

Thereportofthatfulfillmentistheregular,unchangingrule.

Toknowthatunchangingruleistobeintelligent;

Nottoknowitleadstowildmovementsandevilissues.

Theknowledgeofthatunchangingruleproduces

acapacityandforbearance,

Andthatcapacityandforbearanceleadtoacommunity

offeelingwithallthings.

Fromthiscommunityoffeelingcomesakinglinessofcharacter;

Andhewhoisking-likegoesontobeheaven-like.

Inthatlikenesstoheaven,hepossessestheTao.

PossessedoftheTao,heendureslong;

andtotheend

ofhisbodilylife,isexemptfromalldangerofdecay.

Thenretireandhide,

andfromthevalley

Beholdthemountain.

Havesolitaryprayerandpraise.

Realactionisinsilentmoments,

inathoughtwhichrevises

ourentiremanneroflife.

Bethelowlyministersofthepureomniscience.

Thesanityofmanneedsthepoiseof

thisimmanentforce.

Hisnobilityneedstheassuranceof

thisinexhaustiblepower.

Ifhelistenswithinsatiableears,

richerandgreaterwisdomistaughthim.

Heisborneawayaswithaflood.

Hishealthandgreatnessconsist

inhisbeingthechannel

throughwhichheavenflowstoearth.

Hewhoknowsthismost,hewhoknows

whatsweetsandvirtuesareintheground,

Thewaters,theplants,theheavens,

Andwhoknowshowtocomeattheseenchantments

istherichandroyalman.

Inthehighestantiquity,thepeople

didnotknowthattherewererulers.

Inthenextagetheylovedthemandpraisedthem.

Inthenexttheyfearedthem;inthenexttheydespisedthem.

Thus it was that when faith in the Tao was deficient in the

rulers,

awantoffaithinthemensuedinthepeople.

Howirresolutedidthoseearlyrulersappear,

showingbytheirreticencetheimportance
whichtheysetupontheirwords!

Theirworkwasdoneandtheirundertakingsweresuccessful,

whilethepeoplesaid,“Weareasweare,ofourselves!”

Theoldstatesmanknowsthatsocietyisfluid;

Therearenosuchrootsandcenters;

Butanyparticlemaysuddenlybecome

thecenterofthemovement.

Thewiseknowthatfoolishlegislation

isaropeofsand,

whichperishesinthetwisting;

Thatthestatemustfollow,andnotlead

thecharacterandprogressofthecitizen.

Theappearanceofcharactermakesthestateunnecessary.

Thewisemanisthestate.

WhenthegreatTaoceasedtobeobserved,

benevolenceandrighteousnesscameintovogue.

Thenappearedwisdomandshrewdness,

andthereensuedgreathypocrisy.

Whenharmonynolongerprevailed

throughoutthesixkinships,

filialsonsfoundtheirmanifestation;

Whenthestatesandclansfellintodisorder,

loyalministersappeared.

Societygainsnothingwhilstaman,

nothimselfrenovated,

Hasbecometediouslygoodinoneparticular

butnegligentornarrowintherest.

Hypocrisyistheattendantoffalsereligion.

Whenpeopleimaginethatothers

canbetheirpriest,

Whenevertheyunderstandthatnoreligion

candothemanymoregoodthan

theyactuallytaste,

Theyhavedonefearinghypocrisy.

Ifwecouldrenounceoursageness

anddiscardourwisdom,

itwouldbebetterforthepeopleahundredfold.

Ifwecouldrenounceourbenevolence

anddiscardourrighteousness,

thepeoplewouldagainbecomefilialandkindly.

Ifwecouldrenounceartfulcontrivances

anddiscardourschemesforgain,

therewouldbenothievesorrobbers.

Thosethreemethodsofgovernment

Thoughtoldofwaysinelegancedidfail

Andmadethesenamestheirwantofworthtoveil;

Butsimpleviews,andcoursesplainandtrue

Wouldselfishendsandmanylustseschew.

Theinnerlifesitsathome,

anddoesnotlearntodothings.

Itlovestruthbecauseitisitselfreal,

itknowsnothingelse;

Butitmakesnoprogress,wasaswise

inourfinalmemoryofitasnow.

Itlivesinthegreatpresent;

Itmakesthepresentgreat.

Thistranquil,well-founded,wide-seeingsoul

isnoexpress-rider,noattorney,nomagistrate.

Itliesinthesunandbroodsontheworld.

Whenwerenouncelearningwehavenotroubles.

Theready“yes”andtheflattering“yea”—

Smallisthedifferencetheydisplay.

Butmarktheirissuesgoodandill—

Whatspacethegulfbetweenshallfill?

Themultitudeofmenlooksatisfiedandpleased;

Asifenjoyingafullbanquet,asifmountedonatower

inspring.

Ialoneseemlistlessandstill,mydesireshavingasyet

givennoindicationoftheirpresence.

Iamlikeaninfantwhichhasnotyetsmiled.

Ilookdejectedandforlorn,

asifIhadnohometogoto.

Themultitudeofmenallhaveenoughandtospare.

Mymindisthatofastupidman;Iaminastateofchaos.

Ordinarymenlookbrightandintelligent,whileIalone

seembenighted.

Theylookfullofdiscrimination,whileIalone

amdullandconfused.

Iseemtobecarriedaboutasonthesea,driftingasif

Ihadnowheretorest.

Allmenhavetheirspheresofaction,whileIalone

seemdullandincapable,likearudeborderer.

ThusIaloneamdifferentfromothermen,butI

valuetheTao.

Awayprofanephilosopher!

Seekestthouinnaturethecause?

Thisreferstothat,andthattothenext,

Andthenexttothethird,andeverythingrefers.

Theworldrolls,thedinoflife

isneverhushed,

Thecarnival,themasqueradeisatitsheight;

Nobodydropshisdomino.

ButIamonlyanexperimenter;

DonotsettheleastvalueonwhatIdo

ortheleastdiscreditonwhatIdonot,

AsifIpretendedtosettleanythingastrueorfalse;

Iunsettleallthings.

Nofactsaretomesacred,noneareprofane.

Isimplyexperiment,anendlessseeker,

withnopasttomyback.

Iamaweedbythewall.

IseethatIamapensioner,notacause,

butasurprisedspectatorofthisetherealwater;

ThatIdesireandlookup,

Andputmyselfintheattitudeofreception;

Butfromsomealienenergy,

thevisionscome.

Thegrandestformsofactiveforce

FromtheTaocome,theironlysource.

WhocanofTaothenaturetell?

Oursightitflies,ourtouchaswell.

Eludingsight,eludingtouch,

Theformsofthingsallinitcrouch;

Eludingtouch,eludingsight,

Therearetheirsemblances,allright.

Profounditis,darkandobscure;

Things’essencesallthereendure.

Thoseessencesthetruthenfold.

Ofwhat,whenseen,shallthenbetold.

Nowitisso;’twassoofold.

Itsname—whatpassesnotaway;

So,intheirbeautifularray,

Thingsformandneverknowdecay.

Therearenofixturesinnature;

Theuniverseisfluidandvolatile.

Thereisnooutside,noinclosingwall,

nocircumferencetous.

Everynaturalfact

isasymbolofsomespiritualfact.

Thesage,untilhehitthesecret,

Wouldhanghisheadforshame,

Butourbrothershavenotreadit;

Noonehasfoundthekey.

Thusthereisnosleep,nopause,

nopreservation,

Butallthingsrenew,germinate

andspring.

The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; The

empty,full;theworn-out,new.

Hewhosedesiresarefewgetsthem;

Hewhosedesiresaremanygoesastray.

Thereforethesageholdsinhisembrace

theonething,humility,andmanifestsittoalltheworld.

Heisfreefromself-display,andthereforeheshines;

Fromself-assertion,andthereforeheisdistinguished;

From self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged;

From self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority.

Itisbecauseheisthusfreefromstriving

thatthereforenooneintheworldisabletostrivewithhim.

Thatsayingoftheancients

that“thepartialbecomescomplete”wasnotvainlyspoken—

Allrealcompletioniscomprehendedunderit.

Thosewhoarecapableofhumility,

ofjustice,oflove,ofaspiration,

Standalreadyonaplatformthatcommands

actionandgrace.

Thisenergydidnotdescendintoindividuallife

onanyothercondition

thanentirepossession.

Itcomestothelowlyandthesimple;

Itcomestowhomsoeverwillputoff

whatisforeignandproud;

Itcomesasinsight,itcomesas

serenityandgrandeur.

Abstainingfromspeechmarkshimwhoisobeying

thespontaneityofhisnature.

Aviolentwinddoesnotlastforawholemorning;

Asuddenraindoesnotlastforthewholeday.

Towhomisitthatthesetwothingsareowing?

Toheavenandearth.

Ifheavenandearthcannotmakesuchactionslastlong,

howmuchlesscanman!

Therefore,whenoneismakingtheTaohisbusiness,

Thosewhoarealsopursuingit,agreewithhiminit,

Andthosewhoaremakingthemanifestationofitscourse

theirobjectagreewithhiminthat;

Whileeventhosewhoarefailinginboththesethings

agreewiththemwheretheyfail.

Hence,thosewithwhomheagreesastotheTao

havethehappinessofattainingtoit;

Thosewithwhomheagreesastoitsmanifestation

havethehappinessofattainingtoit;

Andthosewithwhomheagreesintheirfailure

havealsothehappinessofattainingtotheTao.

Butwhenthereisnotfaithsufficientonhispart,

Awantoffaithinhimensuesonthepartoftheothers.

Silenceisbetterthanspeech.

Allthingsareincontact,

Everyatomhasasphereofrepulsion.

Fornature,whoabhorsmaneuvers,

hassetherheartonbreakingupallstylesandtricks.

Naturekeepsherselfwhole,

andherrepresentationcomplete.

Insplendidvarietythesechangescome,

allputtingquestionstothehumanspirit.

Thosemenwhocannotanswerbyasuperiorwisdom

thesefactsorquestionsoftime,servethem.

Factsencumberthem,tyrannizeoverthem,

andmakethemenofroutinethemenofsense,

Inwhomaliteralobediencetofact

hasextinguishedeverysparkofthatlight

bywhichmanistrulyman.

Butifthemanistruetohisbetterinstincts

orsentiments,andrefusesthedominionoffacts,

Asonethatcomesofahigherrace

remainsfastbythesoulandseestheprinciple,

Thenthefactsfallaptlyandsupple

intotheirplaces;

Theyknowtheirmaster,andthemeanestofthem

glorifieshim.

Hewhostandsonhistiptoesdoesnotstandfirm;

Hewhostretcheshislegsdoesnotwalkeasily.

So,hewhodisplayshimselfdoesnotshine;

Hewhoassertshisownviewsisnotdistinguished;

Hewhovauntshimselfdoesnotfindhismeritacknowledged;

Hewhoisself-conceitedhasnosuperiorityallowedtohim.

Suchconditions,viewedfromthestandpointoftheTao,

Arelikeremnantsoffood,ortumorsonthebody,

whichalldislike.

HencethosewhopursuetheTaodonotadoptandallowthem.

Ifamanlosehisbalance,andimmerse

himselfinanytradesandpleasures

fortheirownsake,

Hemaybeagoodwheelorpin,

Butheisnotacultivatedman.

Themanoftheworldavoidsallbrag.

Prudenceconsistsinavoidingandgoingwithout,

notintheinventingofmeansandmethods,

notinadroitsteering,notingeneralrepairing.

Suchisthevalueofthesematters

Thatamanwhoknowsotherthings,

canneverknowtoomuchofthese.

Therewassomethingundefinedandcomplete,

comingintoexistencebeforeHeavenandEarth.

Howstillitwasandformless,

standingalone,andundergoingnochange,

reachingeverywhereandinnodangerofbeingexhausted!

ItmayberegardedastheMotherofallthings.

Idonotknowitsname,andIgiveitthedesignationoftheTao

(theWayorCourse).

Makinganefforttogiveitaname

IcallittheGreat.

Great,itpassesoninconstantflow.

Passingon,itbecomesremote.

Havingbecomeremote,itreturns.

Therefore,theTaoisgreat;

Heavenisgreat;Earthisgreat;

Andthesageisalsogreat.

Intheuniversetherearefourthataregreat,

Andthesageisoneofthem.

MantakeshislawfromtheEarth;

TheEarthtakesitslawfromHeaven;

HeaventakesitslawfromtheTao.

ThelawoftheTaoisitsbeingwhatitis.

Fortheworldwasbuiltinorder

Andtheatomsmarchintune,

Rhymethepipe,andtimethewarder,

Thesunobeysthemandthemoon.

Wecannotlearnthecipher

That’swrituponourcell.

Starstauntusbyamystery

Whichwecouldneverspell.

Theconsciousstarsaccordabove,

thewaterswildbelow.

Fornaturelistensintherose

andhearkensintheberry’sbell.

Thereisamelodybornofmelody

whichmeltstheworldintoasea.

Natureisamutablecloud,

Whichisalwaysandneverthesame.

Nothingdivinedies.

Thebeautyofnaturereformsitselfinthemind,

andnotforbarrencontemplation,butfornewcreation.

Gravityistherootoflightness;

stillness,therulerofmovement.

Therefore,awiseprince,marchingthewholeday,

doesnotgofarfromhisbaggagewagons.

Althoughhemayhavebrilliantprospectstolookat,

hequietlyremainsinhisproperplace,

indifferenttothem.

Howshouldthelordofamyriadchariots

carryhimselflightlybeforethekingdom?

Ifhedoactlightly,hehaslosthisroot;

Ifheproceedtoactivemovement,

hewilllosehisthrone.

Thefactoftwoforces,centripetalandcentrifugal,

isuniversal.

Andeachforcebyitsownactivity

developstheother.

Naturewillnothaveusfretandfume.

Ourpainfullaborsareunnecessaryandfruitless.

Onlyinoureasy,simple,spontaneousaction

arewestrong.

Thereisnoneedofstruggle,convulsions,

anddespairs,

Orthewringingofhandsandthegnashingofteeth.

Wemiscreateourownevils.

Theskillfultravelerleavesnotraces

ofhiswheelsorfootsteps;

Theskillfulspeakersaysnothing

thatcanbefoundfaultwithorblamed;

Theskillfulreckonerusesnotallies;

Theskillfulcloserneedsnoboltsorbars,

whiletoopenwhathehasshutwillbeimpossible;

Theskillfulbinderusesnostringsorknots,

whiletounloosewhathehasboundwillbeimpossible.

Inthesamewaythesage

isalwaysskillfulatsavingmen,

Andsohedoesnotcastawayanyman;

Heisalwaysskillfulatsavingthings,

Andsohedoesnotcastawayanything.

Thisiscalled“hidingthelightofhisprocedure.”

Therefore,themanofskillisamastertobelookedupto

byhimwhohasnottheskill;

Andhewhohasnottheskillisthehelper

ofthereputationofhimwhohastheskill.

Iftheonedidnothonorhismaster,

andtheotherdidnotrejoiceinhishelper,

Anobserver,thoughintelligent,mightgreatlyerraboutthem.

Thisiscalled“theutmostdegreeofmystery.”

’Tisaseasytotwistironanchors,

andbraidcannons,astobraidstraw,

Toboilgranite,astoboilwater,

ifyoutakeallstepsinorder.

Bysimpleliving,byanillimitablesoul,

youinspire,youcorrect,youinstruct,

youraise,youembellishall.

Byyourownact,youteachthebeholder

howtodothepracticable.

Accordingtothedepthfromwhichyou

drawyourlife,

Suchisthedepthofyourmannersandpresence.

Bythepermanenceofnature,

mindsaretrainedalike,

Andaremadeintelligibletoeachother.

Goodisagooddoctor,butBadissometimesabetter.

Whoknowshismanhood’sstrength,

Yetstillhisfemalefeeblenessmaintains;

Astoonechannelflowthemanydrains,

Allcometohim,yea,allbeneaththesky.

Thushetheconstantexcellenceretains—

Thesimplechildagain,freefromallstains.

Whoknowshowwhiteattracts:

Yetalwayskeepshimselfwithinblack’sshade,

Thepatternofhumilitydisplayed,

Displayedinviewofallbeneaththesky;

Heintheunchangingexcellencearrayed,

Endlessreturntoman’sfirststatehasmade.

Whoknowshowgloryshines,

Yetlovesdisgrace,nore’erforitispale;

Beholdhispresenceinaspaciousvale,

Towhichmencomefromallbeneaththesky,

Theunchangingexcellencecompletesitstale

Thesimpleinfantmaninhimwehail.

Menofgeniusaresaidtopartakeof

themasculineandfemininetraits.

Asmuchasamanisawhole,

soishealsoapart.

Speakasyouthink,bewhatyouare,

Lookuponthesimpleandchildishvirtues

ofveracityandhonesty

astherootofallthatissublimeincharacter.

Amultitudeoftriflesimpedethemind’seye

fromthegreatsearch

ofthatfinehorizon-linethattruthkeeps.

Thewaytoknowledgeandpower

isnotthroughplentyandsuperfluity,

Butbydenialandrenunciation

intosolitudeandprivation.

Letusapplytothissubjectthesametorch

bywhichwehavelookedatall

thephenomenaofthetime,

Theinfinitude,namely,ofeveryman.

Everythingteachesthat.

Ifanyoneshouldwishtogetthekingdomforhimself,

andtoeffectthisbywhathedoes,

Iseethathewillnotsucceed.

Thekingdomisaspirit-likething,

andcannotbegotbyactivedoing.

Hewhowouldsowinitdestroysit;

Hewhowouldholditinhisgrasplosesit.

Thecourseandnatureofthingsissuchthat

Whatwasinfrontisnowbehind;

Whatwarmedanonwefreezingfind.

Strengthisofweaknessoftthespoil;

Thestoreinruinsmocksourtoil.

Hencethesageputsawayexcessiveeffort,

extravagance,andeasyindulgence.

Naturehasself-poiseinallherworks;

Certainproportionsinwhichoxygenandazotecombine,

Andnotlessaharmonyinfaculties,

afitnessinthespringandtheregulator.

Soletmanbe,

Lethimemptyhisbreastofhiswindyconceits

Andshowhislordshipbymannersanddeeds

onthescaleofnature.

Nature,hatingartandpains,

Balksandbafflesplottingbrains.

Thedivinecirculationsneverrestnorlinger;

Weareencampedinnature,notdomesticated.

Itisfirmwater,itiscoldflame.

Hewhowouldassistalordofmen

inharmonywiththeTao

Willnotasserthismasteryinthekingdom

byforceofarms.

Suchacourseissuretomeetwithitsproperreturn.

Whereverahostisstationed,briarsandthornsspringup.

Inthesequenceofgreatarmies,therearesuretohehadyears.

AskillfulcommanderstrikesadecisiveMowandstops.

Hedoesnotdaretoassertandcompletehismastery.

HewillstrikeaMow,hutwillheonhisguard

againstbeingvainorboastfulorarrogant

inconsequenceofit.

Hestrikesitasamatterofnecessity;

Hestrikesit,butnotfromawishformastery.

Whenthingshaveattainedtheirmaturity,theybecomeold.

ThismaybesaidtobenotinaccordancewiththeTao,

Andwhatisnotinaccordancewithitsooncomestoanend.

Warbeginstolooklikeanepidemicinsanity,

Breakingouthereandtherelikethecholera

orinfluenza

Infectingmen’sbrains.

Whenseenintheremotepast,

intheinfancyofsociety,

Appearsapartoftheconnectionofevents

andinitsplace,necessary.

Warandpeacethusresolvethemselves

intoamercuryofthestateofcultivation.

Atcertainstages,themanfights,

ifhebeofsoundbodyandmind.

Atacertainhigherstage,

hemakesnooffensivedemonstration.

Hiswarlikenatureisallconcertedinto

anactivemedicinalprinciple.

Nowarms,howeverbeautiful,

areinstrumentsofevilomen,

Hateful,itmaybesaid,toallcreatures.

ThereforetheywhohavetheTaodonotliketoemploythem.

Thesuperiormanordinarilyconsidersthelefthand

themosthonorableplace,

Butintimeofwartherighthand.

Thosesharpweaponsareinstrumentsofevilomen,

andnottheinstrumentsofthesuperiorman—

Heusesthemonlyonthecompulsionofnecessity.

Calmandreposearewhatheprizes;

Victorybyforceofarmsistohimundesirable.

Toconsiderthisdesirablewouldbetodelight

intheslaughterofmen;

Andhewhodelightsintheslaughterofmen

cannotgethiswillinthekingdom.

Hewhohaskilledmultitudesofmen

Shouldweepforthemwiththebitterestgrief.

Theinstinctofself-helpisveryearlyunfolded

inthecoarseandmerelybruteformofwar.

Tomenofasedateandmaturespirit,

inwhomisanyknowledgeormentalactivity,

Thedetailofbattlebecomesunsupportably

tediousandrevolting.

Nothingisplainerthanthatthesympathy

withwar

Isajuvenileandtemporarystate.

Thestandingarmy,thearsenal,thecamp

andthegibbet

Donotappertaintoman.

Theyonlyserveasanindextoshow

wheremanisnow;

Whatabad,unorganizedtemperhehas;

Whatanuglyneighborheis;howlowhishopelies.

Cannotlovebe,aswellashate?

Cannotpeacebe,aswellaswar?

TheTao,consideredasunchanging,hasnoname.

Thoughinitsprimordialsimplicity,itmaybesmall,

Thewholeworlddaresnotdealwithitasaminister.

Ifafeudalprinceorkingcouldguardandholdit,

Allwouldspontaneouslysubmitthemselvestohim.

Heavenandearth,underitsguidance,unitetogether

andsenddownthesweetdew,

Which,withoutthedirectionsofmen,

reachesequallyeverywhereasofitsownaccord.

Assoonasitproceedstoaction,ithasaname.

Whenitoncehasthatname,

Mencanknowtorestinit.

Whentheyknowtorestinit,

Theycanbefreefromallriskoffailureorerror.

TherelationoftheTaotoalltheworld

islikethatofthegreatriversandseas

tothestreamsfromthevalleys.

Thisdeeppowerinwhichwerest

Andwhosebeatitudesareallaccessibletous,

Isnotonlyself-sufficingandperfect

ineveryhour;

Buttheactofseeingandthethingseen,

Theseerandthespectacle,

Thesubjectandtheobject,

areone.

NaturejudgeslikeaGodallmenthat

cometoher.

Thatpower,whichdoesnotrespectquantity,

Whichmakesthewholeandtheparticle

itsequalchannel,

Delegatesitssmiletothemorning,

Anddistillsitsessenceintoeverydropofrain.

Hewhoknowsothermenisdiscerning;

Hewhoknowshimselfisintelligent.

Hewhoovercomesothersisstrong;

Hewhoovercomeshimselfismighty.

Hewhoissatisfiedwithhislotisrich;

Hewhogoesonactingwithenergyhasafirmwill.

Hewhodoesnotfailintherequirementsofhisposition,

continueslong;

Hewhodiesandyetdoesnotperish,haslongevity.

Hewhoknowsthatpowerisinborn,

Thatheisweakbecausehehaslooked

forgoodoutofhim,

andelsewhere,

Andsoperceiving,throwshimself

unhesitatinglyonhisthoughts,

Instantlyrightshimself,standsin

theerectposition,

Commandshislimbs,worksmiracles,

Justasamanwhostandsonhisfeet

isstrongerthanamanwhostandsonhishead.

All-pervadingisthegreatTao!

Itmaybefoundonthelefthand

andontheright.

Allthingsdependonitfortheirproduction,

Whichitgivestothem,notonerefusingobediencetoit.

Whenitsworkisaccomplished,

itdoesnotclaimthenameofhavingdoneit.

Itclothesallthingsaswithagarment,

Andmakesnoassumptionofbeingtheirlord—

Itmaybenamedinthesmallestthings.

Allthingsreturntotheirrootanddisappear,

Anddonotknowthatitisitwhichpresides

overtheirdoingso—

Itmaybenamedinthegreatestthings.

Hencethesageisableinthesameway

toaccomplishhisgreatachievements.

Itisthroughhisnotmakinghimselfgreat

thathecanaccomplishthem.

Forwisdomisinfusedintoeveryform;

Thedivinecirculationsneverrestorlinger.

Thedanceofthehoursgoesforwardstill;

likeanodorofincense,likeastrainofmusic,

likesleep,

Itisinexactandboundless.

Thisenergycomestothelowlyandsimple.

Itcomestowhomeverwillputoff

whatisforeignandproud;

Itcomesasinsight;itcomesasserenity

andgrandeur.

TohimwhoholdsinhishandtheGreatImage

oftheInvisibleTao,

Thewholeworldrepairs.

Menresorttohim,andreceivenohurt,

Butfindrest,peace,andthefeelingofease.

Musicanddaintieswillmakethepassingguest

stopforatime.

ButthoughtheTao,asitcomesfromthemouth,

seemsinsipidandhasnoflavor,

Thoughitseemsnotworthbeinglookedat

orlistenedto,

Theuseofitisinexhaustible.

Heisgreatwhoiswhatheisfromnature,

andneverremindsusofthis.

Theworldisupheldbytheveracityofgoodmen.

Theymaketheearthwholesome.

Wevaluetotalpowersandeffects,

asthespiritorqualityoftheman.

Wehaveanothersight,andanewstandard,

Aninsightwhichdisregardswhatisdonefortheeye;

Anearwhichhearsnotwhatmensay

butwhattheydonotsay.

Whenoneisabouttotakeaninspiration,

heissuretomakeapreviousexpiration;

Whenheisgoingtoweakenanother,

hewillfirststrengthenhim;

Whenheisgoingtooverthrowanother,

hewillfirsthaveraisedhimup;

Whenheisgoingtodespoilanother,

hewillfirsthavemadegiftstohim—

Thisiscalled“hidingthelightofhisprocedure.

Thesoftovercomesthehard;

Andtheweak,thestrong.

Fishesshouldnotbetakenfromthedeep;

Instrumentsfortheprofitofastate

shouldnotbeshowntothepeople.

Polarity,oractionandreaction,wemeet

ineverypartofnature;

Intheinspirationandexpirationof

plantsandanimals;

Asurplusagegiventoonepart

ispaidoutofareductionfromanotherpart.

Whatwegaininpowerislostintime.

Everysweethathitssour;

everyevilitsgood.

Foreverythingyougain,youlosesomething.

Thereisalwayssomelevelingcircumstance

thatputsdowntheoverbearing,thestrong.

TheTaoinitsregularcoursedoesnothing

forthesakeofdoingit,

Andsothereisnothingwhichitdoesnotdo.

Ifprincesandkingswereabletomaintainit,

Allthingswouldofthemselves

Betransformedbythem.

Ifthistransformationbecametome

anobjectofdesire,

Iwouldexpressthedesirebythenamelesssimplicity.

Simplicitywithoutaname

Isfreefromallexternalaim.

Withnodesire,atrestandstill,

Allthingsgorightasoftheirwill.

Whenaman,throughstubbornness,

insiststodothisorthat,

Somethingabsurdorwhimsical,

onlybecausehewill,

Heisweak.

Heblowswithhislipsagainstthetempest;

Hecalmstheincomingoceanwithhiscane.

Shunpassion,foldthehandsofthrift,

Sitstillandtruthisnear;

Suddenly,itwilluplift

Youreyelidstothesphere:

Waitalittle,youshallsee.

Thosewhopossessedinthehighestdegree

theattributesoftheTao

Didnotseektoshowthem,

Andthereforetheypossessedtheminfullestmeasure.

Thosewhopossessedinalowerdegreethoseattributes

Soughthownottolosethem,

Andthereforetheydidnotpossesstheminfullestmeasure.

Thosewhopossessedinthehighestdegreethoseattributes

Didnothingwithapurpose,andhadnoneedtodoanything

Thosewhopossessedtheminalowerdegree

werealwaysdoing,andhadneedtobesodoing.

Thosewhopossessedthehighestbenevolence

werealwaysseekingtocarryitout,

andhadnoneedtobedoingso.

Thosewhopossessedthehighestrighteousness

werealwaysseekingtocarryitout,

andhadneedtobesodoing.

ThusitwasthatwhentheTaowaslost,

itsattributesappeared;

Whenitsattributeswerelost,benevolenceappeared;

Whenbenevolencewaslost,righteousnessappeared;

Andwhenrighteousnesswaslost,theproprietiesappeared.

Thusitisthatthegreatmanabidesbywhatissolid,

andeschewswhatisflimsy;

Dwellswiththefruitandnotwiththeflower.

Menachieveacertaingreatnessunawares

whenworkingtoanotheraim.

Theyteachusthequalitiesofprimarynature,

admitustotheconstitutionofthings.

Whattheyknow,theyknowforus.

Witheachnewmananewsecretofnaturetranspires.

Theescapefromallfalseties;

couragetobewhatweare;

andloveofwhatissimpleandbeautiful;

Thesearetheessentials.

Thewisemanshowshiswisdominseparation,

ingradation,

Andhisscaleofcreaturesandofmerits

isaswideasnature.

Thefoolishhavenorangeintheirscale,

butsupposeeverymanisaseveryotherman.

Whatisnotgood,theycalltheworst,

Andwhatisnothateful,theycallthebest.

Inlikemanner,whatgoodheednatureformsinus!

Shepardonsnomistakes.

Heryeaisyea,hernay,nay.

Theheroishewhoisimmovablycentered.

ThethingswhichfromofoldhavegottheTaoare—

Heavenwhichbyitisbrightandpure;

Earthrenderedtherebyfirmandsure;

Spiritswithpowersbyitsupplied;

Valleyskeptfullthroughouttheirvoid;

Allcreatureswhichthroughitdolive;

Princesandkingswhofromitget

Themodelwhichtoalltheygive.

AllthesearetheresultsoftheTao.

Ifheavenwerenotthuspure,itsoonwouldrend;

Ifearthwerenotthussure,’twouldbreakandbend;

Withoutthesepowers,thespiritssoonwouldfail;

Ifnotsofilled,thedroughtwouldparcheachvale;

Withoutthatlife,creatureswouldpassaway;

Princesandkings,withoutthatmoralsway,

Howevergrandandhigh,wouldalldecay.

Itistheuniversalnature,whichgivesworth

toparticularmenandthings.

Natureisanimmutablecloud,whichisalways

andneverthesame.

Everychemicalsubstance,everyplant,

everyanimalinitsgrowth,

Teachestheunityofcause,thevarietyofappearance.

Alllawsderivehencetheirultimatereason;

Allexpressmoreorlessdistinctlysomecommandof

thissupreme,illimitableessence.

Thereisnogreatandnosmall

Tothesoulthatmakethall.

Andwhereitcometh,allthingsare;

Anditcometheverywhere.

Eyesarefoundinlight;earsinauricularair;

Feetonland;finsinwater;wingsinair.

Andeachcreaturewhereitwasmeanttobe,

withamutualfitness.

ThemovementoftheTao

Bycontrariesproceeds;

Andweaknessmarksthecourse

OfTao’smightydeeds.

Everynaturalfactisanemanation,

andthatfromwhichitemanates

isanemanationalso,

Andfromeveryemanation

isanewemanation.

Amysteriousprincipleoflife

mustbeassumed,

Whichnotonlyinhabitstheorgan,

butmakestheorgan.

Scholarsofthehighestclass,whentheyhearabouttheTao,

earnestlycarryitintopractice.

Scholarsofthemiddleclass,whentheyhaveheardaboutit,

seemnowtokeepitandnowtoloseit.

Scholarsofthelowestclass,whentheyhaveheardaboutit,

laughgreatlyatit.

Ifitwerenotthuslaughedat,itwouldnothefittohetheTao.

Therefore,thesentencemakershavethusexpressedthemselves:

TheTao,whenbrightestseen,seemslighttolack;

Whoprogressinitmakes,seemsdrawingback;

Itsevenwayislikearuggedtrack.

Itshighestvirtuefromthevaledothrise;

Itsgreatestbeautyseemstooffendtheeyes:

Andhehasmostwhoselottheleastsupplies.

Itsfirmestvirtueseemshutpoorandlow;

Itssolidtruthseemschangetoundergo;

Itslargestsquaredothyetnocornershow;

Avesselgreat,itistheslowestmade.

Loudisitssound,hutneverworditsaid.

Asemblancegreat,theshadowofashade.

Thereisacertainwisdomofhumanity

Whichiscommontothegreatestmanwiththelowest;

Thelearnedandstudiousofthought

havenomonopolyofwisdom.

Weowemanyvaluableobservationstopeople

whoarenotveryacuteorprofound.

Theactionofthesoulisoftenerinthat

whichisfeltandleftunsaid,

Thanthatwhichissaidinanyconversation.

Weknowbetterthanwedo.

Thatwhichonceexistedinintellectaspurelaw

hasnowtakenbodyasnature.

Itexistedalreadyinthemindinsolution;

Nowithasbeenprecipitated,

Andthebrightsedimentistheworld.

Wecouldneversurprisenatureinacorner;

Itisinexactandboundless.

Talentgoesfromwithoutinward.

WhenGeniusarrives,itflowsoutofadeepersource

thantheforegoingsilence.

Hereaboutuscoilsforevertheagentenigma,

soold,andsounutterable.

TheTaoproducedOne;OneproducedTwo;

TwoproducedThree;Threeproducedallthings.

AllthingsleavebehindthemtheObscurity

outofwhichtheyhavecome,

AndgoforwardtoembracetheBrightness

intowhichtheyhaveemerged,

WhiletheyareharmonizedbytheBreathofVacancy.

Whatmendislikeistobeorphans,

tohavelittlevirtue,tobeascarriageswithoutnaves;

Andyetthesearethedesignationswhichkings

andprincesuseforthemselves.

Soitisthatsomethingsareincreasedbybeingdiminished,

andothersarediminishedbybeingincreased.

Whatothermenteach,Ialsoteach.

Theviolentandstrongdonotdietheirnaturaldeath.

Iwillmakethisthebasisofmyteaching.

Theincessantmovementandprogress

inwhichallthingspartake

Couldneverbecomesensibletousbutbycontrast

Tosomeprincipleoffixtureorstabilityinthesoul.

Wecanneverbequitestrangersorinferiorsinnature.

Itisfleshofourflesh,andboneofourbone.

’Tistheoldsecretofthegods,

Thattheycomeinlowdisguises.

’Tisthevulgargreat,whocomedizened

withgoldandjewels.

Realkingshidetheircrownsawayintheirwardrobes,

andaffectaplainandpoorexterior.

Therealandlastingvictoriesarethoseofpeace,

andnotofwar.

Thewaytoconquertheforeignartisan

isnottokillhim,buttobeathiswork.

Thesoftestthingintheworlddashesagainst

andovercomesthehardest;

Thatwhichhasnosubstantialexistenceenters

wherethereisnocrevice.

Iknowherebywhatadvantagebelongs

todoingnothingwithapurpose.

Thereareafewintheworldwhoattain

totheteachingwithoutwords,

Andtheadvantagearisingfromnon-action.

Allisriddle,andthekeytoariddle

isanotherriddle.

Tochangeandtoflow,thegasbecomessolid,

Andphantomsandnothings

returntobethings.

Prudenceconsistsinavoiding

andgoingwithout,

Notintheinventingofmeansandmethods,

Notinadroitsteering,notingentlerepairing.

Orfameorlife,

Whichdoyouholdmoredear?

Orlifeorwealth,

Towhichwouldyouadhere?

Keeplifeandlosethoseotherthings;

Keepthemandloseyourlife—which

brings

Sorrowandpainmorenear?

Thuswemaysee

Whocleavestofame

Rejectswhatismoregreat;

Wholoveslargestores

Givesupthericherstate.

Whoiscontent

Needsfearnoshame.

Whoknowstostop

Incursnoblame.

Fromdangerfree

Longliveshallhe.

Geniusconsistsinneitherimprovingnor

remembering,

Butinbothtremblesthebeam

ofthebalanceofnature.

Twobrainsineveryman

Whowalksinwaysthatareunfamed

Andfeatsachievedbeforethey’renamed.

Thereisateachingforhimfromwithin

whichisleadinghiminanewpath,

And,themoreitistrusted,

Separatesandsignalizeshim,

Whileitmakeshimmoreimportantand

necessarytosociety.

Sothathisdoing,whichisperfectlynatural,

Appearsmiraculoustodullpeople.

Whothinkshisgreatachievementspoor

Shallfindhisvigorlongendure.

Ofgreatestfullness,deemedavoid,

Exhaustionne’ershallstemthetide.

Dothouwhat’sstraightstillcrookeddeem;

Thygreatestartstillstupidseem,

Andeloquenceastammeringscream.

Constantactionovercomescold;

Beingstillovercomesheat.

Purityandstillnessgivethecorrectlaw

toallunderheaven.

Themenwecallgreatestareleast

inthiskingdom.

Hethatdespisethsmallthings

willperishlittlebylittle.

Lethimesteemnatureaperpetualcounselor

andherperfectionstheexact

measureofourdeviations.

Donotcrazeyourselfwiththinking,

Butgoaboutyourbusinessanywhere.

Lifeisnotintellectualorcritical,

butsturdy.

WhentheTaoprevailsintheworld,

Theysendbacktheirswifthorsestodraw

thedung-carts.

WhentheTaoisdisregardedintheworld,

Thewarhorsesbreedintheborderlands.

Thereisnoguiltgreaterthantosanctionambition;

Nocalamitygreaterthantobediscontented

withone’slot;

Nofaultgreaterthanthewishtobegetting.

Therefore,thesufficiencyofcontentmentisanenduring

andunchangingsufficiency.

Aman’swisdomistoknowthat

allendsaremomentary.

Ifhelistenswithinsatiableears,

richerandgreaterwisdomistaughthim.

Heisthefoolofideasandleadsaheavenlylife.

Hishealthandgreatnessconsists

inhisbeingthechannelthroughwhich

heavenflowstoearth.

Whatman,seeingthis,canloseit

fromhisthoughts.

Withoutgoingoutsidehisdoor,oneunderstands

allthattakesplaceunderthesky;

Withoutlookingoutfromhiswindow,onesees

theTaoofHeaven.

Thefartherthatonegoesoutfromhimself,

thelessheknows.

Thereforethesagesgottheirknowledge

withouttraveling;

Gavetheirrightnametothingswithoutseeingthem;

Andaccomplishedtheirendswithoutanypurpose

ofdoingso.

Thesoulisnotraveler;

Thewisemanstaysathome.

Hedoesnotgoabroadwiththehopeoffinding

somewhatgreaterthanheknows.

Thesoulthatisplainandtrue

dwellsinthehourthatnowis,

intheearnestexperienceofthecommonday

Andthemeretriflebecomesporoustothought,

andbibuloustotheseaoflight.

Hewhodevoteshimselftolearningseeks

fromdaytodaytoincreasehisknowledge;

HewhodevoteshimselftotheTaoseeks

fromdaytodaytodiminishhisdoing.

Hediminishesitandagaindiminishesit,

tillhearrivesatdoingnothing(onpurpose).

Havingarrivedatthispointofnon-action,thereis

nothingwhichhedoesnotdo.

Letusunlearnourwisdomoftheworld.

Letustakeourbloatednothingnessoutof

thepathofdivinecircuits.

Letuslielowandlearnthattruthalone

makesrichandgreat.

Therichmindliesinthesunandsleeps,

andisnature.

Tothinkistoact.

Thesagehasnoinvariablemindofhisown;

Hemakesthemindofthepeoplehismind.

Tothosewhoaregoodtome,Iamgood;

Andtothosewhoarenotgoodtome,

Iamalsogood—

Andthus,allgettobegood.

Tothosewhoaresincerewithme,

Iamsincere;

Andtothosewhoarenotsincerewithme,

Iamalsosincere—

Andthusallgettobesincere.

Thesagehasintheworldanappearance

ofindecision,

Andkeepshismindinastateofindifferencetoall.

Thepeopleallkeeptheireyesandearsdirectedtohim,

andhedealswiththemallashischildren.

Bythepermanenceofnature,mindsaretrainedalike

andmadeintelligibletoeachother.

Goodandbadarebutnamesveryreadily

transferabletothatorthis.

Ioughttogouprightandvital

andspeaktherudetruthinallways.

Mylifeisforitselfandnotforspectacle.

Thegreatmanishewhointhemidstofthecrowd

Keepswithperfectsweetness

theindependenceofsolitude.

Thewisemanshallmakemensensible

bytheexpressionofhiscountenance,

Thathegoesthemissionaryofwisdomandvirtue.

Mencomeforthandlive;theyenteragainanddie.

Ofeveryten,threeareministersoflife;

Andthreeareministersofdeath.

Therearealsothreeineveryten

whoseaimistolive,

butwhosemovementstendtothelandofdeath.

Andforwhatreason?

Becauseoftheirexcessiveendeavorstoperpetuatelife.

ButIhaveheardthathewhoisskillful

atmanagingthelifeentrustedtohim

Foratimetravelsontheland

withouthavingtoshunrhinocerosortiger,

Andentersahostwithouthavingtoavoid

buffcoatorsharpweapon.

Therhinocerosfindsnoplaceinhim

intowhichtothrustitshorn,

Northetigeraplaceinwhichtofixitsclaws,

Northeweaponaplacetoadmititspoint.

Andforwhatreason?

Becausethereisinhimnoplaceofdeath.

Thenameofdeathwasneverterrible

tohimthatknewtolive.

Amanofthoughtiswillingtodie,

willingtolive.

Theworldisdeliveredintoyourhand,

butontwoconditions—

Notforproperty,butforuse,

Useaccordingtothenoblenatureofthegift,

notfortoys,andnotforself-indulgence.

Thingsworktotheirends,notyours,

Andwillcertainlydefeatanyadventurer

whofightsagainstthisordination.

Onthebordersofthegrave,thewiseman

looksforwardwithelasticityofmind,orhope.

AllthingsareproducedbytheTao,

andnourishedbyitsoutflowingoperation.

Theyreceivetheirformsaccordingtothenatureofeach,

andarecompletedaccording

tothecircumstancesoftheircondition.

Thereforeallthingswithoutexception

honortheTao,

Andexaltitsoutflowingoperation.

ThusitisthattheTaoproducesallthings,

Nourishesthem,bringsthemtotheirfullgrowth,

Nursesthem,completesthem,maturesthem,

maintainsthem,andoverspreadsthem.

Itproducesthemandmakesnoclaim

tothepossessionofthem;

Itcarriesthemthroughtheirprocesses

anddoesnotvauntitsabilityindoingso;

Itbringsthemtomaturityandexercises

nocontroloverthem—

Thisiscalleditsmysteriousoperation.

Themethodofnature:whocouldeveranalyzeit?

Thesimplicityofnatureisnotthat

whichmaybeeasilyread,

Butitisinexhaustible.

Thespiritandpeculiarityofthatimpressionis

Thatitdoesnotexisttoanyoneortoanynumber

ofparticularhands,

Buttonumberlessandendlessbenefit.

Thereisinitnoprivatewill,norebelleaforlimb,

butthewholeisoppressedby

oursuperincumbenttendency.

Natureconvertsitselfintoavastpromise,

andwillnotberashlyexplained.

TheTaowhichoriginatedallunderthesky

Istobeconsideredasthemotherofthemall.

Whenthemotherisfound,

Weknowwhatherchildrenshouldbe.

Whenoneknowsthatheishismother’schild,

andproceedstoguardthemotherthatbelongstohim,

Totheendofhislifehewillbefreefromallperil.

Lethimkeephismouthclosed,andshutup

theportalsofhisnostrils,

Andallhislifehewillbeexemptfromlaboriousexertion.

Lethimkeephismouthopened,

andspendhisbreath

inthepromotionofhisaffairs,

Andallhislifetherewillbenosafetyforhim.

Theperceptionofwhatissmallisthesecret

ofclear-sightedness;

Theguardingofwhatissoftandtender

isthesecretofstrength.

Whouseswellhislight,

Revertingtoitssourcesobright,

Willfromhisbodywardallblight,

Andhidestheunchangingfrommen’ssight.

Underallthisrunningseaofcircumstance,

whosewatersebbandflowwithperfectbalance,

liestheaboriginalabyssofrealBeing.

Letmeseeeverytriflebristlingwith

thepolaritythatrangesitinstantly

onaninternallaw.

Andtheshop,theplough,andtheledger

refertothelikecausebywhich

lightundulatesandpoetssing.
Theworldliesnolongeradullmiscellany,

buthasformandorder;

Thereisnotrifle,thereisnopuzzle;

Butonedesignwritesandanimates

thefarthestpinnacleandthelowesttrench.

Thereisalwayslifefortheliving;

Whatamanhasdoneamancando.

Everymanisprovidedwithakeytonature,
Andthatmanonlyrightlyknowshimself
asfarashehasexperimentedonthings.

IfIweresuddenlytobecomeknown,

Andputinapositiontoconduct

agovernmentaccordingtothegreatTao,

WhatIshouldhemostafraidofwouldheaboastfuldisplay.

ThegreatTaoisverylevelandeasy;

Butpeoplelovethebyways.

Theircourtyardsandbuildingsshallbewellkept,

Buttheirfieldsshallheillcultivated,

andtheirgranariesveryempty.

Theyshallwearelegantandornamentedrobes,

carryasharpswordattheirgirdle,

pamperthemselvesineatinganddrinking,

andhaveasuperabundanceofpropertyandwealth—

Suchprincesmaybecalledrobbersandboasters.

ThisiscontrarytotheTaosurely!

Whatamandoes,thathehas.

Lethimregardnogoodassolid,

butthatwhichisinhisnature.

Thegoodsoffortunemaycomeandgo

likesummerleaves;

Lethimscatterthemoneverywind

asmomentarysigns.

Virtueistheadherenceinaction

tothenatureofthings,

Andthenatureofthingsmakesitprevalent.

Itconsistsinaperpetualsubstitution

ofbeingforseeming.

Whyneedyouchoosesopainfullyyourplace,

andoccupation,andassociationandmodesofaction?

Foryou,thereisareality,afitplace

andcongenialduties.

WhatTao’sskillfulplanterplants

Canneverbeuptorn;

Whathisskillfularmsenfold,

Fromhimcanne’erbeborne.

Sonsshallbringinlengtheningline,

Sacrificestohisshrine.

Tao,whennursedwithinone’sself

Hisvigorwillmaketrue;

Andwherethefamilyitrules

Whatricheswillaccrue!

Theneighborhoodwhereitprevails

Inthrivingwillabound;

Andwhen’tisseenthroughoutthestate,

Goodfortunewillbefound.

Employitinthekingdomo’er

Andmenthriveallaround.

Allpowerisofonekind.

Themindthatisparallelwiththelawsofnature

Willbeinthecurrentofeventsandstrong

withtheirstrength.

Whohaslearnedtoroothimselfinbeing,

andwhollytoceasefromseeming,

Heisdomestic,andheisattheheartofnature.

Concentrationisthesecretofstrength.

Theimportanceofonepersonwhohasthetruth

overnationswhohaveitnot,

Isbecausepowerobeysreality,andnotappearance,

accordingtoquality,andnotquantity.

Hewhohasinhimselfabundantly

theattributesoftheTaoislikeaninfant.

Poisonousinsectswillnotstinghim;

Fiercebeastswillnotseizehim;

Birdsofpreywillnotstrikehim.

Theinfant’sbonesareweak

Anditssinewssoft,butyetitsgraspisfirm.

Itknowsnotyettheunionofmaleandfemale,

Andyetitsvirilemembermaybeexcited—

showingtheperfectionofitsphysicalessence.

Alldaylongitwillcryoutwithoutbecominghoarse

showingtheharmonyinitsconstitution.

Tohimbywhomthisharmonyisknown,

ThesecretoftheunchangingTaoisshown,

Andintheknowledgewisdomfindsitsthrone.

Alllife-increasingartstoevilturn;

Wherethemindmakesthevitalbreathtoburn,

Falseisthestrength,ando’eritweshouldmourn.

Whenthingshavebecomestrong,

Theythenbecomeold,

WhichmaybesaidtobecontrarytotheTao.

WhateveriscontrarytotheTaosoonends.

Thewillconstitutestheman.

Hehashislifeinnature,likeabeast,

Butchoiceisborninhim;

Hechoosesastherestofcreationdoesnot.

Butwill,pureandperceiving,isnotwillfulness.

Thehigh,contemplative,all-commandingvision,

thesenseofRightandWrong,isalikeinall.

Itsattributesareself-existence,eternity,
intuition,andcommand.

Itisthemindofthemind.

Webelongtoit,notittous.

Whilstamanseekgoodends,

Heisstrongbythewholestrengthofnature.

Insofarasherovesfromtheseends,

Hebereaveshimselfofpower,

Hebecomeslessandless.

HewhoknowstheTaodoesnotcaretospeakaboutit;

Hewhoiseverreadytospeakaboutitdoesnotknowit.

Hewhoknowsitwillkeephismouthshut

andclosetheportalsofhisnostrils.

Hewillblunthissharppoints

andunravelthecomplicationsofthings;

Hewilltemperhisbrightness,andbringhimself

intoagreementwiththeobscurityofothers.

Thisiscalledthemysteriousagreement.

Suchaonecannotbetreatedfamiliarly

ordistantly;

Heisbeyondallconsiderationofprofit

orinjury;

Ofnobilityormeanness—

Heisthenoblestmanunderheaven.

Hethatthinksmostwillsaytheleast.

Thelessamanthinksorknowsabouthisvirtues,
thebetterwelikehim.

Tofinishthemoment,hefindsthejourney’send

ineverystepoftheroad;

Tohim,thegreatestnumberofgoodhoursiswisdom.

Foritisonlythefinitethathaswrought

andsuffered;

Theinfiniteliesstretchedinsmilingrepose.

Astatemayberuledbymeasuresofcorrection;

Weaponsofwarmaybeusedwithcraftydexterity;

Butthekingdomismadeone’sown

onlybyfreedomfromactionandpurpose.

HowdoIknowthatitisso?Bythesefacts—

Inthekingdom,themultiplicationofprohibitiveenactments

increasesthepovertyofthepeople;

The more implements to add to their profit that the people

have,

thegreaterdisorderisthereinthestateandclan;

Themoreactsofcraftydexteritythatmenpossess,

themoredostrangecontrivancesappear;Themoredisplay

thereisoflegislation,

themorethievesandrobbersthereare.

Therefore,asagehassaid,“Iwilldonothingofpurpose,

andthepeoplewillbetransformedofthemselves.

Iwillbefondofkeepingstill,

andthepeoplewillofthemselvesbecomecorrect.Iwilltake

thetroubleaboutit,

andthepeoplewillthemselvesbecomerich;

Iwillmanifestnoambition,

andthepeoplewillofthemselvesattain

totheprimitivesimplicity.”

Weliveinaverylowstateoftheworld

andpayunwillingtributetogovernments

foundedinforce.

Thetendenciesofthetimesfavor

theideaofself-government

Andleavetheindividual,forallcode,

totherewardsandpenaltiesofhisownconstitution.

Therefore,allpublicendslookvagueandquixotic

besideprivateones.

Foranylawsbutthosewhichmen

makeforthemselvesarelaughable.

Hence,thelessgovernmentwehavethebetter,

thefewerlaws,andthelessconfidedpower.

Thepoweroflove,asthebasisofthestate,

hasneverbeentried.

Wemustnotimaginethatallthings

arelapsingintoconfusion,

Ifeverytenderprotestantbenotcompelled

tobearhispartincertainsocialconventions:Nordoubt

thatroadscanbebuilt,

Letterscarried,andthefruitoflaborerssecured

whenthegovernmentofforceisathand.

Couldnotanationoffriendsdeviseabetterway?

Thegovernmentthatseemsthemostunwise,

Oftgoodnesstothepeoplebestsupplies;

Thatwhichismeddling,touchingeverything,

Willworkbutill,anddisappointmentbring.

Misery!—happinessistobefoundbyitsside!

Happiness!—miserylurksbeneathit!

Whoknowswhateitherwillcometointheend?

Shallwethendispensewithcorrection?

Themethodofcorrectionshallbyaturn

becomedistortion,

Andthegoodinitshallbyaturnbecomeevil.

Thedelusionofthepeopleonthispoint

hasindeedsubsistedforalongtime.

Thereforethesageislikeasquare,

Whichcutsnoonewithitsangles;

Likeacorner,whichinjuresnoonewithitssharpness.

Heisstraightforward,butallowshimselfnolicense;

Heisbright,butdoesnotdazzle.

Ourtimeistoofullofactivityandperformance.

Theworldisgovernedtoomuch;

Thingshavetheirlaws,aswellasman;

andrefusetobetrifledwith.

Inchangingmoon,intidalwave,

GlowsthefeudofWantandHave,

Mountaintallandoceandeep

Tremblingbalancedulykeep.

Aninevitabledualismbisectsnature.

Thereaction,sograndintheelements,

isrepeatedwithinsmallboundaries.

Everyexcesscausesadefect;

Everydefectanexcess.

Everysweethathitssour,everyevilitsgood.

Awisemanwillextendthislesson

toallpartsoflife;

Whenheispushed,tormented,defeated,

Hehasachancetolearnsomething,

iscuredoftheinsanityofconceit,

hasgotmoderationandrealskill.

For regulating the human and rendering service to the

heavenly,

thereisnothinglikemoderation.

Itisonlybythismoderationthatthereiseffected

anearlyreturntoman’snormalstate.

ThatearlyreturniswhatIcalltherepeatedaccumulation

oftheattributesoftheTao.

With that repeated accumulation of those attributes, there

comes

asubjugationofeveryobstacletosuchreturn.

Ofthissubjugationweknownotwhatshallbethelimit;

Andwhenoneknowsnotwhatthelimitshallbe,

hemaybetherulerofastate.

Hewhopossessesthemotherofthestatemaycontinuelong.

Hiscaseislikethatoftheplant,ofwhichwesay

thatitsrootsaredeepanditsflowerstalksfirm—

Thisisthewaytosecurethatitsenduringlife

shalllongbeseen.

Byyourownactyouteachthebeholder

howtodothepracticable.

Accordingtothedepthfromwhichyoudraw

yourlife,

Suchisthedepthnotonlyofyourstrenuouseffort,

butofyourmannersandpresence.

Leavethemilitaryhurryandadoptthepaceofnature.

Hersecretispatience.

Havetheself-commandyouwishtoinspire.

Yourteachinganddisciplinemusthave

thereserveandtaciturnityofnature.

Saylittle;donotsnarl;donotchide;

butgovernbytheeye.

Seewhattheyneedandtherightthingisdone.

Governingagreatstateislikecookingsmallfish.

LetthekingdombegovernedaccordingtotheTao,

Andthemanesofthedepartedwillnotmanifest

theirspiritualenergy.

Itisnotthatthosemaneshavenotthatspiritualenergy,

butitwillnotbeemployedtohurtmen.

Itisnotthatitcouldnothurtmen,

butneitherdoestherulingsagehurtthem.

Whenthesetwodonotinjuriouslyaffecteachother,

TheirgoodinfluencesconvergeinthevirtueoftheTao.

Fear,CraftandAvarice

cannotrearastate;

Themorereason,thelessgovernment.

Inasensiblefamily,nobodyhears

thewords“shall”and“shan’t.”

Nobodycommandsandnobodyobeys

butallconspireandjoyfullycooperate.

Thewiseknowthatfoolishlegislation

isaropeofsand

whichperishesinthetwisting.

Thelawisonlyamemorandum.

Whenthestatehouseisthehearth,

theperfectstateiscome.

Whatmakesagreatstateisitsbeinglikealow-lying,

down-flowingstream—

Itbecomesthecentertowhichtend

allthesmallstatesunderheaven.

Toillustratefromthecaseofallfemales—

Thefemalealwaysovercomesthemalebyherstillness.

Stillnessmaybeconsideredasortofabasement.

Thusitisthatagreatstate,bycondescending

tosmallstates,gainsthemforitself,

Andthatsmallstates,byabasingthemselves

toagreatstate,winitovertothem.

Intheonecasetheabasementleadsto

gainingadherents,

Intheothercasetoprocuringfavor.

Thegreatstateonlywishestounitementogether

andnourishthem;

Asmallstateonlywishestobereceivedby,andtoserve,the

other.

Eachgetswhatitdesires,

butthegreatstatemustlearntoabaseitself.

Theexcellenceofmenconsists

inthecompletenesswithwhich

thelowersystemistakenupintothehigher—

Aprocessofmuchtimeanddelicacy.

Thosewhoarecapableofhumility,ofjustice,

oflove,ofaspiration,

Standalreadyonaplatformthatcommands

actionandgrace.

Thisisthelawofmoralandmentalgain.

Thesimplestriseasbyspecificlevity,

notintoaparticularvirtue,

Butintotheregionofallvirtues.

Sympathy,thefemaleforce,ismoresubtle,andlasting,

andcreative.

Taohasofallthingsthemosthonoredplace.

Notreasuresgivegoodmensorichagrace;

Badmenitguardsanddoththeirillefface.

Itsadmirablewordscanpurchasehonor;

Itsadmirabledeedscanraisetheirperformeraboveothers.

Evenmenwhoarenotgoodarenotabandonedbyit.

WhywasitthattheancientsprizedthisTaosomuch?

Wasitnotbecauseitcouldbegotbyseekingforit,

Andtheguiltycouldescapefromthestainoftheirguiltbyit?

Thisisthereasonwhyallunderheavenconsiderit

themostvaluablething.

Withageometryofsunbeams,thesoul

laysthefoundationofnature.

Ofthispurenature,everymanisatsometimesensible.
Languagecannotpaintitwithitscolors.

Itistoosubtle,itisindefinable,

unmeasurable,

Butweknowthatitpervadesandcontainsus.

Thetruthandgrandeurofthisthought

isprovedbyitsscopeandapplicability,

Foritcommandstheentireschedule

andinventoryofthingsforitsillustration.

ItisthewayoftheTaotoact

withoutthinkingofacting;

Toconductaffairswithoutfeeling

thetroubleofthem;

Totastewithoutdiscerninganyflavor;

Toconsiderwhatissmallasgreat,

andafewasmany;

Andtorecompenseinjurywithkindness.

Themasterofitanticipatesthingsthataredifficult

whiletheyareeasy

Anddoesthingsthatwouldbecomegreat

whiletheyaresmall.

Alldifficultthingsintheworldaresuretoarise

fromapreviousstateinwhichtheywereeasy,

Andallgreatthingsfromoneinwhichtheyweresmall

Hewholightlypromisesissuretokeep

butlittlefaith;

Hewhoiscontinuallythinkingthingseasy

issuretofindthemdifficult.

Thereforethesageseesdifficulty

eveninwhatseemseasy,

Andsoneverhasanydifficulties.

Clingingtonature,orthatprovinceofnature

whichheknows,

Hemakesnomistake,butworksafterherlaws,

andatherownpace.

Thatmanwillgofar—

Foryouseeinhismanners

thatrecognitionofhimbyothersis

notnecessarytohim.

Sothathisdoing,whichisperfectlynatural,

appearsmiraculous.

Asensiblemandoesnotbrag,

Omitshimselfashabitually

asanothermanobtrudeshimselfinthediscourse.

Thatwhichisatrestiseasilykeptholdof

Beforeathinghasgivenindicationsofitspresence,

itiseasytotakemeasuresagainstit;

Thatwhichisbrittleiseasilybroken;

Thatwhichisverysmalliseasilydispersed.

Actionshouldbetakenbeforeathing

hasmadeitsappearance;

Ordershouldbesecuredbeforedisorderhasbegun.

Thetreewhichfillsthearmsgrew

fromthetiniestsprout;

Thetowerofninestoriesrosefromasmallheapofearth;

Thejourneyofathousandli

commencedwithasinglestep.

Hewhoactswithanulteriorpurposedoesharm;

Hewhotakesholdofathinginthesameway

loseshishold.

Thesagedoesnotactso,

andthereforedoesnoharm;

Hedoesnotlayholdso,

andthereforedoesnotlosehishold.

Thesagedesireswhatothermendonotdesire,

anddoesnotprizethingsdifficulttoget;

Helearnswhatothermendonotlearn,andturnsback

towhatthemultitudeofmenhavepassedby.

Thushehelpsthenaturaldevelopmentofallthings,

Anddoesnotdaretoactwithanulteriorpurposeofhisown.

Everyultimatefactisonlythefirst

ofanewseries.

Thereisnooutside,noinclosingwall,

nocircumferencetous.

Thatwhichbuildsisbetterthan

thatwhichisbuilt.

Causeandeffect,meansandends,seedandfruit

cannotbesevered;

Fortheeffectalreadybloomsinthecause,

Theendpreexistsinthemeans,

Thefruitisintheseed.

Ourstrengthgrowsourweakness;

Whilstamansitsonthecushionofadvantages,

hegoestosleep.

Themanwhorenounceshimself,

comestohimself.

Everystepsodownward,isastepupward.

Wordsandactionsarenottheattributesof

abrutenature;

Theycannotcoverthedimensionsof

whatisintruth.

Thewiseman,indoingonething,doesall;

Or,intheonethinghedoesrightly,

Heseesthelikenessofallwhichisdonerightly.

TheancientswhoshowedtheirskillinpracticingtheTao

didsonottoenlightenthepeople,

Butrathertomakethemsimpleandignorant.

Thedifficultyingoverningthepeoplearises

fromtheirhavingmuchknowledge.

Whotriestogovernthestatebyhiswisdom

isascourgetoit;

Whilehewhodoesnottrytodosoisablessing.

Hewhoknowsthesetwothingsfindsinthem

alsohismodelandrule.

Abilitytoknowthismodelandruleconstituteswhatwecall

themysteriousexcellenceofagovernor.

Deepandfar-reachingissuchmysteriousexcellence,

Showingindeeditspossessorasoppositetoothers,

Butleadingthemtoagreatconformitytohim.

Asfastasthepublicmindisopened

tomoreintelligence,

Thecodeisseentobebruteandstammering.

ThewiseknowthattheStatemustfollowandnotlead

thecharacterandprogressofthecitizen.

Thestrongestusurperisquicklygotridof,

Andthatformofgovernmentwhichprevails

Istheexpressionofwhatcultivationexists

inthepopulationwhichpermitsit.

ThehistoryoftheStatesketchesincoarseoutline

theprogressofthought.

Andfollowsatadistancethedelicacy

ofcultureandaspiration.

Thatwherebytheriversandseasareabletoreceive

thehomageandtributeofallthevalleystreams,

istheirskillinbeinglowerthanthey—

Itisthusthattheyarethekingsofthemall.

Soitisthatthesage,wishingtobeabovemen,

putshimselfbyhiswordsbelowthem,

Andwishingtobebeforethem,placeshispersonbehindthem.

Asensiblemanavoidsintroducingthenames

ofhiscreditablecompanions,

Andiscontentputtinghisfactortheme

simplyonitsground.

Youshallnottellmethatyourcommercialhouse,

yourpartnersoryourselfareofimportance;

Youshallnottellmethatyouhavelearned

toknowmen;

Youshallmakemefeelthat

yoursayingsounsaysit.

Alltheworldsaysthat,whilemyTaoisgreat,

Ityetappearstobeinferiortoothersystemsofteaching.

Nowitisjustitsgreatnessthatmakesitseemtoheinferior.

Ifitwerelikeanyothersystem,

forlongwoulditssmallnesshavebeenknown!

WithgentlenessIcanhebold;

WitheconomyIcanheliberal;

Shrinkingfromtakingprecedenceofothers,

Icanbecomeavesselofthehighesthonor.

Nowadaystheygiveupgentleness

andareallforbeingbold;

Economy,andareallforbeingliberal;

Thehindmostplace,andseekonlytobeforemost;

ofallwhichtheendisdeath.

Gentlenessissuretobevictoriouseveninbattle,

andfirmlytomaintainitsground.

Heavenwillsaveitspossessor,

byhisverygentlenessprotectinghim.

Self-trustisthefirstsecretofsuccess.

Ifearthepopularnotionofsuccess

standsindirectoppositiononallpoints

totherealandwholesomesuccess.

Oneadorespublicopinion,theotherprivateopinion,

onefame,theotherdesert;

onefeats,theotherhumility;

onelucre,theotherlove.

Whatisespeciallytrueoflove,

isthatitisastateofextremeimpressionability;

Theloverhasmoresensesandfinersensesthanothers,

Hiseyeandeararetelegraphs;

Hereadsomensontheflower,andcloud,

andface,andgesture,

Andreadsthemright.

HewhoinTao’swarshasskill

Assumesnomartialfort;

Hewhofightswithmostgoodwill

Toragemakesnoresort.

Hewhovanquishesyetstill

Keepsfromhisfoesapart;

Hewhosebehestsmenmostfulfill

Yethumblyplieshisart.

Thuswesay,“Hene’ercontends,

Andthereinishismight.”

Thuswesay,“Men’swillshebends,

Thattheywithhimunite.”

Thuswesay,“LikeHeaven’shisends,

Nosageofoldmorebright.”

Itisavulgarerrortosupposethat

amanmustbereadytofight.

Theutmostthatcanbedemandedoftheman

isthatheisincapableofalie.

Youmayspituponhim;nothingcould

inducehimtospituponyou—

Nopraises,nopossessions,nocompulsion

ofpublicopinion.

Youmaykickhim;hewillthinkit

thekickofabrute,

andwillnotkickyouinreturn,

Butneitheryourknife,norpistol

willevermaketheslightestimpression.

Amasteroftheartofwarhassaid,

“Idonotdaretobethehost(tocommencethewar);

Iprefertobetheguest(toactonthedefensive).

Idonotdaretoadvanceaninch;

Iprefertoretireafoot.”

Thisiscalledmarshalingtherankswhentherearenoranks;

Baringthearmstofightwhentherearenoarmstobare;

Graspingtheweaponwhenthereisnoweapontograsp;

Advancingagainsttheenemywhenthereisnoenemy.

Thereisnocalamitygreaterthanlightlyengaginginwar.

Todothatisnearlosingthegentlenesswhichissoprecious.

Thusitisthatwhenopposingweaponsareactuallycrossed,

hewhodeploresthesituationconquers.

Hewholovesthebristleofbayonets

onlyseesintheirglitter

whatbeforehandhefeelsinhisheart.

Theleastchangeinthemanwillchange

hiscircumstances;

Theleastenlargementofhisideas,

Theleastmitigationofhisfeelings

inrespecttoothermen.

If,forexample,hecouldbeinspired

withatenderkindnesstothesoulsofmen,

Andshouldcometofeelthateverymanwasanotherself,

withwhomhemightcometojoin—

Everydegreeoftheascendancyofthisfeeling

would cause the most striking of changes of external

things.

Mywordsareveryeasytoknowandeasytopractice;

Butthereisnooneintheworld

whoisabletoknowandabletopracticethem.

Thereisanoriginatingandall-comprehending

principleinmywords,

Andanauthoritativelawforthethings

whichIenforce.

Itisbecausetheydonotknowthese,

thatmendonotknowme.

Theywhoknowmearefew,

AndIamonthataccounttobeprized.

Itisthusthatthesagewearsapoorgarment

ofhaircloth,

Whilehecarrieshissignetofjadeinhisbosom.

Mywillfulactionsandacquisitions

arebutroving;

Theidlestreverie,thefaintestnativeemotion

commandsmycuriosity.

Myperceptionisasmuchafactasthesun.

Wheneveramindissimple

andreceivesadivinewisdom,

Oldthingspassaway—

Means,teachers,texts,templesfall.

Amancannotbehappyandstrong

untilhe,too,lives

withnature,inthepresent,abovetime.

Toknowandyetthinkwedonotknow

isthehighestattainment;

Nottoknowandyetthinkwedoknow

isadisease.

Itissimplybybeingpainedatthethought

ofhavingthisdisease

thatwearepreservedfromit.

Thesagehasnotthedisease.

Heknowsthepainthatwouldbe

inseparablefromit;

Andthereforehedoesnothaveit.

Ifanyofusknewwhatweweredoing,

orwherewearegoing,

Thenwhenwethinkwebestknow!

Weglidethroughnatureandshouldnotknow

ourplaceagain.

Allthingsswimandglitter;

Ourlifeisnotsomuchthreatenedas

ourperception.

Butinthesolitudetowhicheveryman

isalwaysreturning,

Hehasasanityandrevelations,

whichinhispassageintonewworlds

hewillcarrywithhim.

Whenthepeopledonotfearwhat

theyoughttofear,

Thatwhichistheirgreatestdread

willcometothem.

Letthemnotthoughtlesslyindulgethemselves

intheirordinarylife;

Letthemnotactasifwearyofwhat

lifedependson.

Itisbyavoidingsuchindulgencethat

suchwearinessdoesnotarise.

Thereforethesageknowsthesethings,

butdoesnotparadehisknowledge;

Loves,butdoesnotappeartosetavalue

onhimself.

Andthusheputsthelatteralternativeaway

andmakesachoiceoftheformer.

Theuseoftheworldisthatmanmay

learnitslaws.

Whenamanstupidbecomesamaninspired,

Whenoneandthesameman

Passesoutofthetorpidintotheperceivingstate,

Leavesthedinoftrifles,thestuporofthesenses,

toenterintothequasi-omniscienceofhigherthought—

Upanddown,allaroundgo,

Alllimitsdisappear,

Nohorizonshutsdown.

Heseesthingsintheircauses,

allfactsintheirconnection.

Hewhoseboldnessappearsinhisdaring

todowrong,indefianceofthelaws,

isputtodeath;

Hewhoseboldnessinhisnotdaringtodoso,

liveson.

Ofthesetwocasestheoneappearstobe

advantageous,andtheothertobeinjurious.

But

WhenHeaven’sangersmitesaman,

Whothecauseshalltrulyscan?

Onthisaccountthesagefeelsadifficulty

astowhattodointheformercase.

ItisthewayofHeavennottostrive,

andyetitskillfullyovercomes;

Nottospeak,andyetitisskillful

inobtainingareply;

Nottocall,andyetmencometoitofthemselves.

Itsdemonstrationsarequiet,

Andyetitsflansareskillfulandeffective.

ThemeshesofthenetofHeavenarelarge;

Farapart,butlettingnothingescape.

Crimeandpunishmentgrowoutofonestem.

Punishmentisafruitthatunsuspectedripens

withintheflowerofthepleasurewhichconcealedit.

Everyactrewardsitself,integratesitself

inatwo-foldmanner;

Firstinthething,orinrealnature,

Andsecondlyinthecircumstance,

orapparentnature.

Thecausalretributionisinthething,

andisseenbythesoul.

Theretributionofthecircumstance

isseenbytheunderstanding.

Whatwecallretributionistheuniversalnecessity

bywhichthewholeappearswheneverapartappears.

Thepeopledonotfeardeath;

Towhatpurposeisittotrytofrightenthemwithdeath?

Ifthepeoplewerealwaysinaweofdeath,

AndIcouldalwaysseizethosewhodowrong,

andputthemtodeath,

Whowoulddaretodowrong?

ThereisalwaysOnewhopresidesover

theinflictionofdeath.

Hewhowouldinflictdeathintheroomofhim

whosopresidesoverit

Maybedescribedashewingwood

insteadofagreatcarpenter.

Seldomisitthathewhoundertakesthehewing,

insteadofthegreatcarpenter,

Doesnotcuthisownhands!

Whyarethemasses,fromthedawnof

historydown,

Foodforknivesandpowder?

Theideadignifiedafewleaders,

whomadewaranddeathsacred,

Butwhatforthewretches

whomtheyhireandkill?

Thecheapnessofmaniseveryday’stragedy.

Itisadoctrinealikeoftheoldest,

andofthenewestphilosophy,

Thatmanisone,andthatyoucannot

injureanymember

Withoutasympatheticinjury

toallthemembers.

Thepeoplesufferfromfaminebecause

ofthemultitudeoftaxesconsumedbytheirsuperiors.

Itisthroughthisthattheysufferfamine.

Thepeoplearedifficulttogovernbecause

oftheexcessiveagencyoftheirsuperiors.

Itisthroughthisthattheyaredifficulttogovern.

Thepeoplemakelightofdyingbecause

ofthegreatnessoftheirlabors

inseekingforthemeansofliving.

Itisthiswhichmakesthemthinklightofdying.Thusitisthat

toleavethesubjectofliving

altogetheroutofview

Isbetterthantosetahighvalueonit.

Thewholeinstitutionofpropertyonitspresenttenures

isinjurious,anditsinfluenceonpersons

deterioratinganddegrading;

Truly,theonlyinterestfortheconsiderationofthestate

ispersons;

Propertywillalwaysfollowpersons.

Thehighestendofgovernmentisthecultureofmen.

Ifmencouldbeeducated,theinstitutionswill

sharetheirimprovement,

Andthemoralsentimentwillwritethelawoftheland.

Manathisbirthissuppleandweak;

athisdeath,firmandstrong.

Soitiswithallthings.

Treesandplants,intheirearlygrowth,

aresoftandbrittle;

Attheirdeath,dryandwithered.

Thusitisthatfirmnessandstrengthare

theconcomitantsofdeath;

Softnessandweakness,theconcomitantsoflife.

Hence,hewhoreliesonthestrengthofhisforces

doesnotconquer;

Andatreewhichisstrongwillfilltheoutstretchedarms,

andtherebyinvitesthefeller.

Thereforetheplaceofwhatisfirmandstrongisbelow,

Andthatofwhatissoftandweakisabove.

Whenwecomeintotheworld

Awonderfulwhispergivesusadirection

forthewholeroad.

Ah!Ifonecouldkeepthissensibility,

andliveinthehappy,sufficingpresent,

Andfindthedayandhischiefmeanscontenting,

whichonlyaskreceptivityinyou,

andnostrainedexertionorcankeringambition.

Wearenotstrongbyourpowertopenetrate,

tohavedistinctionandlaurelsandconsumption;

Theworldisenlargedforusnotbynewobjects,

Butbyfindingmoreaffinitiesandpotencies

thanthosewehave.

MaynottheTaoofHeavenhecompared

tothemethodofbendingahow?

Thepartofthehowwhichwashighisbroughtlow,

Andwhatwaslowisraisedup.

SoHeavendiminisheswherethereissuperabundance,

andsupplementswherethereisdeficiency.

ItistheWayofHeaventodiminishsuperabundance,

andtosupplementdeficiency.

Itisnotsowiththewayofman.

Hetakesawayfromthosewhohavenotenough

toaddtohisownsuperabundance.

Whocantakehisownsuperabundanceand

therewithserveallunderHeaven?

OnlyhewhoisinpossessionoftheTao!

Iambornintothegreat,theuniversalmind.

I,theimperfect,adoremyownPerfect.

Iamsomehowreceptiveofthegreatsoul,

AndtherebydoIoverlookthesunandstars.

Moreandmorethesurgesofeverlastingnature

enterintome.

Iamwillingalsotobeaspassive

tothegreatforcesIacknowledge,

asthethermometer,ortheclock,

Andquitepartwithallwillassuperfluous.

Iamawillowofthewilderness,

lovingthewindthatbentme.

Thereisnothingintheworldmoresoft

andweakthanwater,

Andyetforattackingthingsthatarefirmandstrong

thereisnothingthatcantakeprecedenceofit—

Forthereisnothingforwhichitcanhechanged.

Everyoneintheworldknowsthatthesoft

overcomesthehard,andtheweakthestrong,

Butnooneisabletocarryitoutinpractice.

Thereforeasagehassaid,

“Hewhoacceptshisstate’sreproach,

Ishailedthereforeitsaltars’lord;

Tohimwhohearsmen’sdirefulwoes

Theyallthenameofkingaccord.”

Wordsthatarestrictlytrueseemtoheparadoxical.

Thereisaprinciplewhichisthebasisofthings.

Asimple,quiet,undescribed,undescribablepresence,

isdwellingverypeacefullyinus.

Wearenottodo,buttoletdo;

nottowork,buttobeworkedupon.

Wecannotdisenchant,wecannot

impoverishourselvesbyobedience;

Butbyhumilitywerise,byobediencewecommand;

Bypovertywearerich,bydyingwelive.

Thesefactshavealwayssuggestedtoman

thesublimecreed.

Whenareconciliationiseffectedafteragreatanimosity,

Thereissuretobeagrudgeremaining

inthemindoftheonewhowaswrong.

Andhowcanthisbebeneficialtotheother?

Therefore,toguardagainstthis,thesagekeeps

theleft-handportionoftherecordoftheengagement,

Anddoesnotinsistonthespeedyfulfillmentofit

bytheotherparty.

So,hewhohastheattributesoftheTao

regardsonlytheconditionsoftheengagement,

Whilehewhohasnotthoseattributes

regardsonlytheconditionsfavorabletohimself.

IntheWayofHeaven,thereisnopartialityoflove;

Itisalwaysonthesideofthegoodman.

Bygoingonestepfartherbackinthought,

Discordantopinionsarereconciled

bybeingseenastwoextremesofoneprinciple,

Andwecannevergosofarbackasto

precludeastillhighervision.

Whenwegetanadvantage

Itisbecauseouradversaryhascommittedafault.

Forgivehiscrime,forgivehisvirtues,too,

Thosesmallerfaults,halfconverttotheright.

Inalittlestatewithasmallpopulation,

Iwouldsoorderit,that,

Thoughtherewereindividualswiththeabilities

oftenorahundredmen,

Thereshouldbenoemploymentofthem;

Iwouldmakethepeople,

Whilelookingondeathasagrievousthing,

Yetnotremoveelsewheretoavoidit.

Thoughtheyhadboatsandcarriages,

Theyshouldhavenooccasiontorideinthem;

Thoughtheyhadbuffcoatsandsharpweapons,

Theyshouldhavenooccasiontodonorusethem.

Iwouldmakethepeoplereturntotheuse

ofknottedcordsinsteadofthewrittencharacters.

Theyshouldthinktheircoarsefoodsweet;

Theirplainclothesbeautiful;

Theirpoordwellingsplacesofrest;

Andtheirsimplewayssourcesofenjoyment.

Thereshouldbeaneighboringstatewithinsight,

Andthevoicesofthefowlsanddogs

shouldbeheardallthewayfromittous,

ButIwouldmakethepeopletooldage,eventodeath,

nothaveanyintercoursewithit.

Toeducatethewiseman,theStateexists;

Andwiththeappearanceofthewiseman,

theStateexpires.

Theappearanceofcharacter

makestheStateunnecessary.

Thewisemanneedsnoarmy,port,ornavy—

Helovesmentoowell;

Nobribe,nofeast,orpalacetodraw

friendstohim;

Novantageground,nofavorablecircumstance.

Heneedsnolibrary,forhehasnotdonethinking;

Nochurch,forheisaprophet;

Nostatutebook,forhehasthelawgiver;

Noroad,forheisathomewhereheis;

Noexperience,forthelifeofthecreator

shinesthroughhimandlooksfromhiseyes.

Hisrelationtomenisangelic;hismemory

ismyrrhtothem;

Hispresence,frankincenseandflowers.

Sincerewordsarenotfine;

Finewordsarenotsincere.

ThosewhoareskilledintheTao

donotdisputeaboutit;

Thedisputatiousarenotskilledinit.

ThosewhoknowtheTaoarenotextensivelylearned;

Theextensivelylearneddonotknowit.

Thesagedoesnotaccumulateforhimself.

Themorethatheexpendsforothers,

Themoredoeshepossessofhisown;

Themorethathegivestoothers,

Themoredoeshehavehimself.

WithallthesharpnessoftheWayofHeaven,

itinjuresnot;

Withallthedoinginthewayofthesage

hedoesnotstrive.

Letusnotbethevictimsofwords;

Theywhospeakhavenomore,—haveless.

Iamexplainedwithoutexplaining;

Iamfeltwithoutaction,

andwhereIamnot.

Thethingutteredinwordsisnotthereforeaffirmed;

Heteacheswhogivesandhelearnswhoreceives;

Heisgreatwhoconfersthemostbenefits.

Aconsenttosolitudeandinaction,

whichproceedsoutofanunwillingness

toviolatecharacter,

Isthecenturywhichmakesthegem.

Imustactwithtruth,thoughIshouldnevercometoact,

asyoucallit,witheffect.

Imustconsenttoinaction,apatiencewhichisgrand.

MERSON

OURCES

(Unlessotherwiseindicatedallexcerptsaretakenfromessays)Chapter

1.“TheOver-Soul/’“Idealism,”“ThePoet”

Chapter 2. “Compensation/’ “Each and All” (poem), “Man the

Reformer”(lecture),“SpiritualLaws”

Chapter3.“Circles”
Chapter4.“TheAmericanScholar”(address),“SensesandSoul”
Chapter5.“Nature,”“Circles”
Chapter 6. “Musketaquid” (poem), “The Transcendentalist,” “The

Over-Soul”

Chapter7.“TheTranscendentalist,”“TheOver-Soul”
Chapter8.“Merlin”(poem),Journals1830,Journals1831
Chapter9.“Fate,”“Worship,”“Wealth,”“TheScholar”
Chapter10.“Threnody”(poem),“Musketaquid”(poem),“TheOver-

Soul,”“Education”

Chapter11.“Compensation”
Chapter12.“PoetryandImagination”
Chapter13.“Self-Reliance,”“Compensation”
Chapter14.“TheMethodofNature”(address),“Spirit”
Chapter15.“Plato,”“TheUsesofGreatMen,”“Considerationsbythe

Way”

Chapter16.Journals1838,“SpiritualLaws,”“TheMethodofNature”

(address)Chapter17.“Politics”

Chapter18.“NewEnglandReformers,”Journals1832
Chapter19.“Success”
Chapter20.“Illusions,”“Circles,”“TheMethodofNature”(address),

“TheOver-Soul”

Chapter21.“Language,”“Circles,”“TheWorld-Soul”
Chapter22.“TheOver-Soul”
Chapter23.“NominalistandRealist,”“History”
Chapter24.“Prudence,”“Culture”
Chapter 25. “Monadnoc” (poem), “The World-Soul,” “Concord

Hymn” (poem), “Nature” (poem), “Fate” (poem), “History,”

“Beauty”

Chapter26.“SpiritualLaws,”“Politics”
Chapter27.“ConsiderationsbytheWay,”“Education”
Chapter 28. Journals 1839, “Nominalist and Realist,” “Illusions,”

“Education”

Chapter 29. “Worship,” “Fate,” “Nature” (poem), “Nominalist and

Realist,”“Nature”(essay)Chapter30.“War”(address)

Chapter31.“War”(address)
Chapter32.“Nature,”“TheOver-Soul”
Chapter33.“Self-Reliance”
Chapter34.“Nature,”“TheOver-Soul”
Chapter35.“TheUsesofGreatMen,”“Worship”
Chapter36.“Compensation”
Chapter37.“Character”(lecture)
Chapter38.“ConsiderationsbytheWay,”“Discipline”
Chapter39.“History,”“Fate”
Chapter 40. “The Method of Nature” (address) Chapter 41. “The

MethodofNature”(address),“TheOver-Soul”

Chapter42.“Circles,”“TheMethodof
Nature” (address), “Works and Days,” “War” (address) Chapter 43.

“Illusions,”“Prudence”

Chapter44.Journals1846,“Nature”(poem),“Greatness”
Chapter45.“Experience,”“Prudence”
Chapter 46. “The Method of Nature” (address) Chapter 47. “Self-

Reliance,”“TheOver-Soul”

Chapter48.“SpiritualLaws”
Chapter49.“Education,”“Self-Reliance,”“SpiritualLaws”
Chapter50.“Immortality,”“PerpetualForces”
Chapter 51. “Nature,” “Spiritual Laws,” “The Method of Nature”

(address) Chapter 52. “Compensation,” “The American Scholar”

(address),sources”

Chapter53.“SpiritualLaws”
Chapter54.“Power,”Journals1841,“TheProgressofCulture”
Chapter55.“Character”(address)
Chapter56.“Spirit,”“Experience,”“SpiritualLaws”
Chapter57.“Politics”
Chapter 58. “Lecture on the Times,” “New England Reformers,”

“Politics,”“Compensation”

Chapter59.“Education”
Chapter60.“Character,”“Politics”
Chapter 61. “The Sovereignty of Ethics,” “The Over-Soul,”

“Education”

Chapter62.“TheOver-Soul,”“Intellect”
Chapter63.“Greatness”
Chapter64.“Circles,”“Compensation”
Chapter65.“Politics”

Chapter66.“Greatness”
Chapter67.“Success”
Chapter68.Journals1849
Chapter69.“War”(address)
Chapter70.“Self-Reliance”
Chapter71.“Experience”
Chapter72.“Education”
Chapter73.“Compensation”
Chapter74.“TheUsesofGreatMen,”“LectureontheTimes”
Chapter75.“Politics”
Chapter76.Journals1845,“Success”
Chapter 77. “Spiritual Laws,” “The Over-Soul,” Journals 1835,

“Musketaquid”(poem)Chapter78.Worship,”“TheSovereigntyof

Ethics, “The Divinity School Address Chapter 79. “Circles,”

“Courage”

Chapter80.“Politics”
Chapter 81. “Society and Solitude,” “Ex-”Spiritual Laws,”

“Compensation”“LectureontheTimes”

IBLIOGRAPHY

Ames, Roger T. and David L. Hall. Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation. New York:

BallantineBooks,2003.

Bahm, Archie J. Too the King by Lao Tzu; Interpreted as Nature and Intelligence. New York:

FrederickUngarPublishing,1958.

Blofeld,John.TheSecretandSublime:TaoistMysteriesandMagic.NewYork:E.P.Dutton,

1973.

Brecht, Bertolt. Poems 1913-1956. Edited by John Willett and Ralph Manheim with the

cooperationofErichFried.LondonandNewYork:Methuen,1980.

Bynner, Witter. The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu: An American Version. New York:

CapricornBooks,1962.

Cabot,JamesElliott.AMemoirofRalphWaldoEmerson.2vols.London:HoughtonMifflin,

1897.

Chen, Ellen M. The Too Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary. St. Paul, Minn.:

ParagonHouse,1989.

Christy,Arthur.TheOrientinAmericanTranscendentalism,NewYork:OctagonBooks,1978.
Chungliang Al Huang. Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain: The Essence of Tai Ji. 1973.

Berkeley,Calif:CelestialArts,1987.

_______.QuantumSoup:APhilosophicalEntertainment.NewYork:E.P.Dutton,1983.
Clarke,J.J.TheToooftheWest.LondonandNewYork:Routledge,2000.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Edited by Alfred R.

Ferguson,JosephSlater,DouglasEmoryWilson,etal.12vols,todate.Cambridge,Mass.:

HarvardUniversityPress,1971-2003.

_______.TheJournalsandMiscellaneousNotebooksofRalphWaldoEmerson.
Edited by William A. Gilman, Ralph H. Orth, et al. 16 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard

UniversityPress,1982-2003.

Ferguson, Andy. Zen’s Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Boston: Wisdom

Publications,2000.

Friedell,Egon.ACulturalHistoryoftheModernAge.3vols.NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1933.
Geldard,Richard.TheSpiritualTeachingsofRalphWaldoEmerson.Hudson,N.Y:Lindisfarne

Press,2001.

Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English, Tao Te Ching [by] Lao Tzu: A New Translation. New York:

Knopf,1972.

Groff,Richard.ThoreauandthePropheticTradition.LosAngeles:TheManasPublishingCo.,

1961.

Grossman,Richard.AYearwithEmerson.Boston:DavidGodine,2003.

Henricks,RobertG.Lao-tzu:Te-taoChing:ANewTranslationBasedontheRecentlyDiscovered

Ma-wang-tuiTexts.NewYork:TheModernLibrary,1993.

Lau,D.C.LaoTzu:TaoTeChing:TranslatedwithanIntroduction.NewYork:Penguin,1963.
Legge,James.TheTextsofTaoism.Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1891.
LinYutang.TheWisdomofLaotse.NewYork:RandomHouse,1948.
_______.TheWisdomofChinaandIndia.NewYork:RandomHouse,1942.
Merton,Thomas.TheWayofChuangTzu.NewYork:NewDirections,1965.
Mitchell,Stephen.TaoteChing:ANewEnglishVersion.NewYork:Harper&Row,1988.
Paramananda,Swami.EmersonandVedanta.1918.Boston:TheVedantaCenter,2ndedition,

revisedandenlarged,ND.

Perry,Bliss.TheHeartofEmerson’sJournals.Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1926.
Porte, Joel. Emerson in His Journals. Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of the Harvard

UniversityPress,1982.

Rawson,Philip,andLaszloLegeza.Too:TheChinesePhilosophyofTimeandChange.London:

ThamesandHudson,1979.

RedPine.Lao-tzu’sTaoteching:TranslatedbyRedPinewithSelectedCommentariesofthePast

2000Years.SanFrancisco:MercuryHouse,1996.

Richardson,RobertD.,Jr.Emerson:TheMindonFire.Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,

1995.

Richter,GregoryC.TheGateofAllMarvelousThings:AGuidetoReadingtheTaoTeChing.San

Francisco:RedMansionsPublishing,1998.

Roberts,Moss.DaoDeJing:TheBookoftheWay.Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,

2001.

Star,Jonathan.TaoTeChing:TheDefinitiveEditionbyLaoTzu:TranslationandCommentaryby

JonathanStar.NewYork:JeremyP.Tarcher/Penguin,2003.

WaleyArthur.ThreeWaysofThoughtinAncientChina.1939.London:GeorgeAllen&Unwin,

1963.

_______.TheWayandItsPower:AStudyoftheTooTeChingandItsPlaceinChineseThought.

NewYork:GrovePress,1958.

_______.TheAnalectsofConfucius.NewYork:RandomHouse,1938.
Watson, Burton. Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings. New York and London: Columbia University

Press,1964.

Watts, Alan, with Chungliang Al Huang. Tao: The Watercourse Way. New York: Pantheon

Books,1975.

Welch,Holmes.Taoism:ThePartingoftheWay.Boston:BeaconPress,1966.
Wu,JohnC.H.TaoTeChingbyLaoTzu.Boston:Shambhala,1989.

CKNOWLEDGMENTS

The magnificent calligraphy in this book is the work and the

gift of my old friend Chungliang Al Huang, a Taoist master,

author,musician,dancer,andinternationallyknownteacherof

TaiJiandtheartofChinesewriting.Ofhismanybooks,the

first,EmbraceTiger,ReturntoMountain,afterremaininginprint

for thirty-four years in English, is now available in thirteen

languagesaroundtheworld.Iamhonoredbyhiscontribution

toTheTaoofEmerson.

Forpersonalandeditorialsupport,Iamespeciallygratefulto

Dr. Richard Geldard, a noted Emerson and Transcendentalist

scholar,andhisassociatesDavidBeardsleyAlecEmerson,and

Jim Manley at The Ralph Waldo Emerson Institute. This

organization maintains the website rwe.org, which provides

access on the Internet to every word Emerson ever wrote,

includingadigitalversionofthecompleteJournals.Noonecan

engage in the serious study of Emerson without using this

invaluable resource. I have been the beneficiary of an

extraordinaryamountofsuchassistancewiththisproject.

I am continually grateful to Jill Kneerim of Kneerim &

Williams for her steady, patient, and always enthusiastic

shepherdingofmybooksfromideatopublication.

My thanks, too, to those who have given me willing and

invaluable help in the development of this book: David

Ebershoff, W. S. Merwin, Jon Swan, Larry Volper, Paul de

Paolo, Deborah Smith, Ron Ragusa, my colleagues at Smith

FarmCenterforHealingandtheArts,JonUmhoeferandThe

Arts and Humanities Foundation, and my special gratitude to

my editor, Judy Sternlight, for her understanding and

collegialityintheproductionofacomplexbook.

Alwaysattheendoflistslikethese,butalwayspreeminently

first in providing help and wisdom whenever I need them, I

thankmywife,AnnArensberg.

BOUTTHE

DITOR

ICHARD

ROSSMAN

is a psychotherapist, medical educator,

essayist, and former book editor and publisher who taught

about Taoism and Emerson for many years as associate

professor of humanities at New York University and Hunter

College.HehasalsobeenonthefacultyoftheAlbertEinstein

College of Medicine and the Residency Program in Urban

FamilyMedicineatBethIsraelMedicalCenter.

HewascontributingeditortoHealthmagazinefortenyears,

and his articles on health and psychology have appeared in

dozensofmedicaljournalsandpopularmagazines.Amonghis

sixpreviousbooksareBoldVoices,ChoosingandChanging,and

AYearwithEmerson,whichwasawardedtheUmhoeferPrizein

2006 for achievement in the humanities by the Arts and

Humanities Foundation. He is married to the novelist Ann

ArensbergandlivesinSalisbury,Connecticut.

ODERN

IBRARY

DITORIAL

OARD

MayaAngelou

•

A.S.Byatt

•

CalebCarr

•

ChristopherCerf

•

HaroldEvans

•

CharlesFrazier

•

VartanGregorian

•

JessicaHagedorn

•

RichardHoward

•

CharlesJohnson

•

JonKrakauer

•

EdmundMorris

•

AzarNafisi

•

JoyceCarolOates

•

ElainePagels

•

JohnRichardson

•

SalmanRushdie

•

•liverSacks

•

CarolynSee

•

GoreVidal

House,Inc.

reserved.

PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyModernLibrary,

animprintofTheRandomHousePublishingGroup,

adivisionofRandomHouse,Inc.,NewYorkeISBN:978-0-30742440-2

www.modernlibrary.com

v3.0

Document Outline

Cover
Other Books By This Author
Title Page
Dedication
A Note to the Reader
Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Part 1 - The Tao of Emerson
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50
- Chapter 51
- Chapter 52
- Chapter 53
- Chapter 54
- Chapter 55
- Chapter 56
- Chapter 57
- Chapter 58
- Chapter 59
- Chapter 60
- Chapter 61
- Chapter 62
- Chapter 63
- Chapter 64
- Chapter 65
- Chapter 66
- Chapter 67
- Chapter 68
- Chapter 69
- Chapter 70
- Chapter 71
- Chapter 72
- Chapter 73
- Chapter 74
- Chapter 75
- Chapter 76
- Chapter 77
- Chapter 78
- Chapter 79
- Chapter 80
- Chapter 81
Emerson Sources
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
About the Editor
Copyright

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