Chapter One VERSE 1 A way that can be walked is not The Way A name that can be named is not The Name Tao is both Named and Nameless As Nameless, it is the origin of all things As Named, it is the mother of all things A mind free of thought, merged within itself, beholds the essence of Tao A mind filled with thought, identified with its own perceptions, beholds the mere forms of this world Tao and this world seem different but in truth they are one and the same The only difference is in what we call them How deep and mysterious this unity is How profound, how great! It is the truth beyond the truth, the hidden within the hidden It is the path to all wonder, the gate to the essence of everything! VERSE 2 Everyone recognizes beauty only because of ugliness Everyone recognizes virtue only because of sin Life and death are born together Difficult and easy Long and short High and low-- all these exist together arrive together Sound and silence blend together Before and after * * * The Sage acts without action and teaches without talking All things flourish around him and he does not refuse any one of them He gives but not to receive He works but not for reward He completes but not for results He does nothing for himself in this passing world so nothing he does ever passes VERSE 3 Putting a value on status will cause people to compete Hoarding treasure will turn them into thieves Showing off possessions will disturb their daily lives Thus the Sage rules by stilling minds and opening hearts by filling bellies and strengthening bones He shows people how to be simple and live without desires To be content and not look for other ways With the people so pure Who could trick them? What clever ideas could lead them astray? When action is pure and selfless everything settles into its own perfect place VERSE 4 Tao is empty yet it fills every vessel with endless supply Tao is hidden yet it shines in every corner of the universe With it, the sharp edges become smooth the twisted knots loosen the sun is softened by a cloud the dust settles into place So deep, so pure, so still It has been this way forever You may ask, "Whose child is it?"-- but I cannot say This child was here before the Great Ancestor VERSE 5 Heaven and Earth have no preference A man may choose one over another but to Heaven and Earth all are the same The high, the low, the great, the small-- all are given light all get a place to rest The Sage is like Heaven and Earth To him none are especially dear nor is there anyone he disfavors He gives and gives without condition offering his treasure to everyone * * * The universe is like a bellows It stays empty yet is never exhausted It gives out yet always brings forth more Man is not like this When he blows out air like a bellows he becomes exhausted Man was not made to blow out air He was made to sit quietly and find the truth within Copyright © 2001 Jonathan Star. All rights reserved.
