Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. title: Tao and Virtue author: tim4or5 summary: Notes on the Way Tao and Virtue, Notes on the Way Secrets One 1 Words are not true. One oak tree is not the same as another. Each is affected by the the soil, the weather, the light, the many creatures who live on, in and around it, and the acorn from which it grew. I am not my name. It is just a sequence of sounds or letters. I do not know how everything started, but I know where I came from. If I let things be, they are all one. If I act, I see what they are. But I do not know the difference between these two. 2 If I say you are beautiful, does this mean anything? One thing can not be good unless another is bad. Something and nothing, soft and hard, sound and silence, these define each other. Awareness creates existence, but the act has no meaning. Let it go. It is enough that I am here with you now. 3 Do not show me expensive goods. Not having too much calms my heart. All we need are full bellies and strong bones. Let us stay innocent and avoid the clever. 4 Tao is empty yet always full. Deeper than the many creatures. It blunts the sharp, frees the tangle, dims the bright, lays the dust. It does not exist yet seems to. Older than the Origin. 5 The world sees the many creatures as empty. The Sage sees the people as empty. The world is empty yet always working to produce more. Words lead to silence. Better to be still. 6 The valley spirit never dies. She is the Dark Lady and bears all things, does not exist yet never fails. 7 The world lasts since it does not give itself life. The Sage places herself last and so comes first, does not think of herself and gets what she wants. 8 Be like water. Since water helps the many creatures without contending and settles in low places, it is near Tao. In a home, the site matters, in mind, depth. In a friend, kindness matters, in words, truth, in running things, order, in work, attention, in action, patience. It does not contend so is never at fault. 9 Stop before you over sharpen, abuse authority, lose your wealth. Do what you need to do. 10 Can you balance your dark aspect and the One? Breathe like a newborn? Restore your true mind? Can you lead, accept and discern without moving? Tao gives life without owning and guides without force. This is dark virtue. 11 I join thirty spokes to a hub, knead clay to form a vessel, cut out doors and windows to make a room. These are of use because they are empty. We gain Something from Nothing. 12 Five colors blind, five notes deafen, five tastes tire. Hunting maddens, expensive goods trap. The Sage chooses the belly, not the eye. She leaves one and takes the other. 13 Favor and disgrace startle, high rank and self create trouble. What? Gaining or losing favor causes fear. Without high rank or self I have no trouble. Value others more than running things and you can be trusted. Two 14 You can not see it, hear it, or touch it. Above not light, below not dark, it returns to nothing. Before no front, behind no back, it is not there. Know the Origin, know this moment, know Tao. 15 Old Taoists were subtle, dark, deep, profound. Too deep to know, we find hints. Cautious, as if treading stones in a winter stream. Hesitant, as if fearing others. Polite like a guest, falling apart like soft ice, plain like the unformed, vacant like a valley, thick like muddy water. When muddy, can you settle and become clear? When asleep, can you stir and come to life? I hold Tao and do not become full, am worn yet new. 16 Be still my heart. Remain empty. Watch the many creatures rise and return, each to his roots. This is stillness, the constant, clarity. Woe to him who wilfully innovates while ignorant of the constant. If from knowledge of the constant, my actions will be impartial and lead to Tao and perpetuity. To the end of my days I will meet no danger. 17 The best leader does not show himself to the people. Next is a leader they admire, next one they fear, next one they go around. Without faith there is no truth. Patient, he uses few words. When his task is complete, the people say it just happened. 18 Without Tao there are charity and gossip, with cleverness, deceit. With bad leaders there is loyalty, with bad relations, love is a hammer. 19 Discard the wise, benefit greatly. Discard charity, find respect. Discard profit, no more thieves. If these three are not enough, find and hold the unformed, have no self and few desires. 20 Between yes and no, good and evil, how great a distance? What must I fear? Others are happy with food and outings, I am quiet and alone. Others have more than enough. I am confused, they are sharp. I am tired and drifting, never full. Others have plans, I am strangely blank. 21 Great virtue follows only Tao. Tao is dark and vague, yet within is an image, an essence. The essence is real. From now back to forever it had a name. It shows the Origin. What is that? This. 22 Bent then straight, worn then new. A little helps, too much confuses. So you hold the One and become an example. You do not show off so are noticed, do not act right so have merit, do not boast so endure. You do not contend, so I do not contend with you. Bent then straight is true, so we hold each other and continue to the end. 23 You say use few words, be natural. A rough wind does not last the morning. A downpour does not last all day. If these do not last, how can I? I will follow Tao. Following Tao, virtue or loss, I find whichever I seek. Without faith there is no truth. 24 To tiptoe or stride is unsteady. If I show off I will not be noticed, act right I will have no merit, boast I will not endure. These are unnecessary food and waste. They are not Tao. 25 There is a dark confusion, formed before the world. Silent and empty, alone and unchanging, always turning, it could be the mother of all. Its name unknown, I call it Tao. It is great, receding, far off, and turning back. We depend on the world, the world on Tao, Tao on its own nature. Three 26 Heavy supports light, still controls active. When she travels, the Sage watches her surroundings. After reaching safety she becomes still. If a leader acts lightly he loses support, if nervous he loses control. 27 If I excel in travel I leave to tracks, if in speech I make no slips, if in counting I use no marks. If I excel in binding I use no cords, yet what I have bound can not be loosed. The Sage excels in saving and abandons nothing and no one. This is clarity. The teacher learns from the good and works on the bad. Not to value the teacher or the work seems clever, but it reveals confusion. This is essential and secret. 28 Know the male but remain female, know honor but remain shadowed. Be a ravine to the world and your virtue will be enough. Return to the Origin, the limitless, the unformed, and shatter into all things without injury. 29 Whoever does anything to the world will lose it. Some things are strong and some weak, some destroy and some are destroyed. So the Sage avoids extremes and arrogance. 30 Assist a leader with Tao, not force. Force rebounds. Brambles and bad harvests follow soldiers. Complete a task but do not boast or intimidate. This is not Tao. 31 Even if beautiful, weapons cause harm. Be reluctant to use them. The left takes precedence at home, the right during war. Do not glory in victory or exult in killing. The world will not trust you. Weep when people are killed, mourn when victorious. 32 Tao is nameless. The unformed is small yet the world can not claim it. If leaders can hold it, the many creatures transform, the world unites, and people find peace. When it is cut there are names, so it is time to stop and avoid danger. The world returns to Tao as rivers flow to the sea. 33 Know and overcome yourself, be content and endure. 34 Tao is broad, reaching left and right. The many creatures depend on it, it feeds them yet claims no authority. Free from desire it is small, yet claiming no authority makes it great. 35 Hold the great image and the world will rest in safety and peace. Music and food let travelers pause. Tao is not tasted, seen or heard yet never stops providing. 36 To weaken something first strengthen it, to lay something aside first pick it up, to take from something first give to it. This is subtle clarity. Tools of power must not be revealed. 37 Tao never acts yet leaves nothing undone. If leaders can hold it, the many creatures transform. If desire rises, the unformed can push it down. If I remain still, the world is at peace. Aspects Four 38 Discard virtue and have virtue, never act and leave nothing undone. Hold virtue and lose virtue, act and things are left undone. Charity acts but without motive. Gossip acts with motive. Authority acts with force. When Tao is lost there is virtue, then charity, then gossip, then authority. Authority is the end of honor and truth, the start of disorder. Fate is not Tao. Discard both and take the other. 39 The One makes the air clear, the earth settled, the gods strong, the valley full. It gives the many creatures life and leaders their place. We all depend on it. The low supports the high and needs no praise. Will you prefer the jingle of jade ornaments after you hear the sound of stone growing? 40 Turning back is how Tao moves, weakness is what it uses. The many creatures are born from Something, Something from Nothing. 41 When hearing of Tao, the best student practices it, the average student sees it and does not see it, the worst student laughs. If he did not laugh, it would not be Tao. Bright seems dark, forward seems backward, even seems rough. Great virtue seems hollow, plain virtue seems furtive. The great square has no corners, the great image has no shape. Tao conceals itself as nameless. Tao alone excels in providing. 42 Tao begets one. One gets two, who get three, who get the many creatures, who carry Yin on their backs and hold Yang in their arms. We are made of these two. Leaders call themselves alone and worthless. Gain by losing, lose by gaining. The strong die young. 43 A stoppable force overcomes an immovable object, the changing enters the unyielding. Benefit without action, teach without words. Few in the world understand. 44 Which matters more, name or body? Which is worth more, body or goods? Which is more trouble, gain or loss? Buy cheap and pay dear. Know contentment and suffer no disgrace. Know when to stop and meet no danger. Last long and get well. 45 The perfect seems bent yet works, the full seems empty yet lasts. Great truth seems senseless, great skill seems random, great speech seems unclear. Move when cold, in heat stay still. A cool and clear leader brings order. 46 With Tao, fleet horses plow the fields. Without Tao, war horses breed near the border. The worst dangers are desires and discontent. Know what is enough. 47 Without travel I can know the world, without looking outside I can see Tao. The more I stray the less I know. Thus the Sage knows without leaving, finds without looking, completes without acting. 48 Learning does more, Tao does less, until it does nothing and everything. Let the world be. Five 49 The Sage has no heart, she sees the needs of others. I treat the good well, I treat the bad well and gain goodness. I believe the honest, I believe the dishonest and gain honesty. The Sage distracts the world and treats people like children. 50 With two paths, three in ten choose life, three choose death, while three choose fear. One guards his vitality and meets no enemies or beasts. Since he has no death, they have nowhere to strike or claw. 51 Tao gives life, virtue rears, things shape, events mature. Thus the many creatures honor Tao and virtue. Tao feeds and shelters. It gives without owning and guides without force. This is dark virtue. 52 The world began. Know the mother, know the child, return to the mother, meet no danger. Block the hole, shut the doors, and preserve your life. Unstop the hole, waste vitality, and you can not be saved. Finding smallness is clarity, holding weakness is strength. Know your brightness, return to clarity, meet no danger. This is the constant. 53 If I have any sense I will follow Tao and fear the side paths others prefer. The leaders wear silks and swords, consume food and wine. The fields are barren, the granaries empty. This is not Tao. 54 Root firmly and do not pull out, hold tight and do not let go, last long and get well. Find Tao in your self, your family, village and city, and the world. See each as itself. Virtue will be real, enough, lasting. Why is that? This. 55 Our newborn has virtue. Animals and insects respect him. His bones and sinews are supple and his grip strong. His member already gets hard and he can cry all day. This is stillness, the constant, clarity. Guard vitality, limit energy. The strong die young. 56 Some know, I do not. Block the hole, shut the doors. Blunt the sharp, free the tangle, dim the bright, lay the dust. This is dark confusion. Never near or far, large or small, high or low, the world depends on it. 57 Lead with honesty, fight with tricks, gain the world by leaving it alone. Why is that? This. More restrictions mean more poverty, more weapons mean more fear, more laws mean more criminals, more changes mean less changes. Do nothing, be still, have no desires, and the people become simple like the unformed. 58 Left alone the people are simple, interfere and they become restless. Failure brings success, success brings failure. To what end? Straight becomes bent, gods become evil. We go too far. The Sage blunts her sharpness, dims her brightness. 59 Lead others without force, follow Tao and gain virtue, lose your self and gain the world. Root deeply and last long. Six 60 Leading a large group is like boiling a small fish. When leaders follow Tao, spirits do not use their power to harm others. The Sage also does no harm, and virtue returns. 61 Goods flow to the city at the mouth of the river. The male flows into the female lying below. The large and the small unite when each submits to the other. 62 Tao provides for the many creatures. It gives to the good and does not abandon the bad. Beautiful words and deeds win promotion. Offer Tao, not gifts. The world depends on it. 63 Take no action, do not interfere, value the plain. The Sage does not wait until the easy becomes difficult. She treats things with care. 64 Deal with problems before they exist. A tree grows from a sprout, a terrace rises from shovelfuls, a journey starts with a step. The Sage does nothing and does no harm. People ruin things on the verge of success. Be as careful at the end as at the start. The Sage does not hold on to things or ideas. She returns to people what they have lost and aids the many natural creatures, but she does not dare act. 65 Do not use Tao to enlighten the people. Clever people are difficult to lead. Let us not lead by cleverness but by not interfering. This is dark virtue. It is deep and reaches far, but when things turn back it turns back with them. It completes unity. 66 Like a river or sea, take the low position. To lead, follow, do not obstruct. Do not contend and no one can contend with you. 67 The world says Tao is vast and strange. If its vastness were like something it would long ago have vanished. I hold three treasures, compassion, kindness and fellowship. Courage without compassion, expansion without kindness, and leading without fellowship, will end in failure. Compassion grants success and safety. Whom the world would protect, it gifts with compassion. 68 A warrior who excels does not appear formidable. This is the virtue of not contending. 69 Do not play the host but play the guest, do not advance an inch but retreat a foot. This is marching forward when there is no road, taking up arms when there are no arms. It is the side that is sorrowful that wins. 70 My words are easy to understand, yet no one does. My words have meaning. The few who know and practice them are precious. We hide in plain sight. Seven 71 Some know, I do not. By knowing difficulty I avoid it. 72 When the people lack awe there is disaster. Do not imprison or oppress them and the people will not tire of you. The Sage knows her value but does not exalt herself. She leaves one and takes the other. 73 Those fearless in being bold meet death, those fearless in being timid stay alive. One leads to good, one to harm. The world hates what it hates. Why? Even the Sage finds it difficult. Tao prevails yet does not contend, responds yet does not speak, attracts yet does not summon, lays plans yet remains still. Its net is cast wide. The mesh is not fine, yet nothing slips through. 74 Do not use death to frighten the people. Death needs no assistance. Take the place of the master carver and you will cut your own hands. 75 The people are hungry, the leaders eat too much tax grain. The people are restless, the leaders interfere too much. The people treat death lightly, the leaders live too high. Respect life. 76 A person is supple when living but stiff when dead. Plants are pliant when living but dry when dead. Life is weak, death is hard. A hard weapon will break, a strong tree will be cut down. 77 Tao, like a bent bow, presses down the high, lifts up the low, takes from the excessive, gives to the deficient. People are different. They take from the poor and give to the rich. The Sage benefits and claims no merit. 78 Water is weak but can attack the strong. Be humble and worthy. Plain words seem strange. 79 When peace is made, tension remains. The Sage takes the left hand tally but exacts no payment. Tao is impartial, it sides with the good. 80 Become small. Let people who have weapons not use them. Let people be simple and content where they are. Although you hear your neighbors, let them be. 81 True words are not beautiful, persuasive words are not good. The Sage does not hoard. Giving what she has to others, she has yet more. Tao benefits and does not contend. translated by DC Lau, Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, Jonathan Star, Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo, Witter Bynner, and Arthur Waley interpreted by TH Walden, copyright 2018 all rights reserved from the Student to the Sage, Lady and Tao