Tao Te Ching - Book 2 BOOK TRACK AND UNDER
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38
The men of superior virtue are unaware of their virtue, so they have virtue.
men of virtue do not forget their inferior virtue, which is why they have no virtue.
The men of superior virtue practice it without thinking.
men of virtue than the practice with intention.
men of a higher humanity the practice without thinking.
The men of the higher equity practice with intention.
men a greater urbanity the practice and no one answered, so they use violence to which the pay back.
is why it has the virtue of having lost the Tao of mankind after losing the virtue of fairness after losing humanity ; Of urbanity after losing equity.
Urbanity is the bark of the rectitude and sincerity, is the source of disorder.
The false knowledge is the flower of the Tao and the principle of ignorance.
is why a great man 27 attached to the solid and leaves the surface.
He believes the fruit and leaves the flower.
is why he rejects the one and adopt another.
39
Here are the things that once got Unit 28.
The sky is pure because it received the Unit.
The earth is at rest because it has obtained the Unit.
minds are endowed with a divine intelligence because they have achieved the Unit.
The valleys are filled because they got the unit.
The ten thousand beings are born because they got the unit.
The princes and kings are the models of the world because they got the unit.
is what the unit produces.
If the sky lost 29 its purity, it would dissolve;
If the earth was losing his rest, she would collapse;
If spirits lost their divine intelligence, they annihilated;
If the valleys were filled not more, they would dry up;
If the ten thousand beings were not born well, they die out;
If princes and kings were proud of their nobility and their elevation, and ceased to be models (of the world ), they would be overthrown.
is why the noble commoners watch as their home, the men look high the meanness of the condition as their first foundation.
Hence it is that princes and kings call themselves orphaned, men of little merit, men devoid of virtue.
Do not they show this by commoners as they watch their true origin? And they are right!
is why if you break a car, you do not tank 30.
(The wise) will not be considered as jade, or despised as stone.
40
Return non-being (income) movement 31 Tao.
Weakness is the function of Tao.
All worldly things are born of being; being is born of nonbeing.
41
When senior scholars have heard of Tao, they practice it zealously.
When scholars of the second order have heard of the Tao, sometimes they remain, sometimes they lose.
When scholars below have heard of Tao, they deride. If they do not deride it does not deserve the name of Tao.
is why the ancients said:
Whoever has the intelligence of the Tao seems shrouded in darkness.
Whoever is advanced into the Tao is like a man backlog.
Whoever is at the height of the Tao is like a common man.
The man of superior virtue is like a valley.
man of great purity as covered with shame.
The man of great merit seems incapacitated.
The man of solid virtue seems devoid of activity.
The simple man is true seems vile and degraded.
is a large square which you can not see the angles and a large vase that seems far from complete, a great voice whose sound is almost imperceptible, a great image that it sees no form.
The Tao is hidden and nobody can name. He knows
lend (relief beings) and lead them to perfection.
42
The Tao produced; one has produced two 32 And two produced three 33 , three 34 produced all beings.
All beings seek peace and shun the movement.
A breath intangible form harmony.
What men dislike is to be orphans, imperfect, lacking virtue, and yet the so called kings themselves 35.
Therefore, among things, some s'augmentent by decreasing the others will fall into widen.
What men teach, I teach it too.
Violent men and inflexible point getting a natural death.
I want to take their example to base my instructions.
43
The softest things in the world could subdue the hard things of the world.
Non-being through the impenetrable things 36. That's where I know that inaction is useful.
In the world there are very few men who can hear and speak without benefit of non-action 37.
44
What moves us closer to our glory or our person?
What we are most precious to our people or our wealth?
What is the greatest misfortune to acquire them or lose them?
Therefore he who has great passion is necessarily exposed to great sacrifice.
He who conceals a rich treasure necessarily experiencing large losses.
He who knows enough to be immune from disgrace.
He who knows not stop collapses ever.
It may exist for long.
45
(The Saint) is greatly perfect, and it seems full of imperfections, its resources do not grow old.
It is highly open, and it seems empty, its resources are depleted point.
It is largely right, and it seems to lack of straightness.
It is highly ingenious, and it seems stupid.
It is highly eloquent, and it seems stammering.
movement triumph of cold triumph rest of the heat.
He who is pure and quiet becomes the model of the universe.
46
When the Tao prevailed in the world, the horses were referred to cultivate the fields.
Since when does Tao reigns over the world, the horses are born fighting on the frontiers.
There is no greater crime than to indulge his desires.
There is no greater misfortune than not to know enough.
There is no greater calamity than the desire to acquire.
He who knows himself is always sufficient content with his lot.
47
Without leaving my house, I know the universe without looking out my window, I discovered the ways of heaven. More
going away and I are taught 38.
Therefore the sage arrives (he wants) without walking, and he appoints the objects without seeing them, without acting, he accomplished great things.
48
Whoever engages in the study is increasing every day (his knowledge).
Whoever engages in Tao diminishes every day (his passion).
He declines and decreases continuously until it reached the non-action. Upon
practice non-action, there is nothing which is impossible.
is always non-action as you become the master of the empire.
one who loves to act is incapable of becoming the master of the empire.
49
The Saint has no feelings immutable. It adopts the sentiments of the people.
He who is virtuous, he treats it as a virtuous man, one who is not virtuous, he treats it as a virtuous man. This is the pinnacle of virtue.
Whoever is sincere, he treats it as a sincere man and one who is not sincere, he treats it as a sincere man. This is the pinnacle of sincerity.
The living saint in the world remains peaceful and quiet, and keeps the same feelings for all.
The hundred families place him on their ears and eyes.
The Saint watch the people as a child 39.
50
The man gets life in death to enter.
There are thirteen cases of life and thirteen causes of death 40.
Hardly was he born that these thirteen leading causes of death in quickly to death.
What is the reason? Because he wants to live with too much intensity.
But I learned that one who knows no fear rule his life on the road or rhinoceros or tiger.
If it goes into an army, it needs no armor or weapons.
rhino would not know where to hit its horn, tiger where tearing his fingernails, where the soldier piercing his sword.
What causes it? He is immune to death 41 !
51
Tao product 42 beings, Virtue nourishes them. They give body and perfect them by a secret impulse.
Therefore all beings venerate Tao and honor Virtue.
Nobody conferred dignity to the Tao, or Virtue nobility: they have ever themselves.
Therefore the Tao produces beings, nourishes them, makes them grow, develops, matures them, feeds them, protects them.
It produces them, and do the appropriate point, he did what they are and glories point, he reigned over them and let them free.
This is what is called a deep under.
52
The principle 43 the world became the mother of the world.
Once we have the mother, you know your children.
When man knows the children and it preserves their mother until the end of his life he is exposed to any danger. If
closes his mouth, he shuts his ears and his eyes 44 until the end of his days, he felt no fatigue.
But if he opens his mouth and raises his desires until the end of his life, he can not be saved.
He who sees things more subtle called enlightened and one who keeps the name is very weak. If
makes use of the brightness (the Tao) and returns to his light, his body will more to fear any calamity.
This is called being doubly illuminated.
53
If I were endowed with some knowledge, I walk through the Great Way.
The only thing I fear is to act.
The Great Way is very smooth, but the people love the trails.
If the palaces are very bright, the fields are barren, and empty granaries.
Princes dress in rich fabrics, and they carry a sharp sword, they are filled of delicacies, they are full of riches.
This is known to boast of the flight; this practice is not the Tao.
54
found one who knows no fear destruction, who knows no fear keep losing.
His son and grand-son shall offer sacrifices without interruption.
If (man) cultivates the Tao inside of himself, his virtue will become genuine.
If he cultivates in his family, his virtue will become superfluous.
If the farmer in the village, his virtue will be extended.
If the farmer in the kingdom, his virtue will flourish.
If he cultivates in the empire, his virtue will become universal.
Therefore, according to myself, I judge of other men, according to a family, I find other families of apes a village, I judge of other villages, according to a kingdom I judge of other kingdoms from the empire, I judge of the empire.
How do I know that this is the empire? Only thus 45.
55
He who has a solid virtue is like a newborn who does not fear the bite of poisonous animals, nor the claws of wild beasts, or the talons of birds of prey.
His bones are weak, his nerves are soft, and yet he gripped objects.
He does not know yet the union of the two sexes, and yet some parts (of his body) are having an orgasm male. This comes from the perfection of the semen.
He screams all day and not altered his voice, it comes from the perfection of harmony (life force).
Knowing harmony is called being constant 46 .
Knowing constancy is called being informed.
Increase his life called a calamity.
When the heart gives impetus to the vital energy, it is called to be strong.
When things became tough, they age.
This is known not to imitate the Tao.
He who does not imitate the Tao died early.
56
The man who knows (the Tao) does not speak, he who speaks does not know not.
He closed his mouth, he closes his ears and his eyes, he blunts his activities, he is released from all bonds, he tempers his light (indoor), he likened the vulgar. You could say he looks like the Tao.
It is inaccessible to favor as to the disgrace, as the benefit to the detriment, as the honors to ignominy.
is why it is the most honorable man in the universe.
57
With righteousness, it rules the kingdom with the ruse, it makes war with the non-action, it becomes the master of the empire 47.
How do I know that this is the empire? By this. More
King multiply prohibitions and defenses, and the people impoverished;
More
the people of instruments of gain, the more troubled kingdom;
More
the people of skill and ability, and make you see strange objects;
More laws exist, and most thieves are increasing.
is why the Saint says: I practice non-action, and the people converted himself.
I love quietude, and the people to correct itself.
I refrain from any occupation, and people enriched himself.
I release myself from all desires, and the people return to itself to simplicity.
58
When the administration (apparently) devoid of light, the people become rich.
When the administration is sighted, the people lack everything.
Happiness is born of misery, unhappiness is hidden in happiness. Who can predict the end?
If Prince is not straight, straight men become misleading, and virtuous men, perverse.
men are plunged in error, and it lasts a long time!
is why the saint is fair and does not hurt (the people).
He is selfless and does him no harm.
It is right and do not improve.
It is lighted and does not dazzle.
59
To govern men and serve the sky, nothing compares to moderation.
Moderation be the first care of man.
When she became his first concern, we can say that accumulates abundantly virtue.
When it accumulates abundantly virtue, there is nothing which he does triumph.
When there's nothing he will triumph, no one knows its limits.
When nobody knows his limits, he can possess the kingdom.
He who possesses the mother of the kingdom can long survive.
This is called having deep roots and a solid rod.
That the art of living long and enjoy a sustainable livelihood.
60
To govern a great kingdom, (should) emulate (the one) cooked 48 a small fish.
When the Prince runs the empire from the Tao, the demons will show their power point.
It is not that demons lack of power is that the demons do not offend people.
This art not only as demons (can) hurt humans is that the Saint himself no way offends men.
Neither Saint nor demons not hurt them, so it all confused their virtue.
61
A great kingdom (must be lowered) the rivers and seas, where meet (all waters) empire.
Worldwide, this is the role of the female. By staying quiet, she constantly triumph of the male. This rest is a kind of humiliation.
Therefore, if a great kingdom falls to small kingdoms, he will win small kingdoms.
If small kingdoms lowered to a great kingdom, they will win the great kingdom.
Therefore each stoop to receive, Other stoop to be received.
What a great kingdom only wish is to unite and to govern other men. What
wants only a small kingdom, is being allowed to serve other men.
So both get what they wanted.
But large must stoop!
62
The Tao is the refuge of all beings and is the treasure of the virtuous and the support of the wicked.
Words can do our great wealth, honorable actions can lift us above the rest.
If a man is not virtuous, could we reject with contempt?
is why we had established an emperor and established three ministers.
It is good to keep to themselves a jade tablet, or mounted on a chariot, but it is better to sit forward in the Tao. Why they felt the ancient Tao? Not because it is found naturally without trying all day? Is it not because the perpetrators are getting by him freedom and life?
is why (the Tao) is to be the most worthy of the world.
63
(The wise) practice non-action, he takes care of non-occupancy, and savor what is without flavor.
things big or small, numerous or rare, (equal in his eyes).
He avenges his insults with benefits.
It starts with easy things, when in difficult to meditate, for small things, when in large projects.
The hardest things in the world it necessarily started out as easy.
The greatest things in the world are necessarily initially be small.
Hence it is that, until the end, the Saint does not seek to do great things, so it can accomplish great things.
He who lightly promises rarely takes his word.
Whoever finds a lot easier necessarily experiencing great difficulties.
Hence the Holy everything difficult, so until the end of his life, he feels no difficulty.
64
What is easy to maintain calm , Which has not yet appeared is easy to prevent, which is small is easy to break, which is menu is easy to disperse.
Stop trouble before it exists; calm the disorder before it happens.
A tree with a large circumference was born as a root of a hair untied, a nine-storey tower is out of a handful of earth, a journey of thousand miles begins with one step in!
Those who act fails, one that focuses on the things one loses.
Hence the Holy does not, so it fails point.
It is attached to nothing, so it does not lose.
When the people did something, it always fails at success.
Be careful at the end as at the beginning, and then you will never fail.
Hence the Holy fact consist desires in the absence of all desire. He considers extent the property acquisition difficult. He
include its study in the absence of any study, and preserves the faults of other men.
He dares not act to help all beings to follow their nature.
65
In ancient times, those who excelled in practicing the Tao does point employed to enlighten the people and they used it to make it simple and ignorant.
The people are difficult to govern because he was too cautious.
Whoever uses prudence to govern the kingdom is the scourge of the kingdom.
He who does not use prudence to govern the kingdom is the kingdom of happiness.
Knowing these two things, one is the model (the Empire). Know
be the model (the Empire) is be endowed with a heavenly virtue.
This heavenly virtue is profound, immense, as opposed to creatures.
Through it we managed to procure a general peace.
66
Why rivers and seas can they be kings of all the water?
Because he knows to keep below them.
is why they are the kings of all waters.
So when the Holy desire to be above the people, must, by his words, he starts below him. When
wishes to be placed before the people, must, of his person, it starts after him.
Hence the saint is placed above all and there is no grievance to the people, it is placed in front of all the people and does not suffer. Also
whole empire likes to serve and never get tired point.
As he did not dispute (the first row), there is nobody in the empire who could play him.
67
Worldwide eminent all tell me, but I like merely a man.
Only because I'm leading, I look like a man bounded. When
to (so-called) enlightened long ago that their mediocrity is known!
I have three precious things: I want and keep as a treasure.
The first condition is called, the second is called the economy and the third is called humility, that keeps me from wanting to be the first of the empire.
I have affection, so I can be brave. I
economy, so I can make big spending.
I dare be the first of the empire, so I can become the leader of all men.
But today's affection is allowed to indulge in courage, allowed the economy to engage in large expenditures; we leave the last place to look first:
That led to the death.
If you struggle with a heart full of affection, it wins and if we defend (a city), it is impregnable.
When the sky wants to save a man, he gives her affection for protection.
68
one who excels in commanding an army does not have a fighting spirit.
He who excels in combat does not give in to anger.
He who excels not fighting to win.
He who excels in the men take turns beneath them.
This is what is known to possess the virtue which consists in not fighting.
This is called knowing how to use the strengths of men.
This is called together in heaven. This was
the sublime science of the ancients.
69
To quote an old warrior:
I dare not give the signal, I prefer to receive it.
I dare advance an inch, I would rather retreat a foot.
This is called having no place to follow, extending arms, enemies to pursue, nor seize the weapon.
There is no greater misfortune than to resist the light.
Resist the light is almost losing our treasure.
Also, when two armies fight on equal terms is the most compassionate man who wins.
70
My words are easy to understand, easy to practice.
Worldwide nobody can understand, nobody can do them.
My words have an origin, my actions have a rule 49.
Men do not understand is why they ignore me.
Those who understand me are few and far between. I am only more estimated.
Hence the Saint is clothed in coarse clothes and hid gems in its midst.
71
Know and (we believe) does not know is the height of merit.
Do not know and (think they) know is the disease (for men).
If you are afflicted with this disease you do not feel it. The Holy
not experiencing this disease because it afflicts them.
is why he does not feel it.
72
When people do not fear things formidable, what is more dangerous (death) comes down upon him.
Keep you find yourself cramped in your home, beware of your fate put you off.
I am disgusted point of mine, so it does not inspire me the point of disgust.
Hence the Holy knows himself and does highlight the point is, he does household and point taken.
is why he lets this and adopt it.
73
Whoever puts his courage to dare, to die.
Whoever puts his courage not to dare, to find life.
Of these two things, one is useful, the other is harmful.
When Heaven hate someone who is there who could fathom his reasons?
is why the Holy decides to act hard.
This is the way (driving) from the sky. It
control point and knows victory.
He does not speak, and (the people) know him obey.
He did not call, and they run themselves.
It seems slow, and he knows forming plans clever.
The net of heaven is immense, and his stitches are removed and yet no one escapes.
74
When people do not fear death, how frightened by the threat of death?
If people constantly feared death, and someone to do evil, I can seize and kill, and then who will dare to (imitate)?
There is constantly a supreme magistrate who inflicts death.
If you want to replace it chief magistrate, and inflict death itself, it looks like a man (disqualified) that would cut the wood instead of a carpenter.
When you want the wood trim in place of a carpenter, it is rare that does not hurt your hands.
75
The people are hungry because the prince eats a quantity of taxes.
is why he is hungry.
The people are difficult to govern because the prince 50 loves to act.
is why it is difficult to govern.
The people despise death because he looks too much arder with the means to live.
is why he despises death.
But he who does not care to live is wiser than he who believes in life.
76
When man is born, it is supple and weak when he dies, he is stiff and strong.
When trees and plants are born, they are soft and tender and when they die, they are dry and arid.
The stiffness and strength are the companions of death, flexibility and weakness are the companions of life.
Therefore, when an army is strong, it does not win the victory.
When a tree has become strong, it kills.
What is very large and occupies the lower level, which is supple and weak takes the higher rank.
77
The way to heaven (that is to say the sky) like the worker is arched, which lowers what is high and student what is low; who takes away the superfluous, and supplies what is missing.
Heaven deprives those who have surplus to help those who do not have enough.
It is not the rights: it deprives those who do not have to give those luxuries.
Which one is capable of giving one's surplus men of the empire. Only he who possesses the Tao.
is why the Holy done (well) and did prevail point.
He does great things and fails to tie point.
He will not reveal his wisdom.
78
Of all the things in the world, there is none of softer and weaker than water, yet to break what is hard and strong nothing can override it.
For that nothing can replace water.
What is small triumph of what is strong, which is soft triumph of what is hard.
Worldwide, there is nobody who does not know (the truth), but nobody can put into practice.
is why the Saint said: He who bears the opprobrium of the kingdom became chief of the kingdom.
Whoever bears the calamities of the kingdom became the king of the empire.
Lyrics seem contrary straight (at right).
79
If you want to appease the great feuds of men 51 they necessarily retain a lingering enmity.
How could they become virtuous?
Hence the Holy guard the left side of the contract 52 and does not charge anything for others.
So whoever has the virtue of thinking of giving, one who is thinking of asking without virtue.
Heaven relishes individual. He constantly gives to men virtuous.
80
(If I ruled) a small kingdom and a few people, though he has weapons for ten or a hundred men, I would prevent him from using it.
the people I will learn to fear death and do not migrate away.
When he ships and tanks, not go up there.
When he would have armor and spears, it would not do.
I'd return to the use of knotted strings 53.
He enjoyed his food, he would find the elegance in his clothing, he pleased in his home, he asked her simple uses.
If a realm other was opposite of mine, and the cries of roosters and dogs means one to another, my people would come to old age and death without visiting the people neighbor.
81
The sincere words are not elegant, elegant words are not sincere.
The virtuous man is not eloquent; one who is talkative is not virtuous.
He who knows (the Tao) is not learned, he who is not learned the unknown.
The Saint does not accumulate (wealth).
more he employs (virtue) in the interest of men, the more it increases.
Plus it gives men the more it grows rich. That is the way to heaven, it is useful to people and not their point night. This is the way St., and it acts not discussing.
Notes:
a mirror. Nothing escapes their vigilance. Ordinary men see nothing beyond the reach of their eyes, hear anything beyond the scope of their ears, do not think anything beyond the scope of their minds. They walk blindly in the midst of beings they use their abilities to acquire knowledge, and it was only by chance that they foresee some light. They believe themselves enlightened and do not see that they begin to arrive at the height of ignorance. They are delighted to have acquired what is lowest, basest of the world, and they forget what is most sublime. They like the superficial and ignore the solid, they pick Flower and reject the fruit. There is a great man who knows reject one and adopt another.
Several authors argue thus: humanity, justice, rituals, laws, are the instruments used by a holy man (in other words a perfect prince) to govern the empire. But Lao Tzu wants us to abandon humanity and justice, we abandon the rites and laws. If such a doctrine was put into practice, how the empire would fall into it not chaos? Indeed, among the scholars of later centuries, we saw that, seduced by a taste for abstract discussion, passed by the acts of real life, others who, driven by love of retirement, put into oblivion the laws of morality. Empire followed their example and soon the company fell into trouble and disorder. This happened under the Tsin dynasty. This misfortune took its origin in the doctrine of Lao-tzu.
Those who understand and are unable to understand the purpose of Lao-tzu, or to penetrate the true cause of the defects that erupted under the Tsin. The men of Chin did not follow the doctrine of Lao-tzu and the mayhem of that time had a different cause. It is not without reason that Lao Tzu learns to leave humanity and justice, renounce the rites and the study. If men have to leave humanity and justice is to revere the Tao and Virtue, and if they must relinquish their rituals and study, is to return to the honesty and sincerity. The men of Tsin, I see they have abandoned humanity and justice, I do not see that they revered the Tao and Virtue. I see they have abandoned the rituals and study, I do not see they have returned to the honesty and sincerity.
Since the Thai-kang period (the year 280 AD) until the leak on the left bank of the river Kiang, scholars apply generally to acquire a distinguished reputation, they gave themselves to rest gently and they were running after power and wealth, and is passionate about music and the arts. The taste of abstract discussion and love of solitude were nothing compared to the excesses that have troubled the guilty family Zin, and he could not find the reason in the book of Lao Tzu.
that the sky is clear, that the earth is at rest, that minds are endowed with a divine intelligence, that the valleys are likely to be fulfilled, that the ten thousand beings are born, the kings and vassals are models the world. But they know that the Tao is that they got those qualities. The greatness of heaven and earth, the nobility and vassals of kings is the unit that produced them. But what is it that the Unit? You look and can not see, you want to touch it and do not reach. We see that this is the most subtle thing in the world.
originate in the essence of Tao. This is because the sky has got this unit, this essence, it is pure form and amounts of ether above our heads, etc.. If heaven does not have this Unit is to say if it was not the purity of the Tao which is his nature, he would split and could become rounded arch. If the earth did not have this unit, it would be driven by a rapid (several interpreters explain the word by his "get moving") and could not remain at rest for supporting things, if men do not possess, their livelihoods and they could run out perpetuate itself endlessly in their son and grandchildren son. If the ten thousand (that is to say all) people do not have, they die out and cease to exist. If princes and kings do not possess, they would be overthrown, and could remain in peace in their noble and lofty throne. This last point emphasizes that Lao Tzu particularly because he wants the focus to the Tao and kings rule by non-action.
In general, any man who is subject to others and act only according to their orders, hiatsien called "low and despicable."
It a comparison that applies to the Tao. The Tao is nameless and all beings in the world can use, just as it employs a man of low and abject condition. If princes and kings were left on their noble and lofty throne without having the Tao, they would soon be reversed. Is not it obvious that the Tao is their foundation and their root?
an axle, a pole, etc.. If you give these parties their respective names, the name of char will disappear and if you make abstraction, there will be no tank.
Similarly, it is the meeting and all the people who are a prince or a king. "Prince, King," are collective nouns of people. If you ignore the people, there will be neither prince nor king.
Some nice as either a tank, it became so only by meeting a multitude of small materials. Some noble or a prince or a king, he could become that by meeting a crowd of men of low condition.
return to non-being to exist again. Only when they are returned in absolute repose, as the Tao them again and moving back to life. So the rest is the basis and the principle of movement.
an unlimited extent, and until today they celebrate their virtue. So anyone who falls is high by men (literally "everyone down, the men rise").
easily stones and metals the hardest.
state to instruct without using the word, and get the benefits of inaction.
contains all the secrets of the universe.
he has confidence in him, he loves as a father and a mother. For its part, the Holy fear of hurting the people, he keeps it with care and cherish as a child is born.
to spiritual life, know the emptiness, attachment to non-being, purity, peace, love of darkness, poverty, weakness, weakness, humility, counting, modesty, flexibility, economy. There are thirteen causes of death that are the opposite of the thirteen states which we have enumerated, namely: the fullness, attachment to creatures, impurity, restlessness, the desire to shine, richness, hardness , strength, pride, excess of wealth, height, inflexibility, prodigality.
An Elder said: He who loves life can be killed and whoever loves the purity may be sullied, and whoever loves the glory may be covered with shame, he who loves perfection can lose it. But if the man remains a stranger to life (body), which is what can kill him? If there is foreign to the purity, which is what can defile him? If he remains a stranger to fame, who is it who can dishonor? If he remains a stranger to perfection, which is what can make him lose? One who understands this can play in life and death.
Why can a man be injured by the horn of the rhinoceros, by the nails of the tiger, the sword of the soldier? Because he has a body. If he knows how to identify her body, internally it will no longer see his body outside it will most sensitive objects. Death can not reach by any point.
not make him forget the Tao. Therefore, until the end of his life he faithfully preserved their mother (the Tao). The misfortune of men of the century is to forget the Tao, earnestly seeking the objects and things that flatter their senses.
and its view. That is why Lao Tzu advised to close their ears and eyes, so that external things do not enter into his soul. If it does so, he may, his life, make use of the Tao and never experience any fatigue. But if indulged in the desires that flatter the ears and eyes, he was carried away by the impetuosity of the senses without going back on track, he would lose his heart under the influence of beings, and until the end of his life he could not be saved.
a family, a family of a man? Because all men are alike, because they are also unique to cultivate virtue. How do I know this? I know from this body, that is to say by myself, looking the way I practice the Tao. (See chap. XLVII).
create a multitude of laws, the people enjoy peace and give all their affection. When, however, the administration is unwelcome and troublesome, the people rise up and do not know that the hate.
The Saint uses a vacuum and light (that is to say stripped himself of his passions and dispel their darkness) to feed its nature, moderation and economy to meet the needs of his body, purity and the most serious attention to strengthening his will, the peace and quiet to govern his kingdom. When govern the empire by the Tao, the demons dare to show their power, because a saint is seated on the throne. If demons do not dare show their power to hurt men, not because they lack power, it is only because the evil can not conquer the righteous. Therefore it is recognized that if the demons dare attack men because they fear and respect the right and wise man who is on the throne. If the Holy dare harm the people, he likes it as if it was his father. If, in the number, it is the blind men who indulge in evil, the Holy refrains from punishing them immediately because of the evil they did. It saves them by his kindness, he consoles her by benefits and brought back to good. The Saint does no harm to people, and then convert the demons. This shows the greatness of his virtue. For their part, the demons do no harm to men, it also proves the excellence of their virtue. The whole empire is credited the Holy, but it sees no merit in his works, and he deserves it relates to the demons. Thus they confound all their virtue.
what is worthy of approbation or blame, for them, it highlights some omens of misfortune or happiness, victory or defeat. Thus the Tao is the origin of words, virtue is the ruler (literally "the prince, that is to say the governor") of its shares.
could be divided into two parts. They wrote above, all agreements, either for purchase or to give or take. One of the contractors who had to give the thing that was under contract, guarding the left side of the tablet, and one who had come to claim it took the right side. When he was appearing in his hand standing in the right part of the contract, one that had left them closer to one another, and, after recognizing the exact correspondence of lines of writing and the coincidence of the serrations the two portions of the shelf (they had to adapt to each other as the sizes of the bakers, and letters were Engraved had to match like a banknote that approximates the strain), he gave the requested object without any difficulty, and without showing the slightest doubt about the rights and the sincerity of the applicant.
When we say that the Holy guard the left side of the contract means he does not claim anything to anyone, and he expects that others are asking themselves what they want from him .
to communicate their thoughts. At that time, the morals were pure and simple, and, following the ideas of Lao-tzu, they had not yet been altered by the progress of knowledge. In the mind of the author, the words "I will bring people to the use of knotted strings" mean: "I bring the people back to its primitive simplicity."