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Two gives birth to Three: Where will it end? Three gives birth to all things: I knew it! Now once more from the top, with feeling. All things have their backs to the female, etc.: Literally, “The ten thousand things carry [at their backs] the yin and embrace [in front] the yang; through the blending of the energy [chi] of these two, they achieve harmony.” Last stanza: I have improvised here. The text reads: People hate to be orphans, widowers, starvelings. Yet kings and princes take these names as their titles. Therefore sometimes you gain by losing; sometimes you lose by gaining. What others have taught, I teach also: ‘The violent will not die a natural death.’ I will make this the father of my teaching. CHAPTER 43 gentlest…/ hardest…: Examples: water and rock, love and hostility. CHAPTER 44 Fame or integrity, etc.: But why be caught in these dichotomies? Once he has surrendered to the Tao, the Master accepts whatever comes to him. If fame comes, he uses it with integrity. If money comes, he uses it as pure energy. Success and failure are equally irrelevant to him, because his heart rests in the Tao. CHAPTER 45 True perfection: A cracked coffee cup. The sound of traffic outside your
window. True fullness: Attention, for example. CHAPTER 46 Whoever can see through all fear: This is the only real defense. President Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” I would say, “Not even that.” CHAPTER 47 The more you know: The more you know without knowing yourself. CHAPTER 48 every day something is dropped: Gratefully. True mastery can be gained: Actually, it can’t be gained. True mastery is letting things take their course. CHAPTER 49 The Master has no mind of her own: She has a strong will and a strong character, but she is permeable. And her mind is so subtle that, in comparison with the rigid thought-and desire-structures of other people, it seems to be pure space. She also trusts people who aren’t trustworthy: Like a parent whose child has broken a rule. Of course, if a parent is genuine, the child will be genuine too.
CHAPTER 50 There are a number of passages in the Tao Te Ching where a much narrower consciousness is at work than in the rest of the book. These passages may be interpolations (several show a concern with immortality, as the later, magical Taoism did). Or perhaps the old fellow had indigestion on the days he wrote them. But since my job was to re-create the essential mind of Lao-tzu, I could not in good conscience include them in this version. What I have done instead is to make improvisations on the passage’s theme, always taking care to remain within the consciousness and language of the main body of the text. For those who are curious, I have included literal translations in these notes. The text here reads: Coming in is life; going out is death. Three in ten are companions of life; three in ten are companions of death. And three in ten are moving from life to the place of death. Why is this? Because they live life too intensely. I have heard that he who knows how to preserve his life meets neither rhinoceros nor tiger when he travels by land, and is untouched by the sword when he enters a battle. The rhinoceros finds no place in him to drive its horn; the tiger finds no place in him to sink its claws; the soldier finds no place in him to thrust his sword. Why is this? Because in him there is no place of death. he has nothing left: Zen Master Seung Sahn’s comment: Coming in emptyhanded, going out emptyhanded. What is your original face? The moon is shining everywhere. CHAPTER 51
spontaneously honors the Tao: Honoring the Tao means respecting the way things are. There is a wonderful Japanese story (adapted here from Zenkei Shibayama Roshi’s A Flower Does Not Talk) which portrays this attitude: A hundred and fifty years ago there lived a woman named Sono, whose devotion and purity of heart were respected far and wide. One day a fellow Buddhist, having made a long trip to see her, asked, “What can I do to put my heart at rest?” She said, “Every morning and every evening, and whenever anything happens to you, keep on saying, ‘Thanks for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.’” The man did as he was instructed, for a whole year, but his heart was still not at peace. He returned to Sono, crestfallen. “I’ve said your prayer over and over, and yet nothing in my life has changed; I’m still the same selfish person as before. What should I do now?” Sono immediately said, “‘Thanks for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.’” On hearing these words, the man was able to open his spiritual eye, and returned home with a great joy. CHAPTER 52 trace back the manifestations: Where do you come from? CHAPTER 53 The great Way is easy: Zen Master Seng-ts’an said, The great Way is not difficult if you don’t cling to good and bad. Just let go of your preferences: and everything will be perfectly clear.
CHAPTER 54 genuine: The mark of a genuine person is straightforwardness. He has nothing to hide, nothing to defend. CHAPTER 55 like a newborn child: Chuang-tzu said, The infant cries all day long without straining its throat. It clenches its fist all day long without cramping its hand. It stares all day long without weakening its eyes. Free from all worries, unaware of itself, it acts without thinking, doesn’t know why things happen, doesn’t need to know. The Master’s power is like this, etc.: I have improvised here. The text reads: To know harmony is to know the eternal; to know the eternal is to have insight. To improve upon life is ominous; to control the chi by the mind is aggressiveness. When they are too aggressive, things decay. This is non-Tao. Non-Tao soon ends. CHAPTER 56 Those who know don’t talk. They don’t talk for the sake of talking, or to prove something, or to display themselves. They talk only if it’s appropriate (and if they feel like talking). Those who talk don’t know: This is ignorance, not the openness of not- knowing.
CHAPTER 57 the world will govern itself: Just as Nature regulates itself, without any need of our bright ideas. CHAPTER 58 Second stanza: I have improvised here. The text reads: Prosperity rests on disaster; disaster is hidden in prosperity. Who knows the line that separates them? The normal becomes the perverted, the good becomes the monstrous. People have long been confused about this. CHAPTER 59 I have improvised here. The text reads: In governing people and serving heaven, nothing is better than moderation. Only he who is moderate can prepare in advance. He who prepares in advance accumulates a reserve of te [virtue or power; the Tao as it informs things and acts in the world]. He who accumulates a reserve of te overcomes all obstacles. He who overcomes all obstacles has no limits. He who has no limits can possess a country. He who possesses the mother of a country can keep it for a long time. This is called having deep roots and a strong stem, long life and enduring vision. CHAPTER 60 step out of its way: It will be like a sword cutting the air. No harm.
CHAPTER 61 I have improvised here. The text reads: A large country is like the lower part of a river. It is the meeting-point of the universe, the female of the universe. The female, by tranquility, conquers the male. By tranquility she takes the lower position. Therefore a large country by placing itself in a lower position can conquer a small country. A small country by being in a lower position can conquer a large country. Therefore the one conquers by placing itself lower, the other conquers by being naturally lower. A large country wants nothing more than to gather people and nourish them. A small country wants nothing more than to enter and serve the people. Since both get what they want, the large country should take the lower position. CHAPTER 62 The Tao is the center of the universe: The center is everywhere. the good man’s treasure: It is like the magic purse: he can spend it freely, and there is always more. the bad man’s refuge: It doesn’t judge him. Thus he can step outside his idea of himself. There is always another chance. no one can achieve it: Because there is no “it.” Offer instead / to teach him about the Tao: Better yet, don’t offer. The Master simply responds to circumstances in the appropriate way. If the president or the pope or a border guard has a question, he will be glad to answer it. Otherwise, he minds his business and leaves everything to the Tao. CHAPTER 63
When she runs into a difficulty: A difficulty is like a letter with her address on it. CHAPTER 64 He cares about nothing but the Tao: Which is not to say that he doesn’t love his wife, children, friends, country, planet. But he sees them in the proper perspective: of eternity. And since he and his wife love the Tao even more than they love each other, their marriage is radiant with love. This is the meaning of the Biblical verse “You shall love the Unnamable your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” CHAPTER 65 kindly taught them to not-know: The ancient Masters taught them the supreme value of Don’t-know Mind, which is forever fresh, open, and fertile with possibilities. (Another name for it is Beginner’s Mind.) CHAPTER 66 The Master is above the people: Not that she feels superior, but that, looking from a higher vantage point, she can see more. The whole world is grateful to her: Even those who think they are ungrateful. no one can compete with her: She sees everyone as her equal. CHAPTER 67 Second stanza: I have improvised here. The text reads:
I have three treasures which I preserve and treasure. The first is compassion, the second is frugality, the third is daring not to be first in the world. Whoever has compassion can be brave. Whoever has frugality can be generous. Whoever dares not to be first in the world can become the leader of the world. But to be brave without compassion, generous without frugality, prominent without humility: this is fatal. Whoever shows compassion in battle will conquer. Whoever shows compassion in defense will stand firm. Heaven helps and protects those with compassion. CHAPTER 68 I have improvised here. The text reads: A skillful officer isn’t warlike. A skillful fighter isn’t violent. A skillful conqueror isn’t competitive. A skillful employer places himself below others. This is called the te of not competing. This is called the power to use men’s abilities. This is called complying with heaven. Since ancient times it has been the best way. CHAPTER 69 Underestimating your enemy: Even thinking of him as an enemy is dangerous. If you need a word, use “opponent.” May the best man (as they say) win. CHAPTER 70 easy to put into practice: Grasses and trees have no trouble with it; animals are perfect disciples. look inside your heart: And keep looking. Keep listening, too, until the sights and the sounds disappear by themselves.
CHAPTER 71 First realize that you are sick: Novalis said, “We are close to waking up when we dream that we are dreaming.” CHAPTER 72 Therefore the Master steps back: He doesn’t act as guru or messiah, because he doesn’t want to keep people dependent on him, and thus spiritually immature. When people start to treat him like a holy man, he nips their adoration in the bud and points them to their inner messiah. people will have nothing to learn: They just need to unlearn. CHAPTER 73 The Tao is always at ease: At ease with herself, the Master puts everyone else at ease. CHAPTER 74 Trying to control the future: Thinking that you know what is good or bad, what is advantageous or harmful. The Huai Nan Tzu tells a story about this: A poor farmer’s horse ran off into the country of the barbarians. All his neighbors offered their condolences, but his father said, “How do you know that this isn’t good fortune?” After a few months the horse returned with a barbarian horse of excellent stock. All his neighbors offered their congratulations, but his father said, “How do you know that this isn’t a disaster?” The two horses bred, and the family became rich in fine horses. The farmer’s son spent much of his time riding them; one day he fell off and broke his hipbone. All his neighbors offered the farmer their condolences, but his father said, “How do you know that this isn’t good fortune?” Another year passed, and the barbarians invaded the frontier. All the able-bodied
young men were conscripted, and nine-tenths of them died in the war. Thus good fortune can be disaster and vice versa. Who can tell how events will be transformed? CHAPTER 75 leave them alone: Offer them the gift of not being dependent on you. CHAPTER 76 disciple of life: The less rigid, the readier for life or death. CHAPTER 77 and doesn’t think that she is better: She is simply more transparent. CHAPTER 78 he is people’s greatest help: The greatest help is wholeheartedly trusting people to resolve their own problems. A true philanthropist, like a good parent, brings people to the point where they can help themselves. True words seem paradoxical: Only when the mind is cluttered with untruth. CHAPTER 79 If you blame someone else: Confucius said, In the archer there is a resemblance to the mature person. When he
misses the mark, he turns and seeks the reason for his failure in himself. CHAPTER 80 without ever having gone to see it: Not that they are lacking in appropriate curiosity. But they have their priorities straight. CHAPTER 81 The Master has no possessions: These no-possessions may include a house, a car, a computer, a roomful of books, and an electric toothbrush. The more he does for others, / the happier he is: Because he is doing it for himself. The more he gives to others, / the wealthier he is: The less he holds on to, the more he can give himself to others. When he can give himself completely, his wealth is infinite.