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Note by the guy whose site this is, Jackie Wu's son
These writings are posted here with permission from Jackie Wu. I don't think they're worth reading, since there are better translations and commentaries, but I want to give an online home to my dad's garbage writings.
Dao De Jing - Translation and comments by Jackie Wu
Dao De Jing - Chapter 1
Dao is the universe itself, the origin of all changes. Descriptions, words, and names related to Dao are all abstract concepts. Abstract concepts, descriptions, and names cannot equal the eternally present Dao of the universe.
"Name" refers to everything that originates from changes in the universe, including sun, moon, stars, and galaxies, plants, and animals.
Originally, everything has no name. For the purpose of communication and ease of differentiation, humans give names, attach labels to everything. All definitions, names, and descriptions are arbitrary labels . Names and labels are only representations, and do not equal to the various things themselves.
The broad meaning of Dao, includes the parts of the universe that have not been revealed, is called "Nothingness" ; and all that has already been revealed and can be observed, sun, moon, stars, and galaxies.
"Nothingness" contain enormous energy, can change into the milky way, the solar system, earth, therefore, "Nothingness" is heaven and earth, the origin of the solar system.
The heaven and earth, solar system, that has taken shapes and forms as revealed can further change into plants, animals, humans, and all things, therefore named as mother of everything.
Therefore, we frequently and continuously follow the ability of "nothingness" changing into heaven and earth, sun, and moon to observe the mystery of "Nothingness" of the universe. Frequently and continuously follow the heaven and earth, sun and moons changing into plants, animals, and everything, so as to understand the greatness of heaven and earth, and the intelligence of creation.
Regardless of the universe itself, nothingness that has not been revealed, the heaven and earth, sun and moon, everything that exist, are collectively called Dao. although nothingness and everything that exist have different names, they are the two faces of the one and the same Dao, only revealed and not revealed, that's all. Both of them are extremely mysterious.
Dao is too mysterious, too mysterious, not ordinary people can understand. Dao is the origin of all mysterious human concepts and ideas. Really too abstract, too mysterious.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 2 - The particular aspect of Dao - Dao exceeds the duality of the two extremes.
When the general public think they can distinguish what is beautiful and what is ugly, it become a hateful public opinion.
When the general public think they can distinguish what is good and what is evil, the public opinion become very unfriendly.
(If everyone uses his own like and dislike to distinguish beauty, ugliness, good, , and evil, that would create all kinds of conflict, opposition, and impurity in the public, and lead to corruption of the moral in the general public. Using individuals' vain and wild ways to distinguish different value would create opposition of the two extremes.)
Defining what is beautiful would simultaneously define what is ugly. Defining what is good would simultaneously define what is ugly. Difficult and easy, long and short, above and below, noise and sound, front and back are all concepts of opposing extremes.
That is why sages manage without passing judgement, and teaches with action instead of words, never refuse to benefit others, never claim ownership to what he raise, serve without pride, succeed without claiming credit. Because sages don't claim credit for their benevolent acts, the respect and appreciation for them never disappear from the heart of others.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 3 - The Dao to govern long and peaceful
Don't worship virtue, allows the public to not fight over virtue. Don't value rare treasure, allows the public to not steal. Don't show off desirables, allows the public to not feel troubled.
Therefore sages govern by humbling the heart, keeping the stomach full, weaken the ambitions, and strengthen the body, allow the public no wisdom and no desire, allow those with big ambitions no room to exercise their ambitions. Acting without passing judgement, and naturally nothing will be left ungoverned.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 4 - Dao the origin of everything
Dao flows, and its usage never exhausted and never overflow. It is so vast to be like it is the origin of everything. It seems to exist and not exist, empty and filled. I can't find what gives birth to Dao. Looks like it exist before the Kingdom of Heaven..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 5 - Equal love with no special preference
Heaven and earth have no love. Everything is treated the same as straw dogs. Sages have no love. every subject is treated like straw dogs.
In between heaven and earth, it is like my wind box, Empty but does not collapse. Activated, it produces wind automatically. lecturing too much leads to running out of options soon. It is better to guard the emptiness inside. (Don't try too hard to govern, let the people live according to their nature.)
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 6 - Dao, the root of heaven and earth
The mountain and valley gods are eternal. They represent the mysterious femininity of motherhood. The door of femininity of motherhood is where heaven and earth is born, that is why it is called the root or origin of heaven and earth. Continuous without interruption for eternity, appeared to exit and not to exist, the ability to create by Dao is never exhausted.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 7 - Selfless and not self fulfilling, Heaven and earth last long and far
Heaven and earth has lasted a long time from the past The reason for heaven and earth to last a long time and to last a long time in the past, is because it does not seek its own survival. It can therefore survive for a long time.
For this same reason sages place his self interest behind his deeds, Detached from his self interest and his self continue to survive. Is he being selfless is questionable. That is how he succeed in fulfilling his own self interest of survival.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 8 - Take lesson from water - Observe water to understand Dao
The virtue of water is the highest. Water is good at benefiting everything but not fight with anyone. Settle where everyone hates to settle, therefore closer to Dao.
Staying at solid ground, considerations deep and vast, interact well with people, keeping what's promised, govern with good policies, manage to produce good results, act appropriately. That's called Wu Wei, not fighting with bad intentions. Therefore worry free.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 9 - Succeed without claiming credit is the Dao of heaven
Insisting and expect full accomplishment is not as good as quitting at the appropriate timing.
Upholding and expect to sharpen further will not hold for a long time..
Wealthy with house full of treasures cannot be protected.
Proud of being rich and powerful is leaving disasters for oneself.
Reputation follows success is the time to humbly back away.
That is the Dao of heaven.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 10 - Body, heart, and spirit united with Dao
Body and spirit are united into one, can they be separated ?
Temperament soft to the extreme, can it be like an infant ?
Polished an cleaned to virtue clarity, can there be not a spec of dust ?
Love the country and rule its people, can it be Wu Wei, govern without any selfish intention.
Operation of all the naturally born faculties, can they be free of outside influence ?
Understand all matter around, can there be no calculating of others ?
Give birth and nourish, produce but not possess, act but not insist, empower others but not dictate, it is called ultimate virtue.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 11 - Empty space is what enable utility
Having 30 spokes from 1 center to form a wheel, because of the space and empty they support, we have the use of a carriage.
Having mixed mud to made vessels, because of the space and emptiness inside the vessels, we have the use of vessels.
Having constructed windows and doors of a room, because of the space and emptiness inside the room, we have the use of a room.
So we apply what we have, to make space and emptiness we can use.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 12 - Stimulating our senses led us to wild undisciplined desire
Colourful things blind our eyes. Good sounding music make us deaf Tasty food corrupts our taste. Exciting activities make our desires go wild and undisciplined. Rear goods make us worried about theft and not able to live carefree.
That is why sages cater to their wellbeing inside and not cater to satisfying their senses, resulted in choose these and giving up that.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 13 - Surpass the gaining and losing of fame and fortune is prerequisite to hold high position
Scared of both rewards and insults, value the body as if there is big risk..
What is the meaning of scared of both rewards and insults ? Seek rewards and dislike insults are usual. Scared when succeed in getting these, scared when failing in getting these, is what is called scared of both rewards and insults.
What is value the body as if there big risk ? One is at risk because one has ones body. If one has no body, what risk can one have ? Therefore, when those who value their body govern the world can be trusted with the world, and those who love their body manage the world can be relied upon to govern the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 14 - What is Dao like
Dao cannot be seen, heard, or felt. Our senses cannot further investigate and distinguish those three aspect of Dao, so we treat them as one entity. We can't observe its height or
phantom its bottom. It seems to be continuous but cannot be named, We therefore regard it as Nothingness
Call it shape without shape, form without form, or call it uncertainty.
Try to greet it but unable to find its head end. Try to follow it but unable to find its tail end.
Dao holds our history, and unload into everything in our present.
From the beginning of history, is a track of Dao.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 15 - The appearance of those who attained Dao and practiced Dao
Since ancient time, those who are good at practicing Dao are regarded as refined, smart, mysterious, and reachable, deep beyond recognition. I must say because they are beyond recognition, I can only hardly describe their appearance.
Careful as if tracking on thin ice, alert and cautious as if danger is in all direction, solemn and formal like a quest, reachable like melting ice, composed like raw and uncrafted wood, broadminded like a valley, mixes well like muddy water, calm and deep like the sea, moving ceaselessly. Who can reason with and understands ? Who can calm a muddy situation and made clear ? Who can settle movements and grow ?
Those who possess Dao are never full of themselves. I regard not full of oneself as being able to have new growth from old practices.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 16 - How to cultivate the understand of Dao
Pushing for extreme emptiness and guarding complete calm, enables one to observe the regularity of all interaction among everything.
Regardless of how complicated things are, each must return to its root. Returning to the root is called calm. The term for this is fulfilling ones destiny. Fulfilling ones destiny is called inevitable. Knowing the inevitable is called understanding, not knowing the inevitable results in disastrous reckless behavior. Knowing the inevitable become accepting and accommodating. Accepting and accommodating of all, all is then complete, complete is then ultimate, ultimate is then Dao, Dao is then everlasting and eternal, without a decayable external body..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 17 - Quietly do good and virtuous deeds
The best level of virtuous deeds is when others don't know what has been done. Second best is when others love it and praise it. Next level down is when others are scare of it. And the next level down is when others despise it. Lack of honesty and trustworthiness, and others will not trust.
treasure your words and commands, and use them rarely.
When things are completed and successes achieved, all the people says "Naturally so."
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 18 - When Dao is not followed, the society turns chaotic
When the big Dao is discarded, love and appropriateness appear.
When wisdom is applied, general hypocrisy, fake, cheat, and dishonesty appear..
When families become dysfunctional, respect and care between fathers and sons appear.
When the nation is in chaos and misdirected, loyalty of government officials appear.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 19 - Return to Dao - Peace in society
Give up completely the idea of human virtue and wisdom, the people will be benefited 100 times more;
Give up completely the idea of love and appropriateness, the people will return to respect and care between fathers and sons.
Give up completely the idea of being smart and profitable, there will be no more theft and robbery.
Establish rules and regulation to enforce these three sets of ideas and value is not sufficient to realize them. Therefore it is necessary to guide the people towards belonging to seeing plain and simplicity in people, naturally uncrafted and unpolished as their common aspiration, with very few individual opinion on preferences, and hardly any individual desires, people given up learning completely and are free with no worries..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 20 - Everyone are alert - only I am not conscious
Give up learning completely and free from worries. Noble and humble, how big is the difference ? Good and evil, how far apart are they ? What others fear, I cannot be not afraid.
The wilderness is so broad and wide open as if it has no end.
Everyone happy and excited, I alone show no emotion, like a infant who has not learned to laugh. Look here and there, as if I don't belong.
Everyone seems to be abundant, only I seemed lost.
I have the heart of a stupid person.
Common people are bright and shinny, I alone am dull and not interested.
Common people are sharp and alert, I alone am lonely and depressed.
Dao is calm like the sea, move like never cease.
Everyone has a purpose, I alone remain poor and insignificant.
I alone is different from everyone, and I value Dao like I value nourishment from my mother.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 21 - Describing the mysterious nature of Emptiness and Nothingness
The look of big De, natural characteristic, is following strictly the Dao.
Dao exist and is a real substance. It is sometimes visible and sometimes not visible. Within the seemingly visible and the seemingly invisible is the form. Within the seeming invisible and the seemingly visible is the substance. Very deep and unobservable, within it is excellence, its excellence is real, centered upon a belief that is verifiable. From ancient time to now, the name, or substance, of Dao never disappeared. It is the source of the beginning of everything. How would I know the beginning of everything ! By applying Dao.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 22 - Exceed logic is the higher wisdom
Stoop to achieve unity, twist to become straight, stay low to be filled full, discard the old to allow the new, seek little to get lots, seek plenty and ended up confused. That is why sages held the two opposites as one and set it as an example for the world. Not insisting on own opinion so as to understand others, not insisting on being right so as to be praised by others, don't claim credit so as to be granted merit, don't boost oneself so as to last long as a leader.
I called it if one doesn't fight, no one in the world can fight with him.
Ancient saying "Stoop to achieve unity" is not empty talk. Trust unity and home in.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 23 - Nothing is eternal - Life and death constantly changing
Few instructions would allow more natural behavior.
Heavy wind won't last all morning, heavy rain won't last all day. Who is like that ? Heaven and earth.
Even heaven and earth can't last long, what is to expect of humans ?
Therefore, those whose conduct follows Dao, is same with Dao; Follows De, is same with De; Lost in Dao and De, is same as a loser.
Those same with Dao, Dao is happy to own;
Those same with De, De is happy to own;
Those same as a loser, losers are happy to own.
Those without sufficient honesty and trustworthiness, people will not trust.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 24 - Build ones own dream end up empty
Can't stand for long on ones toe; Can't walk far with big steps; Insisting on ones point of view can't get to understand others; Insisting on ones being right won't get praise from others; Insisting on ones own success won't be given merits; Insist on boosting oneself can't be a leader for very long.
Those with Dao would say these people are like left over food or excess and useless shape. Everyone may even hate them, so those with Dao won't associate with them.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 25 - Dao is the origin of heaven and earth - Dao is self emerging
There is something which consists as a mixture of things, which exist before heaven and earth. No sound and no shape, exist independently and is unchanging, moving repeatedly and ceaselessly. It is the origin of everything. I don't know its name, Representing it with the word "Dao", also call it "big". Big also means endless, also means far, also means repetitious.
Therefore Dao is big, heaven is big, earth is big, humans also is big. In its territory there are four big(s), and humans is one of them. Humans emerge from earth, earth emerge from heaven, heaven emerge from "Dao", "Dao" is self emerging.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 26 - Composed, calm, cautious, and serious - master over life
Cautious and serious is the root of being reckless, calm and composed is the master over anxiousness.
That is why a good ruler do things all day seriously without deviating from calm and caution. Though appear in luxury, yet naturally composed. Why would a master of a big nation be reckless in governing ?
Recklessness loses its root, anxiousness loses its mastery.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 27 - The secret of success in managing people and matters
Those good at movement leave no traceable track, those good at speeches leave no minor detail behind, those good at counting need no chips, those good at closing up need no door locks yet no one can open, those good as binding need no ropes or knots.
That is how sages are often good at saving people and do not abandon anyone; often good at saving things and not wasting things. This is called having inherited intelligent understanding of people and matters.
So good people are teachers for those no good people; No good people are there as warnings for the good people. Not valuing ones teacher, not loving ones warnings, is lost even if otherwise smart. This is called an important piece of cleverness.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 28 - Understanding what is actual - Return to plain and simple
Know your strength and remain soft; Behave like a small stream of the world. That way will not be far from ultimate Dao, De. And so returned to purity like an infant.
Know your glory and remain humble. Behave like a valley of the world. That way will have sufficient ultimate Dao, De. And so returned to plain and simple, like uncrafted material.
When Dao, De of some people become broken, they become tools and vessels to be used by sages acting as their commanders and leaders. Therefore, the big system and policies need not be compromised or abandoned..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 29 - The world belongs to everyone
The desire to own the world by forceful administration, I can see that it will not succeed.
The world is a sacred matter, cannot be administered by force, cannot be insisted.
Forceful administration will fail at it.
Those insisting will lose it.
That is why sages never try to administer, and so will not fail;
Never insist, and so will not lose it.
Things, matters, behave in many different ways, some lead, others follow, some hot, others cold, some strong, others soft, some tends to settle, others tend to fight. That is why sages discard extremes, discard luxury, and discard arrogance.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 30 - "Wars" leave endless disasters
Masters who support their people with Dao, do not use military power to force upon the world. Military actions tend to attract retaliations. Where the armies have been through, the fields are ruined, and years of famine follows.
Good to stop when victory is achieved, don't dare to take more by force.
Be victorious without boosting ones achievement, be victorious without claiming glory, be victorious without too proud of oneself, be victorious out of no choice, be victorious and stop applying force.
Matters reaching high level of strength tend to become old and weak, that's because they are not acting in accordance to Dao, those who are not acting in accordance to Dao die early.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 31 - Those killed in wars are all our family members
All that relates to military power are unfortunate weapons of destruction. , hated by everyone, therefore those with Dao would not rely on them.
Honorable rulers live by valuing the left, meaning power of peace, but when engaged in military actions emphasize the right, meaning power of destruction. Military actions are unfortunate weapons of destruction, not the preferred weapons of honorable rulers, engaged only when there is no other choice, understanding that such engagement better be plain and simple rather than grand and massive.
Victorious without praising victory, and those who praised victory are people delighted in killing people. Those delighted in killing people will not be allowed to succeed in fulfilling their ambition in the world.
Fortunate events are conducted with preference to the left, meaning with peace, misfortunate events are conducted with preference to the right, meaning power to destroy. Army generals on the wings remain on the left, the main army generals stay on the right, the implication of this arrangement is to treat war as a funnel of grief. The massive killing of people, is treated with sadness and tears, victory treated with grief and respect of the dead like in a funnel.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 32 - Submit to the Dao of heaven - All interaction on earth becomes smooth and soothing
Ultimate Dao is naturally boundless and has no name, no limit. Though small, it cannot be dictated by anyone in the world. Rulers of nations who can preserve it, everyone and everything on earth will voluntarily choose to belong.
When heaven meets the earth, precious rain water is poured down from heaven to earth.
All creatures on earth voluntarily share equally without having to be ordered to do so.
When matters and systems begin to have names, names also set each one of them its boundaries.
We too learned of its boundaries, or limits, knowing its boundaries also means knowing it is not without limits.
Analogy of "Dao" being presence in the world is like streams and valleys are present in rivers and seas.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 33 - The real meaning of wealthy and long life
Those who know others are wise, those who knows themselves truly understand.
Those who conquer others has strength, those who can conquer themselves are truly strong.
Those who know how to be sufficient are rich. Those who insist upon others are ambitious.
Those who have not lost what they truly belong, remembered by others after their death truly live long.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 34 - Dao provide for everyone but does not control and own them
The big Dao is everywhere, both at the left and at the right. Everything relying on it to live and grow, and it never refused anyone, it completes its mission but it does not possess the results, it provides for everyone but it does not own and control them.
Always without desire, this way Dao can be named small; Everything belongs to it but Dao does not control and own them, this way Dao can be named big. Because Dao never self proclaimed to be big, so it can become big.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 35 - Understand Dao has no taste and recognize what is real by continuous reasoning
Insist on the big phenomenon (Dao), everything under the sun will come and belong, come without harming each other, in peace, in calm, and in abundance.
Music and feast will attract and stop people passing by. Dao exhibits no taste, it can't be seen, it can't be heard, and it can't be exhausted when it is being used.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 36 - Understand what's behind the obvious - Observe carefully the minor details
Wanting to fold it, must first expand it. Wanting to weaken it, must first strengthen it. Wanting to abolish it, must first recommend it. Wanting to capture it, must first let it be. This is called observe and understand the minor details of what's behind the obvious.
Soft and weak is better than tough and strong. Fish cannot survive without water : so what benefits the nation must not be showed off and used to intimidate others.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 37 - Not imposing yet involved in everything
Dao is always not imposing, yet it is involved in every matter and everything. If a ruler of a nation can persist in following Dao, Every matter, everything, and everyone will resolve their differences on their own.
Resolved yet still have the desire to impose, I would remind him of the naturally pain and simple nameless, boundless Dao. Naturally plain and simple nameless and boundless is also without desire. Without desire means calm and quiet, and the world will settle on its own..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 38 - Dao--De--Yin--Yee--Nee--Gee--Fa
High level of those with De, those with Dao, don't talk about their De, their being with Dao;
Low level of those with De talk about others losing De, losing Dao, they are actually without De, not being with Dao;
High level of those with De, those with Dao, do not impose on others, don't have anything, any desire, to impose upon others;
Low level of those with De have things they desire to impose on others, so they impose their way upon others.
Highly virtuous people serve others without talking about the virtue of their services for others;
Highly appropriate people serve others and talk about the appropriateness of their services for others..
Highly polite people serve others, but when their service is not reciprocated, will discard others and their services for others.
Therefore, lost Dao and talk about De, Lost De followed by talking about virtue, lost virtue and followed by talking about appropriateness, lost appropriateness and followed by talking about politeness, laws , and order.
Those who lost their politeness are thin in their trustworthiness, and become leaders of chaos and disorder.
Those described above can only see Dao appears as pretty, and so it is the beginning of their stupidity.
A real man would stay with the thickness and the substance of Dao, and not with those who are thin, vain, and superficial in Dao;
Would deal in what's real, and not in its pretty appearances . That is the way they make their choices of discarding that and selecting this.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 39 - Obey the Dao of heaven Nations become prosperous and people live in peace - Acting against the Dao of heaven Famines and disasters happen one after another
The One : Dao that can be obtained since ancient time is : when heaven obtained it, heaven becomes clear; when earth obtained it, peace is on earth; when spirits obtained it, they become effective; When valleys obtained, they are filled with abundance; When everything obtained it, it can live and grow; When rulers of nations obtained it, they rule with virtue. That is the results caused by the One: Dao.
Heaven without clarity would be at risk of cracking up; Earth without peace would be at risk of massive uprising: Spirits without effectiveness would be at risk of expiring; Valleys without being full would be at risk of drying up; Everything without the means to survive and grow would be at risk of extinction; Rulers of nations without virtue would be at risk of being overturned.
So noble life is based on low lives, high places has low places as its foundation. That is why rulers of nation called themselves the lonely one, the abandoned one, the useless one.
This is not basing oneself as a low life ? No ?
(what people hate is loneliness, being abandoned, and being useless, but rulers of nations address themselves as such.) So, worthy of praise but not praised, not desired to be pretty green jades, but rather be plain and simple stones.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 40 - Everything originates from "Emptiness, Nothingness"
Opposite ends interact and provide the energy and movement of Dao.
The weak ones are used by the Dao.
Everything under heaven originates from existence, existence originates from non existence, Emptiness, or Nothingness. .
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 41 - Low characters heard of Dao and laugh at it
People of high character heard of Dao would immediately and relentlessly practice it.
People with medium character heard of Dao would take it or leave it without much concern.
People with low character heard of Dao would laugh at it.
Those they don't laugh at are not worth mentioning.
Therefore, those who have established Dao : understand Dao although they looked dull, advancing in Dao as if they are retreating and not making any active effort to advance, practicing Dao by returning to natural, plain, and simple, like uncrafted material, high accumulation of De as they stayed low, accumulated big understand as they endured insults from others, broadly applying Dao and accumulating their De as if it is never sufficient, building their De as if they were doing nothing and being lazy, adjusting their approach often as if they are constantly changing without any direction,
Big existence has no boundary, big accomplishments take long time to complete, big lessons for the people have few words and make little sound, big appearance has no shape, Dao is unobservable, unknowable, and cannot be named
I would say Dao is good at accepting, at providing, and also at accomplishing..
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 42 - Modern day genesis
Dao is the origin of one, one the origin of two, two the origin of three, three the origin of everything.
Everything carries Yin and embraces Yang, acquired the shapeless, formless, and invisible Chi, or energy of Dao, and combined into peace, harmony, and balance.
The flow of energy between the two opposites, Yin and Yang, service as check and balance of all matters.
People would teach others what they understand about Dao, and I too would do the same. Those who oppose Dao too strongly will perish. I would use this as the origin of my teaching.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 43 - Soft and flexible defeats tough and strong - Not insisting beats insisting
The most soft in the world passes through the most tough in the world. Nothing exists without empty space in them to support them. I use this observation to understand the benefit of Wu Wei, not insisting. This is a book with no words, the benefit of Wu Wei, not insisting, is understood by very few in the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 44 - Chasing after profits and reputations may lose ones life
Reputation or life, which is more dear ? Life and treasure, which is more abundant ? Possessions and death, which one is worse ?
That is why too much desires for treasures and reputation pays a big price, more possessions always lead to more worries and concern about dying.
Those who knowing what suffice cannot be shamed, Those who know when to stop will not get exhausted and wasted, allowing them to survive and live longer.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 45 - Appreciate the beauty of completeness
Dao is complete and perfect yet appears to be missing something, it creates without making error.
Dao appears to be empty and full of energy, it creates endlessly.
Those with Dao is straight but looks crooked. Those with Dao is clever but looks dumb.
Those with Dao is good at debating but appears to be accepting and accommodating.
Being at peace and quiet calms the agitated, being cool and composed reduces the temperature of the heated, being clear and calm can be the example of being proper for the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 46 - Impatience would lead to lose all - Understanding would lead to no deficiency
When the world is with Dao, Horses will be used in agriculture; When the world is not with Dao, even pregnant horses are used in wars and give birth in the fields.
The biggest disaster is not knowing what suffice, biggest mistake is the desire to possess.
So, it suffice to know what suffice, that always suffice
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 47 - Quietly observe and see that everything is content with itself - Do not look outside yourself for things
Don't need to leave home to know the world. Don't have to look outside the windows to find the Dao of heaven.
Those who travel far and look everywhere for Dao, knows very little about Dao.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 48 - Engage in Dao will arrive in emptiness and understands how intelligently emptiness works
Engage in learning all kind of things will result in gaining more and more knowledge each day. Engaging in Dao is to lose our desires and misunderstandings more and more each day. Keep losing our desires and misunderstands to become Wu Wei, not imposing on others, but is engaged in everything, every matters, and everyone.
Accept the fact that the world always suffice and need no effort; And any amount of effort is not sufficient to own the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 49 - Compassionate and loving, kind to everyone
Sages don't have an unchanging heart, the everchanging hearts of the population, their needs, desires, and aspirations are where the hearts of the sages turn to and focus in.
Kind to those who are kind, also kind to those who are unkind, that is the virtue of being kind.
Trust those who are trustworthy, also trust those who are not trustworthy, that's the virtue of trust.
Sages tolerate, accept, and accommodate the world, and their hearts are turned to and focused at the world, everyone in the population takes notice of his virtues, and the sages treat them all as children of their own.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 50 - Virtuous people can't be defeated
We live and we die. One third learned to stay alive. One third are virtually dead. those who live, work, and die for their reasons and purposes, or grounds, to live, work, and die for, also consist of one third. What's the point ? The point is some people value their lives very deeply, and always find reasons and purposes, or grounds, to live, work, and die for.
It is well known that those who are truly good at staying alive can walk anywhere without being attacked by tigers and other fierce animals, enter armies fighting wars without getting killed by the soldiers. Fierce animals cannot find any reason to attack these kind of people, Tigers cannot find where to attack with their claws, and soldiers cannot find how to kill them with their weapons. Why ? It is because such people have no reason or purpose, no ground, to die for.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 51 - Heaven and earth are our parents
Dao gives birth, De provides for growth, Such allows matter to acquire shapes, and potentials are formed.
That is why all matter respect Dao, and value De.
The respect of Dao, and the value of De, are natural and not dependent on our commands.
That is how Dao gives birth, and De provides for growth; They grow and they nurture;
they establish and they destroy; They raise and they bury.
Dao gives birth but does not possess, serve but not insist, raise but not slaughter. This is called the virtue of the mysterious (Dao).
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 52 - Understand life and death - Result in peace of mind
The world has a begin, regard that as our mother of heaven
Since we can understand the mother, we know the son, and since we know the son, we can confirm that the mother has no body and is therefore everlasting.
Block its desire, close its doors, no effort is required for its entire life. Leave open its desire, trying to fulfill its missions, there is no help in its entire life.
Seeing the minor detail is understanding, preserving the softness and flexibility is being strong.
Utilize its light and return everything to brightness, Dao leaves no body to be harmed or killed. This is the practice of eternity.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 52 - Without understand Dao everyone acts against it half of their life
What allowed us to understand Dao is seeing how Dao functions, of the only fear of Dao is imposing on other.
The big Dao is foreign to the people, and the people like to complete. Eliminate such and such, revenge this and that, hoard all kinds of vain and idol fame, dress in colorful clothes, carry sharp and fancy swords, pick on and waste food, possess more than sufficient treasures and goods, This is stealing and blatant theft. This is not with Dao but acting against Dao !
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 53 - Without understand Dao everyone acts against it half of their life
What allowed us to understand Dao is seeing how Dao functions, of the only fear of Dao is imposing on other.
The big Dao is foreign to the people, and the people like to complete. Eliminate such and such, revenge this and that, hoard all kinds of vain and idol fame, dress in colorful clothes, carry sharp and fancy swords, pick on and waste food, possess more than sufficient treasures and goods, This is stealing and blatant theft. This is not with Dao but acting against Dao !
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 54 - De nourishes the world - Dao benefits many future generations
Dao won't be discarded from those good at establishing Dao, Dao won't be removed from those good at embracing Dao, future generations will never cease to remember and honor those who are with Dao.
Establish Dao in oneself, and ones virtue becomes real; Establish Dao in ones family, ones virtues become excessively full; Establish Dao in ones hometown, ones virtues become long lasting; Establish Dao in ones nation, ones virtues become abundant; Establish Dao in the world, ones virtues become benefiting to all.
Therefore view others the same way you view yourself, view other families the same way you view your own family, view other hometowns the same way you view your own hometown, view other nations the same way you view your own nation, and view the world the same way you view your own world. How did I know the world is so ? This way.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 55 - Return to the heart of an infant - natural and innocent
Thick with virtues, is like an infant. Its heart has no poisonous insect, fierce animal, or birds of prey. And these things won't attack it either.
An infant's bones are soft but its grip is firm, not knowing the making of sexual coupling yet the sex organ is already full, that's because of the essence in it.
Cry all day and not become course, that's because of natural balance.
Knowing the balance is called eternal, knowing eternity is called understanding. Life benefiting is called fortunate. Letting desires drive the Chi is called strength. Matters get strong also become old, because that's called violating Dao, those violating Dao will die soon.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 56 - Flow with the stream but not mixed with the dirt
Those who understand Dao don't talk about it, those who don't understand Dao often talk about it.
Block its value, close its door, blunt its sharpness, resolve its differences, combine with its brightness, mix with its dust, that is with Dao, the eternal truth.
Therefore the spirit of Dao cannot be embraced or rejected, cannot be enriched, cannot be accommodated, cannot be valued, cannot be belittled, and precious because of its effect in the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 57 - More rules and regulations make the society more chaotic
Use proper policies to rule a nation, use quick and decisive military action only if there is no other choice, use non interference to obtain support of the world. How would I know this is so ? It is because of this : When the world is full of superstitious beliefs, people become extremely poor; When the government has lots of high officials fighting each other, the nation become more confused; When there are more people with improper techniques, there are more strange and scary things and events; When there are more harsh and strict laws, there are more thieves and robbers.
That is why sages would say : I push for no private agenda, and the people resolve their own differences; I choose to be quiet, and the people right their own wrongs; I don't impose on the people, and they become prosperous on their own; I show no desires, and the people also choose to be simple, plain, and natural.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 58 - Don't make hasty decisions or use narrow logical analysis
Employ plain and simple policies, and the people become honest and prosperous; Employ harsh and strict policies, the people become poor and insufficient.
Looks like disaster, but fortune is close by; Looks like fortune, but disaster is hidden behind. Who knows to what extreme is this ? There is no straight standard.
Straight forward events can turn into surprises and back. Good people can turn to evil and back. No one can be clear of the mystery, and that has been the case for a long time.
That is why sages lead a well disciplined life but would not use their discipline to measure and distinguish good or bad, fortune or disaster, thrifty but do not use their standard to hurt others, straight but do not use their way to harm others, bright but not show off their shininess.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 59 - Work hard and be thrifty accumulate "De" and the nation becomes prosperous
Govern people, serve heaven, nothing more appropriate than be thrifty.
Be thrifty means readily obey mother nature. Obeying mother nature readily means value accumulation of "De" (excess resources). Value the accumulation of excess resources means nothing cannot be overcome.
Nothing cannot be overcome means not becoming exhausted. Not becoming exhausted are the ones that can be trusted with the nation. Having the mother of the nation ensures the nation will last long. That is called deep rooted and solid in the ability to defend, the "Dao" of long life and far sight.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 60 - When the big Dao is generally adopted, the world is at peace
To rule a big country is like frying small fishes.
Cover the world with Dao, The ghost become ineffective; Not that the ghost are not ineffective, what's effective does not hurt others; Not that ghost and gods don't hurt others, sages don't hurt others either. So people don't hurt each other, they are back to the abundance of mother nature.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 61 - Big nation stay humble to other smaller nations - The world will join and support
Rulers of a big nation remain low and humble when dealing with smaller nations is the way the nations of the world would deal with each other.
The feminine, motherhood nature of the world eternally conquer the strong male nature of the world with softness and quietness, employing quietness as its way of being humble.
Therefore, when a big nation is humble towards other smaller nations, it will succeed in obtaining the support of the smaller nations; When smaller nations respect and willingly remain small and humble towards the big nation, they will gain the protection and security guarantee of the big nation.
So, either be humble and obtain, or be humble to obtain, Big nation don't exceed its desire to own others, small nations don't exceed their desire to govern others. As a result both big and small nations succeed in obtaining what they desire, that is the desirable result for the big nation to remain low and humble.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 62 - Won't allow fame and fortune to fool ones conscience
Dao is the master behind everything. The treasure of all benevolent people, the protector of all non-benevolent people.
Good words that are respected by everybody, good deeds that benefit everybody. Those who are not benevolent give no reason to be abandoned.
All the ceremonies and rituals of old days is not as good as sitting with and entering into Dao.
Ever since ancient times, who did not value Dao ? Who didn't say : wish to know Dao and have their sins pardoned ? That is how Dao is valued by all in the world.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 63 - Use De to repay hatred - Co-exist in harmony
Involve without imposing, serve without insisting on serving, eat without desiring the taste in the food we eat.
Regardless of how big or how small, how much or how little, repay hatred with kindness, forgiveness, and care. Attempt to solve difficult problems with easy, simple, and tiny steps. Attempt to succeed in big accomplishment with managing well the small, minor, seemingly insignificant details. Any difficult matters in the world must be dealt with in simple, easy, and tiny steps.; Any big matters in the world must be handled in small, minor, and insignificant details.
That is why sages never attempt to do big things, and resulted in big achievements.
If one makes promises without being serious, one would be trusted by few, Frequently only take easy steps for the sake of it being easy, will result in lots of difficulties in life. That is why sages would concern himself with handling difficult matters, and ended up with no difficulty at the end.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 64 - Watch the large events - act on the small matters
At peace can last longer, easier to plan before the end is near, Easier to stir when it is still brittle, easier to disburse when it is still fine, act on it before it become obvious, manage it before it turned into chaos.
Large tree grew from tiny seeds; Nine story high platforms were constructed starting with accumulating small pieces of bricks; A journey of a thousand miles begin with one step.
Intentionally imposed action will lose, those insisting will fail. That is why sages don't impose and so don't lose, don't insist and so don't fail.
When people work on a project, quite often they give up just before it is completed. Be careful all the way to the very end as if it were the beginning, and such failure may not happen.
That is the reason sages desire lack of desire, do not value hard to get stuffs, learn from those who never learn and continue to make the same mistake over and over again. Assist everything in its natural causes, and do not dare to impose on anyone.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 65 - When the desires of the people return to being plain, simple, and natural, the society becomes peaceful.
In ancient times, those rulers who were with Dao did not educate their population to become smart, but kept their population stupid and ignorant.
People are difficult to govern when they are smart with ideas. Therefore, to govern a nation with smart ideas, the nation will be full of thieves, to not encourage smart ideas in governing a nation, it's fortune to the nation.
Understand that these two methods produce opposite results. Always understand the differences in these two opposite methods, is called mysterious virtue. Mysterious virtue is deep and far reaching, quite the opposite of what most would expect ! Do this and the result is a big, smooth sailing.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 66 - Rivers and seas situated in low position and receive all that of every stream
Rivers and seas can be the king of all valleys because they stayed in low position.
That is why sages who desired to rule over the people, must speak to the people from a low position; Desired to lead the people, must back them with themselves from behind. That is how sages are on top of things but the people don't feel any heavy burden, lead the people and the people don't feel anything missing.
That is why the world is happy to do what they proposed without getting tired, for they don't fight with others, so the world cannot fight with them.
The whole world is saying the Dao I propose is too big, and unattainable. I would say it is big and seemed unattainable; If it had been attainable, people would have long regarded me as small.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 67 - Three treasures to live by: Motherly love, thrifty, and no fighting
I have three treasures, hold them and preserve them. One is called motherly love, two is called thrifty, three is called not dare to be first in the world. Motherly love ensures bravery; Thrifty ensures broad abundance; Not dare to be first in the world ensures I can stay alive longer.
Now, those who give up motherly love and just use blunt bravery, those who give up being thrifty and broadly wasting their resources, those who give up backing others but fighting to be first, they would all be dead.
Those with motherly love win wars, those who emphasize defense are hard to beat. Heaven would save them, mother earth would protect them.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 68 - Conquer the people with De, the virtue of following Dao, matches the heaven and the earth
Generals who are good at their profession do not show off their military ability, those good at conducting military action do not get angry easily, those good at winning wars don't argue, those good at utilizing people act from a position that is low and humble, this is called the virtue of no fighting, is called using the strength of others, is called matching the ultimate of heaven.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 69 - The mission of a military general is to avoid war
Military expert says : I do not dare to start a war but I would accept a war if there is no other choice, I do not dare advance an inch but would retreat a foot. This is to move without signs of moving, push without using my arms, hold without using extra soldiers, ignoring none of the enemies.
No disaster is bigger than undermining the enemy, Undermining the enemy will kill my precious strategy above. Therefore defending against twice as large an armies, the solemn side wins.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 70 - Since ancient time, sages are mostly lonely
What I said is actually easy to understand, and easy to put into practice. But for whatever reason, people in the world cannot understand them, and cannot put them into practice.
Everything I said is based on actual facts and actual people. To say people don't understand what I said is more like I don't know anyone who does understand.
Those who understand me is very hard to find, those who follow my suggestions are very rare and precious. This is how sages wear subby clothes and hide precious gems they carry with them.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 74 - Straight and harsh laws can only cure the symptoms
When people have no other choice, they will not be scared of dying any more, and so what is the use of threatening the people with death ? If a ruler wants his people to be always afraid of death, arrest and kill one in surprise, who else would dare ?
Often there are those who claim to act on behalf of heaven and kill those who kill. Those who claim to kill on behalf of heaven will be targets for others who also claim to kill on behalf of heaven. As this goes on who can be saved from getting his killing arms hurt.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 75 - Harsh policies more scary than tigers
People are hungry because their rulers levy heavy taxes.
People are hard to govern because their rulers are imposing on them.
People are not afraid to die because their rulers live in over luxury and waste.
People say those who do not impose on others with their own desires in life are virtuous because they value lives.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 76 - Rigid and hard easily fail - Soft and tender easily succeed
Human lives are soft and tender, deaths are rigid and hard. So are all life forms including plants and animals.
Therefore those who are rigid and hard are among the dead; Those soft and weak are among the living.
That is why strong militaries don't win, straight laws will be broken, Big and strong are in low positions, weak and soft are in high position.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 77 - Every matters serve as checks and balances, maintaining an equilibrium
The Dao of heaven is like aiming with a bow and arrow ? Lower when its too high, raise up when it is too low; Trim the excess, supply the lacking.
The Dao of heaven trims the excess and supplies the lacking; The ways of humans are not like that, but rather trim the lacking and fill the excess.
Who can use the excess to fill the world ? Only those with Dao can.
That is why sages act but not insist, succeed but would not indulge on their success, they do not wish to be recognized as virtuous.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 78 - The greatest force in the universe is love
There is nothing in the world more soft and tender than water, but when water attack the hard and strong matters, none is its match, its because of the emptiness in the water.
The weak defeats the strong, the soft defeats the hard, no one in the world does not understand that, yet no one in the world can put that into practice.
That's why sages would say : Accept the burden of the nation and become a ruler, he who is able to accept the blames and the insults of the people, can be called the king of the world. But the world would tread them the opposite way.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 79 - The Dao of heaven does not discriminate - always support those who are kind, benevolent, and loving
Settle any big disputes must still have some small differences not completely settled; So how can this be called perfect ?
That is why sages hold the promissory notes but not enforce them. Those with Dao manage to trust others, those not with Dao enforce the promissory notes and cause hardship and hate.
The Dao of heaven plays no favoritism, but will always support those who are perfect.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 80 - One village one heaven
Small country with few population. Let there be weapons never used. Let people live and die without have to migrate. Have boats and cars but never ride them; Have armies and soldiers but never have to display them. Let people return to primitive way of life and send smoke signals for communication.
Enjoy the taste of food, enjoy their clothing, enjoy the comfort of their home, enjoy the rituals of their culture. Neighboring nation can see each other, hear each others dogs bark and cocks crow, but till death don't have to deal with each other.
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Dao De Jing - Chapter 81 - The more we share, the more rich our lives become
Honest words are harsh to hear, pretty words are not honest.
Those who are perfect don't argue, those who argue are not perfect.
Those who understand don't pretend to have broad knowledge, those claiming they have broad knowledge do not understand..
Sages don't accumulate things, for they give to others, and the more they give, the more they have.
The Dao of heaven benefits and not harm; The Dao of sages act and not fight.
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I have just finished translating all 81 chapters of the Dao De Jing to English. Here are some of my observations :
1. In chapter one, Lao Tzu had shown clearly that Dao that can be described is not the eternal Dao. In the rest of his book he referred to Dao sometimes as heavenly Dao, sometimes as mother nature, earthly Dao, and sometimes as human Dao. Since Lao Tzu had also claimed that Dao is the origin of everything, beginning with heaven and earth which are names we give to what's up there and what's down there, he can argue that everything including you and I are an expression of Dao. Here I have two questions : 1. Since everything is an expression of Dao, what's the point of imitating the nature of heavenly Dao, which is not eternal or unchanging to begin with ? 2. Why are we trying to return to our origin, rather than keep going in creating more like what the eternal Dao seems intended to do ?
With these two questions in my mind, I find everything Lao Tzu says in Dao De Jing is just his personal unsubstantiated and unproven opinion. Like Evolution, it is at best a hypothesis, and at worst a misleading suggestion. To this, I would say Confucius is more to the ground because Confucianism is based on human and not the metaphysical reality. Confucianism has its shortcoming also which I had addressed in my other comments.
2. In the final few chapters of Dao De Jing, Lao Tzu had explained that Dao, meaning heavenly Dao, not eternal Dao, does not play favoritism but will only award the ones who are perfect, and that no man can understand how Dao based its choices on. If that is the case, everything he says is just his guess. We all make guesses. What is the difference ?
3. Lao Tzu seems to suggest we humans should imitate water, motherly love of mother earth, and the non controlling nature of heavenly Dao. He also suggested thrifty as a virtue we should copy, but it is just too obvious thrifty has its price also which is not predictable until we have 20/20 hind sight. On water, I like to point out that water does not always go to a lower point. Fountains and steam, which are water, go up. On mother earth, It is not always loving. Mother earth kills with earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, floods, forest fire, and famine, and for no wrong of humans usually. Eternal Dao is not non controlling. It is more like controlling and leaving us humans no free will even to recognize how we are being controlled. We can't choose our DNA, for example. At least not yet.
4. On how to govern a nation and its people, Lao Tzu suggested a small community with few population where everyone lives happily in prehistorical manner without any interaction with other nations. He obviously knew how ridiculous that is. So he ridiculed himself after he had said everyone in the world understands his ideas but no one in the world can put it into practice. He felt he was so lonely. On this point, I think he is honest.
5. I can spot several areas which Jesus suggested ideas similar to Lao Tzu. For example, Jesus said the more you give, the more you shall have. Lao Tzu had said the same. Jesus said it is more difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Lao Tzu had said rich people are thick, unhappy, and have lots to worry. Jesus said a tiny mustard seed can grow into a big tree. Lao Tzu had said big trees all began as a tiny seed.
6. There are also teachings of Jesus that are in direct opposite of Lao Tzu. For example, Jesus said love God and love one another (unconditionally). Lao Tzu said do as I say and expect heavenly Dao and mother earth to love and reward you for being perfect. Jesus said, those who believe can ask for anything in his name and shall receive in the glory of God. Lao Tzu had said sages have no desire, involve in everything, and do nothing. Jesus used a parable to explain how a woman pleading persistently to a magistrate and got what she asked for when the magistrate got tired of her asking. Lao Tzu had suggested we don't say anything, don't insist on anything or anyone, and don't persist, but stay low and things will come to us naturally (wishful thinking, perhaps ?).
7. Lao Tzu is funny. His follower, Jong Ji, is even funnier. That's where I am going next.
