Chapter One

VERSE 1

A way that can be walked

    is not The Way

A name that can be named

    is not The Name

Tao is both Named and Nameless

As Nameless, it is the origin of all things

As Named, it is the mother of all things

A mind free of thought,

    merged within itself,

    beholds the essence of Tao

A mind filled with thought,

    identified with its own perceptions,

    beholds the mere forms of this world

Tao and this world seem different

    but in truth they are one and the same

The only difference is in what we call them

How deep and mysterious this unity is

    How profound, how great!

It is the truth beyond the truth,

    the hidden within the hidden

It is the path to all wonder,

    the gate to the essence of everything!

VERSE 2

Everyone recognizes beauty

    only because of ugliness

Everyone recognizes virtue

    only because of sin

Life and death are born together

Difficult and easy

Long and short

High and low--

      all these exist together

      arrive together

Sound and silence blend together

Before and after

* * *

The Sage acts without action

    and teaches without talking

All things flourish around him

    and he does not refuse any one of them

He gives but not to receive

He works but not for reward

He completes but not for results

He does nothing for himself in this passing world

    so nothing he does ever passes

VERSE 3

Putting a value on status

    will cause people to compete

Hoarding treasure

    will turn them into thieves

Showing off possessions

    will disturb their daily lives

Thus the Sage rules

    by stilling minds and opening hearts

    by filling bellies and strengthening bones

He shows people how to be simple

    and live without desires

To be content

    and not look for other ways

With the people so pure

Who could trick them?

What clever ideas could lead them astray?

When action is pure and selfless

    everything settles into its own perfect place

VERSE 4

Tao is empty

    yet it fills every vessel with endless supply

Tao is hidden

    yet it shines in every corner of the universe

With it, the sharp edges become smooth

    the twisted knots loosen

    the sun is softened by a cloud

    the dust settles into place

So deep, so pure, so still

    It has been this way forever

You may ask, "Whose child is it?"--

    but I cannot say

This child was here before the Great Ancestor

VERSE 5

    Heaven and Earth have no preference

A man may choose one over another

    but to Heaven and Earth all are the same

The high, the low, the great, the small--

    all are given light

    all get a place to rest

The Sage is like Heaven and Earth

To him none are especially dear

    nor is there anyone he disfavors

He gives and gives without condition

    offering his treasure to everyone

* * *

The universe is like a bellows

    It stays empty yet is never exhausted

    It gives out yet always brings forth more

Man is not like this

When he blows out air like a bellows

    he becomes exhausted

Man was not made to blow out air

He was made to sit quietly and find the truth within

Copyright © 2001 Jonathan Star. All rights reserved.