Vigorous Virtue seems limp. Simple Virtue seems faded....Tao

                                 Verse 41

The wise student on hearing the Tao diligently puts it into practice.
The average student on hearing the Tao
keeps it one minute and loses it the next.

The mediocre student on hearing the Tao laughs at it loudly.
If this student did not laugh it would not be the Tao.

Therefore, the ancient proverb says:
The bright path seems dull.
The path that goes toward seems to lead backward.
The even path seems up and down.
The greatest whiteness seems soiled.
High Virtue seems like a canyon.
Abundant Virtue seems deficient.
Vigorous Virtue seems limp.
Simple Virtue seems faded.

The greatest square has no corners.
The greatest vessel takes long to complete.
The greatest note is hard to hear.
The greatest image has no shape.
The Tao is hidden and nameless;
yet, it is the Tao alone that supports all things
and brings them to completion.


Verse 42

The Tao gives birth to the One.
The One gives birth to two.

Two gives birth to three.
And three gives birth to the ten thousand things.

The ten thousand things have their backs in the shadow
while they embrace the light.

Harmony is achieved by blending the breaths of these two forces.
People dislike the words “alone,” “helpless,” “worthless,”

yet this is how Princes describe themselves.
So it is that sometimes a thing is increased

by being diminished and diminished by being increased.
What others teach I also teach:

“A violent person will not die a natural death.”
I shall make this the basis of my teaching.

Verse 43

The most yielding of all things overcomes the hardest of all things.
That which has no substance enters where there is no crevice.
Hence, I know the value of action without striving.

Few things under heaven bring more benefit than
the lessons learned from silence and
the actions taken without striving.


Verse 44

Your integrity or your body: Which is more important?
Your body or your possessions: Which is worth more?

Gain or loss: Which is more harmful?
Thus it is that the miser will pay much.

The hoarder will suffer great loss.
Be content with what you have and you will not be disgraced.

Know when to stop and you will be preserved from danger.
Only in this way will you long endure.


Verse 45

Great accomplishment seems incomplete, yet its use is not impaired.
Great fullness seems empty, yet it will never be drained.

Great straightness looks crooked.
Great skill appears clumsy.
Great eloquence sounds like stammering.

Movement overcomes cold, stillness overcomes heat.
The calm and quiet set right everything under heaven.


Verse 46

When the Tao prevails in the world
swift horses are used to fertilise the fields.

When the Tao is unheeded
war horses are bred on the border lands.

There is no greater offence than harbouring desires.
There is no greater disaster than discontent.

There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.
Hence, if you are content
You will always have enough.



Verse 47

Without going outside you can know the ways of the world.
Without looking through the window you can see the way of heaven.

The farther you go the less you know.
Therefore, the True Person
arrives without travelling,
perceives without looking,
and acts without striving.


Verse 48

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is added.
In the pursuit of the Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less is done until you come to action without striving.
When you follow this practice, nothing remains undone.

All under heaven is won by letting things take their course.
Nothing can be gained by interfering.


Verse 49

The True Person does not have an individual heart
but uses the heart of the people.

I am kind to those who are kind.
I am also kind to those who are not kind.
Thus, there is an increase in kindness.

I keep faith with those who are in good faith.
I also keep faith with those who lack good faith.
Thus, there is an increase of good faith.

The True Person is detached and humble
and to the world appears confusing.

The people all strain their eyes and ears,
yet the True Person remains childlike.


Verse 50

When going off one way means living
and going off the other way means dying,
three in ten are companions of Life,
three in ten are companions of Death, and
three in ten value Life but drift toward Death.

Why is all this so?
Because, these people are too greedy about living.

It is said:
People who are skilful in caring
for the life that has been given to them
travel abroad without fear of wild ox or tiger,
and enter a battle without concern for sharp weapons.

There is no place for the wild ox to thrust its horns,
there is no place for the tiger to put its claws,
there is no place for a weapon to lodge.

How is this so?
Because, there is no place for Death to enter in!
.............................Neelanjan