論 道 德 經
上 二○○二年 五月 十一日
Comments on Daodejing
16th August 2005
一章○是說玄關○眾妙之門○觀玄關是觀無空○觀鼻尖是觀萬字或日沒○兩者是一樣○
To understand chapter 1, you need to read Taoist Yoga chapter 1 first. The last verse of the above chapter is talking about the Mystic Portal. The chapter can be read as:-
The Way can be trodden but it is not a normal Way. You can name it but the name is not its name. Without a name it is the creator of heaven and earth. Given a name it is the mother of all creation. Always empty (nothingness), you have to observe its mystery. Conceiving its presence, we have to observe its outlines. These 2 observations are the same. Both are mystic for we are looking at the mysterious Mystic Portal.
Observation is done by the 2 eyes. The only outlines you see is the nose tip and the abstract X image. It resembles the Buddhist swastika. The difficulty in explanation is that we have to look at the Mystic Portal but this is impossible for we only see empty space. So the guide is to look at the nose tip, viewing the abstract X image. Even in the Bible, it reminds us to look for Jesus outside the city of Jerusalem, that is the place of crucifixion on the hill. Jerusalem is Mystic Portal, nose tip is where Jesus was crucified.
二章○聖人要作的是修身○不理事的好或壞○ 善或惡○長或短○左或右○自修就是天下平○
The world discriminates there is beauty, so there is ugliness too. Discriminating there is goodness, so too there is wickedness. Have and have-not are born together. Difficulty and easiness are complimentary. Long and short are relative. High and low are comparative. Pitch and sound are harmonious. Before and after follow each other. Indeed, the Sage does inaction in work, teaching the religion of no speech (meditation). All creations move but not stirred, born but not possess, deed but claim no credit, success but claim no responsibility. Sage claims no responsibility because the responsibility never leaves him.
Why claim no responsibility? It is because the Sage is given the task to do. He just acts.
三章○聖人要無事可作○國才可治○
Not honouring high office, people will not clamour for credit. Not revaluing scare commodity, people will not steal. Keeping things out of sight, the people's hearts are not aroused to anxiety. Indeed the Sage ruling is to empty the people's hearts and minds, fill their stomachs, weaken their will power and strengthen their bones and frames. Always let the people uninformed so they have no desires to act. Those who know will also not act. Doing inaction is indeed governing everything under the sky.
Doing inaction is cultivating self in Confucianism. Sage should understand I-Ching 1st hexagram 'Chien' and regulate the family, cure the country then bring world peace, to achieve world influence.
四章○是說玄關○道的所在地○
The Way is like a waterfall. Use it and it never run dry. An abyss it is, like the ancestor of everything. It blunts sharpness, resolves tangles; it tempers light, subdues turmoil. A deep pool it is, never to run dry. I don't know whose son it may be; it is like the emperor's ancestor.
沖 is 水 and 中. >< represent eyes. J is nose. So the centre between the eyes is the Mystic Portal. The son refers something like Son-of-God in the Bible. It is Our Spiritual Soul or Tao.
五章○不如守中○是觀玄關○
Is the world unkind that it treats everything as straw dogs? Is the Sage unkind that he treats the people as straw dogs? Between the sky and earth, is the space like bellows? Empty but unspent, when moved its gift is copious. Much talk means much exhaustion; it is better to focus on the central One. [look at the nose tip or Mystic Portal]
Heaven and earth are unkind, during the wrath of God, because they are meant to be like this. The Sage is unkind, before he get full enlightenment, because his role is to act like this. He has to treat all mankind as brothers. So can he be good to his wife with favours and kinds?
六章○禪定○無為○才可動他○
Valley Spirit can never die as IT is the mystic female. The gate of the mystic female is called the root of sky and earth. Wherever ITS presence, use IT without much effort.
Valley 谷 has the features of our face. Our Spiritual Soul can never die. So it is equivalent to Tao. It is the female gate 女口 . It is the mother of sky and earth. Partition is ear through 2 eyes to ear. Above is sky and below is earth symbolised by 一 . Its presence is only when a man is alive. The man can meditate focusing on IT without much effort, to influence the surrounding.
七章○聖人無事可作○很難○一種大犧牲○
Sky is high and the earth old. Sky and earth can be high as well as old is because they cannot produce themselves. Therefore they can exist very long. The Sage has to humble himself before he can be forward, disregards his body so the body can survive. Is that not with unselfishness? Therefore he can accomplish his fulfillment.
八章○聖人能善○如水善利萬物而又不爭○ 能化萬事○故無尤○
The above, Tao, is good like water. Water benefits everything without competing and enters places where people despise. So water resembles Tao. Resting place derives from earth; mind is as deep stream; togetherness favours humaneness; speech favours belief; government favours a cure; work depends on ability; action depends on timing. You should not compete, therefore there is no worry.
Our face resembles water 水 . 若 is another word to resemble our face. And Bible always mention right 右 hand side of God. Water has > <, 2 eyes and J the nose. The meeting point between the 2 eyes is the Mystic Portal 玄關 .
九章○修道修身○不是要地位錢財名利○ 有了名利就要引退是天的道理○只有聖人不一樣○
Take all what you want is never as good as to stop when you should. Achievement by scheming and sharp wits will never last long. If your house is full of gold and jade, it cannot be securely guarded. Wealth, power and pride bequeath their own doom. Once fame and success come to you, retire. This is the ordained God's Way.
十章○說禪定○和沈思句○
Can you govern your animal mind, hold to the One and never depart from it? Can you throttle your breath, down to the softness of breath of a child? Can you purify your mystic vision and wash it until it is spotless? Can you love all your people, rule over them without doing anything? Can the heavenly gate opening be like a female? Can you understand the four quarters and feign ignorance? Give birth to it, feed it; give birth but not possess it; act and be independent; pride over it but never its lord. This is what is called mystic virtue.
The first 3 lines are meditation instructions. From here you can conclude chapters 2 to 16 in Taoist Yoga are not relevant. Only chapter 1 tallies with the lines. The second part is talking about Tao's characteristics. The Sage can imitate them.
十一章○說無空的用和利○
Thirty spokes converge in the hub of a wheel; the use of the cart depends on the part that is void. With a wall all around a clay bowl is molded; the use of the bowl depends on the part that is void. Cut out windows and door in the house as you build; the use of the house depends on the part that is void. Therefore the materials you have are advantageous; the empty space is for us to use.
十二章○知足○修道是為了腹不是為了目所要○
5 colours confuse the eyes; 5 sounds will deafen the ears; the 5 flavours weary the taste; chasing the beasts of the field will drive a man mad; things that are hard to get will affect man to do otherwise or wrong. So the Sage will do what his belly dictates not the desires of the eyes. Therefore discard the outward appearances and seek the inner truth.
十三章○
Favour like disgrace brings trouble with it; high rank, like self, involve acute distress. What does that means, to say that 'favour like disgrace brings trouble with it'? When favour is bestowed on one of low rank, the latter is troubled with it (like when asked to do evil to return favour). He is also troubled if he refuses the favour. So it is to say that 'favour like disgrace brings trouble with it'. What does that means, to say that 'high rank, like self, involves acute distress'? I suffer most because i have a body, if I don't have a body, where is the suffering? Therefore treasure your body the same as you treasure the world, then you can rule the world. Love your body as you love the world, then you can control the world.
Look at Tao, you see nothing; this is called elusive. Use ear to hear Tao, you hear nothing; this is called rare. Trying to grasp Tao, you get nothing; this is called subtle. These 3 statements are beyond all resolution, therefore we mix them into One. Above One, it is not luminous; below One there is no darkness. To a state that is nameless, a return to the period before nothingness (missing 'wu' in above image). It is called a form without form and shape with nothingness. This is called confused vagueness. From the front you cannot see Its head; from the rear you cannot see Its back. Getting hold of the ancient Tao, treat It as your precious possession. You can then know ancient beginning that is called Tao's characteristics or Way of Tao.
The ancient masters of Tao were subtle, mysterious, mystic and acute. They were much too profound and not to be recognised. I too am not recognised, therefore emphasize on their outlook. They are like men crossing streams in winter, how cautious; as if the surrounding were dangerous, how watchful; as if they were guests; how dignified; as if like ice beginning to melt, how self-effacing; like a wood-block untouched by a tool, how sincere; like a valley awaiting a guest, how receptive; like a torrent that rushes along, so turbid. Who can stir up the dirty water, then still it to make clean? Who can always quiet, moves others to fullness of life? Those who embrace Tao is not greedy. I too am not greedy. Therefore we are able to endure wear and tear without needing new clothes.
Touch ultimate emptiness, hold steady and still. All things will work together, as I watch the return. The things are flourishing and return each to its roots. Return to roots is called stillness. Stillness is called returning to the will of God. Return to the will of God is called nature. Know nature is called enlightenment. Not knowing nature is blindness that works evil. Know nature is stature followed by publicity, then kingly, then heavenly, then Tao, then the final, even without a body you are still alive.
First line is about meditation. The Sage keeps still, all things are reformed. The last line is to say if you don't achieve the 1st 2 classes of meditation, your Spiritual Soul is still alive.
The ultimate is not known. The eyes are cherished and praised. The ears strike fear. The nose and mouth are despised and reviled. If belief is not enough, then there is no belief. Aloof is the attitude of precious words. Once success is complete, the people will say: 'I am natural'.
Tao declines, there still have righteousness and kindness. When intelligence appears, great hypocrisy comes along. When the 6 relations are not at peace, laws are regulated. When country is in confusion, the royal servants of the court can be identified.
Get rid of sages and knowledge, then the people will benefit a hundred fold. Get rid of benevolent and righteousness, then the people will return filial piety. Get rid of artisans and profiteers, then bandits and robbers will not appear. If these 3 sayings are only words, that is not enough. More relevant, then, let there be a visible simplicity of life, live poor and not be greedy.
Getting rid of learning leave you less worried. For 'yes' and 'yea', what is the difference? For beauty and ugly, what is the comparison? What people fear, it is to be feared. How barren and pointless a thought! People are making merry, like when they enjoy the ox sacrificial festival, like spring festival climbing poles. As for me, I am alone, unmoved like a baby that has not grown. Drifting as though I have no home. People have more than enough, but I am alone left out. I am like a fool, muddled and confused! When common people scintillate, I alone hide in shadow. Common people are sharp and knowing, I alone am melancholy. (missing in above) Restless like the ocean, blown about, like, I cannot stop. People get what they want, but I am stubborn; I am mean. I alone am different from people, because I prize and seek my sustenance from the Mother.
Missing Chinese words:-
澹兮其若海○飂兮若無止○
The Mark's virtue, its shape will be revealed accordingly to the Way. If it is a thing, it seems like in a dream, elusive, evading. In it there are images, elusive, evading ones. In it there are things like shadows in twilight. In it there are sperm or essence, subtle but real. In it there is belief. From past till now, its name does not depart, it is for observing common-roots. How do I know the domain of common-roots? By this. (Putting an index finger at the node tip and gaze at it to show to others what he was addressing or directing to.)
眾
The crooked shall be made straight, the rough places plain; the pools shall be filled, the worn renewed; the needy shall have abundant and the rich shall be perplexed. Therefore the Sage focusing on the Mystic Portal as a model to the world. Not upholding his personal views, therefore he is enlightened; not asserting himself, he is distinguished; not boasting his powers, he is effective; taking no pride in himself, he is chief. Because he does not compete, no one in the world can compete with him. The saying of old:- 'The crooked shall be made straight' is not in vain. Totally perfect then return to the Mystic Portal.
Rare speech is natural. For whirlwind will not last the morning out; the cloudburst ends before the day is done. What makes them behave like that? The sky and earth! Sky and earth can not last long, how about men? Those who work by the Way, will be with the Way. Those who work by the virtue, will be with the virtue. Those who abandon the Way, will be abandoned. Walking with those of the Way, the Way gladly receives them. Walking with those of the virtue, virtue will gladly receives them. Walking with those who abandon the Way, abandon will gladly receives them. When your belief is insufficient, it is you have no belief !
Seekers will not be established; long strikes would not work; Self opinioned cannot be enlightened; self conceited will fail; boasting will give you little result; arrogant and you cannot last long. All these belong to Tao; the saying: 'remnants of food or a tumour on the body, which all dislike. hence those with Tao will not let them space to enter'.
Seek for Tao, you cannot find it. Tao is just nasal gaze, and the mind thinking of nothing.
Having things mixed to form a product, but first the sky and earth must be created. So silent, so aloof and so alone, it changes not, nor fails, but touches all; it can be the mother of sky and earth. I do not know its name; a name for it is Tao or Way and designates it as great. Great means outgoing, outgoing means far, far means return. So Tao is great, the sky is great, the earth is great, people (ren) is also great. Within the realm there are 4 great things, and people (ren) stands among them. People (ren) conforms to the earth; earth conforms to the sky; the sky conforms to the Tao; Tao's phenomenon is nature.
4 great things, but 1 is Tao, unseen, untouchable. Therefore it is only 3 things, the trinity. When Tao creates these 3 things, the others will be formed.
Heavy is the roots of the light; quietness is the master of worry. Therefore the Sage performs his duty daily with consideration of the consequences. Even with disturbances and beautiful sight, he keeps his paces at peace as per normal. How can one who commands ten thousand officers, uses his body to entertain the merriment of the world? Engross in merriment will loose one's roots; worry will loose one's stature.
A good walk leaves no tracks. A good speech has no flaws to censure. A good calculator uses no tallies. A good door is well shut without bolts and cannot be opened. A good know is tied without rope and cannot be loosen. Therefore the Sage always helps people, so that none are cast aside; he is always saving things, so that none are thrown away. This is called applied intelligence. That is why the good man is the bad man's teacher; and the bad man is the good man's business. If one does not respect his teacher, or the other does not love his business, it is a very great error. This is indeed an important secret.
Know your yang, guard your yin so to be a canyon to the whole world. As a canyon to the whole world, always adhere to virtue and not to loose them, return to the roots as if you are a baby. Know your white, guard your black, to be a model to the world. As a model to the world, always adhere to virtue, not committing error, return to the empty Void. Know your honour and glory, guard your shame, to be a valley to the world. As a valley to the world, always adhere to virtue with abundant strength, return to the virgin block of wood. The virgin block of wood separates into various tools, the Sage can use them, therefore becomes the Chief Officer (king) because one with great knowledge does not cut and carve.
The virgin block of wood refers to our nose pin-pointing the Mystic Portal by the Chinese word 木 for wood. After studying all scriptures, you will know how to execute your spiritual power.
2nd to 4th lines are as below:-
知其白○守其黑○為天下式○ 為天下式○常德不忒○復歸於無極○知其榮○守其辱○為天下谷○為天下谷○常德乃足○復歸於樸○ 樸散則為器○聖人用之○則為官
Using violence to conquer the whole world, from what I see, the executioner will never succeed. The world is a sacred vessel not to be owned by anyone. Tinkering to conquer will spoil, usurpers will lose it. For indeed things either move forward or lag behind, either hot or cold, either strong or weak, either vigorous or worn out. So the Sage forgo extreme inclinations, sweeping judgments and a life of excesses.
Using Tao to assist man it is not to use army to conquer the world. Its sequence is far off. Where there is army, there briars spring up. After completion of war, there follows years of suffering. Kindness will get its fruit only, not by force he obtains. Obtaining his fruit he does not boast, brag and celebrate. The fruit can not be taken as it is, for fruit is not taken by force. Things strong will get old, this suits not the Way of Tao. Not to suit the Way of Tao is early death.
I say weapons are tools of bad omen, favoured or loathed, for men of Tao have no place for them. Gentlemen favour the left while generals favour the right. Weapons, tools of bad omen are not the weapon of the gentlemen, only used sparingly under extreme conditions with calm and restrain. After victory, don't gloat; those who gloat about victory are people who love killing. Those who love to kill people will never get to achieve their aim in the world. Good omen prefers left while bad omen prefers right. General's assistant stands on the left while general stands on the right, and can be said it follows the funeral rites. Soldiers after a war will grief and pour tears over their dead comrades. Victory after a war is time for the funerals of the dead soldiers.
Original Chinese texts are slightly different in sequence.
The Way is Nature without a name. It is like a virgin block of wood, small it may be, however the world cannot lord over IT. If the king can concentrate upon IT, the world is influenced and reforms. Whereupon the sky and earth are in harmony and rain falls at proper seasons. The rain is given to the people without them asking for it. When a name is given, that is Tao or Dao the Way; with means and knowledge the Sage must know how to repose, so he will be in no danger of rebirth. In a sense, compare the Way to the ocean, the final destination of stream and river water.
The virgin block of wood 樸 is to show wood 木. Wood 木 has the crucifix in it. Virgin block also means our nose.
Daxue also has 知止. Put a stop to it. Know the limitation. If bird knows how to return to the anthill, are we no better than a bird? This is to return to our root, Tao. In our body it is at the mark on our forehead. Only in human form, the Spirit can return.
Tao is like ocean, we (Our Spiritual Souls) are only droplets of water. Tao is like God, we are Sons-of-God.
King only can bring world peace. Can refer to Confucianism and I-Ching 1st hexagram. Therefore I need to be the President of Singapore to effect it.
It is wisdom to know people, it is enlightenment to know one's self. Conqueror of men is powerful, the master of one's self is strong. It is prosperity to be contented. It is guts to force one's way on others. It is lasting not to lose one's place. To die but your spirit lives on is eternal.
The great Tao overflows and spreads on every side. All being comes from it, no creature is denied. After having called them forth, it calls not one its own. It feeds and clothes them all and will not be their lord. Always without desire, it can be named as small, but all things return to it which claims not their host. Therefore it can be named great. For it always regards itself as not great, so it can achieve its greatness.
Grasp the great form, the world goes back to the past. Return to the past has no harm, it is calm, peaceful and at ease. For merriment and food, traveler stops. The gate of Tao seems thin and flavourless; looking for it, you cannot see; hear from it, you heard nothing; but when used, it is inexhaustible.
What is to be shrunken is first stretched out. What is to be weaken is first made strong. What is to be trashed is first raised up. What is to be possessed is first made familiar. This is called mean intelligence. The gentle way will overcome the hard and strong. Fish should not be out of the pool, so the country's weapons are not to be displayed to others.
Tao is always in inaction and yet none is not effected. If the king can focus on it, all creatures will be transformed. After transformation and still continue their action, I will protect them using the nameless virgin block of wood. Nameless virgin block of wood is not what I want to covet. Nothing to covet using stillness, the world will be ordered or righted.
Virgin block of wood is nose. Using it is nasal gaze. Here it teaches us the head-of-state has to be in inaction. Thereby the country will prosper. For Sage King, this is Great Harmony or world peace.
A man of highest virtue does not act as having virtue, therefore he has virtue. The lower virtue man will show off his mannerism in access that his virtue is nought. A man of high virtue does inaction thereby everything is affected. The lower virtue man acts with accomplishment claiming to be his own. A man of highest kindness does action and claim no credits for it. A man of highest righteousness does action and claims it to be his credit. A man of highest etiquette does action without responses from others, constrains a man to bare his arms and make others do their duty. Truly, once the Tao is lost, virtue is valued. Virtue if lost, good kindness will be prominent. After that is righteousness. Losing righteousness, etiquette arises. Losing etiquette, the husk of all good faith, the beginning of anarchy. The above knowledge is Tao's splendour, and the beginning of idleness. Therefore the gentleman will place emphasis in the inner body and not the outer appearances; he emphasises the fruit not the splendour of the flower. So he skins and eats the inner sweet fruit.
These things received the One: the sky obtained it and became clear; the earth obtained it and became firm; spirit obtained it and became energised; Valley obtained it became full to overflowing; all things obtained it and became alive; the king obtains it and becomes the world's moral uprighter. Without the One: the sky without been clear it might collapse; the earth without been firm it might erupt crazily; the spirit without been energised it might become passive; valley without overflowing it might run dry; all things without life might be annihilated; king without been a moral uprighter might trip and fall. Truly, the precious has to rely on the cheap as base; height has to rely the base as foundation. Therefore the king declares: I am orphan, desolate and needy one. Isn't this is to rely on the poor and the base? Isn't it? For popularity is not popular, therefore don't desire for things: carve and polish like jade, fall like the stone.
Chinese texts see Taoteching.
Return (to the source) is the movement of Tao; the weak is used by Tao (to overcome the strong). In the world all things are alive for having the One; the One is borne from nothingness.
High moral men hearing Tao will explore and act on it. Middle moral men hearing Tao will indulge while busy with everyday life. Low moral men hearing Tao will laugh it off. If they do not laugh it may not be the Tao. There the proverb says: understand Tao is like the dawn of day; enter Tao is like retreat; plain Tao look rough; highest virtue is like valley; broaden virtue is like not enough; establishing virtue is like stealing; substantial truth is like shifting tides; great awakening is like shame; great space has no corners; great weapon comes late; great sound is rarely heard; great form has no image; Tao is obscure without name. I confirm Tao's saying, know the goods well, then you will succeed.
For Chinese texts see Taoteching. Below is missing Chinese word for the above poem.
纇
The Way gives birth to one, and the one, two; and the two, three; and three give birth to everything. All things bear the yin and wrapping the yang, while rushing breath intake makes them alive. People who are bad, desolate, orphaned or needy are disliked. Likewise royal members are in the same position. Therefore less in wealth is a profit, while abundant in wealth can be a handicap. People teach likewise I do the same. If a violent man does not come to a violent death, I wish he be my teacher.
Tao gives birth to One. Before that it is void. I use O to symbolise the void. When the sperm enters an egg, it becomes One. I use 一 to symbolise it. It is like the partition that divides sky 天 from the earth 地 (see Genesis chapter 1). Water vapour is collected to form clouds, while water condensed to form rivers and oceans, exposing the earth. This line passes over the 2 eyes and ears. The one cell fertilised egg divides into 2 cells. I use 十 to symbolise the crucifix. 1 cell is the yin and 1 is the yang. So the birth of the sun and moon, they symbolise the 2 eyes. I use > and < to represent them. The 2 cells divide into 4 cells. So we have J a nose and mouth 口. The shape is 水 over a mouth 口. Nose and mouth represent people 人. So when 天 sky, 地 earth and 人 people are completed, the world is born (other parts). The symbol for this is 來 . It represents the crucifix, 2 nostrils 人 and mouth.
During meditation eyes > < look inwards to form 女. This is the female characteristics of the Mystic Portal. Even Holy Bible talks about virgin girl to represent Jerusalem, Mount Zion etc.
Traditional Chinese characters are important. For this reason the translator used 如來 for Tathagata in the Diamond Sutra and others. Therefore Mystic Portal is the female gate 女口at the mark on our forehead. This is also why IT is called the Mother of all creations. The 8 八joining 來form the shape of a hill. It is telling us to look at it, our nose tip. See also 42 Section Sutra's chapter 42.
The last sentence of the chapter tells Taoists to be non violent. Many don't follow this instruction.
The world's softest thing penetrates quickly the world's hardest thing. There is nothing that it does not enter its space. I, it is because, know inaction's usefulness, a religion without words; for inaction's usefulness, there are a rare few who really know it.
Fame and body, which is dearer? Body and wealth, which is worth more? Attain and death, which is illness? Great love for passion will incur great loss; hoarder will incur immense death. Therefore contented is no shame; knowing the limitation to stop is not dangerous but close, and it can be eternal.
Great perfection yet it seems imperfect, incomplete; its uses are not impaired. The great filling up is like pouring in rushes, its uses not poor. Great straight line seems to bend, Great skill seems like clumsiness, great speech seems like stammering. Stillness wins over weariness, cold wins over heat. Quiet and stillness will upright the world.
When the world has Tao, coach horses fertilise the fields. When world has no Tao, war horses breed in the parks. Calamity is no greater than not contented; fault is no greater than desire to attain. Therefore learn to be contented, you will always be contented.
Without going out, you can know the world. Without prying beyond the window, you can see heavenly Tao. The further you go, the less you know Tao. So the Sage does not go out and knows Tao at home, not looking he understands, in inaction he achieves success.
For learning knowledge daily you increases it. For Tao you daily lost your status. Loss upon loss until you achieve inaction. Inaction is also none that is not affected. To conquer the world must always have nothing to do; if you have things to perform, it is not enough to conquer the world.
The Sage's mind is always free from thought, however he has people's minds in thought. Good people, I will be good to them; bad people, I too will be good to them; that is virtue good. Those who belief, I belief them; those who disbelief, I too belief them, that is virtue in belief of faith. The Sage when in the world, breathing, inspiring as per normal, muddle his mind for the sake of the people. People take note, observe his ears and eyes, for the Sage hears and sees like a child.
On leaving life, to enter death, members of life has 13. Members of death has 13. Human when alive, causes of death are 13 spots. Why so? Because his way of life is much too gross. As I have heard, the man who knows how best to act for life, will never meet a tiger on the road; in army without the armour, weapon has not place to pierce his skin, tiger's claws has no place to grip, soldiers do not know where to strike with their sword. Why so? Because in him there is no place of death.
When cultivating self and with Mark Sealed, there is no death when you die. Your Spiritual Soul is already at the Mystic Portal which will lead you to your final destination, a return to our roots.
Tao creates it; virtue fosters it, matter shapes it; authority and condition perfect it. This is why all things do honour to Tao and venerate virtue. Tao's honour and virtue's veneration come not be fate or by decree, but always just by nature they are so. Therefore Tao creates it; virtue fosters it; grows it; feeds it; perfects it; conditions it; rears it; shelters it. Create but never own; do but never lord; grow but not to govern. This is called mystic virtue.
The world has a beginning which becomes the world's mother. You have to get to know the mother to know the son. Return by focusing on the mother; leaving a dead body, you are still alive. Stop up your senses; close up your doors; forever you will not be exhausted. Open up your senses; busy over worldly matters; forever you will not be saved. Look at small (Chinese word) is named understanding (see Chinese word); focusing on gentleness is called strong. Using its light, return its brightness to eminence; without losing body in calamity; that is always inert in action.
Shut up your senses (thought) during meditation. Close the 6 doors to outside world namely the ears (hearing), eyes (sight except nasal gaze), nose (smell), mouth (taste), body (touch) and mind (thought). Looking at small is to look at Chinese word for small 小. It has a J with a Chinese 8 八. J is our nose and 8 八 is our 2 eyes.
Letting me to know suddenly the truth, walking in the domain of great Tao, my only conduct is fear. Great Tao is smooth sailing, but people prefer small paths. The royal court is abundant in luxuries; farmers' fields are overgrown with weeds; the granaries are empty; yet royal officials are clad in fine silk; swords hanging on their hips; they are making merry with food and wine; their money are in abundant. This is what is called brigandage, not the way of Tao!
Those who are good in construction is not uprooted; those who are good embracing are not left out. Your children and grand children honouring you at the altar will not stop. Cultivating self, your virtue will become genuine; cultivating Tao in the home, its virtue will overflow. Cultivating Tao in the village, its virtue will expand, cultivating Tao in the country, the virtue will flourish. Cultivating Tao in the world, the virtue will be universal. Truly use body to observe body; using family to observe family; use village to observe village; use country to observe country and use the world to observe the world. How do I know the world is like this? By this. (Using index placed at the nose tip, gazing at the nose tip to tell the audience.)
Construction is foundation, good roots, good virtue. Embracing is compassion.
Self virtue that is massive is like an infant. Noxious insects will not sting him; wild beasts will not attack his fresh nor birds of prey peck at his head. His bones are soft, his sinews weak, but his grip is robust. He does not know the sexual union of sexes, thereby his organ shrivels, his vitality at its peak. Whole day he shouts but does not get hoarse, his body harmony is at its height. Knowing harmony is called constancy. Knowing constancy is called enlightenment. When benefits are experienced, it is called ominous. When mind can control over matter, it is called strong. Things that strengthen is getting old; it is not of the Way; not of the Way is early death.
Knower does not talk; and talkers do not know. Stop your gratifying senses, close your doors, blunt your sharpness, resolve your disputes, unite your eye balls, make it same with the dust or dirt; this is called mystic unity. For the Sage is neither moved by affection not estrangement, profit nor loss, honour nor shame. Therefore he is the world's highest esteem.
Expounding meditation cannot talk, just meditate. Those who talk too much do not meditate. During meditation, you think of neither good nor bad. It is much better if you think of nothing. So stop your wondering mind, close your 6 doors to outside influences, blunt your discriminating mind, forget your worries, unite your eye balls and think that you are no different from the dust or dirt. Tao is in everything. And every things are in Tao. Life is an illusion. Your state of mind is not moved by affection, enemy, kins, gain, loss, honour, shame, happiness, sadness, like, dislike etc.
2 verses missing above, see Taoteching.
Use uprighteous to govern country, use sparingly the army, use inaction to win the world. How do I know this is so? By this! The world with many taboos, the people grow poorer; people use abundant weapons, the country grows chaotic; people use multiply skills, novelties flourish; laws increase in number, more criminal abound. For Sage said: 'I inaction, and people self reform; I love quietness, and people will be upright; I do nothing, people will prosper; I desire nothing, the people will return to their simplicity.'
His rule listless, his people will be prosperous; his rule exacting, his people will be restless. Bad fortune will promote the good; good fortune too gives rise to bad. Who knows to what that leads? His not upright! Upright returns is considered rarity. Goodness returns is considered magical. People are astray, his days misled are very long indeed. Therefore, the Sage is square but not sharp or not cunning, honest but not malign, straight but not strict, mean, bright but not dazzling.
Chinese words missing and jumble up for others.
Cure people, work for heaven, don't be stingy. oh yes, stingy, remedy is early submission. Early submission, it is called to value accumulated virtue; to value accumulated virtue however that none is not subdued, controlled. None is not subdued is however not to know its infinite resources. Not to know its infinite resources, then can have country. Having the country's mother, then it is lasting. This is called deep rooted solid stem (placenta), the everlasting life, lasting gaze 's Way.
To bring peace to the world, you mustn't be stingy, must be broadminded. Early submission is to surrender to the One inside you. Meditation will accumulate virtue. As your spiritual power or virtue increases other people will be subdued by your influence. However it is better not to know the power of your spirituality so that you can have a country to rule. The meaning is if you know its power you might make use of it to harm people. (This is the reason I discourage the practices of chapter 2 to 16 of Taoist Yoga to readers. These are martial arts and healing practices.) As the father of a country (or mother as per chapter) then you can have a lasting Tao for company.
Cure a big country as if you fry small fishes. Using Tao to reach the world:- world's ghosts are not gods; not world's ghosts are not gods. World's god does not harm people; not world's god does not harm people. The Sage also does not harm people. Oh, both, Sage and people, do not harm each other, so virtue converge to return to the roots.
The great country receives all the upper streams, it is the concourse of the world; it is the female of the world. It always uses quietude to overcome the male. Use of quietude is below, the base. Therefore great country using quietude as base to small country, definitely will takeover the small country; a small country using quietude as base to big country, definitely will takeover big country. For it might be using quietude to conquer, or using quietude and slowly takeover. The big country un-mistakenly desires for more people; small country un-mistakenly desires more works for its people. Both these countries each attains what each desires. The great must be acting as below, humble.
This chapter is slightly different from Taoteching and the book I have.
The Tao is every things' mystery. It is good people's treasure; it is bad people's refuge. Flowery words can market respect for sale; fair manners can increase more friends. People's badness, why throw them away? For, crowning an emperor, appointing 3 officials, even having joined hands providing jades pieces drawn by a team of 4 horses, it is no better than sitting indulging in Tao cultivation. In ancient time, how were those who honoured Tao fair? Is it not to say:- seekers can attain, sinners who seek are forgiven? Therefore, Tao is the world's honoured One.
Do inaction (meditation), working without work, smell non-smell. Big or small, plenty or less, requite anger with virtue. Take tough jobs in hand while they are easy; handle great affairs while they are small. The world's troubles must be handled when they are still easy. The world's great affairs must be handled while they are still small. That is why, the Sage does not declare himself great, so he can be the greatest. Oh, a promise lightly proclaimed, inspires little confidence; plenty easiness must have plenty troubles. Therefore the Sage likes the hardship, so always has no hardship.
Thing that is peaceful is easy to hold; given no omen, it is easy to plan. Its softness is easy to melt. Its smallness is easy to scatter. Do to it before it having possession; cure it before confusion sets in. Tree trunk you can hug with both hands grows from a minuscule sprout. Nine storied terrace was built from the ground. A thousand li journey starts from a foot forward. Doing it spoils it; grabbing it misses it. So the Sage refrains from doing so doesn't spoil anything, he grabs nothing so never misses anything. People when doing work, always fail by a few steps. Careful of the ending as per the beginning, however has no failure. Therefore, the Sage wants the unwanted things, does not value things that are hard to get. He studies what others dislike, reverts the wrongs of the people. His object is to restore everything to its natural course, but he does no action to that end.
3 Chinese texts versions are different. I am sad to see this. Some Chinese are idiots to alter the texts.
為者敗之○執者失之○是以聖人無為故無敗○無執故無失○
是以○聖人欲不欲○不貴難得之貨○學不學○復衆人之所過○以輔萬物之自然○而不敢為○
In ancient time, men of Tao did not enlightened their subjects, but held them in ignorance. People are hard to govern when their intelligence increases. So to use intelligence to govern a country, it is the country's failure; not to use intelligence to govern a country, it is the country's prosperity. Know the two differences, they are moreover like moral pattern. Always know these moral pattern is called mystic virtue. Mystic virtue is deep and far reaching, then causes a return. Things return to reach the great peace.
Using all means to govern a country is no better than to appoint a morally pure man to be the country's hesd-of-state.
Why the river seas can be the hundred valleys king, it is because they are at the base, therefore they can be hundred valleys king. So the Sage desires to be above the people, must speak with words that can drown them; Sage desires to be up front, must stand bodily behind the people. Therefore the Sage occupies the high seat, the people do not burdened, occupies upfront so the people are not harmed. So the world will love to trust him and bear no grudges. For the Sage does not compete for his rank, so the world will not compete with him.
The world says my Tao is great, like not scattered, lost, deteriorated. Oh greatness, for it is like not scattered, lost, deteriorated. If it is scatter, lost, deteriorated, long since it is small and petty. I have three treasures, kept and well secured. One is called compassion, second is called frugal or thrifty, third is called not dare to be the world's chief. Have compassion then I can have courage; practise frugality or thrifty then I can be broad minded, dare not to be the world's chief, then I can be its highest instrument. Nowadays, to let go compassion is temporary courage, to let go of frugality is temporary broadminded, to let go the base is temporary upfront, that is the dead end! Oh, using compassion to war will win battle, using it to defend will be firm, heaven will save those who use compassion to protect the people.
It seems Chinese forget about this chapter when dealing with the people and enemies. Chinese versions not the same. Word is 才舍 not 舍.
Those who are good do not use violence; those who are good in war or fighting do not rage, those who are good in winning opponents or enemies, do not compete; those who are good in making use of humility do them humbly. This is called the virtue of not competing; it is also called the power to use men; it is also called to match heaven's apex measure; it is also called to be in the stature of the ancients.
The generals have a saying:- 'I dare not be host, let me be guest; dare not advance an inch, let withdraw a foot.' This is called action without action, to snatch without arm, to throw without enemies, to maintain without army. Disaster! they are greater than underestimating the enemy; underestimating the enemy is bound to lose my treasure. When opposing armies clash, the sincere party wins.
My saying is very easy to know, very easy to follow and do. The world does not seem to know, does not seem to follow and do. Saying has ancestor or principle, work has sovereign. Oh yea, none knows, therefore it is not I know. Those who knows me are rare, those who emulates me are precious. Therefore, the Sage wears shoddy garment embodying a jade.
Know (Tao), don't know (any thought in meditation), is superb. Don't know (Tao), know (knowledge), is sickness. Therefore the Sage has no sickness. Considering and pondering over the sickness malady, therefore he has no sickness.
People who do not fear threat, great disaster befalls. Without narrowing or squeezing their dwelling places, without hating their children, oh yea, I don't hate, that is no hating. Therefore the Sage knows innate Self, doesn't value his own opinions; he loves self body, doesn't self praise. For he discards the coating for the inner gems.
Love self body so that there is not injury to them. Putting an ear ring is self inflicting injury. Smoking is self injuring the lungs. Drinking is self injuring the liver and mind. Rage is self injuring blood vessel.
Brave man who dares will kill; brave man who ponders will spare life. From these two, you differentiate the good and the bad. The wrath of God (sky or nature), can you know the reason? God's Way (Heavenly way) is not to compete but to win all; without speaking all will respond; without calling all will return by themselves; that is its nature and all will take notice. God's net is coarse but none can escape.
The universe is in a net, no Spirit can escape. We are programmed to act our parts. From the beginning, when there was nothingness, void, to creation and happening, we will return to the beginning, the nothingness, void. Can you stop God's will?
Missing word 默 is for 口 .
People do not fear death, how are you using death to threaten them? if you can always threaten the people to fear death and for the odd fellow, I have to maintain or hold the order to kill him, who dares? Always having an executioner, there is killing. Oh, those who substitutes the executioner in killing are called substitutes for master carpenters. Oh, those who substitutes for master carpenters, will rarely not to get their hands mangled.
People's starving is because the authority consume by tax more than their need, therefore starving. The people is hard to rule is because the authority meddles too much, therefore it is hard to rule. The people does not fear death is because their lives demanding livelihood is thick, therefore not to fear death. Oh yea, those without using livelihood as measure, has virtue that of supreme birth.
Livelihood as measure is comparing riches, wealth, properties, possessions etc. If you are contented to live a simple life spending less than 1000 Sing dollars a month, you can be said to be of supreme birth. A millionaire can not be in this category.
Chinese versions are different.
People, when alive is supple, soft; its death is rigid. Everything - grass and trees, alive are plastic and pliant; their death are friable and dry. So, those who are rigid are followers of death. Those who are supple, soft, are followers of life. Therefore, strong army gets no victory; the stiffest tree is ready for the axe. So, rigid, strong is at the base, while soft, supple is at the top.
Cultivator of Tao uses soft approach to win. Common people use violence to win.
Chinese versions are different.
Is not God's Way (or Heaven's Way) like a bow well bent? High and mighty are brought low; the low caste are up-righted; those with plenty are uprooted while those hungry are fed. God's Way is to uproot the rich and feed the hungry. What human does is different; it is to rob the poor to feed the rich. Who can with abundance benefit the world, it is only he who has Tao. Therefore the Sage can act alone without the whim of other. He will succeed but not authoritative as he prefers to be the same as others, not their superior.
Bow is to show our eye-brows. In Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna carries a bow, together with Khrisna at the centre of the battleground between 2 armies, 2 eyes.
The world's weak plus soft, nothing can compare to water; but when water attacks rigid and strong, none can withstand it, and nothing can alter its way. So, weak wins over strong, soft wins over steel. The world: none able to know? none able to act? So the Sage said:- 'Be a country's dirt is called lord of the country (god of the land and grain); be a country's inauspicious person is called the world's master.' Correct saying if reversed or this is paradox.
This chapter is something like the expounder of 4-line stanza in Diamond Sutra, Son-of-Perdiction in the Bible and 3rd to be reinforced in the Quran.
Chinese versions are different.
Settling great dispute will have side dispute; use virtue to report dispute, can pacify, console be good? Therefore the Sage will maintain the left side contract and will not hold other people responsible. So have virtue manage contract, no virtue manages passing through blame. Heavenly Tao is impartial, always favours with good men.
Chinese versions different.
Small country few people, even with a hundred fold equipments, they are not used; cause people to value death so they do not emigrate; even having boats and carts, none is rode on; even having armour brigades, none is displaced. Cause the people to return to knotted cords and use them; sweeten their meat, adorn their clothing, settle them down, charm their customs. Neighbour countries look at each other; the sound of crowing cockerels and barking of dogs are heard across each other; the people live till death do not exchange greeting.
This is a difficult chapter to explain. My only explanation is return back to our beginning Void, which is the Mark on our forehead, the Mystic Portal. Neighbouring countries are 2 eyes which can move inwards, looking at the other eye (if possible).
Words of truth don't sound fine. Flowery words are not honest. Good man does not argue. Debater is not a good man. Knower of truth is not learned man. Learned men do not know the truth. The Sage does not hoard things, with thought that what he has is more than enough than others, that he is able to influence a far greater number of people. God's Way is gain that works no harm; the Sage's way is to act without competing for the result.
Without competing for the result is like not standing for election to be a president. People will appoint you president.
I am not happy with the above 81 images. Some verses are deleted, some words are changed, while some are missing. I copied from chinapage.com which is controlled by mainland China. Therefore they do not want people to read the actual texts, because of mystical verses. They are idiots.
Edited on 8th June 2008
