47
Without leaving my house, I understand the whole world
Without looking outside, I see the perfect order
The more you know, the less you'll understand
One who is wise doesn't need to travel
He understands without looking
Does nothing but achieves everything
You can experience the richness of life no matter where you are or where you go, because the essence of life is within. You aren't missing out on life just because you don't travel widely. When we are always looking, seeking and doing, we are distracted from the essence of life. Living is being.
48
Gathering knowledge makes life more complicated each time one gathers
Gathering wisdom makes life easier each time one gathers
Each time, more and more simple until simplicity is reached
Just by leaving, one man can achieve everything
One who wants nothing anymore, doesn't feel the need to do a thing, has conquered oneself
One who wants a lot has to do a lot and is as a slave to oneself
The only thing we really need to gather in life is wisdom. Gathering things and knowledge makes life complicated. Gathering wisdom makes life simple. When we want nothing, we have conquered our self and are fully alive. When we want much, we will spend our life a slave to doing what we must to get what we want.
49
A wise man has no opinion at all
Therefore he can easily put himself in someone else's position
He accepts everybody and everything for what it is
In spite of any behaviour
He trusts the honest and the unfair
And naturally they become fair-minded
He trusts the reliable and the unreliable
And naturally all will become reliable
A wise man feels one with all people
They are all just as precious to him
They look and listen to him
And all are as children to him
The sage has lost himself because he is aware of the needs of others. The sage is good to everyone and resists judgment. The highest virtue is goodness. The sage seems simple, weak and childlike, but all look to her and listen.
50
Humans come and go
Their bodies as the seat of life
Their bodies as the seat of death
Humans get old and decay
Why is that?
It's because they are already dead, but think that they're living
There have been stories told and written about people who had found true life
And wandered around the earth
Not afraid of tigers or rhinos
Those who avoided weapons and violence
And lived in harmony with all creatures
Therefore no creature felt threatened by them
And no weapon could harm them
Why is that?
Because they were only living
And that's where there is no room for death
Most people live lives of distraction. Instead of living each day, they think only in terms of getting from point A to point B. Death is only a threat if you are attached to life. Acceptance of what is and the present moment frees us from all threat, depression and anxiety.
51
All things arise from Tao.
They are nourished by Virtue.
They are formed from matter.
They are shaped by environment.
Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honor Virtue.
Respect of Tao and honor of Virtue are not demanded,
But they are in the nature of things.
Therefore all things arise from Tao.
By Virtue they are nourished,
Developed, cared for,
Sheltered, comforted,
Grown, and protected.
Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit,
Guiding without interfering,
This is Primal Virtue.
52
The beginning of the universe
Is the mother of all things.
Knowing the mother, one also knows the sons.
Knowing the sons, yet remaining in touch with the mother,
Brings freedom from the fear of death.
Keep your mouth shut,
Guard the senses,
And life is ever full.
Open your mouth,
Always be busy,
And life is beyond hope.
Seeing the small is insight;
Yielding to force is strength.
Using the outer light, return to insight,
And in this way be saved from harm.
This is learning constancy.
53
If I have even just a little sense,
I will walk on the main road and my only fear
will be of straying from it.
Keeping to the main road is easy,
But people love to be sidetracked.
When the court is arrayed in splendor,
The fields are full of weeds,
And the granaries are bare.
Some wear gorgeous clothes,
Carry sharp swords,
And indulge themselves with food and drink;
They have more possessions than they can use.
They are robber barons.
This is certainly not the way of Tao.