IMAGES　OF　THE　MYSTERY
  Without　Limit　and　Perfect；　there　is　a　Becoming；　beyond　Heaven　and　Earth。
  It　hath　nor　motion　nor　Form；　it　is　alone；　it　changeth　not；　it　extendeth
  all　ways；　it　hath　no　Adversary。　It　is　like　the　All…Mother。
  I　know　not　its　Name；　but　I　call　it　the　Tao。　Moreover；　I　exert　myself；
  and　call　it　Vastness。
  Vastness；　the　Becoming！　Becoming；　it　flieth　afar。　Afar；　it　draweth
  near。　Vast　is　this　Tao；　Heaven　also　is　Vast；　Earth　is　vast；　and　theHoly
  King　is　vast　also。　In　the　Universe　are　Four　Vastnesses；　and　of　theseis
  the　Holy　King。
  Man　followeth　the　formula　of　Earth；　Earth　followeth　that　of　Heaven；and
  Heaven　that　of　the　Tao。　The　formula　of　the　Tao　is　its　own　Nature。
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  THE　NATURE　OF　MASS
  Mass　is　the　fulcrum　of　mobility；　stillness　is　the　father　of　motion。
  Therefore　the　sage　King；　though　he　travel　afar；　remaineth　near　his
  supplies。　Though　opportunity　tempt　him；　he　remaineth　quietly　in　proper
  disposition；　indifferent。　Should　the　master　of　an　host　of　chariotsbear
  himself　frivolously？　If　he　attack　without　support；　he　loseth　his　base；
  if　he　become　a　raider；　he　forfeiteth　his　throne。
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  SKILL　IN　THE　METHOD
  The　experienced　traveler　concealeth　his　tracks；　the　clever　speakergiveth
  no　chance　to　the　critic；　the　skilled　mathematician　useth　no　abacus；the
  ingenious　safesmith　baffleth　the　burglar　without　the　use　of　bolts；and
  the　cunning　binder　without　ropes　and　knots。　So　also　the　sage；　skilledin
  man…emancipation…craft；　useth　all　men；　understanding　the　value　of　everything；
  he　rejecteth　nothing。　This　is　called　the　Occult　Regimen。
  The　adept　is　then　master　to　the　zelator；　and　the　zelator　assisteth　and
  honoreth　the　adept。　Yet　unless　these　relations　were　manifest；　eventhe
  most　intelligent　observer　might　be　perplexed　as　to　which　was　which。This
  is　called　the　Crown　of　Mystery。
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  THE　RETURN　TO　SIMPLICITY
  Balance　thy　male　strength　with　thy　female　weakness　and　thou　shalt　attract
  all　things；　as　the　ocean　absorbeth　all　rivers；　for　thou　shalt　formulate
  the　excellence　of　the　Child　eternal；　simple；　and　perfect。　Knowing　thelight；
  remain　in　the　Dark。　Manifest　not　thy　Glory；　but　thine　obscurity。　Clothedin
  this　Child…excellence　eternal；　thou　hast　attained　the　Return　of　theFirst
  State。　Knowing　splendour　of　Fame；　cling　to　Obloquy　and　Infamy；　thenshalt
  thou　remain　as　in　the　Valley　to　which　flow　all　waters；　the　lodestoneto
  fascinate　all　men。　Yea；　they　shall　hail　in　thee　this　Excellence；　eternal；
  simple　and　perfect；　of　the　Child。
  The　raw　material；　wrought　into　form；　produceth　vessels。　So　the　sage
  King　formulateth　his　Wholeness　in　divers　Offices；　and　his　Law　is　without
  violence　or　constraint。
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  REFRAINING　FROM　ACTION
  He　that；　desiring　a　kingdom；　exerteth　himself　to　obtain　it；　will　fail。A
  Kingdom　is　of　the　nature　of　spirit；　and　yieldeth　not　to　activity。　Hewho
  graspeth　it；　destroyeth　it；　he　who　gaineth　it；　loseth　it。
  The　wheel　of　nature　revolveth　constantly；　the　last　becometh　first；　and
  the　first　last；　hot　things　grow　cold；　and　cold　things　hot；　weakness
  overcometh　strength；　things　gained　are　lost　anon。　Hence　the　wise　man
  avoideth　effort；　desire　and　sloth。
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  A　WARNING　AGAINST　WAR
  If　a　king　summon　to　his　aid　a　Master　of　the　Tao；　let　Him　not　advise
  recourse　to　arms。　Such　action　certainly　bringeth　the　corresponding
  reaction。
  Where　armies　are；　are　weeds。　Bad　harvests　follow　great　hosts。
  The　good　general　striketh　decisively；　once　and　for　all。　He　does　not
  risk　by　overboldness。　He　striketh；　but　doth　not　vaunt　his　victory。He
  striketh　according　to　strict　law　of　necessity；　not　from　desire　of　victory
  Things　become　strong　and　ripe；　then　age。　This　is　discord　with　the
  Tao；　and　what　is　not　at　one　with　the　Tao　soon　cometh　to　an　end。
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  COMPOSING　QUARREL
  Arms；　though　they　be　beautiful；　are　of　ill　omen；　abominable　to　all
  created　beings。　They　who　have　the　Tao　love　not　their　use。
  The　place　of　honour　is　on　the　right　in　wartime；　so　thinketh　the　manof
  distinction。　Sharp　weapons　are　ill…omened；　unworthy　of　such　a　man；he
  useth　them　only　in　necessity。　He　valueth　peace　and　ease；　desireth　not
  violence　of　victory。　To　desire　victory　is　to　desire　the　death　of　men；
  and　to　desire　that　is　to　fail　to　propitiate　the　people。
  At　feasts；　the　left　hand　is　the　high　seat；　at　funerals；　the　right。　The
  second　in　command　of　the　army　leadeth　the　left　wing；　the　commander…in…
  chief；　the　right　wing；　it　is　as　if　the　battle　were　a　rite　of　mourning！
  He　that　hath　slain　most　men　should　weep　for　them　most　bitterly；　sothen
  the　place　of　the　victor　is　assigned　to　him　with　philosophical　propriety。
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  THE　WISDOM　OF　THE
  The　All…Tao　hath　no　name。
  It　is　That　Minute　Point　yet　the　whole　world　dare　not　contend
  against　him　that　hath　it。　Did　a　lord　or　king　gain　it　and　guard　it；all
  men　would　obey　him　of　their　own　accord。
  Heaven　and　Earth　combining　under　its　spell；　shed　forth　dew；　extending
  throughout　all　things　of　its　own　accord；　without　man's　interference。
  Tao；　in　its　phase　of　action；　hath　a　name。　Then　men　can　comprehend　it；
  when　they　do　this；　there　is　no　more　risk　of　wrong　or　ill…success。
  As　the　great　rivers　and　the　oceans　are　to　the　valley　streams；　so　isthe
  Tao　to　the　whole　universe。
  33
  THE　DISCRIMINATION　（VIVEKA）　OF　THE
  He　who　understandeth　others　understandeth　Two；　but　he　who　understandeth
  himself　understandeth　One。　He　who　conquereth　others　is　strong；　buthe
  who　conquereth　himself　is　stronger　yet。　Contentment　is　riches；　andcontinuous
  action　is　Will。
  He　that　adapteth　himself　perfectly　to　his　environment；　continueth　for
  long；　he　who　dieth　without　dying；　liveth　for　ever。
  34
  THE　METHOD　OF　ATTAINMENT
  The　Tao　is　immanent；　it　extendeth　to　the　right　hand　as　to　the　left。
  All　things　derive　from　it　their　being；　it　createth　them；　and　all　comply
  with　it。　Its　work　is　done；　and　it　proclaimeth　it　not。　It　is　the
  ornament　of　all　things；　yet　it　claimeth　not　fief　of　them；　there　is
  nothing　so　small　that　it　inhabiteth　not；　and　informeth　it。
  All　things　return　without　knowledge　of　the　Cause　thereof；　there　is
  nothing　so　great　that　it　inhabiteth　not；　and　informeth　it。
  In　this　manner　also　may　the　Sage　perform　his　Works。　It　is　by　not
  thrusting　himself　forward　that　he　winneth　to　his　success。
  35
  THE　GOOD　WILL　OF　THE　TEH
  The　whole　world　is　drawn　to　him　that　hath　the　likeness　of　the　Tao。
  Men　flock　unto　him；　and　suffer　no　ill；　but　gain　repose；　find
  peace；　enjoy　all　ease。
  Sweet　sounds　and　cates　lure　the　traveler　from　his　way。　But　the　Wordof
  the　Tao；　though　it　appear　harsh　and　insipid；　unworthy　to　hearken　orto
  behold；　hath　his　use　all　inexhaustible。
  36
  THE　HIDING　OF　THE　LIGHT
  In　order　to　draw　breath；　first　empty　the　lungs；　to　weaken　another；first
  strengthen　him；　to　overthrow　another；　first　exalt　him；　to　despoil
  another；　first　load　him　with　gifts；　this　is　called　the　Occult　Regimen。
  The　soft　conquereth　the　hard；　the　weak　pulleth　down　the　strong。
  The　fish　that　leaveth　ocean　is　lost；　the　method　of　government　must　be
  concealed　from　the　people。
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  THE　RIGHT　USE　OF　GOVERNMENT
  The　Tao　proceedeth　by　its　own　nature；　doing　nothing；　therefore　thereis
  no　doing　which　it　comprehendeth　not。
  If　kings　and　princes　were　to　govern　in　this　manner；　all　things　would
  operate　aright　by　their　own　motion。
  If　this　transmutation　were　my　object；　I　should　call　it　Simplicity。
  Simplicity　hath　no　name　nor　purpose；　silently　and　at　ease　all　thingsgo
  well。
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  CONCERNING　THE　THE
  Those　who　possessed　perfectly　the　powers　did　not　manifest　them；
  and　so　they　preserved　them。　Those　who　possessed　them　imperfectly　feared
  to　lose　them；　and　so　lost　them。
  The　former　did　nothing；　nor　had　need　to　do。　The　latter　did；　and　had
  need　to　do。
  Those　who　possessed　benevolence　exercised　it；　and　had　need　it；　so　also
  was　it　with　them　who　possessed　justice。
  Those　who　possessed　the　conventions　displayed　them；　and　when　men　would
  not　agree；　they　made　ready　to　fight　them。
  Thus；　when　the　Tao　was　lost；　the　Magick　Powers　appeared；　then；　by
  successive　degradations；　came　Benevolence；　Justice；　Convention。
  Now　convention　is　the　shadow　of　loyalty　and　good　will；　and　so　the　herald
  of　disorder。　Yea；　even　Understanding　is　but　a　Blossom　of　the　Tao；　and
  foreshadoweth　Stupidity。
  So　then　the　Tao…Man　holdeth　to　Mass；　and　avoideth　Motion；　he　is　attached
  to　the　Root；　not　to　the　flower。　He　leaveth　the　one；　and　cleaveth　tothe
  other。
  39
  THE　LAW　OF　THE　BEGINNING
  These　things　have　possessed　the　Tao　from　the　beginning：　Heaven；　clearand
  shining；　Earth；　steady　and　easy；　Spirits；　mighty　in　Magick；
  Vehicles；　overflowing　with　Joy；　all　that　hath