So　close　are　Being　and　Non…Being　that　one　arises　from　the　other。
  So　suddenly　easy　becomes　difficult　short　becomes　long　high　becomes　low　loud　becomes　soundless　the　first　becomes　the　last。
  That　is　why　the　Sage　strives　to　act　without　action　to　teach　without　speaking。
  He　lets　things　happen　and　does　not　try　to　stay　them。
  He　labors　and　is　not　greedy。
  He　acts　and　does　not　demand　anything。
  He　receives　and　does　not　retain　anything。
  3
  Not　boasting　of　merit　and　not　stressing　cleverness　thus　one　prevents　jealously　and　quarrels。
  Not　concerned　about　possessions　and　not　overestimating　valuables　thus　one　avoids　greed　and　theft。
  Not　considering　anything　outside　as　desirable　thus　one　prevents　anxiety　and　discord　inside。
  Likewise　the　Awakened　One：
  He　renders　men's　hearts　desireless　thereby　opening　them　to　abundance。
  He　decreases　their　craving　thereby　increasing　their　power　of　realization。
  He　teaches　them　to　put　the　inner　above　the　outer　to　value　wisdom　higher　than　knowledge　not　to　act　from　the　outside　but　from　the　unmovedness　of　their　inner　being。
  Thus　practicing　non…action　they　find　peace　and　realize：
  Through　non…action　nothing　remains　undone。
  4
  Unfathomable　in　its　depth　Tao　is　the　primordial　ground　of　all　life。
  Because　it　is　empty　it　is　the　origin　of　fullness　and　remain　while　producing　fulfillment　forever　unmoved　and　unfilled。
  Empty　it　is　the　primordial　matrix　and　center　of　all　beings。
  It　softens　the　discord　it　unravels　their　entanglement　it　effaces　appearance　and　unites　them　in　Being。
  Because　it　is　still　it　is　inaudible。
  Unmoved　it　is　all　creative。
  Unborn　it　is　older　than　God。
  5
  The　universe　does　not　measure　according　to　human　standards
  It　is　equally　close　to　everything　and　pervades　everything　without　distinction。
  Likewise　the　Awakened　Man：
  He　is　close　to　all　beings　affirming　all　as　holy　without　exception。
  Like　a　bellows　is　the　universe：
  Although　empty　it　does　not　collapse。
  In　motion　it　produces　more　and　more。
  Likewise　the　Sage：
  Non…inflated　he　does　not　exhaust　himself　in　idle　words。
  Moved　from　within　he　draws　and　gives　from　the　fullness　of　the　universe。
  6
  The　depth　of　the　universe　is　changeless。
  Empty　it　is　the　Female　giving　birth　in　secret。
  In　motion　it　is　the　eternally　flowing　spring　of　all　Becoming　and　all　things。
  Requiring　no　fertilization　it　is　giving　birth　without　ceasing。
  Inexhaustible　it　is　bringing　forth　abundance。
  7
  Heaven　and　earth　are　lasting。
  That　they　do　not　live　for　themselves　that　is　what　gives　them　duration。
  Likewise　the　Awakened　Man：
  Because　he　keeps　his　self　back　he　advances；　because　he　gives　himself　he　increases；　because　he　is　not　concerned　about　himself　he　is　preserved。
  That　is　it：　because　he　is　selfless　he　attains　Self…completion。
  8
  The　Perfect　Man　is　like　water：
  To　all　things　it　readily　bestows　refreshment　and　comfort。
  Without　struggle　it　fills　the　depths　which　man　shuns　and　is　closest　to　the　Tao。
  Likewise　the　Perfect　Man：
  Where　he　abides　he　gladly　fills　his　place。
  What　he　has　in　mind　is　fathomless　goodness。
  Where　he　gives　he　gives　himself　desireless。
  When　he　speaks　purest　truth　wells　up。
  Where　he　leads　he　guides　through　gentleness。
  Where　he　acts　he　serves　all　and　carries　them　to　abundance。
  Where　he　intervenes　he　causes　balance　and　peace。
  Because　he　adapts　himself　without　struggle　he　lives　without　enmity　and　resistance。
  9
  Better　it　is　to　observe　moderation　than　to　fill　to　overflowing。
  Impossible　it　is　to　use　a　tool　at　the　same　time　impossible；　too；　greedily　to　accumulate　treasures　and　to　be　secure　at　the　same　time。
  For　possessions　beget　possession　possession　begets　arrogance　and　arrogance　disaster。
  By　observing　moderation　when　his　work　is　completed　by　keeping　back　his　ego　and　by　shunning　fame　the　wisdom　of　the　Awakened　Man　is　evidenced。
  10
  He　who　knows　himself　to　be　one　with　all　in　spirit　and　mind　is　safe　from　division　and　discord。
  He　who　practicing　gentleness　purifies　his　senses　and　soul　becomes　like　a　new…born　child　heir　to　heaven。
  He　who　striving　for　clarity　looks　inside　attains　insight　and　the　perceptions　of　truth。
  He　who　leads　others　through　love　himself　remaining　serene　brings　about　order　without　giving　orders。
  Since　giving　and　receiving　are　one　to　him　he　opens　all　the　gates　of　heaven　like　the　maternal　World　Spirit。
  Because　he　himself　is　inwardly　open　everything　is　open　to　him　without　learning。
  That　he　nourishes　and　sustains　without　holding　that　he　acts　without　keeping　back　and　retaining　that　he　leads　without　dominating：　such　is　the　virtue　of　the　Supreme　Man。
  11
  Thirty　spokes　meet　in　one　hub
  But　it　upon　the　empty　space　the　non…existent　in　the　hub　that　the　wheel's　usefulness　depends。
  Kneading　clay　one　moulds　vessels　of　it
  But　only　their　hollowness　the　non…existent　makes　their　filling　possible。
  With　walls　from　which　doors　and　windows　are　cut　out　a　house　is　built
  But　only　its　empty　space　the　non…existent　gives　it　its　value。
  The　visible　the　existent　gives　form　to　the　work。
  The　invisible　the　non…existent　gives　it　essence　and　meeting。
  12
  Light　too　glaring　endangers　sight
  Noise　too　loud　deafens　hearing
  Spices　too　strong　spoil　taste
  Craving　for　pleasure　kills　knowledge。
  This　is　why　the　Awakened　Man　turns　inward　and　rules　the　senses。
  He　lets　go　what　passes
  And　seizes　what　lasts。
  13
  Fame　and　shame　are　equally　laden　with　grief
  Good　luck　and　bad　luck　resemble　man's　ego。
  What　does　this　mean？
  Acquire　fame　and　you　dread　its　loss
  Lose　fame　and　you　are　scared　of　shame。
  Both　are　accompanied　by　fear　both　are　sources　of　grief。
  Likewise：
  Good　luck　and　bad　luck　arise　from　man's　ego　hit　man's　ego　accompany　man's　ego。
  That　is　why　freedom　from　ego　means　freedom　from　fame　as　well　as　shame　from　good　luck　as　well　as　bad　luck　freedom　from　grief。
  For　I…ness　means　limitation　means　to　be　chained　to　grief　and　bound　to　the　world
  All…ness　is　oneness　with　the　limitless　is　superiority　over　grief　and　overcoming　of　the　world。
  14
  Not　the　man　who　searches　and　looks　for　it　but　one　who　closes　his　eyes　becomes　aware　of　the　invisible。
  Not　by　listening　and　straining　to　hear　but　in　serene　silence　the　soundless　become　audible。
  Not　by　struggling　to　grasp　and　comprehend　but　in　calmness　and　letting…go　the　incomprehensible　reveals　itself。
  These　three　one　should　not　do　one　must　be　them　to　realize　the　One　and　disbecome　in　it。
  From　outside　TAO　is　obscure
  Inside　there　is　brightness
  To　the　world　of　Being　it　is　Non…being　to　Non…being　Suprabeing：
  Being　behind　all　appearance
  Spirit　beyond　form　the　unmoved　before　and　after　all　movement。
  Obscure　is　its　beginning　unknowable　its　ending。
  Yet　one　who　neither　looks　back　nor　ahead　but　stopping　awakens　to　the　All…presence　of　the　now　soars　beyond　the　cycle　of　Becoming　and　decaying　and　returns　home　to　the　ONE。
  15
  The　wise　men　of　old　were　masters　of　meditation　and　one　with　the　One。
  Unfathomable　was　their　depth　incomprehensible　their　greatness。
  Without　attracting　attention　they　acted　out　of　their　stillness。
  They　walked　cautiously　as　though　wading　through　a　swollen　river。
  They　were　watchful　as　though　it　were　important　not　to　hurt　anyone
  reserved　like　guests　from　foreign　lands
  Yielding　like　snow　in　the　sun
  Inconspicuous　like　uncut　wood
  Willing　and　open　like　a　deep　valley
  And　yet　obscure　and　inscrutable　like　troubled　waters　。。。。
  Who　can　clear　muddiness　and　lighten　up　darkness？
  One　who　in　the　stillness　and　the　silence　clears　and　illumines　itself。
  And　who　can　quicken　the　dregs　without　stirring　them？
  The　Tao…united　man　who　has　emptied　himself　by　letting…go。
  Because　he　has　become　selfless　he　bestows　life。
  He　no　longer　awaits　the　coming　of　fullness　who　has　attained　perfection。
  16
  Emptied　of　all　I…ness　you　rest　in　the　silent　primordial　ground　of　the　Self。
  Everything　living　swells　to　unfoldment
  All　beings　move　through　change　decay　and　return　and　disbecoming　turn　back　to　their　root。
  Turning　back　to　their　root　means　return　to　rest　resting　means　going　home　to　one's　destination　fulfilling　one's　destination　means　becoming　aware　of　one's　permanence　becoming　aware　of　one's　permanence　means　to　be　enlightened。
  Being　enlightened　about　one's　Self　means　to　remain　in　the　cycle　of　ignorance　and　subjection　to　grief。
  One　who　becomes　aware　of　his　permanence　is　wise。
  Wise　he　is　just。
  Just　he　is　serene。
  Serene　he　is　of　a　heavenly　nature。
  Of　a　heavenly　nature　he　is　united　with　Tao。
  United　with　Tao　he　is　eternal。
  Thus　the　circle　closes。
  Sure　of　the　eternity　of　his　Self　the　loss　of　his　body　leaves　him　serene。
  17
  True　leaders　are　hardly　felt　less　perfect　ones　find　followers　and　devotion　still　lesser　ones　arouse　fear　and　resistance　unwise　ones　reap　derision　and　disdain。
  Only　he　who　sows　conf