Those　who　are　good　he　treats　with　goodness
  Those　who　are　bad　he　also　treats　with　goodness　because　the　nature　of　his　being　is　good
  Those　who　are　truthful　he　treats　with　truth
  Those　who　are　not　truthful　he　also　treats　with　truth　because　the　nature　of　his　being　is　truthful
  The　Sage　lives　in　harmony　with　all　below　Heaven
  He　sees　everything　as　his　own　self
  He　loves　everyone　as　his　own　child
  All　people　are　drawn　to　him　every　eye　and　ear　is　turned　toward　him
  50
  Again　and　again
  Men　come　in　with　birth　and　go　out　with　death
  One　in　three　are　followers　of　life
  One　in　three　are　followers　of　death
  And　those　just　passing　from　life　to　death　also　number　one　in　three
  But　they　all　die　in　the　end
  Why　is　this　so？
  Because　they　clutch　to　life　and　cling　to　this　passing　world
  I　hear　that　one　who　lives　by　his　own　truth　is　not　like　this
  He　walks　without　making　footprints　in　this　world
  Going　about；　he　does　not　fear　the　rhinoceros　or　tiger
  Entering　a　battlefield；　he　does　not　fear　sharp　weapons
  For　in　him　the　rhino　can　find　no　place　to　pitch　its　horn
  The　tiger　no　place　to　fix　its　claw
  The　soldier　no　place　to　thrust　his　blade
  Why　is　this　so？
  Because　he　dwells　in　that　place　where　death　cannot　enter
  51
  Tao　gives　all　things　life
  Te　gives　them　fulfillment
  Nature　is　what　shapes　them
  Living　is　what　brings　them　to　completion
  Every　creature　honours　Tao　and　worships　Te　not　by　force　but　through　its　own　living　and　breathing
  Though　Tao　gives　life　to　all　things
  Te　is　what　cultivates　them
  Te　is　that　magic　power　which　raises　and　rears　them　completes　and　prepares　them　comforts　and　protects　them
  To　create　without　owning
  To　give　without　expecting
  To　fill　without　claiming
  This　is　the　profound　expression　of　Tao
  The　highest　perfection　of　Te
  52
  That　which　created　the　universe　is　the　Mother　of　the　world
  By　knowing　the　Mother　one　knows　her　children
  By　knowing　her　children　one　comes　to　know　her
  Such　is　their　unity　that　one　does　not　exist　without　the　other
  Fully　embrace　your　life　and　you　will　share　in　the　glory　of　creation
  The　Mother　herself　will　be　your　guardian
  And　all　her　creation　will　be　your　guide
  Stay　with　the　Mother；　shut　the　mouth；　close　the　gates　and　you　are　never　in　trouble
  Abandon　the　Mother；　open　the　mouth；　be　busy　with　other　and　you　are　beyond　all　hope　of　rescue
  Seeing　your　own　smallness　is　called　insight
  Honouring　your　own　tenderness　is　called　strength
  The　sun　in　all　its　glory　reveals　a　passing　world
  Only　the　inner　light　illuminates　eternity
  Only　that　light　can　guide　us　back　home
  Have　faith
  Follow　your　own　shining
  Be　aware　of　your　own　awareness
  On　the　darkest　nights　you　will　not　stumble
  On　the　brightest　days　you　will　not　blink
  This　is　called　揟he　Practice　of　Eternal　Light？br》
  53
  If　I　had　the　least　bit　of　wisdom　I　could　follow　the　path　of　Tao　quite　well
  My　only　fear　would　be　trying　to　go　my　own　way
  The　Great　Path　is　simple　and　direct　yet　people　love　to　take　the　side…routes
  See　how　magnificent　the　courts　have　become
  The　women　are　dressed　in　colourful　gowns
  The　men　carry　well…crafted　swords
  Food　and　drink　overflow
  Wealth　and　finery　abound
  Yet　in　the　shadow　of　all　this　splendour　the　fields　grow　barren　the　granaries　empty
  I　say　this　pomp　at　the　expense　of　others　is　like　boasting　of　thieves　after　a　looting
  Surely　it　is　contrary　to　Tao
  Surely　it　cuts　against　the　grain　of　the　whole　empire
  54
  The　truth；　once　established；　can　never　be　uprooted
  The　truth；　once　imbibed；　can　never　be　stripped　away
  A　sacrifice　to　a　higher　cause　is　never　lost
  An　offering　to　an　ancestor　never　goes　to　waste
  When　a　person　embodies　Tao　his　heart　becomes　true
  When　a　family　embodies　Tao　it　thrives
  When　a　village　embodies　Tao　it　is　protected
  When　a　country　embodies　Tao　it　prospers
  When　the　world　embodies　Tao　it　reveals　its　perfection
  Tao　is　everywhere　it　has　become　everything
  To　truly　see　it；　one　must　see　it　as　it　has　revealed　itself
  In　a　person；　see　is　as　a　person
  In　a　family；　see　is　as　a　family
  In　a　country；　see　is　as　a　country
  In　the　world；　see　is　as　the　world
  How　have　I　come　to　know　all　this？
  Tao　has　shown　me　？Tao　as　all　this！
  55
  One　who　embraces　Tao　becomes　pure　and　innocent　like　a　newborn　babe
  Deadly　insects　will　not　sting　him
  Wild　beasts　will　not　attack　him
  Birds　of　prey　will　not　strike　him
  He　is　oblivious　to　the　union　of　male　and　female　yet　his　vitality　is　full　his　inner　spirit　is　complete
  He　can　cry　all　day　without　straining　so　perfect　is　his　harmony　so　magically　does　he　blend　with　this　world
  Know　this　harmony　？it　brings　the　Eternal
  Know　the　Eternal　？it　brings　enlightenment
  A　full　life　？this　is　your　blessing
  A　gentle　heart　？this　is　your　strength
  Things　in　harmony　with　the　Tao　remain
  Things　that　are　forced；　grow　for　a　while　but　then　wither　away
  This　is　not　in　keeping　with　Tao
  Whatever　is　not　in　keeping　with　Tao　comes　to　an　early　end
  56
  One　who　speaks　does　not　know
  One　who　knows　does　not　speak
  Shut　the　mouth
  Close　the　gates
  Blunt　the　sharpness
  Loosen　the　knots
  Tempe　the　glare
  Become　one　with　the　dust　of　the　world
  This　is　called　揟he　Secret　Embrace？br》　One　who　knows　this　secret　is　not　moved　by　attachment　or　aversion；　swayed　by　profit　or　loss；　nor　touched　by　honour　or　disgrace
  He　is　far　beyond　the　cares　of　men　yet　comes　to　hold　the　dearest　place　in　their　hearts
  57
  To　rule　the　state　have　a　known　plan
  To　win　a　battle；　have　an　unknown　plan
  To　gain　the　universe；　have　no　plan　at　all
  Let　the　universe　itself　reveal　to　you　its　splendour
  How　do　I　know　this　should　be　so？
  Because　of　this　？br》　The　more　restrictions；　the　more　poverty
  The　more　weapons；　the　more　fear　in　the　land
  The　more　cleverness；　the　more　strange　events
  The　more　laws；　the　more　law　breakers
  Thus　the　Sages　say；
  Act　with　a　pure　heart　and　the　people　will　be　transformed
  Love　your　own　life　and　the　people　will　be　uplifted
  Give　without　conditions　and　the　people　will　prosper
  Want　nothing　and　the　people　will　find　everything
  58
  When　the　ruler　knows　his　own　heart　the　people　are　simple　and　pure
  When　he　meddles　with　their　lives　they　become　restless　and　disturbed
  Bad　fortune；　yes　？it　rests　upon　good　fortune
  Good　fortune；　yes　？it　hides　within　bad　fortune
  Oh　the　things　that　Heaven　sends　？br》　Who　can　know　their　final　aim？
  Who　can　tell　of　their　endless　ways？
  Today　the　righteous　turn　to　trickery
  Tomorrow　the　good　turn　to　darkness
  Oh　what　delusion　abounds　and　every　day　it　grows　worse！
  But　the　Sage　is　here　upon　the　Earth　to　gently　guide　us　back
  He　cuts　but　does　not　harm
  He　straightens　but　does　not　disrupt
  He　illumines　but　does　not　dazzle
  59
  Rule　the　people　and　serve　Heaven　yet　hold　nothing　more　dear　than　the　Mother抯　harvest
  Let　every　thought　and　every　breath　be　the　fruit　of　your　offering　？br》　Do　it　now
  Let　her　power　run　thick　in　your　blood
  There　will　be　no　obstacle　you　cannot　overcome
  No　limit　you　cannot　surpass
  No　empire　you　cannot　rule
  Ah；　but　in　all　your　glory　never　lose　sight　of　the　Mother
  Without　her　your　empire　will　crumble　your　power　will　waste　away
  For　the　Mother　brings　the　harvest
  She　alone　causes　all　things　to　endure
  We　call　this　揇eep　roots　and　a　solid　trunk？揟he　way　of　long　life　and　lasting　insight？br》
  60
  Govern　the　nation　as　you　would　fry　a　small　fish
  When　Tao　is　present　in　the　empire　dark　spirits　lose　their　power
  It抯　not　that　they　have　no　power　it抯　that　their　power　can抰　harm　anyone
  When　Tao　is　present　the　people　enjoy　the　blessing　of　Heaven
  They　find　unity
  They　find　peace
  What抯　this　about　spirits　doing　harm？
  The　Sage　is　approaching　and　they　are　rushing　in　to　sweep　his　path！
  61
  A　great　state　is　like　a　river　basin　that　receives　everything　flowing　into　it
  It　is　the　place　where　all　things　come　to　rest　where　all　the　world　is　welcomed
  The　low　is　greater　than　the　high
  The　still　is　greater　than　the　restless
  The　low　country　wins　over　its　neighbour
  The　still　female　wins　over　the　male
  The　Sage　wants　to　uplift　the　people
  The　people　want　to　follow　the　Sage　only　by　being　low　does　this　come　to　be
  The　Sage　bows　to　the　people
  The　people　bow　to　the　Sage
  And　when　they　lift　up　their　heads　only　greatness　remains
  62
  Tao　is　the　treasure…house　the　true　nature　the　secret　source　of　everything
  It　is　the　great　wealth　of　those　who　are　awake　the　great　protector　of　those　still　sleeping
  If　a　person　seems　wicked　do　not　cast　him　away　？br》　Awaken　him　with　your　words
  Elevate　him　with　your　deeds
  Recite　his　injury　with　your　kindness
  Do　not　cast　him　away　cast　away　his　wickedness
  When　the　emperor　is　crowned　or　the　three　ministers　ins