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Dao Intro

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Laotze
Dao De Jing

English Version by Bob Gonzalez

ONE
The way that can be followed is not the Eternal Way.
The name that can be named is not the Eternal Name.
The Nameless originates Heaven and Earth. The Named engenders All Things.
Ever desireless, you perceive the Essence. Ever desiring, you see only the externals.
Both have the same source but different names. Together they are called mysterious.
Mystery of mysteries: the marvelous gate between them!

TWO
When all under Heaven know Beauty as Beauty, Ugliness appears.
When they know Good as Good, there is Bad.
Something and Nothing generate each other.
Difficult and Easy define each other. Long and Short identify each other.
High and Low contrast each other. Tone and Pitch harmonize each other.
Before and After accompany each other.
Therefore sages act without conflict and teach without words.
All things that arise are not rejected.
Sages create without claiming ownership, benefit without demanding gratitude,
accomplish without taking credit.
It is because they do not take credit that credit is always due them.

THREE
Do not exalt the talented and people will not compete.
Do not value what is rare and people will not steal.
Do not display objects of desire and people will not become agitated.
Therefore sages guide the people in clearing their minds,
nourishing their bodies, diminishing their desires and strengthening their bones.
They assist the people in clearing their minds
and settling their hearts.
They do not allow the clever to create mischief.
Their doing is undoing. Thus everything remains in harmony.

FOUR
The Way is empty yet never exhausted.
It is fathomless, perhaps the source of all things.
If things are sharp, it blunts them. If things are knotted, it unties them.
If things are glaring, it softens them. It unites with all things at the lowest level.
Subtle and mysterious, it is always present.
I do not know its source. It is before Divinity Itself.

FIVE
Heaven and Earth are impersonal. They see all things as passing forms.
Sages are impersonal. They see all people as passing forms.
Heaven and Earth are like a bellows: empty yet never exhausted, active and ever-producing.
Excessive talk and action lead to exhaustion.
Rather, hold onto the center.

SIX
The valley spirit is eternal. It is called "the mysterious female."
The gateway of this mysterious female
is the origin of Heaven and Earth.
Barely perceived, yet always there, its use proves inexhaustible.

SEVEN
Heaven is eternal, Earth is everlasting.
This is because they do not live for themselves.
So it is with sages.
They place themselves behind and find themselves ahead,
disregard themselves and thereby discover themselves,
empty themselves of selfish desires and thereby become completely fulfilled.

EIGHT
The greatest good is like water,
which benefits all things without strife and settles in lowly places repulsive to all.
It is close to the Way.
The excellent dwell lowly, meditate deeply,
speak truly, rule justly, work effectively and act timely.
Never fighting, they are blameless.

NINE
A cup filled to the brim soon overflows. Better to stop short.
A blade honed to the sharpest soon becomes dull.
A house filled with gold and jade is soon emptied.
Reveling in wealth and position soon brings downfall.
Retire when your work is done. This is the Way of Heaven.

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