26
  True　darkness　seems　to　be　light；
  Indeed；　it　is　the　origin　of　light。
  The　enduring　tranquility
  May　appear　to　be　agitated：
  For　it　is　the　apogee　of　agitation。
  Thus　wandering　all　the　livelong　day；
  The　student　of　the　Sage
  Stays　as　still　as　can　be…
  Unmoved　by　the　attraction　of　glory；
  Or　the　titillation　of　diversion。
  Even　stopping　amid　the　feast；
  His　independence　is　unshakeable。
  Could　this　be　said　of　the　political　insider；
  Who　so　lightly　drops　his　dignity
  For　every　passing　pleasure？
  Airy　lightness　lacks　foundation；
  Fitful　action　loses　the　center。
  One　in　contact　with　his　inner　truth　is　able　to　abide　in　darkness；　as　still　as　a　moonless　night；　and　yet　remain　in　motion。　For　he　understands　that　movement　which　comes　from　the　clear　and　centered　point　of　inner　balance　is　often　seen　as　stillness；　and　that　his　most　pure　and　silent　state　of　rest　may　appear　to　be　a　whirlwind　of　activity。　The　former　state　is　often　seen　in　the　creative　artist；　the　latter；　in　the　athlete。　But　he　is　not　concerned　with　appearances　or　with　the　perceptions　of　others；　for　he　is　content　in　his　own　self…awareness。　If　there　is　pleasure　to　be　had；　he　takes　it　gratefully　and　without　selling　his　dignity　for　its　superficial　luster。　For　he　knows　that　should　he　allow　his　inner　independence　to　be　purchased　for　a　favor　or　a　privilege；　then　he　will　have　sacrificed　the　central　and　stable　point　of　his　connection　to　the　Cosmic　Whole。
  27
  Treading　correctly；　we　leave　no　trace。
  Correct　speech　is　brief　and　true。
  Correct　assessment　is　ever　open…
  Calculation　does　not　further　it。
  The　true…fitting　door　is　shut　fast
  Without　need　of　bar　or　latch…
  Yet　none　can　break　its　seal；
  Or　cross　its　threshold。
  The　best　knots　tie　firmly；
  Yet　without　binding：　such　connections
  Can　never　be　broken　from　outside。
  Thus　the　eternal　Sage
  Acts　with　abiding　care　for　all。
  Because　of　this；　it　abandons　no　one：
  Its　regenerative　Presence　flows
  Through　every　particle　of　being。
  This　is　called　the　penetrating　awareness。
  Thus　the　Sage　approaches　those　who　lack　fulfillment：
  For　those　who　lack　fulfillment　sustain　the　Cosmic　teachings：
  The　Teacher　and　student　unite　in　what　is　learned。
  Accept　this　fully…for　if　you　fail…
  Success　will　forever　elude　you；
  However　great　your　erudition。
  This　is　why　I　call　this
  The　heart　of　my　teaching。
  This　is　a　distinctive　chapter　in　the　Tao　Te　Ching　for　several　reasons。　It　begins　with　a　beautifully　lucid　set　of　metaphors　on　speech　and　action　that　are　in　harmony　with　Tao。
  Lao　Tzu　follows　these　with　an　image　of　a　〃true…fitting　door〃　which　can　close　securely　〃without　need　of　bar　or　latch。〃　In　the　I　Ching；　the　first　line　of　Hexagram　60；　Limitation；　speaks　of　〃not　going　out　of　the　door〃　as　a　metaphor　on　the　true　self's　ability　to　separate　itself　from　the　distorting　beliefs　and　restrictive　rules　of　the　collective　ego。　In　both　of　these　texts；　the　point　being　made　is　that　it　is　not　a　matter　of　fleeing　from；　or　contending　against；　the　repressive　power　of　group　ideology；　but　rather　of　simply　having　a　proper　inner　seal　on　the　doorway　of　consciousness；　so　that　the　vapid　abstractions　and　insinuations　of　ego　can　find　no　entry　point　to　one's　true　self。
  In　the　second　half　of　the　poem；　Lao　Tzu　considers　the　source　of　help　available　to　people　who　would　like　to　live；　work；　and　form　relationships　from　a　stable；　open　center　of　being：　the　Cosmic　Sage梩he　teaching　energy　of　the　universe。　The　Sage　is　available　to　all　who　ask　for　its　help；　it　is　a　regenerative　presence　that　can　awaken　and　further　understanding　and　awareness；　because　it　works　with　the　student；　and　not　from　above　him。　When　we　accept　the　help　of　the　Sage　in　living　a　human　life；　we　are　guided　toward　fulfillment。　This　is　why　Lao　Tzu　declares　that　this　is　〃the　heart　of　my　teaching。〃
  28
  Acknowledge　the　masculine
  And　be　one　with　the　feminine：
  Let　the　river　of　your　being　flow
  Into　the　valley　of　eternal　Nature。
  The　path　of　Modesty　is　true　and　complete：
  Ever　returning　to　the　origin；
  As　a　child　returns　to　its　mother。
  Acknowledge　the　white；
  But　trust　in　the　black：
  Let　Nature　be　the　mold
  Into　which　you　pour
  The　liquid　energy　of　your　being。
  Let　Modesty　guide　you；
  Perseveringly　return　to　the　Source
  Of　limitless　serenity。
  Be　aware　of　your　influence；
  Yet　act　from　humility：
  Let　your　action　be　drawn　from
  The　valley抯　fertile　depths；
  And　Modesty　will　be　furthered。
  Returning　to　your　perfect　nature；
  You　may　be　shaped　and　arrayed…
  Honed　to　a　sparse　and　simple　beauty。
  Thus　do　the　Sage　and　the　Cosmic　Helpers
  Create　completion　and　fulfillment…
  Not　through　division　and　reduction…
  But　through　transformation。
  For　me；　the　central　metaphor　of　this　poem　is　the　feminine　principle　that　Lao　Tzu　weaves　throughout　the　Tao　Te　Ching。　I　don抰　know　whether　Lao　Tzu　would　identify　himself　as　a　feminist；　but　I　suspect　that　he抎　rather　have　nothing　to　do　with　？ism抯　of　any　sort。　In　any　event；　this　is　not　a　poem　about　women；　but　about　the　feminine。　Science　teaches　us　that　estrogen　（the　female　hormone）　is　as　essential　to　men　as　testosterone　（the　male　hormone）　is　to　women。　No　surprise　here：　science；　at　its　best；　discovers　the　same　truths　that　poetry　delivers梛ust　in　a　slightly　different　language。
  As　a　teacher　and　poet；　feminine　images　mean　something　to　Lao　Tzu：　the　valley　may　be　thought　of　as　a　symbol　of　the　source；　or　origin；　of　being梩he　place　where　conception　and　birth　occur。　Water　also　has　feminine　associations：　it　is　the　home…element　of　the　developing　fetus；　and　it　is　the　nourishing；　life…giving　substance　which　makes　up　the　great　majority　of　both　our　planet　and　our　physical　bodies。　These　simple　facts　point　to　an　equally　simple　reality：　no　matter　your　outer　gender　or　sexual　orientation；　there　is　a　feminine　principle　within　you；　which　needs　to　be　discovered　and　experienced。　When　it　is　repressed　or　denied；　we　are　abdicating　an　essential　aspect　of　our　true　and　complete　nature；　and　this　alienates　us　from　ourselves　and　our　cosmic　home。
  But　when　we　open　ourselves　to　the　inner　feminine；　suddenly　our　understanding　widens；　and　our　ability　to　act　in　harmony　with　our　true　nature　and　its　Source　is　furthered。　This　is　the　unforced　action　of　Modesty　（Te）　as　a　Cosmic　principle　applied　to　human　life：　when　you　draw　energy　from　this　fertile　valley　of　Modesty；　then　your　action　returns　that　energy　back；　pure　and　undistorted；　to　the　Cosmic　Whole。　This；　indeed；　is　how　life　is　meant　to　be　lived梐s　a　beneficent　cycle　of　being；　in　which　a　person　uses　the　gift　of　his　life…force　（chi）　to　further　the　strength　and　purity　of　the　Source　from　which　he　has　drawn　his　being。
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  To　those　who　would　alter　Nature；
  Or　spread　reform　upon　the　earth；
  I　say　this：　though　your　efforts　be　endless；
  You　will　not　succeed。
  Alteration；　control；　improvement：
  They　are　repugnant　to　Nature；
  For　perfection　requires　no　refinement。
  The　impulse　to　control
  Only　deforms　what　you　wish　to　manage。
  Thus；　it　is　lost　to　you。
  This　is　a　principle　that　all　can　use：
  Sometimes　it　leads　and　sometimes　follows；
  Sometimes　it　breathes　in　and　sometimes　out；
  Sometimes　it　is　growing；　sometimes　diminishing；
  Sometimes　it　builds　up；　sometimes　it　collapses。
  This　is　the　way　things　are。
  Thus　the　Sage　withdraws　from　excess；
  And　retreats　from　display。
  Where　arrogance　boasts；
  Where　pride　struts；
  The　Sage　will　never　be　found。
  30
  Leaders；　rulers；　governors　of　the　people：
  The　Cosmos　offers　you　helping　Presences；
  Whose　essence　dwells　in　harmony；
  And　not　in　the　use　of　force　or　weaponry。
  Natural　law　decrees　that　violence　backfires
  Upon　all　who　resort　to　its　means。
  Armed　forces　camp　and　crawl
  Amid　thorns　and　brambles；
  Which　grow　like　cancer　and　close　like　traps。
  Wherever　group　violence　is　done；
  Desolation　walks　in　its　wake。
  Truly；　the　harvest　of　violence　is　misery。
  The　best　leader　is　himself　led…
  He　builds　consensus；　achieves　his　aim；
  And　then　departs。
  Force　and　intimidation
  Are　neither　his　means　nor　his　end。
  He　is　inwardly　firm；　without　display。
  He　is　inwardly　firm；　without　arrogance。
  He　is　inwardly　firm；　without　contempt。
  He　is　inwardly　firm；　without　demand。
  He　is　inwardly　firm；　without　violence。
  Aggrandize　yourself　or　your　group；
  And　you　have　chosen　the　path　of　decadence。
  This　is　called　separation　from　the　Source。
  To　separate　from　the　Source
  Is　the　way　of　swift　and　certain　death。
  Chapters　30　and　31　may　be　read　as　a　unit；　for　they　comprise　the　poet's　teaching　on　violence；　in　the　context　of　war　and　battle。　Lao　Tzu　begins　with　a　critical　point；　which　distinguishes　him　and　his　teaching　from　the　position　of　mere　pacifism。　As　always　with　Lao　Tzu；　the　point　has　a　practical　direction。　He　is　not　simply　waving　a　flower　and　saying；　〃war　is　bad；　man；　and　peace　is　good〃；　he　is　saying　〃war　is　totally　unneces