flower　and　saying；　〃war　is　bad；　man；　and　peace　is　good〃；　he　is　saying　〃war　is　totally　unnecessary；　because　there's　a　natural　way　of　resolving　conflict　that　is　far　more　effective。〃　If　those　with　the　power　to　govern　people　and　send　armies　into　harm's　way　would　simply　recognize　the　helping　presences　of　the　invisible　realm　of　being；　then　they　would　instantly　realize　that　those　presences　are　a　far　more　practical　alternative　than　the　most　powerful　army　imaginable。
  This　leads　the　poet　into　a　discussion　of　natural　law：　violence　inevitably　finds　its　way　back　to　those　who　use　it　to　achieve　the　delusory　goals　of　group　allegiance。　This　is　the　law　of　the　fall　of　empires　and　the　death　of　civilizations　guided　by　the　use　of　power　and　aggrandizement。　The　natural　leader　is　himself　a　follower梐　follower　of　the　Sage；　thus　his　action　is　guided　by　Modesty；　and　his　inner　firmness　is　made　manifest；　yet　without　force；　display；　or　violence。　He　does　not　set　himself　or　his　nation　against　the　Source　of　their　being；　for　the　natural　leader　understands　that　tyranny　and　murder　are　relentlessly　suicidal；　for　both　the　leader　and　his　nation。
  31
  Of　all　the　instruments　of　human　ego；
  Weapons　of　war　are　the　most　horrible。
  The　teaching　Heart　of　the　Cosmos
  Turns　away　in　revulsion　from　these；
  And　from　those　that　use　them。
  The　student　of　the　Sage
  Embraces　the　supple　form　of　truth。
  The　student　of　war
  Hides　beneath　the　stiff　shield　of　delusion。
  The　former　walks　in　blessing；
  The　latter　strides　toward　Fate。
  When　the　infantile　lord　descends
  To　playing　with　his　toys　of　war；
  He　must　be　resolutely　answered
  With　a　calm　and　firm　rejection。
  And　should　he　kill　and　conquer；
  Let　him　not　revel　in　his　hideous　slaughter；
  Let　him　not　exult　in　extermination。
  For　he　who　delights　in　destruction
  Shall　never　live　in　the　Way　of　Nature。
  Celebrate　the　living　body　of　truth；
  Mourn　the　madness　that　is　power：
  The　latter　is　the　seat　of　appearances；
  Where　the　dead　figurehead　resides。
  Let　a　dirge　of　sorrow　be　sung
  For　the　victorious　commander…in…chief。
  Lament　as　well　the　grievous　slaughter　he　has　wrought。
  Though　we　may　weep　for　all　his　seeming　victims；
  It　is　the　patriot…that　power…drunk　demon…
  For　whom　the　funeral　rites　must　be　observed。
  Lao　Tzu　had　no　doubt　noticed　something　that　we　may　observe　today　in　our　world：　those　who　enjoy　the　greatest　safety　from　the　danger　of　battle　seem　to　cry　the　loudest　for　war。　Let　them　be　in　governmental　offices；　in　a　posh　bunker　somewhere　in　a　fortified　countryside；　sitting　before　a　bank　of　television　cameras；　or　residing　in　the　editorial　office　of　a　tabloid　newspaper梩hese　are　the　most　likely　sources　for　the　call　of　the　hawk。　These　are　the　self…styled　patriots；　the　〃power　drunk　demons；〃　as　Lao　Tzu　refers　to　them；　or　the　〃walking　dead；〃　as　they　are　referred　to　by　Carol　Anthony　and　Hanna　Moog　in　I　Ching：　The　Oracle　of　the　Cosmic　Way：
  〃卆　person　who　has　totally　separated　from　his　feeling　consciousness；　disdaining　his　feelings　and　his　body。　His　chi　energy　is　decreased　by　ignoring　and　suppressing　his　true　feelings；　and　by　rejecting　the　Cosmic　gift　of　love。　If　neglected　long　enough；　his　inner　light　dwindles　to　a　mere　set　of　coals。。。the　Sage　calls　such　a　person　one　憌ithout　head？＇in　Hexagram　8＇　because　he　lacks　the　ability　to　further　connect　with　the　Cosmic　Whole。　（p。　731）。〃
  Lao　Tzu　says　that　such　a　person　〃may　be　safely　met　with　a　calm　and　firm　detachment；〃　and　this　advice　is　echoed　again　in　The　Oracle　of　the　Cosmic　Way：
  ＇A　walking　dead　person＇　may　continue　in　this　state　for　many　years；　stealing　chi　energy　from　other　people。　When　a　person　realizes　that　he　is　being　drained　of　chi　energy　in　this　way；　he　needs　to　inwardly　disconnect　from　and　remain　neutral　in　the　presence　of　a　walking　dead　person　＇and＇　that　he　not　view　that　person　as　a　culprit；　as　that　too　would　give　him　energy。　（p。　731）。
  Thus；　the　walking　dead　person；　who　has　killed　his　own　inner　truth　to　feed　his　ego　upon　the　lives　of　others；　is　the　very　person　〃for　whom　the　funeral　rites　must　be　observed；〃　for　he　has　committed　the　act　of　inner　suicide　that　is　warned　of　in　Chapter　30。　When　this　true　self　is　lost　or　repressed；　as　in　one　〃who　descends　to　playing　with　the　toys　of　war；〃　then　it　is　the　murderous　demon　that　must　be　expunged；　and　this　can　only　happen　through　our　calling　upon　the　Sage　within　such　a　person；　as　Lao　Tzu　indicates　in　the　next　poem；　Chapter　32。　But　as　long　as　one　〃delights　in　destruction；〃　he　will　be　as　if　possessed　by　that　demon；　and　hounded　by　it梩o　the　very　moment　of　his　death；　and　beyond。　Thus；　Lao　Tzu's　teaching　about　war　again　reaches　beyond　the　obvious：　yes；　war　kills　living　bodies；　and　this　is　indeed　to　be　lamented；　but　it　also　warps　Nature；　and　the　human　place　within　it梐nd　once　that　is　lost；　there　can　be　no　survivors。
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  The　Cosmic　Whole；　in　all　its　breadth；
  Surpasses　its　name。
  Its　crystalline　simplicity
  Is　so　inexpressibly　minute
  That　no　human　mind　can　grasp　it。
  If　only　political　leaders　and　corporate　barons
  Could　apprehend　its　nature；
  Then　the　complementarity　of　limitless　beings
  Would　effortlessly　arise　and　endure。
  In　such　loving　attraction　live　earth　and　sky：
  As　when　blessed　rain　falls　soft　upon　the　earth；
  Mankind　and　Nature　could　unite　like　lovers…
  Free　of　law；　free　of　command；
  People　would　finally　be　at　peace。
  Through　names　are　things　distinguished；
  And　through　names　can　they　be　exhausted。
  The　outcome　depends　on　balance：
  Feeling　where　the　word　is　true；
  And　when　it　has　reached　its　limit。
  Correct　approach　comes　from　the　center。
  In　balance；　too；　is　Tao　expressed
  In　the　life　of　our　world：
  The　stream　extends　to　the　river；
  The　river　extends　to　the　sea；
  The　sea　extends　to　the　ocean；
  The　ocean　extends　to　the　world。
  And　the　world　extends　to　the　Tao。
  33
  Study　mankind；　for　this　is　wisdom。
  But　first　examine　yourself；　for　this　is　penetration。
  To　subjugate　others；　it　takes　power。
  But　defeating　your　own　ego
  Needs　the　gentle　strength　of　perseverance。
  Acknowledge　the　wealth　within　you；
  And　you　won抰　need　to　strive　for　more。
  But　grasp　after　the　brass　ring；
  And　you　become　a　conformist
  In　a　society　of　willful　pursuit。
  The　one　who　can　remain　in　the　center
  Will　endure　beyond　the　reach　of　time。
  For　though　he　may　die　to　the　visible；
  His　life　continues　in　immanence。
  Thus；　he　is　immortal。
  34
  Sublime；　the　Cosmic　Breath
  That　limitlessly　pervades　and　imbues
  Time　and　space；　form　and　non…form。
  It　diffuses　in　every　direction；
  It　flows　through　all　being；
  It　creates　and　furthers　all；
  But　makes　no　claim　and　takes　no　credit。
  It　is　the　body　of　transformation；
  And　we　do　not　even　know　its　name！
  It　loves　and　nourishes
  The　infinite　family　of　forms；
  But　seeks　not　allegiance　or　submission。
  Eternally　free　of　abstraction；
  Its　name　may　be　sought
  Within　the　realm　of　the　infinitesimal；
  Though　it　is　the　origin　and　destiny
  Of　the　vastest　expressions　of　Nature。
  It　rejects　aggrandizement；
  And　thus　may　be　called　great。
  Just　so；　the　student　of　the　Sage：
  He　divorces　his　ego；　repudiates　elevation；
  And　rejects　recognition：
  Thus　imbued；　his　achievement　endures；
  And　his　work　is　made　great。
  There　is　a　natural；　inherent　greatness；　which　can　be　discovered　by　one　who　repudiates　the　false　greatness　of　group　identification。　Greatness　that　must　be　sought　or　protected　is　not　true　greatness；　but　the　empty　elevation　of　ego。　Lao　Tzu　uses　this　poem　to　help　us　feel　the　reality　of　true　greatness：　it　does　its　work　without　claiming　credit　for　it；　it　is　free　of　abstraction　and　ideology；　it　turns　away　from　any　effort　to　aggrandize　itself　or　its　work。　The　fact　is　that　our　greatness　is　inborn：　it　is　the　treasure　that　is　given　to　each　individual　at　birth。　The　only　way　you　could　possibly　miss　it　is　by　denying　the　invisible　reality　within　you梑y　purchasing　the　ideological　lie　that　says　we　are　separate　from　the　universe；　superior　to　Nature。　Discard　the　lie；　and　you　will　live　your　greatness。
  35
  Take　to　your　heart
  The　hand　of　the　great　Cosmic　Teacher；
  And　your　deepest　true　nature
  Will　arise　in　a　peace　beyond　harm…
  Joyfully　harmonizing　with　the　eternal　abundance。
  The　wanderer　tarries　at　the　lilt　of　a　song
  Or　the　smell　of　good　cooking；
  But　the　lyric　from　the　Cosmic　Breath
  Falls　flat　upon　the　ear；
  As　its　words　are　flavorless　to　the　tongue。
  The　eye　can　scarce　perceive　it；
  The　ear　discerns　only　the　echo…
  For　it　lies　deep　within；
  And　you　never　get　tired　of　using　it。
  36
  Would　you　like　to　reduce　it？
  Then　first　see　it　inflated。
  Would　you　like　it　to　be　weakened？
  Then　first　see　it　as　powerful。
  Would　you　like　to　destroy　it？
  Then　first　see　it　enshrined。
  Would　you　like　to　drain　it？
  Then　first　see　it　overflow。
  This　is　called　the　subtle　discernment：
  Gently　penetrating　flexibility