They　say　the　true　way；
  compared　to　the　light；　often　looks　the　darkest；
  forward　often　looks　like　it　goes　backward；
  flattest　often　looks　the　hilliest。
  The　best　looks　like　the　worst；
  the　clearest　is　the　most　obscure；
  the　most　satisfying　looks　too　little；
  the　strongest　looks　the　weakest；
  the　most　natural　looks　old　and　artificial。
  The　largest　circle　has　no　curves
  great　abilities　take　the　longest　to　develop
  the　finest　music　has　the　faintest　notes
  the　universe　has　no　shape
  the　way　is　hidden；　has　no　name；　no　map。
  How　can　it？　It　is　everywhere。
  42
  The　way
  is　one
  but　soon　one　is　made　into　two
  and　two　becomes　three　and　four　。。。
  and　everything　else
  all　of　which　contain　the　elements　of　yin　and　yang
  dark　and　light；　water　and　fire；　hard　and　soft；　male　and　female
  in　whose　blend　and　harmony　all　existence　depends。
  No　one　likes
  to　come　from　the　lower　class
  to　be　poor；　hungry；　needy
  yet　politicians　and　priests　gain　by　calling　themselves　such。
  Still；　a　person
  gains　by　losing
  and　loses　by　gaining；
  becomes　wise　from　disadvantage
  and　ignorant　from　privilege。
  The　truths　of　other　religions　and　philosophies
  are　the　same：
  an　eye　for　an　eye；　a　tooth　for　a　tooth；
  turn　the　other　cheek；
  a　violent　person　will　die　a　violent　death。
  43
  The　softest
  overcomes　the　hardest。
  Having　no　form　to　maintain
  it　can　go　where　there　is　no　space。
  Water　wears　down　and　splits　rock　with　no　intention
  this　is　how　I　know　the　value　of　action　that　has　no　motivation。
  Yet　few　people　understand　the　value　of
  teaching　without　words
  relationship　without　promise
  being　without　doing
  religion　without　god。
  44
  Being　praised　by　others
  or　valued　by　oneself
  which　is　most　important？
  You　or　things；
  health　or　wealth
  which　is　more　valuable？
  Having　things
  or　losing　things
  which　is　better？
  The　person　who　saves　the　most　will　pay　the　most　in　the　end；
  the　one　who　acquires　the　most　possessions　and　property
  will　lose　the　most　in　the　end。
  Attachment　causes　suffering。
  Be　satisfied　with　where　you　are　and　what　you　have
  and　you　will　never　be　sorry。
  Be　satisfied　with　when　you　are
  and　you　will　be　always
  safe；　always
  secure。
  45
  Perfection　seems　to　be　missing　something
  but　like　an　empty　cup
  it　is　perfect。
  The　fullest　seems　to　be　empty
  but　like　the　ocean
  it　is　always　there。
  The　perfectly　straight　line　looks　crooked
  the　most　intelligent　seem　stupid
  the　best　speech　seems　like　stuttering。
  Activity　overcomes　cold
  but　stillness　overcomes　heat。
  Being　still；
  one　puts　everything
  in　its　proper　place。
  46
  When　the　way　is　followed
  railroad　tracks　become　bicycle　paths
  king　lots　and　highways　get　plowed　under
  oil　cushions　the　crust　of　the　earth。
  When　the　way　is　not　followed
  railroads　haul　weapons　and　fuel
  food　and　energy　are　stockpiled
  the　earth　is　bled　away　and　sold。
  No　motive　is　more　compelling
  than　wanting　what　others　have
  no　illness　more　debilitating
  than　dissatisfaction　with　what　one　has
  no　better　forecast　of　failure
  than　wanting　more。
  Knowing
  the　satisfaction
  of　being　content
  with　the　simple　life
  a　wise　person　will　always　be　satisfied。
  47
  Without　leaving　your　house
  without　looking　outside
  you　can　understand
  the　whole　world。
  The　more　you　search
  the　less　you　will　find
  the　more　information　you　acquire
  the　less　you　will　know
  the　more　you　travel
  the　less　you　will　feel　at　home。
  Arrive　without　leaving
  see　without　looking
  do　nothing　yet　everything。
  48
  Learning　means　accumulating　something　every　day。
  ollowing　the　way
  means　losing　something　every　day。
  Loss　followed　by　loss
  until　everything　is　gone
  and　nothing
  is　to　be　done
  and　everything
  is　accomplished。
  Win　by　letting　things　take　their　natural　course
  lose　by　interfering。
  49
  The　follower　of　the　way　has
  no　constant　heart　or　mind；　no　morality；　no　reason。
  One　uses　the　hearts　and　minds　of　others。
  I　am　good　to　good　people
  I　am　also　good　to　bad　people
  how　else　will　they　experience　good？
  I　believe　the　truthful　person
  I　also　believe　the　liar　and　cheat
  how　else　will　they　experience　trust？
  To　others　the　follower　of　the　way
  looks　like　a　gullible　coward。
  For　others　the　follower　of　the　way
  is　simply　simple。
  Others　want　to　know　the　deeper　meaning；
  the　real　person；　the　true　motive；
  more　photos；　more　sound　bites。
  The　follower　of　the　way
  accepts　the　surface
  and　understands
  the　depths。
  50
  In　wanting　to　live　life　more　fully
  one　dies。
  Some　people　live　forcefully　in　order　to　evade　death。
  Some　people　die　within　themselves　in　order　to　evade　life。
  Some　people　just　survive　with　a　human　body
  as　life　becomes　a　thing　to　have　or　get　or　lose。
  But　others　who　follow　the　way　seem　to　be　impervious
  to　car　accidents　or　woods　at　night　or　the　bomb。
  Stray　cars　find　nothing　to　hit；
  the　woods　contain　no　lions　or　tigers　or　bears；
  the　bomb　finds　no　bodies　to　burn。
  Why？
  Because　people　prepared　to　die　live
  and　those　prepared　to　live　die。
  Life　generates　death
  and　death　life。
  51
  The　way　creates
  its　truth　sustains
  its　matter　shapes
  its　energy　is　the　spark　of　life
  There　is　not　one　thing　that　does　not　know　the　way
  or　is　not　influenced　by　it
  even　though　there　is　no　instruction　to　follow
  or　bill　to　pay。
  It　is　just　so　naturally。
  As　the　universe　creates　everything；
  sustains　it；　shapes　it；　enlivens　it；
  you　are　called
  to　care　for　the　world　but　not　own　it；
  use　it　but　not　abuse　it；
  lead　but　do　not　control。
  This　is　the　way　of　the　universe。
  52
  We　attribute　the　creation　of　many　things　to　a
  ent
  and　so　we　imagine　a　beginner　of　all　creation
  and　call　it　god　or　Dao　or　the　Big　Bang。
  Knowing　the　origin　we　know　the　children。
  Knowing　the　children　we　understand　the　origin　better。
  Knowing　the　one　we　know　the　many
  knowing　the　many　we　know　the　one　better。
  Close　your　eyes；　shut　your　doors；
  and　you　will　live　forever。
  Turn　on　the　tv；　become　involved；　get　busy；
  and　you　become　vulnerable　to　everything。
  Seeing　small　things　clearly　is　good　vision；
  holding　on　to　weak　things　is　strength。
  Seeing　the　outer　light　yet　being　able　to　return　to　the　inner　light
  seeing　the　many　and　being　able　to　return　to　the　one
  a　person　survives。
  This　is　called
  returning。
  53
  To　travel　the　way　is　like
  following　a　foot　path
  to　your　destination
  you　have　nothing　to　fear
  so　long　as　you
  stay　on　the　path
  and　avoid　turning。
  Paths　are　safe　and　easy
  but　people　like　to　stray
  away。
  When　government　works　at　setting　things　right
  farmers'　fields　lie　fallow
  the　silos　stay　empty
  people　wear　the　latest　fashion
  carry　weapons；　go　out　to　eat　and　drink　a　lot
  buy　more　possessions　than　they　can　use
  like　thieves　stocking　up。
  This　is　not　the　foot　path。
  54
  What　is　well　planted　cannot　be　pulled　up
  what　is　well　held　cannot　slip　away
  a　good　family　will　live　on　for　generations。
  Follow　the　way　and　free　yourself　of　the　meaningless
  follow　it　in　your　home　and　prosper
  follow　it　in　your　town　and　be　secure
  follow　it　in　your　nation　and　flourish
  follow　it　in　the　world　and　expand　your　horizons。
  Within　you　is　the　basis　for　the　perfect　home
  in　your　own　home　is　the　basis　for　the　perfect　town
  in　your　town　is　the　basis　for　perfect　nation
  in　your　nation　is　the　basis　for　perfect　world
  in　our　own　world　is　the　basis　for　the　perfect　universe。
  How　do　I　know　all　this？
  By　what　is　inside　me。
  55
  Persons　that　follow　the　way　are　like
  a　baby　that
  bees　and　mosquitoes　do　not　sting
  dogs　and　cats　do　not　bite
  birds　do　not　peck。
  Soft　bones；　weak　muscles；　strong　grip
  no　need　of　sex；　but　perfectly　formed　by　it。
  Baby　lives　completely
  screaming　all　day　without　becoming　hoarse
  Its　needs　fulfilled
  it　sleeps　in　perfect　harmony。
  To　understand　this　harmony
  is　to　understand　the　universe；
  to　understand　the　universe
  is　enlightenment。
  Filling　one's　life　with　busyness　is　to　invite
  disaster；
  pushing　oneself　to　the　edge
  exhausts；
  for　every　effort
  there　is　a　loss。
  This　is　not　the　way
  and　what　is　not　the　way
  will　soon　die　away。
  56
  A　person　who　knows　the　way
  has　no　need　or　desire　to　talk　about　it。
  People　who　talk　about　it
  really　don't　know　the　way。
  The　atheist　who　knows　atheism　does　not　talk；
  and　those　who　talk　about　it　don't　know　it。
  Qui