Infants　are　protected　from　danger。　Someone　who　has　cultivated　much　virtue　and　thus　become　more　child…like　is　likewise　protected。　Just　as　infants　are　protected　by　their　loving　parents；　virtuous　cultivators　are　protected　by　the　all…nurturing　mother；　the　Tao。　By　following　the　Tao；　they　cannot　be　stung　by　poisonous　insects　of　malicious　gossip；　clawed　by　the　wild　beasts　of　fear　and　anger；　or　attacked　by　the　vicious　birds　of　greed　and　envy。
  Such　virtuous　cultivators　may　appear　soft　and　yielding；　and　yet　they　have　a　firm　handle　on　their　goals　and　objectives。　They　are　flexible　in　their　approach；　and　unwavering　in　their　determination。
  They　live　life　with　energy　and　vitality。　They　possess　the　optimum　essence　of　health；　so　that　every　day　is　exciting；　fun；　and　creative。　Just　as　babies　cry　all　day　without　getting　hoarse；　they　can　concentrate　on　difficult　tasks　for　an　extended　period　of　time　without　getting　tired。
  Their　energy　works　in　perfect　harmony　with　their　surroundings。　This　harmonious　interaction　arises　from　their　constant　purpose　and　sense　of　mission。　They　understand　the　meaning　of　life　…　why　they　are　here　and　what　they　are　here　to　do　…　and　this　clarity　of　vision　powers　their　every　thought　and　action。
  They　can　endure　the　test　of　time　because　they　never　overdo　anything。　They　do　not　cultivate　physical　vitality　to　excess；　nor　do　they　overtax　the　mind。　If　life　is　a　race；　then　they　are　marathon　runners；　not　sprinters。　Sprinters　may　be　able　to　surge　forward　in　an　explosive　burst　of　speed；　but　within　minutes　their　strength　is　depleted。　Soon　after；　they　collapse　in　a　heap　of　exhaustion。　It　is　inevitable　and　contrary　to　the　lasting　and　enduring　Tao　of　the　true　cultivators。
  Notes
  The　ancient　sages　spoke　of　sexuality　in　an　open　and　direct　manner　because　they　saw　it　as　part　of　nature；　and　not　something　about　which　to　feel　shame　or　guilt。　They　see　nothing　〃filthy〃　or　〃disgusting〃　about　it。　Instead；　they　acknowledge　and　utilize　its　vast　creative　powers。
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  Those　who　know　do　not　talk
  Those　who　talk　do　not　know
  Close　the　mouth
  Shut　the　doors
  Blunt　the　sharpness
  Unravel　the　knots
  Dim　the　glare
  Mix　the　dust
  This　is　called　mystic　oneness
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　closer
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　distant
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　benefited
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　harmed
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　valued
  They　cannot　obtain　this　and　be　degraded
  Therefore；　they　become　honored　by　the　world
  The　truly　wise　understand　the　Tao；　so　they　know　that　actions　speak　louder　than　words。　Rather　than　to　talk　endlessly　about　what　they　should　do　or　how　they　should　be；　they　put　their　time　and　effort　into　the　actual　doing　and　being。
  On　the　other　hand；　those　who　prattle　on　and　on　only　demonstrate　that　they　know　little　about　the　Tao。　They　spend　so　much　time　talking　about　what　they　think　they　know　that　they　end　up　not　putting　any　of　it　into　actual　practice。　Without　real…life　applications；　the　Tao　means　nothing。
  Tao　cultivators　close　openings　and　doors　…　the　passages　that　lead　to；　or　allow　in；　the　many　temptations　and　distractions　of　the　material　world。　They　realize　that　the　sensory　thrills　of　such　distractions　are　short…lived　and　ultimately　illusory；　so　they　prefer　to　stick　to　the　real　and　practical。
  When　interacting　with　others；　they　are　gentle　and　compassionate；　because　caustic　and　abrasive　words　can　form　a　sharp　edge　that　hurts　people。　Their　gentle　approach　unravels　the　complexities　of　personal　interactions；　so　they　can　enjoy　a　simple；　direct　connection　with　fellow　human　beings　that　is　mutually　enriching。
  They　are　also　humble　and　full　of　self…effacing　humor；　because　those　who　like　to　show　off　their　mental　brilliance　end　up　alienating　people　with　the　blinding　glare　of　their　arrogance。
  True　Tao　cultivators　do　not　try　to　set　themselves　apart　from　the　rest　of　humanity。　They　do　not　go　into　hermitage　far　away　from　civilization。　Instead；　they　are　fully　immersed　in　the　dust　of　the　material　world　where　they　can　really　put　their　spiritual　cultivation　to　the　test。
  All　of　the　above　are　aspects　of　what　we　call　〃Mystic　Oneness。〃　It　is　a　crucial　element　in　any　spiritual　path。
  Those　who　achieve　true　understanding　of　Mystic　Oneness　（whether　they　call　it　by　that　name　or　not）　are　the　ones　who　can　be　fully　involved　with　life　in　the　material　world。。。　and　yet　transcend　beyond　it。　One　cannot　influence　them　by　getting　close　to　them　or　treating　them　in　a　cold　and　distant　manner。　They　are　unmoved　by　the　promise　of　benefits　or　threats　of　injury。　It　is　equally　useless　to　flatter　them；　feed　their　ego；　or　attempt　to　pummel　them　into　submission　by　degrading　or　condemning　them。
  Such　people　are　truly　exceptional；　and　that　is　why　they　will　invariably　become　honored　by　the　entire　world。
  Notes
  If　the　above　descriptions　are　too　vague　or　abstract；　think　of　Gandhi；　Nelson　Mandela；　and　the　Dalai　Lama。　These　are　concrete；　real…life　examples　of　human　beings　who　have　attained　the　level　of　Mystic　Oneness。　Read　the　interpretation　above　with　these　exceptional　individuals　in　mind；　and　you　will　find　that　this　chapter　is　an　incredibly　accurate　and　exact　description　of　their　true　character。
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  Govern　a　country　with　upright　integrity
  Deploy　the　military　with　surprise　tactics
  Take　the　world　with　non…interference
  How　do　I　know　this　is　so？
  With　the　following：
  When　there　are　many　restrictions　in　the　world
  The　people　become　more　impoverished
  When　people　have　many　sharp　weapons
  The　country　becomes　more　chaotic
  When　people　have　many　clever　tricks
  More　strange　things　occur
  The　more　laws　are　posted
  The　more　robbers　and　thieves　there　are
  Therefore　the　sage　says：
  I　take　minimal　action；　and　the　people　transform　themselves
  I　prefer　quiet；　and　the　people　right　themselves
  I　do　not　interfere；　and　the　people　enrich　themselves
  I　have　no　desires；　and　the　people　simplify　themselves
  Ruling　a　country　and　using　the　military　are　two　sides　of　the　coin；　and　require　two　different　approaches。　Using　clever　tactics　to　surprise　and　confuse　the　enemy　is　extremely　advantageous　in　that　victory　can　be　quickly　achieved　with　minimal　loss　of　troops。　Ruling　a　country　is　just　the　opposite。　You　wouldn't　want　to　use　clever　tactics　to　surprise　and　confuse　your　own　people。　Instead；　you　want　to　treat　them　with　straightforward　honesty；　and　communicate　in　a　way　that　is　clear　and　easy　to　understand。
  The　ruler　who　meddles　always　ends　up　with　poor　results。　Therefore；　wise　rulers　refrain　from　interference。　They　don't　try　to　change　people　…　it　is　an　impossible　and　thankless　task。　Instead；　they　let　nature　take　its　course。　Their　role　is　to　provide　gentle　guidance。
  Throughout　history；　sages　have　studied　human　society　and　made　careful　observations。　They　note　that　the　more　rules　and　regulations　there　are；　the　poorer　people　become。　This　in　turn　weakens　the　ruler's　power　base　…　exactly　the　opposite　of　what　the　ruler　tried　to　achieve　with　rules　and　regulations　in　the　first　place。
  In　such　a　restrictive　and　impoverished　environment；　many　people　turn　to　crime　as　a　way　to　survive。　They　take　up　weapons　to　steal　or　rob；　violence　and　chaos　increase　as　a　result。　They　also　become　increasingly　tricky　in　attempts　to　get　around　restrictions　or　exploit　loop　holes。　Their　cunning　will　often　yield　surprising　and　even　bizarre　results。
  The　above　is　why　the　sage　would　advise　the　emperor　as　follows：
  If　I　were　you；　I　would　not　take　actions　with　any　attachments　or　expectations　of　some　specific　outcome。　This　lack　of　contrivance　will　naturally　lead　the　people　toward　self…transformation。
  I　would　clear　my　mind　and　quiet　the　internal　chatter　before　attending　to　the　affairs　of　the　people。　My　calmness　and　serenity　can't　help　but　have　an　effect　on　people　so　that　they　will　wish　to　straighten　things　out　themselves。
  I　would　interfere　as　little　as　possible。　Without　interference；　people　can　freely　express　their　enterprising　nature。　Trade　and　commerce　blossom；　and　before　too　long　the　people　will　be　wealthy　by　their　own　efforts。
  I　would　demonstrate　by　example　my　own　relinquishing　of　excess　desires。　When　people　see　how　joyously　my　life　becomes　when　it　is　totally　free　of　clutter　and　the　blind　pursuit　of　material　things；　they　too　will　want　to　practice　simplicity　in　everything　they　do。
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  When　governing　is　lackluster
  The　people　are　simple　and　honest
  When　governing　is　scrutinizing
  The　people　are　shrewd　and　crafty
  Misfortune　is　what　fortune　depends　upon
  Fortune　is　where　misfortune　hides　beneath
  Who　knows　their　ultimate　end？
  They　have　no　determined　outcome
  Rightness　reverts　to　become　strange
  Goodness　reverts　to　become　wicked
  The　confusion　of　people
  Has　lasted　many　long　days
  Therefore　the　sages　are：
  Righteous　without　being　scathing
  Incorruptible　without　being　piercing
  Straightforward　without　being　ruthless
  Illuminated　without　being　flashy
  From　the　perspective　of　Tao　sages；　the　ideal　way　to　govern　is　one　that　rules　without　excessive　interference　in　people's　lives。　A　government　that　follows　this　does　not　p