Tao Te Ching 61

 Tao Te Ching 61

A large country should take the low place like a great watershed which, from its low position, assumes the female role.

The female overcomes the male by the power of her position.

Her tranquility gives rise to her humility.

If a large country takes a low position, it will be able to influence smaller countries.

If smaller countries take the lower position, then they can allow themselves to be influenced.

So both seek to take the lower position in order to influence the other or be influenced.

Large countries should desire to help and protect the people, and small countries should desire to serve others.

Both, large and small countries, benefit greatly from humility.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 60

 Tao Te Ching 60

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish.

Too much poking spoils the meat.

When the Tao is used to govern the world then evil will lose its power to harm the people.

Not that evil will no longer exist, but only because it has lost its power.

Just as evil can lose its ability to harm, the Master shuns the use of violence.

If you give evil nothing to oppose, then virtue will return by itself.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 59

 Tao Te Ching 59

There is nothing better than moderation for teaching people or serving Heaven.

Those who use moderation are already on the path of the Tao.

Those who follow the Tao early will have an abundance of virtue.

When there is an abundance of virtue, there is nothing that can not be done.

Where there is limitless ability, then the kingdom is within your grasp.

When you know the Mother of the kingdom, the you will be long enduring.

This is spoken of as the deep root and the firm trunk, the Way to a long life and great spiritual vision.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 58

 Tao Te Ching 58

If a government is unobtrusive, the people become whole.

If a government is repressive, the people become treacherous.

Good fortune has its roots in disaster, and disaster lurks with good fortune.

Who knows why these things happen, or when this cycle will end?

Good things seem to change into bad, and bad things often turn out for good.

These things have always been hard to comprehend.

Thus the Master makes things change without interfering.

She is probing yet causes no harm.

Straightforward, yet does not impose her will.

Radiant, and easy on the eye.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 57

 Tao Te Ching 57

Govern your country with integrity, weapons of war can be used with great cunning, but loyalty is only won by not-doing.

How do I know the way things are?

By these:

The more prohibitions you make, the poorer people will be.

The more weapons you possess, the greater the chaos in your country.

The more knowledge that is acquired, the stranger the world will become.

The more laws that you make, the greater the number of criminals.

Therefore the Master says:

I do nothing, and people become good by themselves.

I seek peace, and people take care of their own problems.

I do not meddle in their personal lives, and the people become prosperous.

I let go of all my desires, and the people return to the Uncarved Block.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 56

 Tao Te Ching 56

Those who know do not talk.

 Those who talk do not know.

Stop talking, meditate in silence, blunt your sharpness, release your worries, harmonize your inner light, and become one with the dust.

Doing this is called the dark and mysterious identity.

Those who have achieved the mysterious identity can not be approached, and they can not be alienated.

They can not be benefited nor harmed.

They can not be made noble nor to suffer disgrace.

This makes them the most noble of all under the heavens.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 55

 Tao Te Ching 55

One who is filled with the Tao is like a newborn child.

The infant is protected from the stinging insects, wild beasts, and birds of prey.

Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is firm and strong.

It doesn't know about the union of male and female, yet his penis can stand erect because of the power of life within him.

It can cry all day and never become hoarse.

This is perfect harmony.

To understand harmony is to understand the Constant.

To know the Constant is to be called 'enlightened'.

To unnaturally try to extend life is not appropriate.

To try and alter the life-breath is unnatural.

The master understands that when something reaches its prime it will soon begin to decline.

Changing the natural is against the way of the Tao.

Those who do it will come to an early end.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 54

 Tao Te Ching 54

That which is well built will never be torn down.

That which is well latched can not slip away.

Those who do things well will be honoured from generation to generation.

If this idea is cultivated in the individual, then his virtue will become genuine.

If this idea is cultivated in your family, then virtue in your family will be great.

If this idea is cultivated in your community, then virtue will go a long way.

If this idea is cultivated in your country, then virtue will be in many places.

If this idea is cultivated in the world, then virtue will be with everyone.

Then observe the person for what the person does, and observe the family for what it does, and observe the community for what it does, and observe the country for what it does, and observe the world for what it does.

How do I know this saying is true?

I observe these things and see.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 53

 Tao Te Ching 53

If I understood only one thing, I would want to use it to follow the Tao.

My only fear would be one of pride.

The Tao goes in the level places, but people prefer to take the shortcuts.

If too much time is spent cleaning the house the land will become neglected and full of weeds, and the granaries will soon become empty because there is no one out working the fields.

To wear fancy clothes and ornaments, to have your fill of food and drink and to waste all of your money buying possessions is called the crime of excess.

Oh, how these things go against the way of the Tao!

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 52

 Tao Te Ching 52

The world had a beginning which we call the Great Mother.

Once we have found the Mother, we begin to know what her children should be.

When we know we are the Mother's child, we begin to guard the qualities of the Mother in us.

She will protect us from all danger even if we lose our life.

Keep your mouth closed and embrace a simple life, and you will live care-free until the end of your days.

If you try to talk your way into a better life there will be no end to your trouble.

To understand the small is called clarity.

Knowing how to yeild is called strength.

To use your inner light for understanding regardless of the danger is called depending on the Constant.

Lao Tzu