CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

some words about words
true ones are not eloquent
eloquent not true

words about wisdom
wise men need not prove their point
the unwise need to

doing for others
makes the Master most happy
he needs nothing else

as odd as it sounds
the more he gives to others
the richer he is

the Tao nourishes
that is how the Master leads
never by forcing

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER EIGHTY

if governed wisely
it will have inhabitants
who are well content

enjoying their work
they do not invent gadgets
just to save labor

since they love their homes
they are not interested
in gadding about

they might have some stuff
maybe a wagon or boat
that mostly stay put

they may have weapons
but who needs an arsenal
that is never used

they enjoy their food
like having family time
keeping a garden

a nearby country
might be so close they can hear
its farm animals

yet they are content
to remain right where they are
within their borders

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

 

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

embrace your failures
don’t blame another person
blaming has no end

the Master does right
fulfills her obligations
corrects her mistakes

she is diligent
doing what she needs to do
demanding nothing

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

nothing in the world
is as soft and as yielding
as simple water

yet there is nothing
that better dissolves the hard
and inflexible

soft overcomes hard
gentle overcomes rigid
this is a known fact

everyone knows this
they know that it is the truth
but few practice it

even in sorrow
the Master remains serene
free from all evil

giving up helping
he is people’s greatest help
truth seems paradox

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching 

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

like bending a bow
the Tao at top bends downward
at bottom bends up

it always adjusts
excess and deficiency
perfectly balanced

from what is too much
the Tao takes and distributes
to what is lacking

trying to control
those who enforce their power
go against the Tao

they take from the poor
and distribute what they take
to those who are rich

the Master can give
because her wealth has no end,
is given wisely

without expecting
she is able to succeed
and take no credit

because she acts so
she thinks herself no better
than anyone else

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

when they are first born
men are still soft and supple
in death...hard and stiff

when plants are blooming
they are tender and pliant
dead...brittle and dry

whoever is stiff
those who are inflexible...
disciples of death

whoever is soft
those who have learned how to yield...
disciples of life

the hard and the stiff,
the brittle and dry will break
soft, supple prevail

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

when taxes are high
there is no money for food
people go hungry

intrusive leaders
are oppressive governors
people lose spirit

be of benefit
trust the people...act for them
and leave them alone

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

 

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

all things surely change
once you realize this truth
you will not hold on

do not fear dying
if you can overcome this
you can achieve all

manipulating
is like impersonating
a skilled carpenter

when unskilled hands use
a master carpenter’s tools
injury happens

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

 

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

the Tao is at ease
prevails without competing
answers without words

without any plan
it accomplishes its goal
not summoned, it comes

its net covers all
and though its meshes are wide
lets nothing slip through

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

their sense of awe lost
people turn to religion
and then lose themselves

not trusting themselves
they turn to authority
and depend on it

the Master steps back
and does not confuse people
who think for themselves

without a teaching
people have nothing to learn
the Master has none

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

learn this paradox
not knowing is true knowledge
now you know something

first know you are sick
then you can move toward health
always the first step

as her own doctor
from the all-knowing disease
she has healed herself

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SEVENTY

they are quite easy
to understand and practice
these teachings of mine

yet they can’t be grasped
not intellectually
and can’t be practiced

older than the world
how can you grasp their meaning
simply put...you can’t

let me ask you this,
really you want to know me?
look inside your heart

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching 

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

the generals say
rather than make the first move
best to wait and see

they go on to say
rather than advance an inch
retreat a whole yard

call this strategy
forward without advancing
pushing back unarmed

a great misfortune
to discount your enemy
there is no greater

one way to do this
is to think he is evil
this is a mistake

you have three treasures
which you will surely destroy
you...the enemy

when two forces fight
the one who knows how to yield
will gain victory

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

 

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

the best of athletes
wants a worthy opponent
one who’s at his best

the best general
is the one who can enter
his enemy’s mind

great businessmen
work for the communal good
rather than for self

the best of leaders
does the will of the people
rather than his own

all of these commit
to be noncompetitive
on unfriendly terms

when they do compete
they are playful in spirit
they are like children

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Lao-tsu on his teaching:

some say it’s nonsense
others label it lofty
but impractical

to those who take time
and reflect within themselves
it makes perfect sense

those who practice it
find this loftiness has roots
that go very deep

I have three teachings...
simplicity and patience
also compassion

first, action and thought
simplicity in these two
the source of being

be patient with friends
and the same with enemies
you’ll be one with all

compassion for self
will reconcile all beings
wherever they are

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

streams flow to the sea
why? because it is lower
it is humble...strong

to govern people
your place must be below them
humility works

want to lead people
then learn how to follow them
and empower them

although at the head
the Master does not oppress
nor manipulate

she does not compete
so no one competes with her
and all are grateful

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching 

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

the ancient Masters
did not educate people
taught them to not-know

when they think they know
people become hard to guide
such are know-it-alls

when they do not know
and they know they do not know
they find their own way

to learn to govern
avoid two things...being rich
and being clever

live a simple life
show everyone the way
to their true nature

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

roots give nourishment
easy to correct the new
what is brittle breaks

the small is scattered
prevent trouble, arrange things
before they exist

from a tiny sprout
a towering pine tree grows
its secret...patience

the longest journey
starts out right beneath your feet
and continues there

rush into action
and you are certain to fail
grasp things, you lose them

forcing a project
you are apt to ruin it
just as it ripens

but the Master acts
by letting things take their course
calm from start to end

with no possessions
thus he has nothing to lose
and so he is free

what he desires
is simple...non-desire
he learns to unlearn

he reminds people
of who they already are
and have always been

nothing but the Tao
he has not another care
thus he cares for all

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

act without doing
try to work without effort
a good way to live

think of small as large
also the few as many
illusions will fade

choose the difficult
while it is still the easy
much better that way

accomplish the great
by a series of small acts
you will be amazed

the Master takes care
to never reach for the great
and achieves greatness

in difficulty
she always makes sure to stop,
give herself to it

not needing to cling
even to her own comfort
she has no problems

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

the Tao is central
it is the good man’s treasure
the bad man’s refuge

honors can be bought
good deeds can garner respect
the Tao can’t be gained

money nor advice
are not what a leader needs
offer him the Tao

esteeming the Tao
the Masters were one with it
they sought and they found

at one with the Tao
your mistakes are forgiven
all people love it

Inspired by the Tao Te Ching