Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – Chapter 28


 

知其雄,守其雌,為天下谿。
為天下谿,常德不離,復歸於嬰兒。
知其白,守其黑,為天下式。
為天下式,常德不忒,復歸於無極。
知其榮,守其辱,為天下谷。
為天下谷,常德乃足,復歸於樸。
樸散則為器,聖人用之,則為官長,故大制不割。
Know a strength of a man,
But keep the gentleness of a female,
Be a mountain stream of the world.
Being a mountain stream of the universe,
A constant virtue never leaves,
It will return to the softness of a baby.

Know the white,
But keep the black!
Be a model to the world!
Being a model to the world,
A constant virtue never changes,
It will return to the nothingness (infinite)

Know honor,
But keep humility.
Be the valley of the universe!
Being the valley of the universe,
Constant virtue is bound to be sufficient,
It will return to simplicity.

A man of simplicity is useful,
Sages (rulers) can employ him as an official,
Thus the system is perfect and needs no modification.

 

Image may contain: 1 person, baby and closeup

Baby Skyler Lin

Here Lao Tzu shows us that by keeping the softness of female with the strength of male; he can gather the people of the world like mountain streams flow down together so naturally. Similarly, keeping the black with the white and humility, he has the bosom to accept the people of the world so they will surround him naturally.

All these will bring a person back to the simplicity to become a useful vessel. Sages can use him as an officer to rule a country by following nature. Thus the system becomes perfect, and you need not modify it.

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