The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with
Books: THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICSThe skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle
and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep
(also) so as to elude men's knowledge As they were thus beyond men's
knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort they
appeared to be
More
-
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong? ... The people make light of dying because of the greatness
The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their labours in seeking for the means of living It is this which makes them think light of dying Thus it is that to leave the subject of living altogether out of view is better than to set a... The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors It is through this that they suffer famine ... The perception of what is small is (the secret of
The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear- sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength ... The Power of Personal Influence
The only responsibility that a man cannot evade in this life is the one he thinks of least,--his personal influence. Man's conscious influence, when he is on dress-parade, when he is posing to impress those around him,--is woefully small. But hi... The relation of the Tao to all the world is
The relation of the Tao to all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streams from the valleys ... The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule
The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance,... The sage does not accumulate (for himself) The more
The sage does not accumulate (for himself) The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself ... The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision,
The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children ... The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he
The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind ... The sages who injure nobody, and who always control their
The sages who injure nobody, and who always control their body, they will go to the unchangeable place (Nirvana), where, if they have gone, they will suffer no more ... The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind,
The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor (that of) sandal-wood, or of Tagara and Mallika flowers; but the odour of good people travels even against the wind; a good man pervades every place ... The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live
The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live with them is always happiness; if a man does not see fools, he will be truly happy ... The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with
The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge As they were thus beyond men's knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of wha... The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps;
The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut... The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong ... The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes
The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose) ... THE SOUL OF THE CELL
This crystal of Quartz,--the queen of its tribe, Amethyst, Onyx, Chalcedony, Heliotrope, Agate,-- Some toiler of old Japan, the Artist fantastic, Has polished to likeness of ice, Ruining form to reveal it Fleche d'Amour That the marvelous, ... The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by
The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by night, the warrior is bright in his armour, the Brahmana is bright in his meditation; but Buddha, the Awakened, is bright with splendour day and night ... The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable
The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior man;--he uses them only on the compulsion of nec... The swans go on the path of the sun, they
The swans go on the path of the sun, they go through the ether by means of their miraculous power; the wise are led out of this world, when they have conquered Mara and his train ... The Table Revealed At Medina
O True believers, perform your contracts. Ye are allowed to eat the brute cattle,[83] other than what ye are commanded to abstain from; except the game which ye are allowed at other times, but not while ye are on pilgrimage to Mecca; God ordai... The taint of prayers is non-repetition; the taint of houses,
The taint of prayers is non-repetition; the taint of houses, non- repair; the taint of the body is sloth; the taint of a watchman, thoughtlessness ... The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the
The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do ... The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and
The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fulness How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things! ... The Tao is hidden, and has no name; but it
The Tao is hidden, and has no name; but it is the Tao which is skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them complete ...