Tao Te Ching – Verse 40
Return is the movement of the Tao.
Yielding is the way of the Tao.
All things are born of being.
Being is born of non-being.
Category: Taoism
Tao Te Ching – Verse 39 – In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious
Tao Te Ching – Verse 39
In harmony with the Tao,
the sky is clear and spacious,
the earth is solid and full,
all creatures flourish together,
content with the way they are,
endlessly repeating themselves,
endlessly renewed.
When man … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 38 – The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 38
The Master doesn’t try to be powerful;
thus he is truly powerful.
The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;
thus he never has enough.
The Master does nothing,
yet he leaves nothing undone.
The … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 37 – The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done
Tao Te Ching – Verse 37
The Tao never does anything,
yet through it all things are done.
If powerful men and women
could center themselves in it,
the whole world would be transformed
by itself, in its natural rhythms.… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand
Tao Te Ching – Verse 36
If you want to shrink something,
you must first allow it to expand.
If you want to get rid of something,
you must first allow it to flourish.
If you want to take something,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.
Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.
She who is centered in the Tao
can go where she wishes, without danger.
She perceives the universal harmony,
even amid great pain,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere
Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere
The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
yet it doesn’t create them.
It pours itself into its work,
yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
yet … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 33 – Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 33
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 32 – The Tao can’t be perceived. Smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 32
The Tao can’t be perceived.
Smaller than an electron,
it contains uncountable galaxies.
If powerful men and women
could remain centered in the Tao,
all things would be in harmony.
The world would become … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 31 – Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 31
Weapons are the tools of violence;
all decent men detest them.
Weapons are the tools of fear;
a decent man will avoid them
except in the direst necessity
and, if compelled, will use them… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 30 – Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn’t try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms
Tao Te Ching – Verse 30
Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men
doesn’t try to force issues
or defeat enemies by force of arms.
For every force there is a counterforce.
Violence, even well intentioned,
always rebounds upon … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 29 – Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 29
Do you want to improve the world?
I don’t think it can be done.
The world is sacred.
It can’t be improved.
If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it.
If you treat it … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 28 – Know the male, yet keep to the female
Tao Te Ching – Verse 28
Know the male,
yet keep to the female:
receive the world in your arms.
If you receive the world,
the Tao will never leave you
and you will be like a little child.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 27 – A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving
Tao Te Ching – Verse 27
A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving.
A good artist lets his intuition
lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts
and keeps … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 26 – The heavy is the root of the light. The unmoved is the source of all movement.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 26
The heavy is the root of the light.
The unmoved is the source of all movement.
Thus the Master travels all day
without leaving home.
However splendid the views,
she stays serenely in herself.… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 25 – There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 25
There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty.
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I … Read the rest