Tao Te Ching – Verse 47
Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.
The more you know,
the less you understand.
The … Read the rest
Category: Taoism
Tao Te Ching – Verse 46 – When the world has the Tao Fast horses are retired to till the soil. When the world lacks the Tao Warhorses give birth on the battlefield
Tao Te Ching – Verse 46
When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.
There is no greater illusion … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 45 – True perfection seems imperfect, yet it is perfectly itself
Tao Te Ching – Verse 45
True perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present.
True straightness seems crooked.
True wisdom seems foolish.
True art seems artless.
The Master allows things … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 44 – Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Tao Te Ching – Verse 44
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 43 – The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 43
The gentlest thing in the world
overcomes the hardest thing in the world.
That which has no substance
enters where there is no space.
This shows the value of non-action.
Teaching without words,
performing … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 42 – The Tao gives birth to One
Tao Te Ching – Verse 42
The Tao gives birth to One.
One gives birth to Two.
Two gives birth to Three.
Three gives birth to all things.
All things have their backs to the female
and stand facing the … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 41 – When a superior man hears of the Tao, he immediately begins to embody it
Tao Te Ching – Verse 41
When a superior man hears of the Tao,
he immediately begins to embody it.
When an average man hears of the Tao,
he half believes it, half doubts it.
When a foolish man hears … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 40 – Return is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao.
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.
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