Chapter 44. Staying silent Which is closer to you, your name or your life? Which is more valuable, your life or your wealth? Which is bigger evil, earning or losing? Great piousness demands great sacrifice. Great wealth causes a great loss. The one who is satisfied does not suffer defeat. The one that can stand… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 44. Staying silent
Category: translation
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 43. Unlimited utility
Chapter 43. Unlimited utility The world’s softest being defeats the strongest. Immaterial passes through all things even if there is no opening. From this I learn how efficient inactivity is. To teach without using words and to be useful without action – few people get this far! Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 43. Unlimited utility
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 42. Changes in Tao
Chapter 42. Changes in Tao Out of the Tao seeped One. Of One was Two born. Of Two was Three born. And of Three are all things from.¹ Behind all beings is the unmanifested and in front of them the manifested. They are connected by the immaterial respiration.² Orphanity, seclusion and wheelless carriages the people… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 42. Changes in Tao
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 41. The similar and the different
Chapter 41. The similar and the different When a wise man hears of the Tao he follows it. When one with ordinary intelligence hears of it he stays in it for a while and soon loses it. When a fool hears of it he just laughs at it. If such people wouldn’t mock it it… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 41. The similar and the different
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 39. At the source of the spring
Chapter 39. At the source of the spring Few things have through oneness persisted since the ancient times and they are: Translucency of the sky; Solidity of the earth; Bobylessness of spirits; Wateriness of the valleys; Lives of all of creation; Excellence of kings and fürsts. All these persist through oneness. The sky if it… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 39. At the source of the spring
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 38. Of virtue
Chapter 38. Of virtue The high virtue is not recognized as virtue and thus it is the true essence of virtue. The lower virtue has the stamp of virtue and thus lacks its essence. The high virtue comes from itself an asks for no glory. The lower virtue schemes and demands recognition. The high justice… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 38. Of virtue
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 37. Of governance
Chapter 37. Of governance The Tao stays peaceful yet leaves nothing undone. If a ruler or a king could hold on to it, all things would be made better. If in addition to this improvement lust would be evoked I would defeat it with wordless simplicity Wordless simplicity would remove the lust and peace would… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 37. Of governance
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 36. Concealed consent
Chapter 36. Concealed consent When nature intends to remove something it surely first grows it. When it intends to weaken it first strengthens. When it intends to demote it surely promotes. When it intends to deprive it surely first adds. This is what I call the concealed consent. The silent and the weak triumphs over… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 36. Concealed consent
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 35. Virtue of benevolence
Chapter 35. Virtue of benevolence Take the great ideal of the Tao and the whole world joins with you. It joins with you and is not offended for it gets to rest in mysterious peace.¹ Where there is celebrating, the traveling man stops. But the Tao is bland and tasteless to the palate. While watching… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 35. Virtue of benevolence
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 33. Distinguishing virtue
Chapter 33. Distinguishing virtue Wise is he who knows others. Who knows himself is enlightened. Strong is he who wins the others. Who wins himself is great. Rich is he who contends well. Who has a destination walks quickly. Who fills his place stays safe. Who dies without getting corrupted reaches immortality. Own translation from… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 33. Distinguishing virtue