Tao te ching lin yutang pdf

How do I know the shape of the Father of All Things? Through these manifested forms! Futility of Contention To yield is to be preserved whole. To be bent is to become straight. To be hollow is to be filled. To be tattered is to be renewed. To be in want is to possess. To have plenty is to be confused. Therefore the Sage embraces the One, And becomes the model of the world.

He does not reveal himself, And is therefore luminous. He does not justify himself, And is therefore far-famed.

He does not boast of himself, And therefore people give him credit. He does not pride himself, And is therefore the chief among men. Is it not indeed true, as the ancients say, "To yield is to be preserved whole? Identification with Tao Nature says few words: Hence it is that a squall lasts not a whole morning. A rainstorm continues not a whole day. Where do they come from? From Nature. Even Nature does not last long in its utterances , How much less should human beings?

Therefore it is that: He who follows the Tao is identified with the Tao. He who follows Character Teh is identified with Character. He who abandons Tao is identified with abandonment of Tao. He who is identified with Tao - Tao is also glad to welcome him. He who is identified with character - Character is also glad to welcome him.

He who is identified with abandonment - Abandonment is also glad t welcome him. He who has not enough faith Will not be able to command faith from others. The Dregs and Tumors of Virtue He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm ; He who strains his strides does not walk well ; He who reveals himself is not luminous; He who justifies himself is not far-famed; He who boasts of himself is not given credit; He who prides himself is not chief among men.

These in the eyes of Tao Are called "the dregs and tumors of Virtue," Which are things of disgust. Therefore the man of Tao spurns them. I do not know its name And address it as Tao. If forced to give it a name, I shall call it "Great. There are the Great Four in the universe, And the King is one of them. Therefore the Sage travels all day Yet never leaves his provision-cart. In the midst of honor and glory, He lives leisurely, undisturbed.

How can the ruler of a great country Make light of his body in the empire by rushing about? In light frivolity, the Center is lost; In hasty action, self-mastery is lost. On Stealing the Light A good runner leaves no track. A good speech leaves no flaws for attack.

A good reckoner makes use of no counters. A well-shut door makes use of no bolts, And yet cannot be opened. A well-tied knot makes use of no rope, And yet cannot be untied. Therefore the Sage is good at helping men; For that reason there is no rejected useless person. He is good at saving things; For that reason there is nothing rejected.

Therefore the good man is the Teacher of the bad. And the bad man is the lesson of the good. He who neither values his teacher Nor loves the lesson Is one gone far astray, Though he be learned.

Being the ravine of the world, He has the original character teh which is not cut up. And returns again to the innocence of the babe. He who is conscious of the white bright But keeps to the black dark Becomes the model for the world. Being the model for the world, He has the eternal power which never errs, And returns again to the Primordial Nothingness.

He who is familiar with honor and glory But keeps to obscurity Becomes the valley of the world. Being the valley of the world, He has an eternal power which always suffices, And returns again to the natural integrity of uncarved wood.

Break up this uncarved wood And it is shaped into vessel In the hands of the Sage They become the officials and magistrates. Therefore the great ruler does not cut up. Warning Against Interference There are those who will conquer the world And make of it what they conceive or desire.

I see that they will not succeed. For the world is God's own Vessel It cannot be made by human interference. He who makes it spoils it. He who holds it loses it. For: Some things go forward, Some things follow behind; some blow hot, And some blow cold; Some are strong, And some are weak; Some may break, And some may fall.

Hence the Sage eschews excess, eschews extravagance, Eschews pride. Warning Against the Use of Force He who by Tao purposes to help the ruler of men Will oppose all conquest by force of arms. For such things are wont to rebound. Where armies are, thorns and brambles grow. The raising of a great host Is followed by a year of dearth. Therefore a good general effects his purpose and stops. He dares not rely upon the strength of arms; Effects his purpose and does not glory in it; Effects his purpose and does not boast of it; Effects his purpose and does not take pride in it; Effects his purpose as a regrettable necessity; Effects his purpose but does not love violence.

For things age after reaching their prime. That violence would be against the Tao. And he who is against the Tao perishes young. Weapons of Evil Of all things, soldiers are instruments of evil, Hated by men. Therefore the religious man possessed of Tao avoids them.

The gentleman favors the left in civilian life, But on military occasions favors the right. Soldiers are weapons of evil. They are not the weapons of the gentleman. When the use of soldiers cannot be helped, The best policy is calm restraint.

Even in victory, there is no beauty, And who calls it beautiful Is one who delights in slaughter. He who delights in slaughter Will not succeed in his ambition to rule the world.

The things of ill omen favor the right. The lieutenant-general stands on the left, The general stands on the right.

That is to say, it is celebrated as a Funeral Rite. A victory should be celebrated with the Funeral Rite. Tao is Like the Sea Tao is absolute and has no name. Though the uncarved wood is small, It cannot be employed used as vessel by anyone. If kings and barons can keep this unspoiled nature , The whole world shall yield them lordship of their own accord.

Then human civilization arose and there were names. Since there were names, It were well one knew where to stop. He who knows where to stop May be exempt from danger. Tao in the world May be compared to rivers that run into the sea.

Knowing Oneself He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wide. He who conquers others has power of muscles; He who conquers himself is strong. He who is contented is rich. He who id determined has strength of will. He who does not lose his center endures. He who dies yet his power remains has long life. The myriad things derive their life from it, And it does not deny them.

When its work is accomplished, It does not take possession. It clothes and feeds the myriad things, Yet does not claim them as its own. Often regarded without mind or passion, It may be considered small. Being the home of all things, yet claiming not, It may be considered great. Because to the end it does not claim greatness, Its greatness is achieved. The Peace of Tao Hold the Great Symbol and all the world follows, Follows without meeting harm, And lives in health, peace, commonwealth.

Offer good things to eat And the wayfarer stays. But Tao is mild to the taste. Looked at, it cannot be seen; Listened to, it cannot be heard; Applied, its supply never fails. The Rhythm of Life He who is to be made to dwindle in power Must first be caused to expand. He who is to be weakened Must first be made strong. He who is to be laid low Must first be exalted to power. He who is to be taken away from Must first be given, - This is the Subtle Light. Gentleness overcomes strength: Fish should be left in the deep pool, And sharp weapons of the state should be left Where none can see them.

World Peace The Tao never does, Yet through it everything is done. If princes and dukes can keep the Tao, the world will of its own accord be reformed. When reformed and rising to action, Let it be restrained by the Nameless pristine simplicity. The Nameless pristine simplicity Is stripped of desire for contention. By stripping of desire quiescence is achieved, And the world arrives at peace of its own accord. Book 2. The application of Dao.

Degeneration The man of superior character is not conscious of his character. Hence he has character. The man of inferior character is intent on not losing character. Hence he is devoid of character. The man of superior character never acts, Nor ever does so with an ulterior motive. The man of inferior character acts, And does so with an ulterior motive. The man of superior kindness acts, But does so without an ulterior motive. The man of superior justice acts, And does so with an ulterior motive.

But when the man of superior li acts and finds no response, He rolls up his sleeves to force it on others. Therefore: After Tao is lost, then arises the doctrine of humanity.

After humanity is lost, then arises the doctrine of justice. After justice is lost, then arises the doctrine of li. Now li is the thinning out of loyalty and honesty of heart.

And the beginning of chaos. The prophets are the flowering of Tao And the origin of folly. Therefore the noble man dwells in the heavy base , And not in the thinning end. He dwells in the fruit, And not in the flowering expression.

Therefore he rejects the one and accepts the other. Unity Through Complements There were those in ancient times possessed of the One; Through possession of the One, the Heaven was clarified, Through possession of the One, The Earth was stabilized, Through possession of the One, the gods were spiritualized, Through possession of the One, the valleys were made full, Through possession of the One, all things lived and grew, Through possession of the One, the princes and dukes became the ennobled of the people.

Without clarity, the Heavens would shake, Without stability, the Earth would quake, Without spiritual power, the gods would crumble, Without being filled, the valleys would crack, Without the life-giving power, all things would perish, Without the ennobling power, the princes and dukes would stumble. That is why the princes and dukes call themselves "the orphaned," "the lonely one," "the unworthy.

Truly, take down the parts of a chariot, And there is no chariot left. Rather than jingle like the jade, Rumble like the rocks. He dares not rely upon the strength of arms; Effects his purpose and does not glory in it; Effects his purpose and does not boast of it; Effects his purpose and does not take pride in it; Effects his purpose as a regrettable necessity; Effects his purpose but does not love violence.

For things age after reaching their prime. That violence would be against the Tao. And he who is against the Tao perishes young. Back to Table of Contents 31 Of all things, soldiers are instruments of evil, Hated by men. Therefore the religious man possessed of Tao avoids them. The gentleman favors the left in civilian life, But on military occasions favors the right. Soldiers are weapons of evil. They are not the weapons of the gentleman.

When the use of soldiers cannot be helped, The best policy is calm restraint. Even in victory, there is no beauty , And who calls it beautiful Is one who delights in slaughter. He who delights in slaughter Will not succeed in his ambition to rule the world. The things of ill omen favor the right. The lieutenant-general stands on the left, The general stands on the right. That is to say, it is celebrated as a Funeral Rite. A victory should be celebrated with the Funeral Rite.

Back to Table of Contents 32 Tao is absolute and has no name. Though the uncarved wood is small, It cannot be employed used as vessel by anyone. If kings and barons can keep this unspoiled nature , The whole world shall yield them lordship of their own accord. Then human civilization arose and there were names. Since there were names, It were well one knew where to stop. He who knows where to stop May be exempt from danger.

Tao in the world May be compared to rivers that run into the sea. Back to Table of Contents 33 He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wide. He who conquers others has power of muscles; He who conquers himself is strong. He who is contented is rich. He who id determined has strength of will.

He who does not lose his center endures. He who dies yet his power remains has long life. The myriad things derive their life from it, And it does not deny them.

When its work is accomplished, It does not take possession. It clothes and feeds the myriad things, Yet does not claim them as its own.

Often regarded without mind or passion, It may be considered small. Being the home of all things , yet claiming not, It may be considered great. Because to the end it does not claim greatness, Its greatness is achieved.

Back to Table of Contents 35 Hold the Great Symbol and all the world follows, Follows without meeting harm, And lives in health, peace, commonwealth.

Offer good things to eat And the wayfarer stays. But Tao is mild to the taste. Looked at, it cannot be seen; Listened to, it cannot be heard; Applied, its supply never fails. Back to Table of Contents 36 He who is to be made to dwindle in power Must first be caused to expand. He who is to be weakened Must first be made strong. He who is to be laid low Must first be exalted to power.

He who is to be taken away from Must first be given, - This is the Subtle Light. Gentleness overcomes strength: Fish should be left in the deep pool, And sharp weapons of the state should be left Where none can see them. If princes and dukes can keep the Tao, the world will of its own accord be reformed.

When reformed and rising to action, Let it be restrained by the Nameless pristine simplicity. The Nameless pristine simplicity Is stripped of desire for contention. By stripping of desire quiescence is achieved, And the world arrives at peace of its own accord. Back to Table of Contents 38 The man of superior character is not conscious of his character.

Hence he has character. The man of inferior character is intent on not losing character. Hence he is devoid of character. The man of superior character never acts, Nor ever does so with an ulterior motive. The man of inferior character acts, And does so with an ulterior motive. The man of superior kindness acts, But does so without an ulterior motive. The man of superior justice acts, And does so with an ulterior motive. But when the man of superior li acts and finds no response, He rolls up his sleeves to force it on others.

Therefore: After Tao is lost, then arises the doctrine of humanity. After humanity is lost, then arises the doctrine of justice. After justice is lost, then arises the doctrine of li. Now li is the thinning out of loyalty and honesty of heart. And the beginning of chaos. The prophets are the flowering of Tao And the origin of folly. Therefore the noble man dwells in the heavy base , And not in the thinning end.

He dwells in the fruit, And not in the flowering expression. Therefore he rejects the one and accepts the other. Back to Table of Contents 39 There were those in ancient times possessed of the One; Through possession of the One, the Heaven was clarified, Through possession of the One, The Earth was stabilized, Through possession of the One, the gods were spiritualized, Through possession of the One, the valleys were made full, Through possession of the One, all things lived and grew, Through possession of the One, the princes and dukes became the ennobled of the people.

Without clarity, the Heavens would shake, Without stability, the Earth would quake, Without spiritual power, the gods would crumble, Without being filled, the valleys would crack, Without the life-giving power, all things would perish, Without the ennobling power, the princes and dukes would stumble.

That is why the princes and dukes call themselves "the orphaned," "the lonely one," "the unworthy. Truly, take down the parts of a chariot, And there is no chariot left.

Rather than jingle like the jade, Rumble like the rocks. Back to Table of Contents 40 Reversion is the action of Tao. Gentleness is the function of Tao. The things of this world come from Being, And Being comes from Non-being. Back to Table of Contents 41 When the highest type of men hear the Tao truth , they try hard to live in accordance with it.

When the mediocre type hear the Tao, they seem to be aware and yet unaware of it. When the lowest type hear the Tao, They break into loud laughter - If it were not laughed at, it would not be Tao. Therefore there is the established saying: "Who understands Tao seems dull of comprehension; Who is advance in Tao seems to slip backwards; Who moves on the even Tao Path seems to go up and down. Great space has no corners; Great talent takes long to mature; Great music is faintly heard; Great form has no contour; And Tao is hidden without a name.

It is this Tao that is adept at lending its power and bringing fulfillment. The created universe carries the yin at its back and the yang in front; Through the union of the pervading principles it reaches harmony. To be "orphaned," "lonely" and "unworthy" is what men hate most. Yet the princes and dukes call themselves by such names. For sometimes things are benefited by being taken away from, And suffer by being added to. Others have taught this maxim, Which I shall teach also: "The violent man shall die a violent death.

Back to Table of Contents 43 The softest substance of the world Goes through the hardest. That-which-is-without-form penetrates that-which-has-no-crevice; Through this I know the benefit of taking no action. The teaching without words And the benefit of taking no action Are without compare in the universe.

Back to Table of Contents 44 Fame or one's own self, which does one love more? One's own self or material goods, which has more worth? Loss of self or possession of goods , which is the greater evil? Therefore: he who loves most spends most, He who hoards much loses much.

The contented man meets no disgrace; Who know when to stop runs into no danger - He can long endure. Back to Table of Contents 45 The highest perfection is like imperfection , And its use is never impaired. The greatest abundance seems meager, And its use will never fail. What s most straight appears devious, The greatest skill appears clumsiness; The greatest eloquence seems like stuttering. Movement overcomes cold, But keeping still overcomes heat. Who is calm and quiet becomes the guide for the universe.

Back to Table of Contents 46 When the world lives in accord with Tao, Racing horses are turned back to haul refuse carts.

When the world lives not in accord with Tao, Cavalry abounds in the countryside. There is no greater curse than the lack of contentment. No greater sin than the desire for possession. Therefore he who is contented with contentment shall be always content. Back to Table of Contents 47 Without stepping outside one's doors, One can know what is happening in the world, Without looking out of one's windows, One can see the Tao of heaven.

The farther one pursues knowledge, The less one knows. Therefore the Sage knows without running about, Understands without seeing, Accomplishes without doing. Back to Table of Contents 48 The student of knowledge aims at learning day by day; The student of Tao aims at losing day by day. By continual losing One reaches doing nothing laissez-faire. He who conquers the world often does so by doing nothing.

When one is compelled to do something , The world is already beyond his conquering. Back to Table of Contents 49 The Sage has no decided opinions and feelings , But regards the people's opinions and feelings as his own.

The good ones I declare good; The bad ones I also declare good. That is the goodness of Virtue. The Sage dwells in the world peacefully, harmoniously.

The people of the world are brought into a community of heart, And the Sage regards them all as his own children. Back to Table of Contents 50 Out of life, death enters. The companions organs of life are thirteen ; The companions organs of death are also thirteen. What send man to death in this life are also these thirteen. How is it so? Because of the intense activity of multiplying life.

It has been said that the who is a good preserver of hi life Meets no tigers or wild buffaloes on land, Is not vulnerable to weapons in the field of battle. The horns of the wild buffalo are powerless against him. Because he is beyond death. Back to Table of Contents 51 Tao gives them birth, Teh character fosters them. The material world gives them form.

The circumstances of the moment complete them. The collection includes complete versions in 27 languages, plus 28 Chinese versions. There are English language versions of the Tao Te Ching available at this website. A variety of Scholars say that the original Tao Te Ching is a poem. One The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

The nameless is the beginning of heaven and Earth. Because he guards against being over-full, [29] He is beyond wearing out and renewal. Important Taoist idea, the uncarved, the unembellished, the natural goodness and honesty of man, Generally used to mean simplicity, plainness of heart and living.

It is because he could not be known That he can only be given a makeshift description: Tentative, as if fording a river in winter, Hesitant, as if in fear of his neighbours; Formal like a guest; Falling apart like thawing ice; Thick like the uncarved block; Vacant like a valley; Murky like muddy water.

Who can be at rest and yet, stirring, slowly come to life? He who holds fast to his way Desires not to be full. It is because he is not full That he can be worn and yet newly made. The negative must have crept in by mistake. Attain the utmost in Humility, [30] Hold firm to the basis of Quietude.

The myriad things take shape and rise to activity, But I watch them fall back to their repose. Like vegetation that luxuriantly grows But returns to the root soil from which it springs.

To return to the root is Repose; It is called going back to one's Destiny. Going back to one's Destiny is to find the Eternal Law. And not to know the Eternal Law Is to court disaster. He who knows the Eternal Law is tolerant; Being tolerant, he is impartial; Being impartial, he is kingly; [32] Being kingly, he is in accord with Nature; [33] Being in accord with Nature, he is in accord with Tao; Being in accord with Tao, he is eternal, And his whole life is preserved from harm.

But in actual usage, this "emptiness" has no other meaning than "humility. Both t'ien here and Tao in the next line are clearly used as adjectives: hence the translation "in accord with. The myriad creatures all rise together And I watch heir return. The teaming creatures All return to their separate roots.

Returning to one's roots is known as stillness. This is what is meant by returning to one's destiny. Returning to one's destiny is known as the constant. Knowledge of the constant is known as discernment. Of the best rulers The people only know [34] that they exist; The next best the love and praise; The next they fear; And the next they revile. When they do not command the people's faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths!

But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, The people all remark, "We have done it ourselves. Next comes the ruler they love and praise; Next comes one they fear; Next comes one with whom they take liberties. When his task is accomplished and his work done The people all say, "It happened naturally.

On the decline of the great Tao, The doctrine of "humanity" and "justice" [35] arose. When knowledge and cleverness appeared, Great hypocrisy followed in its wake. When the six relationships no longer lived at peace, There was praise of "kind parents" and "filial sons.

When a country fell into chaos and misrule, There was praise of "loyal ministers. Banish wisdom, discard knowledge, And the people shall profit a hundredfold; Banish "humanity," discard "justice," And the people shall recover love of their kin; Banish cunning, discard "utility," And the thieves and brigands shall disappear.

Reveal thy simple self, [37] Embrace thy original nature, Check thy selfishness, Curtail thy desires. X, "Opening Trunks". Banish learning, and vexations end. Between "Ah! Between "good" and "evil" How much difference is there? The people of the world are merry-making, As if partaking of the sacrificial feasts, As if mounting the terrace in spring; I alone am mild, like one unemployed, Like a new-born babe that cannot yet smile, Unattached, like one without a home.

The people of the world have enough and to spare, But I am like one left out, My heart must be that of a fool, Being muddled, nebulous!

The vulgar are knowing, luminous; I alone am dull, confused. The vulgar are clever, self-assured; I alone, depressed. Patient as the sea, Adrift, seemingly aimless. The people of the world all have a purpose; I alone appear stubborn and uncouth. I alone differ from the other people, And value drawing sustenance from the Mother. Between good and evil How much is the distance? I alone am inactive and reveal no signs, Like a baby that has not yet learned to smile, Listless as though with no home to go back to.

The multitude all have more than enough. I alone seem to be in want. My mind is that of a fool - how blank! Vulgar people are clear. I alone am drowsy. Vulgar people are alert. I alone am muddled. Calm like the sea; Like a high wind that never ceases. I alone am foolish and uncouth. I alone am different from others And value being fed by the mother. Some believe that it is in fact the last line in that chapter. I am inclined to view that it should be the first line. In that case, it should also be the first line of Kao Heng suggests that it probably follows the line "I alone am inactive and reveal no signs", as both lines are similar non only in their grammatical structure but also in having internal rhymes Lao tzu cheng ku , Peking, , p The marks of great Virtue [41] Follow alone from the Tao.

The thing that is called Tao Is elusive, evasive. Evasive, elusive, Yet latent in it are forms. Elusive, evasive, Yet latent in it are objects. Dark and dim, Yet latent in it is the life-force.

The life-force being very true, Latent in it are evidences. From the days of old till now Its Named manifested forms have never ceased, By which we may view the Father of All Things.

How do I know the shape of the Father of All Things? Through these! Indistinct and shadowy, Yet within it is an image: Shadowy and indistinct, Yet within it is a substance. Dim and dark, Yet within it is an essence. This essence is quite genuine And within it is something that can be tested.

It serves as a means for inspecting the fathers of the multitude. By means of this. To yield is to be preserved whole. To be bent is to become straight. To be hollow is to be filled. To be tattered is to be renewed. To be in want is to possess. To have plenty is to be confused. Therefore the Sage embraces the One, [43] And becomes the model of the world. He does not reveal himself, And is therefore luminous. He does not boast of himself, And therefore people give him credit. He does not pride himself, And is therefore the chief among men.

Is it not indeed true, as the ancients say, "To yield is to be preserved whole? Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end. Nature says few words: Hence it is that a squall lasts not a whole morning. A rainstorm continues not a whole day. Where do they come from? From Nature. Even Nature does not last long in its utterances , How much less should human beings?

Therefore it is that: He who follows the Tao is identified with the Tao. He who follows Character Teh is identified with Character. He who abandons Tao is identified with abandonment of Tao. He who is identified with Tao - Tao is also glad to welcome him. He who is identified with character - Character is also glad to welcome him. He who is identified with abandonment - Abandonment is also glad t welcome him. He who has not enough faith Will not be able to command faith from others.

Who is it that produces these? Heaven and earth. If even heaven and earth cannot go on forever, much less can man. This is why one follows the way. He who conforms to the way is gladly accepted by the way; he who conforms to virtue is gladly accepted by virtue; he who conforms to loss is gladly accepted by loss. When there is not enough faith, there is lack of good faith. It is possible that it is a graphic error for "heaven", as suggested by Kao op.