Tao Te Ching: Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter One

• The Tao that can be described is not the true, unchanging Tao.
• The name that can be defined is not the constant name.
• That which is nameless is the origin of heaven and earth.
• That which can be named is the mother of all things.
• Constant emptiness allows observation of the true essence.
• Constant being allows observation of outward manifestations.
• Essence and manifestations come from the same origin, but have different names once manifested.
• The origin is called "The Profound Mystery," the gate to all life's essence.

Chapter Two

• Beauty becomes ugliness when seen as beautiful.
• Goodness becomes evil when seen as good.
• Being and non-being, difficult and easy, long and short, high and low, sound and tone, and before and after, all give birth to each other.
• Saints perform effortlessly along the natural Way without desire, practicing wordless teaching through their deeds.
• Saints inspire vitality without holding back, nurturing without possession, devoting energy without seeking merit, and seeking no recognition upon achieving success.
• The saint doesn't claim credit and therefore doesn't lose it.

Chapter Three

• Avoiding the adoration of the worthy prevents disputes.
• Not valuing hard-to-get objects prevents robbery.
• Restraining from lust prevents confusion.
• Saintly governance involves emptying the mind, substantiating virtue, weakening worldly ambition, and strengthening essence.
• The saint keeps people innocent of worldly knowledge and desire, preventing the clever from causing trouble.
• Acting naturally without desire leads to everything being accomplished in its natural order.

Chapter Four

• Tao can be infused into nature and infinitely used.
• Tao is a deep and subtle abyss, the origin of all things.
• Tao is a complete and perfect wholeness capable of rounding off sharp edges, resolving confusion, harmonizing with glory, and acting in unity with lowliness.
• Tao is profound yet invisible, existing everywhere.
• Tao existed before heaven and earth.

Chapter Five

• Nature nurtures all things with complete virtue.
• Greatest kindness is shown by giving life, allowing growth, and accomplishing things with the hastening of harvest.
• Nature may seem unkind, regarding all beings as traditional straw dogs for sacrifice, according to ancient custom.
• Likewise, a saint may seem unkind, regarding people as traditional straw dogs for sacrifice.
• The space between heaven and earth is like bellows, seemingly empty but providing a never-failing supply.
• The more bellows move, the more they bring forth.
• Many words lead to exhaustion, so centering on the true essence within is better.

Chapter Six

• The spirit of the valley is immortal and called the mystic nature.
• The gate of the mystic nature is the universe's root.
• Mystic nature is everlasting and cannot be consumed.

Chapter Seven

• Heaven and earth endure because they do not exist for themselves.
• Saints put themselves last, and find themselves in the lead.
• Saints are not self-concerned, and find themselves accomplished.
• True nature can be fulfilled when not focused on self-interests.

Chapter Eight

• Great virtue is like flowing water by benefitting everything without contention.
• Water puts itself in places others avoid, making it closest to Tao.
• A virtuous person, like water, adapts to the perfect place.
• Virtuous people have calm and peaceful minds, kind hearts, and sincere words.
• Governing is natural without desire, like water's softness penetrating hard rocks.
• Work is talent-like, like the free flow of water.
• Movement is like water's smooth flow with right timing.
• A virtuous person never forces their way, thus making no mistakes.

Chapter Nine

• Overly priding wealth is like overflowing water that causes damage, so restraint is better.
• Those discontent with fame are like polishing a knife's edge, becoming easier to break.
• Wealth and treasures are illusions.
• Arrogance towards wealth and fame invites blame.
• Tao's nature teaches retreat after success, not holding onto credit.

Chapter Ten

• Can the body and spirit be united into "Oneness" without departing from the Great Tao?
• Can harmony be achieved with gentleness by holding onto the true spirit within, like an infant's innocence?
• Can one be freed from worldly knowledge, cleansing the mind to avoid faults?
• Can a ruler love their people by governing with the natural Way, without personal intention?
• Can the mystic gate to life essence be opened or closed without the mysterious nature's virtue?
• Can insight into nature be gained, becoming a wise person without acting?
• Mysterious nature creates and nurtures all things without possessing them, performing without claiming credit, and flourishing all beings without intending to control.
• This is "Mystic Te" or "Mystic Virtue."

Chapter Eleven

• Thirty spokes uniting around a hub make a wheel.
• The function of a vehicle utilizes the empty space.
• Clay molded into a vessel, and rooms created by doors and windows, use empty space for function.
• Substantial things are beneficial.
• The emptiness of void can be utilized.

Chapter Twelve

• The five colors can blind the eyes.
• The five tones can deafen the ears.
• The five flavors can dull the taste buds.
• The pursuit of pleasures can derange the mind.
• Hard-to-get valuables can distort behavior.
• Saints cultivate themselves with virtues, not indulging in sensory pleasures.
• True Nature is chosen as outer temptations are rejected.

Chapter Thirteen

• Honor and disgrace can surprise a person.
• The greatest distress lies in one's physical body.
• Honor is inferior because those who win favor fear losing it.
• Losing favor frightens with distress.
• Fear arises from worrying about our physical self.
• How can one have fear if the physical body does not exist?
• Those who value the world as much as they value themselves can be entrusted to rule.
• Who loves the world as much as they love themselves can be entrusted to guide.

Chapter Fourteen

• What cannot be seen is called the invisible
• What cannot be heard is called the inaudible
• What cannot be touched is called the intangible
• These three cannot be examined and comprehended
• They are all the same
• This "Oneness" is not brighter in the sky or dimmer on earth
• "Oneness" can not be named
• "Oneness" is the Tao
• It is invisible and formless
• It may be regarded as vague and intangible
• The front of Oneness cannot be seen
• The rear of Oneness cannot be seen
• One can master presence by abiding with original Tao
• To know the origin, is to know the teaching and principle of the Great Tao

Chapter Fifteen

• Ancient Tao cultivators were subtle and mysterious with immeasurable profundity.
• Tao cultivators were cautious, as if crossing an icy river.
• Tao cultivators were hesitant, as if fearful of surroundings.
• Tao cultivators were reverent, like an honored guest.
• Tao cultivators were dispersed, like winter ice melting in spring.
• Tao cultivators were simple and sincere, like a genuine virgin.
• Tao cultivators were open-minded, like an empty valley, & harmonized like turbid water.
• Peace could be maintained to achieve pureness of the mind.
• Should not be disturb by worldly desires
• Pureness of the mind should be made everlasting
• One should unify and harmonize themself with all beings to achieve eternity
• Those who abide by this Tao will not indulge in the desire of greed
• The humbleness enables one to embrace “Oneness,” the Great Tao.

Chapter Sixteen

• Humans must achieve ultimate void and maintain calmness with sincerity to see all other beings grow and flourish
• One can understand the law of nature
• All things and being will return to the original source, called "peace"
• "Peace" is returning to one's original nature
• This is the eternal law that is to be enlightened
• Acting recklessly from ignorance of the eternal law invites misfortune
• To know the constant law of nature, is to be generous
• Being generous is to be impartial
• The Sovereign is nature itself
• Nature and Tao, is everlasting
• Tao still endures after one's physical body dies away.

Chapter Seventeen

• In early ancient mankind, Tao has been in existence in one's true nature
• Men possess it without knowing
• One then acts with virtue and honor because its inferior to Tao
• This occurs from not having enough faith and zero confidence
• The nature of Tao is distinguished by wordless teaching and natural act of virtue without action
• People would act effortlessly to harmonize with the natural Tao

Chapter Eighteen

• When Great Tao declines, virtue of humanity and righteousness will rise
• When knowledge and intelligence appear, great hypocrisy will rise
• The six various family relationships will fall into disarray, and filial piety and compassion will rise
• Loyal officials will appear when a country is in chaos

Chapter Nineteen

• Transcending the saint's teaching and concealing one's wisdom will benefit people a hundred fold
• Extending kindness/polishing righteousness helps people regain compassion
• Returning to One's original true self and embracint the pure unselfishness diminishes worldly desires.

Chapter Twenty

• Enlightenment of absolute Tao can free one from worries
• Endless desires results in negligence
• One remains quiet and pure like infant
• The wise ones value the Great Tao and cheerfully act

Chapter Twenty-one

• A man of great virtue if one that follows the nature way of Tao
• The Tao is vague and intagible but has image, substance and essence
• The essence is genuine
• Tao has existed since the beginning of the world
• Only through it can one understand all beings

Chapter Twenty-two

• Preserve "the whole" by yielding
• Be straighten be being misjudged
• Renewal happens from being battered
• Confused by being abundant
• Enlightment happens by the saint embracing the "Oneness"

Chapter Twenty-three

• Natural words cannot be heard
• Follow the Great Tao
• Be glad to identify with Tao
• Identify with loss from Tao is glad to be with lost
• One must have enough faith in Tao to assist others to practice

Chapter Twenty-four

• Stand firm by not raising yourself on tiptoe
• Travel far by not walking with strides
• Obtain enlightenment by not being self-opinionated
• Get recognized by not being prejudiced
• Bragging about oneself earns no credit
• Self-centered people are disgusted by all things and are redundant
• People of Tao do not conduct themself in such a manner

Chapter Twenty-five

• Was created before heaven and earth in chaos
• Is quiet and profound
• It stands alone and alters not
• Revolves eternally without exhaustion
• Is the mother of all beings
• Renamed "the great" when one is forced to pick a name
• Is far-reaching, Infinite and returns to the self-sufficient origin
• Tao, Earth, Heaven and True self are all "great"
• Earth, Heaven and Tao follow earth, heaven and the way of nature.

Chapter Twenty-six

• Heavy is the fundamental of light, while tranquility is the master of agitation
• The Saint is simple and ordinary
• Those who are reckless will lose the fundamental essence of Tao
• A ruler can't govern if they indulge in power and desire

Chapter Twenty-seven

• Good deeds leave no signs, and good words leave no flaws
• Good schemes need no deliberate plans
• Good knot never uses rope, but it cannot be united
• A saint is always kind, never rejecting anyone or anything
• One becomes enlighted by always being kind
• Kindness is the teacher to the unkind
• The one who dislikes the lesson of the teacher will be greatly confused
• This is the fundamental Essence

Chapter Twenty-eight

• Abiding to the gentle side, to have feminine qualities while knowing masculine will allow energy to flow freely
• Be modest and humble yet honor
• Simplicity is achieved by the virtue to be complete and sufficient
• One may be able to return to simplicity when mnaifested in various vessels
• Applying pure simplicity allows a Saint to master all
• A unified oneness is the meaning of great Tao, that can't be ripped apart

Chapter Twenty-nine

• Those who wish to control all will have no success
• Earth id divine and should be treated as such
• Fail if they attempt to fail
• The saint avoids all extravagance

Chapter Thirty

• One who assists the ruler of Tao will not use force
• Using arms will result in cause and effect
• Fighting leads to lands turnin into wasteland
• To avoid being arrogant you must know the true nature and effects
• Understanding the effect, comes from relying on one's strength

Chapter Thirty-one

• Weapons are the instruments of evil that are rejected
• Yang, which is represented by the right is valued by a warrior, while the left is valued by a man of virtue
• Only use weapons as the last resort
• Tranquility is the best to employ
• People should morn over victory
• The commander-in-chief takes the place of the right
• Treating a victory as a funeral service

Chapter Thirty-two

• Great Tao manifests a universal name
• The kings and Marquess live by the Great Tao
• All being shall acs guest to submit
• Harmony and a descent of sweet dew occurs
• Attaining a original pureness will allow for danger and disaster to be avoided
• Tao manifests in rivers and stream to lead the ocean

Chapter Thirty-three

• To be wise, is to know other people
• To be enlightened, is to know oneself
• Will of power is to overcome oneself
• Wealth is to be contented
• The savy of all savvy's is enlightenment wit the original nature to allow one to unite with the everlasting Tao

Chapter Thirty-four

• The great Tao is forever present
• Adaptable in every situation
• Loving to nurture all life and non dominant
• With no desires, void of true Tao allows one not to seem small
• Hence, his greatness is acomplished from a Saint who doesnt restrict hemself to this Greatness

Chapter Thirty-five

• One can obtain guidance of the world with a great embracement and following Tao
• The world will be at harmony and render
• Pleasure and delicacy are only temporary attractions
• To attain that with Tao requires no extraordinaries
• It can not be heard, seen, depleted or exhausted

Chapter Thirty-six

• Truth will prosper with desire
• To get rid of desires, one must weaken, strengthen or even abandon it

Chapter Thirty-seven

• Everything is accomplished when Tao acts with a natural way
• The world should naturally be accord to the right way if simplicity to true nature wins , desires will be calmed and and peace will exist with all

Chapter Thirty-eight

• A man of superior virtue is true
• A man of etiquette is moving away because he acts according to his true self
• Humility is the original and end

Chapter Thirty-nine

• The goal is in all Oneness
• One should not regard themselves as stone for being too good!

Chapter Forty

• It is through gentleness that the way of the Tao is applied
• The Great Tao originates from the non-being of the void

Chapter Forty-one

• A superior man would cultivate himself when hearing of the Tao
• An average man would give up halfway when hearing of the Tao
• An inferior laughs at the Tao and thinks of it to be foolish

Chapter Forty-two

• Union occurs with yin and yang where the ancient have taught the essential truth as it is

Chapter Forty-three

• Benefits with natural actions after the softest overtakes the hardest, natural actions happens without desires, allowing all understanding to the natural way

Chapter Forty-four

• Know True nature to long endure without the need to fear or suffer disgrace

Chapter Forty-five

• Guide te world with peace and calmness

Chapter Forty-six

• World at peace occurs with living Tao
• The greatest crime is to have to much desire
• Contentment can then lead to endure

Chapter Forty-seven

• You only need you to know true nature

Chapter Forty-eight

• Intention of all allows accomplishments

Chapter Forty-nine

• Act with the Virtue of Kindness and Trust, and to know oneself comes with conducting in Harmony

Chapter Fifty

• In order to be a man of tao, weapons are of no avail towards him and live with the Nature Tao

Chapter Fifty-one

• Matter and the environment nurture all.
• The honor of Tao and virtue but occur with natures way and is not to be decree'd

Chapter Fifty-two

• Temptation should be keep and gauraded with the motherhood of Tao

Chapter Fifty-three

• Great Tao is smooth
• Government is in luxury and splendor
• Peope commit to the crime of robbery

Chapter Fifty-four

• By cultivating the world one gains insight with the way through it

Chapter Fifty-five

• All that is required for a saint is fullness

Chapter Fifty-six

• Wise don't speak, but people honor

Chapter Fifty-seven

• Governing with the right principle will guide and fight the battle of tactics

Chapter Fifty-eight

• Calmness comes from being diligent with Tao

Chapter Fifty-nine

• Governement leads by following the Law of Nature to sustain their nation

Chapter Sixty

• To harm or cause spiritual beings would cause people none

Chapter Sixty-one

• Unity and shellering of each other all occurs if the Great is one that puts itself in a lowly position

Chapter Sixty-two

• One who seeks shall obatin

Chapter Sixty-three

• Do great without striving

Chapter Sixty-four

• Manage affairs, big or small

Chapter Sixty-five

• Return with simplicity and innocence throught guidance

Chapter Sixty-six

• Serving al people before leading them

Chapter Sixty-seven

• The Tao that has been gained seems unreal because its great
• That is why its been said it is insignificantly small
• The three treasue that should be held and guard is kindess simplicity and humbleness

Chapter Sixty-eight

• True nature is of perfect Oneness

Chapter Sixty-nine

• Under estimate then enemy with sorrow

Chapter Sevety

• A Saint heart of gems is what is truely special

Chapter Seventy-one

• A saint is flawlwss for he is aware of what he sees or doesn't and or is not

Chapter Seventy-Two

• Realize your treue nautre to avoid misfortune and destest , always have self respect

Chapter Seventy-Three

• A Saint acts cautiously wiht pratcitins and takes greta caution

Chapter Seventy-Four

• There is on ise trying to threaten the, wiht death

Chapter Seventy-Five

• Death is taken lightly due to ruler
• The people take death lightly through luxurious spending
• Cheris the value of live

Chapter Seventy-Six

• The big and strong must take a inferior spot as the strong army with rigid force shall not win

Chapter Seventy-seven

• Replenish the sufficient and replace with what is less

Chapter Seventy-eight

• The strength is from whats gentle, known to all as to why it be put practice

Chapter Seventy-nine

• Being is the debtor
• Truth is those of virtue

Chapter Eighty

• Have no desire of fame and wealth so that all may leave forever happy

Chapter Eighty-one

• What is truthful is not pleasing