http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/chinese/commenttao.html .

Comments on Daodejing

16th August 2005

一章○是說玄關○眾妙之門○觀玄關是觀無空○觀鼻尖是觀萬字或日沒○兩者是一樣○
http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/charity/laotze2n/lz01d.gif .
To understand chapter 1, you need to read Taoist Yoga chapter 1
first. The last verse of the above chapter is talking about the Mystic
Portal. The chapter can be read as:-

The Way can be trodden but it is not a normal Way. You can name it
but the name is not its name. Without a name it is the creator of
heaven and earth. Given a name it is the mother of all creation. Always
empty (nothingness), you have to observe its mystery. Conceiving its
presence, we have to observe its outlines. These 2 observations are the
same. Both are mystic for we are looking at the mysterious Mystic
Portal.

[ Observation is done by the 2 eyes. The only outlines you see is
the nose tip and the abstract X image. It resembles the Buddhist
swastika. The difficulty in explanation is that we have to look at the
Mystic Portal but this is impossible for we only see empty space. So
the guide is to look at the nose tip, viewing the abstract X image.
Even in the Bible, it reminds us to look for Jesus outside the city of
Jerusalem, that is the place of crucification on the hill. Jerusalem is
Mystic Portal, nose tip is where Jesus was crucified.]

二章○聖人要作的是修身○不理事的好或壞○
善或惡○長或短○左或右○自修就是天下平○
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The world discriminates there is beauty, so there is ugliness too.
Discriminating there is goodness, so too there is wickedness. Have and
have-not are born together. Difficulty and easiness are complimentary.
Long and short are relative. High and low are comparative. Pitch and
sound are harmonious. Before and after follow each other. Indeed, the
Sage does inaction in work, teaching the religion of no speech
(meditation). All creations move but not stirred, born but not possess,
deed but claim no credit, success but claim no responsibility. Sage
claims no responsibility because the responsibility never leaves him.

[ Why claim no responsibility? It is because the Sage is given the
task to do. He just acts.]

三章○聖人要無事可作○國才可治○
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Not honouring high office, people will not clamour for credit. Not
revaluing scare commodity, people will not steal. Keeping things out of
sight, the people's hearts are not aroused to anxiety. Indeed the Sage
ruling is to empty the people's hearts and minds, fill their stomachs,
weaken their will power and strengthen their bones and frames. Always
let the people uninformed so they have no desires to act. Those who
know will also not act. Doing inaction is indeed governing everything
under the sky.

[ Doing inaction is cultivating self in Confucianism. Sage should
understand I-Ching 1st hexagram 'Chien' and regulate the family, cure
the country then bring world peace, to achieve world influence.]

四章○是說玄關○道的所在地○
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The Way is like a waterfall. Use it and it never run dry. An abyss
it is, like the ancestor of everything. It blunts sharpness, resolves
tangles; it tempers light, subdues turmoil. A deep pool it is, never to
run dry. I don't know whose son it may be; it is like the emperor's
ancestor.

[ 沖 is 水 and 中. >< represent eyes. J is nose. So the centre
between the eyes is the Mystic Portal. The son refers something like
Son-of-God in the Bible. It is Our Spiritual Soul or Tao.]

五章○不如守中○是觀玄關○
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Is the world unkind that it treats everything as straw dogs? Is the
Sage unkind that he treats the people as straw dogs? Between the sky
and earth, is the space like bellows? Empty but unspent, when moved its
gift is copious. Much talk means much exhaustion; it is better to focus
on the central One. [look at the nose tip or Mystic Portal]

[ Heaven and earth are unkind, during the wrath of God, because they
are meant to be like this. The Sage is unkind, before he get full
enlightenment, because his role is to act like this. He has to treat
all mankind as brothers. So can he be good to his wife with favours and
kinds?]

六章○禪定○無為○才可動他○
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Valley Spirit can never die as IT is the mystic female. The gate of
the mystic female is called the root of sky and earth. Wherever ITS
presence, use IT without much effort.

[ Valley 谷 has the features of our face. Our Spiritual Soul can
never die. So it is equivalent to Tao. It is the female gate 女口 .
It is the mother of sky and earth. Partition is ear through 2 eyes to
ear. Above is sky and below is earth symbolised by 一 . Its presence
is only when a man is alive. The man can meditate focusing on IT
without much effort, to influence the surrounding.]

七章○聖人無事可作○很難○一種大犧牲○
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Sky is high and the earth old. Sky and earth can be high as well as
old is because they cannot produce themselves. Therefore they can exist
very long. The Sage has to humble himself before he can be forward,
disregards his body so the body can survive. Is that not with
unselfishness? Therefore he can accomplish his fulfillment.

八章○聖人能善○如水善利萬物而又不爭○
能化萬事○故無尤○
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The above, Tao, is good like water. Water benefits everything
without competing and enters places where people despise. So water
resembles Tao. Resting place derives from earth; mind is as deep
stream; togetherness favours humaneness; speech favours belief;
government favours a cure; work depends on ability; action depends on
timing. You should not compete, therefore there is no worry.

[ Our face resembles water 水 . 若 is another word to resemble our
face. And Bible always mention right 右 hand side of God. Water has >
<, 2 eyes and J the nose. The meeting point between the 2 eyes is the
Mystic Portal 玄關 .]

九章○修道修身○不是要地位錢財名利○
有了名利就要引退是天的道理○只有聖人不一樣○
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Take all what you want is never as good as to stop when you should.
Achievement by scheming and sharp wits will never last long. If your
house is full of gold and jade, it cannot be securely guarded. Wealth,
power and pride bequeath their own doom. Once fame and success come to
you, retire. This is the ordained God's Way.

十章○說禪定○和沈思句○
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Can you govern your animal mind, hold to the One and never depart
from it? Can you throttle your breath, down to the softness of breath
of a child? Can you purify your mystic vision and wash it until it is
spotless? Can you love all your people, rule over them without doing
anything? Can the heavenly gate opening be like a female? Can you
understand the four quarters and feign ignorance? Give birth to it,
feed it; give birth but not possess it; act and be independent; pride
over it but never its lord. This is what is called mystic virtue.

[ The first 3 lines are meditation instructions. From here you can
conclude chapters 2 to 16 in Taoist Yoga are not relevant. Only chapter
1 tallies with the lines. The second part is talking about Tao's
characteristics. The Sage can imitate them.]

十一章○說無空的用和利○
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Thirty spokes converge in the hub of a wheel; the use of the cart
depends on the part that is void. With a wall all around a clay bowl is
molded; the use of the bowl depends on the part that is void. Cut out
windows and door in the house as you build; the use of the house
depends on the part that is void. Therefore the materials you have are
advantageous; the empty space is for us to use.

十二章○知足○修道是為了腹不是為了目所要○
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5 colours confuse the eyes; 5 sounds will deafen the ears; the 5
flavours weary the taste; chasing the beasts of the field will drive a
man mad; things that are hard to get will affect man to do otherwise or
wrong. So the Sage will do what his belly dictates not the desires of
the eyes. Therefore discard the outward appearances and seek the inner
truth.

十三章○
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Favour like disgrace brings trouble with it; high rank, like self,
involve acute distress. What does that means, to say that 'favour like
disgrace brings trouble with it'? When favour is bestowed on one of low
rank, the latter is troubled with it (like when asked to do evil to
return favour). He is also troubled if he refuses the favour. So it is
to say that 'favour like disgrace brings trouble with it'. What does
that means, to say that 'high rank, like self, involves acute
distress'? I suffer most because i have a body, if I don't have a body,
where is the suffering? Therefore treasure your body the same as you
treasure the world, then you can rule the world. Love your body as you
love the world, then you can control the world.

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Look at Tao, you see nothing; this is called elusive. Use ear to
hear Tao, you hear nothing; this is called rare. Trying to grasp Tao,
you get nothing; this is called subtle. These 3 statements are beyond
all resolution, therefore we mix them into One. Above One, it is not
luminous; below One there is no darkness. To a state that is nameless,
a return to the period before nothingness (missing 'wu' in above
image). It is called a form without form and shape with nothingness.
This is called confused vagueness. From the front you cannot see Its
head; from the rear you cannot see Its back. Getting hold of the
ancient Tao, treat It as your precious possession. You can then know
ancient beginning that is called Tao's characteristics or Way of Tao.

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The ancient masters of Tao were subtle, mysterious, mystic and
acute. They were much too profound and not to be recognised. I too am
not recognised, therefore emphasize on their outlook. They are like men
crossing streams in winter, how cautious; as if the surrounding were
dangerous, how watchful; as if they were guests; how dignified; as if
like ice beginning to melt, how self-effacing; like a wood-block
untouched by a tool, how sincere; like a valley awaiting a guest, how
receptive; like a torrent that rushes along, so turbid. Who can stir up
the dirty water, then still it to make clean? Who can always quiet,
moves others to fullness of life? Those who embrace Tao is not greedy.
I too am not greedy. Therefore we are able to endure wear and tear
without needing new clothes.

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Touch ultimate emptiness, hold steady and still. All things will
work together, as I watch the return. The things are flourishing and
return each to its roots. Return to roots is called stillness.
Stillness is called returning to the will of God. Return to the will of
God is called nature. Know nature is called enlightenment. Not knowing
nature is blindness that works evil. Know nature is stature followed by
publicity, then kingly, then heavenly, then Tao, then the final, even
without a body you are still alive.

[ First line is about meditation. The Sage keeps still, all things
are reformed. The last line is to say if you don't achieve the 1st 2
classes of meditation, your Spiritual Soul is still alive.]

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The ultimate is not known. The eyes are cherished and praised. The
ears strike fear. The nose and mouth are despised and reviled. If
belief is not enough, then there is no belief. Aloof is the attitude of
precious words. Once success is complete, the people will say: 'I am
natural'.

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Tao declines, there still have righteousness and kindness. When
intelligence appears, great hypocrisy comes along. When the 6 relations
are not at peace, laws are regulated. When country is in confusion, the
royal servants of the court can be identified.

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Get rid of sages and knowledge, then the people will benefit a
hundred fold. Get rid of benevolent and righteousness, then the people
will return filial piety. Get rid of artisans and profiteers, then
bandits and robbers will not appear. If these 3 sayings are only words,
that is not enough. More relevant, then, let there be a visible
simplicity of life, live poor and not be greedy.

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Getting rid of learning leave you less worried. For 'yes' and
'yea', what is the difference? For beauty and ugly, what is the
comparison? What people fear, it is to be feared. How barren and
pointless a thought! People are making merry, like when they enjoy the
ox sacrificial festival, like spring festival climbing poles. As for
me, I am alone, unmoved like a baby that has not grown. Drifting as
though I have no home. People have more than enough, but I am alone
left out. I am like a fool, muddled and confused! When common people
scintillate, I alone hide in shadow. Common people are sharp and
knowing, I alone am melancholy. (missing in above) Restless like the
ocean, blown about, like, I cannot stop. People get what they want, but
I am stubborn; I am mean. I alone am different from people, because I
prize and seek my sustenance from the Mother.

[ Missing Chinese words:-]

澹兮其若海○飂兮若無止○

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The Mark's virtue, its shape will be revealed accordingly to the
Way. If it is a thing, it seems like in a dream, elusive, evading. In
it there are images, elusive, evading ones. In it there are things like
shadows in twilight. In it there are sperm or essence, subtle but real.
In it there is belief. From past till now, its name does not depart, it
is for observing common-roots. How do I know the domain of
common-roots? By this. (Putting an index finger at the node tip and
gaze at it to show to others addressed to.)

眾
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The crooked shall be made straight, the rough places plain; the
pools shall be filled, the worn renewed; the needy shall have abundant
and the rich shall be perplexed. Therefore the Sage focusing on the
Mystic Portal as a model to the world. Not upholding his personal
views, therefore he is enlightened; not asserting himself, he is
distinguished; not boasting his powers, he is effective; taking no
pride in himself, he is chief. Because he does not compete, no one in
the world can compete with him. The saying of old:- 'The crooked shall
be made straight' is not in vain. Totally perfect then return to the
Mystic Portal.

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Rare speech is natural. For whirlwind will not last the morning
out; the cloudburst ends before the day is done. What makes them behave
like that? The sky and earth! Sky and earth can not last long, how
about men? Those who work by the Way, will be with the Way. Those who
work by the virtue, will be with the virtue. Those who abandon the Way,
will be abandoned. Walking with those of the Way, the Way gladly
receives them. Walking with those of the virtue, virtue will gladly
receives them. Walking with those who abandon the Way, abandon will
gladly receives them. When your belief is insufficient, it is you have
no belief !

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Seekers will not be established; long strikes would not work; Self
opinioned cannot be enlightened; self conceited will fail; boasting
will give you little result; arrogant and you cannot last long. All
these belong to Tao; the saying: 'remnants of food or a tumour on the
body, which all dislike. hence those with Tao will not let them space
to enter'.

[ Seek for Tao, you cannot find it. Tao is just nasal gaze, and the
mind thinking of nothing.]

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Having things mixed to form a product, but first the sky and earth
must be created. So silent, so aloof and so alone, it changes not, nor
fails, but touches all; it can be the mother of sky and earth. I do not
know its name; a name for it is Tao or Way and designates it as great.
Great means outgoing, outgoing means far, far means return. So Tao is
great, the sky is great, the earth is great, people (ren) is also
great. Within the realm there are 4 great things, and people (ren)
stands among them. People (ren) conforms to the earth; earth conforms
to the sky; the sky conforms to the Tao; Tao's phenomenon is nature.

[ 4 great things, but 1 is Tao, unseen, untouchable. Therefore it is
only 3 things, the trinity. When Tao creates these 3 things, the others
will be formed.
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Heavy is the roots of the light; quietness is the master of worry.
Therefore the Sage performs his duty daily with consideration of the
consequences. Even with disturbances and beautiful sight, he keeps his
paces at peace as per normal. How can one who commands ten thousand
officers, uses his body to entertain the merriment of the world?
Engross in merriment will loose one's roots; worry will loose one's
stature.]

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A good walk leaves no tracks. A good speech has no flaws to
censure. A good calculator uses no tallies. A good door is well shut
without bolts and cannot be opened. A good know is tied without rope
and cannot be loosen. Therefore the Sage always helps people, so that
none are cast aside; he is always saving things, so that none are
thrown away. This is called applied intelligence. That is why the good
man is the bad man's teacher; and the bad man is the good man's
business. If one does not respect his teacher, or the other does not
love his business, it is a very great error. This is indeed an
important secret.

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Know your yang, guard your yin so to be a canyon to the whole
world. As a canyon to the whole world, always adhere to virtue and not
to loose them, return to the roots as if you are a baby. Know your
white, guard your black, to be a model to the world. As a model to the
world, always adhere to virtue, not committing error, return to the
empty Void. Know your honour and glory, guard your shame, to be a
valley to the world. As a valley to the world, always adhere to virtue
with abundant strength, return to the virgin block of wood. The virgin
block of wood separates into various tools, the Sage can use them,
therefore becomes the Chief Officer (king) because one with great
knowledge does not cut and carve.

[ The virgin block of wood refers to our nose pin-pointing the
Mystic Portal by the Chinese word 木 for wood. After studying all
scriptures, you will know how to execute your spiritual power.

2nd to 4th lines are as below:-]

知其白○守其黑○為天下式○
為天下式○常德不忒○復歸於無極○知其榮○守其辱○為天下谷○為天下谷○常德乃足○復歸於樸○
樸散則為器○聖人用之○則為官

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Using violence to conquer the whole world, from what I see, the
executioner will never succeed. The world is a sacred vessel not to be
owned by anyone. Tinkering to conquer will spoil, usurpers will lose
it. For indeed things either move forward or lag behind, either hot or
cold, either strong or weak, either vigorous or worn out. So the Sage
forgo extreme inclinations, sweeping judgments and a life of excesses.

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Using Tao to assist man it is not to use army to conquer the world.
Its sequence is far off. Where there is army, there briars spring up.
After completion of war, there follows years of suffering. Kindness
will get its fruit only, not by force he obtains. Obtaining his fruit
he does not boast, brag and celebrate. The fruit can not be taken as it
is, for fruit is not taken by force. Things strong will get old, this
suits not the Way of Tao. Not to suit the Way of Tao is early death.

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I say weapons are tools of bad omen, favoured or loathed, for men
of Tao have no place for them. Gentlemen favour the left while generals
favour the right. Weapons, tools of bad omen are not the weapon of the
gentlemen, only used sparingly under extreme conditions with calm and
restrain. After victory, don't gloat; those who gloat about victory are
people who love killing. Those who love to kill people will never get
to achieve their aim in the world. Good omen prefers left while bad
omen prefers right. General's assistant stands on the left while
general stands on the right, and can be said it follows the funeral
rites. Soldiers after a war will grief and pour tears over their dead
comrades. Victory after a war is time for the funerals of the dead
soldiers.

[ Original Chinese texts are slightly different in sequence.]

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The Way is Nature without a name. It is like a virgin block of
wood, small it may be, however the world cannot lord over IT. If the
king can concentrate upon IT, the world is influenced and reforms.
Whereupon the sky and earth are in harmony and rain falls at proper
seasons. The rain is given to the people without them asking for it.
When a name is given, that is Tao or Dao the Way; with means and
knowledge the Sage must know how to repose, so he will be in no danger
of rebirth. In a sense, compare the Way to the ocean, the final
destination of stream and river water.

[ The virgin block of wood 樸 is to show wood 木. Wood 木 has the
crucifix in it. Virgin block also means our nose.

Daxue also has 知止. Put a stop to it. Know the limitation. If
bird knows how to return to the anthill, are we no better than a bird?
This is to return to our root, Tao. In our body it is at the mark on
our forehead. Only in human form, the Spirit can return.

Tao is like ocean, we (Our Spiritual Souls) are only droplets of
water. Tao is like God, we are Sons-of-God.

King only can bring world peace. Can refer to Confucianism and
I-Ching 1st hexagram. Therefore I need to be the President of Singapore
to effect it.]

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It is wisdom to know people, it is enlightenment to know one's
self. Conqueror of men is powerful, the master of one's self is strong.
It is prosperity to be contented. It is guts to force one's way on
others. It is lasting not to lose one's place. To die but your spirit
lives on is eternal.

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The great Tao overflows and spreads on every side. All being comes
from it, no creature is denied. After having called them forth, it
calls not one its own. It feeds and clothes them all and will not be
their lord. Always without desire, it can be named as small, but all
things return to it which claims not their host. Therefore it can be
named great. For it always regards itself as not great, so it can
achieve its greatness.

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Grasp the great form, the world goes back to the past. Return to
the past has no harm, it is calm, peaceful and at ease. For merriment
and food, traveler stops. The gate of Tao seems thin and flavourless;
looking for it, you cannot see; hear from it, you heard nothing; but
when used, it is inexhaustible.

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What is to be shrunken is first stretched out. What is to be weaken
is first made strong. What is to be trashed is first raised up. What is
to be possessed is first made familiar. This is called mean
intelligence. The gentle way will overcome the hard and strong. Fish
should not be out of the pool, so the country's weapons are not to be
displayed to others.

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Tao is always in inaction and yet none is not effected. If the king
can focus on it, all creatures will be transformed. After
transformation and still continue their action, I will protect them
using the nameless virgin block of wood. Nameless virgin block of wood
is not what I want to covet. Nothing to covet using stillness, the
world will be ordered or righted.

[ Virgin block of wood is nose. Using it is nasal gaze. Here it
teaches us the head-of-state has to be in inaction. Thereby the country
will prosper. For Sage King, this is Great Harmony or world peace.]

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A man of highest virtue does not act as having virtue, therefore he
has virtue. The lower virtue man will show off his mannerism in access
that his virtue is nought. A man of high virtue does inaction thereby
everything is affected. The lower virtue man acts with accomplishment
claiming to be his own. A man of highest kindness does action and claim
no credits for it. A man of highest righteousness does action and
claims it to be his credit. A man of highest etiquette does action
without responses from others, constrains a man to bare his arms and
make others do their duty. Truly, once the Tao is lost, virtue is
valued. Virtue if lost, good kindness will be prominent. After that is
righteousness. Losing righteousness, etiquette arises. Losing
etiquette, the husk of all good faith, the beginning of anarchy. The
above knowledge is Tao's splendour, and the beginning of idleness.
Therefore the gentleman will place emphasis in the inner body and not
the outer appearances; he emphasises the fruit not the splendour of the
flower. So he skins and eats the inner sweet fruit.

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These things received the One: the sky obtained it and became
clear; the earth obtained it and became firm; spirit obtained it and
became energised; Valley obtained it became full to overflowing; all
things obtained it and became alive; the king obtains it and becomes
the world's moral uprighter. Without the One: the sky without been
clear it might collapse; the earth without been firm it might erupt
crazily; the spirit without been energised it might become passive;
valley without overflowing it might run dry; all things without life
might be annihilated; king without been a moral uprighter might trip
and fall. Truly, the precious has to rely on the cheap as base; height
has to rely the base as foundation. Therefore the king declares: I am
orphan, desolate and needy one. Isn't this is to rely on the poor and
the base? Isn't it? For popularity is not popular, therefore don't
desire for things: carve and polish like jade, fall like the stone.

[ Chinese texts see Taoteching.
http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/chinese/taoteching.html ]

http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/charity/laotze2n/lz40.gif
Return (to the source) is the movement of Tao; the weak is used by
Tao (to overcome the strong). In the world all things are alive for
having the One; the One is borne from nothingness.