Okay, here’s the next set of 9 verses from the Book of the Way.
I decided to translate the whole thing
Since by this I am learning so much
I will send my fruits to your pantry
With nine more tomorrow.
10.
Are you able to enfold body and soul
As One without two?
Can you gather grow
and remain newborn?
Can you shine the mind’s mirror
And leave no mark?
Can you love and lead the people
and set aside cunning?
As heaven blows and eases
can you remain a faithful mother bird?
Shining and penetrating the four directions
Can you remain inactive?
Engender them, rear them.
Engender but don’t own.
Work but don’t hold.
Lead but don’t control.
This describes the dark power.
11.
Thirty spokes make a single wheel,
Whose use depends on the emptiness of the hub.
Mold the clay into a bowl
Whose use depends on the emptiness within.
Fashion a room
Whose use depends on emptying out doors and windows.
Usefulness makes benefit.
Emptiness makes usefulness.
12.
Five colors blind the eye
Five notes harshen the ear
Five tastes dul the tongue.
Running about hunting afield
leads one mad.
Rare treasures hinder progress.
The sage fills his heart not his eyes.
He holds to the former and dismisses the latter.
13.
Both honor and dishonor bring anxiety.
Dignity and Calmnity attend the body.
What is meant by this first?
Honor brings you low
Receive it with dread.
For both forbode.
What is meant by the second?
Without a body what would I worry about?
Therefore honor the body under heaven
As one fit for heaven.
Love the body under heaven
and you will be fit for heaven.
14.
See the unseen and name it invisible.
Hear the unheard and name it inaudible.
Grasp the ungraspable and name it intangible.
These three cannot be further gained.
For they work into one
Whose above is not bright
Whose below is not dark.
The infinite thread, nameless
Returns in turn
From nonexistence.
Call this formless form.
Call this elusive illusion.
Approach it and you will see no face
Follow it and you will see no back.
Stay with the ancient Way
To master present matters.
Able to know the ancient origin
This is called the thread of the Way.
15.
The ancient skillfully working masters
Keen in penetrating subtle depths
Are to deep themselves to fathom.
For this very reason they are fathomless.
Therefore let’s try to describe their appearance.
They are cautious as walking a winter river.
Vigilant as fearing four directions of enemies.
Courteous as a guest.
Supple as melting ice.
Promising as uncut jade.
Open as a valley
Obscure as murk.
They can settle the murk pure
with a long calm.
Or they can quiet it
with an enduring stir
and bring it to life?
Holding this way
he does not crave fulfillment
Thus as he grows old
He makes new.
16.
Attain the highest emptiness.
Keep contantly relaxed.
Now the myriads arise together
Let’s turn to their returning.
As all these things
Burst and bloom
Each in turn returns to its source.
Returning to the source is called relax.
This means returning to life.
Returning to life is called eternal.
(Knowing the eternal is called enlightenment.
Not knowing the eternal in error brings disaster)
Knowing the eternal makes one open.
Openess makes one Catholic.
Catholicity makes on noble.
Nobility makes one heavenly.
Heaven is the Way.
Heaven makes one eternal.
Returning your life, and you lose danger.
17.
The people do best to know greatness.
Second best to love him.
Third best to fear him.
Worst to hate him.
Faith is insufficient;
You will find no wothy faith.
Quietly esteem words.
Put your work and deeds in order
And the people will say:
marvel at what we did!
18.
When the great Way is forgotten
Humanity and Virtue burst freely.
When people merely know the right way
They become hypocrites.
When the family dissolves
We praise family values.
When the heart runs cold
We praise love.
When the government fails
We praise patriotism.
When politicians are worthless
We praise them the more.
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