【正文】 the five tastes dull the tongue. Reckless ambition will unbalance the mind。 do this without being possessive. Give help without obligation. Lead without dominating. This is the Mystic Virtue (Teh). 11 Thirty spokes unite at the hub but the ultimate use of the wheel depends on the part where nothing exists. Clay is molded into a vessel but the ultimate use of the vessel depends upon the part where nothing exists. Doors and windows are cut out of the walls of a house but the ultimate use of the house depends upon the parts where nothing exists. So, there is advantage in using what can be seen, what exists. And there is also advantage in using what cannot be seen, what is nonexistent. 12 The five colors blind the eye。 be proud and arrogant over good fortune and you prepare for your own downfall. When you have reached your goal, be satisfied to go no further. This is the way of Tao. 10 Can you control your mind so that it never strays from the way of Tao? Can you control your breathing so that it is soft and gentle like a newborn babe? Can you purify yourself so that you are perfect? Can you love all the people, rule them, and remain unknown? And do so without interference? Can you play the same role always? Give birth。 hone a swordedge too sharp and the edge will wear too soon。 in business they work with quiet efficiency. Serenity is the goal of Tao。 in words they are sincere。 in the heart they love what is genuine。 they are therefore first. They are indifferent to themselves。 disturbances (turmoil) are quieted (submerged). It is like a deep, dark pool. I do not know its source. It is like a prelude to nature, a preface to God. 5 Nature is indifferent to life. It realizes everything is as a straw dog. The truly wise are also indifferent to life. They realize humanity is as a straw dog. The universe is like a bellows: empty, yet quite full. As it proceeds, it produces. Much talk, much exhaustion. Keep your thoughts within! 6 The concept of Yin is ever present. It is the Mystic Female from whom the heavens and earth originate. Constantly, continuously, enduring always. Use her! 7 The heavens endure。 differences (tangles) are resolved (united)。 thus the foolish do not obstruct them. They work serenely, with inner quiet. 4 Tao is a vast immeasurable void. It can be used to infinity。 do not proclaim their acplishments, and because they do not proclaim them, credit for them can never be taken away. 3 Leaders Work Humbly Leaders should not seek power or status。 are genuinely helpful, not discriminating。 shrill and deep oppose in tone。 long and short oppose in distance。 reality and fantasy are opposing thoughts。 named it is the mother of all things. To see Tao the observer must be motiveless. Those with selfish motives see only the surface, not the innermost depths. These two kinds of observers look alike but differ in the insight of their observations. They look alike because they are both human。 all we have are copies of copies. It is posed of eightyone sutras or 攕 trands of thought?in five thousand Chinese picturewords. Most translations list the sutras in strict numerical order despite the fact that, over the centuries, they appear to have bee disarranged. The present version is devided into four parts, with sutras arranged according to content. The traditional sutra number is listed in brackets at the end of each. The symbol of Tao is YinYang. The basic circle of this symbol denotes the universality of its application. The black portion (Yin) and the white portion (Yang) allude to the nature of conflict, of differences, of paradox. In it is the interrelationship of male and female, the interplay of winter and summer, day and night, right and wrong, liberal and conservative, simple and difficult, etc. In the darkest Yin there is a spot of Yang。s Way is to work, yet not pete. English_MacHovec_TTK Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse English interpretation by Frank J. MacHovec, 1962 Vorwort/Foreword Within the pages of this little book lies the key to the Mastery of Life THE Tao Teh Ching, 擳 he book of Tao and how to attain it? is at least years old. As an ancient nature philosophy it is surely much older, having been passed down from one generation to another before the advent of writing. Tao (pronounced Dow) is a word which defies literal translation into English. It has been translated as Nature, The Way, Ultimate Reality, Truth, God, Enlightenment, or The Absolute. None of these is adequate. Teh (pronounced Duh) has also been variously translated: as Integrity, Virtue, Character, Honor, Reason, Best Conduct, Intelligence or True Wisdom. It is the highest human attainment。t choose sides It is always with the good people. 80 It is best to have smal munities with few people. And although they have goods and equipment in abundance few of them are even used. They have great love of life, and are content to be right where they are. And although they have boats and carriages, There is no place they particularly want to go. And although they have access to weapons and machineries of war, they have no desire to show them off. Let people return to simplicity, working with their own hands. Then they will find joy in their food Beauty in their simple clothes Peace in their living Fulfillment in their traditions. And although they live within sight of neighboring states And their roosters and dogs are heard by one another The people are content to grow old and die Without having gone to see their neighbor states. 81 True words