Tao Te Ching Journal
(With excerpts from Stephen Mitchell's translation)
In the beginning was the Tao.
All things issue from it;
all things return to it.
Man follows the earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.
Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
The journey of a thousand miles
starts from beneath your feet.
When you are content to be simply yourself,
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.
Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter's place.
When you handle the master carpenter's tools,
chances are that you'll cut your hand.
Less and less do you need to force things,
until finally you arrive at non-action.
When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone.
Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control;
this is the supreme virtue.
If you want to accord with the Tao,
just do your job, then let go.
Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.
All streams flow to the sea
because it is lower than they are.
Humility gives it its power.
Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.
The soft overcomes the hard
The slow overcomes the fast.
Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results.
If you keep your mind from judging
and aren't led by the senses,
your heart will find peace.
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame.
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
The world is formed from the void,
like utensils from a block of wood.
The Master knows the utensils,
yet keeps to the block:
thus she can use all things.
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
Whether you go up the ladder or down it,
your position is shaky.
When you stand with your two feet on the ground,
you will always keep your balance.
The Tao is like a well:
used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void:
filled with infinite possibilities.
If powerful men and women
could remain centered in the Tao,
all things would be in harmony.
True words aren't eloquent;
eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their pont aren't wise.
A good traveller has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving.
Confront the difficult
while it is still easy;
accomplish the great task
by a series of small acts.
If you want to become full,
let yourself be empty.
If you want to be given everything,
give everything up.
If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Stay centered withing the Tao.