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Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. The Tao Te Ching can be obscure, especially if you think you're supposed to understand what it's saying! We find it easier and more instructive to simply contemplate how the chapter resonates with your personal experience. Becoming more aware at this fundamental level simplifies life. This approach conforms to the view that true knowing lies within ourselves. Thus, when a passage in the scripture resonates, you've found your inner truth. The same applies for when it evokes a question; questions are the grist for self realization.
Chapter 51
The way gives them life;
Virtue rears them;
Things give them shape;
Circumstances bring them to maturity.Therefore the myriad creatures all revere the way and honor virtue. Yet the way
is revered and virtue honored not because this is decreed by an authority but
because it is natural for them to be treated so.Thus the way gives them life and rears them;
Brings them up and nurses them;
Brings them to fruition and maturity;
Feeds and shelters them.It gives them life yet claims no possession;
It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude;
It is the steward yet exercises no authority.
Such is called the mysterious virtue.Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Read notes on translations
Now, do it too at Wengu! -
[Note: I italicize phrases I borrow from the chapter, and link to phrases I borrow from other chapters to help tie chapters together. While making it more tedious to read,
the Tao Te Ching is best pondered in the context of the whole.This chapter is one wonderful model for raising children. I suspect that children who tend to rebel do so because their parents claim possession, and exercise authority. In raising my kids, I found that they respected me naturally and never rebelled. Of course, I waited until I was 45 to have kids so it was much easier to claim no possession than it would have been if I’d had kids in my twenties. They never rebelled because I gave them nothing to rebel against. It never ceased to amaze me what nothing could do.
The reason the best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects (or children) is that he is not projecting his own agenda (his fears and his needs) upon them. As I mature, I do this less, and each year that passes offers renewed opportunities for circumstances to bring me to maturity. Of course, seizing these opportunities is crucial. Thankfully there seems no end to opportunities… well, until I die anyway. Oops, no time to waste!
I must say, D.C. Lau’s translation is a smoother read by far this time. Still, the awkward translation below may hold a surprise or two for you.
The, nearly literal:
The way gives birth, virtue rears, things give shape, power accomplishes.
Accordingly, everything respects the way and values virtue.
Respect of the way and value of virtue happens not by fate, but naturally.
Hence, of the way born, of virtue reared.
Of long duration, of giving birth.
Of well balanced, of malicious.
Of support, of overturning.
It gives birth yet claim not, it acts yet relies not.
It is the elder yet rules not.
This truly means profound virtue.The, as literal as I can make it:
of way existence (gives birth to), of virtue rears, of things form, of power accomplishes.
correct in order to everything nothing not respect way, and (but, yet) value virtue.
of way respect, of virtue value, of no one man life (fate, destiny), and (but, yet) always natural (free from affectation.
reason of way give birth, of virtue rear.
of long of give birth to (educate).
of well balanced of poison (malicious, fierce).
of support (provide for) of cover (overturn).
grow (existence, give birth to) and (but, yet) not have, do (act, become,
serve as) and (but, yet) not rely on,
elder (chief, long) and (but, yet) not rule.
correctly say profound (dark, mysterious) virtue.
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