Translation

Bent follows whole, crooked follows straight, hollow follows filled, worn-out follows new.
Little follows satisfaction, much follows bewildered.
The wise person uses this to hold the One and models all under heaven
He does not see his self for he is honest; he does not exist for he is clear;
He does not attack himself for he has merit; he is not self important for he endures;
He alone does not contend for nothing under heaven is able to contend with him.
This is the ancient point of view: bent follows whole.
How can it be that emptiness speaks! Complete sincerity returns.

bent (crooked, wrong) standard (norm; follow) complete (whole; make perfect), crooked (twist; treat unjustly) standard (norm; follow) straight (upright; frank), hollow (low-lying) standard (norm; follow) be full of (have a surplus of), shabby (worn-out; ragged) standard (norm; follow) new (fresh).

few (little; lack) standard (norm; follow) get (obtain, satisfied, complacent), much (many; more) standard (norm; follow) be puzzled (be bewildered; delude).

this (that) use (take; because of; so as to_and) sage (wise person) hold in the arms (hug; cherish) one (single; alone; whole; all) do (act; serve as; become; be; mean) land under heaven type (style; form> mood; mode).

no (not) self (oneself; certainly) see (catch sight of_ appear) happening (reason; cause; hence) bright (clear, distinct, honest); no (not) self (oneself; certainly) is (this; that) happening (reason; cause; hence) clear (evident; conspicuous).

no (not) self (oneself; certainly) fell (cut down; attack) happening (reason; cause; hence) have (there is; exist) merit (exploit; achievement; result; work); no (not) self (oneself; certainly) pity (self-important; conceited; reserved) happening (reason; cause; hence) long (of long duration; regularly; forte).

husband (man) only (alone) no (not) contend (vie; strive; argue; dispute), happening (reason; cause; hence) land under heaven no one (nothing) can (be able to) take part in (participate in) of contend (vie; strive; argue).

ancient (age-old) of what is called (so-called): ‘bent (crooked, wrong) standard (norm; follow) complete (whole; make perfect)’.

how can it be that void (emptiness) speech (word) (final particle at end of questions)! sincere (honest;> really) complete (whole; make perfect)’ <conj.> go back to (return; converge; come together) of.

Original

曲则全，
枉则直，
洼则盈，
敝则新
少则得，
多则惑。
是以圣人抱一，
为天下式。
不自见故明；
不自是故彰；
不自伐故有功；
不自矜故长；
夫唯不争，
故天下莫能与之争。
古之所谓：
「曲则全者」
岂虚言哉！
诚全而归之。

Commentary, May 2009

I reckon another word for ‘the One‘ is ‘the circle’: No beginning, no end, goes round and does not weary. Any place you think you are ‘choosing’ on the circle brings you to the other side… Opps! As a consequence, being as hesitant and tentative as possible helps avoid unintended consequences. This situation parallels two forks I see in the path of life: short-term pain, long-term pleasure, versus short-term pleasure, long-term pain. In each case, one follows the other. By choosing the former, long-term pleasure follows the short-term pain. Folks who prefer to ‘pay upfront’ tend to choose this fork. Fortunately, paying up front becomes easier as you realize those are the rules of the way of heaven. (i.e., balance: where each side is ‘paid in full’ by the other).

Folks who feel they can ‘get in free’ tend to choose the later, opting for the pleasure first. They feel the short-cut is real; a free ride in life is possible; they can avoid the pain. I find this ‘get in free’ is one of life’s most compelling illusions (a bio-hoodwink). What is its purpose? Perhaps it serves a ’survival of the fittest’ role. Certainly, there is a survival advantage for any animal that realize early on that there is more to life than meets the eye.

Another bio-hoodwink is the drive to contend. Contending tricks us into thinking (feeling actually) that if we just win the battle and vanquish our opponent, peace will reign. Certainly, peace returns, but not through winning any battle. Peace follows naturally. The illusion (hoodwink) lies in the feeling that winning and success bring (cause) security and peace. Sure, it will feel like we have won a skirmish here and there, and that keeps us motivated, driving us to contend until we achieve final success. As long as we feel success is possible we will continue to contend. Ironically, peace only comes after we surrender.

This is natures way and so we struggle; life is struggle – death is peace. However, this need not be as stressful as it often is. Believing one can actually win just increases stress. The advantage animals have over us is their inability to ‘believe’ (i.e., not to know yet to think that they know) they can win. They can only experience this hoodwink in the moment. I find that rationally knowing that winning is illusionary offsets this illusion a little, helping me to accomplish my private ends.

Know that winning is illusionary aids us in ‘taking the lower position‘ too. Although, it goes without saying that expecting to ‘excel in taking the lower position’ is really just putting yet another mask (a self righteous one) on the illusion of success. Taking the lower position is the opposite of action and success. Stillness is key. Ironically, and contrary to every fiber of common sense, profound passivity get the job done the best.