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til after the end；
through the next beginning and ending。
How do any of us know this？
Look inside。
22
Be less to become more
become broken to remain whole
bend like the grass to stand tall
be empty to receive
be used to become new
have little to gain more。
Those who have much
will not understand。
Wise persons
hold fast to the natural ways
as a standard for use by all。
Reclusive； yet known by all
unassertive； yet respected by all
modest； yet praised by all
ambitionless； yet followed by all。
Do not argue
and no one will argue with you。
These sayings；
〃To remain whole； be twisted；〃 or
〃Yield and overcome；〃 or
〃Blessed are the meek； for they shall inherit the earth；〃
are not idle words。
It is the way of the earth。
23
Silence is our natural state。
Tornadoes don't last all afternoon； nor rainstorms all day。
Stars collapse and planets decay。
Does somebody create these things？
No。
It is the nature of universe。
And if neither the universe nor the earth
can make something last forever； how can humanity？
So it is that those who use natural law as their teacher
will be at one with nature and the universe。
Truth to truth； power to power。
Let go of truth or power； and both will let go of you；
weakness to weakness。
For those who take the path of natural law；
nature is always giving。
For those who take the path of human order and control；
disorder and chaos will be everywhere。
As you trust in the universe
so will you be trusted by others。
24
On tiptoes
I am not steady。
With long strides
I do not walk the fastest or the farthest。
Looking around to see who can be seen
is blindness。
Making myself the center of attention
I am lost。
Judging others
I find myself lacking。
With great claims and projects
I will accomplish nothing。
Pride will bring me a future
in which no one knows who I am。
In nature such traits
are excessive and wasteful。
They rot the person。
Natural beings
avoid them。
25
Even before the earth and the sky existed；
there was already something
something not material； something silent。
Something free dependent on nothing； being nothing in itself；
empty and silent； everywhere yet unchanging and inexhaustible。
What was there before the Big Bang？
One can think of it as the pre…origin of the universe；
or god or goddess； or natural law； or physics。
Still； it really has no name。
The way； or the Dao； is simply the nickname I give it。
If I felt compelled to call it something else；
I'd call it 〃great〃 because it extends forever
and in going on forever；
it returns back to itself。
The Dao is great； so is the sky； the earth；
and also the human being。
In the universe there are four great things；
and humanity is one of them。
Humanity follows the nature of the earth；
earth follows the nature of the sky；
the sky follows the nature of the Dao；
and the Dao follows its own way naturally。
26
Gravity is the basis for judging what is light。
Stasis is the basis for judging activity。
So it is that when wise people travel
they don't stray far from the vehicle。
Even though everything about may be breathtaking；
a wise one
sits
quietly
and peacefully。
Responsibility requires
focus and calm。
One who takes oneself too lightly
loses touch
with the foundation
and ground of being。
One who becomes too active
loses touch
with reality。
27
The best walkers leave no trail
the best speakers neither slip nor offend
the best accountants need no calculator
the safest places have no bolts or locks；
the best friendships have no need of vows or promises；
yet they cannot be broken
the best theology has no god or heaven
yet everyone is saved。
Thus the wise person
helps people； never becoming callous；
helps all living things； never becoming superior。
No one refused； no thing abandoned；
following an inner self…knowledge。
Although the educated are the teachers of the ignorant；
ignorance remains the foundation of knowledge and education。
When teachers lose respect
and students are not cared for；
ignorance prevails。
This is no secret。
28
One who knows religion
and holds close to atheism
is like the valley of the world
into which everything flows。
Being the valley
everything is drawn to it
like the actions of a young child。
Learn the simple and easy； the myths and traditions；
but study the deep and profound； the experiences and insights；
become the model of being。
By becoming the model of being；
loosing the boundaries and limits；
return to the source。
A person who has experienced glory and honor
yet lives a quiet and meager existence
is like the valley of the world。
Everything is drawn to it。
All power is there
all simplicity
all wholeness。
When power is divided； it is cut up up into departments； chain stores；churches； vice presidencies and district managers； 。。。
So they say； 〃the best sculptor does the least carving。〃
29
The person who believes that inner experience
can be governed or controlled or taught
will simply fail。
A person's inner universe is like a house of cards
beautiful； delicate； in perfect balance。
Tamper with it it falls。
Glue it together it serves no purpose。
In the world of religion
there are leaders and there are followers。
Some people speak a lot while others remain silent。
Some are active； some are passive。
Some ideas remain； others disappear。
The atheist has nothing to do with
absolutes； logical necessity； or agnosticism。
30
If you talk with others about the ways of the dao or atheism
advise them not to use force in action or word
because force returns upon its user
and creates resistance。
Where force is used
to convince or control；
nothing will grow。
Great campaigns against an enemy belief
bring years of animosity and withdrawal。
Do what you must； then withdraw。
Succeed； but do not revel in the results。
Keep your commitments； but do not boast about it。
Accomplish your objective； and be satisfied。
Do what you must； but only because it is the next step
that must be taken to keep from falling。
Without violence； without pride；
nature's way。
Remember that entropy begins
at the moment of accomplishment。
What is not natural will soon perish。
31
Weapons； whether
material； textual； verbal or rational；
are still instruments of fear and violence；
and at times even good people bear them。
Still； the atheist never considers them as proper tools。
To consi