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The Knights of Death are thirteen。
And most men in living create thirteen vulnerable spots within themselves。
How is that？
Because they are so avid of life。
I have heard that he who has control of his life may walk throughout the land and meet neither tiger nor rhinoceros；
He may pass through a battle…field indifferent to weapons and armour。
For the rhinoceros would find in him no place to drive its horn；
The tiger would find no place to thrust its claws；
The weapon no place to insert its blade。
How is that？
Because such as he have no vulnerable spots。
51
The Tao gave birth to them；
Virtue nourished them；
Gave to each its form；
Brought each to perfection；
And gave to each its power。
Therefore among all created things there is not one which does not honour the Tao and reverence Virtue。
And if the Tao is thus honoured and Virtue thus reverenced；
It is not because an edict went forth。
It has always been so。
Thus： The Tao gave birth to them； nourished them；
Made them grow； protected them； perfected them。
To rear them and not possess them；
To quicken them and lay no claim to them；
To govern them and not be dependent on them …
Such is the Mysterious Power。
52
The source of all manifested things in the universe
May be caled the Mother。
Hw who knows his kinshp with the Mother
Will know his kinship with the children twoo。
He knows the children but clings the close to the Mother。
And though his body may decay；
He himself will never perish。
〃Close your mouth； keep shut all the doors；
And your vigour shall last to the end。〃
Open your mouth； busy yourself with numberless affairs；
And there is no help for you。
To see the smallest is to have clear vision；
To hold fast to the gentlest is to be strong。
Use your light to light you to the light within；
And no harm can ever befall you。
This is called： Holding to the Never…changing。
53
Let me have the good sense to keep to the Great Highway of Tao；
Only if I go straying into side…turnings shall I have anything to fear。
The Highway is fine and smooth and easy；
But men preger the bypaths。
There the royal palaces are spick and span …
But se how the weeds have sprung up in the fields！
See how empty the granaries are！
Where garments are much bedecked and embroidered；
Where sharp swords hang from every belt；
Where there is gluttony in food and drink；
Where riches are over…abundant …
There you will find that brigandage is rife。
Not so on the Great Highway of Tao！
54
That which is firmly implanted by the Tao will not be uprooted。
That which is firmly grasped by the Tao will not be unloosened。
As； through the Tao； Ancestral Sacrifices continue from children to grandchildren for countless generaitons；
So； if you cultivate the Tao in your self； your power will be true power；
If you cultivate the Tao in your family； your family through ts power will enjoy abundance；
If you cultivate the Tao in your village； your village through its power will grow in strength；
If you cultivate the Tao in your country； your country through its power will flourish；
If you cultivate the Tao in the community its power will be seen everywhere in the world。
For by looking into one's self one may become aware of others；
Through one's own family one may become aware of other families；
Through one's own village one may become aware of other villages；
Through one's own country one may become aware of other countries；
Through contemplating the community one may become aware of the Great Society of Mankind。
How do I know that the Great Society of Mankind may be so governed？
By This。
55
The man who is endowed in full measure with the spiritual power of harmlessness may be compared to a child。
Venomous insects do not sting him；
Nor savage beasts assail him；
Birds of prey leave him unharmed。
His bones are soft and his sinews are weak；
But his grip is firm and sure。
Though inocent of sexual union； yet he is fully formed；
And thus is his vitality unimpaired。
Though he cry all day long； his voice does not grow harsh；
His functioning is perfectly harmonious。
To know such harmony as this is to be aware of the Never…changing；
To be aware of the Never…changing is to know Illumination。
But to lust after greater fullness of life is to invite calamities。
For if desire plays the tyrant over the life…breath； hardening sets it。
When vigour reaches its climax； shall not decay ensue？
Such forcing is against the Tao。
And that which is against the Tao quickly passes away。
56
He who knows the Tao does not talk about it；
He who talks about the Tao does not know it。
He whose lips are closed；
Who has shut the doors of the senses；
Who tones down that which dazzles
And knows himself lowly as the dust …
Is it not he who has attained to perfect equanimity？
Such a one cannot be be encroached upon；
Nor can he be repelled；
He cannot be benefitted；
Nor can he be harmed；
He cannot be exalted；
Nor can he be cast down。
Is not this perfect equanimity the most valuab；e of all things under the sun？
57
〃The government of a country is best achieved by carrying out the rules。
The winning of wars is best achieved by the employment of artful strategy。〃
But the winning over of the community is best achieved by non…interference。
How do I know that this is so？
By This。
The more the people are forbidden to do this and that；
The poorer they will be。
The more sharp weapons the people possess；
The more will darkness and bewilderment spread through the land。
The more craft and cunning men have；
The more useless and pernicious contraptions will they invent。
The more laws and edicts are imposed；
The more thieves and bandits there will be。
Hence these sayings of a Sage：
〃If I work through Non…action； the people will transform themselves。
If I love the Stillness； the peole will grow righteous of themselves。
If I do not fuss or interfere； the people will grow wealthy of themselves；
If I am free from desire； the people will return to unspoiled simplicity。
58
Whenthe government seems hesitant and lacking in vitality；
The people are free and happy。
When the government is active nad interfering；
The people are discontented and critical。
〃Misery；〃 it is said； 〃rests on happiness； and happiness underlies misery〃；
But who sees that there is a supreme state where nothing is imposed？
For if right action becomes mere expediency
And belief in goodness becomes mere superstition；
The peole wil pass their days in a fog of bewilderment。
Therefore the Sage：
Though square himself； does not seek to shape others；
Thought he has his own angles； he does not ask others to match them；
Though he is hims