A new translation brings a new opportunity to re-read (again and again) these beautiful, timeless, enlightened words. I was given Star’s version as a gift from an old colleague, and have found it powerful to read while out in nature, on hiking trips. This is a philosophy of being content and at peace, of being gentle and submitting, of being kind and empathizing with others, and of letting things flow naturally and understanding that the individual self is an illusion. Inspiring.

Aside from verse 20, which is a favorite that I’ve excerpted elsewhere, I quote verses 16, 31, 49, and 56 in their entirety below. It’s interesting to compare these translations with others as Star’s differ in some cases rather considerably; it may be the case that he went a little too far in giving us his distillation of the words versus simply presenting them (perhaps a dilemma for translators of texts such as this), but regardless, he certainly captures the essence of the philosophy.

Verse 16
“Become totally empty
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything
Unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance
In endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness –
Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging, flourishing, dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return

To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster

Be still
Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity
Eternity embraces the all-possible
The all-possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao

Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity”

Verse 31
“Even the finest warrior is defeated
When he goes against natural law
By his own hand he is doomed
And all creatures are likely to despise him

One who knows Tao
Never turns from life’s calling
When at home he honors the side of rest
When at war he honors the side of action
Peace and tranquility are what he holds most dear
So he does not obtain weapons
But when their use is unavoidable
He employs them with fortitude and zeal

Do not flaunt your excellence
Do not rejoice over victory
With the loss of others
Weep with sorrow and grief
After winning a battle
Do not celebrate,
Observe the rites of a funeral

One who is bound to action, proud of victory,
And delights in the misfortune of others
Will never gain a thing
From this world below Heaven.”

Verse 49
“The sage has no fixed heart of his own
Those who look at him
See their own hearts

Those who are good he treats with goodness
Those who are bad he also treats with goodness
Because the nature of his being is good
Those who are truthful he treats with truth
Those who are not truthful he also treats with truth
Because the nature of his being is truthful

The Sage lives in harmony with all below Heaven
He sees everything as his own self
He loves everyone as his own child
All people are drawn to him
Every eye and ear is turned toward him.”

Verse 56
“One who speaks does not know
One who knows does not speak

Shut the mouth
Close the gates
Blunt the sharpness
Loosen the knots
Temper the glare
Become one with the dust of the world
This is called ‘The Secret Embrace’

One who knows this secret
Is not moved by attachment or aversion,
Swayed by profit or loss,
Nor touched by honor or disgrace
He is far beyond the cares of men
Yet comes to hold the dearest place in their hearts.”

And just a couple of snippets…
From verse 13:
“What does it mean, ‘Endless affliction is bound to the body’?
Man’s true self is eternal, yet he thinks, ‘I am this body, I will soon die’
This false sense of self is the cause of all his sorrow
When a person does not identify himself with the body
Tell me, what troubles could touch him?”

From verse 15, referring to the ancient masters, I liked the poetry:
“Deliberate, as if treading over the stones of a winter brook
Watchful, as if meeting danger on all sides
Reverent, as if receiving an honored guest
Selfless, like a melting block of ice
Pure, like an uncarved block of wood
Accepting, like an open valley.” ( )

Book Description: Element MA 1993. Fine/As New condition soft cover.