<< Dao De Jing / 道德經 >>
Chapter 25
有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母。吾不知其名，字之曰道，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。故道大，天大，地大，王亦大。域中有四大，而王居其一焉。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。
Before the Universe was born
There was already something, formless and perfect
Empty and serene
Unconditioned, unchanging, infinite and inexhaustible
It is the creating force of everything that is
For lack of a better name, I just call it Tao
If forced to describe it, I shall name it Omnipresent
It flows through all things, infinitely extending
And always returning to the origin of all things
Tao is great
Universe is great
Earth is great
Man is great
These are the four great powers
Man follows the Earth
The Earth follows the Universe
The Universe follows the Tao
The Tao follows only itself
Chapter 26
重为轻根，静为躁君。是以圣人终日行不离辎重。虽有荣观，燕处超然，奈何万乘之主，而以身轻天下？轻则失本，躁则失君。
The heavy is the root of the light
The still is the master of unrest
Therefore, the Master travels all day
Without ever leaving home
However splendid the views
She remains unattached
Why should she, the owner of the world
flit about like a homeless?
To be fidgety is to wander astray from the source
To be restless is to lose control of your own mind
Chapter 27
善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪，善数不用筹策，善闭无关楗而不可开，善结无绳约而不可解。是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物，是谓袭明。故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。
A master walker leaves no tracks
and is not intent upon arriving
A good speech leaves no flaws
A great scientist frees himself of concepts
and keeps his mind open to what is
A well-shut door needs no bolts
Yet it cannot be opened
A well-tied knot needs no rope
Yet it cannot be untied
Therefore, the Master is willing to save all people
Never abandoning anyone
He makes good use of all things
Never wasting anything
This is called following the light
Therefore, the good man is the bad man’s teacher
And the bad man is the good man’s job
If the teacher is not valued
Or the student is not treasured
You will get lost in confusion
However intelligent or clever you are
– Such is the secret
Chapter 28
知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。朴散则为器，圣人用之则为官长。故大制不割。
Know the strength of man
But keep a woman’s care
And you will receive the world in your arms
Embracing the world
Sticking to the Tao
And you will return to the unspoiled state of a newborn
Know the white
But keep the black
And you will be a model for the world
Being a model for the world
Sticking to the Tao
And you will reunite with the primordial light
Know the glory
Yet keep the humility
And be the valley of the universe
Being the valley
Sticking to the Tao
And you will return to your primal self
The world is created from the formless
Like utensils from a block of wood
The Master knows the utensils
Yet keeps to the uncarved block
A great tailor cuts little
Chapter 29
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，不可为也。为者败之，执者失之。故物或行或随，或歔或吹，或强或羸，或挫或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
There are ambitious people who want to conquer the world
But I don’t think they will succeed
The world is God’s Vessel
It can’t be interfered with human force
If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it.
If you possess it like an object, you’ll lose it
There is a time for going forward
a time for staying behind
a time for action
a time for rest
a time for being vigorous
a time for being resigned
a time for playing safe
a time for taking risk
The Master gives up on anything extreme, extravagant or excessive
She lets everything go their own way
and simply resides at the center
Chapter 30
以道佐人主者，不以兵强天下，其事好还。师之所处，荆棘生焉。大军之后，必有凶年。善有果而已，不敢以取强。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿骄，果而不得已，果而勿强。物壮则老，是谓不道，不道早已。
The Master of the Tao never tries to force issues
For every force there is a counterforce
Violence, even well intentioned
Always rebounds upon oneself
The Master does his job
And then he stops
He understands that the universe
Forever is out of control
And that attempting to interfere with events
Goes against the currents of the Tao
The Master believes in herself
Therefore she doesn’t have to convince others
She is content with herself
Therefore she doesn’t need others’ approval
She accepts herself
So the whole world accepts her
Buddha Mind 