During the time of confucius Lao Tzu practiced Tao and Te and focused his teachings on humility and being nameless. He was keeper of the royal archives in the state of Chou. After he foresaw that the state would fall into decay, he packed his belongings and decided to leave through the western gateway. The gatekeeper, Yin-hsi, seeing that this great sage was about to leave the world said, "Master, you are about to renounce this world, please compose a book for me." There upon the "old master" came down from his oxcart, took out his pen and ink and began to compose a book of two parts, discussing Tao and Te. Several hours later, Lao-tzu handed the finished text of slightly more than five thousand characters to the gatekeeper and then departed toward the west. -Tea Guru
Verse 1 A way that can be walked is not The Way A name that can be named is not The Name Tao is both Named and Nameless As Nameless, it is the origin of all things As Named, it is the mother of all things A mind free of thought, merged within itself, beholds the essence of Tao A mind filled with thought, identified with its own perceptions, beholds the mere forms of this world Tao and this world seem different but in truth they are one and the same The only difference is in what we call them How deep and mysterious is this unity How profound, for great! It is the truth beyond the truth, the hidden within the hidden It is the path to all wonder, the gate to the essence of everything! -Tea Guru
Verse 2 Everyone recognizes beauty only because of ugliness Everyone recognizes virtue only because of sin Life and death are born together Difficult and easy Long and short High and low- all these exist together Sound and silence blend as one Before and after arrive as one The Sage acts without action and teaches without talking All things flourish around him and he does not refuse any one of them He gives but not to receive He works but not for reward He completes but not for result He does nothing for himself in this passing world so nothing he does ever passes -Tea Guru
Verse 3 Putting a value on status will cause people to compete Hoarding treasure will turn them into thieves Showing off possessions will disturb their daily lives Thus the sage rules by stilling minds and opening hearts by filling bellies and strengthening bones He shows people how to be simple and live without desires To be content and not look for other ways With the people so pure Who could trick them? What clever ideas could lead them astray? When action is pure and selfless everything settles into its own perfect place -Tea Guru