Of the mysterious, the functions

An expert of war has the saying:

I not dare to become a host,

but become a guest.

Not I dare to advance an inch but withdraw a foot.

This is called marching the not-marching,

threatening without arms,

charging without hostility,

seizing without weapons.

Evil none greater than making light the enemy.

By making light of the enemy

we will lose our treasures.

Therefore matched armies mutually encounter,

the weaker one conquers, indeed.

 

A discussion of virtue

 

Superior virtue is unvirtue.
Therefore it has virtue.

Inferior virtue not loses virtue.

therefore it has no virtue.

Superior virtue virtue is non-action.

And it has not thereby pretensions.

Inferior virtue is acting itself,

and has thereby pretensions.

Superior benevolence is acting itself

but not thereby pretends.

Superior righteousness [justice] is acting itself 

but has thereby pretensions.

Superior propriety is acting itself 

but when no one to it responds.

Then it stretches its arms and enforces it.

Therefore when one loses reason and then [there is] virtue.

One loses virtue, and then [there is] benevolence.

One loses benevolence and then [there is] righteousness.

One loses righteousness and then [there is] propriety.

Now propriety's things [are] loyalty [and] faith 

in their attenuation and disorder in its beginning;

premature knowledge that [is] reason in its flower, 

and ignorance in its beginning.

Therefore a great large organiser [man of affairs]

dwells in its solidity [and] not abides in its externality.

He dwells in its fruit,

not abides in its flower.

Therefore he avoids the latter,

and choses the former.

Benevolence virtue

[Who] takes hold of the great form the world goes [to him].

[It] goes and not is injured.

Contentment peace, rest [is there].

Music and dainties the passing people make stop.

Reason's going out of the mouth [how] is insipid.

Oh! it has no taste.

[When] looked at it not is enough to be precious.

[When] listened to it, not is enough to be heard

The use of it not can be exhausted

Trust in its perfection

 

The great reason is all-pervading

Oh!

It can [be] on the left [and] it can be on the right

the ten thousand things relying on it,

thereby living,

yet not it refuses [them].

Merit it acquires,

[but] not the name takes.

It loves [and] nourishes the ten thousand things,

yet not act as [their] owner.

Always it has no desires.

It can be named with the small.

The ten thousand things return thereto.

Yet not it acts as [their] owner

It can be named as the great.

Therefore the holy man to the end not acts a the great.

Therefore he can accomplish his greatness.

Mind, heart and soul

 

Mind, heart and soul

align, afire

reality and fantasy to life.