This sameness is called their deep mystery. ♦Deep mysteries, [à] and again deep mysteries – The gateway of many subtle mysteries. Notes : A : this line and the next may just as likely be translated as Non-being is named as the beginning of heaven and earth. Being is named as the mother of the ten thousand creatures. either way, compare to #40, where the world and the ten thousand creatures are created from being B : literally, “they have the same arising” Cross-references : without-name : #32, #37, #41 mother : #20, #25, #52, #59 always/ever-constantly without X : #32, #34, #37 without-desire : #3, #34, #37, #57 mystery : #6, #10, #15, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65 mysterious sameness : #56 gateway : #6, #10, #52, #56 Chapter Two 天 下 皆 知 美 之 為 美 斯 惡 已 • 皆 知 善 之 為 善 斯 不 善 已 • (•)故 有 無 相 生 • 難 易 相 成 • 長 短 相 較 • 高 下 相 傾 • 音 聲 相 和 • 前 後 相 隨 • 是 以 聖 人 處 無 為 之 事 行 不 言 之 教 萬 物 作 __ 而 不 (始) • 生 而 不 有 為 而 不 恃 • 功 成 而 弗 居 • (•)夫 唯 弗 居 • 是 以 不 去 • In the world, when all know that the action of beauty is beautiful, then ugliness ensues. When all know that the action of good is goodness, then not-good ensues. Therefore : being and non-being create each other, Difficult and easy complete each other, Long and short contrast each other, High and low lean on each other, Tone and voice harmonize each other, Before and after follow each other. Thus the sage : Lives by using non-action in his duties, And practicing no-talking in his teachings. The ten thousand creatures arise, but do not have a beginning. Creating but not possessing; Acting, but not concerned with the results; Accomplishing tasks, but not dwelling on them. Now : only because there is no dwelling, Thus the results do not depart. In the world2, when all know that the action of beauty is beautiful, then ugliness°{evil} ensues. [thereafter,afterwards] When all know that the action of good is goodness, then not-good ensues. [thereafter,afterwards] Therefore : being and non-being create each other,A Difficult and easy complete each other, Long{lasting} and short{brief} contrastB each other, [forever] [compare] High{above} and low{below} lean on each other,C Tone and voice{sound} harmonize each other, Before{front} and after{back} follow each other. Thus2 the sage2 :