B : compare to #4, where Dao also “seems to barely exist” Cross-references die/death : #33, #42, #50, #67, #74, #75, #76, #80 valley : #15, #28, #32, #39, #41, #66 mystery : #1, #10, #15, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65 feminine : #10, #28, #61 gateway : #1, #10, #52, #56 Chapter Seven 天 長 地 久 天 地 所 以 能 長 且 久 者 以 其 不 自 生 • (•)故 能 長 生 • 是 以 聖 人 後 其 身 而 身 先 • 外 其 身 而 身 存 非 以 其 無 私 邪(•) • (•)故 能 成 其 私 • Heaven is eternal, earth is enduring. The reason that heaven and earth can be eternal and enduring Is because they do not live for themselves. Therefore they can live forever. Thus the sage : Puts his self behind others, yet finds his self before them. Considers his self extraneous, yet his self survives. Is this not because he has no self-interests? Therefore he can achieve his self-interests. ♦Heaven is eternal, earth is enduring. [forever] [for a long time] ♦The reason that2 heaven and earth can be eternal and enduring [entities] [forever] [also] [for a long time] ♦Is because they do not live for themselves.A ♦Therefore they can live forever. Thus2 the sage2 : Puts his self behind others, yet finds his self before them.B Considers his self extraneous, yet his self survives. [foreign,external] Is this not because he has no self-interests ? [selfish] ♦Therefore he can achieve his self-interests. [selfish] Notes A : while this translation is more consistent with the sentiments that follow it, an equally possible translation is Is because they do not give themselves life B : presumably meaning leading them; this line and the next are written in this awkward manner to emphasize that it is the personality or sense-of-self that is being talked about (in the translator’s opinion – see the Introduction and cross-references below) Cross-references self : #9, #13, #16, #26, #44, #52, #54, #66 before/behind others : #66, #67 Chapter Eight 上 善 若 水 水 善 利 萬 物 而 不 爭 處 眾 人 之 所 惡 故 幾 於 道 [矣(•)] • 居 善 地 心 善 淵 • 與 善 仁 言 善 信 • 正 善 治 • 事 善 能 動 善 時 • (•)夫 唯 不 爭 • (•)故 無 尤 • The highest virtue is like water – Water’s virtue benefits the ten thousand creatures, yet it does not strive. It dwells in places that everyone detests, Therefore it is almost comparable to Dao! In dwelling, the virtue is in the land. In your heart/mind, the virtue is in being profound and deep.