Dao - That which your mouth can not speak! That which your eyes can not see! That which your ears can not hear! It is the reason that we cultivate the heart/mind and properly align [its][B] form! That which when people lose, thus they die. That which when attained, thus they are born! That which when duties lose, thus they fail. That which when attained, thus they are completed! Always : Dao is Without root, without stalk, Without leaves, without flowers. By means of it the ten thousand creatures are born, By means of it the ten thousand creatures are made complete. This [natural] order, it is called Dao. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- That which presides over Heaven is proper alignment, That which presides over Earth is equability, That which presides over people is calmness and stillness. Spring, autumn, winter, summer - The timing of heaven! Mountains, hills, streams, valleys - The limbs of the earth! Love, anger, taking, giving - The schemes of the people! Thus the sage : Takes part in the changing of the seasons, but is not transformed; He attends to creatures, but is not changed by them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you can be properly aligned and can be still[C] - Then, you can be settled. With a settled heart/mind in your center, Your ears and eyes are acute and clear, Your four limbs are hard and strong, You are able to become a dwelling for essence. This essence - Is essence of Qi! With Qi and Dao, then there is life; With life, then there is contemplation; With contemplation, then there is understanding; When you reach understanding, then stop! Always : if the form of the heart/mind Has too much understanding, life is lost. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Knowing the Oneness[D] with creatures can transform them, We call this being spirit-like[E]. Knowing the Oneness with your duties can change them, We call this being wise*. To transform creatures, without altering your Qi; To change duties, without altering your wisdom*;[F] Only a noble man* who maintains Oneness[G] Can do this! When he maintains Oneness[G] and does not lose it, He can rule[H] the ten thousand creatures. A noble man* uses creatures, He does not allow creatures to use[I] him. When he attains the regulation of Oneness : A regulated heart/mind resides in his center, Regulated speech comes from his mouth, Regulated duties are assigned to people. Then, the world is regulated! One word[J] is attained by him, and the world obeys him; One word[J] settles him, and the world listens to him. We call him fair and just! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the form [of the heart/mind] is not properly aligned, De will not arrive. If the center is not still, The heart/mind will not be regulated.