The Old Master

Old masters

The Saints

number fifteen

The one who was skilled at practicing Tao in antiquity,

was subtle, mysterious, profound, and penetratingly wise.

His depth cannot be known.

It is only because he cannot be known,

That therefore, were I forced to describe him, I'd say:

Hesitant was he!,

Like someone crossing a winter stream.

Undecided was he!,

As though he was in fear of neighbors on all four sides.

Solemn and polite was he,

Like a visiting guest.

Scattered and dispelled was he!

Like ice that is about to melt.

Genuine unformed was he,

Like uncarved blocks of wood.

Merged, undifferentiated was he,

Opaque, like a muddy pool.

Broad and expansive was he,

Like a valley.

If you take a muddy pool and still it,

It gradually becomes clear.

If you bring something to rest in order to move it,

It gradually comes alive.

The one who preserves this Tao does not desire to become fulfilled.

Therefore he can wear out with no need to be renewed.

Trancending nature

Number sixteen

To reach Emptyness is what we mean by the extreme.

To maintain tranquility is what we mean by the center

Side by side, the ten thousand things rise and fall

And by this I see their return.

Things come forth in great numbers;

Each one returns to its source.

This is called tranquility,

"Tranquility" - This mean to return to your fate.

To return to your fate is to be constant.

To know the constant is to be wise.

Not to know the constant is to be reckless and wild.

If you're reckless and wild,

Your actions will lead to misfortune.

To know the constant, is to be open-minded.

To be open-minded, is to be impartial.

To be impartial, is to act royally.

To be royal, is to be like Heaven.

To be like Heaven is to be [one with] the Tao.

If you are one with the Tao,

You will suffer no harm till the end of your days,