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Chapter 52

天下有始

天tiān下xià有yǒu始shǐ，
以yǐ为wéi天tiān下xià母mǔ。
既jì得dé其qí母mǔ，
以yǐ知zhī其qí子zǐ，
复fù守shǒu其qí母mǔ，
没méi身shēn不bù殆dài。
塞sāi其qí兑duì，
闭bì其qí门mén，
终zhōng身shēn不bù勤qín。
开kāi其qí兑duì，
济jì其qí事shì，
终zhōng身shēn不bù救jiù。
见jiàn小xiǎo曰yuē明míng，
守shǒu柔róu曰yuē强qiáng。
用yòng其qí光guāng，
复fù归guī其qí明míng，
无wú遗yí身shēn殃yāng；
是shì为wéi习xí常cháng。

a> The world has a beginning – take it to be the mother of the world. Having grasped the mother, you can know the child. Having grasped the child, return to preserve the mother and you will live out your life without danger.

b> Block the portals and shut the gate, you will live out your days and never be troubled. Open the portals and turn to the tasks, you will live out your days and never be rescued.

c> To see the small is called enlightenment; to preserve the pliant is called strength.

Use the gleam to return to enlightenment without bringing calamity upon oneself.

This is to make the constant your habit.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.

© 2010, 2016, 2019 Robert Eno. Freely available for personal use and not-for-profit educational settings. For other purposes, apart from fair use, copyright is not waived.