Chapter 10 is unusual in form: a chain of questions the reader must answer with their life. Can you carry body and soul, embrace the One, and not let them separate? Can you concentrate your breath until it is supple as a newborn's? Can you cleanse your inner vision until it is flawless? Can you love the people and govern without contrivance? As heaven's gate opens and closes, can you hold to the yielding, female role? Understanding all four directions, can you remain without knowing?
Each question names a practice — unification, breath-work, inner clarity, effortless service, receptivity, humility of mind — and each expects the answer to be earned rather than spoken. The chapter closes by naming the character all six produce, in the refrain shared with chapters 2 and 51: to bring forth and nurture, to produce without possessing, to act without relying on the result, to lead without dominating — this is called the dark, mysterious virtue (hsüan te). Mastery, here, is measured by how little it grips.
Key verses
Can you carry your animal soul and embrace the One without letting them separate? Can you concentrate your breath to reach suppleness, becoming like a newborn child? Can you cleanse your inner vision until it is without flaw? In loving the people and governing the state, can you act without contrivance? As heaven's gate opens and closes, can you hold the female yielding nature? As your understanding illuminates all four directions, can you remain without knowing? To bring forth and nurture, to bring forth without possessing, to act without relying on the result, to lead without dominating — this is called the dark, mysterious virtue.
Read Chapter 10 in full
Every verse with translation, word meanings, and commentary — free.
ऐप में मुफ़्त पढ़ेंपरंपराओं से पूछें
एक प्रश्न। पाँच परंपराओं के उत्तर।
बिना खाते के हर 24 घंटे में 2 प्रश्न।